This document summarizes information about Linux and Unix operating systems. It discusses the pronunciation of Linux, defines what Linux is, lists some of its key features like being multi-user and multi-tasking, and notes some limitations such as a lack of standard edition and less support for drivers than Windows. It also provides a brief history of Unix, describing it as originally a one-man project in the 1960s, and outlines some of its features like multi-tasking and networking and limitations such as an unfriendly user interface and lack of guaranteed response times.
7. Pronunciation of Linux
• (‘Leenooks’)
This is Linus Torvalds’ original pronunciation,
based on the pronunciation of his name in
Swedish.
• (‘Linnuks’)
This is now Linus Torvalds’ preferred
pronunciation, as he considers closer to the
original than . It also follows the pronunciation of
the English word ‘linen’.
• (‘Lynuks’)
The other major alternative is based on the
pronunciation of the English version of ‘Linus’. It
also happens to be the version I use.
8. What is Linux
• Linux is a generic term referring to Unixlike
graphical user interface (GUI) based
computer operating systems.
• It is Multi-user, Multitasking,
Multiprocessor
• Has the XWindows GUI
• Coexists with other Operating Systems
• Runs on multiple platforms
• Includes the Source Code
9. Features of linux
•Multi-user
A multi-user operating system allows for multiple
users to use the same computer at the same time
and/or different times.
Multiprocessing
An operating system capable of supporting and
utilizing more than one computer processor.
•Multitasking
An operating system that is capable of allowing
multiple software processes to run at the same time.
•Multithreading
Operating systems that allow different parts of a software
program to run concurrently. Operating systems that would
fall into this category are:
10. Limitaions of linux
1. There’s no standard edition of Linux
2. Linux has patchier support for drivers (the software which
coordinates your hardware and your operating system)
3. Linux is, for new users at least, not as easy to use asWindows
4. Many of the programs you are used to inWindows will only run in
Linux through a complicated emulator.
5. While Linux can be suitable for an individual user, its small market
share means it’s much harder to introduce in a corporate setting
6. While there are perfectly passable alternatives to many popular
Windows programs (such as the various Office components),
11. What is Unix
The UNIX operating system was born in the late
1960s. It originally began
as a one man project led by KenThompson of Bell
Labs, and has since
grown to become the most widely used operating
system
12. Features of Unix
•Multitasking and multiuser
•Programming interface
•Use of files as abstractions of devices and other
objects
•Built-in networking (TCP/IP is standard)
•Persistent system service processes called
"daemons" and managed by init or inet
13. Limitations of Unix
•Unfriendly, terse, treacherous, unforgiving, inconsistent, and
non-mnemonic user interface
•Unix originally designed for slow hard-copy terminals and slow
display
•Shell interface can be treacherous (typing mistake can destroy
files)
•Versions on various machines are slightly different
•Prior to System V mechanisms to synchronize separate jobs were
badly implemented as were file lock mechanisms
•Unix does not have a guaranteed hardware interrupt response
time (bad for real time systems)
•Security only at very high level
•Does not support parallel processing directly through the kernel