What is Linux?

LINUX is an operating system or a kernel distributed under an open-source license.

Who created Linux?

The benefits of using Linux

•  It offers a free operating system.
• Being open-source, anyone with programming knowledge can modify it.
• The Linux operating systems now offer millions of programs/applications to choose from, most of them free!
• Once you have Linux installed you no longer need an antivirus! Linux is a highly secure system. More so, there is a global development community constantly looking at ways to enhance its security. With each upgrade, the OS becomes more secure and robust
• Linux is the OS of choice for Server environments due to its stability and reliability (Mega-companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google use Linux for their Servers). A Linux based server could run non-stop without a reboot for years on end.

What is a Linux Distribution?

•  It is used by programmers, organizations, profit and non-profit companies around the world to create Operating systems to suit their individual requirements.
• To prevent hacking attempts, many organizations keep their Linux operating systems private.
• Many others make their variations of Linux available publicly so the whole world can benefit at large.
• These versions/ types /kinds of Linux operating system are called Distributions.

Here, are a few popular Linux Distributions (also called Linux Distro) –

Linux Distribution	Name	Description
	Arch	This Linux Distro is popular amongst Developers. It is an independently developed system. It is designed for users who go for a do-it-yourself approach.
	CentOS	It is one of the most used Linux Distribution for enterprise and web servers. It is a free enterprise class Operating system and is based heavily on Red Hat enterprise Distro.
	Debian	Debian is a stable and popular non-commercial Linux distribution. It is widely used as a desktop Linux Distro and is user-oriented. It strictly acts within the Linux protocols.
	Fedora	Another Linux kernel based Distro, Fedora is supported by the Fedora project, an endeavor by Red Hat. It is popular among desktop users. Its versions are known for their short life cycle.
	Gentoo	It is a source based Distribution which means that you need to configure the code on your system before you can install it. It is not for Linux beginners, but it is sure fun for experienced users.

	LinuxMint	It is one of the most popular Desktop Distributions available out there. It launched in 2006 and is now considered to be the fourth most used Operating system in the computing world.
	OpenSUSE	It is an easy to use and a good alternative to MS Windows. It can be easily set up and can also run on small computers with obsolete configurations.
	RedHat enterprise	Another popular enterprise based Linux Distribution is Red Hat Enterprise.It has evolved from Red Hat Linux which was discontinued in 2004. It is a commercial Distro and very popular among its clientele.
	Slackware	Slackware is one of the oldest Linux kernel based OS’s. It is another easy desktop Distribution. It aims at being a ‘Unix like’ OS with minimal changes to its kernel.
	Ubuntu	This is the third most popular desktop operating system after Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS. It is based on the Debian Linux Distribution, and it is known as its desktop environment.

KEY DIFFERENCE Between Linux and Windows

• Linux is an open source operating system so user can change source code as per requirement whereas Windows OS is a commercial operating system so user doesn’t have access to source code.
• Linux is very well secure as it is easy to detect bugs and fix whereas Windows has a huge user base, so it becomes a target of hackers to attack windows system.
• Linux runs faster even with older hardware whereas windows are slower compared to Linux.
• Linux peripherals like hard drives, CD-ROMs, printers are considered files whereas Windows, hard drives, CD-ROMs, printers are considered as devices
• Linux files are ordered in a tree structure starting with the root directory whereas in Windows, files are stored in folders on different data drives like C: D: E:
• In Linux you can have 2 files with the same name in the same directory while in Windows, you cannot have 2 files with the same name in the same folder.
• In Linux you would find the system and program files in different directories whereas in Windows, system and program files are usually saved in C: drive.

Related Links  to Operating System topics

Operating system Course content

• Operating System-Functions and History
• Generations of Operating System
• Functions of an Operating System
• Components of Operating System
• Types of Operating System
• Services of Operating System
• Properties of Operating System
• Processes in Operating System
• Process Scheduling in Operating System

Lab Practice Task

• Introduction to Linux Ubunto
• Installation with virtual Box
• Writing Linux Commands
• Navigation in File System and Directory Management in Ubunto using CLI
• File Handling and I/O Redirection In Ubunto
• File Access Permission in Linux
• Text Processing Tools and Basic System Configuration Tools in Linux
• Package Management in Linux
• How to manage processes in Linux
• Compiling and Executing C++ programs in Linux
• System Calls
• Introduction To Shell Programming 

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