Chapter An Introduction to Linux

What is Linux One of the fastest growing operating system today Unix-like operating system Named after Linus Torvalds (creator) – Linu s + Uni x = Linux Powerful –Speed and reliability –Runs on many different types of hardware For most part it is free or so far inexpensive compared to Microsoft

What is so special about Linux. Linux is said to be: Reliable. Simple. Free! Runs on a variety of platforms. considered the most important free software achievement. Able to turn any or better PC into a workstation.

What’s With The Penguins? Linus Torvalds is a naturalists and he always liked penguins

Unix-Linux Origin Unix Originally developed at AT&T as a multitasking system for minicomputers and mainframes in the 1970’s. Linux Developed primarily be Linus Torval. Inspired by Minix. Kernel uses no code from AT&T or any other proprietary source. Developed by a group of volunteers, primarily in the Internet, who exchange code, report bugs and fix problems.

Linux History First posted on the Internet: in October 1991 Linux 1.0 was released in 1994 and Linux 2.2 in 1999 Today Linux runs on millions of computers with thousands of programmers improving it continuously and sharing the code with others

The GNU Project Launched in 1984 to develop a completely Free Unix- like operating system: The GNU System. Many flavors of the GNU system are currently in use, i.e. Caldera, Redhat, Corel, etc. These GNU Systems use the Linux Kernel, these systems are incorrectly called "Linux", they should be called GNU/Linux systems. GNU is "Copylefted". Copyleft uses copyright law in reverse. It allows software to be used, modified, and distribute modified versions. Modified versions may not add restrictions of their own. Visit for more information.

What is so special about Linux. Linux is said to be: Reliable. Simple. Free! Runs on a variety of platforms. considered the most important free software achievement. Able to turn any or better PC into a workstation.

Linux Strengths Powerful Networking and e-business capabilities –associated with Apache Web Server Reliable Free to download –or affordable through distribution CDs

Linux Reservations Linux is still primarily a network operating system intended for servers –There are versions intended for clients now being released Linux is not as user friendly compared to Microsoft operating systems Users must learn commands to harness the full benefits of Linux

LINUX Features: Complete multitasking, multiuser OS. Compatible with Unix standards. Supports virtual consoles. Supports various file systems for storing data. Provides complete implementation of TCP/IP networking software. Include device drivers for many Ethernet cards.

LINUX Features (cont.) Kernel is developed to use protected-mode features of Intel and better processors. supports demand-paged and loaded executables. supports copy-on-write pages. Linux can coexist with other OS on the same machine.

Typical Uses of Linux Server –Web servers and firewall –Dedicated Print servers and File servers –Used as an operating system on less powerful hardware Desktop –Desktop versions are now being made available (Workstation edition of Red Hat) –Many desktop applications exist today –More are being quickly developed

Linux Application Areas Not only the enthusiasts ISP (Internet service providers) Engineering companies Retail Publishing Financial Healthcare ……..and more

Linux Based Network

Linux Interface with the Hardware Unix-like –Kernel: the part of the operation system that interacts with the hardware –Shell: the part of the operating system that interacts with the user Hardware Kernel Shell User

Linux Implementations with GUI Hardware Kernel Shell GUI User

GNU/Linux K Desktop Environment KDE is a powerful GUI desktop environment for Unix workstations. Provides ease of use, contemporary functionality, and the technological superiority of the Linux OS. KDE is an internet project that is "Open" in every sense. All KDE sources are open to everyone and may be distributed by anyone subject to the well know GNU licenses. KDE is a mature desktop suite. Visit for further information.

Current KDE Distribution Includes the following packages: KDE-Libs: Various Run-time libraries KDE-Base: The base components KDE Graphics: e.g. Kpaint, Kfax, Kghostview KDE Utilities: Kedit, KCalc, Knotes KDE-Multimedia: KMidi, Kmodplayer, Kmixer, KSCD KDE-Games: Kasteroids, Kpat, Ktetris KDE-Admin: Various rools to aid system administration

Current KDE Distribution Includes the following packages: KDE-Network: Kppp, Krn, Kmail Most current distributions of Linux Use a modified version of KDE. Corel calls its version Enhanced KDE. Visit Linux.Corel.com, Linux.com, Linuxworld.com for more information. Demonstration.

Linux Directory Structure (/)

The Linux TCP/IP Networking Layers BSD Sockets INET Sockets UDP TCP IP PPPSLIP Ethernet Network Application User Kernel Socket Interface Protocol Layers Network Devices ARP

Obtaining the Linux Operating System By downloading from websites Purchasing from a computer retail store Obtaining sources from Linux related magazines

Some Linux Vendors and their Websites Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 – Corel – Mandrake – Red Hat – –know for its package manager –Perhaps the most popular site

Linux Related Websites General Linux Websties – – Linux in business – – Linux Technical Websites – –

Module Linux Vs Windows

Licensing and Code Ownership Linux open-source community couple of vendors Manufacturer Licensing Fee Linux No Windows 2000 Microsoft Windows 2000 Yes

Installation Ease Linux getting easier but still more than Windows 2000 Windows 2000 because of the experience of previous versions, it’s very easy to install and setup automated software setup over a network

User Interface Linux DOS-like command-line Newer versions have GUI interfaces such as Gnome and KDE Windows 2000 GUI-based

Availability of Applications Linux few existing applications for Linux more and more applications are written for running on Linux but not mainstream yet. (e.g. support by IBM) Windows 2000 many applications are available

Reliability Linux good many users report that it can be run for months without crashing Windows 2000 Good Reliability has improved over the years

Anticipated Growth in Market Share Market Share for Server OS, 1998 vs. 1999

Future of Linux Reasons for growth the undercurrent of dissent against Microsoft (i.e. as an alternative to the Windows O/S) Competing vendors such as Sun promoting the Linux operating system ability to modify the source code control and freedom for the power user easy to obtain

Module Major Linux Features

Office and Applications Office Applications –Ex: StarOffice, Koffice, Applixware and Corel Wordperfect Clients –Ex: kmail, spruce, netscape and mozilla

Video and Audio Graphic Editors & Manipulators –Ex: The GNU Image Manipulation Program(GIMP) Audio, Video and DVD –Video clips compact player-xanim –Mpeg player-gtv, mtv –DVD player-Livid –MP3 player-mpg123 Voice Recognition – Xvoice works on any X11 application – CvoiceControl is used on Linux console

Internet Applications Internet Browsers – Ex: Netscape Internet Chat – Ex: Xchat Web Page Editors – Ex: Amaya

Network Protocols Supported TCP/IP IPv6 IPX/SPX AppleTalk Protocol Suite PPP, SLIP, PLIP Amateur Radio

Internet Servers and Browsers for Linux Mail Server –Sendmail Web Servers –Apache Web Browsers –Netscape Navigator

Internet Services Supported FTP Servers and clients News Services Domain Name System DHCP NIS Authentication

Remote Execution of Applications Telnet The X Windows System

Security Issue Web Server Attacks Weak Passwords Denial of Service Attacks Man in the Middle Attack IP Address Spoofing Network Snooping Impersonation

Sample Web Servers for Linux Apache server –Perhaps the most popular web server for Linux NCSA HTTPd – Netscape Fast Track Server AOL server – iPlanet Web Server etc.

Apache Server Developed by NCSA in 1995 Apache and its source code is free Runs on Unix and Linux Supports HTTP 1.1

Apache Strengths High market share –Over 57% web sites are using Apache Flexible Available free of charge

Apache Weakness Performance –should create portable code for its OS Fully guided GUI based installation is yet to materialize Few application services

Apache vs. IIS: A Quick Comparison

Top Server Source : Netcraft web server survey

Linux SQL Database (Free) MySQL –a true multi-user, multi-threaded SQL database server –a client/server implementation PostgreSQL –a sophisticated Object-Relational DBMS –Supports almost all SQL constructs GadFly –a very small, fast and highly portable database system –support a large subset of ODBC 2.0 SQL

MySQL Implementation Example MySQL Server PHP Apache Web page on browser PHP script

Web Research Visit the Red Hat and the Mandrake website at the following addresses to obtain additional information – –

Module Linux Multimedia

Audio Mixer and Sound Player AuMixer Console-mixer tool. B-play Sound player, pretty good. ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/pla yers/ ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/pla yers/ Synathesia You just can't live without this program! Is a 'visual' CD player. It's just a SVGAlib CD player that shows some nice effects while playing ftp://sunite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/light show/ ftp://sunite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/light show/

More on CD Players WorkMan A VERY nice XView CD player. ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sou nd/cdrom/X/ ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sou nd/cdrom/X/

MikMOD Regular MOD player, plays most of the MOD-file types - in the way YOU wish. You can also get a X- Interface MiXViews A full featured sound recording / editing program. Does everything and more. You have many effects and so on. I only find some disabilities: bugs (a few), no "dynamic" recording, not so many file formats, ugly GUI. ws.html ws.html MOD Player and Sound Recording

More on Sound Recorders X-Wave A sound recorder / player. Get it NOW at: ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/edit ors/ Related: cts/524/ ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/edit ors/ cts/524/

Mpeg 1 Layer 3 (mp3) Tools A mp3 encoder and a decoder, for making your own mp3 files / tweak with someone elses. Do I need to say anything more? And, ther's some other tools at the same homepage. sPlay MPEG 3 Audio player. MPEG

Audio Editor Multitrack Multitrack is a SVGAlib digital audio editor. It'll soon come out in a 2.0 version. It's too bad it's not X-based. Another irritating thing is that you must create the WAVE files that you are going to record before you can record. ltitrack/multitrack.html ltitrack/multitrack.html

Rosegarden And now! That all of you been waiting for! A MIDI program that works! It have a notationing system and so on! Perfect! Nothing to complain about...yet! Playmidi A general MIDI player. ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sou nd/players/ ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sou nd/players/ MIDI

X-Anim A animation player for X, plays many, MANY formats. me.html me.html Animation Player

XView Mpeg A XView based mpeg movie player. /pub/Linux/apps/graphics/viewers/X/ /pub/Linux/apps/graphics/viewers/X/ MPEG Movie Player

End of Chapter

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