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<sect1 id="what-is-debian-linux">
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<title>What is &debian;?</title>
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<para>
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The combination of Debian's philosophy and methodology and the GNU
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tools, the Linux kernel, and other important free software, form a
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unique software distribution called &debian;. This
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distribution is made up of a large number of software
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<emphasis>packages</emphasis>. Each package in the distribution
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contains executables, scripts, documentation, and configuration
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information, and has a <emphasis>maintainer</emphasis> who is
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primarily responsible for keeping the package up-to-date, tracking bug
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reports, and communicating with the upstream author(s) of the packaged
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software. Our extremely large user base, combined with our bug
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tracking system ensures that problems are found and fixed quickly.
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</para><para>
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Debian's attention to detail allows us to produce a high-quality,
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stable, and scalable distribution. Installations can be easily
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configured to serve many roles, from stripped-down firewalls to
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desktop scientific workstations to high-end network servers.
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</para><para>
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Debian is especially popular among advanced users because of its
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technical excellence and its deep commitment to the needs and
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expectations of the Linux community. Debian also introduced many
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features to Linux that are now commonplace.
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</para><para>
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For example, Debian was the first Linux distribution to include a
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package management system for easy installation and removal of
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software. It was also the first Linux distribution that could be
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upgraded without requiring reinstallation.
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</para><para>
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Debian continues to be a leader in Linux development. Its development
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process is an example of just how well the Open Source development
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model can work - even for very complex tasks such as building and
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maintaining a complete operating system.
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</para><para>
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The feature that most distinguishes Debian from other Linux
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distributions is its package management system. These tools give the
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administrator of a Debian system complete control over the packages
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installed on that system, including the ability to install a single
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package or automatically update the entire operating system.
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Individual packages can also be protected from being updated. You can
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even tell the package management system about software you have
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compiled yourself and what dependencies it fulfills.
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</para><para>
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To protect your system against <quote>trojan horses</quote> and other malevolent
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software, Debian's servers verify that uploaded packages come from
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their registered Debian maintainers. Debian packagers also take great
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care to configure their packages in a secure manner. When security
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problems in shipped packages do appear, fixes are usually available
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very quickly. With Debian's simple update options, security fixes can
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be downloaded and installed automatically across the Internet.
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</para><para>
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The primary, and best, method of getting support for your Debian
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GNU/Linux system and communicating with Debian Developers is through
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the many mailing lists maintained by the Debian Project (there are
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more than 90 at this writing). The easiest way to subscribe to one or
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more of these lists is visit
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<ulink url="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/subscribe">
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Debian's mailing list subscription page</ulink> and fill out the form
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you'll find there.
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</para>
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</sect1>
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