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Chapter 1 PDF

The document discusses selecting an operating system and provides an overview of Linux, describing its kernel components, user interfaces, how it compares to other operating systems like Unix and Windows, and what a Linux distribution is, including examples of common distributions and their characteristics.

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113 views

Chapter 1 PDF

The document discusses selecting an operating system and provides an overview of Linux, describing its kernel components, user interfaces, how it compares to other operating systems like Unix and Windows, and what a Linux distribution is, including examples of common distributions and their characteristics.

Uploaded by

M -
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 26

Linux Essentials

Chapter 1:
Selecting an Operating System
Chapter 1 Outline
l What is an OS?
l Investigating user interfaces
l Where does Linux fit in the OS world?
l What is a distribution?
What Is an OS?

• OS kernel component
• Additional components
OS Kernel Components
• A kernel is a software responsible for:
o Interfacing with hardware devices
o Allocating memory to individual programs
o Allocating CPU time to individual programs
o Enabling programs to interact with each other
• Kernels are not interchangeable.
• Linux OS kernel:
o Called Linux
o Created by student Linus Torvalds in 1991
o Runs on many various platforms & hardware
What Is an OS?
(continued)
OS Kernel Components
Additional Components
l Command-line shells

l Graphical user interfaces

l Utility programs

l Libraries

l Productivity programs
Investigating User Interfaces
Using a Text-Mode User Interface
• Example:
Fedora release 21 (Twenty One)
Kernel 3.18.6-200.fc21.x86_64 on an x86_64 (tty1)
essentials login:

• To log in:
o Enter username at login: prompt
o Enter password at the password prompt

• After login, you receive a shell prompt:


[rich@essentials:∼]$
Investigating User Interfaces
(continued)
Using a Text-Mode User Interface

• Enter commands at the shell prompt:


$ ls
106792c01.doc f0101.tif
$
• Commands display information and
immediately return a prompt or…
Investigating User Interfaces
(continued)
Using a Text-Mode User Interface
• Take over the display:
Investigating User Interfaces
(continued)
Using a Text-Mode User Interface
Using a Graphical User Interface
Using a Graphical User Interface
Using a Graphical User Interface
Investigating User Interfaces
(continued)
Using a Text-Mode User Interface
Using a Graphical User Interface
• Desktop Environment Features:
o Program launchers
o File managers
o Window controls
o Multiple desktops
o Logout options
What is Open Source?
• Source code = Programming code human beings
use to write software programs
• Compiler = Software that turns source code into
binary code, but does not execute the binary code
• Translator = Software that turns source code
temporarily into binary code and executes it
• Binary code = Code that machines need to
run/understand software programs
• Open source = Freely available source code
Where Does Linux Fit
in the OS World?
Comparing Linux to Unix
l The Linux kernel

o Based on Unix
o Specifically Minix
l The GNU's Not Unix (GNU) project

o By Free Software Foundation (FSF)


o Goal: Develop open source replacements
for Unix core elements
l Xorg-X11
o Variety of the X Windows System
o X is foundation for most Unix OS GUIs
Where Does Linux Fit in
the OS World? (continued)
Comparing Linux to Unix
l The Linux kernel

l The GNU's Not Unix (GNU) project

l Xorg-X11

l Desktop environments

o Many open source desktop environments


are on both Unix and Linux.
o Examples:
q GNOME
q KDE
q Xfce
Where Does Linux Fit in
the OS World? (continued)
Comparing Linux to Unix
l The Linux kernel

l The GNU's Not Unix (GNU) project

l Xorg-X11

l Desktop environments

l Server programs

o Both Unix and Linux are popular as Server OSs.


o Examples:
q Web servers
q Email servers
q File servers
Where Does Linux Fit in
the OS World? (continued)
Comparing Linux to Unix
l The Linux kernel

l The GNU's Not Unix (GNU) project

l Xorg-X11

l Desktop environments

l Server programs

l User productivity programs

o Linux and Unix-like OSs run similar programs.


o More likely to find support on Linux
Where Does Linux Fit in the OS
World? (continued)
Comparing Linux to Mac OS X
• Mac OS X is a Unix-based OS
• User interface is different:
o Names:
q Cocoa (programming perspective)
q Aqua (user perspective)
o Applications developed for OS X
cannot run on Linux without heavy modification.
o Applications developed on Linux can run on OS X
with minor (or none) modifications.
• OS X limited to Apple hardware
• Linux runs on a wide-variety of hardware.
Where Does Linux Fit in the OS
World? (continued)
Comparing Linux to Unix
Comparing Linux to Mac OS X
Comparing Linux to Windows
l Licensing

o Linux - Open Source


o Windows - Closed Source Proprietary
l Costs
o Linux
q Free licenses
q Human expertise hard to find and more expensive
o Windows
q Costly licenses
q Human expertise easy to find and less expensive
Where Does Linux Fit in the OS
World? (continued)
Comparing Linux to Windows
l Licensing

l Costs

l Hardware compatibility

o Drivers
q Windows - most companies provide drivers
q Linux - drivers typically provided by community
o Older hardware
q Linux - runs better
Where Does Linux Fit in the OS
World? (continued)
Comparing Linux to Windows
l Licensing

l Costs

l Hardware compatibility

l Software availability

o Windows - Microsoft Office reigns


o Linux - Apache Web server reigns
l User interfaces
o Windows - Proprietary
o Linux - Open source & standards based
Where Does Linux Fit in the OS
World? (continued)
Comparing Linux to Windows
l Licensing

l Costs

l Hardware compatibility

l Software availability

l User interfaces

l Configurability
o Linux is more configurable/flexible.
l Security
o Open source software tends to be more secure.
o Linux is used by the US Government.
What Is a Distribution?
Creating a Complete Linux-Based OS
l A Linux kernel

l Core Unix tools

l Supplemental software

l Startup scripts

l An installer
A Summary of Common Linux
Distributions
Distribution Availability Package format Release cycle Administrator skill reqs
Arch Free pacman Rolling Expert
CentOS Free RPM approx 2-year Intermediate
Debian Free Debian 2-year Intermediate to expert
Fedora Free RPM approx 6-month Intermediate
Gentoo Free Ebuild Rolling Expert
Mint Free Debian 6-month Novice to intermediate
openSUSE Free RPM 8-month Intermediate
Red Hat Commercial RPM approx 2-year Intermediate
Enterprise
Scientific Free RPM approx 6-month Intermediate to expert
Slackware Free tarballs Irregular Expert
SUSE Commercial RPM 2–3 years Intermediate
Enterprise
Ubuntu Free Debian 6-month Novice to intermediate
What Is a Distribution?
(continued)
Creating a Complete Linux-Based OS
A Summary of Common Linux Distributions
Specialized distributions:
l Android

l Network appliances

l TiVo

l Parted Magic
What Is a Distribution?
(continued)
Creating a Complete Linux-Based OS
A Summary of Common Linux Distributions
Understanding Release Cycles
• Standard release
o Stable software made available on periodic basis
o Support:
q Given for stated amount of time
q Software updates are made available for bugs and security issues.
q Some distributions offer Long Term Support (LTS).
o After support time has passed,
best to upgrade to new release
• Rolling release - software is continually updated

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