Starter FAQ
From Linux & Open Source @ NUS
What is Linux
The Linux kernel is a Unix-like operating system kernel that was begun by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and subsequently developed with the assistance of developers worldwide.
Developed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), Linux is free software.
The operating system that uses the Linux kernel is called GNU/Linux, and a lot people also refer to this system as Linux.
What is Free Software
From GNU.org, Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer.
Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to anyone anywhere. Being free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay for permission.
What is GNU and GNU/Linux
GNU is a free software operating system consisting of a kernel, libraries, system utilities, compilers, and end-user applications.
The official kernel of GNU is the HURD, however, HURD is not yet finished so most GNU users use the third-party Linux kernel. Versions of GNU using the Linux kernel are often called Linux, after the kernel. The GNU project asks people to call these systems "GNU/Linux".
What are Linux distributions
A Linux distribution is a version of a Unix-like operating system comprising the GNU/Linux kernel and other assorted software.
Commercially backed distributions such as Red Hat, Ubuntu (backed by Canonical Ltd), SUSE (backed by Novell) and Mandriva, and community projects such as Debian and Gentoo, assemble and test the software before releasing their distribution.
What distribution should I choose
This "distribution chooser" could be of some use. Alternatively, Ubuntu/Kubuntu are also good distributions for starters.
Where can I download Linux CDs in NUS
You may want to have a look at these two NUS mirrors. http://mirror.nus.edu.sg/ http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/
I have downloaded the .iso file, what should I do next
The .iso file is a CD-image file. You should first check that the file has not been corrupted by checking the [md5sum] of the .iso file. If you are a windows user you can use this tool.
You can then burn it to a CD. Most CD-burning software should have a burn-image function. After the CD is burnt, you can then restart your computer and choose to boot from CD.
The steps required to do this using several popular CD burning applications are listed below:
Using The ISO Recorder V2 Power Toy
Obtain and install the ISO Recorder power toy from the http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm web site.
- In Explorer, right click on the first Fedora Code ISO file
- In the context menu, select "Copy image to CD"
- Follow the steps given by the "CD Recording Wizard" pop-up
- Repeat for the remaining ISO files
Using Roxio Easy Media Creator 7
- Start "Creator Classic"
- Select "Other Tasks"
- Select "Burn from Disc Image File"
- Choose the first Fedora Core ISO file and burn it
- Repeat the above steps for each of the other ISO files
Using Nero Burning ROM 5
- Start the program
- Open the "File" menu
- Select "Burn Image"
- Choose the first Fedora Core ISO file and burn it
- Repeat the above steps for each of the other ISO files
Using Nero Express 6
- Start the program
- Select "Disc Image or Saved Project"
- An Open dialog appears. Select the first Fedora Core ISO file. Click Open.
- The next screen allows you to select Writing Speed. You should set this to 4x for DVD, or 16x for CD, for best performance.
- Click Next to Burn
- Repeat the steps above for the other ISO files
PS. The process of burning a CD is not always obvious to the users of Windows. Windows applications often let users burn data discs by simply dragging the source files into a box and clicking the Burn button.
In reality, though, the burning software performs two operations. First, it creates an ISO 9660 standard image, just like the ones used to install Fedora Core, from the source files that were dragged into the box. Second, it transfers that ISO file onto the blank CD. If the original source file was already an ISO image, the resulting CD is not usable for installation purposes.
Does Linux have graphical user interface
Of course, you can even have more than one desktop environment on your Linux machine. Some of these desktop environments include KDE, GNOME, and XFCE.
What is a Linux software package
In Linux, a software package is often a single file containing many more files to be installed, along with rules describing what other software needs to be installed for the package to function properly.
As well as the software itself, packages often include other important information, such as the full name, a description of its purpose, the version number, vendor of the software, checksum information, and a list of other packages, known as dependencies, that are required for the software to run properly.
What are common Linux package formats
- RPM — now RPM Package Manager, but originally Red Hat Package Manager, originally from Red Hat but now used by many other distributors as well
- deb — Debian package, originally from Debian but also used by others like Knoppix and Ubuntu
- tgz or tar.gz — standard tar + gzip, possibly with some extra control files — used by Slackware and others, or sometimes when distributing very simple handmade packages. Slackware's pre-compiled binary packages are more often released under the .tgz extension.
- ebuild — the file containing information on how to retrieve, compile, and install a package in Gentoo's Portage system using the command emerge. Typically these are source-primary installs, though binary packages can be installed in this fashion as well.
- recipe — the file containing information on how to download, unpack, compile and install a package in Gobo Linux distribution using its Compile tool. This system is similar to the Gentoo's Portage, but is more simplistic in design.
- src — building the packages from source (often binary packages are provided in parallel on many systems) Usually occurs in .tar.gz or .tar.bz2.
- klik — klik aims to provide an easy way of getting software packages for most major distributions without the dependency problems so common in many other package formats.
What is a package manager
A package management system is a collection of tools to automate the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing software packages from Linux. Linux relies heavily on it, with thousands of discrete packages on a typical installation being common.
Here are some common package managers:
- dpkg, used originally by Debian GNU/Linux and now by other systems, uses the .deb format and was the first to have a widely known dependency resolution tool, Deb Installer, APT.
- Synaptic is a graphical front-end for APT - meaning it was made to install .deb packages. However, it has since been made capable of handling RPM packages as well.
- The RPM Package Manager was created by Red Hat, and is now used by a number of other Linux distributions. RPM is the Linux Standard Base packaging format and is the base of a large number of additional tools, including apt4rpm, Red Hat's up2date, Mandriva's urpmi, SuSE's YaST and YUM, used by Fedora Core and Yellow Dog Linux.
- A simple tgz package system combines the standard tar and gzip. Mainly used in Slackware and installed/removed using pkgtools/installpkg/removepkg. A more comprehensive system for managing packages in Slackware exists in the form of: slapt-get, slackpkg and swaret.
