Chap 1 ~ Introducing LINUX

LINUX is a free-stable multi-user operating system that derives from UNIX operating system

Benefits:

1) Linux is released under GNU (General Public License) – so its FREE!

2) Access to the source code is unrestricted (can be edited)

3) Multi-user, multi-tasking OS

4) Stable – can be updated on the fly!

5) Many applications such as OpenOffice can run on Linux

6) Security for System Administrator (open source software)

Linux Evolution

• In 1983 a visionary programmer named Richard Stallman began a movement named the GNU project.

• In 1991, the GNU project has created a lot of software includes the GNU C Compiler.

• Linus Trovalds then tweak the source code and he named the OS as LINUX (LINUs - uniX).

• LINUX is FREE under the GNU (General Public Licence).

• LINUX has two user friendly desktop environment

– KDE (K Desktop Environment) and GNOME (GNU Network Object Model).

Choosing a LINUX distro

Kernel – bunch of compiled code that provides the operating systems its core functionality

Distros – bundle the kernel, system level programs, and free user-level programs in a variety of combinations

• Shell - Special program that allows user to interact by entering certain command from the keyboard

Example of LINUX distros;

Redhat Fedora Novell Suse / openSuse (KDE & GNOME) PCLinuxOS (KDE) Ubuntu (Gnome)

KDE or K Desktop Environment (uses kwin window manager) and GNOME or GNU Network Object Model (metacity) are desktop environment with user friendly GUI that provides convience to the user

Evaluating Hardware suitability

In preparing to install Linux

• Using the Windows XP utilities, run Scan Disk, Check Disk and Disk Defragmenter procedure

Hardware Item Minimum RequirementCPU Speed 300Mhz min (1.0Ghz ++ is better)Memory size 128Mb (256Mb ++ is better)HD drive capacity 5Gb min (10Gb ++ is better)

Making space for Linux Installation

3 possible options;

1) Delete the Windows Partition – only 1 OS

2) Reduce the Windows Partition size – dual boot

3) Add second Hard disk drive – dual boot

Benefits (option 3);1) Windows space is not reduced

2) Lower risk of data loss

3) Maintain windows OS

4) Distinctly separated two OS

5) Any failure, one drive is affected

Chap 2 ~ Installing the OS

• Download the Novell SUSE ISO Image and burn the boot-CD image on a CD.

• Change your BIOS setting if it doesn’t boot directly from CD

• Start the installation process.

• Select KDE as the desktop environment

• Set the partition and install updated packages

• Then, set the root/Administrator password

Root Settings

root = superuser/Administrator

Certain comands only can be executed by root for example ”reboot”

sudosudo command – allows command to be executed as if they were the superuser

Change/define root password

1. pwd = print working directory

2. passwd = change password command

3. logname = reveals the logname

4. sudo passwd root = change the root password

5. su -l = switch user to root

Becoming the superuser

When a user logs in the working directory is by default a user's home directory

When the root /superuser logs in the working directory is the /root directory