Jonathan Wang
CISB 11-CRN 10256
07/08/10
Chapter 5 Assignment: Linux Operating System
Assignment: Linux Operating System
·
History of Linux
It all started
with the UNIX operating system developed by the AT&T group back in 1969 and
released later in 1971. 2 years later, UNIX was re-written in C language which
was a high level computing language by Dennis Ritchie. This allowed UNIX to be
portable to other computer platforms and urging AT&T setup licensing and
made UNIX easily adopted to educational institutions
and businesses.
In September
1983, Richard M. Stallman announced of the GNU Project attempting to create a
"complete Unix-compatible software system" and began working
on it January 1984. Free Software Foundation supported the project establishing
a non-profit organization. Later MINIX which was an inexpensive minimal
UNIX-like OS was design for computer science educational purposes only written
by Andrew S. Tanabaum. By the 3rd version
of MINIX, it was free.
In 1991, Linus Torvalds who attend
University of Helsinki was frustrated by the restriction to who can use the
MINIX, so he create his own MINIX where other
consumers can use and called it Linux.
·
Linux Distributions
A
Linux Distribution is considered a part of the Linux family or is one type of
Linux/GNU. This definition became true after many students decided to make
their own packages of Linux that included Linus’
kernel. Each Distribution may contain software that others don’t have. One of
the Linux Distributions that is well known is Ubuntu.
Ubuntu means “humanity to others” in the African term
meaning. It is created by open-source developers such as Martin Pitt just like
any other Linux Distribution. Another Distribution is Element by Kevin
Thompson.
·
Ways to get Linux Distribution
There
are a couple ways to get a Linux Distribution. You can download it from online
where the Distribution’s website is. You can also get it on disk from Linux
books or ask the distributors to mail one. Some Linux distributions need to be
installed as any other regular OS have the installation file on a CD and
restarting your computer to load the CD-Drive first. Others can be installed
while in a OS. One example is Ubuntu
where you can download and execute the installation file right in windows. It
includes the key desktop applications, such as a word processor, spreadsheet,
presentation manager, and drawing program, with a user interface and feature
set similar to other office suites.
·
Popular Linux Applications
There
are many applications that can be used on Linux just as much used in Windows of
Mac OS. One popular and useful application is Mozilla FireFox
that many people already know is one of the simplest internet web browsers. It
is clean and secure. Another application which is just like Microsoft Office is
OpenOffice
·
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using
Linux
With
Linux, you are using less memory from a computer. The computer is more clean
and filled with only applications you want and need. The downside of being a
Linux user is most features and applications you will have to install yourself.
When having a Linux installed, you will have not protection at start from
harmful attacks. You would have to install a
anti-virus or some sort of security yourself.
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