The most popular at the moment is the Windows operating system. This is due to the successful start, and the initial orientation to work with her inexperienced users. But almost everyone who has several years of using this OS has a question about what analogues can offer. Here is one of these will be considered as part of the article.
Linux operating system : what is it and what does it consist of?
This is not an easy question. To fully familiarize yourself with the capabilities of this development, you need to read more than one book and spend a lot of time at the computer. The operating system itself is a set of programs that can be used to interact with computers and launch other programs. At the very core lies several important applications that can be divided into such groups:
- Allowing you to receive instructions from users and communicate with them.
- They make it possible to read and write data to the hard drive, as well as reproducing them using a printer.
- Allows you to control the use of memory and the launch of other programs.
The most important part of the operating system is the kernel (called Linux). What does a device give you in practice? The currently popular temporary patterns use various programs that were written for this project as another part of the operating system. By the way, the full name of this OS is GNU / Linux. Next, you'll find out why she has such a name.
Creature
GNU / Linux modeled on Unix. From the very beginning, this operating system was developed as a multi-user and multi-tasking. Already this is enough to highlight it. But there are much more differences in it. The most important thing is free of charge (a significant part of the development was created by volunteers at no cost) and the absence of an owner. For the first time, the creation of something similar was undertaken by the Free Software Foundation in 1984. Then developed a Unix-like operating system, which was called GNU. Many basic functions were created, with the help of which it was possible to solve problems of a wide spectrum (if compared with what existed then). In addition to the fund, many working groups and individuals contributed, which does not detract from their work. But still there are some features. Thus, the foundation created the majority of the tools used, the philosophy and community of user enthusiasts and independent programmers. It was through their forces that a debugged version of GNU / Linux appeared. But this is still the story of only the first part. The Linux OS kernel was created by Finnish student Linus Torvalds in 1991 (the first stable version dates back to 1994). Then it was announced as a replacement for Minix. The creator has not left work since then and continues to lead a group of several hundred programmers who improve the operating system.
What does the operating system provide to users?
Today there is great freedom in choosing the necessary software. So, there are a dozen shells of the command line, as well as several graphical desktops. Moreover, this does not mean visual design, but a change in the functional part. Also, due to the adaptation of the operating system to run several programs, it is less prone to various failures and better protected. Since its introduction, Linux OS has been slowly but surely gaining its audience. So, most of the servers are now working on it. The path in the corporate segment and at home, she is just beginning. Each distribution differs in its functionality, appearance and size. So, there are options that provide tremendous opportunities. There are those that can fit on a small flash drive or work on older computers. Also, immediately after installing the operating system , you can quickly install software packages to work in certain areas (which is valuable if you create an "office" computer).
Terminal
This is an important part of working with the Linux operating system. What is a terminal? This is a powerful tool with great potential. With its help, you can facilitate, or even completely transfer to the machine all the routine work. Using the terminal you can:
- install and run programs;
- configure the distribution kit or configuration files;
- Add new program stores
- and many other things this Linux review will talk about.
Basic use of the terminal, as well as installation of programs
Run it. To start the program, just enter its name. Thus, you can activate everything from simple timer programs to complex utilities. To do this, you do not need to enter the full path (which is a strong difference from Windows). Let's take Firefox as an example and launch a site right away. The latter must be placed in the arguments. Their types depend on the programs that are called. So, the desired command will look like this: firefox "the address of the site we want to go to." Another important feature of the terminal is that there are a number of teams that are only designed to work with it. That is, they do not have a graphical interface. Now it's time to talk about installing programs. Of course, there are graphical applications that can help with this task. So, launch the terminal and enter the following: sudo apt-get install package_name. Easy, right? The word sudo is used here to obtain administrator rights to install the program. Using apt-get, the desired parameters for the application are read. And install directly installs the program. And the peculiarity is that you can work with several applications at the same time - for this you only need to separate them with a space.
The name and purpose of installation packages can be easily guessed without using various tools. But if this is not possible - click on Tab. When changing distributions, it is not necessary to do everything all over again - just export the names of the packages you use to a text file, in order to import its contents later. Here is such a simple Linux-instruction is necessary for the initial operation.
Work with files and directories
There is a nuance that will help you quickly understand the features of the operating system. So, work always happens in the current directory. To do something elsewhere, you must first specify it. There is such a team - nano. Used to open a text editor. If you enter nano “document name”, a file with the specified name will be created in the current directory. And what to do when it is necessary to do this in another folder? We write the command in this way: nano / home / rabota / documents / ”Document Name”. If the specified directive does not contain a file with the necessary name and extension, a new one will be created and opened. And if you need to move from one folder to another? To do this, use the cd command. It can be specified by itself - with /, ~ or with a directive. The first three commands will be moved to the root directory. To display a list of files in the current directory, use ls. To create a new directory, use mkdir "Name or Path". To delete files, use the rm command. After it, it is necessary to indicate the name of the document or the directive for its placement.
To copy files, you must use the command cp "Document Name" - "Path". Keep in mind that you must use it in the directory where the portable object is located. Mv works the same way, but it is already moving the file. So, you must specify as follows: mv "Directory where the document is located" - "The path where the object moves." From the outside, this may look a little complicated, but a little practice will convince you that it only seems. Now you can basically configure Linux to suit your needs.
Work with the system
Use Tab. This is an extremely useful key. So, it can help with autocomplete. This works for packages, files, and folders. If there are several options, the system will prompt you to select one of them. Also remember that taking care of Linux will be on your shoulders. Although you can use the provided assemblies if you don’t want to assemble your own brick by brick (although this is one of the features of the system). But just in case, know that this is a simple matter, and in most cases the implementation of this action will not be difficult. You can also use any of the graphical interfaces that are in the public domain for work (although the easiest way to control it is through the command line).
Linux installation
What if I want to use this operating system? Then you need to know how to install and how to start Linux. Initially, choose the distribution that you will have. Popularly used are Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS and many others. We pay attention to the presented operating systems, although the final choice is yours. To do this, you will need to acquire an .ISO image and burn it to disk. It is advisable to download the file from the official site of the assembly. Then you need to select the number of bits of the system. Version 32 has fewer compatibility issues and works better with drivers. But its counterpart at 62 has more performance. True, they will deliver chores that you have to deal with. Before you begin, get a backup of all the important data. Do not think that the system can ruin something for you. Simply, in most cases, users themselves, unknowingly or in a panic, delete important information. So, you have a disk with a system image. Before reinstalling, configure the basic I / O system to work with the optical drive. Now you can reboot.
An example would be installing Ubuntu. This is a popular operating system, and finding recommendations on working with it will not be difficult. So, the initial screen will load, where you will need to select “Install Ubuntu”. Initially, you will need to choose the Linux language. Define your time zone. Then configure the keyboard. In the next step, you will need to prepare the disk space. At this stage, the solution to this issue can be transferred to the operating system, or you can determine everything manually. The latter option is suitable for experienced users who know what the data sector is and how the computer works in general. Moreover, the level of awareness should be very high.
After questions with disk space are exhausted, it will be offered to name this computer, and also to create the administrator. It will be necessary to remember what was indicated here, otherwise the operation of the machine in the future without reinstalling or resetting will be almost impossible. By the way, the password and username will be needed not only to log into the system. After that, a window appears for you to transfer settings from other operating systems. If not, then the step will be skipped. In the opposite case, the operating system will offer to transfer the files, as well as the settings that were in the user accounts. And at the end, a window should appear in which the user's choice will be displayed. Check if everything is the way you want. If there are no complaints, then click on the "Install" button, and the process will start. Depending on the configuration of the computer on which all these actions are carried out, the replacement speed of operating systems changes. When all the necessary actions are completed, you will be prompted to click on the "Enter" button.
Linux Launch
When you first turn on you will be met by the bootloader. In this case, the launch of Linux will depend on the presence of extraneous OS. If it is alone, then Linux itself will boot. If this is not so, then you will have three options:
- When you select the first in ten seconds, the operating system will load.
- The second option is an analog of Windows Safe Mode.
- Testing RAM.
Also, depending on the number of installed OSs, options for launching them will be added, and not just loading the Linux system. After activating Linux, you can begin to configure its design, start using additional applications - in general, do everything so that the operating system is as tailored as possible for you. There are so many Linux programs , and you can choose what you like. Some problems can arise only when using games and settlement applications (AutoCAD and the like).
Linux removal and recovery
As an example, the same Ubuntu will be used. It doesn’t matter why you asked yourself “how to remove Linux” - you didn’t like the system or decided that it was difficult. The main thing is how to do it. Let's consider two options. In the first, let's say you have a fallback in the form of Windows. In the second, we assume that you do not have another operating system:
- Insert the installation disc into the drive. You boot from it by changing the priority in the basic input / output system. Open the command line. This can be done through the menu of the installation disc. Then select the “System Fix” option. In the English version, it looks like Repair your computer. Correct the system boot record. To do this, enter the bootrec / fixmbr command. And at startup, you will no longer see the screen for selecting the operating system when you turn on the computer, and Windows will always boot. All is ready. Now, for the changes to take effect, restart the machine. If you want to completely get rid of Ubuntu, then you need to do two more steps. To get started, open the disk management menu. In the window that opens, you will need to click on the section with the operating system with the right mouse button and select the command to delete it. That's all, she is no more. Now right-click on the Windows partition and select the "Expand Partition" command. Free space must be added to it. But, recall, this can only be done if there is a spare operating system.
- Now imagine that you have only one Ubuntu. Then you need a disk with the desired operating system (Windows will be taken as an example). Insert it into the optical drive. Then you will need to delete the partition in which there is Linux. After that continue installation. If this is not done, then you will not be able to use the computer. And then you have to create an operating system somewhere on a flash drive and carry out the necessary actions from it.
Linux: so same and different
Let's talk about which Linux counterparts exist, and give them a brief description. Only the most popular distributions will be considered:
- Ubuntu It is focused on ease of development and use.
- OpenSUSE Convenient during setup and maintenance of the distribution.
- Fedora One of the most popular options that has earned itself love, thanks to its versatility.
- Debian This distribution has acted as the basis for many others. A vast community of developers is working on its creation. Has a strict approach to the use of proprietary software.
- Slackware One of the oldest distributions. Has a conservative approach regarding development and use.
- Gentoo. Very flexible distribution. It is assembled from source codes. The end result can be characterized by high productivity and flexibility in the execution of tasks. Focused on experienced users and computer technology experts.
- Archlinux. A distribution that focuses on the latest software versions. Constantly updated. Suitable for those who want to have all the advantages and modifications, but do not want to waste their time.
In addition to all of these options, there are many other distributions. They can be based on the ones indicated above or created from scratch. In the second option, they are usually created to perform a limited range of tasks. Each distribution has its own concept, set of packages, advantages and disadvantages. None of them can claim the satisfaction of all users. Therefore, along with the leaders, there are successfully other implementations created by associations of programmers and firms. So, there are many developments that can function from the CD, and you can not install the system on the computer itself. If there are no specific goals, then you can use any distribution. If you want to assemble the necessary components yourself, I recommend paying attention to Gentoo, CRUX or LFS.
What do those who use Linux tell us?
In general, you can research the reviews yourself. But the article carried out their specific “compilation” for those who have no desire or time to search and read various texts. About Linux reviews for the most part positive. As a positive feature called a small amount of RAM, which must be allocated for the operation of the operating system itself. She also earned respect among those people who need to focus on work, but they are constantly distracted by games. Last but not least this is due to the fact that relatively few entertainment programs have been released for Linux. Of course, you can use the services of emulators of operating systems, but it always requires a lot of time and resources. Therefore, for lazy people this is a good option. Linux is very popular among representatives of the information technology sector. Not least this is due to the presence of various various tools. Programmers and technical experts respond positively to this system due to its versatility and ease of conducting the necessary activities. As negative traits, they usually cite the need to have significant knowledge of computers, to be able to work by the method of scientific poking, and the visual difference from Windows. These are the opinions you can find about Linux. The operating system is really significantly different from the usual interface of most personal computers, but there is an opinion that this is more an advantage than a disadvantage.
Conclusion
This is where the Linux description comes to an end. The review presented many different aspects. You have learned what distributions are. We also studied programs for Linux: what are the features in their work, how to install and run the operating system itself. Various commands were also provided with which you can perform the main range of user operations. It is hoped that information about Linux - what it is and what it is eaten with - is useful to you in practice.