Libranet
Encyclopedia
Libranet was an operating system
based on Debian
GNU/Linux
.
The last version (as of April 25, 2005) released is Libranet 3.0, which cost about $90 in US dollars for new users, or $65 for existing Libranet users. The previous version, Libranet 2.8.1, became free to download.
Development of Libranet has been discontinued.
The first release of Libranet was in 1999.http://lists.debian.org/debian-commercial-99/msg00006.html Most Linux distributions of this time were very difficult to install, and were either considered for programmers, or those who wanted a low cost server
. Libranet attempted to put out and sell a distribution that was easy to install, and meant for desktop use. Corel
likewise attempted this with the release of Corel Linux
, but abandoned this pursuit, and refocused on software for Windows
and Macintosh
operating systems. Libranet, however, continued, and developed some recognition for having a Linux distribution that was good for desktop users. http://linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reviews/1907/1/ Corel sold the rights of their Linux operating system to Xandros
, which later released their own offering of a Linux desktop.
From 1999 to 2003, most Linux distributions with comparable desktop usability to Libranet, were also priced similarly. This began to change, however, in 2004. Linux as whole had advanced, and many distributions were now reasonably easy to install, with a relatively user-friendly desktop. Some distributions, such as MEPIS
, were competitive, and far less expensive. Others, such as Knoppix
, were offered at no cost.
Libranet attempted to carve a niche in the Linux distro market as the user-friendly distro, with extensive support (termed "up and running support"), that, of all the desktop distros, was the most compatible with the actual Debian release (at this time, Woody). The support offered was truly extensive, where Jon Danzig, the founder of Libranet, would often personally answer people's inquiries. This helped make people who had chosen Libranet be even more loyal to this distribution.
However, with the release of Debian
Sarge in 2005, along with the emergence of Ubuntu
(a Debian based distro offered at no cost, with the option to purchase support), Libranet received less attention from the market. Debian itself revamped their installer
making it easier to use (before this, a good reason to use a Debian-based distribution was that Debian's own installer was not user friendly).
Libranet released version 3.0, which received good reviews, but the market had changed for desktop distributions. Various other commercial vendors had released free versions of their distributions, such as SUSE
, which released OpenSUSE
, and Red Hat
, which released Fedora
. Whereas Libranet sold their distribution, and then gave free extensive support, many distributors chose to give away their distribution and sell support, and/or sell proprietary software enhancements to the distribution.
Jon Danzig, the founder of Libranet, died on June 1, 2005.http://www.libranet.com/newsletter20050623 His son, Tal, had taken over the leadership of the development team, but then stated that he would stop maintaining Libranet.http://taldanzig.blogspot.com/2005/11/ping.html Daniel de Kokhttp://blog.danieldk.org/post/2008/01/21/A-slight-forum-recommendation, the other remaining employee, went on to become a developer for the CentOS
project.
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
based on Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
GNU/Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
.
The last version (as of April 25, 2005) released is Libranet 3.0, which cost about $90 in US dollars for new users, or $65 for existing Libranet users. The previous version, Libranet 2.8.1, became free to download.
Development of Libranet has been discontinued.
History
The name comes from "Libra Computer Systems" (a company owned by the founder) and the fact that "libra.com" was taken.The first release of Libranet was in 1999.http://lists.debian.org/debian-commercial-99/msg00006.html Most Linux distributions of this time were very difficult to install, and were either considered for programmers, or those who wanted a low cost server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
. Libranet attempted to put out and sell a distribution that was easy to install, and meant for desktop use. Corel
Corel
Corel Corporation from the abbreviation is a computer software company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, that specializes in graphics processing, similar to Adobe Systems...
likewise attempted this with the release of Corel Linux
Corel Linux
Corel Linux, also called Corel LinuxOS, was a Debian-based operating system made by Corel that was released in late 1999. Corel later discontinued the distribution, but did not remove the former Corel Open Source Development website until March 2002....
, but abandoned this pursuit, and refocused on software for Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
operating systems. Libranet, however, continued, and developed some recognition for having a Linux distribution that was good for desktop users. http://linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reviews/1907/1/ Corel sold the rights of their Linux operating system to Xandros
Xandros
Xandros is the name of both a line of operating systems and Xandros Corporation, the company which creates them. Xandros Desktop was a Linux distribution. The name Xandros is derived from the X Window System and the Greek island of Andros....
, which later released their own offering of a Linux desktop.
From 1999 to 2003, most Linux distributions with comparable desktop usability to Libranet, were also priced similarly. This began to change, however, in 2004. Linux as whole had advanced, and many distributions were now reasonably easy to install, with a relatively user-friendly desktop. Some distributions, such as MEPIS
MEPIS
MEPIS is a set of Linux distributions, distributed as Live CDs that can be installed onto a hard disk drive.MEPIS is developed and maintained by an active community begun by Warren Woodford and the eponymous company MEPIS LLC....
, were competitive, and far less expensive. Others, such as Knoppix
Knoppix
Knoppix, or KNOPPIX , is an operating system based on Debian designed to be run directly from a CD / DVD or a USB key , one of the first of its kind for any operating system. Knoppix was developed by Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. When starting a program, it is loaded from the removable medium...
, were offered at no cost.
Libranet attempted to carve a niche in the Linux distro market as the user-friendly distro, with extensive support (termed "up and running support"), that, of all the desktop distros, was the most compatible with the actual Debian release (at this time, Woody). The support offered was truly extensive, where Jon Danzig, the founder of Libranet, would often personally answer people's inquiries. This helped make people who had chosen Libranet be even more loyal to this distribution.
However, with the release of Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
Sarge in 2005, along with the emergence of Ubuntu
Ubuntu (operating system)
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
(a Debian based distro offered at no cost, with the option to purchase support), Libranet received less attention from the market. Debian itself revamped their installer
Debian-Installer
Debian-Installer is the installation program for Debian. It was originally written for the Debian 3.1 release , although the first version of a Linux distribution it was used with was Skolelinux Venus ....
making it easier to use (before this, a good reason to use a Debian-based distribution was that Debian's own installer was not user friendly).
Libranet released version 3.0, which received good reviews, but the market had changed for desktop distributions. Various other commercial vendors had released free versions of their distributions, such as SUSE
SUSE Linux distributions
SUSE Linux is a computer operating system. It is built on top of the open source Linux kernel and is distributed with system and application software from other open source projects. SUSE Linux is of German origin and mainly developed in Europe. The first version appeared in early 1994, making...
, which released OpenSUSE
OpenSUSE
openSUSE is a general purpose operating system built on top of the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported openSUSE Project and sponsored by SUSE...
, and Red Hat
Red Hat
Red Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide....
, which released Fedora
Fedora (operating system)
Fedora is a RPM-based, general purpose collection of software, including an operating system based on the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and sponsored by Red Hat...
. Whereas Libranet sold their distribution, and then gave free extensive support, many distributors chose to give away their distribution and sell support, and/or sell proprietary software enhancements to the distribution.
Jon Danzig, the founder of Libranet, died on June 1, 2005.http://www.libranet.com/newsletter20050623 His son, Tal, had taken over the leadership of the development team, but then stated that he would stop maintaining Libranet.http://taldanzig.blogspot.com/2005/11/ping.html Daniel de Kokhttp://blog.danieldk.org/post/2008/01/21/A-slight-forum-recommendation, the other remaining employee, went on to become a developer for the CentOS
CentOS
CentOS is a free operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux . It exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream distribution...
project.