1 / 12

Introduction to Linux

Introduction to Linux. Greg Porter V1.1, January 21, 2009. What is Linux?. Technically, Linux is *NOT* an operating system Linux is the “kernel”, the core program of the OS The OS = kernel + lots of tools Most of the tools came from the GNU Project GNU is pronounced “guh-new”

gent
Download Presentation

Introduction to Linux

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Introduction to Linux Greg Porter V1.1, January 21, 2009

  2. What is Linux? • Technically, Linux is *NOT* an operating system • Linux is the “kernel”, the core program of the OS • The OS = kernel + lots of tools • Most of the tools came from the GNU Project • GNU is pronounced “guh-new” • So, Linux is properly GNU/Linux • No one knows how to pronounce GNU, so they just say “Linux”

  3. GNU’s Not Unix • Started by Richard Stallman, AKA rms, early 1980’s • rms longed for “the good old days” (1960’s) when no one sold any software • Vendors sold hardware, not software • All software was open source • Every user was a programmer • rms invented today’s ideas of “free” and Open Source

  4. rms, founder of GNU

  5. If GNU did this, where’d “Linux” come from? GNU made a lot of tools, but lagged in making a usable kernel, arguably the hardest piece • Linus Torvalds, a college student, started fiddling with a kernel in 1991 • Linus and many others developed a good working kernel • “Linux” is a contraction for Linus and Unix • GNU has a kernel called the “Hurd”

  6. Linus Torvalds

  7. Source? • Source code is a program written in some human-readable computer programming language • You “compile” source with a compiler to convert source code to executable code • Executable (or binary) code is in bits and bytes ready for a computer to run • Once compiled, humans can’t read the code • Here’s a little demo…

  8. Open Source? “Open Source” software means you have access to the source code • You have the right to see how it’s made • You have the right to modify it • You have the right to re-distribute it • Typically, it’s released under an Open Source License such as the GNU Public License (GPL)

  9. Free? Free Speech? Free Beer? “Open Source” is “Free” software • “Free” is a political term • You’re free of some vendor’s restrictive license • You’re free to look at the source • You’re free to make changes • You’re free to make copies • Sometimes called “Copyleft”, you’ve been “left” the right to make “copies” • A lot of Open Source software doesn’t cost anything

  10. Pros and Cons of Open Source Pros: • Free (as in speech) • Free (as in beer) • Errors in programs are found and fixed faster • You can’t sneak a “back door” into Open Source code Cons: • ??? (Our book says there are none) • Business leaders (AKA “pointy haired bosses”) don’t get Open Source, afraid to use it • Willing to pay big bucks for support and (the appearance of?) stability from OS vendors

  11. Linux Distributions • “Distros” • A distro is a complete GNU/Linux OS with everything to make it work • Two basic flavors of Linux distros: • Commercial • Red Hat, SuSE, etc. • Non-commercial • Debian, Fedora, etc.

  12. Looking at Distros • All use the Linux kernel • For all practical purposes, they act the same • Different distros package add-on software differently • Red Hat uses .rpm files • Debian uses .deb files • Different distros use different “package managers” • Red Hat uses rpm and yum • Debian uses apt-get and dpkg • Commercial distros may offer live support • 1-800 call centers or help tickets • Of course, you pay for this

More Related