6.2 Linux Intro

6.2 Linux Intro

1. Open source clone of Unix developed by Linux Torvalds

   • A completely different operating system that behaves like Unix, not derived from the original code
     • Linux was not intended to be a big and professional operating system
     • Linux was not expected to support a wide range of hardware

2. Linux is only the OS kernel - the applications are GNU

   • GNU = Not Unix
     • GNU apps developed by the free software foundation
   • There is only 1 Linux kernel
     • different commercial distributions that have same kernel but differ in the applications, installation and software support.
       • Red Hat, Debian, Sse, Ubuntu

3. 3 Important aspects of open source

   • Human readable = unlike binary source code programmers can read and understand it
   • Modifiable = anyone can change the source code to meet their own requirements
     • Unhindered access to the Linux kernel
   • Error handling = anyone can correct errors in the code

4. Open source is good because

   • Code has potentially been examined by many experts
   • Errors can be found and fixed
   • No real definite on whether open source is good or bad for security

5. Opensource bad because

   • Code is exposed to manipulation by malicious programmers
   • errors can be found and exploited

6. Powerful, efficient, stable good performance, right tools to do complicated tasks, can run on cheap hardware

   • Free software, easy to try, not restricted to a single vendor
     • Runs better on webservers than the alternatives, supports more users, operate for longer
       • Make money by charging for support, integrating with other software, designing proprietary apps