Smolt (Linux)
Encyclopedia
Smolt is a computer software that gathers hardware information from computers running Linux
, and submits them to a central server for statistical purposes, quality assurance and support. It was initiated by Fedora
, with the release of Fedora 7, and is now a combined effort of various Linux
projects. Information collection is voluntary (opt-in) and anonymous. Smolt does not run automatically. It requests permission before uploading new data to the Smolt server.
Collecting this kind of data across distributions can:
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...
, and submits them to a central server for statistical purposes, quality assurance and support. It was initiated by 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...
, with the release of Fedora 7, and is now a combined effort of various 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...
projects. Information collection is voluntary (opt-in) and anonymous. Smolt does not run automatically. It requests permission before uploading new data to the Smolt server.
General
Before Smolt there was no widely-accepted system for assembling Linux statistics in one place. Smolt is not the first nor the only attempt, but it is the first accepted by major Linux distributions.Collecting this kind of data across distributions can:
- aid developers in detecting hardware that is poorly supported
- focus efforts on popular hardware
- provide workaround and fix tips
- help users to choose the best distribution for their hardware
- convince hardware vendors to support LinuxLinuxLinux 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...
Getting Smolt
Currently you can use Smolt on:- FedoraFedora (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...
, officially included - openSUSEOpenSUSEopenSUSE is a general purpose operating system built on top of the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported openSUSE Project and sponsored by SUSE...
, officially included since openSUSE 11.1; for older versions see openSUSE Software search - RHELRed Hat Enterprise LinuxRed Hat Enterprise Linux is a Linux-based operating system developed by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is released in server versions for x86, x86-64, Itanium, PowerPC and IBM System z, and desktop versions for x86 and x86-64...
and CentOSCentOSCentOS 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...
see http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/epel/ - GentooGentoo LinuxGentoo Linux is a computer operating system built on top of the Linux kernel and based on the Portage package management system. It is distributed as free and open source software. Unlike a conventional software distribution, the user compiles the source code locally according to their chosen...
see http://packages.gentoo.org/package/app-admin/smolt