UNDERSTANDING LINUX
John Curl
Joe Hetherington
Bradley Lewis
Michael Wu
Intro to LinuxJohn Curl
What is Linux?
Unix like operating system Open source collaboration Free Code can be freely transmitted and
modified Linux can be installed on any platform More predominately used on servers,
over 60%
Design
Based off the principles established in the Unix system
Uses a monolithic kernel (a high-level virtual interface over computer hardware) which handles process control, networking, and peripheral and file system access
User Interface
Users can control a Linux-based system through a command line interface (or CLI), a graphical user interface (or GUI), or through controls attached to the associated hardware
The default mode for desktops is GUI while CLI is used on separate virtual consoles
Unix & KernelJoe Hetherington
UNIX
AppealMultitaskingMultiuserPortabilityUNIX programsSoftware library
UNIX
Multiuser
Ex. Allows multiple users to access same document – compartmentalization
Portability
Able to move from one brand of computer to another with minimal code changes
Easy to update
UNIX
UNIX Programs
Integral Utilities – necessary for operation
Tools – provide customizable capabilities
Software Library
Third-party vendors
UNIX Structure
What is a kernel? A kernel is the central component of most
computer operating systems; it is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level. The kernel's responsibilities include managing the system's resources (the communication between hardware and software components)
Kernel
Lowest level of software•Manages hardware•Runs user programs•Maintains security and integrity of whole system
Kernel
Fulfills 4 Main Management Tasks
Memory management
Process management
File system management
I/O management
HistoryBradley Lewis
History
Developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland
Inspired by MunixWritten from scratch by Andrew TanenbaumRan off the Intel 8086 microprocessorContained 12,00 lines of code
History
Uses no code from AT&T or any other proprietary source
First official version introduced in October of 1991 as version 0.02
History
Version 0.02Was able to run bash and gccIntended as a hackers systemPrimary focus was kernel development
History
A year and a half later in December of 1993 Linux was at version .99
Battles broke out between Linus and Tannenbaum, the creator of Minix
Linux became more popular and was finally licensed under the GNU General Public License
History
In 1996 Linux was put to the test and ran 68 PCs as a single parallel processing machine
Had a peak speed of 19 billion calculations per second, making it the 315th most powerful supercomputer
Cost a tenth of what comparable supercomputers
General Public License
This license allows anyone to:use the software at no charge, without any
limitationscopy, and distribute or sell unmodified copies of
the software in the source or binary formmodify, and distribute or sell a modified version
of the software as long as the source code is included and licensing under the GPL
sell support for the software
UbuntuJohn Curl
Ubuntu
Most popular form of Linux Named after South African ethical
ideology, meaning “humanity towards others”
40% to 50% of Linux users Like all Linux Ubuntu is free and open
source Can run many Windows programs
through Vmware
Ubuntu
Works on PC's & Servers Updated every 6 months Features- Email, Music, Web Surfing, Chat,
Photos, Office, Games Access thousands of open source Apps Download or request CD from Ubuntu site
Installation
This General Public License allows Linux to be obtained free of charge
Ways of Installation"no-install": a "Run-from-CD" LiveCD
distributionsetting up "Dual-boot" systemsyou can completely erase the HD and install
Linux onlyThrough distributors such as Red Hat,
Caldera, etc.
Ubuntu Installation
PC256 MB RAM4 GB disk space
Server192 MB RAM1 GB disk spaceProcessor – Intel or AMD x86, AMD_64, EM_64T
Linux SupportMichael Wu
Linux Support
No official Linux support Most support is done by online
community Medibuntu (Multimedia, Entertainment &
Distractions In Ubuntu)Repository of packages that cannot be
included in Ubuntu distributation.Step by step instructions to install packages
Linux Support
Technical SupportCanonical
○ Company that provides live tech support for a cost
Linux.org ○ Provides various documents to assist with Linux
installation and problemsLinuxforums.org
○ Provides help on different Linux systems○ Provides information on most Linux needs for
beginners
Linux Support
ForumsFree software licenses allows for many
proficient users to make improvements to Linux software
Post your problem and there is usually a response time within a few hours
Many users of Linux are knowledgeable in programming
Linux User Group
Located in many cities and regions Private non-profit organization Promotes Linux and extensions of the
free software Holds meets to train and offer technical
support
Linux User Group
InstallfestsLUG hosted event at university or LAN partyPeople get together to do mass installations
of Linux Hackfests
LUG eventPeople get together to reveal security issues
and provides ways of fixing them
Linux Vs Mac Vs Windows
John Curl
Linux
AdvantagesEasy installationFrequently updatedLarge support communityMany different versionsTargeted less by virusesUnix basedFREE!
Linux
DisadvantagesUnstableLack of High Quality Professional SoftwareInstallation
Mac
AdvantagesExcellent user interfaceStableLarge number of professional applicationsEasy installationTargeted less by virusesUnix based
Mac
DisadvantagesProprietaryOS limited to a specific platformCost is high
Windows
AdvantagesMost popular OSMost familiar OSVery high Application and Driver support
Windows
DisadvantagesNot very stableRestricted freedomNot freeBad startup ApplicationsFrequently attacked by viruses
Windows XP (52.94%)Windows Vista (23.25%)Windows 7 (11.24%)Mac OS X (5.90%)Linux (1.14%)iPhone (0.73%)Other (2.65%)
Sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_(computing) http://www.bell-labs.com/history/unix/tutorial.html http://www.diffen.com/difference/Linux_vs_Unix http://learnlinux.tsf.org.za/courses/build/internals/internals-all.html http://www.tldp.org/LDP/gs/
node3.html#SECTION00300000000000000000 http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question246.htm http://www.linux.org/docs/beginner/install.html