03-08-2012, 04:25 PM
Introduction to Linux
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Introduction
Why this guide?
Many people still believe that learning Linux is difficult, or that only experts can understand how a Linux
system works. Though there is a lot of free documentation available, the documentation is widely scattered on
the Web, and often confusing, since it is usually oriented toward experienced UNIX or Linux users. Today,
thanks to the advancements in development, Linux has grown in popularity both at home and at work. The
goal of this guide is to show people of all ages that Linux can be simple and fun, and used for all kinds of
purposes.
Who should read this book?
This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an
exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter. For more advanced
trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system
and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience
as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. We hope these examples will help you to
get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.
Everybody who wants to get a "CLUE", a Command Line User Experience, with Linux (and UNIX in
general) will find this book useful.
New versions and availability
This document is published in the Guides section of the Linux Documentation Project collection at
http://www.tldpguides.html; you can also download PDF and PostScript formatted versions here.
The most recent edition is available at
The second edition of this guide is available in print from Fultus.com Books as paperback Print On Demand
(POD) book. Fultus distributes this document through Ingram and Baker & Taylor to many bookstores,
including Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, BarnesAndNoble.com and Google's Froogle global shopping portal
and Google Book Search.
Current application of Linux systems
Today Linux has joined the desktop market. Linux developers concentrated on networking and services in the
beginning, and office applications have been the last barrier to be taken down. We don't like to admit that
Microsoft is ruling this market, so plenty of alternatives have been started over the last couple of years to
make Linux an acceptable choice as a workstation, providing an easy user interface and MS compatible office
applications like word processors, spreadsheets, presentations and the like.
On the server side, Linux is well-known as a stable and reliable platform, providing database and trading
services for companies like Amazon, the well-known online bookshop, US Post Office, the German army and
many others. Especially Internet providers and Internet service providers have grown fond of Linux as
firewall, proxy- and web server, and you will find a Linux box within reach of every UNIX system
administrator who appreciates a comfortable management station. Clusters of Linux machines are used in the
creation of movies such as "Titanic", "Shrek" and others. In post offices, they are the nerve centers that route
mail and in large search engine, clusters are used to perform internet searches.These are only a few of the
thousands of heavy-duty jobs that Linux is performing day-to-day across the world.
It is also worth to note that modern Linux not only runs on workstations, mid- and high-end servers, but also
on "gadgets" like PDA's, mobiles, a shipload of embedded applications and even on experimental
wristwatches. This makes Linux the only operating system in the world covering such a wide range of
hardware.
Linux for non-experienced users
Companies such as RedHat, SuSE and Mandriva have sprung up, providing packaged Linux distributions
suitable for mass consumption. They integrated a great deal of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), developed by
the community, in order to ease management of programs and services. As a Linux user today you have all the
means of getting to know your system inside out, but it is no longer necessary to have that knowledge in order
to make the system comply to your requests.
Nowadays you can log in graphically and start all required applications without even having to type a single
character, while you still have the ability to access the core of the system if needed. Because of its structure,
Linux allows a user to grow into the system: it equally fits new and experienced users. New users are not
forced to do difficult things, while experienced users are not forced to work in the same way they did when
they first started learning Linux.
While development in the service area continues, great things are being done for desktop users, generally
considered as the group least likely to know how a system works. Developers of desktop applications are
making incredible efforts to make the most beautiful desktops you've ever seen, or to make your Linux
machine look just like your former MS Windows or an Apple workstation. The latest developments also
include 3D acceleration support and support for USB devices, single-click updates of system and packages,
and so on. Linux has these, and tries to present all available services in a logical form that ordinary people can
understand. Below is a short list containing some great examples; these sites have a lot of screenshots that will
give you a glimpse of what Linux on the desktop can be like:
Linux Cons
There are far too many different distributions:
"Quot capites, tot rationes", as the Romans already said: the more people, the more opinions. At first
glance, the amount of Linux distributions can be frightening, or ridiculous, depending on your point
of view. But it also means that everyone will find what he or she needs. You don't need to be an
expert to find a suitable release.
When asked, generally every Linux user will say that the best distribution is the specific version he is
using. So which one should you choose? Don't worry too much about that: all releases contain more
or less the same set of basic packages. On top of the basics, special third party software is added
making, for example, TurboLinux more suitable for the small and medium enterprise, RedHat for
servers and SuSE for workstations. However, the differences are likely to be very superficial. The best
strategy is to test a couple of distributions; unfortunately not everybody has the time for this. Luckily,
there is plenty of advice on the subject of choosing your Linux. A quick search on Google, using the
keywords "choosing your distribution" brings up tens of links to good advise. The Installation
HOWTO also discusses choosing your distribution.
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Linux is not very user friendly and confusing for beginners: