Linux Basement

Welcome to the Linux Basement

This corner of SEMNARC is where we talk shop about all things Linux as they relate to our club’s systems and infrastructure. It’s not meant to be a full Linux training ground — there are plenty of excellent resources out there for learning the operating system inside and out. Instead, this space is dedicated to helping SEMNARC members understand how we use Linux, why we rely on it, and how deeply it’s woven into the backbone of our operations.

Linux is the most widely used operating system in the world, even if it doesn’t always look like it. And SEMNARC is no exception. In fact, we’re more invested in Linux than many people realize. Our AllStar link node runs on Linux. The new EchoLink node runs on Linux. The mesh network that moves data to our link radios? Linux. The switches, routers, and even this very website — all Linux-powered.

That’s not unusual in the world of networking and communications. Linux is stable, secure, flexible, and free, which makes it ideal for amateur radio infrastructure where reliability matters more than flashy interfaces.

And here’s a fun twist: you’re probably using Linux every day without even thinking about it. If you carry an Android phone, you’re carrying Linux in your pocket — Android is built on the Linux kernel. If you’re an iPhone user, your device isn’t Linux-based, but it’s still part of the same broader family of UNIX-like operating systems. iOS conforms to POSIX standards, just like Linux, but it comes from a different branch of the UNIX tree.

So whether you’re configuring a node, checking the website, or just scrolling on your phone, chances are you’re interacting with a UNIX-style system. The Linux Basement exists to help you understand how SEMNARC puts that technology to work.

Why SEMNARC Uses Linux

For a club like SEMNARC, Linux isn’t just a preference — it’s the tool that makes the most sense. Our systems need to be reliable, flexible, and affordable, and Linux checks all those boxes without asking for much in return.

Built for Reliability, Not Revenue

Linux is designed to run quietly in the background and stay out of the way. Once a system is configured, it can run for months or even years without a reboot. That’s exactly what you want for things like:

  • AllStar and EchoLink nodes
  • Mesh network equipment
  • Web servers
  • Routers and switches

These systems don’t need flashy interfaces or constant updates — they need stability. Linux delivers that.

Windows, on the other hand, is built for a very different purpose. It’s a commercial product designed for desktop users, and it comes with the overhead of that world: frequent updates, licensing requirements, and features aimed at consumer behavior rather than infrastructure.

Open Source Means We’re in Control

Linux is open source, which means anyone can inspect the code, modify it, and tailor it to their needs. For SEMNARC, that translates into:

  • The ability to customize our nodes
  • Freedom to automate tasks
  • No vendor lock‑in
  • No forced upgrades
  • No licensing fees

Windows is closed source. You can’t see how it works internally, and you can’t change it. You’re limited to what Microsoft allows, and that’s fine for everyday computing — but not ideal for specialized radio systems where flexibility matters.

Privacy by Design

Linux doesn’t have a business model built around collecting user data. Most distributions don’t track you, don’t phone home, and don’t build profiles about how you use your system. That’s a refreshing contrast to modern commercial operating systems, which often include telemetry, cloud‑linked features, and data collection as part of their design.

For a club environment, that means:

  • Our systems aren’t sending usage data to a corporation
  • We control what gets logged and where it goes
  • We can run servers without worrying about background data collection

It’s not about paranoia — it’s about simplicity and transparency.

Cost Matters Too

Linux is free. Not “free with limitations,” not “free for personal use,” not “free until the next version.” Just free.

For a volunteer organization, that’s a big deal. Every dollar saved on software can go toward radios, repeaters, events, and community service.

Linux Meets Amateur Radio Where It Lives

Amateur radio is a hands‑on hobby. We build things, experiment, and solve problems. Linux fits that mindset perfectly:

  • It runs on everything from old laptops to Raspberry Pis
  • It supports nearly every ham radio tool out there
  • It encourages tinkering and learning
  • It doesn’t get in the way

Windows can certainly run ham software, but it’s not designed for the kind of lightweight, always‑on, customizable systems that keep a radio network alive.

Linux: The Most Widely Used OS Family in the World

When people think of operating systems, they often picture desktop computers — and on desktops, Windows still dominates. But when you look at all devices worldwide (phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, smart devices), the picture changes dramatically.

According to global usage data, Android — which uses the Linux kernel — is the single most popular operating system on the planet, holding about 38.94% of the worldwide OS market as of late 2025. Windows follows at 29.99%, with Apple’s iOS at 15.66% and macOS at 2.14%.

StatCounter’s independent measurements show a similar trend: Android leads globally with 36.18%, Windows at 32.52%, iOS at 15.55%, and macOS (counted as OS X + macOS) totaling about 5.66% combined.

That means the Linux family (Android + desktop/server Linux) represents the largest share of operating systems in use today.

Why This Matters for Amateur Radio

Linux isn’t just a niche OS for hobbyists — it’s the backbone of modern computing. Its massive worldwide footprint means:

  • It’s well‑supported
  • It’s constantly improved
  • It’s secure and stable
  • It runs on everything from phones to servers to tiny embedded boards

For a club like SEMNARC, that translates into long‑term reliability and a huge ecosystem of tools we can depend on.

A Quick Reality Check

If someone says “Linux only has a tiny market share,” they’re usually talking about desktop Linux, which is a small slice of the pie. But amateur radio doesn’t run on desktops — it runs on:

  • Raspberry Pis
  • Embedded boards
  • Servers
  • Routers
  • Mesh nodes
  • Android devices

And in that world, Linux is the clear leader.

How the U.S. Differs From the Rest of the World

Globally, Android (Linux) leads — but the United States is the opposite. In the U.S., iOS dominates with about 59.31%, while Android holds 40.42%. That means Americans overwhelmingly use Apple devices, while the rest of the world overwhelmingly uses Linux‑based Android. This contrast highlights how global Linux’s reach truly is, even if it’s less visible in the U.S.

A Fun Plot Twist

And here’s the part that might surprise some people: this entire article was written on MacOS — all while logged into a stack of Linux servers in the background. That’s the beauty of POSIX‑compliant systems. Even though macOS and Linux come from different branches of the UNIX family tree, they speak a similar language. The tools, commands, and workflows flow naturally between them. In practice, that means a Mac can manage Linux systems effortlessly, and Linux servers don’t care what kind of machine is connected to them. They just work together.

If you’ve ever watched Jeff Geerling’s videos, you’ve probably seen this in action. Nearly all of his Linux, Raspberry Pi, and server‑related projects are driven from a Mac. He’ll SSH into Pis, flash images, compile kernels, and manage containers — all from macOS — because the environments complement each other so well. It’s a perfect real‑world example of how UNIX‑style systems cooperate instead of compete.

Where MacOS and Linux Came From (And Why That Matters Today)

To close things out this month, it’s worth taking a quick look at where these systems actually came from — because their histories explain why they work so well together today.

MacOS and iOS: Born From NeXT and Classic UNIX

MacOS traces its roots back to NeXTSTEP, the operating system created by Steve Jobs’ company NeXT after he left Apple in the 1980s. NeXTSTEP itself was built on top of UNIX, the grandparent of nearly every modern operating system. When Apple bought NeXT in the late ’90s, they used NeXTSTEP as the foundation for what eventually became MacOS.

That same UNIX‑derived foundation also powers iOS. Even though Apple doesn’t certify iOS separately, it shares the same Darwin core as MacOS, making it a close relative in the UNIX family. That’s why iPhones and Macs behave so consistently and why tools, networking, and command‑line concepts feel familiar across both platforms.

MacOS (and by extension iOS) is:

  • UNIX‑certified
  • POSIX‑compliant
  • Comfortable with command‑line tools
  • Naturally compatible with Linux workflows

Under the hood, both systems are polished, user‑friendly layers sitting on top of a very serious UNIX core.

Linux: Linus Torvalds’ Answer to a Closed UNIX

Linux, on the other hand, came from a very different place. In 1991, Linus Torvalds wanted a UNIX‑like system he could run on his personal computer. At the time, real UNIX systems were expensive, proprietary, and often required licensing fees — the “AT&T tax,” as some people jokingly call it, because AT&T owned the original UNIX source code.

So Linus wrote his own kernel and released it under an open‑source license. That decision changed everything. Developers around the world contributed to it, improved it, and built entire operating systems around it. Today, Linux powers:

  • Servers
  • Phones
  • Routers
  • Supercomputers
  • Amateur radio nodes
  • Embedded devices
  • Cloud infrastructure

Linux didn’t just avoid the AT&T licensing fees — it created a whole new ecosystem where anyone could build, learn, and innovate without asking permission.

Two Paths, One Family

Even though MacOS, iOS, and Linux came from different directions — some commercial, some community‑driven — they all grew from the same UNIX philosophy. That’s why they share similar tools, similar commands, and similar ways of thinking about files, processes, and networking.

It’s also why a Mac can manage Linux servers so effortlessly, and why so many hams (and YouTubers like Jeff Geerling) use MacOS as their daily driver while working almost entirely with Linux systems.

In the end, they’re all branches of the same family tree — and that shared heritage is exactly what makes them such powerful tools for amateur radio today.
Bringing It All Together

When you step back and look at the big picture, it’s pretty remarkable how all these pieces fit together. Linux powers most of the world’s devices. Android alone leads the global market, while iOS dominates here in the U.S. MacOS and iOS both come from a long line of UNIX systems, and Linux was created as an open alternative to those same roots. Different histories, different goals — yet they all share a common foundation.

That shared UNIX and POSIX heritage is exactly why everything works together so smoothly today. A Mac can manage Linux servers without breaking a sweat. An iPhone behaves consistently with a Mac because they share the same Darwin core. Linux systems talk to each other effortlessly because they follow the same standards. Even in the amateur radio world, where reliability and flexibility matter more than flashy features, Linux quietly does the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

And that brings us right back to SEMNARC. Our AllStar node, EchoLink node, mesh network, routers, switches, and even the website you’re reading — all running on Linux. Meanwhile, this article itself was written on MacOS, with multiple Linux servers logged in behind the scenes. If you’ve ever watched Jeff Geerling’s videos, you’ve seen the same thing: MacOS driving Linux projects like they were built for each other. Because in a way, they were.

In the end, whether it’s MacOS, iOS, Linux, or Android, these systems aren’t rivals so much as branches of the same family tree. Each one brings something unique to the table, but they all share the same DNA — openness, stability, and a design philosophy that values tools that just work. That’s why they’re such a natural fit for amateur radio, and why SEMNARC relies on them every day.

Next month, we’ll dig deeper into how these systems power the tools we use, and how you can explore them yourself without needing to be a programmer or a sysadmin. For now, just know this: the Linux Basement isn’t just about Linux. It’s about the whole ecosystem of UNIX‑style systems that quietly keep our radios, networks, and digital tools running — and how they all come together to support the hobby we love.