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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux on non-PCs/Laptops (self.linux)

submitted 3 months ago by Tekkip20 to c/[email protected]

54 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Aside from Linux running on NASA hardware, phones and consoles. Does it run on ATM machines, PDAs and point of sale monitors?

I ask this because I've seen Windows being used in airport terminals and really old versions being used for cash machines as well. The crowdstrike problem made this more prevalent by seeing "non end user computers" using the OS.

Does Linux fill this niche as well do you know? I don't recall hearing any big name embedded distro used for those sorts of machines. Maybe Alpine Linux or NetBSD?

Thank you in advance for your input!

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[–] Karmmah 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I saw the self checkout machines in my supermarket being restarted a few times and caught a glimpse of what was shown on the screen. Before they were upgrade some time ago they showed that CentOS was running and now I think that I saw Rocky Linux running on there. So yes, these are definitely out there and used widely.

Also I've see pictures of Raspberry Pis being used almost everywhere.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Holy cow what country is this? All the self-service check outs in our Dutch Albert Heijns and Lidls use Windows 10/11!

A good boba tea shop, Sencha Silk near Arnhem Centraal, their self checkout used unregistered Windows 10's and upgraded them to unregistered Windows 11's recently, judging by the watermark on the bottom-right. Based.

[–] Karmmah 6 points 3 months ago

It's Aldi in Germany. Running Linux however does not prevent these machines from getting errors all the time so often times there are only 3/6 machines available since an employee has to reset the software manually.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I can say that, at least in the Southwestern US, our local Kroger stores all use Linux of some variety at their self-checkouts. I've seen the same as above: mostly CentOS and Rocky.