What Computer Hardware Does Linux Support ?
Generally Linux will run on any computer with an Intel or AMD CPU processor that is even 386 vintage or newer as well as various Digital , Alpha , Sun , Sparc , Motorola Mips. It must be remembered that the Linux computer operating system is descended from Unix. One of the hallmarks of the UNIX operating system was the various portability of its nature- that it could be “ported” to almost any computer system.
Since Intel / AMD pcs represent the bulk of the readily available computer market the have become the base of Linux use and installations.
Linux supports symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) which means that you can have more than one CPU (central processing unit) per computer. In fact Linux supports several processors per computer box.
Indeed the Linux operating system can utlilize these cpus either by speeding up a specific program written to take advantage of these multiple computer cpus or to run more than one program at a time.
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