Although any user may obtain the Linux components' source code and adapt it to their own system, in practice this would be very tedious and it would require specialized knowledge. Accordingly, there are available collections (so called "distributions") ready to be installed.

The selection of software for a given distribution, to adapt it (if necessary), to test it, so it works within the context of other programs, and to document all of the above, involve a significant amount of work. There are hundred of Linux distributions, either commercials or not.

Among the most popular commercials ones are Red Hat, SuSe (Novell), Mandrake, y Linspire. Its major clients are medium size companies, major institutions, etc.

The community distribucions most popular are Debian, y Gentoo (derived from Debian), but almost all of the commercial distributors also produce community distributions. Those also include LinEx, Guadalinex, y LUC3M, produced in Spain. Their major users are small institutions, profesionals, students, etc.