In marketing, distribution is the process of moving a product from its manufacturing source to its customers. In computer software, distribution is the phase that follows packaging. The package will be on some distribution medium, such as compact disc, or may be simply located on a server where customers can download it electronically.
For open source software such as Linux, companies such as Red Hat and Debian specialize in packaging components from many sources together into a single package or set of packages that can be distributed conveniently to users as a single download. An open source distribution is often called a "distro."
This was last updated in February 2003
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The shortfalls of UCS include the potential for vendor lock-in and interoperability issues. Learn more about these and what you need to know to deploy a UCS in your data center. Some implementation considerations include storage, hypervisors, and a contingency plan in case your vendor changes course.
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Unified computing systems (UCS) hold the promise of simplicity for data center, but the technology and associated costs may not be appropriate for every application. Learn about the potential of UCS to help your data center, and what you should consider prior to implementation.
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Rising energy costs and increasing data center complexity require the merging of IT and facilities tasks, says an Avocent exec, who will present at this year's LinuxWorld conference.
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