Chapter 1: Introducing Linux

The Complete Guide To Linux System Administration

Objectives
Describe how Linux was created and how it compares to other operating systems List versions of Linux currently available Outline the skills required and challenges facing a system administrator Log in and begin using a Linux system

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Objectives (continued)
Explore a Linux file system from the command line Locate additional information about commands you want to use or learn about

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A Brief History
Popular graphical computers
Apple Macintosh Microsoft Windows

Linux
Alternative for people whose computing needs require something different

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration

Understanding Operating Systems

Software
Collection of instructions that control the tasks a computer performs Can be changed without disassembling the computer and rewiring

Operating system
Software that helps other programs control computer hardware and interact with users

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Understanding Operating Systems (continued)

Application
Software program that provides service for computer user Cannot act without permission from operating system

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Operating System Functions

Initialize computer hardware Allocate system resources to programs Keep track of multiple programs running at same time Provide organized method for all programs to use system devices

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Operating System Functions (continued)

Major operating system components:
Kernel Device drivers Shell Utility programs Graphical user interface (GUI)

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The UNIX Operating System

UNIX
Operating system Originally created at AT&T Bell Labs in early 1970s Designed to control networked computers that were shared by many users Features and low cost of Linux effectively driving UNIX out of market

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The Free Software Foundation and the GNU Project

Free software foundation (FSF)
Software itself should not be restricted in distribution by standard commercial license agreement

GNU project
Completely free version of UNIX Written from scratch

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The Free Software Foundation and the GNU Project (continued)

Software license
Legal definition of who can use software and how it can be used

GNU general public license (GPL)

Very different from standard commercial software license Author agrees to give away source code Anyone is licensed to redistribute it in any form

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The Free Software Foundation and the GNU Project (continued)

GNU GPL
Any modifications to the source code must be licensed under the GPL Sometimes called copyleft OpenSource
Refers to software licensed under GPL

Public domain
No one has copyright to software Not same as GPL
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Linux Arrives
Linus Torvalds
Decided to create UNIX-like operating system kernel for IBM-compatible PC Solicited help via Internet Released Linux kernel under GPL

Linux development method

Person identifies need and begins writing program Developer announces project on Internet

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Linux Arrives (continued)

Linux development method (continued)
Others respond and work on different parts of project Person leading project releases software People download source code and try program; send back information about problems Developers fix bugs

Forking
Creating new project based on existing source code
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Motivating Free Software Developers

Why would so many people devote so much effort to something without expecting any reward?
Fills developers specific technical need Respect of like-minded professionals Sense of contribution and community Valuable boost to developers resume

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The Strengths Of Linux

Stability Security Speed Cost Multiprocessing and other high-end features Applications

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Linux In The Market

Linux is packaged and sold Red hat software
Current market leader

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Linux Distributions
Linux distribution
Productized version of Linux
Includes operating system kernel along with other components

System utilities
Related to managing Linux system

Price
Generally between $2 and $100

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Linux Distributions (continued)

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Red Hat Software

Fedora distribution
Free product

Red Hat Enterprise Linux configurations

WS (workstation) ES (enterprise server) AS (application server)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Sold as subscription service

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Red Hat Software (continued)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Updates from Red Hat Network (RHN)

Red Hat
Excels in service and support offered to large companies using Linux

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Hardware Requirements
Can run on very minimal hardware Recommend that computer have minimum of:
1 GB of free disk space 64 MB of RAM

For Red Hat Enterprise Linux installations:

256 MB of RAM 300 MHZ CPU 800 MB of free disk space

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Version Numbering
Version numbers assigned to:
Each release of Linux kernel Each component of Linux distribution Linux distributions

Most users select latest available version

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Version Numbering (continued)

Kernel version number components
Major version number Minor version number
Even indicates production release Odd indicates development release

Patch-level number

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Linux Certification
Industry certification programs
Red Hat Certified Technician Red Hat Certified Engineer LPI Certification Linux Certified Administrator (LCA) Certification Linux+ Certification Novell Certified Linux Engineer

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Linux Certification (continued)

Red Hats certification program
Very highly regarded Training program consists of three courses

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The Work of a System Administrator

Linux is increasingly part of information technology infrastructure of large organizations Knowledge of Linux can set you on path to a fulfilling and profitable career

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Careers in Linux
System administrator Network administrator Software engineer Trainer Technical writer Product marketing Business consultant

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The Duties of a System Administrator

Role
Make technology work and continue to work for those who do real work of organization Enable others to use technology benefits

Responsibilities
Create new user accounts Maintain system hardware Train end users

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The Duties of a System Administrator (continued)

Responsibilities
Keep system running smoothly Document system Define procedures and policies Recover from emergencies Plan systems

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Ethics, Privacy, and the Law

Working as system administrator involves many ethical issues Fellow employees count on your work to do theirs Best route to success comes through making employer successful System administrators guild (SAGE)
www.sage.org

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Starting To Use Linux

Should have access to computer with Linux installed

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Logging In
Log in
Identify yourself to operating system so that it knows:
You are authorized to use system Which parts of system to permit you to access

User account
Set of permissions to use system Has associated user name and password

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Logging In (continued)
Modes
Graphical Text

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Graphical Environments
Popular desktops
KDE desktop GNOME desktop

Features
Taskbar Main menu Desktop icons Multiple overlapping windows

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Opening a Terminal Window

Terminal window
Resembles console Enter commands from keyboard

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Exploring the File System

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File System Concepts

Files are organized into directories Names are case sensitive Names can be long Names may contain many different types of characters Can include file extensions
Not required

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File System Concepts (continued)

Directory relationships
Parent directory Subdirectory

Path
List of directories Absolute path Relative path

Linux does not have separate drives

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File System Concepts (continued)

Root directory
Parent of all directories /

/Usr subdirectory
Contains the greatest number of files and subdirectories on newly installed systems

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Managing Files With Graphical Utilities

File manager
Nautilus Displays contents of a directory as collection of icons or file names Manage files and directories Choose Browse Filesystem on main menu

Home directory
Subdirectory where all personal files are stored

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Working at a Command Line

Linux system administrators should be very comfortable working at command line
Much faster way to perform most tasks Some tasks cannot be use graphical interface

Commands
pwd cd mkdir rmdir mv ls cat touch slocate file cp

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Working at a Command Line (continued)

Command-line prompt consists of:
User name Name of computer at which you are working Last directory name in current working directory $ character

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Working at a Command Line (continued)

Parameters
Define what command will operate on

Options
Alter how command operates

Timestamp
Information about date and time when event occurred

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Finding Command Help

Learn more details Explore additional Linux topics

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Reading Linux Documentation

Linux documentation project (LDP)
HOWTOS

Linux on the internet

www.google.com

Documentation included with software packages

Software packages provide some documentation /Usr/doc /Usr/share/doc

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Linux Command Information

Man pages
Online manual pages Man command

Info page
Definitive source of information Info command

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Summary
Operating system
Provides interface between computer hardware and applications run by user

Linux offers important features, such as:

Stability Speed Security Flexibility Low cost
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The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration

Summary (continued)
Several Linux certification programs are available Several versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Most users rely on GUI to log in and use Linux
Text-only mode also available

Information in Linux is stored in directories

Begins with root directory /

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Summary (continued)
Linux files can include file extensions
Few Linux programs rely on file extensions to define what file contains

Information about Linux is available online

Part of LDP

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