lfs-book/appendixa/kernel-shortdesc.xml

<sect2><title>Contents of Linux</title>

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<para>The Linux kernel is at the core of every Linux system. It's what makes
Linux tick. When a computer is turned on and boots a Linux system, the
very first piece of Linux software that gets loaded is the kernel. The
kernel initializes the system's hardware components: serial ports, parallel
ports, sound cards, network cards, IDE controllers, SCSI controllers and a
lot more. In a nutshell the kernel makes the hardware available so that the
software can run.</para>

<para><emphasis>Installed files</emphasis>: the kernel and the kernel
headers</para>

</sect2>