Pink Tie Linux Current Release
2006.Q1
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Pink Tie Linux

Home of the low-cost Red Hat Linux alternative

Pink Tie Linux FAQs

Please find below a list of common questions we received regarding Pink Tie Linux.

  • Is Pink Tie Linux an identical copy of Red Hat Enterprise Linux?
    No. Due to Red Hat's EULA (End User License Agreement) it is prohibited to distribute exact copies of Red Hat Linux. Any company other than Red Hat distributing Red Hat Linux would be in violation of copyright law.

  • I thought Red Hat Linux falls under the GPL?
    Yes, it does. However, the wrinkle comes into the use of the Red Hat name. While the software that makes Red Hat "tick" is freely distributable, the use of the Red Hat is not allowed on non-official releases of Red Hat. That not only includes the name of the product, but also the name Red Hat appearing during the installation screens and so forth.

  • Is Red Hat violating the GPL?
    Some would say yes. Some would say no. We aren't attorneys, so we can't provide a definitive answer. What we do know is the Red Hat EULA is set-up to prevent the distribution of identical copies of Red Hat.

  • So what is the deal with Pink Tie?
    Our software engineers have modified the necessary Red Hat Enterprise Linux files so the product is in compliance with Red Hat's EULA. For example, when you install from the Pink Tie Linux media, you will see a Pink Tie logo and the Pink Tie name. The software has been modified as minimally as possible, so Pink Tie behaves nearly 100% identical to Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

  • Do Red Hat update files work with Pink Tie?
    Absolutely. Pink Tie is a RPM based distribution and any of the Red Hat updates can be applied to Pink Tie as you with with Red Hat.

  • So you are telling me Pink Tie is like Red Hat, but without the price?
    Yes, in a nutshell, that is what is going on. You get the functionality of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux distribution, but without the price.

  • Is the freely available Red Hat documentation still applicable to Pink Tie?
    Yes. However, where you would see the words Red Hat or the Red Hat logo in the documentation, you would find the words Pink Tie or the Pink Tie logo instead.