Ok. After much headbanging with my workload, i'm just going to throw this out unfinished right now. At a later point, (perhaps as soon as the end of the month), i will re-release this in its finished and complete form. So... without further delay:
The Linux FAQ
The TechGuy Linux FAQ
Compiled by Whiteskin: Edited by (or, to be edited by) Tsunam
This is a little FAQ compiled from my experiance with Linux from these forums, and others. It designed to help someone understand what Linux is, what its strenghts are, and what it's weaknesses are.
Q1. What is Linux?
A1. To quote the linux source README:
Quote:
WHAT IS LINUX?
Linux is a Unix clone written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net.
It aims towards POSIX compliance.
It has all the features you would expect in a modern fully-fledged Unix, including true multitasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, shared copy-on-write executables, proper memory management and TCP/IP networking. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License - see theaccompanying COPYING file for more details.
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Now for those of us who
don't understand the above, let me go through it. In essence Linux is a Unix
type Operating system. (The operating system is that which runs your computer. It is the "Bottom" program which allows standardized acess to hardware, resources etc.). It shares a common feel and programming structure (which, most likely is irrelevant to you).
Linux is written in a distributed manner, meaning that many many people have contributed to building this operating system from all over the world (Linus used to live in Finland (Not sure if he still does), Many developers live in the US, others in Europe, etc.)).
Linux is published under a free licence, which allows distribution by anyone, as long as certain requirements are met. It is freely downloadable in the form of many distributions (see Q4.).
Q2. Why should I care?
A2. Because Linux is becoming a revolution. Not to evangalize, but it is on the leading forefront of the IT world. The chances rise every day that one day you may have to use linux in your job. (Infact, on a side note, you may have used linux already, without realizing it. Linux runs on many things, not just computers. It runs on PDA's, robots, parking meters, corperate systems etc.)
Linux can also help resurrect old hardware, abandoned by more popular OS makers who have since moved on to meatier targets. The minimum requirements are only a 486 (Though, as with windows, it will not be a rocket).
Linux has become known and recognized for its Stability (Though, for absolute rock stability some people (myself included) reccomend a BSD system like FreeBSD), performance, and freedom. Because of the culture that surrounds Linux, much of the software written for it is free. For more on the linux culture I reccomend reading "The Cathedral and the Bazzar" by Eric S. Raymond.
Linux's speed and reliability rival and or beat most other operating systems, including commercial ones.
Q3. What is Linux
Not?
A3. Linux is
Not many things. One of the most important things to realize it is not a Windows clone. As such, you will not be able to run your Windows programs without some extremish measures (See the
winehq.com FAQ).
Linux is not an operating system to just hop into and use (cum MacOS). While with the invention of modern installers and Desktop environments, (see Q***FILLIN***.) Linux can seem to be as easy to use as windows, eventually you will have to get under the hood (Who knows, perhaps one day there will be a maitnence, error, and problem free system, however for now, more often than not you will have to get to the CLI.).
Q4. What is this talk about Distros (Or What is a distribution?)
A4. As "Linux" persay is only the kernel of the operating system, the very abstract part that acesses hardware, more utilities and programs must be provided. Early into Linux's evolution somthing developed. What developed were distributions. These "Distros" were custom made "kits" of software, and the linux kernel that camt together to form a complete Operating system. Now, there are literally hundreds of distributions (also called flavours sometimes), some being commercial (Xandros, Suse, Redhat) and some are strictly volunteer based, non-profit (Debian, Gentoo, Slackware).
Most Commercial linux vendors offer a free download of their distro (As linux's distribution licence prevents them from doing otherwise. All their money is made in support and other "Non-free" programs. Suse's YAST, until recently, was one of these programs. ), and the nonprofit distros, their cds have always been free. This means that getting linux is as simple as choosing a distribution, and burning it (Either yourself, or get a friend to to so.).
Because there are so many distributions, each has choosen its own path. Here i will seperate them into three catagories. Easy, Medium, and Advanced. And easy distribution is simple to install, with little or no choices needing to be made by the user. An advanced distro is the opposite: The user is given complete control into what goes into the system, and how it is set up.
RedHat Linux (RH9, Fedora core 1 and 2): Easy/Medium
Redhat was one of the early distros. It has since become one of the most popular. When one purchases a book about linux, chances are high that it is a redhat linux book. Recently Redhat discontinued it's free Redhat Linux line. That has been replaced with the community project, the Fedora Core. Redhat can be classified as either an easy or a medium distro. Its install is quite simple, however, it does not neccicarily have all the "amenities" of an easier disto.
Mandrake Linux: Easy
Mandrakesoft is a french company. They put out a popular distribution called Mandrake Linux. Mandrake linux is definatly an "easy" distro. Mandrake has one of the best (user friendly) installers in the business.
Debian Gnu/Linux. Medium / hard
Debian is a community run Linux distro. It was one of the first to be developed in this manner. Before debian almost all distros were being created by companies or by single individuals. In 1994, when Debian was created, its founder Ian Murdock put out what is now called the "Debian Manifesto". To get an idea of what debian is about, I will now quote part of that Manifesto.
Quote:
What is Debian Linux?
=====================
Debian Linux is a brand-new kind of Linux distribution. Rather than
being developed by one isolated individual or group, as other
distributions of Linux have been developed in the past, Debian is being
developed openly in the spirit of Linux and GNU. The primary purpose
of the Debian project is to finally create a distribution that lives up
to the Linux name. Debian is being carefully and conscientiously put
together and will be maintained and supported with similar care.
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It was as a result of this manifesto that debian's Social Contract was written, a document defining what Debian GNU/Linux is all about. Freedom. (Free software). Read the Social contract
here.
Debian's installer can be daunting, however it gives alot of power. A hint, just take the options in order.
Gentoo: Medium/hard
Gentoo is a source distro. This means the user compiles most everything from source. This is both good and bad. Good, is because its simple(ish) and improves performance, especially on older machines. The bad is because this takes time. Especially on older machines. (feel free to add to this... i'm kind handing this over to the forums... i havent the time to really complete the FAQ. For now. I will get around to it one day. Check Unix Linux for the thread to Add to.
LFS (Linux from scratch) : Hard.
Quote:
Linux From Scratch (LFS) is a project that provides you with the steps necessary to build your own custom Linux system.
"Why would I want an LFS system?"
There are a lot of reasons why somebody would want to install an LFS system. The question most people raise is "why go through all the hassle of manually installing a Linux system from scratch when you can just download an existing distribution?". That is a valid question which I hope to answer for you.
The most important reason for LFS's existence is teaching people how a Linux system works internally. Building an LFS system teaches you about all that makes Linux tick, how things work together, and depend on each other. And most importantly, how to customize it to your own taste and needs... |
This document and all replies are published under the
GNU Free Documentation Licence
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