Introduction to Linux

What is Linux?

 An Operating System
- (just like Windows and Mac!) - Created in the 1990s by Linus Torvalds - Microsoft DOS was too limiting - UNIX was expensive and restrictive

- Linux was born

What is Linux?
Linux : an extremely powerful Unix operating system that is completely free. Features: multitasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, proper memory management & TCP/IP networking.

Linux Distribution?
member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel: Ubuntu Debian Fedora Redhat CentOS SuSE

Why Linux?
- Linux is free - Free (money) - Free (freedom... open source) - stable OS

Linux Applications
Word processor : OpenOffice.org Writer
Email: XimianEvolution A Web browser: Mozilla

Presentation program : OpenOffice.org Impress

Fedora Desktop

The default desktop has three distinct areas. The menu panel The desktop area The window list panel

Fedora Menu Panel

Applications - similar to the Microsoft Windows Start menu. Places - customizable list of directories, recent documents, Search function. Similar to Windows Explorer System Details like - Log Out, Help, Lock Screen, Preferences, System Settings

Fedora Desktop Area

Computer -. Computer is equivalent to My Computer on Microsoft Windows. These are also listed in the Places menu. Home - This is where the logged-in user stores all files by default, such as music, movies, and documents; equivalent to My Documents on Microsoft Windows. Trash - Deleted files are moved to Trash. Empty Trash by right-clicking the icon and clicking Empty Trash.

Fedora Office Software

word processor spreadsheet presentation

Calc

Writer

Impress

Email - Ximian Evolution

Web Browser: Firefox

Open Office Draw

Linux Architecture
Shell : interprets the command & request service from kernel Kernel: is the heart of the Linux OS
File management Multitasking Memory management I/O management Process management Device management Networking support

Basic Linux Commands

Commands used for managing files and folders:

Mkdir to make a new folder/directory

Eg: Mkdir test

Cd- change directory

Eg: cd test

Cp copy a file
cp file filecopy

Mv move a file (this is how you rename) mv file file1

Commands
Rm delete a file
Eg: rm file

File print the type of file

Eg: file myfile

Ls - Lists the contents of a directory.

Eg: ls a (lists all files including hidden files). Cat print a file to the screen Eg: cat file1.txt