Chapter1
Introduction to Linux System
Mr. Chea Samnang
Linux Lecturer
What is open source
• Open source: software and source code
available to all
– The freedom to distribute software and
source code
– The ability to modify and create
derived works
– Integrity of author’s code
GNU’s ( not UNIX )
• The GNU project wad started in 1983 for
developing a complete Unix-like
operating system, including software
development tool and application
programs, entirely of free software
• By the release of the first version of the
Linux kernel, the GNU project had
produced all the necessary components
of this system except the kernel
Linux Origins
• 1984: The GNU Project and the Free
Software Foundation
– Create open source version of UNIX
utilities
– Create the General Public License (GPL)
• Software license enforcing open source
principles
• 1991: Linus Tarvalds
– Create open source, UNIX-like kernel,
released under the GPL
What is LINUX
• Linux is a free Unix-type
operating system originally
created by Linus Torvalds
with the assistance of
developers around the
world.
• It originated in 1991 as a
personal project of Linus
Torvalds, a Finnish
graduate student.
What is LINUX
• The Kernel version 1.0 was released in
1994 and today the most recent stable
version is 2.6.9.
• Developed under the GNU General
Public License , the source code for Linux
is freely available to everyone.
LINUX Principles
• Everything is a file (including hardware)
• Small, single-purpose programs
• Ability to chain programs together to
perform complex task
• Configuration data stored in text
LINUX distribution
• Ubuntu
• openSUSE
• Debian
• Redhat
– Fedora
– Centos
– Redhat Enterprise Linux
• Moon OS
• Slackware
Feature of Linux Operating System
• Open Source development model
• Supports wide variety of hardware
• Supports many networking protocol and
configurations
• Supports more file systems
LINUX Kernel
• The kernel is the essential center of a
computer operating system, the core that
provides basic services for all other part
of the operating system.
• A kernel can be contrasted with a shell,
shell is the outmost part of an operating
system that interacts with user
commands
LINUX Structure
Users
Shell
Linux Kernel
Hardware
LINUX Shells
• Bash shell (Bourne again shell)
– Developed for the GNU Project
– The actual standard Linux shell
– Default shell for Red Hat Linux
• Borne shell (sh)
– Original Unix Shell written by Bill Joy at UC
Barkeley
• C shell (csh)
– Added many features such as command
and job control
Red Hat Distributions
• Linux distribution are OSs based on the
Linux kernel
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
– Stable, thoroughly tested software
– Professional support services
• The Fedora Project
– More and newer applications
– Community supported ( no official Red
Hat support)
– For personal systems
The Fedora Project
• Red Hat sponsored open source project
• Focused on latest open source
technology
• Rapid four to six month release cycle
• Available as free download from the
Internet
• Red Hat does no provide formal support
Fedora Core and Fedora Extra
• Fedora Core
- The Fedora Core software repository
contained the base packages require
to run Fedora.
• Fedora Extra
- Extra packages were generally
obtained online, and could be
downloaded with yum or other
package management software.
Logging into a Linux System
• Two types of login screens:
- Virtual consoles (text-based)
- Graphical logins (called display manager)
• Login using login name and password
• Each user has a home directory for
personal file storage
Virtual Console and Graphical Login
• A typical Linux system will run six virtual
consoles and one graphical login
– Server system often have only virtual console
– Desktops and workstation typically has both
• Switch among virtual consoled by
pressing Ctrl + Alt + (F2—F7)
• Access the graphical console by pressing
Ctrl + Alt + F1
Starting and Terminating Linux System
• Login
– Process of initiating a Linux Operating
System session
• Logout
– Process of terminating a Linux
Operating System session
Elements of the X Window System
• The X Window System is Linux’s
graphical subsystem
• Xorg is particular version of the X Window
System used by Red Hat
– Open source implementation of X
• Desktop environments provided by Red
Had:
– GNOME: the default desktop environment
– KDE: an alternate desktop environment
Starting the X server
• On some systems, the X server starts
automatically at boot time
• Otherwise, if system come up in virtual
consoles, users must start the X server
manually
• The X server must be pre-configured by
the system administrator
- Log into a virtual console and run startx
- The X server appears on Ctrl+Alt+F1
Changing Your Password
• Password control access to the system
– Change the password the first time you log in
– Change the regularly thereafter
– Select a password that is hard to guess
• To change your password from a
terminal:
# passwd username
The root User
• The root user
– a special administrative user account
– Also called the super user
– root has near complete control over
the system
• Do not login as root
The End
