View source for Yellow Dog Linux

{{Short description|Linux distribution}}
{{Refimprove|date=December 2008}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Yellow Dog Linux
| logo = [[Image:Yellow Dog Linux (icon).png|128px]]
| developer = [[Fixstars Solutions]]
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| working_state = Discontinued
| discontinued = yes
| source_model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| latest_release_version = 7.0 <!-- If you update this, don't forget to update [[Comparison of Linux distributions]] -->
| latest_release_date = {{Start date|2012|08|06}}<ref name="distrowatch" />
| supported_platforms = [[POWER7]], [[Cell (microprocessor)|Cell]]
| kernel_type = [[monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel]])
| ui = [[Enlightenment (window manager)|Enlightenment]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License|GNU GPL]], [[GNU Lesser General Public License|LGPL]], others
| website = {{URL|https://us.fixstars.com/products/ydl/what/overview/}}{{dead link|date=October 2025}}
}}

'''Yellow Dog Linux''' ('''YDL''') is a discontinued [[free and open-source]] [[operating system]] for high-performance computing on [[multi-core processor]] [[computer architecture]]s, focusing on GPU systems and computers using the [[POWER7]] processor. The original developer was Terra Soft Solutions, which was acquired by [[Fixstars Solutions|Fixstars]] in October 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shoemaker|first=Kristin|title=Terra Soft Solutions Acquired by Fixstars|url=http://ostatic.com/blog/terra-soft-solutions-acquired-by-fixstars|access-date=13 July 2013|date=11 November 2008|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618230331/http://ostatic.com/blog/terra-soft-solutions-acquired-by-fixstars|url-status=dead}}</ref> Yellow Dog Linux was first released in the spring of 1999 for Apple Macintosh PowerPC-based computers.<ref name="linuxfoundation">{{cite web|title=Yellow Dog Linux|date=19 August 1999|url=http://www.linux.com/directory/Distributions/enterprise/yellow-dog-linux|publisher=Linux Foundation|access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> The last version, Yellow Dog Linux 7,<ref>{{cite web|title=PowerLinux 7R2 Yellow Dog Appliance|url=http://www.fixstars.com/en/hardware/power/ydl7/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714002801/https://www.fixstars.com/en/hardware/power/ydl7/ |archive-date=14 July 2012}}</ref> was released on August 6, 2012.<ref name="distrowatch">{{cite web|title=DistroWatch.com: Yellow Dog Linux|url=http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=yellowdog}}</ref> Yellow Dog Linux lent its name to the popular [[Yellowdog Updater, Modified|YUM]] Linux software updater, derived from YDL's YUP (Yellowdog UPdater) and thus called [[Yellow Dog Updater, Modified|Yellowdog Updater, Modified]].

==Features==
[[Image:Yellow Dog Linux.png|thumb|320px|Screenshot of Yellow Dog Linux Version 6.0 'Pyxis' depicting [[Enlightenment (window manager)|Enlightenment]], the default window manager]]
Yellow Dog Linux is based on [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux]]/[[CentOS]]<ref name="linuxfoundation" /> and relies on the [[RPM Package Manager]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Negus|first=Christopher|title=Linux Bible 2009 Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hk74DjrdMlgC&q=Yellow%20Dog%20Linux&pg=PA610|publisher=Wiley Publishing, Inc.|access-date=13 July 2013|year=2009|isbn=9780470459041}}</ref> Its software includes applications such as [[Ekiga]] (a [[Voice over Internet Protocol|voice-over-IP]] and [[videoconferencing]] application), [[GIMP]] (a raster graphics editor), [[Gnash (software)|Gnash]] (a free [[Adobe Flash]] player), [[gThumb]] (an image viewer), the [[Mozilla Firefox]] Web browser, the [[Mozilla Thunderbird]] e-mail and news client, the [[OpenOffice.org]] productivity suite, [[Pidgin (software)|Pidgin]] (an instant messaging and [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]] client), the [[Rhythmbox]] music player, and the KDE [[Noatun (media player)|Noatun]] and [[Totem (media player)|Totem]] media players.

Starting with YDL version 5.0 'Phoenix', [[Enlightenment (window manager)|Enlightenment]] is the Yellow Dog Linux default desktop environment, although [[GNOME]] and [[KDE]] are also included.

Like other Linux distributions, Yellow Dog Linux supports software development with [[GNU Compiler Collection|GCC]]<ref name="distrowatch" /> (compiled with support for [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], and [[Fortran]]), the [[GNU C Library]], [[GNU Debugger|GDB]], [[GLib]], the [[GTK+]] toolkit, [[Python (programming language)|Python]], the [[Qt (toolkit)|Qt]] toolkit, [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]] and [[Tcl]]. Standard text editors such as [[Vim (text editor)|Vim]] and [[Emacs]] are complemented with [[Integrated development environment|IDEs]] such as [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]] and [[KDevelop]], as well as by graphical debuggers such as [[KDbg]]. Standard document preparation tools such as [[TeX]] and [[LaTeX]] are also included.

Yellow Dog Linux includes software for running a Web server (such as [[Apache HTTP Server|Apache/httpd]], [[Perl]], and [[PHP]]), database server (such as [[MySQL]] and [[PostgreSQL]]), and network server ([[Network File System (protocol)|NFS]] and [[Webmin]]). Additional software is also included for running an enterprise server or a compute server or cluster, although two separate products from Terra Soft Solutions, called Yellow Dog Enterprise Linux (for enterprise servers) and Y-HPC (for compute servers/clusters), were specifically targeted toward those applications.

Although [[Comparison of Linux distributions#Instruction set architecture support|several other Linux distributions support the Power ISA]], Yellow Dog Linux was distinguished for its focus on supporting the Apple Macintosh platform before the [[Mac transition to Intel processors]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Comparison of Distribution|url=http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/LinuxListOfDistributions.html|access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> Before this transition, Terra Soft Solutions held the unique distinction of being the only company licensed by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] to resell Apple computers with Linux pre-installed<ref>{{cite web|title=Terra Soft Ships Apple computers - YDL Pre-Installed |url=http://terrasoftsolutions.com/news/2002-08-08.shtml |access-date=13 July 2013 |date=8 August 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021207090908/http://terrasoftsolutions.com/news/2002-08-08.shtml |archive-date=December 7, 2002 }}</ref> (or for that matter, with any operating system other than [[Mac OS X|Mac OS&nbsp;X]]). Full support for [[AirPort]] (Apple's implementation of the [[IEEE 802.11b-1999]] wireless networking standard), and partial support for AirPort Extreme, are also built into Yellow Dog Linux, as are support for [[Bluetooth]] and support for accessing the Internet over cellular phones.

Following the Mac transition to Intel processors, Yellow Dog Linux retargeted Fedora Core 5.0 and later to support the [[Sony PlayStation 3]] and IBM pSeries platforms extensively, while retaining its longstanding support for PowerPC-based Apple hardware.
<ref>{{cite web|last=Hill|first=Brandon|title=Terra Soft Announces Linux-based OS for PS3|url=http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4621|publisher=DailyTech|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055626/http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4621 |archive-date = 2016-03-04 |access-date = 2021-05-01|date=19 October 2006}}</ref><ref name="gamespot">{{cite web|last=Boyes|first=Emma|title=Yellow Dog Linux launches for PS3|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/yellow-dog-linux-launches-for-ps3-6162316|publisher=GameSpot|access-date=13 July 2013|date=27 November 2006}}</ref>

==Distribution==
Yellow Dog Linux was sold by Terra Soft Solutions (later [[Fixstars Solutions|Fixstars]]), who also marketed PlayStation 3 consoles,{{cn|date=February 2019}} IBM workstations,<ref>{{cite web|title=Yellow Dog Linux Supports New IBM B50|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Yellow+Dog+Linux+Supports+New+IBM+B50.-a055726179|access-date=13 July 2013|date=13 September 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107032223/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Yellow+Dog+Linux+Supports+New+IBM+B50.-a055726179 |archive-date=7 November 2014}}</ref> and servers with Yellow Dog Linux pre-installed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yellow Dog Enterprise Linux for the BCU-100|url=http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/ZEGO/files/tss-ydl-bcu100.pdf|publisher=Sony|access-date=13 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090940/http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/ZEGO/files/tss-ydl-bcu100.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2018}}</ref> As is the case with most other Linux distribution vendors, a portion of the revenue from the sale of those boxed distributions went toward development of the operating system and applications, which are made available as source code under various [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source licenses]].

==Notable implementations==
[[Gaurav Khanna (physicist)|Gaurav Khanna]], a professor in the Physics Department at the [[University of Massachusetts Dartmouth|University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth]], built a message-passing based cluster using YDL and 16 [[PlayStation 3]]s. This cluster was the first such to generate published scientific results. Dubbed the "PS3 Gravity Grid", it performs astrophysical simulations of large [[supermassive black hole]]s capturing smaller compact objects.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gravity.phy.umassd.edu/ps3.html | title= PS3 Gravity Grid | publisher = Gaurav Khanna, Associate Professor, College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth }}</ref> Khanna claimed that the cluster's performance exceeds that of a 100+ Intel Xeon core based traditional Linux cluster on his simulations. The PS3 Gravity Grid received media coverage between 2007 and 2010.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/news/2007/10/ps3_supercomputer | title= Astrophysicist Replaces Supercomputer with Eight PlayStation 3s | magazine=Wired | date=17 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9043942/PS3_cluster_creates_homemade_cheaper_supercomputer | title= PS3 cluster creates homemade, cheaper supercomputer | date= 24 October 2007 | access-date= 22 November 2010 | archive-date= 5 August 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110805130541/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9043942/PS3_cluster_creates_homemade_cheaper_supercomputer | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/22/AR2008122201980.html | title= Nothing Escapes the Pull of a PlayStation 3, Not Even a Black Hole | newspaper=The Washington Post | last=Peckham | first=Matt | date=23 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/090128-playstation3-blackholes.html | title= Playstation 3 Consoles Tackle Black Hole Vibrations| website= [[Space.com]]| date= 28 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100969805 | title= Playstation 3: A Discount Supercomputer?| newspaper= NPR.org}}</ref>

==Release history==
{|class="wikitable"
 |-
    ! Version
    ! Name
    ! Release date
    ! Linux Kernel version
    ! Notes
 |-
    | 1.1
    | ?
    | 8 March 1999
    | 2.2.15
    |
 |-
    | 1.2
    | ?
    | 4 March 2000
    | 2.2.19
    |
 |-
    | 2.0
    | Pomona
    | 17 May 2001
    | 2.4.10
    |
 |-
    | 2.1
    | Fuji
    | 17 October 2001
    | 2.4.18
    |
 |-
    | 2.2
    | Rome
    | 22 March 2002
    | 2.4.19
    |
 |-
    | 2.3
    | Dayton
    | 23 June 2002
    | 2.4.20
    |
 |-
    | 3.0
    | Sirius
    | 19 March 2003
    | rowspan="2" | 2.4.22
    |
 |-
    | 3.0.1
    | "
    | 17 September 2003
    | Fixes issue with RPMs in ver. 3.0
 |-
    | 4.0
    | Orion
    | 29 September 2004
    | ?
    |
 |-
    | 4.1
    | Sagitta
    | 2 February 2006
    | 2.6.15-rc5
    |
 |-
    | 5.0
    | Phoenix
    | 27 November 2006
    | 2.6.16<ref name="YDL-PS3_Softpedia">{{cite web|url=http://archive.news.softpedia.com/news/Free-Download-of-Yellow-Dog-Linux-for-Playstation-3-43285.shtml|title=Free Download of Yellow Dog Linux for Playstation 3|last=Nestor|first=Marius|publisher=[[Softpedia]]|date=28 December 2006|access-date=6 November 2014|archive-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107043223/http://archive.news.softpedia.com/news/Free-Download-of-Yellow-Dog-Linux-for-Playstation-3-43285.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
    | Support for [[PlayStation 3]] ([[Cell (microprocessor)|Cell]])
 |-
    | 5.0.1
    | rowspan="2" | "
    | 27 March 2007
    | 2.6.17
    |
 |-
    | 5.0.2
    | 14 June 2007
    | 2.6.22-rc4
    | Support for [[IBM]] [[IBM System p|pSeries]]
 |-
    | 6.0
    | Pyxis
    | 5 February 2008
    | 2.6.23
    |
 |-
    | 6.1
    | ?
    | 19 November 2008
    | 2.6.27
    |
 |-
    | 6.1
    | Pyxis
    | 1 February 2009
    | 2.6.28
    | 
|-
    | 6.2<ref name="YDL6.2-announce">{{cite web | url = http://lists.fixstars.com/pipermail/yellowdog-announce/2009-June/000214.html | title = [yellowdog-announce] Fixstars Releases YDL v6.2 with Xfce, USB install, and EPEL: Press Release 29 June 2009 | date = 29 June 2009 | access-date = 8 February 2013 | archive-date = 20 April 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220420074633/http://lists.fixstars.com/pipermail/yellowdog-announce/2009-June/000214.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>
    | Pyxis
    | 29 June 2009
    | rowspan="2" | 2.6.29
    | {{URL|http://ydl.oregonstate.edu/iso/RELEASE-NOTES}}
|-
    |6.2.1 Enterprise for CUDA<ref name="YDL6.2.1-announce">{{cite web | url = http://lists.fixstars.com/pipermail/yellowdog-announce/2010-July/000225.html | title = [yellowdog-announce] Fixstars to Release "Yellow Dog Linux for CUDA" | date = 20 July 2010 | access-date = 8 February 2013 | archive-date = 21 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921180940/http://lists.fixstars.com/pipermail/yellowdog-announce/2010-July/000225.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>
    | Pyxis
    | 2 March 2010
    | {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20100306172311/https://www.fixstars.com/en/company/press/20100302.html}}
|-
    |6.3 Enterprise for CUDA
    | rowspan="2" | ?
    | 14 February 2011
    | ?
    | 
|-
    | 7.0<ref name="YDL7-announce">{{cite web | url = http://lists.fixstars.com/pipermail/yellowdog-announce/2012-August/000228.html | title = [yellowdog-announce] Introducing the PowerLinux 7R2 Yellow Dog Appliance and Yellow Dog Linux 7 | date = 8 August 2012 | access-date = 8 February 2013 | archive-date = 29 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150929015230/http://lists.fixstars.com/pipermail/yellowdog-announce/2012-August/000228.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>
    | 6 August 2012
    | 2.6.32
    | 
 |}

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

==External links==
* [http://www.edepot.com/ps3_linux.html#YDL_versions Yellow Dog Linux on PS3]
* [http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/ Yellow Dog Linux home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202085444/http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/ |date=2005-12-02 }}
* {{DistroWatch|yellowdog|NAME=Yellow Dog Linux}}
* [http://www.penguinppc.org/ penguinppc.org] &ndash; Linux on PowerPC site
* [http://osarchive.sda1.eu/yellow-dog Yellow Dog Linux archive]

===Reviews===
* [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/02/18/164648.php "Software Review: Yellow Dog Linux 5 for PlayStation 3"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602110308/http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/02/18/164648.php |date=2008-06-02 }} &ndash; BlogCritics Magazine review of YDL version 5.0
* [http://ps3.ign.com/articles/748/748255p1.html "Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 Hands-on"] &ndash; IGN.com review of YDL version 5.0
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050920183601/http://www.ppcnerds.org/Article243.html "Yellow Dog Linux 4.0: Some Install Notes"] &ndash; ppcnerds.org review of YDL version 4.0

{{Fedora Linux derivatives}}
{{Linux distributions}}

[[Category:Cell BE architecture]]
[[Category:Discontinued Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Platform-specific Linux distributions]]
[[Category:PlayStation 3 software]]
[[Category:PowerPC Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions]]