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Introducing Linux

Introducing Linux 10/25/04 Rodney Peters Outline of Presentation What is Linux ? Advantages of Using Linux User Interface to Linux Migration Strategies Obtaining Linux What does it comprise ? Linux Distribution Channels and Pricing Models Applications Available for Linux

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Introducing Linux

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  1. Introducing Linux 10/25/04 Rodney Peters

  2. Outline of Presentation • What is Linux ? • Advantages of Using Linux • User Interface to Linux • Migration Strategies • Obtaining Linux • What does it comprise ? • Linux Distribution Channels and Pricing Models • Applications Available for Linux • Covered at Previous Two Monthly Main Meetings • Hardware Compatibility • Configuring Linux using Control Centre

  3. What is Linux ? • Consider a PC from Computer Shop or Department Store • Typically has Windows XP installed • Often has other commercial Windows applications • anti-virus, firewall, Office, photo-editing, CD/DVD burner, Video Editor etc • Similarly for Macintosh Computers • Linux is a complete Software Environment which can be used instead of commercial software by running: • Linux Operating System in lieu of Windows (any version) or Mac OSX • Linux versions of (primarily) Open Source Applications in lieu of commercial Windows/Macintosh Applications

  4. Why Choose Linux • For Home Users, << lower cost is a major motivation • RRP of bundled commercial Windows/Mac software > $1000 • about 3 year replacement cycle • Maintaining up-to-date Linux over the same period about $180 • “Try before buy” • full versions available for download or on magazine cover CD • not “de-featured” or “time-limited”

  5. Why Choose Linux (cont) • Concensus that Linux is more secure than Windows is sufficient motivation for some users • current viruses rely on Internet Explorer or Outlook to function • viruses written for Windows unlikely to affect Linux anyway • Windows/Mac Commercial Software have become “one size fits all” • specialised computers require full licences • Internet only PC, media PC, servers, firewalls • higher hardware configuration required for simple services

  6. Demonstration of User Interface • This works in Linux only • CTRL Tab from Linux to move to empty desktop

  7. Drive Letters • Windows (& OS/2) use different identification for drives • Linux Drive Designations & Folder paths will be foreign to Windows users • Less so to Mac users • Need not be a major impediment to migration from Windows • Elementary use requires little knowledge of the folder paths & hard disk nomenclature • “home” folder • Even for data backup • Linux/Mac designations more explanatory

  8. Windows A:\ \docs \images C:\ \programs \documents \programs\acrobat \programs\.mozilla D:\ \images \programs

  9. floppy cdrom dvdrecorder images programs Documents .mozilla C D E backup share Rest of the World / /home /media sue rod /mnt /windows

  10. Permissions • Linux is designed to be a secure Operating System • A user has permission to their home folder • Generally given permission to removable media also • Novice User can do all tasks with default permissions • Default permissions are fairly lax • other users can see your home folder • Advanced Users will need to learn Permissions administration

  11. Strategies for Migration to Linux • Appreciate issues & constraints • Major Commercial Applications are not Available for Linux • eg Microsoft, Corel, Photoshop, Acrobat Pro • Probably never will be • 6 month upgrade cycle and associated costs • Some hardware peripherals & PC components not supported • Confirm Intention to Migrate • Use Knoppix to explore User Interface, Applications, hardware compatibility

  12. Live CD eg Knoppix • Does NOT • alter partition table, in any way • install any software to Hard Disk • alter MBR, in any way • Does (PC only, not available for Macs) • boot from CD/DVDROM – recommend 12 speed minimum • runs entirely in RAM – minimum 96MB required • Optionally • uses free space on FAT/FAT32 as swap-file • configure to write data to FAT/FAT32 partition

  13. Cross Platform Applications • Changing Applications may be the Largest impediment to Migration • Learn Alternate Applications from Windows/Mac prior to Migrating to Linux • One at a time to stagger the learning process • operating on real data • The OpenCD http://www.theopencd.org 350 MB • Advantage of cross-platform & Open Source Applications available for Windows (on CD) & Mac (via web-links) • Also reduces exposure to Internet Malware, which targets primarily Microsoft applications

  14. Data Migration • File Migration is straight-forward • Repository (partition) shared between Windows & Linux • Simple Option - Store all data files in FAT32 partition • NTFS not recommended (unreliable from Linux) • Advanced Users - Create Linux Ext3 partition • Install Windows IFS drivers for Ext3 • Data Conversion • unnecessary for HTML, PDF, most graphics formats • Linux applications will open .doc, .xls. .ppt etc • migration tools available for e-mail, particularly Outlook • may be complex for specialised applications eg geneology

  15. Installing & Configuring Linux • Some Hardware Vendors do not provide Linux drivers • Select laptops, modems, printers, scanners and TV cards, in particular, for Linux compatibility • Some motherboard chip-sets have poor Linux support • Check compatibility of existing hardware • Use Knoppix on any PC • download hardware compatibility test-suites (Linux PC only) • Research prior to purchasing new hardware • refer to hardware compatibility databases

  16. Configuration (Control Centre) • During Installation a graphical interface is used • Internet connection, printers, scanners, TV, etc are configured • Later Configuration changes done via same graphical interface to: • Display settings for each user • system components such as network cards, modems etc • note that GUI configuration of system components is relatively slow

  17. Linux Distributions • A Distribution is a Collation of Linux software by a Single Vendor, comprising: • the Linux Operating System, drivers & System utilities • Graphical Configuration tools • X Windows (in the case of Desktop systems) • And optionally: • KDE (or other) extensions to X Windows • Up to a thousand Applications both large & small • Excepting graphical configuration tools and a few small Applications, all are Open Source & freely down-loadable from the Web.

  18. Price Trends - Commercial Software • 1984 “Office” • eg Word-star + Lotus 123 + DBII = $1500 • (say) $3000 in 2004 dollars • Same for corporate & retail buyers • 2004 Retail “Office” • > Scope of tools & >> Depth of function for << $ • Long term trend is downwards (may be levelling out) • Both Purely “product” models • Licence & materials (floppies/CD, templates and manuals) • no installation or support services included

  19. 2004 Retail Price Models • Linux • Consumer's choice of: • ~$110 for ”boxed set” of media, manuals & installation support for release having 6 month release cycle • ~$30 for CD-R/DVD-R media only • “Free” download • Primarily a “service” model • Windows or Mac Software from Major Vendors • > $1000 for licence & media only for product having 36 month release cycle • 1984 “product” model • at reduced real cost

  20. Linux Price Too Good to be True ? • Excluded Costs • Lawyers • Shop-front • Shop-fitting • Prime location rental • Sales staff • Marketing & Advertising • Opt out of: • Printing • CD/DVD Media production • Logistics • Direct Sales

  21. Initial Linux Resources • Software-free New Computers in Canberra • Cougar Computers (on-line) • AC/DC Computers (located in Macquarie) • Computer Fairs • Software Download • http://www.knoppix.net • http://www.theopencd.org • Hardware Compatibility Databases • http://www.linuxhardware.org • http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/hardware-HOWTO/printer.html • Your Local Linux User Group

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