Linux Introduction

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 Agenda

* Purpose of an Operating System (OS)

* Key features of the Linux OS
* Origins of the Linux operating system
* Linux distributions and where to find them
* Common uses of Linux in the industry

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 Introduction to Linux
*What Is Linux?
* Usually meant to refer to a UNIX-like operating system
* Free implementation of UNIX, cannot be called UNIX
* Implementation of the POSIX specification
* Linux Is Not UniX

*Linux refers just to the kernel

* Much of the non-kernel software is GNU
* Other components come from many organizations, groups, &
individuals

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Linux Operating System
Linux
kernel

GNU tools,
compiler, Linux
libraries operating
system

X graphics :
KDE GNOME

Other:
Apache, Database,
Multimedia 4
 Operating Systems

* An operating system (OS) is a collection of software

that manages computer hardware resources and
provides common services for computer programs
* Hardware: physical components inside a computer
* Software: set of instructions or programs that allow
hardware components to manipulate data

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system
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Operating Systems
(Hardware)

* Hardware components include:

* Processor (CPU)
* Physical memory (RAM)
* Hard disk drives
* Sound cards, microphones
* Video cards, webcams
* Circuit boards
* Sensors: GPS, gyroscope, magnetometer
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Operating Systems
(Software)

* Software components include:

* Processor (CPU) instructions [math, multi]
* Memory Manager (real or virtual)
* Process Manager
* Scheduling Manager
* Hardware drivers [disk drives, video, sound, sensors]
* Security [user, access control, terminations]

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Operating Systems
(Features)
* Features include:
* Real-time or Scheduling Manager
* Multi-user
* Multi-tasking
* Networking
* Distributed – supercomputers!
* Embedded http://www.raspberrypi.org/
* The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized computer
that plugs into your TV and a keyboard!
* http://www.ouya.tv/ Android gaming console
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 Operating Systems
(Software)
* Two different types of software:
* Applications: programs designed for a specific use
and with which a user interacts
* Command Line Interface or prompt (CLI)
* Graphical User Interface (GUI)
* Desktop tools [calculator, file manager, web browser]
* Operating system software:
* Device Drivers: interacts with hardware
* Abstraction Layer: interacts with user applications via
Application Programming Interface (API)
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Operating Systems (continued)

* Graphical user interface (GUI):

* component of an OS that the user can interact with using
the keyboard or the mouse
* System services:
* applications that handle system-related tasks:
* Printing
* Scheduling programs
* Provide network access

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Operating Systems
(GUI)

A Linux graphical user

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interface
Operating Systems Comparison

* Name & History

* Creator
* Cost
* License
* Target system type

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_operating_systems

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 The Linux Operating
System

* Linux OS
* Runs a variety of applications on a variety of different
hardware components
* Multiuser and Multitasking OS
* Has the ability to manage thousands of tasks at the
same time
* Allows multiple users to access the system
simultaneously

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 Versions of the
Linux Operating System

* Core component is called the Linux kernel

* Written almost entirely in the C programming language
* Software can be used to modify appearance of Linux,
but the kernel is common to all Linux
* Important to understand Linux kernel version
numbers to decide which version is appropriate for
user needs: x86 or 64

https://www.kernel.org/
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 The GNU System

* The GNU system comes from the

Free Software Foundation:
FSF.ORG
* Founded by Richard M. Stallman in the 1980s
* Objectives were to create freely distributable UNIX tools
* Software should be free from patents & commercial ownership
* GNU provides many UNIX commands & useful applications
* Linux and GNU were an ideal match in the early 1990s
* Linux kernel needed supporting software
* GNU needed a kernel (it now has the Hurd)
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 Licensing Linux

* Open Source Software (OSS):

* Programs distributed and licensed so that the source
code is available, free of charge, to anyone who wants
to examine, utilize, or improve upon it
* Mayor repository sources:
* http://www.gnu.org/
* http://sourceforge.net/
* http://www.fsf.org/
* https://github.com/plans
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 Licensing Linux
(continued)

* Implications of OSS:
* Developed very rapidly through widespread
collaboration
* Bugs (errors) are noted and promptly fixed
* Features evolve quickly based on users’ needs
* Perceived value of the software increases because it is
based on usefulness, not on price

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Licensing Linux (continued)

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Types of Open Source Licenses

* GNU Public License (GPL):

* Stipulates that the source code of any software
published under its license must be freely available
* Users who modify the source code must also
redistribute the modified code freely
* Artistic license: OSS license allowing source code to
be distributed freely, changed only at discretion of
original author

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Types of Closed Source
Licenses

* Most closed source software is sold commercially

* Usually bears label of manufacturer, such as Microsoft
or Electronic Arts software
* Freeware: distributed free of charge; source code
usually not available
* Shareware: initially free, but requires payment after a
period of time or for use of certain features

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 Linux Advantages:
Meeting Business Needs

* Common software available for Linux includes:

* Scientific and engineering software
* Software emulators
* Web servers, Web browsers, and e-commerce
suites
* Desktop productivity software
* Graphics manipulation software
* Database software
* Security software 21
 Linux Advantages:
Stability and Security

* Customers using a closed source OS must rely on the

OS vendor to fix any bugs
* Waiting for a hot fix may take weeks or months
* Bugs and security loopholes in OSS programs can be
identified and fixed quickly
* Code is freely available and scrutinized by many
developers

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 Linux Advantages: Flexibility for
Different Hardware Platforms

Partial list of hardware platforms on which Linux can run:

– Intel x86, IA-64 –M68K
– MIPS –PA-RISC
– Mainframe (S/390) – SPARC
– ARM, Atom –Ultra-SPARC
–PowerPC: Nintendo,
– Alpha
PS3, Xbox 360

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_supported_architectures

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 Linux Advantages:
Ease of Customization

* Ability to control the inner workings of the OS

* To use Linux as an Internet Web server, compile
the kernel to include only the support needed to
be an Internet Web server
* Results in a much smaller and faster kernel
* Can choose to install only software packages needed to
perform required tasks
* Can use shell and PERL scripts to customize or automate
tasks

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 Linux Advantages:
Ease of Obtaining Support

* Linux documentation can be found on the Internet

* Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
* HOWTO documents
* Linux newsgroups
* Linux User Group (LUG): Open forum of Linux users
who discuss and assist each other in using and
modifying the Linux OS

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Linux Advantages:
Cost Reduction

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The History of Linux

Timeline of UNIX and Linux

development
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 UNIX

* Evolved from Multiplexed Information and

Computing Service (MULTICS)
* The first true multitasking, multiuser OS
* Written in the C programming language
* Portable OS
* OS from which Linux originated

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 UNIX (continued)

* Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD)

* Version of the original UNIX source code
* Common flavors of UNIX today include:
* Sun Microsystems’s Solaris UNIX
* Hewlett-Packard’s HP-UX
* IBM’s AIX UNIX

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 Linux

* First developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991

* Published under the GNU license
* Linux kernel developed collaboratively and centrally
managed
* Hackers developed Linux add-on packages and
distributions
* Linux is simply a by-product of OSS development

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 Linux Distributions
Installation tools,
configuration tools,
Kernel SUPPORT, etc. Red
Hat
+

GNU Mint
Linux +
Operating
System
+
X Ubuntu

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 What Is a Linux Distribution?

* A Linux distribution is:

* A preconfigured kernel
* GNU utilities
* X graphical environment (KDE, GNOME)
* Other generic software components (Apache)
* Distributor-specific installation & configuration
* Support

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 X

* A powerful networked graphical environment

* Developed at MIT, freely distributable
* X.org - complete implementation of X based on the X11R6 standard
* Servers typically do not require graphics
* Some useful system administration tools are graphical
* X graphical tools can be run on a server and displayed remotely

MIT = Massachusetts Institute of

Technology
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 Other Linux Applications
* UNIX software packages have been ported
* UNIX packages are often distributed in source form
* Korn Shell, emacs, zip, chkconfig
* Many server components are generic UNIX software
* Apache, sendmail, BIND, Samba
* Some software components are
* Free implementations of commercial applications
* OpenSSH, OpenMotif, GNUPG
* Internationalization
* Multiple languages
* Unicode support!
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Common Uses of Linux

* May be customized to provide services for a variety of

companies in a variety of situations
* Workstation services: services used on a local computer
* Server services: services made available for other
computers across a network
* Mobile devices: tablets and cell phones!
* Game Consoles

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 What Could Your Net Look Like?
Linux
Linux file and
FTP server
VPN link to remote site print server for
Linux Windows clients
VPN gateway To the
Internet
Linux
Linux
SMTP server
Web server

Linux
firewall
Linux
router

Linux DHCP Linux

Linux mail server server NFS file server
for POP/IMAP
NIS server
clients
DNS server
Linux print server
for UNIX clients
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File and Print Servers

* Linux is well-suited for centrally sharing resources

* More economical to share files and printers
over a network
* Inherently fast and light
* A distribution specific to a certain task can
be installed on the central server
* Can share resources with a computer
running another OS

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 Navigating Filesystem

* Using Nautilus (Gnome

graphical filesystem
browser)
* Click on “Computer”
icon or
* “Applications”,
“System Tools”,
“File Browser”

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Application Servers

* Application server: intermediary between a client

computer and a database
* Database: organized collection of data that is arranged
into tables of related information
* Database Management Systems (DBMS): set of programs
designed to allow for creation, modification, manipulation,
maintenance, and access of information from databases
* Application servers can provide management functionality

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 Supercomputers

* Clustering: combining several smaller computers to

act as one large supercomputer
* Beowulf clustering: most common Linux method of
clustering
* Scalability: the ability for a computer to increase
workload as the number of processors increases
* Clustering computers often results in better scalability
than adding processors to a single computer

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Scientific/Engineering Workstation

* Scientific and engineering community often needs

customized programs (NASA, NOA)
* OSS programs can be used or modified
* OSS software available for physics, astrophysics,
biophysics, biocomputation, data mining, and many
other scientific and engineering fields

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 Office/Personal
Workstation

* Workstation software designed for end users in

office and home environments
* OSS packages available for:
* Graphics editing software
* Desktop publishing software
* Media software
* Financial software
* Office productivity suites
* Bittorrent clients
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 Non Distribution Linux

* Mobile Linux
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_Linux
* Game console Linux http://openpandora.org
* Embedded Linux http://elinux.org
* Automobile consoles & Google TV
* Older hardware
* Printers & Network equipment

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Installing Linux: Hardware

Fedora 13 hardware requirements

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 Summary

* Purpose of an Operating System (OS)

* Key features of the Linux OS
* Origins of the Linux operating system
* Linux distributions and where to find them
* Common uses of Linux in the industry

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