What is Linux

                                 

You probably know only Windows, but now you want to use Linux because you read that Linux is better than Windows as it’s more secure and you don’t have to buy a license to use Linux.

Linux has been around since the mid-1990s and has since reached a user-base that spans the globe. Linux is all over the place: It’s in your phones, your thermostats, in your cars, refrigerators, and televisions. It also runs most of the Internet, all the world’s top 500 supercomputers, and the world’s stock exchanges.

Linux is an open-source operating system (OS). An operating system is a software that directly manages a system’s hardware and resources, like CPU, memory, and storage. The OS sits between applications and hardware and makes the connections between all your software and the physical resources that do the work.

when you go about downloading and installing Linux, you learn that Linux is not a single entity. There’s CentOS, Red hat, Ubuntu, Fedora, Linux Mint, elementary and hundreds of other Linux variants. The trouble is that some of them look just like the others.

The Linux operating system components parts: 

Bootloader 

Your computer needs to go through a startup sequence called booting. This boot process needs guidance, and your OS is the software in control throughout the boot process. When you start your computer the bootloader for your operating system kickstarts the process. 

Kernel 

This is the one piece of the whole that is actually called Linux. The kernel is the core of the system and manages the CPU, memory, and peripheral devices. The kernel is the lowest level of the OS.

Init system

This is a sub-system that bootstraps the user space and is charged with controlling daemons. One of the most widely used init systems is systemd which also happens to be one of the most controversial. It is the init system that manages the boot process, once the initial booting is handed over from the bootloader (i.e., GRUB or GRand Unified Bootloader). 

Daemons

These small applications act as servants in the background, ensuring that key functions such as scheduling, printing and multimedia function correctly. They load after you have booted up, or when you have logged into your computer.

Graphics server 

This provides a graphical sub-system that renders images and shapes on your computer monitor. Linux uses a graphical server called “X” or “X-server”.

Desktop environment

This is the piece that the users actually interact with. There are many desktop environments to choose from (GNOME, Cinnamon, Mate, Pantheon, Enlightenment, KDE, Xfce, etc.). Each desktop environment includes built-in applications (such as file managers, configuration tools, web browsers, and games). 

Applications 

The desktop environment which is bundled with your Linux OS or which you choose to install cannot cater to every application need, there are too many. Individual applications, however, can and there are thousands for Linux just like Windows and Apple’s OS X has thousands of applications. Most Linux distros have app stores that help you find and install apps, for example, Ubuntu Software which comes with Ubuntu.

Why use Linux?                                                  

The one question that most people ask. Why bother learning a completely different computing environment, If Windows is so good, why would anyone want an alternative? Before answering that question, I would like to ask you another question. Does that windows really work fine? Or, do you find yourself battling obstacles like viruses, malware, slowdowns, crashes, costly repairs, and licensing fees? If you struggle with the above, Linux might be the perfect platform for you. Linux has evolved into one of the most reliable computer ecosystems on the planet. Combine that reliability with zero cost of entry and you have the perfect solution for a desktop platform. Yes, your reading right, zero cost of entry. as in free. You can install Linux on as many computers as you like without paying a cent for software or server licensing.

what about having an operating system that will work, trouble free, for as long as you use it? It’s also easy to argue that Linux software makes life easy for systems administrators because Linux is more reliable. It means you don’t need to closely watch your server every day, you can rely on it running without a problem. Also, because of the way Linux is built you can often restart individual services without impacting the entire Linux OS. 

Wondering what is Linux operating system’s biggest advantage? Well, its inherent reliability and its general immunity to viruses, malicious software and other random operating system issues is perhaps the biggest reason to adopt Linux. Server reboots are a particular problem for sysadmins and Linux, due to its stability, allows sysadmins to largely avoid reboots unless the kernel is updated. In fact, many Linux servers can run for years, never seeing a reboot and sysadmins would often consider this a sign of the reliability of Linux. 

                                                     

What is open source

Linux has also distributed under an open-source license Any software that is open source follows a set of principles. 

• Full freedom to run the software, no matter your reason for running it or your goals.
• The permission to examine and disassemble the software, to study it, and to make any changes you want to make to it.
• No restrictions on distributing the software.
• No restrictions on distributing any copies of the software modified by you.

It is also important to understand the community that works together to create the Linux platform. It is a community that built Linux, and a community that maintains Linux. Wondering what is Linux exactly? made by the people, made for the people. It can be argued that it is this opensource philosophy that has made Linux so popular. 

What is a distribution             

 

Linux has an endless number of Linux distributions. Each distribution has a different take on the desktop. Some opt for very modern user interfaces (such as GNOME and Elementary OS’s Pantheon), whereas others stick with a more traditional desktop environment (openSUSE uses KDE). 

Popular Desktop Linux distributions include: 

  Ubuntu 
  Fedora

  Arch
  Linux Mint
  Elementary OS
  Debian
  OpenSUSE and many more.

As well as for the server Linux OS. It’s a long list, but some of the most well know distros include

  Red Hat
  Ubuntu Server
  Centos
  SUSE Enterprise and many more.

Some of the above server distributions are free (such as Ubuntu Server and CentOS) and some have an associated price (such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Enterprise Linux). Those with an associated price also include support.

Which Linux distribution you use will depend on your personal needs. Foremost you should consider your own computer skills: if you have never used the command line and never used Linux you will be more restricted in choice. you’ll want to stick with a newbie-friendly distribution such as Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Elementary OS or Deepin. If your skillset extends into the above-average range, you could go with a distribution like Debian or Fedora. If, however, you’ve pretty much mastered the craft of computer and system administration, use a distribution like Gentoo. If you really want a challenge, you can build your very own Linux distribution, with the help of Linux From Scratch.

As for servers, consider, you will also want to decide if you need a desktop interface, or if you want to do this via command-line only. Some servers are best managed via the command line as it means your server won’t be slowed down by the graphics server. Some server distros won’t come with a GUI, some will and some like Ubuntu will allow you to add a GUI any time after you’ve installed the server. Some server distros are good for specific applications, including a lot of pre-bundled services. CentOS is a good example, as it offers a lot of what you need to run a comprehensive server out of the box. Or, do you want to take a desktop distribution and add the pieces as you need them? If so, Debian or Ubuntu Linux might serve you well.