1. About Mandriva Linux

Mandriva Linux is a GNU/Linux distribution supported by Mandriva S.A. which was born on the Internet in 1998. Its main goal was and still is to provide an easy-to-use and friendly GNU/Linux system. Mandriva's two pillars are open source and collaborative work.

[Note] Note

In April 2005 the Mandrakesoft company changed its name to Mandriva to reflect its merger with Brazil-based Connectiva. Its core product, Mandrakelinux, became Mandriva Linux.

1.1. Contacting the Mandriva Linux Community

The following are various Internet links pointing you to the most important Mandriva Linux-related sources. If you wish to know more about the Mandriva company, connect to our web site. You can also check out the Mandriva Linux distribution web site and all its derivatives.

Mandriva Expert is Mandriva's support platform. It offers a new experience based on trust and the pleasure of rewarding others for their contributions.

We also invite you to subscribe to the various mailing lists where the Mandriva Linux community demonstrates its high spirits and keen debates.

Please also remember to connect to our security page. It gathers all security-related material about Mandriva Linux distributions. You will find security and bug advisories, as well as kernel update procedures, the different security-oriented mailing lists which you can join, and Mandriva Online (see Chapter 14, Mandriva Online Services). This page is a must for any server administrator or user concerned about security.

1.2. Join the Club!

Mandriva Club is the place where users meet to help each other out, exchange valuable information about Mandriva Linux, get informed of the latest Mandriva, Linux and Open Source news. Club subscribers have privileged access to an even wider array of services.

With your Mandriva ID, you have free access to:

  • help (forums, chat, Knowledge Base with tutorials, how-tos, tips and tricks)

  • news

  • more Mandriva- and community-contributed content

As a Club Member, you have exclusive access to :

  • 50.000 software packages, including commercial software, drivers, demos...

  • super-fast download servers

  • official Mandriva Linux documentation

  • Mandriva Online Services - Kiosk, Online, Expert and eTraining

  • permanent special discounts at Mandriva Store

  • ... and much more !

Mandriva Club is where you get the best Mandriva Linux experience, learning from others, teaching others, accessing exclusive features and contributing to the development of Mandriva Linux and Free and Open Source Software in general.

1.3. Subscribing to Mandriva Online

Mandriva offers a very convenient way to keep your system automatically up-to-date, free of bugs and security holes. Consult Chapter 14, Mandriva Online Services.

1.4. Purchasing Mandriva Products

Mandriva Linux users may purchase products on-line through the Mandriva Store. You will not only find Mandriva Linux software, operating systems and “live” boot CDs (such as Live), but also special subscription offers, support, third-party software and licenses, documentation, GNU/Linux-related books, as well as other Mandriva goodies.

1.5. Mandriva Kiosk

Mandriva Kiosk is a service which provides you with a catalog of the most popular software, be it Free or commercial, for your Mandriva Linux distribution. You'll find new software for all your needs: from the latest version of the OpenOffice.org suite and multimedia applications to the latest KDE and GNOME desktop environments, games and wallpapers.

It's very easy to use with its web-based graphical interface, detailed application descriptions and a smooth one-click install process that will upgrade or extend your system's functionally in a few minutes. Installing new software on your Mandriva Linux distribution has never been easier.

Mandriva Linux 2007 Discovery, Powerpack and Powerpack+ users benefit from 30 days of free access to Kiosk with their free Club trial period. Discover it now at the Kiosk Website.

The Mandriva Kiosk service is free to all Mandriva Club members and is also available as a stand-alone service through an annual subscription. By subscribing to Kiosk, you're getting:

  • access to an easy-to-use web-based catalog of new software - Free and commercial

  • packages tested exclusively for Kiosk by Mandriva teams

  • packages which seamlessly install on your system

  • packages which install with a single mouse click

Enjoy the Kiosk experience!

1.6. Contributing to Mandriva Linux

The skills of the many-talented folks who use Mandriva Linux can be very useful in the making of the Mandriva Linux system:

  • Packaging. A GNU/Linux system is mainly made of programs found on the Internet. These need to be packaged in order to work together.

  • Programming. There are many, many projects directly supported by Mandriva: find the one which most appeals to you and offer your help to the main developer(s).

  • Internationalization. You can help us translate web pages, programs and their respective documentation.

Consult the development projects page to learn more about how you can contribute to the evolution of Mandriva Linux.