From a small, collaborative effort headed by a University of Helsinki student named Linus Torvalds, Linux has grown into a global phenomenon spurring new industries for distribution, training, and support. It is now the only operating system other than Windows NT that is gaining market share in corporate Information Technology infrastructures. Distributors are actively marketing easier to install, easier to use Linux systems and making real inroads onto the desktops of home, corporate, government, and educational users. By some estimates there are nearly 8 million Linux users worldwide.