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Encyclopedia > Linux kernel portability and supported architectures
(GNU)/Linux
History
Linus Torvalds • GNU Project • Linux kernel (history • portability and supported architectures) • Naming controversy • SCO and Linux • Windows and Linux • Adoption • Linus's Law • Tux
Distribution
Linux distribution (list • comparison) • Linux package formats • LiveDistro (list • comparison) • Live USB • Mini Linux
Applications
Server • Desktop • Embedded • Gaming
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Originally written for Intel's i386 processor, very early in its history, the Linux Kernel was re-coded for easy portability. It had been re-written once for the Motorola 68K; the prospect of tedious re-writes for each possible architecture prompted Torvalds to aim for a modular code base which could be ported to different processor architectures with a minimum possible effort. GNU (pronounced ) is a computer operating system - consisting of a kernel, libraries, system utilities, compilers, and end-user application software - composed entirely of free software. ... Linux (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Unix-like computer operating system family. ... Linus Benedict Torvalds ( ; born December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish software engineer best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel. ... The GNU logo, drawn by Etienne Suvasa The GNU Project was announced in 1983 by Richard Stallman. ... The Linux kernel is a Unix-like operating system kernel. ... Tux, the Linux mascot The Linux kernel has been marked by constant growth throughout its history. ... Quite possibly the gayest image ever made by anyone, ever. ... The SCO-Linux controversies are a series of legal and public disputes between the software company SCO Group (SCO) and various Linux vendors and users. ... Comparison of Windows and Linux (two computer operating systems) has become a common topic of discussion among their respective users. ... Linux adoption refers to the uptake of the Linux operating system by homes, organisations and governments. ... Linus Law can refer to two notions, both named after Linus Torvalds. ... The concepts behind Tux, the Linux mascot, were developed in email exchanges on a public mailing list. ... It has been suggested that Linux be merged into this article or section. ... This page provides general information about each of the notable Linux distributions in the form of a categorized list. ... The many Linux distributions differ for various reasons including technical, organizational, and philosophical. ... Linux package formats are the different file formats used to package software for various GNU/Linux distributions. ... Gnoppix 0. ... This is a large list of LiveDistros. ... LiveDistro is a generic term for an operating system distribution that is executed upon boot, without installation on a hard drive. ... A live USB is a USB flash drive containing a full operating system which can be booted from. ... The standard MiniLinux logo The term Mini Linux (or Mini Linux Distribution) refers to any Linux distribution that fits on memory card or a small number of floppies, usually one or two. ... The acronym LAMP refers to a solution stack of software programs, commonly open-source programs, used together to run dynamic Web sites or servers: Linux, (referring to the operating system); Apache, the Web server; MySQL, the database management system (or database server); PHP (Sometimes Perl or Python), the programming language. ... Desktop Linux, also Linux on the desktop (LOTD) is the application of the GNU/Linux operating system on a desktop computer. ... Embedded Linux is a Linux based embedded operating system used in cell phones, personal digital assistants, media player handsets and other consumer electronics devices. ... Vega Strike, a space flight game. ... Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC, SEHK: 4335), founded in 1968 as Integrated Electronics Corporation, is an American multinational corporation that is best known for designing and manufacturing microprocessors and specialized integrated circuits. ... The Intel 80386 is a microprocessor which was used as the central processing unit (CPU) of many personal computers from 1986 until 1994 and later. ... The Linux kernel is a Unix-like operating system kernel. ... The Motorola 680x0, 0x0, m68k, or 68k family of CISC microprocessor CPU chips were 32-bit from the start, and were the primary competition for the Intel x86 family of chips. ... Linus Benedict Torvalds ( ; born December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish software engineer best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel. ...


Architecture specific folders in the kernel source address the particular details of each supported processor, while all benefit by sharing the identical bulk of the kernel code.


Additional modularity was achieved by kernel 2.0 with dynamically loadable modules.


List of supported architectures

Linux supports the following machine architectures:

  • Alpha architecture:
  • Analog Devices
  • Fujitsu FR-V
  • Hewlett-Packard's PA-RISC family
  • H8 architecture from Renesas Technology, formerly Hitachi.
    • H8/300
    • H8/500
  • Intel IA-64 Itanium, Itanium II.
  • OpenRISC open core processor series:
    • Beyond Semiconductor OR1200
    • Beyond Semiconductor OR1210

Additional processors (particularly Freescale's 68000 and ColdFire) are supported by the MMU-less μClinux variant. DEC Alpha AXP 21064 Microprocessor The DEC Alpha, also known as the Alpha AXP, is a 64-bit RISC microprocessor originally developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corp (DEC). ... ARC International plc is a company that designs computer processors. ... The ARM architecture (previously, the Advanced RISC Machine, and prior to that Acorn RISC Machine) is a 32-bit RISC processor architecture that is widely used in a number of embedded designs. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Risc PC (codenamed Medusa) was Acorn Computers Ltds next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched in 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. ... DEC StrongARM SA-110 Microprocessor The StrongARM microprocessor is a faster version of the Advanced RISC Machines ARM design. ... The XScale, a microprocessor core, is Intels implementation of the 5th generation of the ARM architecture, and consists of several distinct families: IXP, IXC, IOP, PXA and CE (see more below). ... Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 running OpenZaurus and OPIE, with docking cradle and stylus The Sharp Zaurus is the name of a series of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) made by Sharp Corporation. ... This article is about the iPAQ PDA; for the iPAQ Desktop Personal Computer, see iPAQ (desktop computer). ... Palm, Inc. ... The Tungsten series was Palm, Inc. ... GamePark Holdings is a Korean company responsible for creating the GP2X that was founded by former employees of the game maker GamePark. ... The GP2X is an open-source, Linux-based handheld video game console and media player created and sold by GamePark Holdings of South Korea. ... The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet is a wireless Internet appliance from Nokia, originally announced at the LinuxWorld Summit in New York City on May 25, 2005. ... The Nokia N800 Internet Tablet is a wireless Internet appliance from Nokia, originally announced at the Las Vegas CES 2007 Summit in January 2007. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... “NDS” redirects here. ... The DSLinux Logo DSLinux is a port of the Linux operating system to the Nintendo DS. It is currently in its early stages. ... mylo is a first-of-its-kind device created and marketed by Sony for portable instant messaging and other Internet-based communications, browsing Internet web sites and playback and sharing of media files. ... iPod (fifth generation) in Apple Universal Dock, iPod nano (second generation) and iPod shuffle (second generation) iPod is a brand of portable media players designed and marketed by Apple and launched in 2001. ... iPod running iPod Linux iPod Linux is a µCLinux-based software distribution targeted specifically to run on Apple Inc. ... Atmel ATMEGA32 microcontroller Atmel AT90S2333 microcontroller Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML) is a manufacturer of semiconductors, founded in 1984 by George Perlegos. ... The AVR32 is a 32-bit RISC microprocessor architecture designed by Atmel. ... Axiss products include this webcam, which can be connected directly to a network or the internet, via an RJ45 connector on its rear. ... An ETRAX FS chip The ETRAX CRIS is a series of CPUs designed and manufactured by Axis Communications for use in embedded systems since 1993[1]. The name is an acronim of the chips features: Ethernet, Token Ring, AXis - Code Reduced Instruction Set. ... American corporation Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. ... The Motorola 680x0/0x0/m68k/68k/68K family of CISC microprocessor CPU chips were 32-bit from the start, and were the primary competition for the Intel x86 family of chips. ... The original Amiga 1000 (1985) with various peripherals The Amiga is a family of personal computers originally developed by Amiga Corporation. ... An Amiga 1200 with a standard mouse and two external floppy disk drives. ... The Amiga 2500, also known as the A2500, was not a distinct Amiga model, but simply a marketing name for a Commodore Amiga 2000 bundled with a Motorola 68020 or 68030-based accelerator card. ... The Amiga 3000T, a towerized version of the A3000. ... The A4000, or Commodore Amiga 4000, was the successor of the A2000 and A3000 computers. ... Apple Inc. ... Macintosh II was the first personal computer model of the Macintosh II series in the Apple Macintosh line. ... Macintosh LC sans display, keyboard or mouse The Macintosh LC (meaning low-cost color) was Apple Computers product family of low-end consumer Macintosh personal computers in the early 1990s. ... Quadra 800 Quadra was the name used by Apple Computer for most of its Macintosh computers built around the Motorola 68040 CPU. The product manager for the Quadra family was Frank Casanova who was also the Product Manager for the Macintosh IIfx. ... The Macintosh Centris 660AV, the last computer to use the Centris name Macintosh Centris was a set of three 1993 Macintosh models that were built around the Motorola 68LC040 and 68040 CPUs. ... A Macintosh Performa 5200, an all-in-one desktop similar to the iMac. ... Sun Microsystems, Inc. ... For the district in Saga, Japan, see Fujitsu, Saga. ... This page is about the Fujitsu Microprocessor. ... The Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), commonly known as HP, is a very large, global company headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States. ... HP PA-RISC 7300LC Microprocessor PA-RISC is a microprocessor architecture developed by Hewlett-Packards Systems & VLSI Technology Operation. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hitachi H8. ... International Business Machines Corporation (IBM, or colloquially, Big Blue) (NYSE: IBM) (incorporated June 15, 1911, in operation since 1888) is headquartered in Armonk, New York, USA. The company manufactures and sells computer hardware, software, and services. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... ESA/390 (Enterprise Systems Architecture/390) is IBMs 31-bit mainframe computing design, copied by Amdahl, Hitachi, and Fujitsu among other competitors. ... Since December, 2001, IBM designates all its mainframes with the name eServer zSeries, with the e depicted in IBMs well-known red trademarked symbol. ... IBM System z9 System z9 is the newest and most powerful line of IBM mainframes. ... In computing, a 64-bit component is one in which data are processed or stored in 64-bit units (words). ... Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC, SEHK: 4335), founded in 1968 as Integrated Electronics Corporation, is an American multinational corporation that is best known for designing and manufacturing microprocessors and specialized integrated circuits. ... In computing, IA-64 (short for Intel Architecture-64) is a 64-bit processor architecture developed cooperatively by Intel Corporation and Hewlett-Packard (HP), and implemented in the Itanium and Itanium 2 processors. ... x86 or 80x86 is the generic name of a microprocessor architecture first developed and manufactured by Intel. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with X86 assembly language. ... The AMD64 or x86-64 is a 64-bit processor architecture invented by AMD. It is a superset of the x86 architecture, which it natively supports. ... // Overview The exposed die of an Intel 80486DX2 microprocessor. ... Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. ... Cyrix corporate logo Cyrix was a CPU manufacturer that began in 1988 as a specialist supplier of high-performance math co-processors for 286 and 386 systems. ... Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), better known in the electronics industry (and popularly) as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, USA, renowned for developing and commercializing semiconductor and computer technology. ... Intel introduced the brand name Pentium for its successor to the i486. ... Celeron is a brand name given by Intel Corp. ... Xeon logo as of 2006. ... K5 core diagram AMD 5K86-P90 (SSA/5) AMD K5 PR166 The K5 was AMDs first in-house processor, developed to compete with Intels Pentium microprocessor range. ... History 1997 saw the arrival of AMDs K6 microprocessor. ... Athlon is the brand name applied to a series of different x86 processors designed and manufactured by AMD. The original Athlon, or Athlon Classic, was the first seventh-generation x86 processor and, in a first, retained the initial performance lead it had over Intels competing processors for a significant... The AMD Duron was an x86-compatible computer processor manufactured by AMD. It was released on June 19, 2000 as a low-cost alternative to AMDs own Athlon processor and the Pentium III and Celeron processor lines from rival Intel. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... The AMD64 or x86-64 is a 64-bit processor architecture invented by AMD. It is a superset of the x86 architecture, which it natively supports. ... The Athlon 64 is an eighth-generation, AMD64 architecture microprocessor produced by AMD, released on September 23, 2003[1]. It is the third processor to bear the name Athlon, and the immediate successor to the Athlon XP[2]. The second processor (after the Opteron) to implement AMD64 architecture and the... The AMD Opteron (codenamed SledgeHammer during development) was the first of AMDs eighth-generation x86 processors based on the K8 or Hammer core, and the first processor to implement the AMD64 (formerly x86-64) instruction set architecture. ... Core 2 is an eighth-generation x86 architecture microprocessor produced by Intel and based on the Intel Core microarchitecture. ... The Cyrix 6x86 is a sixth-generation, 32-bit 80x86_compatible microprocessor designed by Cyrix and manufactured by IBM and SGS_Thomson. ... Cyrix Media GX Microprocessor Introduced in 1997, the MediaGX CPU was an x86 processor manufactured by designed by Cyrix and manufactured by National Semiconductor. ... VIA Technologies logo VIA Technologies is a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated circuits, mainly motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and memory, and is part of the Formosa Plastics Group. ... The VIA C3 is an x86 central processing unit for personal computers produced by VIA Technologies. ... 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Mitsubishi Logo The Mitsubishi Group ), Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies, all refer to a large grouping of independently operated Japanese companies which share the Mitsubishi brand name. ... A MIPS R4400 microprocessor made by Toshiba. ... Infineon Technologies AG (ISIN: DE0006231004, FWB: IFX, NYSE: IFX) was founded in April 1999 when the semiconductor operations of parent company, Siemens AG, were spun off to form a separate legal entity. ... The Jazz computer architecture was a motherboard and chipset design originally developed by Microsoft for use in developing Windows NT. The design was eventually used as the basis for most MIPS-based Windows NT systems. ... Sun Cobalt Qube 3 appliance The Sun Cobalt Qube 3 appliance is a cheap fully fuctioning general-purpose microserver. ... Cobalt RaQ 550 The Cobalt RaQ is a 1U rackmount server product line developed by Cobalt Networks, Inc. ... 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NEC Corporation (Japanese 日本電気株式会社 Nippon Denki Kabushiki Gaisha; TYO: 6701 , NASDAQ: NIPNY) is a multi-national information technologies company headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. ... The NEC Electronics Corporation V850 is a 32-bit embedded RISC microcontroller originally developed and manufactured by NEC, succeeded by V850 variants named V850E, and V850E2 which run uClinux, and is supported by GNU_Compiler_Collection. ... OpenRISC is an open source hardware RISC CPU design by OpenCores released under the GNU Lesser General Public License. ... The Power Architecture logo Power Architecture is a broad term to describe similar instruction sets for RISC microprocessors developed and manufactured by such companies as IBM, Freescale, AMCC, Tundra and P.A. Semi. ... International Business Machines Corporation (known as IBM or Big Blue; NYSE: IBM) is a multinational computer technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, USA. The company is one of the few information technology companies with a continuous history dating back to the 19th century. ... PowerPC is a RISC microprocessor architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM. Originally intended for personal computers, PowerPC CPUs have since become popular embedded and high-performance processors as well. ... Look up cell in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Power Macintosh, or Power Mac, is the name of a line of Apple Macintosh personal computers based on various models of PowerPC microprocessors. ... NuBus is a 32-bit parallel computer bus, originally developed at MIT as a part of the NuMachine workstation project, and eventually used by Apple Computer and NeXT Computer. ... Power Computing was a short-lived manufacturer of Apple Macintosh-compatible computers. ... Umax, currently a manufacturer of consumer and professional scanners, digital cameras, and a number of Bluetooth networking products, was formerly a maker of Apple Macintosh clones. ... Motorola (NYSE: MOT) is an American multinational communications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. ... AmigaOne is the name used for a series of motherboards for PowerPC CPUs mainly intended to run AmigaOS version 4. ... The IBM pSeries, formerly called RS/6000 (for RISC System/6000), is IBMs current RISC/UNIX-based workstation and server computer line. ... Enterprise class server and the successor to the AS/400. ... The IBM pSeries, formerly called RS/6000 (for RISC System/6000), is IBMs current RISC/UNIX-based workstation computer line. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Nintendo GameCube , GCN) is Nintendos fourth home video game console, belonging to the sixth generation era. ... Gamecube Linux is a project to port GNU/Linux to the Nintendo GameCube. ... BlackDog is a mobile personal server which allows the user to use the open source Linux operating system on any computer with a USB port. ... Sony Corporation ) is a multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest media conglomerates with revenue of $68. ... PlayStation 3 , trademarked PLAYSTATION®3,[7] commonly abbreviated PS3) is Sony Computer Entertainments third video game console. ... The Power Architecture logo PowerPC 400 family is a line of 32-bit embedded RISC-processor cores built using Power Architecture technology. ... A field-programmable gate array or FPGA is a gate array that can be reprogrammed after it is manufactured, rather than having its programming fixed during the manufacturing — a programmable logic device. ... Xilinx, Inc. ... Sun UltraSPARC II Microprocessor Sun UltraSPARC T1 (Niagara 8 Core) SPARC (Scalable Processor Architecture) is a RISC microprocessor instruction set architecture originally designed in 1985 by Sun Microsystems. ... Sun-4 was the name given to a series of UNIX computer workstations and servers produced by Sun Microsystems, launched in 1987. ... Sun SPARCstation 1+ pizzabox, 25mhz RISC processor, early 1990s SPARCstation was the name given to a series of SPARC-based computer workstations developed and sold by Sun Microsystems. ... SPARCstation was the name given to a series of SPARC-based computer workstations developed and sold by Sun Microsystems. ... Sun UltraSPARC II Microprocessor Sun UltraSPARC T1 (Niagara 8 Core) SPARC (Scalable Processor Architecture) is a RISC microprocessor instruction set architecture originally designed in 1985 by Sun Microsystems. ... The Sun Ultra series is the name given to a series of UltraSPARC-based computer workstations and servers developed and sold by Sun Microsystems. ... The Sun Blade series was a computer workstation line developed and sold by Sun Microsystems from 2000 to 2006. ... The Sun Fire series is a range of UNIX server computers produced by Sun Microsystems from 2001 onwards, superseding the Sun Enterprise series. ... Tatung Company is a leader in the design and manufacturing of a vast array of digital consumer products, including consumer PCs, LCD TVs PDPs, network-connected devices, storage-based media players, videophones and home appliances. ... The SuperHichem (or SH) is brandname of a certain microcontroller and microprocessor architecture. ... Sega Corporation ) is an international video game software and hardware developing company, and a former home computer and console manufacturer. ... The Dreamcast , code-named Black Belt, Dural, Dricas, Vortex, and Katana during development) is Segas fifth and final video game console and the successor to the Sega Saturn. ... ... The Motorola Coldfire is a 68k architecture microprocessor manufactured for embedded systems development by Motorola (now Freescale Semiconductor). ... µClinux (which stands for MicroControllerLinux and is pronounced as you-see-Linux) is a Linux distro operating system for microcontrollers (µCs, embedded systems) without a memory management unit (MMU). ...


References

  • http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue5_11/moon/

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