Scientific Linux is a free operating system (a Linux distribution), co-developed by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and which aims to be 100% compatible with and based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

This product is derived from the free & open source software made available by Red Hat, Inc., but is not produced, maintained or supported by Red Hat. Specifically, this product is built from the source code for Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions, under the terms and conditions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux's EULA and the GNU General Public License.

History

Fermilab already had a Linux distribution known as Fermi Linux LTS 3.0.1, based on RHEL. CERN was creating their next version of Cern Linux, also based on RHEL. CERN contacted Fermilab about doing a joint collaboration. Connie Sieh, the main developer of Fermi Linux, saw the potential for this collaboration. She saw it as a way, not only to help the two large labs, but also to help the various smaller labs around the world doing high energy physics. Sieh was the main developer and driver behind the first prototypes and initial release.

The first prototype was called HEPL, standing for High Energy Physics Linux. Public reception from the scientific community was supportive, but many were dissatisfied with the name, as not all users were dealing with high energy physics, or even physics at all. The name was changed to Scientific Linux. The first official release was on May 10, 2004.

At the release of Scientific Linux 3.0.1, CERN joined in the collaboration and became co-developers of Scientific Linux.

Scientific Linux includes software suited for scientists and people working with scientific data. This includes FITS libraries, Graphviz, and R.

Version history

Scientific Linux (SL)'s historical releases are as following.

See also

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux derivatives
• Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab)
• CERN

External links

• Scientific Linux Homepage
• CERN Linux Home Page
• Fermilab Linux Home Page

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