About Linux

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Introduction

Linux, originally created by Linus Torvald, is an operating system that is freely distributed under the terms of the GNU Public License. It behaves like Unix, but does not come from the same source code base. Linux is available in both source code and binary form.

Linux offers standard Unix features such as multiuser support, multitasking, networking, and POSIX compliance. It supports all the standard Unix utilities (e.g., gcc, Emacs, the X Window System, Ghostscript, bash) and can compile most major Unix packages with little effort. DOS emulation is also available, and an X Window System-based Microsoft Windows compatibility layer is in development.

The complete Linux operating system consists of the Linux core, or kernel, combined with the utilities and applications required for a fully functional operating system. There are several such combinations, called distributions, put out by various companies, and there is no such thing as an official version. For more information on Linux, visit:

http://www.ussg.iu.edu/linux/

The Linux Documentation Project offers general guides, specific "HOWTO" documents, FAQs, and links to a wealth of other resources at:

http://www.tldp.org Back to top

Distributions

The Linux operating system is available as many different distributions, each of which contains the Linux kernel and a variety of installation and application programs and other customized features. Some distributions are very similar to each other with only minor differences, while other distributions have some significant differences. Also, some distributions are designed for specific types of computers.

Some major distributions include Red Hat, Debian, SuSE, Mandriva, Gentoo, and Slackware.

Each distribution has its own individual strengths and weaknesses. Some of the more prominent distributions are compared in the document "English-language GNU/Linux distributions on CD-ROM" (formerly The Linux distributions HOWTO). This document is posted regularly to the newsgroup comp.os.linux.answers.

Common package management programs

Many Linux distributions offer a package management system to simplify the processes associated with installing, removing, upgrading, and configuring various software packages for your computer. In a package management system, software is distributed in packages that include information dictating how the software should be installed. In addition to ensuring your software will be installed appropriately, the package manager will also determine whether you have any other software your program depends upon to run correctly. This automatic satisfying of dependencies can save you a lot of time when installing new programs.

Following are some of the most common package management programs:

Red Hat Package Manager (RPM)

RPM is perhaps the best known package management program. For further information about RPM, see In Linux, what is RPM, and how do I use it to install software?

Advanced Packaging Tool (APT)

APT was initially developed for use on Debian GNU/Linux. It has since been adapted to work with many other distributions including Solaris, Mandrake, Red Hat, SuSE, and Yellow Dog Linux.

For more information about APT, see:

http://www.debian.org/doc/user-manuals#apt-howto

Additionally, the manual pages for APT may be available on your system. To read them, enter:

man apt

Portage

Portage was designed for Gentoo Linux. It offers functionality similar to that of the package management systems discussed above. Additionally, Portage is the primary distribution system for Gentoo Linux software.

For more information on Portage, see the Gentoo System Documentation at:

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/index.xml

The emerge command provides a command line interface to Portage. For further information on the emerge command, at your shell prompt, enter the following:

man emerge Back to top

Availability

Note: Indiana University has signed a site license agreement with Red Hat for use of its Linux distribution. This deal covers the use of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) by students, faculty, and staff at IU. For more information on this agreement with Red Hat, see:

http://www.ussg.iu.edu/linux/rhel/

Obtaining Linux on CD-ROM

You can find Linux CD-ROMs with printed manuals in many bookstores (including online bookstores).

Some of the boxed distributions commercial vendors produce come with additional email or phone support services available only to customers who purchase their official CD-ROM packages.

For a very low price, you can also purchase CD-ROMs without any printed manuals or support. For more information, see:

http://www.linuxcentral.com/_v3/ http://cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart

At Indiana University Bloomington and IUPUI, UITS has CD-ROMs of many of the major Linux distributions available for checkout to students, faculty, staff, and departments. For information, visit:

http://www.ussg.iu.edu/ Back to top

Obtaining Linux on the Internet

Note: It is possible to download an entire Linux distribution; however, on a slow modem connection this may take a prohibitively long time, as Linux distributions are usually several hundred megabytes large.

Many distributors offer free Linux downloads from their web pages. In addition, many Linux distributions are available for download from the Linux collection of ibiblio (formerly MetaLab) at:

http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/

Each separate subdirectory at this location contains the files of a different Linux distribution. In some cases, older releases of the distribution are available, as well as extra software such as "power tools".

Note: Some of the older, less prominent distributions available here have not been kept up to date with regard to the latest kernel releases or known security problems.

The ibiblio Linux archive is mirrored worldwide. To find the closest site to you, see the list of mirror sites at:

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/MIRRORS.html

At IU, UITS mirrors the following Linux distributions: Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Knoppix, Mandrake, Red Hat, Slackware, and SuSE. You can find these at:

ftp://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/pub/linux/

This FTP server also contains the entire Linux Documentation Project with scripts and configuration advice specifically relevant to the IU community.

Finally, if you want only the Linux kernel itself, not an entire distribution, you can find it at the Linux Kernel Archives home page at:

http://www.kernel.org Back to top

Support at IU

At IU, UITS provides assistance with the Linux operating system and Linux application software. For more information, see:

http://www.ussg.iu.edu/

Online documentation

An extensive and growing body of Linux documentation is available on the web. UITS mirrors the entire Linux Documentation Project at:

http://www.ussg.iu.edu/linux/LDP/

This project includes guides, FAQs, security information, man pages, links to software development projects and software distributors, and online copies of numerous Linux manuals.

New Linux users at IU should read the Getting Linux at IU guide at:

http://www.ussg.iu.edu/support/documentation#linux Back to top

Also see:

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Last modified on June 10, 2008.

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