Linux distributions are more popular in the business worlds where windows based OS’s are popular in personal usage. The open source licenses enabled the Linux environment get mixed up with new requirements, and designed as new flavors of Linux based on the requirements. Millions of devices running Linux based operating systems on any given day. The newest which become biggest popular mobile operating system, Android is also Linux based operating system. Their many flavors of Linux is available in the market for free, all these are out in the market because of the flexibility of the Linux environment. All these modified and molded, operating system are rooted in the Linux environment, these distributions are different from each yet share some similar characteristics.
Debian
This version of Linux distribution is created by some individuals who worked passionately to create this flavor of Linux. It comprises the basic programs and utilities by which the system can run. It uses the freeBSd kernel, which is an OS, including kernel and few simple softwares. It contains the more a 30 thousand software packages in its repository. It requires an access to online for connecting with the repositories. Debian is basically a freeware but non-freeware applications and packages should be downloaded from the debian repository.
Ubuntu
It’s one more popular OS distribution of Linux used by many individual across the world. It is a debian based Linux distribution which focuses to provide a desktop environment. The basic installation gives OS environment and core utilities to the system. The additional packages are needed to be downloaded from the online. The security also concerned major point in designing the OS, so by default the user utilities run with less privileges. Most of the system ports are in off state to prevent hacking threats from data transfers.
Fedora
It is created by the support of the Fedora Project community members, which is owned by Redhat. It is focused to reach and aim the new technologies supportability. If any changes are made in the fedora environment, then all the changes are available for other Linux distributions. Basically, it Gnome Environment for Desktop versions and UI is by default Gnome Shell, other environments also available. It is also comes with basic utilities other packages are installed though online.
BackTrack
This Linux-based distribution comes with security concerns, which gives lots of tools to perform various security tests. This OS more popular in security related worlds because of its features make the users to test many kinds of security test to find out the loopholes in the system. The tools such as Metasploit, aircrack, sniffing, nmap, Wireshark and other packages are available with this OS.
Linux Mint
It is slowly gaining popularity in desktop distributions of the Linux world. Even though it is based on Ubuntu environment, it has a conventional UI. It offers Gnome environments also for desktop distributions. The neat icon represents on desktop gives quite a good look to the user. The basic installation comes with basic environment and essential desktop utilities. This distribution also comes with audio and video codec’s preloaded.