Unit-I –Introduction

Introduction to Linux

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open
source software development and distribution. The defining component of Linux is the Linux
kernel, an operating system kernel first released 5 October 1991 by Linus Torvalds.

Linux was originally developed as a free operating system for Intel x86-based personal
computers. It has since been ported to more computer hardware platforms than any other
operating system. It is a leading operating system on servers and other big iron systems such as
mainframe computers and supercomputers more than 90% of today's 500 fastest supercomputers
run some variant of Linux, including the 10 fastest. Linux also runs on embedded systems
(devices where the operating system is typically built into the firmware and highly tailored to the
system) such as mobile phones, tablet computers, network routers, televisions and video game
consoles; the Android system in wide use on mobile devices is built on the Linux kernel.

A distribution oriented toward desktop use will typically include the X Window System and an
accompanying desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE Plasma. Some such distributions
may include a less resource intensive desktop such as LXDE or Xfce for use on older or less
powerful computers. A distribution intended to run as a server may omit all graphical
environments from the standard install and instead include other software such as the Apache
HTTP Server and an SSH server such as OpenSSH. Because Linux is freely redistributable,
anyone may create a distribution for any intended use. Applications commonly used with
desktop Linux systems include the Mozilla Firefox web browser, the LibreOffice office
application suite, and the GIMP image editor.

Since the main supporting user space system tools and libraries originated in the GNU Project,
initiated in 1983 by Richard Stallman, the Free Software Foundation prefers the name
GNU/Linux.

History
Unix

The Unix operating system was conceived and implemented in 1969 at AT&T's Bell
Laboratories in the United States by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe
Ossanna. It was first released in 1971 and was initially entirely written in assembly language, a
common practice at the time. Later, in a key pioneering approach in 1973, Unix was re-written in
the programming language C by Dennis Ritchie (with exceptions to the kernel and I/O). The
availability of an operating system written in a high-level language allowed easier portability to
different computer platforms.

Today, Linux systems are used in every domain, from embedded systems to supercomputers, and
have secured a place in server installations often using the popular LAMP application stack. Use
of Linux distributions in home and enterprise desktops has been growing. They have also gained
popularity with various local and national governments. The federal government of Brazil is well
known for its support for Linux. News of the Russian military creating its own Linux distribution
has also surfaced, and has come to fruition as the G.H.ost Project. The Indian state of Kerala has
gone to the extent of mandating that all state high schools run Linux on their computers.

Design

A Linux-based system is a modular Unix-like operating system. It derives much of its basic
design from principles established in Unix during the 1970s and 1980s. Such a system uses a
monolithic kernel, the Linux kernel, which handles process control, networking, and peripheral
and file system access. Device drivers are either integrated directly with the kernel or added as
modules loaded while the system is running.

Separate projects that interface with the kernel provide much of the system's higher-level
functionality. The GNU userland is an important part of most Linux-based systems, providing
the most common implementation of the C library, a popular shell, and many of the common
Unix tools which carry out many basic operating system tasks. The graphical user interface (or
GUI) used by most Linux systems is built on top of an implementation of the X Window System.

Programming on Linux
Most Linux distributions support dozens of programming languages. The original development
tools used for building both Linux applications and operating system programs are found within
the GNU toolchain, which includes the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and the GNU build
system. Amongst others, GCC provides compilers for Ada, C, C++, Java, and Fortran. First
released in 2003, the Low Level Virtual Machine project provides an alternative open-source
compiler for many languages. Proprietary compilers for Linux include the Intel C++ Compiler,
Sun Studio, and IBM XL C/C++ Compiler. BASIC in the form of Visual Basic is supported in
such forms as Gambas, FreeBASIC, and XBasic.

Most distributions also include support for PHP, Perl, Ruby, Python and other dynamic
languages. While not as common, Linux also supports C# (via Mono), Vala, and Scheme. A
number of Java Virtual Machines and development kits run on Linux, including the original Sun
Microsystems JVM (HotSpot), and IBM's J2SE RE, as well as many open-source projects like
Kaffe and JikesRVM.

Linux Advantages

1. Low cost: You don’t need to spend time and money to obtain licenses since Linux and
much of its software come with the GNU General Public License. You can start to work
immediately without worrying that your software may stop working anytime because the
free trial version expires. Additionally, there are large repositories from which you can
freely download high quality software for almost any task you can think of.
2. Stability: Linux doesn’t need to be rebooted periodically to maintain performance levels. It
doesn’t freeze up or slow down over time due to memory leaks and such. Continuous up-
times of hundreds of days (up to a year or more) are not uncommon.
3. Performance: Linux provides persistent high performance on workstations and on
networks. It can handle unusually large numbers of users simultaneously, and can make old
computers sufficiently responsive to be useful again.
4. Network friendliness: Linux was developed by a group of programmers over the Internet
and has therefore strong support for network functionality; client and server systems can be
easily set up on any computer running Linux. It can perform tasks such as network backups
faster and more reliably than alternative systems.
5. Flexibility: Linux can be used for high performance server applications, desktop
applications, and embedded systems. You can save disk space by only installing the
components needed for a particular use. You can restrict the use of specific computers by
installing for example only selected office applications instead of the whole suite.
6. Compatibility: It runs all common Unix software packages and can process all common
file formats.
 7. Choice: The large number of Linux distributions gives you a choice. Each distribution is
developed and supported by a different organization. You can pick the one you like best;
the core functionalities are the same; most software runs on most distributions.
8. Fast and easy installation: Most Linux distributions come with user-friendly installation
and setup programs. Popular Linux distributions come with tools that make installation of
additional software very user friendly as well.
9. Full use of hard disk: Linux continues work well even when the hard disk is almost full.
10. Multitasking: Linux is designed to do many things at the same time; e.g., a large printing
job in the background won’t slow down your other work.
11. Security: Linux is one of the most secure operating systems. “Walls” and flexible file
access permission systems prevent access by unwanted visitors or viruses. Linux users have
to option to select and safely download software, free of charge, from online repositories
containing thousands of high quality packages. No purchase transactions requiring credit
card numbers or other sensitive personal information are necessary.
12. Open Source: If you develop software that requires knowledge or modification of the
operating system code, Linux’s source code is at your fingertips. Most Linux applications
are Open Source as well.

The difference between Linux and UNIX operating systems?

UNIX is copyrighted name only big companies are allowed to use the UNIX copyright and
name, so IBM AIX and Sun Solaris and HP-UX all are UNIX operating systems. The Open
Group holds the UNIX trademark in trust for the industry, and manages the UNIX trademark
licensing program.

Most UNIX systems are commercial in nature.

Linux is a UNIX Clone

But if you consider Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) standards then Linux can be
considered as UNIX. To quote from Official Linux kernel README file:

Linux is a Unix clone written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit
team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX compliance.

However, "Open Group" do not approve of the construction "Unix-like", and consider it misuse
of their UNIX trademark.

Linux Is Just a Kernel

Linux is just a kernel. All Linux distributions includes GUI system + GNU utilities (such as cp,
mv, ls,date, bash etc) + installation & management tools + GNU c/c++ Compilers + Editors (vi)
+ and various applications (such as OpenOffice, Firefox). However, most UNIX operating
systems are considered as a complete operating system as everything come from a single source
or vendor.

As I said earlier Linux is just a kernel and Linux distribution makes it complete usable operating
systems by adding various applications. Most UNIX operating systems comes with A-Z
programs such as editor, compilers etc. For example HP-UX or Solaris comes with A-Z
programs.

License and cost

Linux is Free (as in beer [freedom]). You can download it from the Internet or redistribute it
under GNU licenses. You will see the best community support for Linux. Most UNIX like
operating systems are not free (but this is changing fast, for example OpenSolaris UNIX).
However, some Linux distributions such as Redhat / Novell provides additional Linux support,
consultancy, bug fixing, and training for additional fees.

User-Friendly
Linux is considered as most user friendly UNIX like operating systems. It makes it easy to install
sound card, flash players, and other desktop goodies. However, Apple OS X is most popular
UNIX operating system for desktop usage.

Security Firewall Software

Linux comes with open source netfilter/iptables based firewall tool to protect your server and
desktop from the crackers and hackers. UNIX operating systems comes with its own firewall
product (for example Solaris UNIX comes with ipfilter based firewall) or you need to purchase a
3rd party software such as Checkpoint UNIX firewall.

Backup and Recovery Software

UNIX and Linux comes with different set of tools for backing up data to tape and other backup
media. However, both of them share some common tools such as tar, dump/restore, and cpio etc.

File Systems
▪ Linux by default supports and use ext3 or ext4 file systems.
▪ UNIX comes with various file systems such as jfs, gpfs (AIX), jfs, gpfs (HP-UX), jfs, gpfs
(Solaris).

System Administration Tools

1. UNIX comes with its own tools such as SAM on HP-UX.
2. Suse Linux comes with Yast
3. Redhat Linux comes with its own gui tools called redhat-config-*.
However, editing text config file and typing commands are most popular options for sys admin
work under UNIX and Linux.

1.

UNIX Operating System Names

A few popular names:

1. HP-UX
2. IBM AIX
3. Sun Solairs
4. Mac OS X
5. IRIX

Linux Distribution (Operating System) Names

A few popular names:

1. Redhat Enterprise Linux

2. Fedora Linux
3. Debian Linux
4. Suse Enterprise Linux
5. Ubuntu Linux

Common Things Between Linux & UNIX

Both share many common applications such as:

1. GUI, file, and windows managers (KDE, Gnome)

2. Shells (ksh, csh, bash)
3. Various office applications such as OpenOffice.org
4. Development tools (perl, php, python, GNU c/c++ compilers)
5. Posix interface