Information about Linux

1. Introduction to Linux

2. Contents

Introduction

History of Linux

Concepts to be known

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS setup

3. A free Unix-type operating system developed
under the GNU General Public License.
Open source
Popular
Support most of the platforms available
Linux

4. History of Unix OS
The Unix OS was developed (based on Multics & CTSS
operating systems) by Ken Thompson at the AT&T Bell
Laboratories in 1969. He wanted to create an multi-user
operating system to run “space wars” game.
Ken’s philosophy was to create an operating system
with commands or “utilities” that would do one thing
well (i.e. UNIX). Pipes could be used combine

5. History of Unix OS
The first versions of UNIX were written in
“machine-dependent” program (such as PDP-7).
Ken Thompson approached Dennis Ritchie,
developer of C language, and in 1973 they
compiled UNIX in C to make operating system
“portable” to other computers systems.

6. UNIX Features
The Unix OS is a multi-user OS allowing more
that more person to directly communicate with the
computer.
Although the OS can only work on one task at a
time, a small piece of time (time slice) is dedicated
to each task/user –this referred to as “time-sharing”

7. Illustration of
Time-Sharing
TIME
User 1
User 2
User 3
User 4
User 5
User 6
User 7
User 8

8. Development of Unix OS
Unix became a popular OS among institutions such as
colleges & universities through a 4-year “try before you
buy” deal.
− Efficient and inexpensive way of networking
− promotes Internet use and file-sharing
− Open system allows for source code to be shared among many
programmers - allows for better coordination among
programmers

9. Development of Unix OS
Students at University of California (in Berkley)
further developed the UNIX operating system
and introduced the BSD version of Unix
Unix
Bell Labs
UNIX System V (5)
Proprietary
Berkley Software Distribution (BSD)
Free

10. Development of Unix OS
There were versions of UNIX for the Personal
Computer (PC), such as XENIX, etc., but they
didn’t catch on in popularity until Linux was
developed in the early 90’s.

11. History of Linux
Linux operating system
developed by
programming student
Linus Torvalds
Linus wanted to develop
Unix-like OS just to
experiment with new 386
computer at the time...

12. Why Linux became so popular?
Linus decided to make Linux OS
source-code for Linux Kernel open to all:
− Unlike traditional Operating Systems, anyone can modify
and distribute Linux OS (as long as they distribute source
code of Linux Kernel)
− “Competition among Hackers” allow code to be improved
and distributed often
− Many users can spot bugs in the operating system or
application if source code is “open”

13. Other Factors:
− PC’s have increased processing power and there has been
a noted shift from mainframes and minicomputers to PCs.
− Since Linux is a “Unix Work-alike”, this OS has a
reputation to be a very stable platform for networking
(creating at-home servers) and running / maintaining
applications.
− Agencies such as Free Software Foundation created GNU
project to provide free software.
Why Linux became so popular?

14. Concerns
Some people claim that “there are as many version of
Linux as there are users…”
POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface for
Computer Environments) is a government standard to
ensure consistency among different UNIX and Linux
versions.
Many versions of Linux are approaching POSIX
standard.

15. − Multics, AT&T Bell Lab, GE, MIT
− 1969, UNIX, Ken Thompson, Dennis
Ritchie
− 1973, Rewrite UNIX with C
− Berkeley UNIX(BSD UNIX)
− Commercial products
SunOS, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, SCO UNIX
A Short History of UNIX

16. A Short History of Linux

17. A Short History of Linux(2)

18. Is Linux difficult ?

19. Linux can give you:
A modern, very stable, multi-user, multitasking environment.
Advanced graphical user interface. Linux uses a standard, network-transparent
X-windowing system with a "window manager" (typically KDE or GNOME but
several are available).
The graphical desktop under Linux can be made to look like MS
Windows (or probably ANY other graphical user interface of your choice).

20. Dozens of excellent, free, general-interest desktop applications. These
include a range of web browsers, email programs, word processors,
spreadsheets, bitmap and vector graphics editing programs, file managers,
audio players, CD writers, some good games, typing tutor, etc.
Freedom from viruses. Linux has no viruses because it is too secure an
operating system for the viruses to spread with any degree of efficiency.

21. Linux is quite positively here-to-stay because of its open-source nature (Linux cannot possibly
be put out-of-business). It is a standard selected for countless projects that are not going to go
away, and some of them are quite "mission-critical." Try the International Space Station, for
which Linux is the operating system (http://www2.linuxjournal.com/lj-
issues/issue59/3024.html).

22. In a nutshell, the GNU General Public Licence (GPL) allows anybody
to:
use the software at no charge, without any limitations,
copy, and distribute or sell unmodified copies of the software in the
source or binary form,
use the software with propriatory (e.g., your own) modifications, free of
charge, as long as you do not distribute or sell the modified version,
modify, and distribute or sell a modified version of the software as long

23. What the GPL license *does not* allow code recipients to do is to
take somebody elses software licenced under GPL, modify the
software, and then distrubute a this modified version of the softwar
under a propriatory licence. Speaking plainly, the GPL licence just
forbids stealing existing (somebody else's) software for incorporatio
into a closed, commercial-only product.

24. A Linux distribution, often simply
distribution or distro, is a member of the
Linux family of Unix-like computer operating
systems.
Distros mainly based on ‘Look and Feel’ and
Applications
Linux Distros
： Distros:
Red Hat Fedora, Debain, SuSe,Ubuntu,
Gentoo

25. Windows uses letters of the alphabet to
represent different devices and different hard
disk partitions. Under Windows, you need to
know what volume (C:, D:,...) a file resides on
to select it, the file's physical location is part
of it's name.
In Linux all directories are attached to the
root directory, which is identified by a
forward-slash, "/". - root.
 For example, below are some second-level
directories:
File System

26. • /bin System binaries, including the command shell
• /boot Boot-up routines
• /dev Device files for all your peripherals
• /etc System configuration files
• /home User directories
• /lib Shared libraries and modules
• /lost+found Lost-cluster files, recovered from a disk-check
• /mnt Mounted file-systems
• /opt Optional software
•/proc Kernel-processes pseudo file-system
• /root Administrator’s home directory
• /sbin System administration binaries
•/usr User-oriented software
• /var Various other files: mail, spooling and logging

27. man
info
command –help
Forums.
Linux Help

28. − The “-k” option
man –k print
− Manual pages are divided in 8 sections:
 User commands
 System calls
 Libc calls
 Devices
 File formats and protocols
 Games
 Conventions, macro packages and so
forth
 System administation
− To select correct section, add section number:
man 1 passwd, man 5 passwd
man command

29. info command
A program for reading documentation,
sometimes a replacement for manual pages
Example : info ls

30. Ubuntu

31. What is it?
Ubuntu is a Linux-based Operating System that is
open sourced (free)
Pronounced (oo-BOON-too)
Strong focus on usability and ease of installation

32. Why that name?
Ubuntu is an African concept meaning “humanity
toward others”
Sponsored by Canonical Ltd. Owned by South African
billionaire Mark Shuttleworth

33. Why use it?
Huge group of “free software proponents” (open
source)
Ubuntu is free
Alternate to Windows and MAC OS’s
Ubuntu is most popular Linux-based OS in the
world (8 million now)
Dell now offers desktops with Ubuntu

34. Last version – Feisty Fawn 7.04
Latest version – Gusty Gibbon 7.10
Next version – Hardy Heron 8.04 in 2011
256 KB RAM
4 GB hard drive space
Can be dual booted with current OS or used from a
live CD

35. Gutsy Gibbon Software Includes:
Firefox browser
Thunderbird and Evolution e-mail
Open Office suite
GIMP (Photoshop-like)
Music and Video players
Games

36. Summary
Pro –
Open source (free too)
Upgrade available about every 6 mo.
Compatible with MS programs
Many add-ons available
No key codes, activation, registration

37. Summary
Con’s
No tech support (Internet groups only)
Not all programs compatible
Drivers for peripherals not always available

38. How to get Ubuntu
Three ways to acquire:
1. Download from the Internet
www. Ubuntu. Com
Warning: about 600 MB download
2. Send for a free CD

39. Links :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux
Download Source Code from:
http://www.kernel.org
Books:
Unix User Guide – Rebecca Thomas
Your UNIX: The Ultimate Guide-Sumitabha
Das

40. Thank you