Chapter 1
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Ch apter – 1 An Introduction to Linux
Objectives At the end of this module, you would have gained fair knowledge on •Linux Distributions •Linux Kernel •Features of Linux •GNU/GPL •Linux GUI System
History of Linux UNIX is one of the most popular operating systems worldwide because of its large support base and distribution. It was originally developed at AT&T as a multitasking operating system for minicomputers and mainframes in the 1970's, but has since grown to become one of the most widely used operating systems. Linux is a free version of UNIX developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland, with the help of many UNIX programmers and wizards across the Internet. Anyone with enough knowledge can develop and change the operating system.
About Linux inus Torvalds originally developed Linux as a hobby project inix, a small UNIX system developed by Andy Tanenbaum, inspired it The Linux kernel uses no code from AT&T or any other proprietary source Software available for Linux was developed by the GNU project of the Free Software Foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Programmers from all over the world have contributed to the growing pool of Linux software The very early development of Linux mostly dealt with the
Linux Distributions Linux kernel along with a collection of software programs is properly known as Linux distributions. Some of the famous Linux distributions are given below. Famous Linux Distributions •Red Hat Linux •SuSe Linux •Caldera Linux •Mandrake Linux •Open Linux •Aryabhat Linux •Knoppix
GNU Project – Free Software Foundation Most of the programs and applications contained in a Linux distribution is covered under special Licensing Scheme called GNU General Public License – GNU GPL. GNU Project was first started in 1984. What is the main aim of this project is to create free Unix-clone. This project is managed by an organization called Free Software Foundation (FSF) promoted by well-known Unix Guru Richard Stallman. The term “free software” is having some special meaning. The term does not refer the commercial value of the software, but the end user has the freedom to modify and change the program. In GNU official documentation describe it as follows:
“Free software” is a matter of liberty not price. “Free software refers to the users freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kind of freedom, for the users of the software. Freedom 0 : The freedom to run the program Freedom 1 : The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs. Access to source code is a precondition for this. Freedom 2 : The freedom to redistribute copies so that you can help your neighbor. Freedom 3 : The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
Why Linux? Linux is a full-fledged operating system. It provides multi-tasking capabilities in a multi-user environment. Linux offers high quality software at a cost far lower than other commercial versions of UNIX. Primary benefits of using Linux OS are the availability of the complete source code and its distributable GNU General Public License. Some of the benefits of using Linux include:
•Linux is a UNIX like OS •Multi-user, Multi-tasking and Multi Processor Support •There are no royalty or license fees •Software Development support •Linux runs on nearly any CPU •Linux works very well as a personal computer UNIX for the desktop •Linux works well for server operations •X-Window System
Supported Platforms Red Hat Linux is available for the computers based on Intel x86 processors, Digital Alpha processors and Intel Itanium processors. Hardware Requirement CPU: Minimum: Pentium-class Recommended: 200 Megahertz Pentium-class or better Hard Disk Space*: Minimum: 650MB Recommended: 2.5GB Full Installation: 4.5GB *Additional space will be required for file storage. Memory: Minimum for text-mode: 64MB Minimum for graphical: 128MB Recommended for graphical: 192MB
Linux GUI Environment The X Windows System is the foundation of the GUI environment used in most Linux and UNIX distributions. Even though the X is the foundation of GUI, the appearance may vary from version to version because of the high configurability of the X Windows System.
GNOME & KDE GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment) and KDE (K Desktop Environment) are two famous Window Managers used in Red Hat Linux. Window managers are the desktop environments, which will communicate with the X server and display the windows and menus on your desktop.
Objectives At the end of this module, you would have gained fair knowledge on •Linux Distributions •Linux Kernel •Features of Linux •GNU/GPL •Linux GUI System
History of Linux UNIX is one of the most popular operating systems worldwide because of its large support base and distribution. It was originally developed at AT&T as a multitasking operating system for minicomputers and mainframes in the 1970's, but has since grown to become one of the most widely used operating systems. Linux is a free version of UNIX developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland, with the help of many UNIX programmers and wizards across the Internet. Anyone with enough knowledge can develop and change the operating system.
About Linux inus Torvalds originally developed Linux as a hobby project inix, a small UNIX system developed by Andy Tanenbaum, inspired it The Linux kernel uses no code from AT&T or any other proprietary source Software available for Linux was developed by the GNU project of the Free Software Foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Programmers from all over the world have contributed to the growing pool of Linux software The very early development of Linux mostly dealt with the
Linux Distributions Linux kernel along with a collection of software programs is properly known as Linux distributions. Some of the famous Linux distributions are given below. Famous Linux Distributions •Red Hat Linux •SuSe Linux •Caldera Linux •Mandrake Linux •Open Linux •Aryabhat Linux •Knoppix
GNU Project – Free Software Foundation Most of the programs and applications contained in a Linux distribution is covered under special Licensing Scheme called GNU General Public License – GNU GPL. GNU Project was first started in 1984. What is the main aim of this project is to create free Unix-clone. This project is managed by an organization called Free Software Foundation (FSF) promoted by well-known Unix Guru Richard Stallman. The term “free software” is having some special meaning. The term does not refer the commercial value of the software, but the end user has the freedom to modify and change the program. In GNU official documentation describe it as follows:
“Free software” is a matter of liberty not price. “Free software refers to the users freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kind of freedom, for the users of the software. Freedom 0 : The freedom to run the program Freedom 1 : The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs. Access to source code is a precondition for this. Freedom 2 : The freedom to redistribute copies so that you can help your neighbor. Freedom 3 : The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
Why Linux? Linux is a full-fledged operating system. It provides multi-tasking capabilities in a multi-user environment. Linux offers high quality software at a cost far lower than other commercial versions of UNIX. Primary benefits of using Linux OS are the availability of the complete source code and its distributable GNU General Public License. Some of the benefits of using Linux include:
•Linux is a UNIX like OS •Multi-user, Multi-tasking and Multi Processor Support •There are no royalty or license fees •Software Development support •Linux runs on nearly any CPU •Linux works very well as a personal computer UNIX for the desktop •Linux works well for server operations •X-Window System
Supported Platforms Red Hat Linux is available for the computers based on Intel x86 processors, Digital Alpha processors and Intel Itanium processors. Hardware Requirement CPU: Minimum: Pentium-class Recommended: 200 Megahertz Pentium-class or better Hard Disk Space*: Minimum: 650MB Recommended: 2.5GB Full Installation: 4.5GB *Additional space will be required for file storage. Memory: Minimum for text-mode: 64MB Minimum for graphical: 128MB Recommended for graphical: 192MB
Linux GUI Environment The X Windows System is the foundation of the GUI environment used in most Linux and UNIX distributions. Even though the X is the foundation of GUI, the appearance may vary from version to version because of the high configurability of the X Windows System.
GNOME & KDE GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment) and KDE (K Desktop Environment) are two famous Window Managers used in Red Hat Linux. Window managers are the desktop environments, which will communicate with the X server and display the windows and menus on your desktop.
