Under which specific license is the Linux Kernel distributed?

GNU General Public License version 2
The Linux Kernel is provided under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only (GPL-2.0), as published by the Free Software Foundation, and provided in the COPYING file.

Can you distribute Linux?

You can distribute your program for Linux just as you would for Windows, by shipping your compiled code with any resources it will use. You don’t need to include the source (unless your product is derived from GPL code). Just build without symbols and distribute the binaries.

Is Linux Kernel a distribution?

A Linux distribution is an operating system composed of the Linux kernel, GNU tools, additional software and a package manager. It may also include display server and desktop environment to be used as regular desktop operating system.

Is it legal to modify Linux Kernel?

Yes. You can edit Linux Kernel because it is released under General Public License (GPL) and anyone can edit it. It comes under the category of free and open source software.

Can I use GPL 2 in commercial software?

There is no field of use restriction in the GPLv2 – users are free to use if however they like, including for commercial purposes.

Is GPL legal?

GPL is enforceable as it’s essentially a copyright license. The copyright holders of the GPL software can choose to enforce the GPL on the distributed or derivative works of the software. For example, the FSF holds the copyrights on many pieces of the GNU system, such as the GNU Compiler Collection.

How many distributions of Linux are there?

Currently, more than 300 Linux distributions are actively maintained. There are commercially backed distributions, such as Fedora (Red Hat), openSUSE (SUSE) and Ubuntu (Canonical Ltd.), and entirely community-driven distributions, such as Debian, Slackware, Gentoo and Arch Linux.

Do Linux distributions use the same kernel?

So yes. A distribution is just the kernel (which may include distribution specific patches) plus all the extra programs that make it usable. The kernel is a central project, and is nominally the same in each distro, but most distros customize it a bit.

What is Linux distribution provide two examples of Linux distribution?

Linux distribution types Some distributions, such as Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux from Red Hat, openSUSE from SUSE, Ubuntu from Canonical, and Oracle Linux from Oracle, are commercial, while others, such as Debian and Slackware, are community-developed.