View source for Red Flag Linux

{{short description|Chinese Linux distribution}}
{{distinguish|Red Star OS}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Red Flag Linux
| logo = [[File:RedFlag Linux-Logo.svg|180px]]
| screenshot = [[File:Red_Flag_Linux_9.0.png|300px]]
| caption = Screenshot of Red Flag Linux Desktop 9.0
| developer = Red Flag Software
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| source_model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| working_state = Current
| released = 1.0 {{start date and age|df=yes|1999|08}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5784|publisher=[[Linux Journal]]|accessdate=20 February 2021|date=2002-01-30|title=Raising the Red Flag|author=Doc Searls}}</ref>
| latest_release_version = 10.0<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinaredflag.cn/product/newproduct?ulink=&tolink=redflag-web/DT10|accessdate=2021-02-20|date=|work=www.chinaredflag.cn| title=Red Flag Desktop Linux红旗Linux桌面 10}}</ref>
| latest_release_date   = {{start date and age|df=yes|2020|1}}
| kernel_type = [[monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel]])
| ui = [[KDE]]
| license = Various
| website = {{URL|http://www.chinaredflag.cn/}}
}}

'''Red Flag Linux''' ({{zh|c=红旗Linux}}) is a Linux distribution developed by Red Flag Software. {{As of|2009}}, the executive president of Red Flag Software is Jia Dong ({{zh|labels=no|s=贾栋}}).

[[File:Red Flag linux 5.0 Workstation - KDE Desktop.png|thumb|Screenshot of Red Flag Linux Workstation version 5.0 in Japanese]]

Beside specialised solutions, Red Flag Linux had the following products:
* Red Flag Asianux Server 8.0
* Red Flag HA Cluster 7.0
* Red Flag Desktop 10 ({{zh|labels=no|s=红旗Linux桌面操作系统v10.0}})
* Red Flag Desktop 11 ({{zh|labels=no|s=红旗Linux桌面操作系统v11.0}})

The internal structure of Red Flag Linux is very similar to [[Red Hat Linux]], using a similar installer.

==History==
Red Flag Linux first appeared in August 1999, when it was created by the Institute of Software Research at the [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9722855-7.html|title=Chinese software company to tailor OpenOffice|accessdate=22 November 2012|first=Stephen|last=Shankland|date=24 May 2007|publisher=[[CNet]]|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413210628/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9722855-7.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=November 2012|reason=The source doesn't verify the date, August 1999}} Financial help came from government-owned Shanghai NewMargin Venture Capital. In March 2001, Bloomberg News reported that CCIDNET Investment, a venture capital arm of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, had become Red Flag's second largest shareholder.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

During a brief standoff with Microsoft in January 2000, in a year-long series of increasing tensions believed to have been tied to Microsoft's perceived mismanagement of its [[Microsoft Venus]] venture, Chinese government ministries were ordered to uninstall [[Windows 2000]] from their computers in favor of Red Flag Linux.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|last=IDG|author-link=International Data Group|title=Microsoft in China: Clash of titans |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/02/23/microsoft.china.idg/ |date=23 February 2000 |accessdate=5 May 2009 |work=CNN |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022160400/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/02/23/microsoft.china.idg/ |archivedate=22 October 2008 }}</ref>

In January 2006, Red Flag Linux joined the [[Open Source Development Labs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2006/01/5981-2/|title=Red Flag Linux distributor joins OSDL|first=Ryan|last=Paul|date=14 January 2006|accessdate=21 November 2012|publisher=Ars Technica}}</ref>

An [[Equation Group]] leak from  2017 included tools that targeted Red Flag Linux.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/04/shadowbrokers-post-password-to-auction-file-of-alleged-nsa-hacking-tools/|title=In slap at Trump, Shadow Brokers release NSA EquationGroup files|work=Ars Technica|access-date=2017-04-11|language=en-us}}</ref>

===2014 Closure/Restructuring===
On 10 February 2014, Red Flag Software terminated all employment contracts and closed down. The direct cause of the closure was cited as being the failure of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Software Research Institute to pay a 40 million yuan subsidy. The institute cited Red Flag's failure to complete a specific project, and general mismanagement, as reasons for not paying the subsidy.<ref name="scmp">{{Cite web | url=https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/1427823/chinese-software-pioneer-red-flag-bites-dust |title = Chinese software pioneer Red Flag bites the dust|date = 14 February 2014}}</ref>

According to a research manager with IDC in Beijing, its downfall resulted from a lack of brand awareness and sustained investments, coupled with the rise of rivals.<ref name="scmp" />

==Nanchang Internet cafes==
As of 3 December 2008, it has been reported that Internet cafes in [[Nanchang]], since November 2008, have been required to install the Red Flag Linux as a replacement for pirated versions of the popular Microsoft Windows operating system, or switch to legitimate copies of Microsoft Windows. [[Radio Free Asia]] (which is funded by the U.S. government<ref>{{cite news
|author=Jim Mann
|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-30-mn-49050-story.html
|title=After 5 Years of Political Wrangling, Radio Free Asia Becomes a Reality
|work=Los Angeles Times|date=30 September 1996
|access-date=1 April 2013
|quote=The new broadcast station, created by Congress to serve as an Asian counterpart to Radio Free Europe, started modestly and quietly Sunday, with a half-hour news broadcast to China.
}}</ref>) claimed that Chinese internet cafes were being required to switch to Red Flag Linux even if they were using genuine copies of the Windows OS.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.smh.com.au/technology/china-internet-cafes-switching-to-chinese-os-20081203-6qkv.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=China Internet cafes switching to Chinese OS | date=3 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/12/03/chinese-ordered-away-pirate |title=Chinese ordered to stop using pirate software - the INQUIRER |accessdate=2008-12-03 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206054020/http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/12/03/chinese-ordered-away-pirate |archivedate=6 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> This system is provided with a non-expiring support contract at the cost of 5000 yuan (~ US$850, February 2014) for all machines in the cafe.

An official spokesperson for Red Flag Linux clarified by stating that the announcement were targeted to the server-side and not the gaming-intensive (and therefore Windows demanding) client-side computers, and that in the original announcement, Microsoft Windows and Red Flag Linux were simply recommended platforms as they have been tested by the Bureau of Culture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/154841/chinese_city_requires_net_cafes_to_use_legitimate_software.html|title=Chinese City Requires Net Cafes to Use Legitimate Software|date=2 December 2008|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605232200/http://www.pcworld.com/article/154841/chinese_city_requires_net_cafes_to_use_legitimate_software.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.redflag-linux.com/news_end.php?class1=2&class2=2&productid=&id=1000000862|script-title=zh:外媒报道断章取义 南昌网吧软件正版化被恶意渲染|language=Chinese|date=5 January 2009|access-date=19 January 2009|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019103635/http://www.redflag-linux.com/news_end.php?class1=2&class2=2&productid=&id=1000000862|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[Asianux]]
* [[China Software Industry Association]]
* [[Software industry in China]]
* [[Ubuntu Kylin]]
* [[Astra Linux]] – a similar project by the Russian government
* [[Unity Operating System]] 
* [[Canaima (operating system)]] – a similar project by the Venezuelan computer manufacturer [[VIT, C.A.]] and Chinese information technology company [[Inspur]]
* [[GendBuntu]] – a similar project used by Gendarmerie in France
* [[LiMux]] – a similar project of the city council of Munich
* [[Nova (operating system)]] – a similar project by the Cuban government
* [[Red Star OS]] – a similar project by the North Korean government

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.chinaredflag.cn/}}
* {{DistroWatch|redflag|NAME=Red Flag Linux}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=02/02/21/2211255
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080127123422/http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=02/02/21/2211255
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2008-01-27
|title=Red Flag, China's home-grown Linux distribution, is a good start
|publisher=NewsForge
}}
* [https://archive.today/20130103173352/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=5784 ''Raising the Red Flag''] ([[Linux Journal]])
* [http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/product/706428-PDF-ENG ''Harvard Business School study of Red Flag Software'']

{{RedHatFedora-distro}}
{{Linux-distro}}

[[Category:Chinese-language Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Discontinued Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions offering KDE desktop environment]]
[[Category:State-sponsored Linux distributions]]
[[Category:X86-64 Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions]]