# LiMux

> Linux distribution

**Wikidata**: [Q442744](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q442744)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiMux)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/limux

## Summary
LiMux was a Linux distribution developed and used by the city of Munich, Germany, as part of its initiative to migrate public administration away from proprietary software. It was based on Debian and designed specifically for municipal IT infrastructure.

## Key Facts
- LiMux was a Linux distribution created by the city of Munich, Germany
- It was based on Debian Linux
- The project was operated by Landeshauptstadt München (the City of Munich)
- LiMux had its own logo and visual identity
- The distribution was described as both a Linux distribution and a project
- It was documented in 13 different Wikipedia language editions
- LiMux had a dedicated website hosted by the Munich city government
- The project was categorized under the Commons category "LiMux"

### Q: What was LiMux?
A: LiMux was a Linux distribution developed by the city of Munich for use in its municipal IT systems. It was based on Debian and designed to replace proprietary operating systems in public administration.

### Q: Who operated LiMux?
A: LiMux was operated by Landeshauptstadt München (the City of Munich), which developed and maintained the distribution for its own administrative use.

### Q: What was LiMux based on?
A: LiMux was based on Debian Linux, using the Debian distribution as its foundation while customizing it for municipal government needs.

### Q: Was LiMux a commercial product?
A: No, LiMux was not a commercial product. It was a custom Linux distribution developed by the city of Munich for its own administrative use, not sold or distributed commercially.

### Q: Where was LiMux used?
A: LiMux was used by the city of Munich, Germany, specifically within its municipal government and public administration systems.

## Why It Matters
LiMux represented one of the most ambitious public sector IT migration projects in Europe, demonstrating how a major city could transition its entire administrative infrastructure from proprietary to open-source software. The project showcased the viability of Linux distributions for large-scale enterprise deployments and influenced IT policy discussions across Europe about software freedom, cost savings, and technological sovereignty. Munich's initiative became a case study for other municipalities considering similar migrations, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of large-scale open-source adoption in government settings.

## Notable For
- One of the largest municipal Linux deployments in Europe
- Demonstrated successful migration of entire city administration to open-source software
- Based on Debian, showing enterprise viability of community-driven distributions
- Operated by a major European city government (Munich)
- Influenced IT policy discussions across European municipalities

## Body
### Development and Implementation
LiMux was developed as a custom Linux distribution by the city of Munich's IT department. The project aimed to migrate the city's entire administrative infrastructure away from proprietary operating systems, particularly Microsoft Windows, to a Linux-based solution.

### Technical Foundation
The distribution was based on Debian Linux, leveraging the stability and package management system of this popular community-driven distribution. This foundation provided a solid base for the custom modifications and configurations needed for municipal government use.

### Municipal Deployment
As a project operated by Landeshauptstadt München, LiMux was specifically designed for the needs of city administration. The distribution included custom configurations, applications, and security measures tailored to public sector requirements.

### Documentation and Recognition
LiMux was documented across multiple Wikipedia language editions (commons, cs, de, el, en, es, fa, it, nl, no), indicating international interest in the project. The distribution also had its own Commons category and was described on the OSGEO wiki, suggesting recognition within the open-source community.

### Visual Identity
The project maintained its own logo (available as an SVG file) and had dedicated imagery, demonstrating professional development and branding efforts typical of enterprise-grade software projects.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/Stadtverwaltung/Direktorium/LiMux.html)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Quora