Linux Chapters 1 - 7

What does GNU stand for?

"GNU Not Unix" is an attempt to bring as much functionality from the Unix OS into Linux environments.

Name 4 ways that open source software is better than commercial software.

1) Better code 2) More flexibility 3) Lower cost 4) Lack of Vendor lock-in

Name the 4 categories of software.

1) Commercial 2) Shareware 3) Freeware 4) Open Source

Name the 3 primary roles of computers.

1) Embedded computers 2) Desktop and laptop computers 3) Server computers

Name the 10 principles of the Open Source Initiative.

1) Free Redistribution 2) Source Code Availability 3) Permission to Derive Works 4) Respect for Source Code Integrity 5) No Discrimination against Persons or Groups 6) No Discrimination against Fields of Endeavor 7) Automatic License Distribution 8) Lack of Product Specificity 9) Lack of Restrictions on other Software 10) Technology Neutrality

What are the 4 software freedoms that the FSF defines?

1) Freedom to use the software for any purpose. 2) Freedom to examine the source code and modify it as you see fit. 3) Freedom to redistribute the software. 4) Freedom to redistribute your modified software.

What are the 6 Open Source licenses?

1) GNU GPL and LGPL 2) BSD 3) MIT 4) Apache 5) Artistic

What 2 things must a System Administrator keep in mind when it comes to open source software?

1) If you redistribute any software - particularly if you merge 2 or more programs - the licensing requirements may change. 2) Some Linux distributions come with software that does not qualify as Open Source.

Name 4 things that an OS Kernel normally manages.

1) Interfacing with hardware devices. 2) Allocating memory to programs. 3) Allocating CPU time to programs. 4) Enabling programs to interact with each other.

Name the 7 primary differences between Linux and Windows.

1) Licensing (Linux is open source) 2) Costs (Linux is mostly free) 3) Hardware compatibility 4) Software availability (MS is more common for users, but Linux is better at server software) 5) User interfaces 6) Configurability (Linux is more configurable) 7) Security (Linux is more secure against viruses)

Name 5 benefits of using Linux.

1) Linux is open source software. 2) Linux is free. 3) Linux has inherited a great deal of Unix software. 4) Linux is highly scalable - it runs on everything from mobile devices to supercomputers. It can be used on systems that are too old for the latest version of Windows or Mac OS. 5) Many businesses rely on Linux.

Give 5 examples of Embedded Computers.

1) Mobile phones 2) E-book readers 3) DVR's 4) Automotive computers 5) Appliances

Give 5 examples of times when copies of software must be made, regardless of copyright laws.

1) Moving a copy of the program from an installation medium to a hard drive or solid-state drive. 2) Moving a copy of the program from a hard drive or solid-state drive to the computer's random access memory (RAM). 3) Moving a copy of the RAM into swap space. 4) Moving a copy of the RAM into various smaller caches on the motherboard or CPU. 5) Copies of the program on one or more hard drives or solid state drives as a backup in case of disk failures.

What are 3 ways that hardware compatibility differs between Windows and Linux?

1) Not all hardware manufactures make drivers for Linux, so they must be developed by the open source community. 2) Linux developers maintain drives for old hardware much longer than manufacturers. 3) Linux is less resource intensive, so you can still be productive on older hardware.

Name 6 ways companies can make money from open source software.

1) Services and Support 2) Dual Licensing 3) Multiple Products 4) Open Source Drivers 5) Bounties 6) Donations

What are the 5 main categories that make up a Linux distribution?

1) The Kernel 2) Core Unix Tools 3) Supplemental software 4) Startup scripts 5) An Installer

Name 6 open source projects that clone Unix programs.

1) The Linux Kernel 2) The GNU Project (OS Elements) 3) Xorg-X11 (GUI) 4) Desktop Environments 5) Server Programs 6) User Productivity Programs

Name 6 types of software that need to or can be run on a Linux computer.

1) The X Window System GUI (X for short) 2) A desktop environment, such as GNOME, KDE, Xfce, or Unity 3) A web browser 4) An email client 5) A Graphics editor 6) An Office suite

What are the 3 most important principles that define Open Source software?

1) The right of the user to redistribute the program 2) Availability of source code 3) The right of the user to make and distribute changed versions of the program

Give 4 examples of OS utility programs.

Calculators, calendars, text editors, and disk maintenance tools.

Which 4 distributions offer the longest time between releases?

CentOS and Debian on the free side, and Red Hat Enterprise and SUSE Enterprise on the commercial side.

What are OS distributions?

Collections of a specific kernel with specific support programs

What does the term "cp" do?

Copies files.

Do businesses prefer longer or shorter release cycles?

Distributions are only supported for a few months to approximately 1 year after a new distribution comes out, so businesses prefer a longer time between installations in order to avoid disruptions.

What is the difference between distributions with a longer release cycle vs. a shorter release cycle?

Distributions with short release cycles aim to provide the latest software available, while those with longer release cycles strive to provide the most stable environment.

In the text-mode login prompt "Essentials login", what does Essentials stand for?

Essentials is the computer name.

In the text-mode login prompt "Fedora Release 21", what does that stand for?

Fedora Release 21 is the OS name and version.

Give an example of what a text-mode login prompt looks like.

Fedora release 21 (Twenty One)Kernel 3.18.6-200.fc21.x86_64 on an x86_64 (tty 1) essentials login:

What are 5 common desktop environment features?

File managers, Program launchers, Window controls, Multiple desktops, and Logout options.

What 2 umbrella terms refer explicitly to Open Source and Free Software Foundation software and development?

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), and Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS).

Name 10 free and 2 commercial Linux distributions.

Free: Arch, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Mint, OpenSUSE, Scientific, Slackware, and Ubuntu. Commercial: Red Hat Enterprise and SUSE Enterprise.

What are 4 popular Linux desktop environment suites?

GNOME, the K Desktop Environment (KDE), Unity, and Xfce

How are GPLv2 and GPLv3 different?

GPLv2 is not as restrictive as GPLv3, but that also allowed loopholes in the implementation of the FSF philosophy, so GPLv3 was created to combat hardware and software restrictions.

What is GPL?

General Public License is a common, free software license created and favored by the Free Software Foundation.

What is the primary difference between an embedded computer and a desktop or laptop?

How much control the user has over the OS. Embedded devices are used - not maintained - by end users. System administration tasks are done at the factory or by using much simpler, specialized interfaces.

When was the FSF founded?

In 1985, by Richard Stallman.

What is meant by the term "copyleft"?

It is the FSF philosophy and the licenses it inspires.

What influence did MIT have on Open Source software?

It was the original moving force behind the X Window System that is included with many Linux distributions.

What is LGPL?

Lesser GPL allows developers to use libraries in the creation of program functionality, such as GUI's. GPL is too restrictive, so Lesser GPL was created.

In Linux, what is the Library that most programs rely on?

Libc

What are Libraries?

Libraries are collections of programming functions that can be used by a variety of programs.

What can licenses do for proprietary software?

Licenses can restrict or grant use of proprietary software based on how it is written.

What is the Linux Kernel called?

Linux - technically speaking the term Linux ONLY refers to the Kernel.

What type of kernel does Linux use?

Linux and BSD-derived kernels use monolithic designs.

How does Linux compare to Windows in the server arena?

Linux dominates the server arena, regularly powering email servers, web servers, file servers, etc.

What are Desktop Environment Suites?

Linux uses a basic GUI, so desktop environment suites are used to provide a more complete user experience.

What are trademarks?

Names, logos, and similar identifiers of a specific company or product. Software and the companies that produce it often use trademarks, as do hardware companies.

Can you patent an entire program?

No, but you can patent the algorithms that the program uses.

Are all Linux Kernels the same?

No, kernels are constantly evolving, and any 2 different Linux distributions will likely have slightly different kernels.

Do you need a CD to install Linux?

No, tools such as UNetbootin can copy files from a Linux installation disk onto a USB flash drive.

What is the main difference between OS X and Linux?

OS X is largely limited to Apple hardware. Linux, by contrast, runs on a wide variety of hardware, including most PCs. You can even install Linux on Macintosh computers.

What does the term "rm" do?

Removes files.

In Linux, what is root?

Root is the Linux administrative user.

What is a Microkernel?

Smaller than monolithic kernels, they move as many tasks as possible into non-kernel processes and then manage the communications between processes. (Windows, HURD)

What is Open Source a development method for?

Software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process.

Why are text-mode tools better to use in Linux than a GUI?

Text-mode tools provide more flexibility, and the tasks that they accomplish vary less between Linux distributions than the tasks in GUI distributions.

What is the FSF, and what is their free software philosophy?

The Free Software Foundation advocates for the "free" use of software, meaning that the software itself might still cost money, but people should be free to do what they want with it.

What is the FDL?

The GNU Free Documentation License is intended for use in documentation rather than by programs.

What makes up any given Linux distribution?

The Kernel, and its utilities and configuration files. Each distribution is - in essence - its own OS.

What is a license created by the FSF and often used for libraries?

The Lesser GPL, or Lesser General Public.

Why does the Linux Kernel still use GPLv2?

The Linux Kernel is often used in devices such as TiVo's and Android-based phones, and GPLv3 would be too restrictive to allow the necessary boot processes used by those types of devices.

What is the aim of the OSI?

The Open Source Initiative aims to promote open source software in the business world.

What is ZFS?

The Zettabyte File System ensures that data stored on disks cannot be lost due to any physical error or misprocessing by the hardware or OS.

What is Source Code?

The code programs are written in.

What benefit does Linux offer when used on embedded systems?

The distributions include fixed, basic configurations and guided setup tools to help inexperienced users set up critical basic options, such as network settings and time zones.

What is the difference between the number sign (#) and the dollar sign ($) when looking at a Linux command line?

The dollar sign ($) usually denotes a regular user, while the number sign (#) usually denotes the root, administrative user.

What is Binary Code?

The form a program must take in order for a computer to run it.

When is the Kernel loaded?

The kernel is the first program loaded on start-up and it handles the rest of the start-up process.

What are binaries?

The program files for a particular processor and kernel—for each OS.

What is the goal of Creative Commons?

To combat a creative culture that is tied to permissions granted or not granted by those who hold copyrights on earlier works.

What is the term in parentheses after the Kernel designation when viewing the text-mode login prompt, such as (tty1)?

Tty1 is the name of the hardware being used for the login.

What is Dual Licensing?

When a company creates 2 versions of a product - one that is open source and free, and the other that adds features not available in the open source version.

What are Bounties?

When a company offers to pay for new software or features via open source creation. The programmer who completes the final project collects the projects accumulated funds.

What is Cooperative Multitasking?

When programs voluntarily give up CPU time to other processes. (DOS)

What is Preemptive Multitasking?

When the Kernel schedules CPU time for programs, even if the programs didn't voluntarily give up control. (UNIX)

What is the difference between a desktop computer and a workstation?

Workstations tend to be more powerful and specialized, and often run Unix or Linux.

What is the Linux GUI known as?

X Window System, or X for short.

Can Kernels be patched?

Yes, distribution maintainers offer "patch kernels" to fix bugs or add features.

How do you switch between a GUI login prompt and a text-mode login prompt?

You can obtain a text-mode prompt by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F1 or Ctrl+Alt+F2. To return to the GUI login prompt, press Alt+F1 or Alt+F7.

What is a GUI?

A Graphical User Interface that uses icons, menus, and a mouse pointer to input commands rather than using a command shell.

How are Linux distributions covered by licensing?

A Linux distribution is a collection of many programs that may use different individual licenses. No one license takes priority over the others.

What is Mac OS X based on?

A commercial Unix-based OS that eschews both X and the desktop environments that run on it in favor of Apple's own GUI.

What is a Compiler?

A compiler translates source code to binary code.

What is the difference between a copyright and a patent?

A copyright protects a single creative work, but a patent protects the idea itself. Patents typically apply to inventions.

What is a monolithic Kernel?

A kernel that does everything a kernel is supposed to do, but in one big process. (Linux, BSD)

Describe BSD.

A license used by open source BSD OS's that allows for modifications to be distributed under other licenses.

What does the "ls" command produce?

A list of files.

What is Bash?

A popular Linux shell called Bourne Again Shell.

What is X Server?

A program that implements X for a computer, especially the component that interacts most directly with the video hardware.

What is a Command Line Shell?

A shell is a program that allows users to type commands to do things such as rename files, launch programs, etc. Command line shells vary from one OS to another.

What is a Terminal?

A text-mode shell inside a window.

What are the 2 types of pre-release versions of Linux distributions?

Alpha software is extremely new and very likely to contain bugs, while Beta software is more stable, but still not as stable as final release software.

What is an OS Kernel?

An OS kernel is a software component that's responsible for managing various low-level features of the computer.

What is the Apache license?

And open source license that permits redistribution under the same or another license, and a text file called NOTICE that comes with the original work must be included in any derivative work.

Name 3 Embedded Systems that use Linux.

Android, Linux-based network appliances, and TiVo.

Name a popular Web Server written for Linux.

Apache

Can applications developed for Max OS X run on Linux?

Applications developed for OS X can't be run directly on Linux or other Unix-like OS's.

Name 11 popular Unix distributions.

Arch, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Mandriva, openSUSE, Red Hat, Slackware, SUSE Enterprise, and Ubuntu

In addition to computer programs, what are Creative Commons licenses aimed at?

Audio recordings, video recordings, textual works, etc.

What is the promise of Open Source?

Better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.