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Chapter 1: Introduction to Linux. Introduction. Computer Components: Hardware Software Types of hardware and software Important components of an OS are: User Interface Device drivers What is the function of an OS?. The Place of OS. An OS provides an interface to the H/W. OS (cont.).
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Introduction • Computer Components: • Hardware • Software • Types of hardware and software • Important components of an OS are: • User Interface • Device drivers • What is the function of an OS?
The Place of OS • An OS provides an interface to the H/W
OS (cont.) • OS also provides GUI and system services such as Network access and Print & File services.
The Linux OS • Still, what is the main function? Managing resources • Resources include (processors, MM, I/O, users, etc.) • Some operating systems are multitasking multiuser ones! • What is Linux? How do you pronounce it? • Almost all Linux versions have a common core component called the Kernel
The Linux OS (cont.) • It is a Unix-like operating system written in C by Linus Torvalds in 1991. • It was a trial to improve MINIX (a reduced version of Unix developed by Tanenbaum) • Linux was distributed as OSS (Open Source Software), you can modify the code (if you are willing to do so!!) • Advantages of OSS: Rapid development, Rapid bug fix, evolving features, etc.)
Linux Versions • Major, minor, & revision numbers • Minor (odd development & even production)
Types of S/W licenses • GPL: Source code must be freely available • Artistic license: OSS that allow source code to be changed only at author discretion
Linux Advantages • Risk Reduction • Meeting Business Needs • Stability and Security • Available for Different Hardware Platforms • Ease of Customization • Ease of Obtaining Support (FAQ, HOWTO, LUG, etc.) • Cost Reduction
More History • Unix is the first multitasking, multiuser OS • What happened to Unix? • Current versions (Solaris, HP-UX, IBM’s AIX, etc.)
More on Linux • Famous distributions (Red Hat, SuSE, etc.) • GUI Components • X-Windows • Window manager • Desktop environment (KDE & GNOME) • Common uses: • Servers • Workstations (Scientific/Engineering and office applications)
More on Linux (cont.) • Linux also support multitude of servers: • Web server (CGI) • Mail server • Router • FTP • Firewall and proxy servers • News server (Forums) • DNS server (FQDN) • File and Print servers (light-weight) • Application server with DBMS and supercomputers (clustering)