LDP
/
old-www
1
1
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Releases Wiki Activity
old-www/LDP/intro-linux/html/sect_01_05.html

491 lines
11 KiB
HTML
Raw Permalink Blame History

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML
><HEAD
><TITLE
>Linux Flavors</TITLE
><META
NAME="GENERATOR"
CONTENT="Modular DocBook HTML Stylesheet Version 1.7"><LINK
REL="HOME"
TITLE="Introduction to Linux"
HREF="index.html"><LINK
REL="UP"
TITLE="What is Linux?"
HREF="chap_01.html"><LINK
REL="PREVIOUS"
TITLE="Properties of Linux"
HREF="sect_01_04.html"><LINK
REL="NEXT"
TITLE="Summary"
HREF="sect_01_06.html"></HEAD
><BODY
CLASS="sect1"
BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"
TEXT="#000000"
LINK="#0000FF"
VLINK="#840084"
ALINK="#0000FF"
><DIV
CLASS="NAVHEADER"
><TABLE
SUMMARY="Header navigation table"
WIDTH="100%"
BORDER="0"
CELLPADDING="0"
CELLSPACING="0"
><TR
><TH
COLSPAN="3"
ALIGN="center"
>Introduction to Linux: </TH
></TR
><TR
><TD
WIDTH="10%"
ALIGN="left"
VALIGN="bottom"
><A
HREF="sect_01_04.html"
ACCESSKEY="P"
>Prev</A
></TD
><TD
WIDTH="80%"
ALIGN="center"
VALIGN="bottom"
>Chapter 1. What is Linux?</TD
><TD
WIDTH="10%"
ALIGN="right"
VALIGN="bottom"
><A
HREF="sect_01_06.html"
ACCESSKEY="N"
>Next</A
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
><HR
ALIGN="LEFT"
WIDTH="100%"></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="sect1"
><H1
CLASS="sect1"
><A
NAME="sect_01_05"
></A
>1.5. Linux Flavors</H1
><DIV
CLASS="sect2"
><H2
CLASS="sect2"
><A
NAME="sect_01_05_01"
></A
>1.5.1. Linux and GNU</H2
><P
>&#13;Although there are a large number of Linux implementations, you will find a lot
of similarities in the different distributions, if only because every Linux
machine is a box with building blocks that you may put together following your
own needs and views. Installing the system is only the beginning of a longterm
relationship. Just when you think you have a nice running system, Linux will
stimulate your imagination and creativeness, and the more you realize what
power the system can give you, the more you will try to redefine its limits.
</P
><P
>Linux may appear different depending on the distribution, your hardware
and personal taste, but the fundamentals on which all graphical and other
interfaces are built, remain the same. The Linux system is based on GNU tools
(Gnu's Not UNIX), which provide a set of standard ways to handle and use the
system. All GNU tools are open source, so they can be installed on any system.
Most distributions offer pre-compiled packages of most common tools, such as RPM
packages on RedHat and Debian packages (also called deb or dpkg) on Debian, so you needn't be a programmer
to install a package on your system. However, if you are and like doing things
yourself, you will enjoy Linux all the better, since most distributions come
with a complete set of development tools, allowing installation of new software
purely from source code. This setup also allows you to install software even if
it does not exist in a pre-packaged form suitable for your system.
</P
><P
>A list of common GNU software:</P
><P
></P
><UL
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Bash</SPAN
>: The GNU shell
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>GCC</SPAN
>: The GNU C Compiler
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>GDB</SPAN
>: The GNU Debugger
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Coreutils</SPAN
>: a set of basic UNIX-style utilities, such as <B
CLASS="command"
>ls</B
>, <B
CLASS="command"
>cat</B
> and <B
CLASS="command"
>chmod</B
></P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Findutils</SPAN
>: to search and find files
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Fontutils</SPAN
>: to convert fonts from one format to another or make
new fonts
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>The Gimp</SPAN
>: GNU Image Manipulation Program
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Gnome</SPAN
>: the GNU desktop environment
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Emacs</SPAN
>: a very powerful editor
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Ghostscript</SPAN
> and <SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Ghostview</SPAN
>: interpreter and graphical frontend
for PostScript files.
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>GNU Photo</SPAN
>: software for interaction with digital cameras
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Octave</SPAN
>: a programming language, primarily intended to perform numerical computations and image processing.
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>GNU SQL</SPAN
>: relational database system
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Radius</SPAN
>: a remote authentication and accounting server
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
>...
</P
></LI
></UL
><P
>Many commercial applications are available for Linux, and for more
information about these packages we refer to their specific documentation.
Throughout this guide we will only discuss freely available software, which
comes (in most cases) with a GNU license.
</P
><P
>To install missing or new packages, you will need some form of software
management. The most common implementations include RPM and dpkg. RPM is the RedHat Package Manager, which is used on a variety of Linux
systems, eventhough the name does not suggest this. Dpkg is the Debian package
management system, which uses an interface called <B
CLASS="command"
>apt-get</B
>,
that can manage RPM packages as well. <SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Novell Ximian Red Carpet</SPAN
> is a third party
implementation of RPM with a graphical front-end. Other third party software
vendors may have their own installation procedures, sometimes resembling the
InstallShield and such, as known on MS Windows and other platforms. As you
advance into Linux, you will likely get in touch with one or more of these
programs.
</P
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="sect2"
><H2
CLASS="sect2"
><A
NAME="sect_01_05_02"
></A
>1.5.2. GNU/Linux</H2
><P
>The Linux kernel (the <EM
>bones</EM
> of your system, see
<A
HREF="sect_03_02.html#sect_03_02_03_01"
>Section 3.2.3.1</A
>) is not part of the GNU project but uses the
same license as GNU software. A great majority of utilities and development
tools (the <EM
>meat</EM
> of your system), which are not
Linux-specific, are taken from the GNU project. Because any usable system must
contain both the kernel and at least a minimal set of utilities, some people
argue that such a system should be called a <EM
>GNU/Linux</EM
>
system.
</P
><P
>In order to obtain the highest possible degree of independence between
distributions, this is the sort of Linux that we will discuss throughout this
course. If we are not talking about a GNU/Linux system, the specific
distribution, version or program name will be mentioned.
</P
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="sect2"
><H2
CLASS="sect2"
><A
NAME="sect_01_05_03"
></A
>1.5.3. Which distribution should I install?</H2
><P
>Prior to installation, the most important factor is your hardware. Since
every Linux distribution contains the basic packages and can be built to meet
almost any requirement (because they all use the Linux kernel), you only need to
consider if the distribution will run on your hardware. LinuxPPC for example
has been made to run on Apple and other PowerPCs and does not run on an
ordinary x86 based PC. LinuxPPC does run on the new Macs, but you can't use it
for some of the older ones with ancient bus technology. Another tricky case is
Sun hardware, which could be an old SPARC CPU or a newer UltraSparc, both
requiring different versions of Linux.</P
><P
>Some Linux distributions are optimized for certain processors, such as
Athlon CPUs, while they will at the same time run decent enough on the standard
486, 586 and 686 Intel processors. Sometimes distributions for special CPUs
are not as reliable, since they are tested by fewer people.
</P
><P
>Most Linux distributions offer a set of programs for generic PCs with
special packages containing optimized kernels for the x86 Intel based CPUs.
These distributions are well-tested and maintained on a regular basis, focusing
on reliant server implementation and easy installation and update procedures.
Examples are Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, SuSE and Mandriva, which are by far the most popular Linux
systems and generally considered easy to handle for the beginning user, while
not blocking professionals from getting the most out of their Linux machines.
Linux also runs decently on laptops and middle-range servers. Drivers for new
hardware are included only after extensive testing, which adds to the stability
of a system.</P
><P
>While the standard desktop might be <SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Gnome</SPAN
> on one system, another might
offer <SPAN
CLASS="application"
>KDE</SPAN
> by default. Generally, both <SPAN
CLASS="application"
>Gnome</SPAN
> and <SPAN
CLASS="application"
>KDE</SPAN
> are available for all major Linux distributions. Other window and desktop managers are available for more advanced users.</P
><P
>The standard installation process allows users to choose between different basic
setups, such as a workstation, where all packages needed for everyday use and
development are installed, or a server installation, where different network
services can be selected. Expert users can install every combination of
packages they want during the initial installation process.
</P
><P
>The goal of this guide is to apply to all Linux distributions. For your
own convenience, however, it is strongly advised that beginners stick to a
mainstream distribution, supporting all common hardware and applications by
default. The following are very good choices for novices:
</P
><P
></P
><UL
><LI
><P
><A
HREF="http://fedora.redhat.com"
TARGET="_top"
>Fedora Core</A
>
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><A
HREF="http://www.debian.org"
TARGET="_top"
>Debian</A
>
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><A
HREF="http://www.suse.de"
TARGET="_top"
>SuSE Linux</A
>
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><A
HREF="http://www.mandrake.com"
TARGET="_top"
>Mandriva (former MandrakeSoft)</A
>
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
><A
HREF="http://www.knoppix.com"
TARGET="_top"
>Knoppix</A
>: an
operating system that runs from your CD-ROM, you don't need to install anything.
</P
></LI
></UL
><P
>Downloadable ISO-images can be obtained from <A
HREF="http://www.linuxiso.org"
TARGET="_top"
>LinuxISO.org</A
>. The main distributions can be purchased in any decent computer shop.
</P
></DIV
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="NAVFOOTER"
><HR
ALIGN="LEFT"
WIDTH="100%"><TABLE
SUMMARY="Footer navigation table"
WIDTH="100%"
BORDER="0"
CELLPADDING="0"
CELLSPACING="0"
><TR
><TD
WIDTH="33%"
ALIGN="left"
VALIGN="top"
><A
HREF="sect_01_04.html"
ACCESSKEY="P"
>Prev</A
></TD
><TD
WIDTH="34%"
ALIGN="center"
VALIGN="top"
><A
HREF="index.html"
ACCESSKEY="H"
>Home</A
></TD
><TD
WIDTH="33%"
ALIGN="right"
VALIGN="top"
><A
HREF="sect_01_06.html"
ACCESSKEY="N"
>Next</A
></TD
></TR
><TR
><TD
WIDTH="33%"
ALIGN="left"
VALIGN="top"
>Properties of Linux</TD
><TD
WIDTH="34%"
ALIGN="center"
VALIGN="top"
><A
HREF="chap_01.html"
ACCESSKEY="U"
>Up</A
></TD
><TD
WIDTH="33%"
ALIGN="right"
VALIGN="top"
>Summary</TD
></TR
></TABLE
></DIV
></BODY
></HTML
>
Reference in New Issue View Git Blame Copy Permalink