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ALT Linux
ALT Linux
ALT Linux
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ALT Linux
ALT Workstation 10
DeveloperALT Linux Ltd[1] and ALT Linux Team[2]
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working stateActive
Source modelOpen source
Initial releaseMarch 2001; 24 years ago (2001-03)[3][4]
Latest release11.1[5] Edit this on Wikidata / 3 September 2025; 5 months ago (3 September 2025)
Latest previewSisyphus / released daily[6]
Available inMultilingual (but installation process in Russian by default; can edit the language at boot of livecd by changing ru_RU to en_US)
Update method0.5 years per stabilization
Package managerAPT-RPM
Supported platformsAMD64, i586, ARMv7, e2k, AArch64
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux kernel)
Default
user interface		bash; KDE Plasma Desktop (in Desktop), Xfce (in Desktop Lite)
Official websiteen.altlinux.org English
altlinux.org Russian

ALT Linux is a set of Russian operating systems based on RPM Package Manager (RPM) and built on a Linux kernel and Sisyphus[7] package repository. ALT Linux has been developed collectively by ALT Linux Team developers community and ALT Linux Ltd.

History

[edit]

ALT Linux Team arose from the merger of IPLabs Linux Team and the Linux community of the Institute of Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality.[8] The latter cooperated with Mandrake Linux and SUSE Linux teams to improve localization (specifically Cyrillic script), producing a Linux-Mandrake Russian Edition (RE).

Mandrake and Mandrake RE became different distributions and thus the decision was made to create a separate project. The name ALT was coined, which is a recursive acronym meaning ALT Linux Team.

The split led to the creation of the Sisyphus package repository, which is an unstable branch of the ALT Linux development. In 2007, the Sisyphus repository won a prestigious CNews award in nomination for Information Security.[9]

Red Hat Linux

Releases

[edit]

[10]

Version history

[edit]
Version Release date End-of-life date Kernel version
Unsupported: 1.1 2001-09-12 ? 2.4.9
Unsupported: 2.0 2002-04-17 ? 2.4.18
Unsupported: 2.2 2003-03-04 ? 2.4.20
Unsupported: 2.3 2004-03-25 ? 2.4.22
Unsupported: 2.4 2004-09-19 ? 2.4.26
Unsupported: 3.0 2005-12-08 ? 2.6.12
Unsupported: 4.0 2007-08-27 ? 2.6.18
Unsupported: 4.1.1 2009-01-14 ? 2.6.25
Unsupported: 5.0.0 2009-10-29 ? 2.6.30
Unsupported: 6.0.0 2011-08-30 ? 3.0.3
Unsupported: 7.0.0 2013-07-01 ? 3.8.13
Supported: 8.0 2016-08-16 ? 4.4.16
Supported: 8.1 2016-11-24 ? 4.4.34
Supported: 8.2 2017-12-31 ? 4.9.72
Supported: 8.2.1 2019-09-06 ? 4.19.65
Supported: 9.0 2019-10-28 ? 4.19.79
Supported: 9.1 2020-08-02 ? 5.4.51
Supported: 10.0 2021-12-16 ? 5.15.34
Supported: 10.1 2022-11-16 ? 5.15.72
Latest version: 10.2 2024-03-16 ? 6.1.79
Legend:
Unsupported
Supported
Latest version

Linux-Mandrake

[edit]

Linux-Mandrake 7.0 Russian Edition, released in the beginning of 2000, was the first de facto independent distribution of IPLabs Linux Team. It kept the name Mandrake with permission from Mandrake developers.

Spring 2001 was the second IPLabs Linux team release, released several months later.

ALT Linux 1.0

[edit]

Since the summer of 2001, ALT Linux Team has been formed and the ALT Linux name has been established.

The first ALT Linux release was ALT Linux Junior 1.0, released in summer of 2001, followed by the updated ALT Linux Junior 1.1 in autumn of 2001.

Junior distributions were 1CD releases.

ALT Linux 2.*

[edit]

ALT Linux Master 2.0, released in May 2002, was the 4CD all-purpose Linux distribution targeted for software developers and system administrators.

ALT Linux Junior 2.0 was released in summer of 2002, as a 1CD desktop/workstation-oriented release.

ALT Linux 3.0

[edit]

ALT Linux Compact 3.0 was released during autumn 2005, and consisted of 1CD/1DVD installable versions along with LiveCD (TravelCD 3.0). There were several subsequent OEM updates counting up to 3.0.5.

ALT Linux 4.0

[edit]

These series changed the official naming somewhat to be ALT Linux 4.0 $flavour.

  • Server was released in June 2007 (1CD+1DVD per platform; i586 and x86_64);
  • Office Server quickly followed (1CD; i586 and x86_64);
  • Desktop Personal in August 2007 (1DVD, LiveCD, Rescue CD; i586; KDE3);
  • Lite in December 2007 (installation CD, live CD and 2CD with addons; i586; Xfce4);
  • Terminal in December 2007 (joint release with Media Magic Ltd, 1DVD; i586; KDE3, low client RAM requirements).

There was also a more conservative school 4.0 branch maintained for the Russian schools pilot project, and several distributions specifically tailored for schools released using that as a base.

ALT Linux 4.1

[edit]
  • Desktop was released in October 2008 (1CD/1DVD; i586 and x86_64; KDE3);
  • Children in December 2008 (LiveCD; i586);
  • Skif in December 2008 (1CD; x86_64; HPC);
  • School Server in February 2009 (1CD; i586).

ALT Linux 5.x

[edit]

The 5.0 branch was canceled[11] mainly due to stormy X.org conditions (and subsequently archived); 5.1 community branch was created along with p5 conservative branch later in 2009. Somewhat confusingly, distributions based on the p5/branch were numbered as ALT Linux 5.0:

  • Ark (client+server suite, 1DVD+1CD per platform; i586 and x86_64);
  • School Suite – mostly i586, also including docs, video lessons and free software for Windows (3DVD):
    • Server (1DVD; i586 and x86_64);
    • Terminal (1DVD; KDE3);
    • Master (1DVD/flash; KDE4);
    • Junior (1DVD/flash; GNOME2);
    • Lite (2CD; Xfce4);
    • New Lite (1CD/1DVD/flash; LXDE);
  • KDesktop (1DVD; i586 and x86_64; KDE4);
  • Simply Linux 5.0 (1CD/flash/LiveCD; i586; Xfce4).

Lite

[edit]

A small single-CD distribution for older/low-memory computers, with Xfce as default desktop. Available in normal and Live CD versions.[12] Rather superseded by LXDE-based New Lite.[citation needed]

Compact

[edit]

Compact is a series of ALT Linux distributions tailored for beginner users. It is mostly used on workstations, home computers, and notebooks. It includes additional means for easy configuration, many office and multimedia applications, and some games. Compact was also a popular choice for OEM white-labeling, i.e., creating a specific edition for various hardware vendors to bundle with their hardware.

Linux ALT Linux Server is a hardened server single CD distribution. It is certified by Federal department of technical and expert control of Russia in the following categories:

  • by the level of monitoring for non-declared features – level 4[13]
  • class of protection from unauthorized access to information – class 5[14]

Terminal

[edit]

ALT Linux Terminal is a terminal server distribution[15] based on ALT Linux Desktop and ALTSP5: a friendly/merging fork of Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) which is usable on older hardware acting as thin and diskless clients (16 MB RAM is enough, while stock LTSP5 usually requires ≥ 64 MB RAM). It was also adapted for Russian School Education National Project[16] free software package.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

ALT Linux

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
ALT Linux is a family of free and open-source Linux distributions originating from Russia, developed collaboratively by BaseALT LLC and the ALT Linux Team, and centered around the Sisyphus package repository that serves as its development backbone. These distributions utilize the RPM Package Manager for software handling and are built on the Linux kernel, supporting a wide range of architectures including x86_64, aarch64, i586, ARM, RISC-V, and PowerPC. Known for their emphasis on reliability, security, and adaptability, ALT Linux variants cater to diverse users, from educational institutions and government sectors to enterprise servers and embedded systems. The project traces its roots to , when it emerged from the merger of two prominent Russian initiatives: the IP Labs Team and the RuNet community, both established around 1997 and initially focused on localizing Mandrake for the Russian market. By 2008, ALT Linux had evolved into a substantial organization dedicated to , documentation, and deployment, with BaseALT LLC—founded with over two decades of experience—taking a leading role in maintaining , which hosts approximately 20,000 packages. The repository functions as a rolling-release development platform, enabling and testing, while stable branches produce fixed releases like ALT Linux 11.0, launched in May 2025. ALT Linux distinguishes itself through its commitment to proprietary Russian technologies alongside open-source foundations, offering editions such as desktop environments (with defaults like , , MATE, or ), server solutions, educational tools for preschools to high schools, and specialized versions for and . With a team of over 120 specialists providing 24/7 support and compatibility testing for hardware, browsers, systems, and more, it serves key sectors including , industry, and , prioritizing secure and scalable information systems. The distributions support package management via both RPM and APT, and their multi-purpose design—from single-disk desktops to enterprise-grade servers—reflects a broad objective of promoting solutions tailored for high-stakes environments.

Overview

Origins

ALT Linux traces its roots to the late 1990s efforts by Russian developers, particularly the IPLabs Linux Team, to create a localized version of Mandrake Linux tailored for the Russian market. This initiative focused on enhancing support for the Cyrillic alphabet, improving Russification of interfaces and documentation, and addressing local software needs through cooperation with Mandrake and SUSE teams. These localization projects, such as the Linux-Mandrake Russian Edition releases starting in 1999, were driven by the growing demand for accessible open-source operating systems in Russia, where foreign distributions often lacked adequate support for native languages and regional requirements. In 2001, the ALT Linux Team was formed through the merger of the IPLabs Linux Team and the Linux RuNet community from the Institute of Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality, marking a shift toward independent development of a Russian-oriented Linux distribution. The name "ALT" emerged as a recursive acronym for ALT Linux Team, reflecting the team's collaborative structure. This formation was influenced by early Russian interests in promoting domestic to support national technological independence and comply with emerging preferences for localized systems in education and government sectors. By 2002, the project had fully evolved into ALT Linux as a distinct distribution, building on the package repository for ongoing development.

Core Principles and Goals

ALT Linux is guided by a commitment to developing reliable and secure solutions that prioritize user and national relevance, particularly for Russian-speaking audiences. The project emphasizes high reliability and as foundational principles, ensuring that its distributions maintain through rigorous testing and dependency management. Localization is a core focus, with full support for the in interfaces, documentation, and keyboard layouts, adhering to international standards to facilitate seamless adoption in domestic contexts. A primary goal of ALT Linux is to promote open-source software adoption in Russia's education and government sectors, where it serves as a key platform for transitioning to independent, free alternatives. Since 2008, it has been central to national initiatives mandating free software in schools, providing tailored distributions like ALT Education for student and teacher workstations, as well as administrative tools that integrate easily into institutional infrastructures. This emphasis extends to fostering ease of use for non-experts through intuitive installers, graphical environments such as and Plasma, and centralized management via tools like altcenter, making it suitable for beginners without requiring advanced technical knowledge. The project maintains a strong dedication to an RPM-based ecosystem, enhanced by custom tools like APT-RPM for efficient dependency resolution and package handling, which supports upgrades while preserving system consistency. This approach prioritizes compatibility with enterprise environments, enabling deployment in corporate networks and servers with features for , , and compliance with Russian regulatory standards for protection and security.

Development and Organization

ALT Linux Team

The ALT Linux Team was formed in the summer of 2001 around the development of the package repository, serving as the core group responsible for the project's technical evolution. This initiative laid the groundwork for ALT Linux distributions, with early efforts focused on building a stable, RPM-based ecosystem. BaseALT LLC, established in 2002 as the primary commercial entity supporting the project, has since coordinated much of the professional development under this banner. Key founders include Aleksey Novodvorsky, who co-founded Alt Linux LLC and served as Director of Development while maintaining a significant portion of early packages, and Dmitry Levin, the general architect of and overseer of the project's infrastructure. Alexey Gladkov has been instrumental in core development, contributing to essential components such as libshell, mkimage, make-initrd, and the Alterator installation framework, emphasizing reliability and integration in the base system. Structured as a non-profit , the team comprises an international, primarily Russian-speaking community of developers who collaboratively maintain through volunteer efforts and sub-teams like Mentors for new contributors. It receives contributions from professionals affiliated with Russian research institutes and universities. As of 2025, the team includes a mix of over 120 professional developers, programmers, and technical specialists employed by BaseALT, alongside volunteers, all centered on sustaining the repository with approximately 20,000 packages across multiple architectures. This composition ensures ongoing innovation and stability, with professionals handling enterprise-grade adaptations while volunteers drive community-driven enhancements.

Partnerships and Funding

ALT Linux has forged significant partnerships with Russian government entities, notably the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and , to enable certification and deployment in the . The Federal Service for Technical and Export Control (FSTEC), under the ministry, has issued multiple certifications for ALT distributions, such as Alt SP 10.2.1 in 2025 for Intel and Elbrus processors, and Alt SP release 10 in 2025 for and , supporting secure use in government . These certifications build on earlier efforts dating to the distribution's inception, facilitating adoption across federal and regional authorities, with over 24,000 installations reported in 2019 alone. BaseALT, the core developer of ALT Linux, funds its activities primarily through commercial services, including software licensing, , and customized enterprise distributions. In 2020, the company sold more than 110,000 licenses to state and commercial clients, yielding 491.5 million rubles in revenue. Additional revenue streams include subscription-based sales via platforms like Softline.market, launched in 2023, and services such as implementation, training, and cloud solutions. Grants and project-based funding from state corporations further bolster sustainability, exemplified by collaborations with , Russia's . In 2021, BaseALT adapted the Linter database management system for compatibility with ALT OS in Rosatom facilities, enhancing for . In July 2025, Rostelecom acquired a co-ownership stake in BaseALT, strengthening funding ties with major state telecommunications infrastructure. Corporate partnerships, such as with , integrate ALT Linux into broader ecosystems, including cloud services. ALT OS is available on the platform, allowing organizations to reduce IT costs through compatible virtual machines and storage. This integration, alongside compatibility certified in 2022, supports enterprise customization and generates revenue from tailored distributions. Prior to geopolitical shifts in 2022, such domestic alliances complemented international open-source efforts, though focus has since emphasized self-reliance.

History

Pre-ALT Period

Linux adoption in Russia began in the mid-, primarily among technical enthusiasts, developers, and academic communities experimenting with early systems. One notable example occurred in November 1994, when Russian developer Pete Zaitcev, guided by Unix expert Vadim Antonov, installed the (SLS) distribution on floppies obtained from Eugene Cherkashin to build an Internet-to-FIDONet gateway called ifgate. These initial efforts were driven by curiosity and practical needs in networking projects, reflecting a approach in a post-Soviet environment where access to Western computing resources was limited but growing through academic and hobbyist channels. By the late , distributions such as and saw experimental use in university settings and research institutions, as Linux's open-source nature appealed to resource-constrained environments seeking alternatives to proprietary Unix systems. Several barriers hindered broader in during this period. A primary challenge was the lack of localization, with most interfaces, documentation, and software packages available only in English, which alienated non-technical users and limited penetration beyond elite academic and developer circles. Additionally, U.S. export controls on in the late 1990s classified as a restricted destination, complicating the distribution of variants that included tools essential for secure networking—controls that were only partially eased in 1999 for exports. Compounding this, enacted a presidential in banning the import and use of foreign technologies without government certification, further restricting secure software adoption and fostering caution among users handling sensitive data. Software patents, while emerging globally, posed indirect hurdles through uncertainties in open-source development, though they were less pronounced in Russia's transitional legal framework at the time. By 2000, Mandrake Linux emerged as particularly popular in Russia, thanks to its innovative graphical installer—DrakXTools—which simplified setup for beginners compared to command-line alternatives in other distributions. This user-friendliness, combined with optimized hardware support, made it accessible for desktop experimentation amid rising interest in personal computing. The distribution's appeal spurred localization initiatives by Russian teams, including support for Cyrillic fonts and regional configurations, as evidenced by dedicated Russian editions released around that time; these efforts addressed prior language barriers and laid groundwork for customized domestic variants.

Formation and Early Years

ALT Linux emerged in 2001 from the merger of two prominent Russian free software initiatives—the IP Labs Linux Team and the Linux RuNet community—forming the ALT Linux Team to develop an independent distribution tailored for domestic needs. This formation laid the groundwork for a self-sustaining ecosystem, drawing initially from Mandrake Linux but quickly prioritizing autonomy in package management and software localization. The team's early efforts focused on building a robust development infrastructure to support Russian-language support, security features, and compatibility with local hardware. A pivotal milestone came in 2001 with the official launch of the unstable repository, which transitioned ALT Linux away from heavy reliance on by establishing an independent, continuously updated package collection. , initiated as the project's core development branch, enabled collaborative contributions from developers and served as the foundation for future stable releases, embodying the team's commitment to open-source innovation within a Russian context. The mid-2000s brought financial challenges, including funding shortages that threatened ongoing development amid growing demand for certified systems. These issues were addressed in 2004 through the incorporation of BaseALT LLC, which provided a commercial structure to secure resources and support enterprise-level adaptations. This reorganization culminated in the release of the stable ALT Linux 2.0 edition, a refined distribution that integrated Sisyphus advancements into a user-friendly platform for desktops and servers, marking a phase of maturation and expanded independence.

Technical Architecture

Base System and Kernel

ALT Linux utilizes the as its core, with recent distributions in 2025 incorporating stable versions such as 6.12 for standard deployments, configured to support a wide range of hardware including x86_64, , and specialized Russian architectures like Elbrus (e2k). These kernel builds are tailored for compatibility with domestic processors developed in , ensuring optimal performance on Elbrus-based systems used in and industrial sectors, where earlier variants like 5.10 remain supported for legacy Elbrus hardware. Additionally, real-time kernel variants, such as kernel-image-rt based on 6.12 with patches, are available for time-sensitive applications in industrial and embedded environments, providing low-latency scheduling essential for and control systems. The development repository integrates the latest upstream kernels, such as 6.16 as of November 2025. The base system of ALT Linux is constructed on a foundation of GNU tools and utilities, promoting a modular architecture that allows for straightforward assembly and customization of components to meet enterprise requirements. Central to this is the GNU C Library (), with version 2.40 integrated in the latest repository builds, serving as the standard C library for system calls, threading, and internationalization support across applications. This modular design, facilitated by the ALT Platform, enables users to select and configure base elements like core utilities, init systems (such as 257 as of November 2025 in the p11 stable branch), and device management tools without dependencies on monolithic structures, making it suitable for creating tailored distributions for servers, workstations, and embedded devices. Security in the ALT Linux base system incorporates using SELinux, with support for policy classifications and context handling in services like CUPS, enhancing protection against unauthorized access and . Furthermore, automatic updates are streamlined through the Autoimports mechanism, which draws from the Sisyphus development repository to maintain a repository of automatically built and verified packages, ensuring timely security patches and feature integrations without manual intervention in stable branches. This approach integrates seamlessly with the package management system, allowing for reliable over-the-air updates while preserving system stability in production environments.

Package Management

ALT Linux employs the RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) format for software packaging, which handles installation, uninstallation, verification, querying, and updating of packages while managing dependencies to maintain system integrity. As a frontend to RPM, APT-RPM provides an advanced interface inspired by Debian's APT, enabling automated dependency resolution and access to remote repositories for seamless updates. Common commands include apt-get update to refresh the repository database, apt-get install <package_name> to install a package along with its dependencies, apt-get remove <package_name> to uninstall it, and apt-get upgrade for system-wide updates. The primary repository, , functions as a rolling-release development branch where maintainers continuously integrate and test new software versions, serving as the upstream source for all ALT Linux distributions. This repository supports multiple architectures, including x86_64 and , and undergoes periodic branching to create stable production branches such as p11, which incorporate conservative package selections for reliability in deployed systems. Repository configurations are managed via files in /etc/apt/sources.list or /etc/apt/sources.list.d/, specifying URLs like ftp://ftp.altlinux.org/pub/distributions/ALTLinux/[Sisyphus](/page/Sisyphus) for accessing branch-specific packages. Package compilation in ALT Linux relies on the Hasher build system, a set of tools that creates isolated chroot environments to ensure reproducible and secure builds without interference from the host or other packages. Hasher automates the construction of RPMs in a clean setup for each build, supporting architecture-specific optimizations such as those tailored for x86_64 and platforms to produce efficient binaries suited to target hardware. All packages in the repository are built using Hasher, which contributes to the consistency and portability of software across ALT Linux variants.

Releases and Editions

Version History Overview

ALT Linux's version history began with its initial release, version 1.0, in summer 2001, which was based on Linux and adapted for Russian users with localized packages and interfaces. This Mandrake-derived foundation marked the project's early dependence on Western upstream distributions, focusing on desktop and server editions for i586 and x86_64 architectures. By version 2.0, released in spring 2002, the project began transitioning toward greater independence, incorporating initial custom kernel modifications tailored for Russian hardware and localization needs, diverging from pure Mandrake basing. Subsequent major releases followed a pattern of updates every two to three years, allowing for significant technological advancements while maintaining stability through interim point releases that primarily addressed security vulnerabilities and minor enhancements. For instance, version 7.0 arrived in July 2013 with support for modern desktops like MATE and , building on kernel 3.8, while version 10.0 was released in May 2022, featuring 5.15 and improved multi-architecture compatibility. This cadence enabled the project to align with upstream developments without frequent disruptions, with point releases such as 10.1 in November 2022 providing timely patches. Following geopolitical events in , ALT Linux's updates emphasized import substitution to support Russian technological , integrating enhanced compatibility with domestic processors and software ecosystems. Version 10.2, released in March 2024, exemplified this shift by bolstering support for native hardware like Elbrus and Baikal-M architectures, alongside certified integrations for Russian enterprise tools, reducing reliance on foreign components. The most recent major release, version 11.0, arrived in May 2025, featuring 6.6 and further enhancements for multi-architecture support, including , while continuing the focus on security and domestic technology integration.

Major Version Series

ALT Linux's major version series encapsulate pivotal advancements in its ecosystem, progressing from foundational desktop enhancements to modern infrastructure integrations while maintaining a focus on reliability and Russian-specific adaptations. These series are built upon the repository, ensuring continuous package evolution across releases. ALT 3.0, released in December 2005, introduced comprehensive integration, leveraging KDE 3.5 for a seamless that emphasized user and customization. It also incorporated server tools such as enhanced networking utilities and management scripts, streamlining deployment for institutional use. This version prioritized deployments, with pre-installed applications and configurations tailored for servers and student workstations, facilitating widespread adoption in Russian educational institutions. The ALT 5.x series, developed from 2008 to 2010, advanced capabilities through updated codecs and libraries, supporting a wider range of audio, video, and graphics applications for both desktop and educational scenarios. It pioneered architecture experimentation, enabling early portability to embedded and mobile devices, which broadened hardware support beyond x86. ALT 5.0 specifically featured functionality, allowing bootable testing without altering hardware, a key innovation for demonstrations and rapid evaluations in resource-constrained environments like schools. The ALT 8.x to 9.x series, spanning 2015 to 2020, transitioned to as the default init system starting with 8.0, improving boot times, service dependency resolution, and overall system responsiveness. Wayland support was integrated in 9.x, providing a more secure and efficient display protocol alternative to X11, with compositors like Weston available for graphical sessions. ALT 9.0 further enhanced through native Docker compatibility, including official base images and runtime support, enabling seamless integration with container orchestration for server and development workflows.

Specialized Editions

Desktop and User-Focused Variants

The desktop and user-focused variants of ALT Linux are tailored for individual users, home environments, and educational settings, emphasizing ease of use, graphical interfaces, and pre-installed tools for productivity and learning. These editions leverage the Sisyphus repository to provide up-to-date software while maintaining compatibility with Russian-specific requirements, such as Cyrillic font rendering and locale support out of the box. The standard desktop edition, known as ALT Workstation, offers a full-featured environment primarily using the MATE desktop environment, with options for KDE Plasma in the ALT Workstation K variant; GNOME is also supported as an installable desktop environment for users preferring its workflow. Since ALT Linux 7.0, these editions include pre-configured Russian locales for seamless language handling and built-in accessibility tools, such as screen readers and high-contrast themes integrated via GNOME Accessibility or KDE's built-in options, to support diverse user needs. These variants come with multimedia codecs pre-installed for immediate media playback and are designed for modern hardware, supporting both physical and virtual machines with a focus on professional and creative tasks. For users with older or resource-constrained hardware, the Simply Linux variant provides a lightweight ISO based on , optimized for minimal resource consumption—typically requiring under 1 GB of RAM for smooth operation—while retaining essential applications for home and office use, including web browsing, document editing, and designer wallpapers for aesthetic appeal. This edition prioritizes speed and stability on legacy systems without sacrificing usability, making it ideal for everyday computing in low-spec environments. ALT Education serves as the school-focused build, specifically adapted for K-12 curricula with bundled such as interactive programming tools like environments, math and science applications, and suites to facilitate activities. This variant includes hardware drivers for common school peripherals and is deployed in Russian educational institutions to promote , supporting both student workstations and teacher management tools in a secure, easy-to-administer setup.

Server and Embedded Variants

ALT Linux offers several specialized variants optimized for server environments and embedded systems, emphasizing , , and compatibility with diverse hardware architectures. The Compact edition, also known as JeOS (Just Enough Operating System), provides a minimalist server distribution without a , designed for virtual private servers (VPS), deployments, and resource-constrained environments. This variant features a minimal installer that enables quick setup with essential services, supporting architectures such as x86_64, i586, and , and is built from the stable ALT Linux repositories to ensure reliability in production settings. The Terminal variant caters to console-only operations in embedded systems, offering a lightweight, non-graphical configuration suitable for industrial and IoT applications as of ALT Linux 11. It supports (aarch64) and x86 architectures (x86_64, i586), with options for real-time kernel patches like to meet deterministic performance requirements in time-sensitive scenarios. For instance, it has been adapted for devices like the Tavolga Terminal 2VT1 on MIPS hardware (Ninth Platform) and single-board computers via rootfs images for SD cards (aarch64, current), facilitating deployment in embedded contexts without unnecessary overhead. Enterprise server builds, such as ALT Server and the certified ALT SP edition, target professional data centers and comply with Russian regulatory standards, including FSTEC certification for . ALT SP integrates built-in security tools for servers and workstations, supporting , , and Active Directory integration through group policies, while ALT Server includes tools for managing clustered environments to enhance and scalability in corporate infrastructures. These builds ensure compliance with requirements, making them suitable for government and enterprise use in .

Adoption and Impact

Usage in Russia and Education

ALT Linux has experienced widespread adoption in Russian schools since 2003, driven by the development of educational variants such as ALT Linux Junior, which was tailored for classroom use and integrated with tools for teaching and other subjects. This initiative aligned with early efforts to promote in , reducing reliance on proprietary systems and addressing licensing costs in resource-limited environments. A pivotal national program launched in 2008 mandated the transition of all Russian schools to , with ALT Linux positioned as the core operating system to support this shift, equipping computer labs nationwide with compatible hardware and software stacks. These efforts enabled standardized across Russian schools, though implementation faced some delays and challenges. In the sector, ALT Linux's deployment accelerated post-2014 amid Russia's import substitution policies, which required federal agencies to prioritize domestic operating systems for security and compliance. Government mandates encouraged or required the use of ALT Linux in ministries and regulatory bodies, as part of broader efforts to enhance technological sovereignty following . ALT Linux's FSTEC has been instrumental in enabling such integrations in sensitive public infrastructure. As of 2025, ALT Linux is prominent in the Russian education sector, particularly through its ALT Education edition, which supports e-learning platforms like Uchi.ru and integrates with federal digital resources for remote and hybrid teaching. This presence underscores its role in modernizing educational IT, with ongoing updates ensuring compatibility with national standards for data protection and in schools, colleges, and universities.

Community and Ecosystem

The ALT Linux community is primarily organized around the ALT Linux Wiki, a comprehensive resource for documentation, user guides, and technical discussions maintained by contributors worldwide. The wiki serves as a central hub for knowledge sharing, covering topics from installation to advanced configuration, and is accessible in both Russian and English versions to support its international user base. Additionally, active engagement occurs through Telegram channels, such as the official ALT Linux Team channel for announcements and discussions, and the @alt_linux group, where users seek support and share experiences even in non-Russian languages. Mailing lists, including the English-speaking ALT Linux users list, further facilitate communication among developers and enthusiasts. The community's geographic distribution spans and beyond, with significant concentrations in (over 40 cities represented, including and ), (e.g., ), (e.g., ), , and even the , fostering a collaborative developer network primarily in Russian-speaking regions. This network supports ongoing participation in the repository, ALT Linux's core development platform, where hundreds of maintainers contribute packages and updates daily. Within the ecosystem, community maintainers produce custom ISO images using tools like ALT Remaster, enabling tailored distributions with specific packages and configurations for diverse needs. These efforts extend to seamless integrations with regional software, notably out-of-the-box support for 1C:Enterprise accounting platform via the 1c-preinstall metapackage, which deploys the necessary environment including Core Fonts for optimal compatibility. ALT Linux contributors actively engage with upstream open-source projects, providing patches and enhancements; for instance, team members have submitted improvements to for better display manager functionality, for graphical interface refinements, and other tools like and , promoting broader ecosystem interoperability. This involvement strengthens the project's ties to the global community while emphasizing adaptations for and regional requirements.

References

  1. https://www.basealt.ru/en/about
  2. https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=alt
  3. https://getalt.org/en/
  4. https://dot.kde.org/2007/10/24/kde-and-distributions-alt-linux-interview/
  5. https://www.basealt.ru/en/products
  6. https://en.altlinux.org/Main_Page
  7. https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:Open_Source_software_in_Russia
  8. http://linuxblog.darkduck.com/2012/07/russia-dumps-linux-for-windows.html
  9. https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/489628
  10. https://lwn.net/Distributions/
  11. https://www.technewsworld.com/story/alt-linux-worthy-linux-alternatives-with-a-catch-86361.html
  12. https://darbarlinux.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/alt-linux-7-kdesktop-review-a-silent-russian-linux-that-simply-works-and-doesnt-make-noise-on-every-releases/
  13. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/russias-digital-tech-isolationism/
  14. https://docs.altlinux.org/ru-RU/archive/2.3/html-single/compact/alt-docs-compact-en/ch01s02.html
  15. https://www.basealt.ru/en/
  16. https://kocka.news/en/article/software/365/alt-linux-11-0-education-is-the-foundation-of-russian-educational-institutions
  17. https://docs.altlinux.org/ru-RU/archive/2.3/html-single/compact/alt-docs-compact-en/ch03s09.html
  18. https://www.altlinux.org/Team/Famous
  19. https://www.readyratios.com/profile/1021000920786_ooo-bazalt
  20. https://www.altlinux.org/ALT_Linux_Team
  21. http://www.fedoseev.net/cv-eng.html
  22. https://tadviser.com/index.php/Product:OS_Alt_%28formerly_Alt_Linux%29
  23. https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:History_of_Rostelecom
  24. https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/looking-back-30-years-linux-history-red-hats-pete-zaitcev
  25. https://gaelduval.org/an-os-in-the-public-interest-a-mandriva-linux-foundation/
  26. https://www.techmonitor.ai/technology/russia_bans_import_and_use_of_encryption_know_how
  27. http://packages.altlinux.org/en/sisyphus/about/
  28. https://en.altlinux.org/Sisyphus
  29. https://en.altlinux.org/Elbrus
  30. https://packages.altlinux.org/en/p10_e2k/srpms/kernel-image-elbrus-def/
  31. https://packages.altlinux.org/en/p11/srpms/kernel-image-rt/
  32. https://packages.altlinux.org/en/sisyphus/srpms/kernel-image-6.16/
  33. https://packages.altlinux.org/en/sisyphus/srpms/glibc/
  34. https://en.altlinux.org/Eleventh_Platform
  35. https://packages.altlinux.org/en/p11/srpms/systemd/
  36. https://www.altlinux.org/Sl
  37. https://packages.altlinux.org/en/sisyphus_riscv64/srpms/apt-conf-autoimports-sisyphus/
  38. https://en.altlinux.org/Hasher
  39. https://www.altlinux.org/Releases/History
  40. https://en.altlinux.org/ALT_Linux_7.0_Centaurus
  41. https://distrowatch.com/5742
  42. https://en.altlinux.org/ALT_Linux_5_School
  43. https://hub.docker.com/_/alt
  44. https://en.altlinux.org/Docker
  45. https://linuxmind.dev/2025/09/04/complete-os-guide-alt-linux-how-it-works-orientation-and-curiosities/
  46. https://docs.xfce.org/xfce/system-requirements
  47. https://getalt.org/en/alt-education/
  48. https://packages.altlinux.org/en/p11/packages/Education/
  49. https://en.altlinux.org/Ninth_Platform
  50. https://cloud.vk.com/docs/en/computing/vm-licenses/alt-linux
  51. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7034828.stm
  52. https://linux.slashdot.org/story/09/11/15/2030203/free-software-for-all-russian-schools-in-jeopardy
  53. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23738871.2021.1942110
  54. https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:Digitalization_of_schools_in_Russia
  55. https://www.altlinux.org/Main_Page
  56. https://lore.altlinux.org/community-en/
  57. https://www.altlinux.org/Community
  58. http://packages.altlinux.org/en/sisyphus/
  59. https://packages.altlinux.org/en/p10/srpms/1c-preinstall-full/
  60. https://en.altlinux.org/User:Imz/my_contributions_to_free_software_projects
  61. https://www.basealt.ru/en/development
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