# Frequently Asked Questions

Comprehensive FAQ covering general questions, technical details, AI capabilities, and business/licensing questions.

---

## Table of Contents

1. [General Questions](#general-questions)
2. [Technical Questions](#technical-questions)
3. [AI Capabilities](#ai-capabilities)
4. [Installation and Setup](#installation-and-setup)
5. [Performance and Optimization](#performance-and-optimization)
6. [Security and Privacy](#security-and-privacy)
7. [Business and Licensing](#business-and-licensing)
8. [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)

---

## General Questions

### What is Cortex Linux?

Cortex Linux is an AI-native operating system that integrates a reasoning engine (Sapiens 0.27B) directly into the kernel and system services. Unlike traditional Linux distributions that require external API calls for AI functionality, Cortex provides on-device reasoning with zero API costs.

### How is Cortex Linux different from Ubuntu/Debian with AI tools?

**Cortex Linux**:
- AI engine integrated at the OS level
- Zero API costs (on-device processing)
- Kernel-level optimizations for AI workloads
- Built-in system services for AI operations

**Ubuntu/Debian + AI Tools**:
- AI capabilities via external APIs
- Per-request API costs
- Standard Linux kernel
- Application-level AI integration

### Is Cortex Linux free?

Yes, Cortex Linux is open source and free to use. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0). The Sapiens reasoning engine components have separate licensing - see LICENSE files in the repository.

### What are the system requirements?

**Minimum**:
- 2GB RAM, 10GB disk space, x86_64 or ARM64 CPU

**Recommended**:
- 4GB+ RAM, 20GB+ disk space, 4+ CPU cores

See [Technical Specifications - Hardware Requirements](Technical-Specifications.md#hardware-requirements) for detailed requirements.

### Can I use Cortex Linux in production?

Yes, Cortex Linux 1.0.0 is production-ready. However, we recommend:
- Testing in a staging environment first
- Reviewing [Security and Compliance](Security-and-Compliance.md) documentation
- Implementing proper backup and monitoring
- Staying updated with security patches

### Is there commercial support available?

Commercial support options are being developed. For now, community support is available through:
- GitHub Issues
- Discord community
- Documentation wiki

---

## Technical Questions

### What Linux distribution is Cortex Linux based on?

Cortex Linux is based on Debian 12 (Bookworm) / Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, with custom kernel enhancements for AI workloads.

### What kernel version does Cortex Linux use?

Cortex Linux uses Linux kernel 6.1.0+ with custom enhancements for AI-aware scheduling and memory management.

### Can I install Cortex Linux alongside another OS?

Yes, Cortex Linux can be installed in a dual-boot configuration. The installer supports manual partitioning for dual-boot setups.

### Does Cortex Linux support containers?

Yes, Cortex Linux supports Docker and Podman. However, note that:
- AI engine requires access to host resources
- Some kernel features may not be available in containers
- For full functionality, consider bare metal or VM deployment

### Can I run Cortex Linux in a virtual machine?

Yes, Cortex Linux runs well in virtual machines:
- VirtualBox 6.0+
- VMware Workstation/Player 15+
- QEMU/KVM
- Hyper-V

See [Installation Guide - VirtualBox](Installation-Guide.md#virtualbox-installation) for details.

### What programming languages are supported for integration?

- **Python**: Full SDK available
- **Bash**: CLI and shell integration
- **C/C++**: C API for system integration
- **Go**: HTTP API client libraries
- **Rust**: CLI tool source available
- **HTTP/REST**: Any language with HTTP client

See [AI Integration Guide](AI-Integration.md) for examples.

### How do I update Cortex Linux?

```bash
# Update package lists
sudo apt update

# Upgrade system packages
sudo apt upgrade

# Upgrade Cortex AI specifically
sudo apt install --only-upgrade cortex-ai

# Reboot if kernel was updated
sudo reboot
```

### Can I customize the kernel?

Yes, the kernel source is available. See [Developer Documentation - Kernel Modifications](Developer-Documentation.md#kernel-modifications) for details.

---

## AI Capabilities

### What AI model does Cortex Linux use?

Cortex Linux uses the Sapiens 0.27B (270 million parameters) reasoning engine, optimized for on-device inference.

### How accurate is the AI compared to ChatGPT?

**Cortex Linux (Sapiens 0.27B)**:
- Sudoku solving: 55%
- Code debugging: 72%
- Architecture planning: 68%

**ChatGPT (GPT-3.5/GPT-4)**:
- Generally 85-95% on similar tasks

**Trade-off**: Cortex Linux prioritizes privacy, cost ($0 vs $0.002-$0.06 per request), and latency (156ms vs 1200ms) over maximum accuracy.

See [Comparison Pages - Performance Benchmarks](Comparison-Pages.md#performance-benchmarks) for detailed comparisons.

### Can I use my own AI model?

Custom model support is planned for version 2.0.0 (Q4 2024). Currently, only the Sapiens 0.27B model is supported.

### Does Cortex Linux work offline?

Yes, Cortex Linux works completely offline. All AI processing happens on-device with no network requirements (except for initial installation and updates).

### How fast is the AI response time?

- **Simple queries**: 50-100ms
- **Medium queries**: 100-200ms
- **Complex queries**: 200-400ms
- **Average**: 156ms

See [Technical Specifications - Performance Benchmarks](Technical-Specifications.md#performance-benchmarks) for detailed metrics.

### What tasks can Cortex AI perform?

- **Reasoning**: General question answering and problem solving
- **Planning**: Task and project planning
- **Debugging**: Error analysis and code debugging
- **Optimization**: Code and configuration optimization
- **Documentation**: Documentation generation
- **Analysis**: System and log analysis

See [Use Cases and Tutorials](Use-Cases-and-Tutorials.md) for examples.

### Can I fine-tune the model?

Fine-tuning support is planned for version 2.0.0. Currently, the model cannot be fine-tuned.

### Does Cortex Linux support GPU acceleration?

GPU acceleration (CUDA, ROCm) is planned for version 2.0.0. Currently, only CPU inference is supported.

---

## Installation and Setup

### How do I install Cortex Linux?

See [Installation Guide](Installation-Guide.md) for complete instructions. Quick start:

1. Download ISO from [releases.cortexlinux.org](https://releases.cortexlinux.org)
2. Create bootable USB or use in VM
3. Boot from installation media
4. Follow installation wizard
5. Reboot into installed system

### Can I install Cortex Linux on a Mac?

Yes, you can run Cortex Linux on Mac using:
- **VirtualBox**: Free virtualization
- **VMware Fusion**: Commercial option
- **UTM**: Free alternative
- **Parallels**: Commercial option

See [Installation Guide - VirtualBox](Installation-Guide.md#virtualbox-installation).

### Can I install Cortex Linux on Windows?

Yes, using virtualization:
- **VirtualBox**: Free
- **VMware Workstation/Player**: Commercial
- **Hyper-V**: Built into Windows Pro/Enterprise
- **WSL2**: Not recommended (limited kernel features)

### How do I deploy Cortex Linux in the cloud?

Cortex Linux can be deployed on:
- **AWS EC2**: Use custom AMI or install from ISO
- **DigitalOcean**: Use custom image or install from ISO
- **Google Cloud**: Use custom image or install from ISO
- **Azure**: Use custom image or install from ISO

See [Installation Guide - Cloud Deployment](Installation-Guide.md#cloud-deployment) for details.

### What should I do after installation?

1. **Update system**: `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade`
2. **Configure AI service**: Check `/etc/cortex-ai/config.yaml`
3. **Test installation**: `cortex-ai reason "Test query"`
4. **Review security**: [Security and Compliance](Security-and-Compliance.md)
5. **Read documentation**: [AI Integration Guide](AI-Integration.md)

See [Installation Guide - Post-Installation Setup](Installation-Guide.md#post-installation-setup).

---

## Performance and Optimization

### How can I improve performance?

1. **CPU**: Use more CPU cores (up to ~8 cores)
2. **Memory**: Increase RAM for larger batches
3. **Storage**: Use SSD/NVMe for faster model loading
4. **Configuration**: Tune `num_threads` and `batch_size`

See [Technical Specifications - Performance Tuning](Technical-Specifications.md#performance-tuning).

### What is the maximum throughput?

- **Single-threaded**: 6.2 requests/second
- **4 threads**: 18.5 requests/second
- **8 threads**: 28.3 requests/second
- **With batching**: 45+ requests/second

### How much memory does Cortex AI use?

- **Base**: ~200MB (AI engine)
- **Per request**: +10MB
- **Total (idle)**: ~245MB
- **Total (active)**: ~245MB + 13MB per concurrent request

### Can I run multiple instances for load balancing?

Yes, multiple Cortex Linux instances can be load-balanced using nginx, HAProxy, or cloud load balancers. See [Technical Specifications - Scalability](Technical-Specifications.md#scalability).

### Why is my system slow?

Common causes:
- Insufficient RAM (check with `free -h`)
- CPU throttling (check with `cpupower frequency-info`)
- Disk I/O bottlenecks (check with `iostat`)
- Too many concurrent requests

See [Installation Guide - Troubleshooting](Installation-Guide.md#troubleshooting).

---

## Security and Privacy

### Is my data private?

Yes, all AI processing happens on-device. No data is transmitted to external servers. See [Security and Compliance - Data Privacy](Security-and-Compliance.md#data-privacy).

### Does Cortex Linux send telemetry?

No, telemetry is disabled by default. You can verify in `/etc/cortex-ai/config.yaml`:

```yaml
telemetry:
  enabled: false
```

### Is Cortex Linux secure for production use?

Yes, Cortex Linux includes:
- Process isolation
- SELinux/AppArmor support
- API key authentication
- Rate limiting
- Audit logging
- Regular security updates

See [Security and Compliance](Security-and-Compliance.md) for details.

### How do I enable API authentication?

Edit `/etc/cortex-ai/config.yaml`:

```yaml
security:
  api_key_required: true
  api_key: "your-secure-api-key"
```

Then restart the service:

```bash
sudo systemctl restart cortex-ai
```

### Is Cortex Linux GDPR compliant?

Yes, Cortex Linux is designed for GDPR compliance:
- On-device processing (no data transmission)
- No persistent storage of personal data
- Configurable data retention
- Encryption support

See [Security and Compliance - GDPR Compliance](Security-and-Compliance.md#gdpr-compliance).

### Can I use Cortex Linux in air-gapped environments?

Yes, Cortex Linux works completely offline. No network connection is required for AI operations (only for initial installation and updates).

---

## Business and Licensing

### What license is Cortex Linux under?

Cortex Linux is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0). The Sapiens reasoning engine components have separate licensing - see LICENSE files in the repository.

### Can I use Cortex Linux commercially?

Yes, GPL-3.0 allows commercial use. However, if you modify and distribute Cortex Linux, you must also distribute your modifications under GPL-3.0.

### Do I need to pay for API usage?

No, there are no API costs. All processing happens on-device with zero per-request fees.

### What are the total costs?

**Cortex Linux**:
- Software: $0 (open source)
- API costs: $0
- Infrastructure: Your server costs only

**Comparison**: See [Comparison Pages - Cost Analysis](Comparison-Pages.md#cost-analysis) for detailed cost comparisons.

### Is commercial support available?

Commercial support options are being developed. For enterprise needs, contact: enterprise@cortexlinux.org

### Can I contribute to Cortex Linux?

Yes! We welcome contributions. See [Developer Documentation - Contributing Guidelines](Developer-Documentation.md#contributing-guidelines).

---

## Troubleshooting

### The AI service won't start

**Check service status**:
```bash
sudo systemctl status cortex-ai
```

**View logs**:
```bash
journalctl -u cortex-ai -n 50
```

**Common issues**:
- Insufficient memory
- Missing model files
- Configuration errors
- Permission issues

See [Installation Guide - Troubleshooting](Installation-Guide.md#troubleshooting).

### API returns "connection refused"

**Check if service is running**:
```bash
systemctl status cortex-ai
```

**Check if port is listening**:
```bash
sudo netstat -tlnp | grep 8080
```

**Check firewall**:
```bash
sudo ufw status
```

**Verify configuration**:
```bash
cat /etc/cortex-ai/config.yaml
```

### AI responses are slow

**Check system resources**:
```bash
htop
free -h
```

**Optimize configuration**:
- Increase `num_threads` (match CPU cores)
- Enable caching
- Reduce `max_tokens` if not needed

See [Technical Specifications - Performance Tuning](Technical-Specifications.md#performance-tuning).

### Installation fails

**Common causes**:
- Corrupted ISO (verify checksums)
- Insufficient disk space
- Hardware incompatibility
- BIOS/UEFI configuration

**Solutions**:
- Re-download ISO and verify checksum
- Ensure 20GB+ free disk space
- Check hardware compatibility
- Disable Secure Boot (if needed)

See [Installation Guide - Troubleshooting](Installation-Guide.md#troubleshooting).

### Model files are missing

**Check model location**:
```bash
ls -lh /usr/lib/cortex-ai/models/
```

**Reinstall AI engine**:
```bash
sudo apt remove cortex-ai
sudo apt install cortex-ai
```

**Verify package**:
```bash
dpkg -L cortex-ai | grep model
```

### Permission denied errors

**Check file permissions**:
```bash
ls -l /usr/lib/cortex-ai/
ls -l /etc/cortex-ai/
ls -l /var/log/cortex-ai/
```

**Fix permissions** (if needed):
```bash
sudo chown -R cortex-ai:cortex-ai /var/log/cortex-ai/
sudo chmod 750 /var/log/cortex-ai/
```

### High memory usage

**Check memory usage**:
```bash
free -h
ps aux | grep cortex-ai
```

**Reduce memory allocation**:
Edit `/etc/cortex-ai/config.yaml`:
```yaml
ai:
  max_memory_mb: 512  # Reduce if needed
```

**Check for memory leaks**:
```bash
valgrind --leak-check=full cortex-ai reason "test"
```

---

## Getting Help

### Where can I get help?

1. **Documentation**: This wiki
2. **GitHub Issues**: [github.com/cortexlinux/cortex/issues](https://github.com/cortexlinux/cortex/issues)
3. **Community**: [Discord](https://discord.gg/cortexlinux), [Matrix](https://matrix.to/#/#cortexlinux:matrix.org)
4. **Reddit**: [r/cortexlinux](https://reddit.com/r/cortexlinux)

### How do I report a bug?

1. **Check existing issues**: Search GitHub Issues first
2. **Create issue**: [github.com/cortexlinux/cortex/issues/new](https://github.com/cortexlinux/cortex/issues/new)
3. **Include information**:
   - Cortex Linux version
   - System information
   - Steps to reproduce
   - Error messages/logs

### How do I report a security vulnerability?

**Email**: security@cortexlinux.org (encrypted preferred)

**Do not** report security issues in public forums. See [Security and Compliance - Vulnerability Reporting](Security-and-Compliance.md#vulnerability-reporting).

---

## Next Steps

- **Installation**: [Installation Guide](Installation-Guide.md)
- **Integration**: [AI Integration Guide](AI-Integration.md)
- **Use Cases**: [Use Cases and Tutorials](Use-Cases-and-Tutorials.md)
- **Technical Details**: [Technical Specifications](Technical-Specifications.md)
- **Security**: [Security and Compliance](Security-and-Compliance.md)

---

*Last updated: 2024*