Introduction to Linux

Mr. Amar H. More

Agenda

What is Linux History of Linux Linux Today Open Source Software Popular Linux Distributions Software Applications Languages Supported by Linux Why to switch to Linux? Why not to switch to Linux? Comparison between Linux and Windows

What is Linux

UNIX like Operating System Multi-user, Multitasking, Multiprocessor Has the X Windows GUI Runs on multiple hardware platforms Source Code is available

History of Linux

• In 80’s, Microsoft’s DOS was the dominant OS for PC

• Apple MAC was better, but expensive• UNIX was much better, but much, much

more expensive. Only for minicomputer for commercial applications

• People were looking for a UNIX based system, which is cheaper and can run on PC

History of Linux

• Both DOS, MAC and UNIX were proprietary, i.e., the source code of their kernel is protected

• No modification is possible without paying high license fees

• A famous professor Andrew Tanenbaum developed Minix, a simplified version of UNIX that runs on PC

– Minix is for class teaching only. No intention for commercial use

History of Linux

• In Sept 1991, Linus Torvalds, a second year student of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, developed the preliminary kernel of Linux, known as Linux version 0.0.1

Linux Today

• Linux has been used for many computing platforms like PC, PDA, Supercomputers, ...

• Not only character interface but also user interface is available

Linux Today

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Jaguar supercomputer, as of November 2009 the world's fastest supercomputer. It uses the Cray Linux Environment as its operating system.

Linux Today

Open Source Software

When programmers on the Internet can read, redistribute, and modify the source for a piece of software, it evolves

People improve it, people adapt it, people fix bugs. And this can happen at a speed that, compared to conventional software development, seems astonishing

How do we get it?

Download it from the Internet From a “Distribution” (e.g. RedHat)

− Linux kernel− X Windows system and GUI− Web, e-mail, FTP servers− Installation & configuration support− 3rd party apps− Hardware support

Why is it significant?

Growing popularity Powerful

− Runs on multiple hardware platforms− Users like its speed and stability− No requirement for latest hardware

It’s “free”− Licensed under GPL− Vendors are distributors who package Linux

Popular Linux Distributions

Archlinux, CentOS Debian Knoppix, a Live CD Red Hat Enterprise Linux Ubuntu Fedora

Software Applications

OpenOffice: word processing, spreadsheets, drawing

Adobe Acrobat ReaderKonqueror: The KDE File Manager and Web

BrowserKmail: The KDE Mail ApplicationEvolution: An Email and Calendar ProgramXMMS, VLC: Multimedia Applications

Software Applications

TV, Video, Radio, and WebcamK3b: The KDE CD Burning ApplicationDigital CamerasKooka: Scanning ApplicationGraphics with the GIMPPowerful Shell system (Console)

Languages Supported

Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Azerbaijani, Belarussian, Bulgarian, Bengali, Breton, Bosnian, Catalan, Czech, Cymraeg, Danish, German, Greek, Esperanto, Spanish, Estonian, Euskara, Farsi (Iranian), Suomi (Finnish),French, Furlan, Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic), Galician, Hebrew, Hindi, Croatian, Hungarian, Armenian, Indonesian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Georgian, Kannada, Korean, Kurdish, Kyrgyz, Lao, Lithuanian, Latgalian, Latvian, Macedonian, Mongolian,

Languages Supported

Malay, Maltese, Dutch, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Punjabi (in gurmukhi script), Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Brazilian Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Sardinian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Albanian, Serbian, Swedish, Tamil, Tajiki, Thai, Turkmen, Filipino (Tagalog), Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbekian, Vietnamese, Walloon, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional)

Why to switch to Linux?

Security: Linux will keep our systems away from Malware and Viruses

Cost: Linux is the most cost efficient OS in the world. Why? Because it’s free...and not only is it free, it also (typically) comes with applications that would cost hundreds, hundreds if not thousands of dollars

Linux is highly resistant to System Crash and rarely needs rebooting

Why to switch to Linux?

Ease of use: Linux is extremely easy to use. If you know Windows, you’ll be able to work easily in Linux...

Linux plays well with others: Linux includes software to make it easy to network with Windows, Macs, and other Linux based computers

Support is everywhere: If you’re having a problem with Linux, help is as close as the nearest message board.

Why not to switch to Linux?

If you are using any propriatory software which is not supported by Linux

If you are using any hardware which is not supported by Linux

Comparison between Linux and Windows...

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References

http://linux.org http://weikipedia.com http://linuxquestions.com http://linuxcounter.com