The First Distro | H.J.Lu's bootable rootdisk for Linux
The First Distro | H.J.Lu's bootable rootdisk for Linux
The first GNU+Linux distro.
This video explores the very first Linux distribution - H.J. Lu's bootable rootdisk. Before Ubuntu, before Red Hat, before Slackware, there was this simple floppy disk image that allowed people to boot into a working Linux system.
Historical Significance
H.J. Lu's bootable rootdisk represents a pivotal moment in Linux history. It was one of the first ways for people to actually try Linux without having to compile everything themselves from Linus Torvalds' kernel source code.
Try It Yourself
You can download and test this piece of computing history for yourself!
Download: HU985-5R.ZIP from PC Corner
Running with QEMU
To run the historic bootable rootdisk, use QEMU with the following command:
qemu-system-i386 -drive file=./HU985-5R.img,if=floppy,format=raw
This boots the floppy image in an emulated i386 system, letting you experience what early Linux adopters would have seen.
What to Expect
This is a minimal system from the early 1990s. Don't expect a graphical interface or modern conveniences. What you'll find is:
- A basic shell environment
- Core Unix utilities
- The ability to explore one of the first complete, bootable Linux systems
Why This Matters
Understanding where Linux came from helps us appreciate how far it has come. From a single floppy disk to powering everything from smartphones to supercomputers, Linux's journey is remarkable.