...Linux kernels and shells Windows and Mac computer systems have one central kernel that abstracts the hardware so the operating system can manage it. Linux is more customizable because it allows you to create your own kernel. I have been hired as an IT consultant and have been asked to write a manual on the kernel distributions of Linux. The kernel is a program that constitutes the central core of a computer operating system. It has complete control over everything that occurs in the system. The shell is the outermost part of the operating system thusly why it was given its name. The shell is a program that interacts with user commands while the kernel itself does not interact directly with the user, but instead it interacts with the shell and other programs as well as with the hardware devices on the system. While there are countless amounts of distributions available there is a distinct top five distributions that are used with Linux. The first one, rightly so as it is one of the earliest distributions that were created, is Red Hat. Red Hat is one of the most popular distributions for Linux, it is widely used for personal computers and with businesses also. It has a great community support division called the Fedora Core who does a great job with support and is a major reason for the popularity of Red Hat. The next distribution on the list is Debian. Debian is the most popular community created distribution for Linux. While it is really flexible and very reliable the user...
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...the time. Later, in a key pioneering approach in 1973, Unix was re-written in the programming language C by Dennis Ritchie (with exceptions to the kernel and I/O). The availability of an operating system written in a high-level language allowed easier portability to different computer platforms. With AT&T being required to license the operating system's source code to anyone who asked (due to an earlier antitrust case forbidding them from entering the computer business),[22] Unix grew quickly and became widely adopted by academic institutions and businesses. In 1984, AT&T divested itself of Bell Labs. Free of the legal obligation requiring free licensing, Bell Labs began selling Unix as a proprietary product. The GNU Project, started in 1983 by Richard Stallman, had the goal of creating a "complete Unix-compatible software system" composed entirely of free software. Work began in 1984.[23] Later, in 1985, Stallman started the Free Software Foundation and wrote the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL) in 1989. By the early 1990s, many of the programs required in an operating system (such as libraries, compilers, text editors, a Unix shell, and a windowing system) were completed, although low-level elements such as device drivers, daemons, and the kernel were stalled and incomplete.[24] Linus Torvalds has said that if the GNU kernel had been available at the time (1991), he would not have decided to write his own.[25] Although not released until 1992 due to legal complications...
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...Linux Kernels and Shells Linux kernels and shells Windows and Mac computer systems have one central kernel that abstracts the hardware so the operating system can manage it. Linux is more customizable because it allows you to create your own kernel. I have been hired as an IT consultant and have been asked to write a manual on the kernel distributions of Linux. The kernel is a program that constitutes the central core of a computer operating system. It has complete control over everything that occurs in the system. The shell is the outermost part of the operating system thusly why it was given its name. The shell is a program that interacts with user commands while the kernel itself does not interact directly with the user, but instead it interacts with the shell and other programs as well as with the hardware devices on the system. While there are countless amounts of distributions available there is a distinct top five distributions that are used with Linux. The first one, rightly so as it is one of the earliest distributions that were created, is Red Hat. Red Hat is one of the most popular distributions for Linux, it is widely used for personal computers and with businesses also. It has a great community support division called the Fedora Core who does a great job with support and is a major reason for the popularity of Red Hat. The next distribution on the list is Debian. Debian is the most popular community created distribution for Linux. While it is really flexible...
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...Linux has grown in popularity and capability over the years, but is it competitive with its competition. In this paper an overview of the Linux 2.6 Operating System (OS) and how it functions/performs on the technical level will be discussed. Comparisons to other retail OSs such as, Windows, Mac OS X, and prior versions of Linux will be used to show the strengths and weaknesses of this OS. “Linux was created by a student (Linus Torvalds) in Helsinki in 1991 with the assistance of developers from around the world. Linux is free, it shares its work with everyone — including competitors — and its business model is motivated primarily by adrenaline, altruism, and peer respect rather than by money. Yet, Linux's functionality, adaptability and robustness has made it the main alternative for proprietary operating systems, especially where budgets are a main concern.” (OEDB, 2007). As it is stated above Torvalds creation was a key proponent in creating the Open Source Movement, which has paved the way for the many distributions of the Linux Kernel. In the beginning Linus Torvalds was an IT student with the desire to test the limits of his current computer. During this time Torvalds was working with the MINIX OS which was create to be a cheap alternative to UNIX. Torvalds wanted to modify the kernel of MINIX and found that this was not possible so he began to create Linux. In the beginning Linux did not offer a lot of features and seemed to be lacking in ability (Diedrich, 2011)...
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...Short Paper: Open Source Operating Systems Linux is one of the modern, free open source operating system provides speed, performance, stability, and reliability comparable to commercial operating systems. Kernel performance, System libraries and System utilities added by Linux open source development community, licensing and compatibility across distributions made Linux successful. (Silberschatz, Galvin, Gagne Wiley & Sons, 2011, page.38) Kernel Performance: The core Linux operating-system kernel is entirely original and implemented as a traditional monolithic kernel for performance reasons. Kernel design is modular enough to allow most drivers to be dynamically loaded and unloaded at run time. The initial kernel does not have networking support, limited device driver’s support and basic virtual memory system included. Kernel is evolved with time by supporting technologies like improved TCP/IP performance, ISDN. Latest kernel supports remotely mount / un-mount volumes, internal kernel threads, loadable modules, automatic loading modules on demand, dynamic kernel configuration at run time, symmetric multiprocessors, and journal file systems. Kernel mode allows a process to be pre-empted while running. (Silberschatz, Galvin, Gagne Wiley & Sons, 2011, page.802) The Linux System: The kernel forms only the core operating system. Kernel is responsible of maintaining all important abstractions of the operating systems including virtual memory and processes. System libraries...
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...Chapter 1 Introduction to Linux At a Glance Class Notes Table of Contents • Overview • Objectives • Teaching Tips • Quick Quizzes • Class Discussion Topics • Additional Projects • Additional Resources • Key Terms • Technical Notes for Hands-On Projects Lecture Notes Overview Linux technical expertise is essential in today’s computer workplace as more and more companies switch to Linux to meet their computing needs. Thus, it is important to understand how Linux can be used, what benefits Linux offers to a company, and how Linux has developed and continues to develop. In the first half of this chapter, you will learn about operating system terminology and features of the Linux operating system, as well as the history and development of Linux. Later in this chapter, you will learn about the various types of Linux and situations in which Linux is used. Chapter Objectives In this chapter, you will learn to: • Understand the purpose of an operating system • Outline the key features of the Linux operating system • Describe the origins of the Linux operating system • Identify the characteristics of various Linux distributions and where to find them • Explain the common uses of Linux in industry today Quick Quiz 1 1. What term is used to describe a running program on Linux? a. Application b. Process c. Runtime d. Project 2. What is represented...
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...Windows and Mac computer systems have one central kernel that abstracts the hardware so the operating system can manage it. Linux is more customizable because it allows you to create your own kernel. You have been hired as an IT consultant and have been asked to write a manual on the kernel distributions of Linux. This requires the following deliverables: * Define the necessary components and functions of an operating system as they relate to the Kernel and the shell. * List the 5 most common distributions (there are over 600 at present). * After choosing the kernel, the choice of a shell also needs to be made. List at least 2 shells that are available for the kernel that you have selected. * Choose one of the shells, and discuss how you can perform a minimum of 20 commands or functions. There are an influx of available operating systems out there to choose from. Windows, Unix, IOS X, and Linux to name a few. I have been asked to write a brief manual on the kernel distributions of Linux that will include defining the necessary components and their relations to the kernel and shell, the five most common distributions, choosing a kernel and the specific compatible shells, and how to perform at least commands or functions. A kernel in its simplest definition the center of a computer operating system that provides basic services for all other parts of the operating system, it allocates time and memory to programs and handles the filestore and communications in response...
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...Lecture 1 – Linux introduction and basics Module 1. Linux introduction ♦ Linux distributions ♦ Linux kernel What is a Linux distribution? ♦ it is a collection of applications, packages, management, and features ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ that run on top of the Linux kernel. The kernel is what all distributions have in common (it is sometimes customized by the distribution maintainers) If they are all “Linux”, why are there so many different names, and which do I choose?” You may have heard names like Red Hat, Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu Distributions differ in several ways, and three of the most important are: ► ► ► Purpose Configuration and packaging Support model What’s a kernel? ♦ As you already know from the Operating Systems course ► the kernel is the core of all computer operating systems ► is usually the layer that allows the operating system to interact with the hardware in your computer ♦ The kernel contains software that allows you to make uniform use of ► hard disk drives, ► network cards, ► RAM, ► and other hardware components. ♦ In the Linux world, the kernel is based on code originally developed by Linux’s founder, Finnish developer Linus Torvalds. Back to distributions – Purpose, Configuration, Support ♦ Purpose ► Different distributions are often designed for different purposes and provide different user experiences. ► Some distributions are designed as servers, others as desktops, and some are designed to perform particular functions, for example, as embedded...
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...Guide to Linux+ (2nd Edition) ISBN 0-619-21621-2 End of Chapter Solutions Chapter 1 Solutions Review Questions 1. Every computer consists of physical components and logical components. The logical components of a computer that understand how to work with the physical components are referred to as: a. hardware b. records c. software d. processors Answer: c 2. The operating system software is necessary for a computer to function. True or False? Answer: True 3. Linux is a ___________ and ___________ operating system. a. production, stable b. multiuser, multitasking c. processing, operating d. large, useful Answer: b 4. The core component of the Linux operating system is the Linux kernel. If you were a Linux systems administrator for a company, when would you need to upgrade your Linux kernel? (Choose all that apply.) a. when you need to have support in Linux for new hardware b. when you need another user interface c. when you need to increase the stability of Linux d. when you need to use kernel modules Answer: a, c 5. Which of the following kernels are developmental kernels? (Choose all that apply.) a. 2.3.4 b. 2.5.5 c. 2.2.7 d. 2.4.4 Answer: a, b 6. A production kernel refers to a kernel whose: a. revision number is even b. minor number is odd ...
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...Guide to Linux+ (2nd Edition) ISBN 0-619-21621-2 End of Chapter Solutions Chapter 1 Solutions Review Questions 1. Every computer consists of physical components and logical components. The logical components of a computer that understand how to work with the physical components are referred to as: a. hardware b. records c. software d. processors Answer: c 2. The operating system software is necessary for a computer to function. True or False? Answer: True 3. Linux is a ___________ and ___________ operating system. a. production, stable b. multiuser, multitasking c. processing, operating d. large, useful Answer: b 4. The core component of the Linux operating system is the Linux kernel. If you were a Linux systems administrator for a company, when would you need to upgrade your Linux kernel? (Choose all that apply.) a. when you need to have support in Linux for new hardware b. when you need another user interface c. when you need to increase the stability of Linux d. when you need to use kernel modules Answer: a, c 5. Which of the following kernels are developmental kernels? (Choose all that apply.) a. 2.3.4 b. 2.5.5 c. 2.2.7 d. 2.4.4 Answer: a, b 6. A production kernel refers to a kernel whose: a. revision number is even b. minor number is odd ...
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...Linux is an open source operating system. Considering the difficulties and risks in developing an operating system, is it surprising that Linux has been as successful as it has? What makes it so successful, despite these difficulties? Write a short paper answering this question. OpenSorce Operating systems:- Opensource operating systems are the operating systems that are designed and licenced in such a way that they are free to use, free to change the os and can be distributed for free.the source code used to design the os is made free to public so that people can change and modify depending on their needs and can create their own custom versions and re entitiled to be mostly free the examples of the open source are linux operating systems like Ubuntu,Free BSD.The contrary of the opensource os are the regular copyrighted os and software where source code is not entitiled to be realsed and the os is completely copyrighted with the publisher like the windows and macos. Developping an Operating systems. An operating system is a software that will interact with the hardware resources of the computer and effectively use them inorder to input from the user/interface and get the desired results. Developping the early OS began in early 1950’s where the initial code is written in assembly language but soon after the evolution of C language most of the design for early unix is done in C language and the evolution lead to the opensource linux kernel which may or may not...
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...The history of Linux began in 1991 with the commencement of a personal project by a Finnish student by the name of Linus Torvalds to create a new free Operating System Kernel. He wrote the program specifically for the hardware he was using and independent of an Operating System because he wanted to use the functions of his new PC with an 80386 processor. The development of Linux was done on Minix using the GNU C Compiler. The GNU C compiler is still the main choice for compiling Linux today. The code however, can be built with other compilers, such as the Intel C Compiler. At first Linus Torvalds had wanted to call his invention FREAX, a part manteaux of “Free”, “Freak”, and “X” (as an allusion to UNIX). During the start of his work on the system, he stored the files under the name “FREAX” for about half of a year. Torvalds had already considered the name “Linux”, but initially dismissed it as being to egotistical. In order to facilitate the development, the files had to be uploaded to a FTP Server. Ari Lemmke, Torvalds coworker at Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) who was one of the Administrators for the FTP server at the time, did not think that “FREAX” was a good name. So, Ari named the project “Linux” on the server without consulting with Torvalds. Later, However, Torvalds consented to “Linux”. Torvalds first published the Linux Kernel under its own license, which had a restriction on commercial activity. The software to use with the Kernel was software developed...
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...hardware issue, and the operating system is a software issue. An operating system is a program that provides an interface to interact with the computer. It manages the computer’s hardware and software and provides a platform for other application programs. This research paper discusses the various aspects of an operating system with respect to Microsoft windows which is a family of proprietary operating systems and Linux, which is a sub-category of UNIX. Operating systems not only provided a platform for interaction between humans and computer programs but also it is the key programs which manages the resources such as memory and allocates time for various processes, if it is a multi tasking operating system. It manages input and output operations as well memory allocation, thus acting as an intermediary between the hardware and software. Operating systems and be found on almost every device with computing capabilities like mobile phones, video game consoles to super computers and web servers. An operating system is made up of many components, one of which is the kernel which maintains and manages the low level processes. It manages memory related functions, processing order for...
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...Linux CIS 155 Victor Gaines Dr. Weidman December 19, 2012 An operating system is, in the most basic of terms, the back bone of any modern day personal computer. They allow for users to start applications, manipulate the system, and, in general, use the computer effectively and efficiently. There are many different operating systems, all of which are used by different people for different reasons. The Apple OS operating system is the sole property of the Apple Company and is used in all of their computers and technology that they create. Then you have Windows, which is quite possibly the most widely recognizable operating system on the market today. Then there is Linux. Linux is seen as the operating system for “people who know computers”. Linux is not as user friendly as the Apple OS or Windows but it is seen as one of the most flexible operating systems around. Linux was born from the brain trust of a small group of friends lead by a Finn computer science student, Linus Torvalds. Linus built the kernel, which is the core of the Linux operating system, though the kernel itself does not fully constitute an operating system. Richard Stallman’s GNU tools were used to fully flesh out the Linux operating system. Torvald matched these two together to make these two parts one whole working body. Linux is still in its infancy but has gathered a tremendous following since its inception in 1991. Linux is greatly favored by amongst developers, being used in everything from computers...
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...Running head: Linux Systems Exploring Linux Operating Systems Student College Exploring Linux Operating Systems Much like Windows OS and the OS X for the Mac, Linux is an operating system that was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. Linux is traditionally a command line system as opposed to the GUI that many home computer users are more accustomed to. Linux uses a prompt where various commands and arguments are used to navigate the system and directories. One cannot point and click an icon in order to execute a program, in Linux the command line is like typing out the directions for your computer so it knows exactly where to look. Linux is being utilized in many different applications from business databases, cell phones, and even the New York stock exchange. Linux, however, is hardly considered a “personal computer” OS because of its limitations in personal computing. Although a Linux GUI desktop does exist, the command line interface is considered an advanced program and not for the faint of heart. Linux however holds many advantages in database software, server maintenance, code development and computer programming. The Linux “language” is close to coding language and the kernel is more secure than, say, the Windows Kernel. This advantage is encouraging to businesses and anyone else looking to keep or store sensitive data. Linux is a solid OS to use when handling such information when confidentiality is key. Like the other OS there are different means for file editing...
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