View source for ALT Linux

{{notability|Products|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = ALT Linux
| logo = 
| screenshot = WS10 desktop.png
| caption = ALT Workstation 10
| developer = ALT Linux Ltd<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altlinux.com/|title=ALT Linux – main|access-date=13 April 2010|archive-date=18 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118043053/http://www.altlinux.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ALT Linux Team<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.altlinux.org/ALT_Linux_Team |title=ALT Linux Team – ALT Linux Wiki |access-date=10 September 2008 |archive-date=22 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522041822/https://en.altlinux.org/ALT_Linux_Team |url-status=live }}</ref>
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| source model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2001|03}}<ref>[http://www.altlinux.org/Releases/History?uselang=en Releases/History – ALT Linux Wiki] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727015642/https://www.altlinux.org/Releases/History?uselang=en |date=27 July 2020 }} {{in lang|ru}}</ref><ref>[http://lists.altlinux.org/pipermail/community/2001-March/203374.html <nowiki>[mdk-re]</nowiki> I: Linux-Mandrake RE Spring 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727015606/https://lists.altlinux.org/pipermail/community/2001-March/203374.html |date=27 July 2020 }} {{in lang|ru}}</ref>
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|reference|edit|Q1367557|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1367557|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}
| latest preview version = [http://en.altlinux.org/Sisyphus Sisyphus]
| latest preview date = released daily<ref>{{cite web |url=http://packages.altlinux.org/en/ |title=packages.altlinux.org tracks the daily development |access-date=31 March 2011 |archive-date=17 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017124333/https://packages.altlinux.org/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| language = Multilingual (but installation process in Russian by default; can edit the language at boot of livecd by changing ru_RU to en_US)
| kernel_type = [[monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel]])
| ui = [[Bash (Unix shell)|bash]]; [[KDE Plasma Desktop]] (in ''Desktop''), [[Xfce]] (in ''Desktop Lite'')
| working state = Active
| website = {{URL|en.altlinux.org}} English<br/>{{URL|altlinux.org}} Russian
| supported platforms = [[AMD64]], [[P5 (microarchitecture)|i586]], [[ARM architecture family|ARMv7]], [[Elbrus 2000|e2k]], [[AArch64]]
| update model = 0.5 years per stabilization
| package manager = [[APT-RPM]]
}}
'''ALT Linux''' is a set of Russian [[operating system]]s based on [[RPM Package Manager]] (RPM) and built on a [[Linux kernel]] and Sisyphus<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.altlinux.org/Sisyphus |title=Sisyphus – ALT Linux Wiki |access-date=3 September 2008 |archive-date=1 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101192706/https://en.altlinux.org/Sisyphus |url-status=live }}</ref> package repository. ALT Linux has been developed collectively by ALT Linux Team developers community and ALT Linux Ltd.

== History ==
ALT Linux Team arose from the merger of IPLabs Linux Team and the Linux community of the Institute of Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://howsoftwareisbuilt.com/2009/02/25/interview-with-alexey-rusakov-project-manager-alt-linux/ |title=Interview With Alexey Rusakov – Project Manager – Alt Linux |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417073311/http://howsoftwareisbuilt.com/2009/02/25/interview-with-alexey-rusakov-project-manager-alt-linux/ |date=2009-02-25 |archive-date=2009-04-17|website=How Software is Built |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> The latter cooperated with [[Mandrake Linux]] and [[SUSE Linux]] teams to improve localization (specifically [[Cyrillic script]]), producing a Linux-Mandrake Russian Edition (RE).

Mandrake and Mandrake RE became different distributions and thus the decision was made to create a separate project. The name ''ALT'' was coined, which is a [[recursive acronym]] meaning ''ALT Linux Team''.

The split led to the creation of the Sisyphus package repository, which is an unstable branch of the ALT Linux development. In 2007, the Sisyphus repository won a prestigious CNews award in nomination for Information Security.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.cnews.ru/2007/#6 |title=CNews Awards 2007 |access-date=11 August 2008 |archive-date=15 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515180323/http://awards.cnews.ru/2007/#6 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{clade sequential
 |1=[[Red Hat Linux]]
 |2=[[DemoLinux]]
 |3='''ALT Linux'''
 |4={{clade sequential
    |1=[[TinyMe]]
    |2=[[Granular Linux]]
    |3=[[Phinx]]
    |4=[[PCLinuxOS]]
    }}
 |5=[[SAM Linux]] → [[SAMity Linux]]
 |6=[[BlackPanther OS]]
 |7=[[OpenSLS]] → [[Annvix]]
 |8=[[Unity Linux (Mandriva fork)|Unity Linux]]
 |9=[[Mageia]]
 |10={{clade
     |1=[[OpenMandriva Lx]]
     |2=[[Mandrake Linux]] → [[Mandriva]]
     }}
 |11=[[ROSA Linux]]
 }}

== Releases ==
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.altlinux.org/Releases/History |title=Releases/History – ALT Linux Wiki |access-date=30 July 2008 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903180719/https://www.altlinux.org/Releases/History |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Expand section|descriptions of distribution variants|date=June 2008}}

=== Version history ===
<!-- Template:Version – for version & release history. Documentation and examples: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Version -->

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0"
|-
! Version !! Release date !! End-of-life date !! Kernel version
|-
| {{Version |o |1.1}}
| 2001-09-12
| {{dunno}}
| 2.4.9
|-
| {{Version |o |2.0}}
| 2002-04-17
| {{dunno}}
| 2.4.18
|-
| {{Version |o |2.2}}
| 2003-03-04
| {{dunno}}
| 2.4.20
|-
| {{Version |o |2.3}}
| 2004-03-25
| {{dunno}}
| 2.4.22
|-
| {{Version |o |2.4}}
| 2004-09-19
| {{dunno}}
| 2.4.26
|-
| {{Version |o |3.0}}
| 2005-12-08
| {{dunno}}
| 2.6.12
|-
| {{Version |o |4.0}}
| 2007-08-27
| {{dunno}}
| 2.6.18
|-
| {{Version |o |4.1.1}}
| 2009-01-14
| {{dunno}}
| 2.6.25
|-
| {{Version |o |5.0.0}}
| 2009-10-29
| {{dunno}}
| 2.6.30
|-
| {{Version |o |6.0.0}}
| 2011-08-30
| {{dunno}}
| 3.0.3
|-
| {{Version |o |7.0.0}}
| 2013-07-01
| {{dunno}}
| 3.8.13
|-
| {{Version |co |8.0}}
| 2016-08-16
| {{dunno}}
| 4.4.16
|-
| {{Version |co |8.1}}
| 2016-11-24
| {{dunno}}
| 4.4.34
|-
| {{Version |co |8.2}}
| 2017-12-31
| {{dunno}}
| 4.9.72
|-
| {{Version |co |8.2.1}}
| 2019-09-06
| {{dunno}}
| 4.19.65
|-
| {{Version |co |9.0}}
| 2019-10-28
| {{dunno}}
| 4.19.79
|-
| {{Version |co |9.1}}
| 2020-08-02
| {{dunno}}
| 5.4.51
|-
| {{Version |co |10.0}}
| 2021-12-16
| {{dunno}}
| 5.15.34
|- 
| {{Version |co |10.1}}
| 2022-11-16
| {{dunno}}
| 5.15.72
|-
| {{Version |c |10.2}}
| 2024-03-16
| {{dunno}}
| 6.1.79
|-
| colspan="4" | <small>{{Version |l |show=111100}}</small>
|}

=== Linux-Mandrake ===
''Linux-Mandrake 7.0 Russian Edition'', released in the beginning of 2000, was the first de facto independent distribution of IPLabs Linux Team. It kept the name ''Mandrake'' with permission from Mandrake developers.

''Spring 2001'' was the second IPLabs Linux team release, released several months later.

=== ALT Linux 1.0 ===
Since the summer of 2001, ALT Linux Team has been formed and the ALT Linux name has been established.

The first ALT Linux release was ''ALT Linux Junior 1.0'', released in summer of 2001, followed by the updated ''ALT Linux Junior 1.1'' in autumn of 2001.

Junior distributions were 1CD releases.

=== ALT Linux 2.* ===
''ALT Linux Master 2.0'', released in May 2002, was the 4CD all-purpose Linux distribution targeted for software developers and system administrators.

''ALT Linux Junior 2.0'' was released in summer of 2002, as a 1CD desktop/workstation-oriented release.

=== ALT Linux 3.0 ===
ALT Linux Compact 3.0 was released during autumn 2005, and consisted of 1CD/1DVD installable versions along with LiveCD (TravelCD 3.0). There were several subsequent OEM updates counting up to 3.0.5.

=== ALT Linux 4.0 ===
These series changed the official naming somewhat to be ''ALT Linux 4.0 $flavour''.
* Server was released in June 2007 (1CD+1DVD per platform; i586 and x86_64);
* Office Server quickly followed (1CD; i586 and x86_64);
* Desktop Personal in August 2007 (1DVD, LiveCD, Rescue CD; i586; KDE3);
* Lite in December 2007 (installation CD, live CD and 2CD with addons; i586; Xfce4);
* Terminal in December 2007 (joint release with [[:ru:Media Magic|Media Magic Ltd]], 1DVD; i586; KDE3, low client RAM requirements).

There was also a more conservative ''school 4.0 branch'' maintained for the Russian schools pilot project, and several distributions specifically tailored for schools released using that as a base.

=== ALT Linux 4.1 ===
* Desktop was released in October 2008 (1CD/1DVD; i586 and x86_64; KDE3);
* Children in December 2008 (LiveCD; i586);
* Skif in December 2008 (1CD; x86_64; HPC);
* School Server in February 2009 (1CD; i586).

=== ALT Linux 5.x ===
The 5.0 branch was canceled<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.altlinux.org/Stable_branches |title=Stable branches – ALT Linux Wiki |access-date=31 March 2011 |archive-date=10 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510145215/http://en.altlinux.org/Stable_branches |url-status=live }}</ref> mainly due to stormy X.org conditions (and subsequently archived); 5.1 community branch was created along with p5 ''conservative'' branch later in 2009. Somewhat confusingly, distributions based on the p5/branch were numbered as ALT Linux 5.0:

* Ark (client+server suite, 1DVD+1CD per platform; i586 and x86_64);
* School Suite – mostly i586, also including docs, video lessons and free software for Windows (3DVD):
** Server (1DVD; i586 and x86_64);
** Terminal (1DVD; KDE3);
** Master (1DVD/flash; KDE4);
** Junior (1DVD/flash; GNOME2);
** Lite (2CD; Xfce4);
** New Lite (1CD/1DVD/flash; LXDE);
* KDesktop (1DVD; i586 and x86_64; KDE4);
* Simply Linux 5.0 (1CD/flash/LiveCD; i586; Xfce4).

=== Lite ===
A small single-CD distribution for older/low-memory computers, with [[Xfce]] as default desktop. Available in normal and [[Live CD]] versions.<ref>[http://www.altlinux.ru/home_and_office/altlinux40lite.html ALT Linux Lite 4.0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409220146/http://altlinux.ru/home_and_office/altlinux40lite.html |date=9 April 2008 }} description</ref> Rather superseded by LXDE-based New Lite.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

=== Compact ===
''Compact'' is a series of ALT Linux distributions tailored for beginner users. It is mostly used on workstations, home computers, and notebooks. It includes additional means for easy configuration, many office and multimedia applications, and some games. ''Compact'' was also a popular choice for [[OEM]] white-labeling, i.e., creating a specific edition for various hardware vendors to bundle with their hardware.
<!--
=== Junior ===
Дистрибутивы серии ''Junior'' предназначены для решения различных прикладных задач пользователей. Помимо ставших привычной необходимостью офисных и мультимедийных приложений, а также приложений, необходимых для полноценной работы в Интернет, в ''Junior'' входят текстовые редакторы, словари, шрифты, несколько графических операционных сред, языки программирования и среды разработки, системы управления базами данных, образовательные программы, игры и утилиты администрирования системы. Одной из задач при составлении дистрибутива ''ALT Linux 2.3 Junior'' было создание на базе GNU/Linux платформы для обучения [[информатика|информатике]] и информационным технологиям. Поэтому в нём присутствуют дополнительные учебные и методические пособия, книги и статьи по GNU/Linux и смежным темам.

В конце 2007 года была выпущена бета-версия ''{{Nowrap|ALT Linux 4.0 Junior}}''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.altlinux.ru/company_news/junior_40_beta.html}}</ref>

-->
<!--
=== Desktop ===
Серия ''Desktop'' – развитие серии ''Junior'' для домашнего и офисного применения. Версия ''Small Business Desktop'' позволяет работать с программами ''1С'' и другими российскими бизнес-приложениями, а версия ''Corporate Desktop'' включает услуги расширенной технической поддержки.

-->
<!--
=== Master ===
Задача дистрибутивов серии ''Master'' – служить универсальным инструментарием для разработчика, администратора и пользователя. ''Master'' – наиболее полный дистрибутив ALT Linux, в котором ''всё под рукой''. На основе Master можно строить корпоративные информационные системы, использовать его в качестве серверной платформы, для разработки клиентских и серверных приложений, в образовательных учреждениях, а также применять в качестве профессиональной настольной операционной системы. Последняя версия дистрибутива ALT Linux Master 2.4 вышла в октябре 2004 года.

-->

Linux
''ALT Linux Server'' is a hardened server single CD distribution. It is certified by Federal department of technical and expert control of Russia in the following categories:
* by the level of monitoring for non-declared features – level 4<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fstec.ru/_docs/doc_3_3_010.htm |title=Система защиты! |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315022433/http://www.fstec.ru/_docs/doc_3_3_010.htm |archive-date=2008-03-15}}</ref>
* class of protection from unauthorized access to information – class 5<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fstec.ru/_docs/doc_3_3_003.htm |title=Система защиты! |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331191617/http://www.fstec.ru/_docs/doc_3_3_003.htm |archive-date=2008-03-31}}</ref>

=== Terminal ===
''ALT Linux Terminal'' is a terminal server distribution<ref>Last stable release is [http://ftp.altlinux.org/pub/distributions/ALTLinux/4.0/Terminal/ 4.0.0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127015301/http://ftp.altlinux.org/pub/distributions/ALTLinux/4.0/Terminal/ |date=27 January 2020 }}.</ref> based on ALT Linux Desktop and ALTSP5: a friendly/merging fork of [[Linux Terminal Server Project]] (LTSP) which is usable on older hardware acting as [[thin client|thin]] and [[diskless workstation|diskless]] clients (16 [[megabyte|MB]] RAM is enough, while stock LTSP5 usually requires ≥ 64 MB RAM). It was also adapted for Russian School Education National Project<ref>[[:ru:Перечень школьного программного обеспечения#.D0.A1.D0.B2.D0.BE.D0.B1.D0.BE.D0.B4.D0.BD.D0.BE.D0.B5 .D0.9F.D0.9E|School software list]]</ref> free software package.

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://altlinux.org/ Community website] ([http://en.altlinux.org/ in English])
* [http://en.altlinux.org/Sisyphus Sisyphus package repository], on which Alt Linux is based
* {{Freecode|alt-linux|ALT Linux}}
* {{DistroWatch|alt|NAME=ALT Linux}}

=== Reviews ===
* [http://linuxbsdos.com/2009/12/23/alt-linux-5-ark-desktop-review/ ALT Linux 5 Ark desktop review]
* [http://linuxbsdos.com/2009/12/24/customizing-alt-linux-5-ark-desktop/ Customizing ALT Linux 5 Ark desktop]
* [http://linuxbsdos.com/2009/12/24/simply-linux-5-review/ Simply Linux 5 review]
* [http://linuxbsdos.com/2009/12/25/customizing-simply-linux-5-2/ Customizing Simply Linux 5]
* [http://linuxbsdos.com/2009/12/30/how-to-install-cairo-dock-on-simply-linux-5/ How to install Cairo-Dock on Simply Linux 5]

{{Linux distributions}}
{{Russian operating systems}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alt Linux}}
[[Category:RPM-based Linux distributions]]
[[Category:X86-64 Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Russian-language Linux distributions]]