Alternative Operating Systems

1
Alternative Operating Systems

• Fredericksburg PC Users Group
• June 12, 2003

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Operating System Evolution

• UNIX - 1972
• CPM - 1976
• Dos - 1981
• Mac - 1982
• Windows - 1985
• Linux - 1991
• Others - 1975-2003
• Timeline

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• A Brief History of Personal Computers and
  Operating Systems
• OS Year Intro Comments
• UNIX 1972 Derived from Multics at ATT by
  Ritchie and Thompson, designed to be multiuser
  and networked
• MITS Altair 1975 First "Personal Computer",
  programmed by toggle switches
• CP/M 1976 First "portable" OS for
  microprocessors, ran on many different hardware
  platforms
• Apple I 1976 Apple's first product, used 6502
  CPU
• TRS-80 1977 Tandy's first PC, Z-80 CPU,
  TRS-DOS
• Apple II 1977 Major improvements over Apple I
  
• PCDOS/MSDOS 1981-2001 Microsoft's non-GUI OS's,
  IBM PC introduced using Intel 8088 CPU
• Apple Macintosh 1984 First GUI PC for consumers
  
• Windows 1.0 1985 First Microsoft Windows
  version
• BSD 4.3 1986-1994 Berkley Standard
  Distribution UNIX
• Minix 1987 Small educational UNIX like
  operating system
• Windows 2.0 1987
• Windows 3.0 1990
• Linux 1991-2003 Open source OS, functionally
  equivalent to UNIX, Current stable kernel version
  2.4.20
• Windows 3.1 1992 First really good version of
  Windows
• WFWG 3.11 1993 Windows for Work Groups
• Windows NT 3.1 1993

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Personal Computer OSs

• For the IBM PC and Clones
• Dos
• Windows 98se, 2000 Pro, XP Home, XP Pro.
• Free BSD, NetBSD, Open BSD
• Linux
• For the Mac
• Mac OS X, which is a UNIX variant based on Free
  BSD.
• The rest of this presentation will concentrate on
  Linux on the Intel/AMD IBM PC platform..

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Linux, an Alternative OS

• Linux
• What is Linux
• Similarities with DOS/Windows
• Differences between DOS/Windows and Linux
• Disadvantages
• Advantages
• Linux Applications
• Other Uses
• Distros
• Installation Options
• Whats New?
• Resources
• Summary

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What is Linux I?

• The Linux kernel project was begun in 1991, by
  Linus Torvalds, a Finnish graduate student at the
  time.
• Linux is a functional clone of UNIX for small and
  not so small computers.

• Linux was turned into a complete OS through the
  assistance of hundreds of volunteers on the
  Internet.
• FREE - programs from various sources (MIT, the
  Free Software Foundation, aka GNU) can be copied
  and distributed without charge.
• Source code (usually C or C) must be included.
• Many distributions are available. The
  difference is in the packaging, installation
  routines and support.

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What is Linux II?

• UNIX has been under development since 1972, Linux
  since 1991.
• UNIX and Linux were designed from the beginning
  to be multiuser, multitasking and networked.
• Linux is open source, meaning that the kernel
  and most applications are provided with source
  code that can be freely modified or enhanced and
  if necessary, patched by users.

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Similarities with DOS/Windows

• Similar file structure (subdirectory tree) and
  concepts
• Linux can read and write DOS/Windows (FAT, FAT32,
  etc.) partitions in addition to its "native" ext2
  or ext3 file system.
• Command Interpreter, aka the shell - like DOS's
  command.com
• Uses environment variables.
• Has functionally similar command line options.
• Files are executable (binary or batch) or data.
• User has choice of command line shell, GUI, or
  both.
• Executable shell programs function like dos
  batch files.

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Differences from DOS/Windows

• Implemented on several hardware platforms (Intel,
  Mac (68K and PPC), Alpha, MIPS, ...)
• Multiple users can be running on the same machine
  at the same time. Each can be running several
  tasks.
• Any user can have four or more virtual desktops
  with different applications running on each one.
• Multi-user structure implies
• There must be a secure file permission system.
• Users cannot be allowed to affect each other or
  the OS.
• User(s) must log in (id/password) before use.
• Programs compiled to run on Linux do not run on
  DOS/Windows. Some DOS and Windows programs can
  run under Linux using emulators. Some
  applications have both Linux and Windows
  versions.

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Disadvantages of Linux

• Flexibility can be intimidating
• Complex installation - no "turnkey", minimal PnP.
  
• Most vendors won't pre-install onto a new
  computer.
• Many command options (but you can use a GUI
  instead).
• Never originally designed to be user-friendly.
• Can have significant learning curve moving from
  another OS
• User must learn new commands and vocabulary.
• Different "look and feel" for both OS and some
  applications although current window managers can
  now emulate Windows look and feel if you wish.
• All file and command names are case-sensitive.
• Fewer consumer-oriented applications. However,
  emulators for Win32, Mac, etc. allow many other
  programs to run under Linux.

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Advantages of Linux

• Costs Less!
• Typical 10-user office NT6000, Linux50-150
  (less if downloaded).
• Cost for an individual ranges from 0-150.
• Works Better!
• UNIX and Linux are designed with security in
  mind. If and when security breaches are
  identified, they are usually patched almost
  immediately.
• Most virus programs are designed to attack
  features or weakness' in the Windows operating
  system. Linux is virtually immune to virus
  attack.
• Many Windows applications will run directly on
  Linux using Wine, Crossover Office or VMC.

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Some Linux Applications

• Graphical Environment - KDE/Gnome/IceWM, Others
• Browsers - Mozilla/Konqueror
• E-Mail - Kmail/Evolution
• Instant Messenger - Gaim
• Ftp Client - gftp
• Multimedia - XMMS/Xine/Cdparanoia/Cdrecord
• Image Browser - GQView
• Image Editor - GIMP
• Security - iptables/ipchains
• Office Suite - OpenOffice/StarOffice/KOffice
• File Browser - Konqueror
• Editors - Joe, VI, Kwrite, Gedit, OpenOffice
  Writer
• Games - Quake, Doom, SimCity, many others

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Other Linux Uses

• A majority of the internet runs on Linux servers,
  including our ISP.
• Most current movie digital effects are created
  using Linux render farms.
• Many new supercomputers are created using
  clusters of Linux computers known as beowulf
  clusters.
• Linux is used in many devices such as Tivo as
  an embedded OS.
• Linux is used as on OS by some PDAs (Sharp
  Zaurus)

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Linux Distributions

• Popular Linux Distributions

• Red Hat, Mandrake, SuSE., Debian, and Slackware
  are the "big five" distributions, listed more or
  less in order of current popularity. All were
  priced in the 30-50 range, although the most
  recent release of Red Hat Professional has
  escalated to 150.
• Other popular distributions are Knoppix (which
  runs from a CD and can be used as a system rescue
  disc) and Gentoo (which you compile from source).
  
• Lindows can be bought pre-installed on PC's from
  WalMart's website for under 500.

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Linux Installation Options

• Installation - Unless youre familiar with
  installing Linux, either get a boxed distribution
  with manuals or buy a Linux book which includes
  installation CDs. Easiest install is with a
  bootable CD or DVD, but can be installed by
  booting first from a floppy or via NFS over a
  network. Used to install using 50-60 floppy
  discs 10 years ago.
• Check to be sure your hardware is supported
  first.
• Free space - defrag first
• 4 GB recommended, 1 GB min for non GUI
• Partitioning
• /root - OS other directories
• /home - for your user files
• swap 2 x memory
• other options
• 2nd HD - Dual Boot with Windows
• Dedicated Computer - Requires 386 or newer

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Whats New with Linux

• Latest Distros - RedHat 9.0, Mandrake 9.1, SuSE
  8.2, Knoppix 3.2, Slackware 9.0, Debian 3.0r1.
• SCO Suit - see the Bulletins page on the FPCUG
  website for links to the latest info.
• Microsoft is taking aggressive steps against Open
  Source and Linux in an attempt to reverse the
  flow of users away from their OS.
• 2003 And Beyond Article - http//www.aaxnet.com/edi
  tor/edit029.html This article reveals where
  Microsoft and computing as they would like us to
  know it are headed over the next few years.

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Linux Resources I

• Inexpensive Linux CD and Software Sources
• Almost Free Linux - Source for low cost Linux CD
  distributions
• CheapBytes - CheapBytes - Source for
  low cost Linux CD distributions
• CheapISO.Com - Latest available ISO images
• eLinux - Linux - Hardware and
  Software
• Freshmeat - Latest Linux software
  and updates.
• Linux Central - Linux Central - The /root
  for Linux Resources

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Linux Resources II

• Linux Magazines
• Linux Journal - Monthly Magazine (one of
  the first)
• Linux Gazette - Monthly E-Magazine
• Linux Resources - Monthly Magazine
• Linux Format - Monthly UK Magazine
• Linux Magazine - Monthly Magazine

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Linux Resources III

• Information I
• Distro Watch - Keeps track of all available
  Linux distributions
• Major Linux Distributions - Lists 10
  distributions, which are generally considered as
  most widely used by Linux users around the world.
  
• yoLinux - Huge list of resource links
• LinuxISO.Org - Linux ISO.Org
• Linux.Org - Linux.Org
• LinuxHQ - LinuxHQ

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Linux Resources IV

• Information II
• Linux Kernels - Information on the latest Linux
  Kernel Versions
• Linux Organization - The Linux Organization web
  site.
• Linux Devices - Keeps track of devices using
  Linux
• Linux Today - Linux Today
• Linux World - Linux World
• MyZaurus - Sharp Zaurus PDA

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Linux Resources V

• Top Linux Distributions
• Redhat
• Mandrake
• SuSE
• Debian
• Knoppix
• Slackware
• Gentoo
• Lindows

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Summary

• Linux is a low cost, open source, multitasking,
  multiuser, network capable operating system for
  personal computers which is functionally similar
  to the UNIX operating system.
• Linux runs on Intel and AMD processors as well
  as many others.
• Many applications, both open source and
  commercial are available for Linux.
• Linux has become a viable alternative to the
  Windows OS on personal computers.

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Alternative Operating Systems

• FPCUG, June 12, 2003
• Presented by Josh Cockey
• Linux SIG Leader
• webmaster_at_fpcug.org