\begin{figure}[H]
  \includegraphics[width=0.575\linewidth]{IMAGES/logolinux}
  \caption{Linux Distributions}
\end{figure}

\begin{itemize}

  \index{RPM@\textbf{RPM}}
  \index{deb@\textbf{deb}}
  \index{Red Hat@\textbf{Red Hat}}
  \index{Fedora@\textbf{Fedora}}
  \index{Debian@\textbf{Debian}}
  \index{Ubuntu@\textbf{Ubuntu}}
  \index{GENTOO@\textbf{GENTOO}}
  \index{ArchLinux@\textbf{Arch Linux}}
  \index{Manjaro@\textbf{Manjaro}}
  \index{CentOS@\textbf{CentOS}}
  \index{OpenSUSE@\textbf{OpenSUSE}}
  \index{Linux  Mint@\textbf{Linux Mint}}

\item

  This course has been developed for and tested thoroughly
  on the 64-bit versions of the three major families of
  \textbf{Linux} distributions:

  \begin{enumerate}

  \item

    \textbf{Red Hat}

    This includes \textbf{RHEL} and the \textbf{CentOS
      Stream} and \textbf{CentOS} systems based on
    \textbf{RHEL}, as well as recent \textbf{Fedora} and
    \textbf{Oracle Linux}.

  \item

    \textbf{Debian}

    This includes \textbf{Ubuntu} and \textbf{Linux Mint}.

  \item

    \textbf{SUSE}

    This includes \textbf{openSUSE}.

  \end{enumerate}

\item

  Generally, any recent (say last two) versions of these
  distributions are completely supported.

\item
  If you are using a 32-bit system on a laptop or
  workstation, almost everything will work acceptably, but
  we no longer make any effort to ensure it.  For 32-bit
  target systems, our embedded development courses will take
  into account relevant aspects as they are still in use.

\item

  As far as software installation and control is concerned,
  distributions tend to use either \textbf{RPM}-based or
  \textbf{deb}-based package management. In the above list,
  all \textbf{Red Hat} and \textbf{SUSE} derived systems are
  \textbf{RPM}-based, and all \textbf{Debian} derived
  systems are \textbf{deb}-based. When necessary, we will
  give required instructions for either of these two broad
  families.

\item
  Two interesting distributions that fall outside this
  framework:
  \begin{itemize}
  \item

    \textbf{Arch Linux} is a cutting edge distribution which
    uses \textbf{Pacman} as its packaging system, and uses a
    rolling release philosophy.  If you are an
    \textbf{Arch Linux} user, you are already quite
    experienced and adjusting to the course to should
    result in a tolerable quotient of pain. The \textbf{Manjaro}
    distribution is a derivative of \textbf{Arch Linux} which is
    intended to be more user-friendly and easier to administer.

  \item

    \textbf{GENTOO} uses the \textbf{portage/emerge}
    system which involves compiling directly from source. If
    you are a \textbf{GENTOO} user, and you have
    successfully accomplished a fully functional
    installation (which is generally not a task for novices)
    you will not need detailed instructions in how to
    install software or find things, and so we will not
    insult you by offering it.

  \end{itemize}

\item

  If you are running any other distribution you should not
  have any trouble adapting what we are doing to your
  installation.

  \begin{lfbox}[AWS]

    \begin{itemize}
      \begin{minipage}{0.75\linewidth}
      \item
        \textbf{Amazon Web Services} (\textbf{AWS}) offers a
        wide range of virtual machine products
        (\textbf{instances}) which remote users can access
        in the cloud.
      \item
        In particular, one can use their \textbf{Free Tier}
        account level for up to a year and the simulated
        hardware and software choices available may be all
        one needs to perform the exercises for \textbf{Linux
          Foundation} training courses and gain experience
        with \textbf{Linux}. Or they may furnish a very
        educational supplement to working on local hardware,
        and offer opportunities to easily study more than
        one \textbf{Linux} distribution.
      \item
        Note that \textbf{AWS} will not give access to the
        console and will not present a Graphical interface,
        so you will not be able to perform tasks which
        require either of these facilities.  Furthermore,
        for kernel-level courses there are some particular
        challenges.

      \item
        Please download a helpful guide we have prepared to
        help you experiment with the \textbf{AWS} free tier:
        \url{https://training.linuxfoundation.org/cm/prep/aws.pdf}.
      \end{minipage}
      \begin{minipage}{0.15\linewidth}
        \begin{figure}[H]
          \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{IMAGES/AWS_Simple_Icons_AWS_Cloud}
          \caption{AWS}
        \end{figure}
      \end{minipage}
    \end{itemize}
  \end{lfbox}

\end{itemize}

