1 ­ 2 CompTIA Linux+ Certification, Powered by LPI Topic A: Linux overview Explanation Linux is a UNIX-like operating system originally developed by Linus Torvalds, starting in 1991 while a student at the University of Helsinki. Like all operating systems, Linux enables the most basic common system operations, such as file management, user account management, and so forth. It provides a means for users to interact with their computer's hardware and software.