HET306 UNIX for

Telecommunications

Unix as a Desktop OS

Desktop Operating Systems

What do we mean by Desktop
Computers we use for general UI work
Keyboard, mice, monitors
User Interface important

Up till now we have primarily considered

servers
Generally only have CLI
No UI devices
Locked away

HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a

Desktop OS

Desktop Operating Systems

Most people think of Windows
Access Unix systems via:
ssh
scp
Network services

Convenient Graphical User Interface

Support for multiple forms of Hardware
Commonly used applications
Microsoft Office
Web Browsers
Chat and VoIP
HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a
Desktop OS

What About Unix?

Traditionally suffered in this arena

Too complex to maintain

Difficult to install
GUI not standard
Knowledge of OS implementation often required

First efforts were woeful

Even against older implementations
Windows 3.0
MacOS

HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a

Desktop OS

BSD as a Desktop OS
Not the ideal choice
Many Open Source projects are geared towards
Linux
More users, greater effort
Uses OS specific features/APIs that are not necessarily
compatible with BSD
Not an issue for Server software typically uses basic
functionality such as network and file access
More of an issue for GUI based software

Most Closed Source projects are geared towards

Linux
More users
Companies typically release one binary compile
Source code not available for users to try to make it BSD
friendly
HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a
Desktop OS

BSD and Linux Compatibility

Linux Dynamic Link Libraries (dll) are installed on a
BSD system
Allows Linux compiled binaries to run under BSD
Doesnt always work
Often requires tweaking to get it right

Examples
Acrobat Reader often takes a few days for somebody to
fix the Ports Makefile to allow a functioning install with
Linux Compatibility
Macromedia Flash Plugin took me 8 hours to effect an
install with Linux Compatibility

What does this mean

If you want a Unix based Desktop OS Use Linux

HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a

Desktop OS

Linux - Distros
So what is the difference between different Linux
Distros
Not much
Both use the exact same Linux kernel source code
Kernel Makefile may be configured differently to have a
different default compiled kernel
Can always recompile yourself anyway

/etc and in particular rc startup scripts organised

differently
Other software
Different software provided on installer CD
Different system to download and install

HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a

Desktop OS

What About the Desktop

What software are we looking to replace?
What do we currently use now with Windows that
we need to replicate
Do we really want exactly the same software
are some Open Source equivalents just as useful

What about using both

Can we install more than one OS on a computer
Yes but can only boot/use one at any time

HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a

Desktop OS

Linux as a Desktop OS
Basic Requirements
GUI
XWindows XFree86 or XOrg
Window Manager KDE, Gnome, many more

Dual-boot
GRUB Grand Unified Boot Loader

Browser
Built into KDE
Firefox for Linux

HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a

Desktop OS

Over To You

What other applications do you want

HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a

Desktop OS

Exam

HET306 Slide Set 12 Unix as a

Desktop OS