Linux is itself is a kernel. It can be configured to a network workstation, a DNS server, a DHCP server, a web server, a mail server, a file and print server, database server, a firewall, a gateway router and many more.
Is Linux a kernel or OS?
Linux, in its nature, is not an operating system; it’s a Kernel. The Kernel is part of the operating system – And the most crucial. For it to be an OS, it is supplied with GNU software and other additions giving us the name GNU/Linux. Linus Torvalds made Linux open source in 1992, one year after it’s creation.
Why Linux is not an operating system?
An OS is the ensemble of software to use a computer, and because there are many kind of computer, there are many definitions of OS. Linux cannot be considered an entire OS because almost any use of a computer needs at least one more piece of software.