...Linux Operating System Mark Stansbery POS/355 Alicia Pearlman May 5, 2012 Linux is an operating system just like Windows, and MAC OS, but more along the same lines of the UNIX operating system, because they have some of the same features. Out of the three most popular operating systems, Linux is surprisingly enough is the least popular. It is growing in popularity as more and more systems start to use it, but it still has a long way to go. The information that follows will give some of the history behind Linux and the features, benefits, and drawbacks to the system. In 1986, Linus Torvalds began to learn, quite extensively, hardware programming to help him with his Sinclair computer. He developed a floppy controller driver as well as a programming tool to help him with his efforts to better understand and improve the performance of his machine. In 1991, Torvalds got his first 386-Intel based PC, which ran a version of UNIX called Minix. Minix was developed as a learning system and was very popular in the universities. Torvalds found out very quickly that he did not like the Terminal emulator that was provided, and since the source code for Minix was open source, he began a project to develop his own code to design an improved emulator that provided more functions especially on a hardware level. As he further developed the code and more functionality was added Torvalds decided that his design was more on the lines of an operating system instead of just a utility...
Words: 790 - Pages: 4
...Exploring Linux Operating Systems What is Linux? Linux is an Operating System for a computer; it is like other Operating Systems such as Windows and the OS X for MAC. Linux was created in 1991 and has been found on many different systems like Super Computers, cell phones, and even the New York stock exchange. What sets Linux apart from other Operating Systems is that Linux is made by several different companies. According to www.linux.com over 3,200 developers have from 200 companies have contributed to the kernel which is just a small piece of the distribution. How is Linux used today? While other Operating Systems are very limited to personal computing devices, Linux is not limited it can be found on many different things. Linux had its start as a server Operating System but is also one of the only Operating System that can be found on more than just a personal computer. Some of the different things it can be found on taken from www.linux.com “These are just the most recent examples of Linux-based devices available to consumers worldwide. This actual number of items that use Linux numbers in the thousands.” www.linux.com File Editors Coming from a Windows Operating System pretty much my whole life, which means I only have experience with GUI editors such as Notepad from Windows. After working with Linux and its file editors this past week I found it much faster and easier than using the notepad system in Windows. There are two different kinds of editors...
Words: 1308 - Pages: 6
...Exploring Linux Operating Systems Linux is a computer operating system that was created and released by Linux Torvalds in October 1991. Linux was designed and released as a free, open source piece of software. This means that the code that makes up the program is freely available for anyone to copy, study, and modify the code in any way. This design was chosen to encourage the public to voluntarily improve the design and add functionality to the base software. This open source design is anecdotally considered to be a good thing, but has some drawbacks due to splintering, and lack of version control. Due to some of the splintering there are dozens of versions of Linux, most with similar functionality, while there are others that are designed for specific user types and use cases. Each “version” is called a Distribution. There are dozens, if not hundreds of these “distro’s” floating about. One of the most popular distro’s for the entry level user is Canonical’s Ubuntu Linux. This is a Debian based system with a rather simple user interface, and comes standard with a GUI and a host of tools that would make the system useable, and sufficient for most average users. On the other side of the spectrum there are targeted distro’s like KALI whose audience is more on the professional side. This particular distro is pre-loaded with tools that only a professional or an enthusiast would find useful at all. With such a wide range of options, there should be something for everyone...
Words: 1171 - Pages: 5
...Linux Operating System Assignment 2 1. KDE and GNOME 2. Panel- Panels are bars that appear on the desktop and hole (panel) objects. They are part of the desktop, so they remain consistent across workspaces. Menu Bar- The menu bar appears at the top of the File Browser window and displays a menu when you click one of it selections. Applet- an applet is a small program that displays its user interface on or adjacent to the panel. You interact with the applet panel object. The clock and workspace switcher are applets. Notification Area- the notification area is a portion of the taskbar that provides temporary source for notifications and status. It can also be used to display icons for system and program features that have no presence on the desktop. Shading- its shrinks the window so only the title is visible. Location Bar- below the main tool is the location bar, which displays the name of the directory that appears in the view pane. Nautilus- displays emblems in both its icon and list views, although there may not be room for more than one emblem in the list view. Nautilus grays out items you are not allowed to change. Workspace- workspaces divide the desktop into one or more areas, with one such area filling the screen at any given time. Initially there are two workspaces. All workplaces display the same panels and objects. Workspace Switcher- the number of workspaces the switcher displays changes as you changes the number in the spin box. 3....
Words: 345 - Pages: 2
...Joseph Silva 4/1/12 Linux Operating System Assignment 2 1. KDE and GNOME 2. Panel- Panels are bars that appear on the desktop and hole (panel) objects. They are part of the desktop, so they remain consistent across workspaces. Menu Bar- The menu bar appears at the top of the File Browser window and displays a menu when you click one of it selections. Applet- an applet is a small program that displays its user interface on or adjacent to the panel. You interact with the applet panel object. The clock and workspace switcher are applets. Notification Area- the notification area is a portion of the taskbar that provides temporary source for notifications and status. It can also be used to display icons for system and program features that have no presence on the desktop. Shading- its shrinks the window so only the title is visible. Location Bar- below the main tool is the location bar, which displays the name of the directory that appears in the view pane. Nautilus- displays emblems in both its icon and list views, although there may not be room for more than one emblem in the list view. Nautilus grays out items you are not allowed to change. Workspace- workspaces divide the desktop into one or more areas, with one such area filling the screen at any given time. Initially there are two workspaces. All workplaces display the same panels and objects. Workspace Switcher- the number of workspaces the switcher displays changes as you changes the number in...
Words: 350 - Pages: 2
...Table of contents 1. Introduction 2. Adoption cycle 3. Desktop environments 4. Year of desktop linux 5. Hardware support 6. Connectivity with windows 7. Linux distribution 8. Application 9. Performance 10. Market adoption 11. Education 12. Future of desktop linux 13. Conclusion Introduction “Bill Gates was the first to realize the power of ‘good enough.’ We don’t have to offer the perfect desktop environment, just one that’s good enough for most people.” [pic] Desktop Linux, also called Linux on the desktop, refers to specialized Linux distributions with features designed for desktop personal computer users. These features include a graphical user interface and personal use applications. Some Linux distributions have targeted the desktop role specifically, while others include all the software available for the platform. In that case, the user will be given the choice to select either a "desktop" or "server" type when the operating system is installed. THE ADOPTION CYCLE Looking back Many technologies have enjoyed widespread success when a new application was released that allowed the benefits of the new technology to fully demonstrate themselves. The Macintosh computer, for instance, started gaining momentum with the release of Adobe Pagemaker and the postscript printer, creating the desktop publishing industry. Likewise, the Internet was used only in academic and technical circles...
Words: 4281 - Pages: 18
...Table of Contents Beginning Red Hat Linux 9 ...............................................................................................................................1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................................4 Who Is This Book For?...........................................................................................................................4 What You Need to Use This Book.........................................................................................................4 What Is Linux? ........................................................................................................................................5 Linus Torvalds and the Birth of Linux.............................................................................................5 Why Choose Linux?.........................................................................................................................6 What Is Red Hat Linux 9?................................................................................................................7 What Is Covered in This Book?..............................................................................................................8 Conventions in This Book......................................................................................................................9 Customer Support...............
Words: 155032 - Pages: 621
...demonstration. Part # 1 Install a Core Linux Operating System on a Server Learning Objectives and Outcomes Upon completing this lab, students should know more about the following tasks: * Install a base Linux operating system using a Fedora core Linux server for production use on the VM server farm * Create secured partitions within the core Linux server for desired security hardening, performance, and application support * Enable a network time server during installation to maintain a synchronized time setting throughout the system * Set a hostname that is descriptive of the role of the server to maintain standard and concise naming conventions during installation * Create a non-privileged user account for system administration access as a secure alternative to logging in as root user Overview In this lab the students will see how to install and partition a Fedora Core Linux Server. The installation process, applying passwords, creating partitions, and system administrator access controls will be part of the operating system configuration requirements. The demonstration will show how to use the terminal or terminal emulator for command line configurations and implementation. Lab Assessment Questions & Answers 1. During the install, the option to sync with a NTP (Network Time Protocol) server was checked. From a security perspective, why is it important for a system to keep accurate time? NTP is important because...
Words: 1168 - Pages: 5
...Exercises stores the complete set of positional parameters as a single string 4. a. When you are writing many shell scripts, it can get tedious to give many chmod commands. This function speeds up the process. b. $ function perms { > chmod u+x $* > } c. Put the function in your .bash_profile, .bash_login, or .profile file to make it available each time you run a log in (using bash). d. Use source to execute the file you put the function in, i.e. $ source .bash_profile 5. A shell function will do nothing unless it is explicitly called by other code A shell script is a runnable, executable process, which can call other shell scripts and/or functions. The question might be worded backwards - it is necessary to write shell functions for shell scripts when certain logical functionality is required to be performed multiple times - they operate the same way. 6. $ cat listdirs file "$@" | grep directory | sed 's/:.*//'. 9. a. #!/bin/bash plus1 () { echo $(($1 + 1)); } echo $(plus1 8) export -f plus1 ./child 14 21 b. Each Name the full file name of the command is determined by searching the directories in $PATH and remembered. c. If command is not specified, a non-interactive shell exits, unless the shell option exefail is enabled, in which case if returns failure. Returns if file cannot be executed. Exercises 1. -w option on the command line 2. Array is an order list of values position by index. Hash is an unordered list...
Words: 292 - Pages: 2
...Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution, Fedora is the fourth most popular. Fedora is based on Red Hat Linux and uses the RPM package manager while Ubuntu is based on Debian and uses APT. Both distributions release a new version every 6 months but there's a difference in their long term support models, Ubuntu offers support for 18 months after a version is released and also releases long term support versions every two years that are supported for 5 years. Fedora offers a shorter support period of only 13 months. Fedora’s default desktop is GNOME 3.2.1 and requires 3D capable graphics cards. Ubuntu’s default desktop is unity, which is available in 2D and 3D and uses a standard GNOME based interface that is designed to be a universal interface for desktops, tablets and smartphones. Fedora is leaned more towards developers and testing software where as ubuntu is leaned more towards the average user and stable software. According to online surveys Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution. The latest version of Ubuntu was downloaded 81,063 from CNet. Fedora is now downloaded from its own website, an earlier edition saw 10,000 downloads in the first 24 hours after release. Different hardware can affect the comparative performance of Fedora and Ubuntu. Some benchmark tests suggest that Ubuntu boots faster while Fedora is faster to shut down. Fedora won more of these tests than Ubuntu, but many of these were practical ties in performance. Under Ubuntu, software management...
Words: 340 - Pages: 2
...Elsevier B.V. Linux vs. Windows: A Comparison of Application and Platform Innovation Incentives for Open Source and Proprietary Software Platforms Nicholas Economides and Evangelos Katsamakas ABSTRACT The chapter analyzes and compares the investment incentives of platform and application developers for Linux and Windows. We find that the level of investment in applications is larger when the operating system is open source rather than proprietary. The comparison of the levels of investment in the operating systems depends, among others, on reputation effects and the number of developers. The chapter also develops a short case study comparing Windows and Linux and identifies new directions for open source software research. Keywords: Open Source Software, operating systems, technology platforms, Linux, innovation incentives. JEL Classification: L 10, L86, L3 1. 10.1 INTRODUCTION Open source software is an emerging type of software that may fundamentally affect the business and economic features of the software industry. Linux, an open source operating system, has been the prominent example of the potential of the open source movement, competing against Microsoft Windows, the incumbent operating system. 208 Nicholas Economides and Evangelos Katsamkas This chapter analyzes the incentives to invest in application software and an operating system under two different software ecosystems: one based on an open source operating system, such as Linux, and the other based...
Words: 4770 - Pages: 20
...Raj Narayan Saha | CIT1533 | SCM-024155 Raj Narayan Saha | CIT1533 | SCM-024155 Introduction to Operating Systems assignment 1 Introduction to Operating Systems assignment 1 Contents The Linux Operating System 1 The History of Linux 3 The linux mascot 4 linux and its fued with microsoft 4 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Linux 6 Comparing Linux to Windows 7 The increase in complexity of Operating Systems 8 advantages and disadvantages of this increased complexity 10 Client-Server Operating System 11 Plug and Play & Multitasking in Windows 13 plug and play 13 multitasking in windows 15 References 17 The Linux Operating System Before getting into Linux, a short introduction on what an Operating System is – An Operating System is a software layer that is between the hardware and the software that you actually use to get something productive. In other words, the operating system is what allows the software to talk to the hardware, such as storing information to the hard drive, to send out print jobs to the printer and so on and so forth. Figure [ 1 ] An excerpt from the Ubuntu (a Linux distribution) website on how and why it's free Figure [ 1 ] An excerpt from the Ubuntu (a Linux distribution) website on how and why it's free Now, onto Linux. Linux, like Microsoft Windows is an Operating System. Unlike Windows, however, Linux is open source, meaning one can readily find the source code for the OS for free and add or edit the...
Words: 4387 - Pages: 18
...The purpose and function of an operating system is, to manage software that manages the computer hardware and software resources. It also provides common services for the computer programs, an operating system is a vital part of a computer system, and most applications require an operating system. An operating system acts as a middle component between the applications and you the person who is using it, and the hardware or applications that are trying to perform any function. An operating systems starts when, you first turn on your computer and ends when you turn your computer off. Some of the functions of an operating system are, booting your computer up, an operating system manages input and output devices that you are using on your computer. An operating system also provides a graphical user interface to create a user- friendly environment for the person who is running the operating system. An operating system also manages system resources and manages data. One difference among Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X operating systems is, Mac OS X operating system is, Mac OS is the operating system used by apple for their Macintosh computers. Mac OS has an Intel processors however, it is not compatible with regular PC-hardware and PC- based operating systems, such as windows or Linux. A second difference among Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X operating system is, Linux is an open source program that is ever expanding. This means anyone is able to change it if they have the knowledge...
Words: 557 - Pages: 3
...Short Paper: Open Source Operating Systems Southern New Hampshire University September 7, 2014 In 1991, Linus Torvalds created Linux and after a couple releases and improvements, the computer community caught on. Some advantages of the Linux Operating System are low cost, stability, performance, network friendliness, flexibility, compatibility, choice, fast and easy installation, full use of hard disk, multitasking, security and open source (Haas, 2014) . There is no major initial investment needed to obtain the Linux operating system. There is no fee for a license unlike Microsoft Windows. For comparative purposes, Windows 8.1 64-bit is retailing for 96.99 at BestBuy and 99.99 at Newegg.com. With no initial monetary investment, Linux gives many potential users an opportunity to try the OS. The ease of exposure to the Linux OS make it easier to increase adopters and faithful users of the OS. Linux’s stability can contributed to its user permission design. Linux runs with lowest permission levels possible which minimizes the possibility of damaging the system. Linux is written to survive in the way it keeps program memory space and system kernel resources separate (Cedar Valley Tech, 2009). Also since Linux is open-source, bugs are fixed by an army of ready developers who are not trapped within the confines of a software manufacturer. Though no operating system is perfect, Linux can run for years without needing to be restarted (Godbey, 2006). Linux performs well due to its...
Words: 978 - Pages: 4
...Operating Systems most favored by fortune 500 companies are Windows, Red Hat Linux and AIX. Operating Systems perform basic task that supports the use of input, the printers, drivers, keyboard and the display screen. The operating systems support different programs and users running on it at the same time. It also supports the security and user abilities. Operating systems provide software platforms on top of applications, like Java, Visual Basic etc. These applications have to be written to run operating systems. There are several choices of operating systems DOS, OS/2, Windows, AIX, and Linux. The two main operating systems are Windows and Linux/Unix. “And they have a competitive history and future” (Haas). Before we get into the technicalities of either operating system, let’s examine the environment that these two systems evolved from, or the culture from whence they came, if you will. “Corporate culture pertains to the identity and personality of the company we work with, either in the private or public sectors. All companies have a culture; a way they behave and operate. They may be organized and disciplined or chaotic and unstructured. Either way, this is the culture the company has elected to adopt” Brice, (2012). “Microsoft may appear to some people as a company without culture, but that impression changes upon entering the Sigma Building, which houses Microsoft Research Asia. Chatting with the great minds at Microsoft Research Asia, one is reminded...
Words: 1073 - Pages: 5
