Intro to Linux (for ham radio operators) (for ham radio operators) Tanner Lovelace 26/August/2004 Cary Amateur Radio Club

Tanner Lovelace

26/August/2004

Cary Amateur Radio Club

Outline What is Linux? What can you do with Linux? What can’t you do with Linux? Why you should use Linux. Linux and Ham Radio Questions and answers

What is Linux?

What can you do with Linux?

What can’t you do with Linux?

Why you should use Linux.

Linux and Ham Radio

Questions and answers

What is Linux? An alternative computer operating system Started by Linus (pronouced Lee-noos) Torvalds in October 1991. Contains contributions by hundreds of people Mature, powerful, secure UNIX-like operating system Free software

An alternative computer operating system

Started by Linus (pronouced Lee-noos) Torvalds in October 1991.

Contains contributions by hundreds of people

Mature, powerful, secure UNIX-like operating system

Free software

Linux and GNU Linux is only a “kernel” Sort of like the engine in a car (you need it, but by itself it’s not very useful) The GNU system fills out a complete system (like the rest of the automobile)

Linux is only a “kernel”

Sort of like the engine in a car (you need it, but by itself it’s not very useful)

The GNU system fills out a complete system (like the rest of the automobile)

The GNU Project Started by Richard Stallman in 1983 Objective: to develop a completely free software system Free == freedom, not price Mostly done in 1991, last major piece missing was ... the kernel!

Started by Richard Stallman in 1983

Objective: to develop a completely free software system

Free == freedom, not price

Mostly done in 1991, last major piece missing was ... the kernel!

GNU and Freedom General Public License Use the software at no charge, without any limitations Copy, distribute, or sell unmodified copies of the software in source or binary form

General Public License

Use the software at no charge, without any limitations

Copy, distribute, or sell unmodified copies of the software in source or binary form

More GPL Use the software with proprietary (i.e. your own) modifications free of charge, as long as you don’t distribute it Modify, distribute or sell modified versions of the software as long as the license terms stay the same Sell support for the software (no limitations)

Use the software with proprietary (i.e. your own) modifications free of charge, as long as you don’t distribute it

Modify, distribute or sell modified versions of the software as long as the license terms stay the same

Sell support for the software (no limitations)

Linux distributions A “distribution” is a collection of linux and its related software Most end-users will use a Linux distribution Popular distributions: Red Hat, Fedora Mandrake SuSE (Novell) Knoppix

A “distribution” is a collection of linux and its related software

Most end-users will use a Linux distribution

Popular distributions:

Red Hat, Fedora

Mandrake

SuSE (Novell)

Knoppix

What can you do with Linux? Web browsing Mozilla, Firefox, Konqueror E-mail Mozilla, Thunderbird, Evolution, KMail Word processing, office software OpenOffice.org, KOffice, MS-Office (using Crossover Office)

Web browsing

Mozilla, Firefox, Konqueror

E-mail

Mozilla, Thunderbird, Evolution, KMail

Word processing, office software

OpenOffice.org, KOffice, MS-Office (using Crossover Office)

Default NCSU Desktop

Linux advantages Modern, stable, multi-tasking, multi-user on PC hardware Freedom from viruses Advanced Graphical User Environment Tons of free software Excellent learning platform

Modern, stable, multi-tasking, multi-user on PC hardware

Freedom from viruses

Advanced Graphical User Environment

Tons of free software

Excellent learning platform

More Linux Advantages Excellent network connectivity Connects to Windows, Novell, Apple Rapid development of new features Not owned by anyone, so no worries about it going away

Excellent network connectivity

Connects to Windows, Novell, Apple

Rapid development of new features

Not owned by anyone, so no worries about it going away

What can’t you do with Linux? Almost nothing ... There are a few proprietary programs that do not run under linux (but often free alternatives are available) ActiveX web controls Hardcore gaming

Almost nothing ...

There are a few proprietary programs that do not run under linux (but often free alternatives are available)

ActiveX web controls

Hardcore gaming

Why you should use Linux Control -- Linux let’s you control your PC, not the other way around. Freedom Upgrade when you want to, not when a big corporation needs upgrade profits Be free of viruses Cost

Control -- Linux let’s you control your PC, not the other way around.

Freedom

Upgrade when you want to, not when a big corporation needs upgrade profits

Be free of viruses

Cost

How? Triangle Linux Users Group http://www.trilug.org/ Mailing list for questions/answers Monthly meetings to learn more (2nd Thu @ RTI) Local “Installfests” (help you install linux) Saturday, Sept 18 @ Wake Tech (Please register at TriLUG website)

Triangle Linux Users Group

http://www.trilug.org/

Mailing list for questions/answers

Monthly meetings to learn more

(2nd Thu @ RTI)

Local “Installfests” (help you install linux)

Saturday, Sept 18 @ Wake Tech

(Please register at TriLUG website)

Linux and Ham Radio Many ham radio programs are available for linux. Rig control programs, logging programs, packet/TNC, APRS, SSTV, RTTY, PSK & more AFU Knoppix is a no install, ham radio focused, linux distribution.

Many ham radio programs are available for linux.

Rig control programs, logging programs, packet/TNC, APRS, SSTV, RTTY, PSK & more

AFU Knoppix is a no install, ham radio focused, linux distribution.

Software Defined Radio Normal radio -- mostly or completely analog SDR - convert to digital as soon as possible, do everything else in software Potential to revitalize experimentation GNU Radio -- software radio building blocks

Normal radio -- mostly or completely analog

SDR - convert to digital as soon as possible, do everything else in software

Potential to revitalize experimentation

GNU Radio -- software radio building blocks

References Triangle Linux Users Group http://www.trilug.org/ Linux Newbie Administrator Guide http://linux-newbie.sunsite.dk/html/lnag.html AFU Knoppix http://www.afu-knoppix.de/ Mandrake Linux for Hams http://www.n9nu.net/linux/linux.php Linux for Hams http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/12/12/1/ GNU Project http://www.gnu.org/ GNU Radio http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuradio/gnuradio.html

Triangle Linux Users Group

http://www.trilug.org/

Linux Newbie Administrator Guide

http://linux-newbie.sunsite.dk/html/lnag.html

AFU Knoppix

http://www.afu-knoppix.de/

Mandrake Linux for Hams

http://www.n9nu.net/linux/linux.php

Linux for Hams

http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/12/12/1/

GNU Project

http://www.gnu.org/

GNU Radio

http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuradio/gnuradio.html

Questions and Answers