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Linux operating system

By Peter Loshin

What is Linux?

Linux is a Unix-like, open source and community-developed operating system (OS) for computers, servers, mainframes, mobile devices and embedded devices. It is supported on almost every major computer platform, including x86, ARM and SPARC, making it one of the most widely supported operating systems.

How is the Linux operating system used?

Every version of the Linux OS manages hardware resources, launches and handles applications, and provides some form of user interface. The enormous community for developers and wide range of distributions means that a Linux version is available for almost any task, and Linux has penetrated many areas of computing.

For example, Linux has emerged as a popular OS for web servers such as Apache, as well as for network operations, scientific computing tasks that require huge compute clusters, running databases, desktop and endpoint computing, and running mobile devices with OS versions like Android.

The Linux OS can be found in many different settings, supporting many different use cases. Linux is used in the following ways:

Linux is highly configurable and depends on a modular design that enables users to customize their own versions of Linux. Depending on the application, Linux can be optimized for different purposes such as:

Users can choose different Linux distributions for specific applications or adapt a specific distribution to incorporate custom kernel configurations.

Linux distributions

Since its initial development, Linux has adopted the copyleft stipulations of the Free Software Foundation which originated the GNU GPL. The GPL says that anything taken for free and modified must be distributed for free. In practice, if Linux or other GNU-licensed components are developed or modified to create a new version of Linux, that new version must be distributed for free. This prevents a developer or other groups from profiting unfairly from the freely available work of others.

Hundreds of different Linux versions, also known as distributions or distros, are available. Distributions usually distinguish themselves from the pack by addressing a specific goal, philosophy, function or target market.

There are distributions tailored for specific target functions, such as servers, desktops, gaming, security, or embedded devices including Raspberry Pi systems. Most modern distributions are precompiled and ready to use, while others like Gentoo Linux consist of source code that a user can compile locally during initial installation to optimize their system configuration. Knoppix Linux is one of many distros used to recover damaged hard drives and perform other technical support tasks. Information security professionals use Kali Linux for penetration testing and other security-related tasks.

Linux has become an important component of automaker entertainment systems. Many automakers have joined Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), an open source project hosted by the Linux Foundation. For example, Toyota and Lexus vehicles use AGL for their infotainment systems.

Linux distributions may be community-developed, like Debian, Slackware and Gentoo. Other distributions are commercial and intended for enterprise use, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Many distributions use a combination of community- and corporate-supported development, such as Red Hat's Fedora, openSUSE from SUSE and Ubuntu from Canonical.

The GNU GPL does not prohibit intellectual ownership, and it is commonplace for creators of Linux components to hold copyrights on the various components. The GNU GPL ensures that those components remain free and freely distributed. While the software remains free, it is common for some commercial distributions to charge for value-added services, such as support or custom development services.

Linux components and terminology

The Linux OS system incorporates several different components, including:

While these components are included in most Linux distributions, they are not necessarily part of every deployed Linux system. For example, a Linux-based server may not require a graphical server, desktop environment or applications.

But it is really the many outside developers and GNU projects that offer high-level functions to the Linux kernel to provide a fully realized OS. For example, there are modules to provide a command-line interface, implement a GUI, manage security, and offer video input or audio services -- each of which can be modified and optimized to form unique distributions for specific tasks.

Desktop environments can also vary widely with different approaches to GUI design and default applications. The two most popular desktop environments are:

Package manager software typically adds, updates or removes software components under the Linux OS. Package managers enable users to install additional software not included with their distributions. Examples of software package managers include RPM Package Manager, dpkg, OpenPKG and Zero Install.

How the Linux operating system works

The Linux OS follows a modular design that is the key to its many variations and distributions. All Linux distributions are based on the Linux kernel, but they can differ depending on factors such as:

The Linux kernel is the one thing that all systems running Linux have in common. Linux works by:

While the kernel may be almost identical -- with some divergence for configuration and compilation differences -- the user experience can vary widely, depending on how the Linux system is being used. For example, some Linux use cases with widely different user experiences include:

When using Linux with a desktop environment as a GUI, Linux works much the same as any GUI-based OS. Applications and other resources can be opened by clicking on icons, and files can be moved, copied or deleted using a mouse or trackpad.

Likewise, using the Linux command line is similar to any modern OS command line:

userID@DESKTOP-2KD3FT2:/mnt/c/WINDOWS/system32$

This example shows the default command prompt in the Windows Subsystem for Linux. The prompt displays, from left to right, userID@hostname, and the full path of the current directory followed by the "$" symbol.

The pros and cons of using Linux

Some advantages of using Linux include:

Some disadvantages of using Linux include:

In some cases, the same Linux attribute can be either an advantage or disadvantage. For example, having many options for customizing the Linux OS is advantageous for manufacturers looking for an embedded OS, but it is a disadvantage for enterprises that want a desktop OS that can be used by a wide range of end users.

History of Linux

Linus Torvalds started working on Linux as a replacement to the Minix OS while at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Torvalds recognized the work done on the GNU Project in 1983, which intended to create a complete, Unix-compatible OS comprised entirely of free software, and noted the GNU as a model for distribution. However, the work on GNU had not been finished by the time Torvalds sought a Minix replacement, prompting him to develop an alternate OS kernel dubbed Linux -- a contraction of Linus' Unix -- and adopt the GNU GPL.

Torvalds released the Linux kernel in September 1991. A community of developers worked to integrate GNU components with Torvalds' kernel to create a complete, free OS known collectively as Linux. Torvalds continues to develop the Linux kernel and a vast developer community continues to create and integrate a wide range of components.

While Linux still lags Windows and macOS on the desktop, it continues to challenge the proprietary OS vendors on servers and embedded systems.

To find out more about the Linux experience, read how Windows systems administrators can gain new skills working with Linux.

06 Oct 2021

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