Scribd
Upload
4 views18 pages

Linux_Intro

The document provides an overview of Linux, including its history, key components like the GNU project and Linux kernel, and various distributions such as Ubuntu and Red Hat. It highlights the advantages of Linux, such as free software and customization, as well as its disadvantages, including potential hardware compatibility issues. Recent developments include companies selling Linux pre-installed on computers and user-friendly installation options like 'wubi' for Ubuntu.

Uploaded by

lokeshvirtu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views18 pages

Linux_Intro

The document provides an overview of Linux, including its history, key components like the GNU project and Linux kernel, and various distributions such as Ubuntu and Red Hat. It highlights the advantages of Linux, such as free software and customization, as well as its disadvantages, including potential hardware compatibility issues. Recent developments include companies selling Linux pre-installed on computers and user-friendly installation options like 'wubi' for Ubuntu.

Uploaded by

lokeshvirtu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 18

A Brief Introduction

to Linux
Cheng-Han Du
History
GNU
 Founded by Richard Stallman
 GNU = GNU’s Not Unix
 Free software
 GPL, Copyleft
Linux
 Founded by Linus Torvalds
 Linux kernel
Linux Distribution
 Ubuntu
 Red Hat (Fedora)
 SUSE
 Mandriva
Shell
 A user interface using command lines
 bash, csh, ksh, …
X Window System (X)
 It is not required if you run Linux in
command-line mode. To use GUI,
however, X is definitely necessary.
 If hardware acceleration of graphics is
needed, you need to further configure X.
Linux Desktop: GNOME
Linux Desktop: KDE
Why Linux?
 Many downloadable packages which are
free of charge.
 Much better computation performance.
 Less system restriction on resources.
 Kernel is open-sourced and fully
customizable.
Disadvantages of Linux
 Progress on device driver update  New
hardware may not be operational when old
er Linux is in use.
 Something not expected may happen.
 Sometimes, you should work in terminal (c
ommand lines).
 You should “google” to solve your problem.
Recent Development
 Some companies sell computer with Linux
system included.
 Dell
laptops -- Ubuntu
 ASUS EeePC -- Xandros
 Many guidelines can be found online abou
t installing Linux on desktop PC and laptop
s.
 Example: ThinkWiki for Lenovo ThinkPad
Some More Interesting Trivia
 For those Micro$oft users, upgrading the
OS may be a hard task.
 In several Linux system such as Ubuntu, it
allows users to update their systems witho
ut too much work.
 You can read and write data into Windows
drives. (“ntfs-3g” package needed)
Still Afraid of Linux?
 Finalized Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) will be released in t
hese days.
 However, you can use a beta version. The system will be autom
atically updated if final release is available.
 A new function called “wubi” allows you to install Ubuntu
in Windows.
 If you don’t mind slow performance, you can even install
Ubuntu without creating a new disk partition!
 That is, installation of Ubuntu is just as easy as of general applic
ations.
 Uninstalling it is even easier!

You might also like