Welcome to RedHat Linux

RH033

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Hardware Requirements

♦ Pentium Pro or better with 256 MB RAM

♦ Or
♦ 64-bit Intel/AMD with 512 MB RAM
♦ 2-6 GB disk space
♦ Bootable CD
♦ Other processor architectures supported
► Itanium 2, IBM Power, IBM Mainframe

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Lesson 1 Fundamentals of Linux

♦ Introduction
Linux is an open source operating system with highly advanced features.

♦ Topics
► Brief History of Linux
► Why is Linux?
► Linux Distributions

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Brief History of Linux

♦ Linux was originally developed by Linus Torvald in 1991.

♦ Linux is distributed under the GNU licenses.

♦ GNU stands for Gnu Not UNIX, it is an open source movement

started by Richard Stallman in the year 1984.

♦ The main aim of GNU is to provide the O.S and its source code freely.

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Why Linux?

♦ Linux is an Open Source Software

♦ Multi-user and multi-tasking

♦ Supports most of modern PC hardware

♦ Fully supported distribution

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Linux Distributions

♦ To install Linux, choose a Linux Distribution

♦ A distribution is the Linux kernel, plus an installation program, plus

some set of applications

♦ There are four general distributions

► RedHat
► SuSE
► Mandriva Linux
► Debian

Contd
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Linux Distributions

♦ The Red Hat and SuSE distributions are produced by companies by the
same names.

♦ They aim at providing an easy installation procedure, and for a pleasant

desktop experience. They are also good as servers, sold in boxes, with
an installation CD and printed manual. Both can also be downloaded
via the network.

♦ Mandriva Linux (also known as Mandrake Linux) was originated by

Gael Duval.

♦ Mandriva Linux is also notable for compiling its packages with

optimizations for Pentium-class and more advanced processors which
are incompatible with older CPU versions such as 386 and 486. Contd
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Linux Distributions

♦ The Debian distribution is produced by a volunteer organization.

♦ Its installation is less easy: You have to answer questions during the
installation the other distributions deduce automatically. Nothing
complicated as such, but requiring understanding of and information
about hardware most PC users don't want to worry about.

♦ On the other hand, after installation, Debian can be upgraded to each

new release without re-installing anything.