Operating System

By Umer Tanveer
Introduction to UNIX and Linux

 Written by Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thomsom in at

Bell Labs in 1969
 Initially written in assembly language and a high-
level language called B. Later converted from B to C
language.
 Linux written by Linus Torvalds (an undergraduate
student at the Univ. of Helsinki, Finland) in 1991.
 Most popular operating systems
 Internet runs on UNIX and Linux
Why Choose Linux /Unix

 Open Source and Free

 Stability and Security:
 Versatility and Customization
 Powerful Command Line:
 Large Developer Community:
/bin - Essential User Command Binaries

 /bin is a crucial UNIX directory storing vital

command binaries necessary for system
functionality and repair.
 Includes essential commands such as ls for listing
files, cp for copying, mv for moving, and rm for
removing files.
 Practical application in everyday tasks; for example,
ls to view directory contents or cp to duplicate files.
 Critical for system stability by housing a minimal set
of commands required even in emergency situations
or during system bootstrapping.
/boot - Boot Loader Files

 /boot is a pivotal directory responsible for storing crucial

files essential for the successful initiation of the UNIX
system during startup.
 Houses critical boot loader configuration files, such as
grub.cfg, and kernel images (e.g., vmlinuz), pivotal for
system bootstrapping.
 The grub.cfg file contains bootloader configuration
settings, specifying how the system should boot,
including kernel selection and system parameters.
 The vmlinuz kernel image is a core component, serving
as the initial executable that launches the operating
system during startup.
/dev - Device Files

 /dev directory stores device files crucial for

communication between the operating system and
hardware components.
 -Examples include /dev/sda for the first hard disk
and /dev/tty1 for the first virtual terminal.
 - Users and applications interact with hardware
through /dev files, reading or writing data to these
device files.
 Secure interaction is important at this step
/home - User Home Directories

 The /home directory is dedicated to housing user

home directories, offering personalized spaces for
each user.
 Each user's home directory within /home provides a
dedicated and private space, like /home/john,
ensuring personalization and confidentiality for their
files and settings.
 Within the user's home directory in /home,
individual files and settings, such as documents,
preferences, and configurations, are stored, allowing
for a personalised computing experience.
/lib - System Libraries

 The /lib directory is essential for storing system

libraries that support executable files and
applications.
 The /lib directory in Linux holds critical system
libraries that provide essential support for
executable files, ensuring seamless functionality
across the operating system.
 Common libraries in /lib, like libc, serve as shared
resources used by multiple programs, enhancing
efficiency by preventing redundancy, reducing
development effort, and ensuring consistent,
reliable functionality across the system.
/etc - System Configuration Files

 The /etc directory is designated for storing system

configuration files in UNIX systems.
 Examples of critical configuration files found in /etc
include /etc/passwd for user information and
/etc/network/interfaces for network configurations
 The /etc directory in Linux is where system
administrators customize software behavior by
modifying configuration files; for instance, adjusting
network settings in /etc/network/interfaces.
/root - Root User's Home Directory

 The /root directory is exclusively designated as the

home directory for the root user, the superuser with
administrative privileges.
 The /root directory holds the home directory for the
root user, providing the superuser with a dedicated
space for system administration and configuration
files.
 As the superuser's dedicated space, the /sbin
directory within /root holds vital binaries crucial for
executing administrative tasks, allowing root to
efficiently manage and maintain the system.
UNIX/Linux Directory Hierarchy

bin dev home … sbin usr

faculty … students
UNIX/Linux Directory Hierarchy..

students

ali … nadeem … munir

personal … courses

cs401 … cs604
What Is Shell?

 How we denote home directory it varies from one shell to

another shell
 Shell act as intermediator between user an kernel. It
takes user command as input then convert it into
machine or kernel readable form,
 It is a text interpreter
 Bash( Bourne Again Shell)
 Sh (Bourne Shell)
 Zsh( Z shell)
 Ksh (Kom Shell)
 Csh
The difference
 Bash: The most popular and default shell on many Linux
distributions, known for its versatility, scripting capabilities,
and compatibility with older Bourne shell scripts.
 Sh: The original Unix shell, simpler and faster than Bash, but
lacks some advanced features. Still included for compatibility
reasons.
 Csh: Offers syntax similar to the C programming language,
making it easier for programmers to learn and use. Popular on
older BSD systems.
 Zsh: An extension of Bash, offering advanced features like
autocompletion, plugins, and theming, popular among power
users and those seeking a more customizable experience.
 Ksh: A superset of the Bourne shell, incorporating its features
and adding functionalities like built-in support for arithmetic
operations and improved scripting capabilities.
Some Common Commands
cd - Change Directory
 The cd command is fundamental for navigating the
UNIX file system by changing the current working
directory.
 Usage :Use cd followed by the target directory's
name or path to switch to that directory.
 Example: cd Documents changes the current
directory to "Documents."
ls - List Directory Contents

 The ls command is essential for inspecting the

contents of a directory within the UNIX file system.
 Usage: Execute ls to list the files and directories in
the current working directory
 Example: ls -l displays a detailed list, including
permissions, owner, size, and modification time.
pwd - Print Working Directory

 The pwd command is used to reveal the current

working directory's full path in UNIX.
 Usage: Type pwd in the command line to print the
complete path of the present working directory.-
 Example: Running pwd might output something
like /home/user/Documents, indicating the current
location.
cp - Copy Files or Directories

 The cp command is employed for duplicating files

or directories in UNIX
 Usage - Use cp followed by the source
file/directory and destination path to create a
copy.
 Example: - cp file.txt /backup copies the file.txt to
the /backup directory.
mv - Move Files or Directories

 The mv command in UNIX serves the purpose of

both moving and renaming files or directories.
 Usage: Execute mv followed by the source
file/directory and the destination path to relocate
or rename.
 Example: - mv file.txt /documents/newfile.txt
moves and renames file.txt to newfile.txt in the
/documents directory.
Some Platforms for learning

 Here are some of the best websites to learn Unix/Linux for

absolute beginners:
 TryHackMe: This platform offers a free gamified learning
experience where you can learn Linux fundamentals through
hands-on practice in a safe, virtual environment.
 Linux Journey: This website provides a comprehensive
beginner's guide to Linux, covering topics such as the
command line, file system, and basic administration tasks.
 Codecademy: This website offers a free introductory course to
Linux that teaches you the basics of the command line and
how to navigate the Linux file system.