95-799 Linux Mini – Fall ‘07

1. 95-799 Linux Mini – Fall ‘07 Agenda: • Introduction • Roll Call • Syllabus review • Contact Information • Description • Prerequisites • Textbooks • Software - VMWare • Schedule • Assignments • Readings • Grading • Blackboard Site • What is Linux? • Why Open Source? • Linux History • Unix Tutorials & References • Lab 0 • Revolution OS Video

2. Understanding and using VMWare • VMWare is a program that emulates an entire computer. • Within VMWare you can install a whole new operating system (other version of Windows, Linux, Netware, etc) without disturbing your host OS. • The guest operating system has no idea it’s running on a virtual computer. • Each “virtual machine” within VMWare has its own virtual disks, but can access real peripherals (CDROM, USB, network, etc). • Virtual machines can be set to restart from the same configuration each time – great for testing & development. • More than one virtual machine can be active at once – build a multi-node distributed environment on a single PC. • Slower than running natively due to overhead. • Limited by available memory and disk space. • We will use VMWare Workstation to host multiple versions of Linux, and to avoid the hassle and risk of repartitioning your laptops. • VMWare Server and VMWare Player available as free downloads

3. What is Linux? • A free(*) Unix-like operating system originally written for Intel x86 PCs, now available on dozens of hardware platforms. • A core OS kernel, coupled with many additional components from other sources to make a whole system. • A “Distribution” is a packaged combination of kernel + everything else. • Hundreds of different distributions – there is no one “Linux”. This class will use RedHat & Ubuntu (distrowatch, Wikipedia entry, table) • Arguably the best known “Open Source” project. • The focus of a widespread movement to provide alternatives to Microsoft. (*) Free as in “free speech”, also free as in “free beer”. See fsf.org. Some people use “gratis” and “libre” to differentiate these two meanings.

4. Why Open Source? Open vs Proprietary Historically, most programs, protocols, and file formats were proprietary (closed). • Used by vendors to lock in customers (good for them, bad for you) • Competitors used reverse engineering techniques (hard, error-prone) • IBM SNA, Token Ring; Microsoft SMB (file/print sharing) • Intellectual property and patent restrictions Internet is based on open code and protocols • Specification freely available for download • Working code implementing protocols (open source) • Variety of clients & servers can all support a common protocol • Anyone can implement for any system – critical mass • Good for customers. Bad for business? Not necessarily, just bad for old business models • TCP/IP, HTTP (WWW), DNS, FTP, Telnet... Leads to a larger Open Source movement

5. Prominent Open Source Packages • Linux – Powerful Unix based operating system • Apache – Web server run by 58% of hosts (Microsoft IIS has 31%) • OpenOffice – Suite of office applications; usable in place of MS Office • Samba – Provides SMB (Windows-type) file sharing on non-MS OS’s • Mozilla/Netscape/Firefox – Web browsing, email, and related functions • MySQL – database package • Network management: Big Brother, Nagios, MRTG • Network security: Nessus, Snort, Ethereal, nmap • Sourceforge.net – largest site listing Open Source projects • Freshmeat.net – blog/database of new Open Source releases

6. Understanding Open Source • Programmers: motivated by non-economic rewards like personal satisfaction, learning, and peer recognition. (resume boosts, too) • Users motivated by three main advantages: cost, reliability, flexibility • Has political, social, and economic overtones • Open Source Definition at www.opensource.org • Basic requirements: • Source code freely available • Modifiable • Freely redistributable • Lower costs come from: • No software licensing fees • Reduced hardware upgrades - usable on otherwise obsolete computers • Reduced support costs • Negatives: Unfamiliar to most; sometimes unpolished; • Fewer support personnel and materials available

7. Linux History • Created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds in Finland (original announcement). • At the time there were academic versions of Unix and expensive commerical ones, but nothing suitable for home/hobby use on cheap Intel 386 PCs. • Unix has a long and convoluted history (Bell Labs, unix.org, big chart). • Linux grew rapidly due to open source model, cheap PCs, the rise of Internet access for collaboration, and availability of additional components. • Nicely complements the GNU Project (gnu.org), which had written most of a Unix-like operating system except the kernel. • Some feel the combination should properly be called “GNU/Linux”. • Early distributions were non-commercial. Red Hat was first big $$ success. • Now Linux runs on almost all major computer types as well as wireless access points, cameras, DVD players, industrial machinery, and other embedded systems. • Linux is now #2 behind Microsoft in new licenses shipped. • Actual installed base is likely much higher but hard to calculate • Estimated market share 24% of servers, 3% of desktops (2005 numbers)

8. Unix Tutorials • Unix<->DOS Commands • Unix Tutorials: • www.ctssn.com, heather.cs.ucdavis.edu, www2.ocean.washington.edu • Interactive Quizzes: EMBnet.ch, ringofsaturn.com • Quick Reference Guides: www.cs.utk.edu, www.indiana.edu, BlackBoard Course Docs->Lab Exercises • Textbook - Linux Rute User’s Tutorial and Exposition • Chapters 2 - Sub-basics, 4 - Basics, 6 - editors, 9 - Processes, 11 – Permissions • Other sites for new Linux users: • Tux Magazine , Linuxquestions.org, Linux for Newbies

9. In-Depth Linux Reference • The Linux Documentation Project • Ubuntu Help, Wiki, Forums, Unofficial Guide, What’s new in 7.04 • Debian Documentation • RedHat Documentation (Install, Step-by-Step, Reference) • HowtoForge