Introduction To GNU/Linux S.Eiffert Linux Computing Essentials

Welcome to Linux Linux is a clone of UNIX. It was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 The PC existed but it was commonly running the Microsoft operating systems and used the Intel chip which did not support commonly unix. DOS was available but didn’t meet his needs Because Linus had used minix at Uni Miniux was a small very basic UNIX-like system which was compatible with the Intel platform, being used in the universities for teaching. And wanted same features at home but could not afford the cost of proprietary hardware on which to run a UNIX system. So he started to create one based on the minux sourcecode – with many contributions from other people over the internet. 1991 – Linus Torvalds created the linux kernel.

Linux is a clone of UNIX.

It was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991

The PC existed but it was commonly running the Microsoft operating systems and used the Intel chip which did not support commonly unix.

DOS was available but didn’t meet his needs

Because Linus had used minix at Uni

Miniux was a small very basic UNIX-like system which was compatible with the Intel platform, being used in the universities for teaching.

And wanted same features at home but could not afford the cost of proprietary hardware on which to run a UNIX system.

So he started to create one based on the minux sourcecode – with many contributions from other people over the internet.

1991 – Linus Torvalds created the linux kernel.

What is unix unix is an operating system There are many different types of unix. But they all came from a common background. The Internet was built on UNIX. TCP/IP is a native UNIX protocol. Today 80% of the worlds Internet Web servers are using Linux. unix has commonly been used for the past 30 years . It was created in 1969 - long before Microsoft existed. It was the 1st worldwide commercial operating system. Unix has always commonly been used on mainframes. Today as “linux” it is also commonly being used on PC’s as servers & desktops

unix is an operating system

There are many different types of unix.

But they all came from a common background.

The Internet was built on UNIX.

TCP/IP is a native UNIX protocol.

Today 80% of the worlds Internet Web servers are using Linux.

unix has commonly been used for the past 30 years .

It was created in 1969 - long before Microsoft existed.

It was the 1st worldwide commercial operating system.

Unix has always commonly been used on mainframes.

Today as “linux” it is also commonly being used on PC’s as servers & desktops

Imagine a game box that could run “every game” !! Unix became the dominate OS because of the following factors. It was able to be run by various types of CPU’s Before unix vendors commonly wrote their own Operating systems Which ran just on their own CPU’s and equipment. Unix was written to be able to run on many different types of CPU’s Unix was one of the first OS to supply: a simple programmers environment a simple user interface simple utilities or commands that can be combined to perform powerful functions a permanent hierarchical file system simple interface to connect new devices to the OS multi-user functions multi-process system functions which was architecturally independent All of which was permanent and transparent to the user. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e

Unix became the dominate OS because of the following factors.

It was able to be run by various types of CPU’s

Before unix vendors commonly wrote their own Operating systems

Which ran just on their own CPU’s and equipment.

Unix was written to be able to run on many different types of CPU’s

Unix was one of the first OS to supply:

a simple programmers environment

a simple user interface

simple utilities or commands that can be combined to perform powerful functions

a permanent hierarchical file system

simple interface to connect new devices to the OS

multi-user functions

multi-process system functions

which was architecturally independent

All of which was permanent and transparent to the user.

1991 - Creation of Linux Linus Torvalds did not write an entire operating system He wrote a full complete version of a kernel. Which he called Linux. He chose a Penguin to represent his kernel It’s main advantage is it’s - Compatibility for Intel systems. This meant it could be run on any generic PC computer systems . The Linux Kernel is written and distributed as an opensource product. Linus Torvals is part of the opensource community And as he believes in their opensource philosophy The linux kernel was created with the input from many other developers around the world. Opensource community believe in collaboration for the open development of products and distribution of all sourcecode . Linux Penguin

Linus Torvalds did not write an entire operating system

He wrote a full complete version of a kernel.

Which he called Linux.

He chose a Penguin to represent his kernel

It’s main advantage is it’s - Compatibility for Intel systems.

This meant it could be run on any generic PC computer systems .

The Linux Kernel is written and distributed as an opensource product.

Linus Torvals is part of the opensource community

And as he believes in their opensource philosophy

The linux kernel was created with the input from many other developers around the world.

Opensource community believe in collaboration for the open development of products and distribution of all sourcecode .

Idea of the Opensource came from The Free Software Foundation Richard Stallman started the … Free Software Foundation FSF is a non profit organization designed to protect and promote: freedom for both the user and the IT industry. The term free software, refers to S/W freedom, not price. FREEDOM of Distribution NOT Free price Basic Philosophy : People who put their software under the GPL believe in ‘Free Distribution’ Meaning that they believe that the source code for the software cannot be withheld. It does not mean that they or companies cannot charge for it.

Richard Stallman started the …

Free Software Foundation

FSF is a non profit organization designed to protect and promote:

freedom for both the user and the IT industry.

The term free software, refers to S/W freedom, not price.

FREEDOM of Distribution NOT Free price

Basic Philosophy :

People who put their software under the GPL believe in ‘Free Distribution’

Meaning that they believe that the source code for the software cannot be withheld.

It does not mean that they or companies cannot charge for it.

Richard Stallman also started the GPL Software License Software which is put under a GPL Software License is called “Opensource Software” Software which is placed under the GPL is designed to give people: The right to …. receive the source code or have the right to get it if you want it. They can charge for this service if they wish. And the new user can copy or change the existing software code to suit their needs. Or even use pieces of it, in any new GPL free programs they design. But because it originally came from a GPL software they are now obligated to place their new S/W under GPL as well and make their sourcecode available for others.

Software which is put under a GPL Software License is called “Opensource Software”

Software which is placed under the GPL is designed to give people:

The right to ….

receive the source code or have the right to get it if you want it.

They can charge for this service if they wish.

And the new user can copy or change the existing software code to suit their needs.

Or even use pieces of it, in any new GPL free programs they design.

But because it originally came from a GPL software they are now obligated to place their new S/W under GPL as well and make their sourcecode available for others.

Open Source Software (FLOSS) This type of software uses a GPL or opensource licences. What it gives you? Freedom to use Freedom to examine Freedom to redistribute Freedom to modify What it doesn’t let you do? Deny these freedoms to anyone else

This type of software uses a GPL or opensource licences.

What it gives you?

Freedom to use

Freedom to examine

Freedom to redistribute

Freedom to modify

What it doesn’t let you do?

Deny these freedoms to anyone else

GNU/Linux 1990 Richard Stallman One of the people who started this “open” philosophy. Has nearly completed his new GNU operating system based on the UNIX system. He had most of the modules but was still missing the main part ! The kernel. 1991 Linus Torvalds creates the kernel then releases it out on an internet FTP server for everyone else’s opinion & help. When complete Linux kernel was released under the GPL license. Slowly but steadily news of Linux spread and work continued. 1992 The Linux kernel is combined with the already created GNU modules & utilities and now becomes a fully useable operating system Distributions of Linux start appearing. There are now about 1000 Linux Users Footnote: These figure are based on the OS Revolution movie

1990 Richard Stallman

One of the people who started this “open” philosophy.

Has nearly completed his new GNU operating system based on the UNIX system.

He had most of the modules but was still missing the main part !

The kernel.

1991 Linus Torvalds creates the kernel then releases it out on an internet FTP server for everyone else’s opinion & help.

When complete Linux kernel was released under the GPL license.

Slowly but steadily news of Linux spread and work continued.

1992 The Linux kernel is combined with the already created GNU modules & utilities and now becomes a fully useable operating system

Distributions of Linux start appearing.

There are now about 1000 Linux Users

Footnote: These figure are based on the OS Revolution movie

The 1990’s 1993 Internet explosion starts and there’s also an ISP explosion which cause’s the 1st viable Linux commercial application. The Apache Web Server . There are now about 500,000 Linux Users 1997 Eric Raymond writes a paper called the ‘ Catheral & Baazar ’ in which he analyzes the development & differences of the ‘ proprietary’ software model verse the ‘opensource’ software models. The article takes the IT industry by storm. Eric Raymond becomes a front man for the new opensource movement. Netscape director reads the article and in direct response freely releases the source code of the Navigator software. Netscape is the 1 st large company to go opensource. There are now about 800,000 Linux Users

1993 Internet explosion starts and there’s also an ISP explosion which

cause’s the 1st viable Linux commercial application.

The Apache Web Server .

There are now about 500,000 Linux Users

1997 Eric Raymond writes a paper called the ‘ Catheral & Baazar ’ in which he

analyzes the development & differences of the

‘ proprietary’ software model verse the ‘opensource’ software models.

The article takes the IT industry by storm.

Eric Raymond becomes a front man for the new opensource movement.

Netscape director reads the article and in direct response freely releases the source code of the Navigator software.

Netscape is the 1 st large company to go opensource.

There are now about 800,000 Linux Users

Many Linux Distributions Appear

There are many Linux Distributions

Lates 1990’s 1998 Linus, Linux & the opensource movement starts becoming commonly known. And gaining momentum. Linus appears on TV On the front of the Forbes Business Magazine. IBM, Oracle, Compaq, SAP + others announce their support for Linux. There are now about 1.5 million Linux Users 1999 1 st Linux World Conference – 6000 people attend Linus delivers the opening and keynote presentation. Red Hat goes public

1998

Linus, Linux & the opensource movement starts becoming commonly known. And gaining momentum.

Linus appears on TV

On the front of the Forbes Business Magazine.

IBM, Oracle, Compaq, SAP + others announce their support for Linux.

There are now about 1.5 million Linux Users

1999

1 st Linux World Conference – 6000 people attend

Linus delivers the opening and keynote presentation.

Red Hat goes public

The 2000’s 2002 Red Hat splits into 2 versions RHEL - their enterprise/business version with which you purchase support Fedora – their home version with no support 2003 Novell buys SuSE Linux for $210 million IBM is now the most powerful backer of Linux. To counterbalance the world of Linux they make a 50 million dollar investment in Novell. SuSE becomes the major enterprize competitor to Red Hat. SLES - their enterprise/business version with which you purchase support opensuse – their home version with no support

2002

Red Hat splits into 2 versions

RHEL - their enterprise/business version with which you purchase support

Fedora – their home version with no support

2003

Novell buys SuSE Linux for $210 million

IBM is now the most powerful backer of Linux.

To counterbalance the world of Linux they make a 50 million dollar investment in Novell.

SuSE becomes the major enterprize competitor to Red Hat.

SLES - their enterprise/business version with which you purchase support

opensuse – their home version with no support

Using Linux Original Linux Kernel uses Command Line Interface CLI ( Command Line Interface ) Universal Interface ( Administrative tool ) Hard to learn GUI ( Graphical User Interface ) Looks different on each version of linux All are great customizable desktop’s with good looking desktop Easy to adopt and control by users Easy controls and applicable tools Easy use of Multimedia contents Great opensource GUI applications available

Original Linux Kernel uses Command Line Interface

CLI ( Command Line Interface )

Universal Interface ( Administrative tool )

Hard to learn

GUI ( Graphical User Interface )

Looks different on each version of linux

All are great customizable desktop’s with good looking desktop

Easy to adopt and control by users

Easy controls and applicable tools

Easy use of Multimedia contents

Great opensource GUI applications available

The command line Common environment available in all distributions. Works about 95% the same in all distributions.

Common environment available in all distributions.

Works about 95% the same in all distributions.

CL Interface is not new ! Windows The DOS Prompt Linux The BASH Shell

Linux GUI Environments Most distributions ship with a GUI But they can be very different from each other. There are competing GUI environments in Linux: GNU Object Model Environment (GNOME) Kommon Desktop Environment (KDE) But the Core component of a linux GUI is called X Windows XWindows is the just the engine on which a desktop manager runs and supplies the GUI desktop. The GUI environment is created by X Windows in combination with a window manager and desktop environment

Most distributions ship with a GUI

But they can be very different from each other.

There are competing GUI environments in Linux:

GNU Object Model Environment (GNOME)

Kommon Desktop Environment (KDE)

But the Core component of a linux GUI is called X Windows

XWindows is the just the engine on which a desktop manager runs and supplies the GUI desktop.

The GUI environment is created by X Windows in combination with a window manager and desktop environment

June 6, 2009 suse

GNOME Desktop A Linux graphical user interface

KDE Desktop

KDE Desktop

GNOME Web Site Http://www.gnome.org

Today many b usiness environments are commonly using Linux servers to provide their Networking Services Network Services are all available And most are inbuilt Roaming user profiles Shared network locations for file sharing Network Printing Mail Web Proxy DNS DHCP FTP Firewall

Network Services are all available

And most are inbuilt

Roaming user profiles

Shared network locations for file sharing

Network Printing

Mail

Web

Proxy

DNS

DHCP

FTP

Firewall

Desktop applications Linux also has many applications available Many of them are inbuilt applications Word processing (OpenOffice, Koffice) Programming (C, C++, Perl, Python, Java, PHP) Graphics (GIMP) Web browsers (Mozilla, Konquerer) Email (Evolution, Mozilla, KMail) Audio (amarok) Games (MAME) See http://sourceforge.net for lots of opensource software All available as opensource applications.

Linux also has many applications available

Many of them are inbuilt applications

Word processing (OpenOffice, Koffice)

Programming (C, C++, Perl, Python, Java, PHP)

Graphics (GIMP)

Web browsers (Mozilla, Konquerer)

Email (Evolution, Mozilla, KMail)

Audio (amarok)

Games (MAME)

See http://sourceforge.net for lots of opensource software

All available as opensource applications.

Openoffice Many companies are now using linux on their desktops as their Office productivity suite: Openoffice supplies the following inbuilt applications Writer = word processing Calc = spreadsheets Impress = slide show’s Base = database

Many companies are now using linux on their desktops as their Office productivity suite:

Openoffice supplies the following inbuilt applications

Writer = word processing

Calc = spreadsheets

Impress = slide show’s

Base = database

Linux ends the monopoly…

Linux Today 2008 Linux has gone fully mainstream !!! Today Linux has grown from being a hacker / home developed OS to being accepted world wide. It is highly regarded and runs many many major enterprises. Many sites are now also using it on their client machines. Linux currently has an estimated user figures ranging from 20 to 30 million. And growing!

2008

Linux has gone fully mainstream !!!

Today Linux has grown from being a hacker / home developed OS to being accepted world wide.

It is highly regarded and runs many many major enterprises.

Many sites are now also using it on their client machines.

Linux currently has an estimated user figures ranging from 20 to 30 million.

And growing!

Linux Tomorrow! Many countries / governments are going fully opensource Especially in the developing countries USA government is moving towards opensource USA regularly holds conferences with the opensource community to discuss the impact that the opensource community has on the use of future IT. All the major opensource IT companies are involved First - Microsoft chose to ignore opensource. Hoped it would go away – Then tried to make it go away! But now even Microsoft attends the conferences. Microsoft has even be known to have a stand at the Linux Trade Shows

Many countries / governments are going fully opensource

Especially in the developing countries

USA government is moving towards opensource

USA regularly holds conferences with the opensource community to discuss the impact that the opensource community has on the use of future IT.

All the major opensource IT companies are involved

First - Microsoft chose to ignore opensource.

Hoped it would go away – Then tried to make it go away!

But now even Microsoft attends the conferences.

Microsoft has even be known to have a stand at the Linux Trade Shows

How FOSS is changing things Now lets watch this documentary The International Open Source Network (IOSN), UNDP Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP), International Development Research Centre of Canada and UNESCO have participated in the production of a documentary. It investigates how developing countries are using FOSS applications and includes stories and interviews from around the world. This 40-minute version of The Codebreakers is now available for free download online. http://www.apdip.net/news/fossdoc The Codebreakers is now available under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license .

Now lets watch this documentary

The International Open Source Network (IOSN), UNDP Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP), International Development Research Centre of Canada and UNESCO have participated in the production of a documentary.

It investigates how developing countries are using FOSS applications and includes stories and interviews from around the world.

This 40-minute version of The Codebreakers is now available for free download online. http://www.apdip.net/news/fossdoc

The Codebreakers is now available under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license .