International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 7, Issue 4, April-2016 1138

ISSN 2229-5518

A Review on Linux Distribution as Future

Operating System
Abhimanyu Sharma, Bhuwan Mukhia, Neha Thapa, Ravi Kr Prasad, Arvind Lal

Abstract— Open-source software (OSS) is computer software with its source code made available with a license under End User License.
Agreement (EULA) in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, changes, and distributes the software to anyone and for any
purpose. Open-source software may be developed in a collaborative public manner. Open-source software is the most prominent example
of open-source development. The open-source model, or collaborative competition development from multiple independent sources,
generates an increasingly more diverse scope of design perspective than any one company is capable of developing and sustaining long
term. The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most
prominent examples of free and open source software. Linux is, in simplest terms, an operating system. It is the software on a computer
that enables applications and the computer operator to access the devices on the computer to perform desired functions. The operating
system (OS) relays instructions from an application to, for instance, the computer's processor.

Overall this research paper focuses on the very core aspect of the Linux Operating system based on online statistic and also tells the most
valued and the best distribution (Distro) of Linux.

Index Terms— Open Source, Linux Operating System, Android, commands, kernel.

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INTRODUCTION

L Inux is free and open source Operating System,Which

is mainly used inservers and supercomputers.Linux is
bundled with features of Windows and Mac OS X,Since its
such as routers and NAS appliances. The Android operating
system for tablet computers, smartphones and smart-watches
is also based atop the Linux kernel.
Open source,We have various Linux distributions,Which cater D. DISTRIBUTION
to different needs of different users. A linux distribution[4] (often called a distro for short) is
an operating system made from a software collection, which is
based upon the linux kernel and, often, a package manage-
A. OPEN SOURCE ment system. Linux users usually obtain their operating sys-
tem by downloading one of the linux distributions, which are
Open source[1] software is software whose source code is available for a wide variety of systems ranging
available for modification or enhancement by anyone. from embedded devices (for example, openwrt) and personal
"Source code" is the part of software that most computer users computers to powerful supercomputers (for, example, rocks
don't ever see; it's the code computer programmers can ma- cluster distribution).
nipulate to change how a piece of software a "program" or
"application" works.

B. LICENSE
The GPL[2] is a copy left license, which means that derived 2 LITERATURE OVERVIEW
works can only be distributed under the same license terms. Many people are not aware about Linux Operating system,
This is in distinction to permissive free software licenses, of and are still stuck with the old windows Operating System,
which the BSD licenses and the MIT License are the standard still not aware about the vast expansion of Linux “the future of
examples. operating system”.
But why do companies find Linux so interesting?
C. KERNEL
• No per-unit licensing costs.
The kernel[3] is a computer program that constitutes the cen- • Wide array of support options.
tral core of a computer's operating system. It has complete • Do it yourself.
control over everything that occurs in the system. As such, it is • Free e-mail support from the community.
the first program loaded on startup, and then manages the • Paid support options (up to 24x7 enterprise-style with
remainder of the startup, as well as input/output requests guaranteed response time).
from software, translating them into data processing instruc- • Competition between support options leads to lower costs.
tions for the central processing unit. It is also responsible for • Huge numbers of college students are graduating with deep
managing memory, and for managing and communicating Linux skills.
with computing peripherals, like printers, speakers, etc. The • In addition to all the above it is also well known that
kernel is a fundamental part of a modern computer's operat- • Smart Phones using Linux
ing system. • Android has a bed of Linux
The Linux kernel is a Unix-like computer operating system • Nokia N900
kernel. It is used world-wide: the Linux operating system is • Limo
based on it and deployed on both traditional computer sys- • Netbooks and Mobile Internet Devices (MID's)
tems such as personal computers and servers, usually in the • Intel and Linux Foundation's Moblin.
form of Linux distributions and on various embedded devices • Google's Chrome OS.
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 7, Issue 4, April-2016 1139
ISSN 2229-5518
of the system.
4.4 X-windows (or simply windows)
3 ADVANTAGES OF LINUX OVER WINDOWS This is a mode of Linux where you screen (monitor) can be
split in small "parts" called windows, that allow you to do
3.1 Easy to install applications several things at the same time (or rather change from one task
Installing new programs in Linux is easier than in Win- to another easily) and view graphics in a nice way.
dows [5]. You don’t need to accept agreements because it’s all
4.5 Text terminal
open sources so there is no need to click Next 20 times before
the program is installed. It means monitor that has only the capability to display text
stuff, no graphics (or perhaps a very basic graphics display).
3.2 Secure
Security is not just an enhancement like in Windows. It is a 4.6 Session
pillar of the Linux Core, which makes hard the task to virus
creators or to hackers. You can use your Linux without antivi- The time spend between logging on in the system and logging
rus program and without being ever annoyed by a virus. out of the system.
3.3 Easy to change options
Linux comes with a control panel but also comes with a menu 5 BASIC COMMANDS IN LINUX
next to the Applications menu where you simply select the
thing you want to change, be it the Desktop background or the
network settings. Everything on the windows that appear is Commands [7] can be one of 4 different kinds
simple and there are just the options you need so it is easy to A. An executable program like all those files in /usr/bin:
change the options. Within this category, programs can be compiled bina-
ries such as programs written in C and C++, or programs
3.4 Community written in scripting languages such as the shell, Perl, Py-
The community behind Linux, especially Linux is what at- thon, Ruby, etc.

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tracts many people to the operating system. B. A command built into the shell itself
Bash provides a number of commands internally
called shell built in’s. The cd command, for example, is a
3.5 Free shell built in.
Everything about Linux is free, the operating system (you can C. A shell function
even have them send you a copy of the operating system for a These are miniature shell scripts incorporated into
small fee that covers postage), the software installed is free the environment. We will cover configuring the environ-
(including all the software you can download) any help and ment and writing shell functions in later lessons, but for
support is free. The whole experience is 100% free, because it now, just be aware that they exist.
is open source. Open source means that you can distribute and D. An Alias
even edit the code behind the program. Commands that you can define yourselves, built from
other commands. This will be covered in a later lesson.
4 How Linux Works
6 POPULAR LINUX DISTRIBUTERS
Linux is a multi-task [6] and multi user operating sys-
tem.A multitask operating system is capable of doing several
tasks at the same time (well, not quite so, but it seems like that 6.1 Debian
from the human point of view).
A multiuser operating system has a concept of "userquot” a GNU/Linux is a distribution [9] that emphasizes free soft-
way to identify the person that is using the system, and can ware. It supports many hardware platforms. Debian and dis-
allow different users to perform different tasks in the comput- tributions based on it use the .deb package format and the
er, and protect one user's tasks from interfering with another DPKG package manager and its frontends.
user's programs.
6.2 Knoppix
There are a few other terms that will help understand the rest
of the pages in this paper It is based on Debian. It is a live distribution, with automated
hardware configuration and a wide choice of software, which
4.1 Shell is decompressed as it loads from the drive.
This is a program in the system that allows you to give the
commands you want to execute. It is the basic program that 6.3 Ubuntu
connects you to the operating system.This is a program in the It is a distribution based on Debian, designed to have regular
system that allows you to give the commands you want to releases, a consistent user experience and commercial support
on both desktop and server.
execute. It is the basic program that connects you to the oper-
ating system. 6.4 Unofficial variants
This distribution and derivatives are not controlled or guided
4.2 Process by Canonical Ltd. and generally have different goals in mind.
Any task that you run in the system is called a process (again,
a process is something a little more complex than just a task, 6.5 Gentoo
but that definition is good enough to start). This is a distribution designed to have highly optimized and
4.3 File frequently updated software. Distributions based on Gentoo
use the Portage package management system with emerges or
It is a part of the hard disk that contains data owned by a user one of the alternative package managers.
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 7, Issue 4, April-2016 1140
ISSN 2229-5518
6.6 Red Hat Linux and SUSE Linux 7.4 Some Gentoo based operating system
These are the original major distributions that used the RPM • Chrome OS is used on various Chrome Books, Chrome box-
file format, which is today used in several package manage- es and tablet computers. It is primarily Internet-based,
ment systems. Both of these later divided into commercial and launching each app within the Chrome browser. The OS fea-
community-supported distributions. Red Hat Linux divided tures a user interface that is very similar-looking to Chrome
into a community-supported distribution sponsored by Red instead of GNOME, KDE, etc.
Hat called Fedora, and a commercially supported distribution • Sabayon Linux is a European Linux distribution based on
called Red Hat Enterprise Linux, whereas SUSE divided into Gentoo. However, it follows the "out of the box" philosophy,
openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise. aiming to give the user a wide number of applications ready
to use and a self-configured operating system. Like Gentoo,
6.7 Pacman Sabayon uses the rolling release model; it uses a customized
It is a package manager that is capable of resolving depend- version of Red Hat's Anaconda Installer and includes a Me-
encies and automatically downloading and installing all nec- dia Center application.
essary packages. In theory, a user need only run a single
command to completely update the system.
7.5 Some Packman Based Operating System
6.8 Slackware
It is known as a highly customizable distribution that stresses • An i686- and x86-64-optimized distribution targeted at expe-
ease of maintenance and reliability over cutting-edge software rienced users. Arch runs on a rolling release system and uses
and automated tools. Generally considered a distribution for the pacman utility for package management.
advanced users, it is often suggested to those who want to • Originally derived from Arch Linux, with the latest KDE
learn the inner workings of a Linux operating system. desktop. For now uses the pacman utility for package man-
agement. Strives to be Qt-only.
6.9 Independent • Frugalware Linux is a general purpose Linux distribution
This are the operating system made by the independent users. designed for intermediate users. Has some influences from
Slackware, and uses a heavily modified version of the Pac-
man package manager, Pacman-G2, a fork of a cvs version of
the complete rewrite of Pacman-G1 by Aurelien Foret (the
old monolithic Pacman-G1 is written by Judd Vinet). The

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7 POPULAR LINUX DISTRIBUTION BASED ON FAMILY packages are tar archives that are compressed using xz.

7.1 Some Debian operating system

Kali Linux made to be a completely customizable OS[9], used 7.6 Some RPM Based Operating System
for penetration testing. It is based on Debian GNU/Linux
• NepaLinux A Debian and Morphix Linux based distribu- • Community-supported Linux distribution sponsored by Red
tion focused for desktop usage in Nepali language compu- Hat. It usually features cutting-edge Linux technologies.
ting • OpenSUSE previously branded Novell Linux Desktop. A
• SteamOS Debian-based and gaming-focused distribu- desktop-oriented Linux distribution supplied by SUSE and
tion developed by Valve Corporation and designed around targeted at the enterprise market.
the Steam digital distribution platform. • Hanthana is designed to cater the needs of Sri Lankan com-
puter users who are unable to access Internet frequently,
with many most-wanted applications built in.
7.2 Some UBUNTU operating system
• Ubuntu is a project that is an official derivative of the Ub- 7.7 Some Slackware Based Operating System
untu operating system that is "lighter, less resource hungry • SimpleLinux uses LZMA compression to compress its sys-
and more energy-efficient", using the LXDE desktop envi- tem files. The project started on year 2007 by a group of Ma-
ronment. laysian developer. simpleLinux is a Slackware-based distri-
• An official derivative of Ubuntu using MATE, a desktop bution that comes in both Live CD and Persistence version
environment forked from the now-defunct GNOME 2 code that can be installed to a medium. simpleLinux comes to be
base, with an emphasis on the desktop metaphor. a multi-tasking operating system that runs the X Window
• A complete Linux based operating system targeted for pri- System.
mary and secondary education. It is freely available with • Frugalware Linux is a general-purpose Linux distribution
community-based support. The Edubuntu community is designed for intermediate users who are familiar with com-
built on the ideas enshrined in the Edubuntu Manifesto: that mand-line operations. Early versions were based on Slack-
software, especially for education, should be available free ware, but it is now an independently developed distribution.
of charge and that software tools should be usable by people • Originally a minimal version of Slackware, Zenwalk has
in their local language and despite any disabilities. evolved into a very different operating system; however,
compatibility with Slackware is still maintained.
7.3 Unofficial Distribution
• Specifically for the Eee PC range of netbooks, based on 7.8 Some Independent Operating System
Debian. Previously named Eeebuntu and based on Ubuntu.
• Linux Mint synchronizes its release-cycle with Ubuntu's • Void is a general-purpose operating system, based on the
long-term support, and is tailored to user-friendliness for monolithic Linux kernel. Its package system allows you to
desktop users. Also features a Debian-based edition. quickly install, update and remove software; software is
• For academic and scientific use. Based on Ubuntu, but en- provided in binary packages or can be built directly from
hanced by e.g. GIS/maps, numerical modeling, 2D/3D/4D sources with the help of the XBPS source packages collec-
visualization, statistics, tools for creating simple and com- tion.
plex graphics, programming languages. • GoboLinux An alternative Linux distribution which rede-
fines the file system hierarchy by installing everything be-
longing to one application in one folder under /Programs,
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 International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 7, Issue 4, April-2016 1141
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and using symlinks from /System and its subfolders to 10 REFERENCES
point to the proper files.
8 COMPARATIVES
Here are the highlights of comparison made between the dis- [1] https://opensource.org/(2/4/2016)
tros of Linux Operating System based on their requirements [2] https://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/feature/1532.html(2/4/2016)
(hardware), and also on the basic of their interface and their [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel(29/03/2016)
capability to handle the workload. [4] Distrowatch.com/(29/03/2016)
[5] Linux vs. Windows: A Comparison of
Operating Processer RAM Storage Application and Platform Innovation
System Required Required Incentives for Open Source and
Debian 1 GHz 512 MB 5 GB Proprietary Software Platforms Author: Nicholas Economides and Evangelos
Katsamakas 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V. (29/03/2
Ubuntu 1 GHz 800 MB 5 GB [6] How_Linux_Works (2004) BBrianWard
[7] www.comptechdoc.org/os/linux/usersguide/linux_ugbasics.html(29/03/2
Kubuntu 1 GHz 1 GB 10 GB 016)
Xubuntu 1 GHz 512 MB 5 GB [8] www.howtogeek.com/.../10-of-the-most-popular-linux-
distributions(29/03/2016)
Linux Mint 1 GHz 1 GB 10 GB
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions(29/03/2016)
Slackware i486 256 MB 5 GB [10] www.av-comparatives.org/linux-reviews/(29/03/2016)
Fedora 1 GHz 1 GB 10 GB
Redhat Enter- 1 GHz 1 GB 10 GB
prise Linux
Puppy Linux 333 MHz 64 MB 1 GB

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Centos 1 GHz 256 MB 256 MB

openSUSE AMD 64 or 2 GB 5 GB
Intel 2.4 GHz

9 CONCLUSION

The above studies has been done in through reference to the

manuals and distro documents. It has come to a depth under-
standing of how every Linux based disro functions and also
their different flavor. With this document anybody can able to
identify the need based selection of the appropriate distro and
use it.

———————————
• Abhimanyu Sharma is currently pursuing Diploma in Computer Science and
Technology in Centre for Computers and Communication Technology, Chisopani
Nandugao Namchi Sikkim, India, PH-9933771767. E-
mail:[email protected]
• Bhuwan Mukhia is currently pursuing Diploma in Computer Science and Technol-
ogy in Centre for Computers and Communication Technology, Chisopani
Nandugao Namchi Sikkim, India, PH-8116513111. E-
mail:[email protected]
• Neha Thapa is currently pursuing Diploma in Computer Science and Technology
in Centre for Computers and Communication Technology, Chisopani Nandugao
Namchi Sikkim, India, PH-7602279614. E-mail:[email protected]
• Ravi Kumar Prasad is currently pursuing Diploma in Computer Science and Tech-
nology in Centre for Computers and Communication Technology, Chisopani
Nandugao Namchi Sikkim, India, PH-9641661542. E-
mail:[email protected]
• Arvind Lal is currently Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Technology in
Centre for Computers and Communication Technology, Chisopani Nandugao
Namchi Sikkim, India PH-9733234876. E-mail:[email protected]

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