Introduction to Linux

Winelfred G. Pasamba

Dec 9, 2005Finster Hall

Adventist University of the Philippines

Nov 6/7, 2007De La Salle Canlubang

Intro to Linux Outline

● Goals of this seminar● How does Linux benefit you?● What is Linux?● Linux for big systems● Linux for personal computers● Scribus, Audacity, Edutainment,

Personal Accounting

Goals of this Seminar

● Educate about benefits of Linux● Teach how to recover files from a

bogged down computer with a Linux LiveCD

● Help users understand Intellectual Property Issues

● Give users more software options to choose from

How does Linux Benefit You?

● Not prone to virus and spyware– Because of LiveCDs– Linux not likely target of spyware and

viruses because:● Most linux users are smart (not foolable into

clicking social engineering advertisements)● Linux security bugs are quickly fixed within

hours● Only few people use Linux compared to

Windows

How does Linux Benefit You?

● Use Linux for data recovery– When your OS crashes, use a Linux liveCD

to copy your files to a safe place before reformatting

● Don't need to pay for sofware– Free. Most software in Linux distributions

are put under the GPL, Artistic License, and the like

– You can do anything, but don't hide the source

How does Linux Benefit You?

● Lower hardware costs– Some linux distributions (like Puppy

Linux) can run productively with a Pentium 166 with 64MB of RAM and 300mb harddisk, boottime < 30sec

– Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP)● For computer labs, internet cafes● “thin-client”, all programs run in the server● Reduces a lot of maintenance time

How does Linux Benefit You?

● No need to use pirated software– Software is intellectual property (IP) of

individuals or companies.– License is “grant to use” software– Read the License Agreement of your

software– Linux saves us by being a free alternative

to expensive software. GPL– GPL says you can do anything as long as

you don't hide the source

Our Interest In Educating You About Linux

● We are not forcing you to use Linux or forcing you to stop using Windows,

● Or judge which is better than the other,

● We show you the benefits, but the choice is yours.

● We hope you can be able to use both for your needs.

What Is Linux?

● A complete computer sofware set– Wordprocessors– Spreadsheets– Presentation Makers– Desktop Publishing Programs– Educational Games– Web Browsers– Instant Messengers and Chat Software– A lot of utilities

What Is Linux?

● A complete Operating System– Hardware drivers– Networking– File sharing– Programming (C#/.net, php, java, c, c++,

perl, lisp, pascal, jsp, asp,...)– Servers (web, dns, dhcp, ftp, samba, novell,

nfs, X, etc...)

What Is Linux?

● An Operating System Kernel– Loadable modules– Virtual memory management– Filesystems– Security– Threading– Symmetric Multi-Processing– Process, Memory, and IO Protection

What Is Linux?

● A project of Linus Torvalds as a student in Helsinki University, Finland

● Many programmers around the world contributed code to Linux.

● Many companies, individuals, and groups, compile the Linux code and bundle it with other free software. These are called “Distributions”.– Ubuntu, CentOS, RedHat, Puppy, Knoppix,

SuSe, Xandros, etc...

Distributions

● RedHat – one of the first most successful

● Mandriva – plenty of applications● Ubuntu – most user-friendly● Knoppix – popularized the liveCD idea,

installable to harddisk, lots of applications, automatic hardware detection and configuration

Distributions

● Puppy Linux – for legacy computers● Xandros – commercial, tries to make

windows-to-linux transition easy● Debian – basis for Knoppix and many

other distros● Slackware – only for the bravehearted● Hundreds of more...

What are Other Options?

● Microsoft Windows– Best for end-users, virus/spyware prone,

great set of compatible software base, not free

● Microsoft Office– Best office suite, fastest, expensive

● FreeBSD– Used by Yahoo servers, free

What are Other Options?

● OpenBSD– Most secure, great networking (packet

filter)● Solaris

– For big machines● Mac OS

– Best combination of artistic and technical design

● Others (IRIX, AIX, BeOS, ... DOS)

Linux Compared to Other Options

● A lot of applications compared to other free OSes

● Compatible with a wide selection of hardware compared to other free Oses

● Is free compared to Microsoft Windows– You can copy, install, to as many machines

as you want● Stability (runs for days, weeks,

months, without a crash or hang)

Linux for Complex Systems

● Google uses more than 20,000 Linux servers

● AOLIS uses Linux for almost everything

● AUP Cafeteria System is a Linux System

● Shopwise POS is Linux also● Scooby-Doo, by Warner Brothers, was

created using Linux render machines

Linux for Personal Computers

● Scribus – desktop publishing● Audacity – multi-track recording● Edutainment● Accounting - gnucash, grisby● OpenOffice● Firefox, GAIM, GIMP