INTRODUCTION TO THE

LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM (A Unix ou Linux?

BIT OF HISTORY)
 NEED FOR AN OPERATING SYSTEM
A computer, with its peripherals, forms a complex computer system that is challenging to manage.
A user always hopes to use the components of a computer correctly and efficiently.
→ This is an extremely difficult task for a user.
→ For this reason, computers must be equipped with an operating system.
→ The operating system is the first program that must be executed when the machine starts.
→ After the operating system starts, the computer and its peripherals are ready to be used by
the user (typing on the keyboard, displaying on the screen, printing on the printer, using the
mouse, etc.).
OPERATING SYSTEM (OS) User

The operating system is a

program that manages the
computer and its Operating system
peripherals; it is an
intermediary program
between the user and the
computer's hardware. Hardware
 OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)
Example: If a user wants to print a
document, they CANNOT send their
request directly to the printer.
•The application (Ms Word for
example) request to the operating
system.
•The operating system activates the
part of the program that manages the
printer (the printer driver).
•The driver manages the printing
opeartion.
•This is how the printer operates.
THE UNIX SYSTEM
Unix is an operating system born at Bell Labs (a
subsidiary of AT&T) in 1969, developed by Ken
Thompson and Dennis Ritchie.
• Several companies (IBM, Sun, etc.) showed interest
in the system and resumed its development to create
their own versions (e.g., Solaris by Sun, AIX by IBM,
HP-UX by HP, BSD by the University of Berkeley,
etc.).
THE UNIX SYSTEM
It is the most widely used system.
• In universities (educational, open, with readily
available documentation), research centers.
• On the Internet's servers..."
CHARACTERISTICS OF UNIX•
• Multi-tasking : Running multiple programs (many
programs are loaded in the central memory)
simultaneously.
• Multi-user: Multiple users can use the machine at the
same time.
• Open System: Its operating principles are well-
documented and widely known.
• Proprietary System: Requires purchase of the
operating system, specific hardware (unique machines
for each version), and applications (word processors,
spreadsheets, etc.).
The Birth of Linux
• People wanted to have a high-performance
operating system like Unix that runs on personal
computers (and not dedicated machines).

• In 1991, a young student (Linus Torvalds) in Linus Torvalds

Finland develops an operating system similar to

Unix but designed to run on personal
computers.
• The new system is named LINUX.
Characteristics of the Linux System:
• Linux provides the same functions and features as Unix.
• Rapid Evolution: Utilization of the Internet and the decline in PC prices.
• Open-source code available on the Internet (free and freely accessible).
• Thousands of individuals contribute to its development (it is not
proprietary).
• → Linux is the grandchild of Unix... BUT it is increasingly converging to
replace Unix."
USAGE OF LINUX:
❑ Workstation: Multimedia and office applications (OpenOffice, KOffice,
Dia,...)
❑ Networking and Internet: Web server, messaging, ...
❑ Development: C/C++, Java, Eclipse, PHP, ...
❑ Database: Oracle, Informix, MySQL, Postgres, ..."
THE LINUX KERNEL CONCEPT
The kernel (or kernel) is the most fundamental and critical
user
component of the operating system.

• It manages the computer's resources and enables communication Applications

between various hardware components.

The kernel controls memory and processor resources, manages

Kernel
I/O devices, and storage (file management).

• However, to use the computer, we need additional applications

in addition to the kernel." hardware
THE LINUX KERNEL CONCEPT
Linux is a non-proprietary system, several people may
participate in its development
existence of several distributions;

A Linux distribution = kernel + installation tools +

administration tools+ a set of application software
( games, office, multimedia, imagery, etc.).
 LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS
www.distrowatch.com
INSTALLING LINUX
Depending on your needs, there are sevral methods to install or use linux commands
on your computer.
1) full installation and multiboot,
2) Virtualization
3) Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
4) Online virtual Machine
INSTALLING LINUX
There are three methods of installing linux:
1) Install linux (ubuntu) on a different partition than that of another system such as
windows or alone in the computer (mutliboot).
2) Install ( ubuntu) on a virtual machine already containing a os such as windows. Use
a tool such as virtualbox, vmware or others.
Minimum required:
▪700 MHz or higher processor
▪512 MB of RAM
▪A graphics card with a resolution of 1024x768

To install Ubuntu, you will need free space on your hard disk: at least 8 GB to 15 GB
SOLUTION 1
Multiboot (DUAL BOOT) is the ability to install multiple operating systems on the same
PC and CHOOSE one of them when booting.
This is the option we will use in our TP rooms.
Pros and cons
- Cost savings
- But too much switching between systems installed on your PC since:
At some point you will be working on ONE active system, If you want to switch to the
other you have to restart your computer.
 SOLUTION 2

it is using only one physical

machine

But run multiple operating systems a single physical

simultaneously on a single computer machine
using a virtualization tool. + multiple
operating systems
SOLUTION 2
Virtualization is used to enable the functionning of multiple virtual machines (VMs) each with its
own operating system; and sharing the same physical infrastructure.

The operating systems will believe that they operate on physical machines, providing them
with:

• RAM,

• CPU power,

• disk space,

•…

NB: The VMs are isolated from each other.

SOLUTION 2
❑ Some examples of virtualization tools
- Vmware ( Windows , Linux )
- Virtualbox (Windows , Linux )
-Xen /Qemu /kvm ( Linux )
- Microsoft Virtual PC (Windows)
❑ The interests of the virtualization
-Significant reduction of material investments.
- Easy installation, deployment and migration of virtual machines from one physical machine to
another.
-Installation, tests, developments, and the ability to redo configurations and even reinstallations
without touching the host operating system (the 1st OS installed on the machine);
WHAT ABOUT OUR CASE (IN OUR PW ROOMS)?
The following configuration is available:
-Machines with multiboot (windows and Linux: ubuntu
distribution),
SOLUTION 3: WSL
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows users to run a Linux terminal
environment, install packages from the Ubuntu archive, and run Linux applications
on Windows 10.
Enabling WSL in Windows 10
Before you can install Ubuntu on WSL, WSL has to be enabled in one of the
following ways:
❑Using the GUI for enabling Windows features

❑Using PowerShell
SOLUTION 3: WSL
Installing Ubuntu on WSL via the Microsoft Store (Recommended)
The recommended way to install Ubuntu on WSL is through the Microsoft Store.
The following Ubuntu releases are available as apps on the Microsoft Store:
•Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
•Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
•Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
•Ubuntu (without the release version) always follows the recommended release,
switching over to the next one when it gets the first point release. Right now it
installs Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
THE SHELL
THE SHELL
❑The operating system role is to execute user
user
Commands and display the result on the screen.
❑The shell or interpreter of commands is a program
that plays the role of intermediate between the user
and the system.
kernel

hardware
COMMAND EXECUTION
The shell sends requests to the system kernel based on user
commands:
❑The user writes a command on a command line ( prompt) in the
terminal and press [enter];
❑The shell (the shell) will execute it and return the result to the user
via the terminal.
NB: you can open the shell by several methods (the shortcut CTRL+
ALT+ T for example)
A COMMAND SYNTAXE
Command-name [ option ] [parameters ..]
•Option: arguments not necessary to execute the command, but their use gives a
particular execution;
•Parameters: necessary arguments to execute the command.
NB: The three fields are separated by spaces
Some commands:
date displays date and time
❑passwd user Change the user password
❑ls –l / View the list of the directory /
HOW TO GET DOCUMENTATION ON ANY
COMMAND
It is not possible to memorize all the parameters and arguments of a
command.
For this, the Linux system provides extensive manual documentation of
commands.
1. The man command: Man: manual( reference)
man command-name
to display a help page for the command.
2. The help command: Help:
help command-name
to display the corresponding help of a command;
ORGANIZATION OF USERS IN LINUX
Linux is a multi-user system:
-Simple user: limited permissions and each user has a login directory ( a workspace
on the disk)
-Administrator ( root ): has all permissions, it creates the users, and administers the
system (configure, control, install..etc).
- All users registered with the system are organized into groups:
- Each user must belong to a group.
- A user can be a member in multiple groups at once.
- Each user has a login group (default group).).
ORGANIZATION OF USERS IN LINUX
ACCOUNT & PASSWORD

To connect to the Linux system, a user must have a:

– An account name ( Login)
- A password
– The system administrator ( root) creates your accounts;
• After creating an account, the Linux system assigned:
– A UID: User ID, (identifiant utilisateur).
– A GID: Group ID, (Group ID).
- A connection directory: part of the disk where it works.
– A Shell ( the shell )
CONCLUSION

➢Linux is a multi-user system.

➢-Linux uses shell as a command interpreter
➢-To use it you must have a username and password
➢Ability to use text mode ( console ) or graphic mode
➢-Ability to combine multiple commands to complete a complex task; it proves its
power in text mode.