In this video, I'll tell you a bit about Linux.
So Linux is an open source operating system that is based on Unix.
And Unix was the leading operating system in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
As Unix was mainly used as servers in companies, expensive licenses needed to be purchased
for using it.
And by being open source, Linux provided a free alternative to Unix, with the same look
and feel.
Open source is a key component in Linux.
It is a software development model, where the source code used to compile software programs
is not proprietary and secret, but accessible to anyone.
Open source is very successful as a development model, as anyone can analyze the source code
and contribute to it.
An open source software leads to free software.
And that is free as in freedom of mind, not as in free beer.
Companies can bundle open source software with support licenses and still charge for
their product.
One major requirement of open source software is that most licenses require the source code
to remain accessible to everyone at all times.
An important part in open source, and particularly for Red Hat, is the use of support.
So for using companies, support on software is essential.
Because you don't want to be alone if it all falls down.
And so support is available at different levels.
It can be help if something goes wrong, or support by hardware vendors who will be able
to help you according to their support contracts, or support by application vendors who support
their application on top of supported operating systems.
Linux is free and for that reason doesn't come with support automatically.
But enterprise Linux distributors like Red Hat Enterprise Linux differentiate themselves
by providing a support offering.
And that's what you need a maintenance license for.
Now in Linux, there are different distributions.
Why is that?
Well, that's because Linux is an operating system made from a software collection that
includes the Linux kernel and additional software components.
And these additional software components are developed as individual open source products.
Not even necessarily targeting Linux as the main operating system.
And you could gather all of these components yourself and compile them into a working operating
system.
Linux distributors are doing that for you and provide an installer, a package manager,
and other components that make it easy to get started with Linux.
And Red Hat is the main Linux distribution currently.
It's the most used of all of them.