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Linux_Os_introduction_part1_module1

An operating system (OS) is essential software that enables communication between computer hardware and software, with examples including Unix, Windows, and Linux. Modern OS features include resource management, user interfaces, file organization, and security controls, while types of OS include multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking, and multithreading. Linux, developed from the GNU project and inspired by UNIX, has become popular for its stability, low cost, and adaptability, particularly in server applications, despite challenges in installation and learning compared to Windows.

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Parvathi M.S
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4 views

Linux_Os_introduction_part1_module1

An operating system (OS) is essential software that enables communication between computer hardware and software, with examples including Unix, Windows, and Linux. Modern OS features include resource management, user interfaces, file organization, and security controls, while types of OS include multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking, and multithreading. Linux, developed from the GNU project and inspired by UNIX, has become popular for its stability, low cost, and adaptability, particularly in server applications, despite challenges in installation and learning compared to Windows.

Uploaded by

Parvathi M.S
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Operating System

An operating system, or OS, is a


software program that enables the
computer hardware to communicate
and operate with the computer
software. Without an operating
system, a computer would be useless.
E.g.. Unix,Windows,Linux
Features of modern OS
⚫ To facilitate easy,
efficient, fair, orderly,
and secure use of
resources
⚫ Provide a user interface
⚫ Organize files on disk
⚫ Allocating resource to
different users with
security control
⚫ Co-ordinate programs
to work with devices
and other programs

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Types of Operating System

Multi-user
A multi-user operating system allows multiple
users to use the same computer at the same time
and/or different times.

Multiprocessing
An operating system capable of supporting and
utilizing more than one computer processor.
Multitasking
An operating system that is capable of allowing
multiple software processes to run at the same
time.
Multithreading
Operating systems that allow different parts of a
software program to run concurrently.
A. Development of Linux

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● Before Linux
– In 80’s, Microsoft’s DOS was the dominated OS for
PC
– single-user, single-process system
– Apple MAC is better, but expensive
– UNIX is much better, but much much expensive.
Only for minicomputer for commercial applications
– People was looking for a UNIX based system, which
is cheaper and can run on PC
– Both DOS, MAC and UNIX are proprietary, i.e., the
source code of their kernel is protected
– No modification is possible without paying high
license fees

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● GNU project
– Established in 1984 by Richard Stallman, who
believes that software should be free from restrictions
against copying or modification in order to make
better and efficient computer programs
– GNU is a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix”
– Aim at developing a complete Unix-like operating
system which is free for copying and modification
– Companies make their money by maintaining and
distributing the software, e.g. optimally packaging the
software with different tools (Redhat, Slackware,
Mandrake, SuSE, etc)
– Stallman built the first free GNU C Compiler in 1991.
But still, an OS was yet to be developed 7
● Beginning of Linux
– A famous professor Andrew Tanenbaum
developed Minix, a simplified version of UNIX
that runs on PC
– Minix is for class teaching only. No intention
for commercial use

– In Sept 1991, Linus Torvalds, a second year


student of Computer Science at the University
of Helsinki, developed the preliminary kernel
of Linux, known as Linux version 0.0.1
– It was put to the Internet and received
enormous response from worldwide software
developers
– By December came version 0.10. Still Linux
was little more than in skeletal form. 8
● Confrontation and Development
– Message from Professor Andrew Tanenbaum
– " I still maintain the point that designing a monolithic kernel in
1991 is a fundamental error. Be thankful you are not my
student. You would not get a high grade for such a design :-)"
(Andrew Tanenbaum to Linus Torvalds)
– "Linux is obsolete".
(Remark made by Andrew Tanenbaum)
– But work went on. Soon more than a hundred people
joined the Linux camp. Then thousands. Then
hundreds of thousands
– It was licensed under GNU General Public License,
thus ensuring that the source codes will be free for all
to copy, study and to change.

9
● Linux Today
– Linux has been used for many computing platforms
– PC, PDA, Supercomputer,…

– Current kernel version 2.6.13

– Not only character user interface but graphical user interface, thanks to
the X-Window technology

– Commercial vendors moved in Linux itself to provide freely distributed


code. They make their money by compiling up various software and
gathering them in a distributable format
– Red Hat, Slackware, etc

– Chinese distribution of Linux also appeared in Taiwan and China - CLE,


Red Flag Linux

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● Advantages over Windows
– It's almost free to relatively inexpensive
– Source code is included
– Bugs are fixed quickly and help is readily available
through the vast support in Internet
– Linux is more stable than Windows
– Linux is truly multi-user and multi-tasking
– multiuser: OS that can simultaneously serve a
number of users
– multitasking: OS that can simultaneously execute a
number of programs
– Linux runs on equipment that other operating systems
consider too underpowered, e.g. 386 systems, PDA, etc
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● Disadvantages compared with Windows
– Isn't as popular as Windows
– No one commercial company is responsible for Linux
– Linux is relatively hard to install, learn and use

● Hence currently, Linux is mainly used in


commercial applications, server implementation
● More than 75% current network servers are
developed based on Linux or Unix systems
– Due to the relatively high reliability.

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