Linux is an open-source operating system developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. It provides a free or low-cost alternative to proprietary operating systems like Windows. Some key differences between Linux and Windows include cost, package management, hardware support, security, reliability, and user interfaces. While Windows prioritizes gaming and has more commercial software available, Linux offers more customization options and is widely used across different device types.

1. WHAT IS THE LINUX?
Linux (often pronounced LIH-nuhks with a short "i") is a Unix-like operating system
that was designed to provide personal computer users a free or very low-cost
operating system comparable to traditional and usually more expensive Unix
systems. Linux has a reputation as a very efficient and fast-performing system.
Linux's kernel (the central part of the operating system) was developed by Linus
Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland. To complete the operating system,
Torvalds and other team members made use of system components developed by
members of the Free Software Foundation for the GNU Project.
Linux is : Multiusers Multitsking
 Client/Srver Platform
 Open source Nature
 Free Software
 Program Facility.
Types off linux: RedHat Linux
 CentOS
 Fedora
 Ubuntu
LINUX FEDORA INSTALLATION:
Hardware Requirements :PROCESSOR:-Intel Atom 230, Atom 330, Core 2 Duo, Centrino Core 2 Duo,
and Xeon; AMD Athlon64/x2, Sempron64/x2, Duron64
RAM:At least 500 mega byte
HARD DISK :50 giga byte
PRE-INSTALLATION STEPS:
1) Download the image from the fedora project website.
2) Burn the .iso image to a CD, DVD or a USB stick. Make sure that you write it
at a slow speed so that nothing gets broken in the process
3) After you've successfully recorded the DVD, remove it from the drive and
take it over to the computer where you want to install Linux. I'm assuming
you're installing Linux on a new empty hard drive. Don't do this on a
computer with data that you don't want to lose.
4) Change the BIOS settings. If you are using a live USB, you might need to go
into your BIOS and change the boot priority in order to boot from your USB.
You can access your computer's BIOS by pressing ‘F2’ or ‘Delete’ on most

2. computers when the computer is booting up. If you are using a CD or DVD,
ignore this step as generally CDs are first in boot priority.
5) Install the image to your hard drive If you have made the decision to install
Linux on your system, click on the "Install to Hard drive" icon on the
workspace.
FEDORA 17 STEP BY STEP GRAPHICAL INSTALLATION GUIDE
1. Select Install or Upgrade Fedora.
2. Language Selection.

3. 3.
Select Basic Storage device, if your hard drive is locally attached.
4. Set Hostname for your Fedora installation.

4. 5. Click on Configure Network button if you want to configure network during
installation. Click wired tab and click on Add button. Select Connect
automatically, go to ipv4 settings tab and select Method and select Manual
in drop down. Fill address box with IP Address, Netmask, Gateway and DNS.

5. 6. Set root password.
7. Select appropriate Partition as per your requirement.

6. 8. Verify File system partition here or you can edit file system if you want.
Format Warning, click on Format if you are OK with it. If you are confirmed,
then click on Write Change to Disk.

7. 9. Click on Customize now and select your software’s for installation and then
click on Next.
10. Select optional Packages and click on Next install it.

8. 11. Installation started, this may take several minutes as per selection of
packages. Installation completed, Please remove CD/DVD and Reboot
system.
12. Screen of GRUB Boot Loader, use arrow keys to select Fedora Linux to boot.

9. 13. Post installation of Fedora 17, Welcome Screen. And License Information.
14. Create non-administrative user.

10. 15. First Login Screen of Fedora 17.
16. Fedora 17 Desktop Screen.

11. This is end of Fedora 17 Installation and start working .
Linux vs. Windows
Linux has made some serious headway over the past decade, elevating itself from
“that open source operating system” to “wow, this thing is actually usable!” There’s
been a gentle but definite trickle of users away from Windows toward the freer
option of Linux and maybe you’re thinking about making that leap. But should you?
From an objective standpoint, there are real and compelling reasons why you should
switch, but I’m not here to convince you one way or the other. Here are some
fundamental differences between Windows and Linux. Read through them and be
absolute certain that you’re willing to put up with the learning curve because there’s
nothing worse than jumping headfirst into something unexpected.
Linux
Definition
Cost
Package Manager
Windows
Linux is an example of Open Windows is the family of operating
Source
software system (OS) from Microsoft, which is
development
and
Free the most famous OS in the world.
Operating System (OS).
Linux
can
be
freely
distributed,
downloaded
freely, distributed through
magazines, Books etc. There
are priced versions for Linux
also, but they are normally
cheaper than Windows.
For desktop or home use, Windows
can be expensive. A single copy can
cost around $50 to $ 450 depending
on the version of Windows.
On Windows, you often need Linux systems, you won’t have to
to fiddle with this thing called deal with that anymore. Instead,
an installation package.
you’ll have something called a
package
manager,
which
is
essentially a center for browsing,
installing, and removing program
packages.

12. Hardware
Although
hardware
manufacturers have made
great
advancements
in
supporting Linux it still will
not support most hardware
devices. However, for the
hardware devices that have
driver support they will
usually work in all versions of
Linux.
Because of the amount of Microsoft
Windows users and the broader
driver support, Windows has a much
larger support for hardware devices
and
almost
all
hardware
manufacturers will support their
products in Microsoft Windows.
Although it may be more
difficult to find users familiar
with all Linux variants, there
Support
are vast amounts of available
online documentation and
help, available books, and
support available for Linux.
Many of the Linux variants
and many Linux programs are
Open Source
open source and enable users
to customize or modify the
code however they wish to.
Linux is and has always been
a very secure operating
system. Although it still can
Security
be attacked when compared
to Windows, it much more
secures.
The majority of Linux variants
and versions are notoriously
Reliability
reliable and can often run for
months and years without
needing to be rebooted.
BASH (Bourne Again Shell) is
the Linux default shell. It can
support multiple command
Text
mode
interpreters.
interface
Microsoft Windows includes its own
help section, has vast amount of
available online documentation and
help, as well as books on each of the
versions of Windows.
Windows
has
such
a
widespread grasp on the PC
market, driver manufacturers
tend to focus their efforts on
that one operating system.
Then again, it depends what you’re
going to use while on Linux. If all you
need is a word processor, a web
browser, some form of instant
messaging and email, then it would
Driver Settings
Microsoft Windows is not open
source and the majority of Windows
programs are not open source.
Although Microsoft has made great
improvements over the years with
security on their operating system,
their operating system continues to
be the most vulnerable to viruses
and other attacks.
Although Microsoft Windows has
made great improvements in
reliability over the last few versions
of Windows, it still cannot match the
reliability of Linux.
Windows uses a command shell and
each version of Windows has a single
command interpreter with dos-like
commands, recently there is the
addition of the optional Powers hell
that uses more Unix-like commands.

13. Gaming
Development and
Distribution
Which means companies like
AMD and NVIDIA prioritize
Windows over Linux? Which
means you may end up
pulling out tufts of hair in
frustration as you try to find
the latest compatible drivers
for your system.
Very few games available
natively. Some games can be
played through Wine, but
often not all features are
available.
Linux is developed by Open
Source development i.e.
through sharing and
collaboration of code and
features through forums etc
and it is distributed by
various vendors.
GUI
Linux typically provides two
GUIs, KDE and Gnome. But
there are millions of
alternatives such as LXDE,
Xfce, Unity, Mate, twm, ect.
Usage
Linux can be installed on a
wide variety of computer
hardware, ranging from
mobile phones, tablet
computers and video game
consoles, to mainframes and
supercomputers.
File system support
Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, Jfs, ReiserFS,
Xfs, Btrfs, FAT, FAT32, NTFS
be passable, if not inconvenient, to
have missing drivers. But if you want
to play games, you may want to
reconsider. Then again, you’ll have a
hard
enough
time
playing
mainstream games on Linux to begin
with.
Almost all games are compatible with
Windows. Some CPU intensive and
graphics intensive games are
exclusive to Windows PC's.
Windows is developed and
distributed by Microsoft.
The Windows GUI is an integral
component of the OS and is not
replaceable. This is a huge con when
it comes to Windows 8 Metro
On PC's desktops, laptops, servers
and some phones.
FAT, FAT32, NTFS, exFAT