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OPERATING SYSTEM RESEARCH PROJECT

April 24, 2014

Bidur Shrestha

CSC 345: Operating System

Different flavor of Linux

RESEARCHING: DIFFERENT FLAVOUR OF LINUX

Prepared for: Associate Professor of Computer Science

The SWEPCO Endowed Professor*

Center for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology,

Louisiana Tech University,

Dr. Box Leangsuksun

Prepared by: Bidur Shrestha

April 24, 2014


ABSTRACT

“RESEARCHING HOW DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTION OF LINUX IS USED”

Prepared by: Bidur Shrestha

This technical report discusses the current advances in Linux world and how are they distributed.

Linux is an open source operating system modelled on a UNIX. It is the software on a computer

that enables applications and the computer operator to access the devices on the computer to

perform desired function. (Linux foundation) In this report, I would like to talk about how Linux

has been a part of our life and how helpful is it.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Definition

What is OS?

What is kernel?

Open source

History

Founder

Why was Linux made?

Distribution based on package management system

Debian

Gentoo

Gacman

RPM

Others

Conclusions

References


INTRODUCTION

Linux is defined as an open-source operating system modelled on UNIX. According to

Linux foundation its states that “Linux is, in simplest terms, an operating system. It is the

software on a computer that enables applications and the computer operator to access the devices

on the computer to perform desired functions. The operating system (OS) relays instructions

from an application to, for instance, the computer's processor. The processor performs the

instructed task, and then sends the results back to the application via the operating system”.

Several definition of Linux that is provides others to us as well.

Figure .1

Source: "Picture of Linux Kernel - Google Search." Picture of Linux Kernel - Google Search.

N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.


Talking about the operating system, operating system makes the system to operate.so that

you can get access to hardware. Operating system has several functions such as the operating

system serves as an intermediary between application software and the hardware. An operating

system knows how to make your hardware operate which are written for specific hardware.

There are many ways to categorize the various operating systems that we find run on different

hardware configuration. Operating system act like a bridge between hardware and software.

Figure 2


N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014


Data also recorded by the Linux foundation is that “Over 1,000 developers, from at least

100 different companies, contribute to every kernel release. In the past two years alone, over

3,200 developers from 200 companies have contributed to the kernel--which is just one small

piece of a Linux distribution.” Therefore, now we think about the kernel, what is kernel and how

is it useful to us. Linux Kernel is a UNIX like operating system kernel, which is released under

the general public license. The Linux kernel is also an example of open source software.

Generically an open source means that the source code provided to the public should be

free and source code can be modified according to user desire. Open source is generally created

and developed by the programmer and redistributed back to the community for no cost.. When

Open source code are created which means the programmers has done collaborative effort in

program and has improve the source code and share it to the community. Open source sprouted

in the technological community as a response to proprietary software owned by corporations.

After knowing this we would definitely like to know that who has contributed so much to the

community and how it has evolved?


As describe by the source “On August 25, 1991, a Finn computer science student named

Linus Torvalds made the following announcement to the Usenet group comp.os.minux:"I'm

doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for

386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since April, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any

feedback on things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat (same physical

layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons) (among other things).” The “Minix” Torvalds

referred to is a variant of the UNIX operating system, used as a guideline for his the free

operating system he wanted to run on the x86-based consumer PCs of the day. “Gnu” refers to

the set of GNU (GNU Is Not Unix) tools first put together by Richard Stallman in 1983. UNIX,

the operating system that started it all, had its origins in the old Bell Labs back in the early 60s.”

(Linux foundation)

Torvalds had work hard and built built the core of the Linux operating system, which is

also known as the kernel. A kernel has nothing to do by itself unless its matched with the GNU

tool that was developed by is Stallman’s. “GNU tools were from a project to create an operating

system as well--a project that was missing a kernel to make Stallman's operating system

complete. Torvalds' matching of GNU tools with the Linux kernel marked the beginning of the

Linux operating system as it is known today”. (Linux foundation)

Linux has moved on and developed by different commercial user in order to make their

living. Since the start of Linux in 1991, it has modified several times and has been redistributed

in different form. On the basic of package management system, it has been distributed in several

forms. The diagram below show how it has been distributed.


Figure 3


N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014

Debian Based:

Distribution designed to have highly optimized and frequently update software.

Uses portage package management system

E.g. gentoox, google OS

Gentoo:

Uses portage package management system

E.g. gentoox , google OS

Distribution designed to have highly optimized and frequently update software.


Pac man:

A package manager is capable of resolving dependencies

User need to only run a single command to completely update the system.

E.g. chakra and arch

RPM:

Red hat package manager file format

Divided into red hat enterprise Linux and Fedora

It is discontinued after April 30 2004

Others: there are various others distribution that are establish according to the user requirement

such as Alpine Linux is a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on unclibc

and Busy Box.

Since Linux has so many distributions and choose that, we can use operating system in a variety

of ways so it leads us in advantage than any operating system such as windows and IOS.

Advantage:

cost - since Linux is open source it is free of cost so in order to install Linux you don’t have to

pay the money.

Security- Linux is more secure than any other operating system

Freedom- Linux provides you a variety of distribution so that you have a great choice of OS.

Hardware – Even in old hardware, Linux works perfectly.

Flexibility- understanding Linux will provide you complete satisfactory in user experience and it

is so flexible that you perform dual boot or can also perform virtualization.

Compatibility- it is compatible with most of the devices that are found. Lots of programmer is

working to upgrade their code to catch up with changing hardware so as soon as new hardware


comes to cope with the change Linux programmer work hard to keep the kernel level up to date.

CONCLUSION

Linux works out the best for those who want to customize and it help us to learn as well

as hands on experience on operating system. Since its open source so, it is affordable. It has

provides us the choice so we can select our operating system If you really want to learn then I

would always recommend using Linux.


REFERENCES

"Picture of Linux Kernel - Google Search." Picture of Linux Kernel - Google Search. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

"What Is Linux." The Linux Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

"Meet Ubuntu." Ubuntu PC Operating System. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

"8 Advantages of Using Linux over Windows by Ubuntu-Artists on DeviantART."8 Advantages

of Using Linux over Windows by Ubuntu-Artists on Deviant ART. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

"List of Linux Distributions." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 23 Apr.

2014.

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