Features of Linux

Multiuser: Multiple users can log in and work on the system at the same time. Each users can have their own home directory for storing files and their own desktop interface. User accounts can be password protected, so that users can control who has access to their application and data.

Multitasking: In Linux it is possible to run many programs at the same time. Linux have many programs running at the background. Many of these processes make it possible for Linux to work as server, with these background processes listening to the network for requests to log in to your system, view a web page, print a document or copy a file. These background processes are referred to as daemons.

Hardware Support: You can configure support for almost every type of hardware device. There is support for floppy disk drives, CD-ROM’s, removable disks, sound cards, tape drives, video cards etc. Linux needs a driver, a piece of software that interfaces between the Linux kernel and the device.

Networking Connectivity: Linux offers support for variety of LAN cards, modems, serial devices. In addition to LAN protocols, all upper level protocols can be built-in. The most popular of these is TCP/IP but other protocols like IPX and X.25 are also available.

Network Servers: Providing networking services to the client computers is what Linux does best. A variety of software packages are available that enable you to use Linux as a print server, file server, FTP server, mail server, web server, news server,or workgroup (DHCP or NIS) server