LINUX FUNDAMENTALS

ASSIGNMENT 1

NAME: NORHIDAYU BT KAMARUDIN

DIT: 110810777

LECTURE NAME: AHMAD FAHMI FAIZA

Question 1

1)Choose Linux distro and explain:-

-History (Knoppix)

*Knoppix is an operating system based on Debian design to be run directly from a CD / DVD
(Live CD) and a USB Key (Live USB), one of the first of its kind for any operating system.
Knoppix was developed by Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. When starting a program, it is
loaded from the optical disc and decompressed into a RAM DRIVE. The decompression is
transparent and on-the-fly.

Althrough Knoppix is primarily designed to be used as a Live CD, it is also can installed on a
hard disk like a typical operating system. Computers that support booting from USB devices
can load Knoppix from a live USB flash drive or memory card.

There are two main editions of Knoppix: the traditional Compact Disc (700 megabytes)
edition and the DVD (4.7 gigabytes) “Maxi” edition. Each of these main editions has two
language-specific editions: English and German.

Knoppix mostly consists of free and open source software, but also includes proprietary
software.

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

• Intel –compatible processor (i486 or later)

• 32 MB of RAM for text mode, at least 64 MB for graphics mode with LXDE (at least
128 MB of RAM is recommended to use the various office products)

• Bootable CD-ROM drive, or a boot floppy and standard CD-ROM (IDE/ATAPI or

SCSI)

• Standard SVGA-compatible graphics card

• Serial or PS/2 standard mouse or IMPS/2-compatible USB-mouse

Advantages and Disadvantages

-DSL operates at kernel version 2.4 and weighs in at around 50 MB, which makes it perfect
for business card CDs or inexpensive USB storage devices. Why use the older 2.4 kernel
instead of the newer 2.6? According to the DSL FAQ, there are three compelling reasons for
this choice:

- Version 2.4 maintains a smaller footprint than the 2.6 kernel

- Version 2.4 supports i wider range of legacy hardware than does 2.6

- Version 2.6 improvements have been actively backported to the 2.4source and binary trees

-DSL offers some native advantages that distinguish it from other compact Linux
distributions, which come primarily from the various methods of deployment it supports.
Using DSL, Linux loads from floppy, CD-ROM,USB, and even via emulation frameworks
such as QEMU or VMware (using an appreciate DSL package). Although the most practical
use for DSL as a rescue kit need not directly involve VMware, having QEMU on board
makes it easy to run DSL from within an active Windows installation.

One distinct benefit of DSL is that packages are easily added and removed. Its user-friendly,
menu-driven interface makes live modifications possible, portable and practical. Additional
applications may be intergrated directly into a USB image at run-time, using the graphical
MyDSL application installer for maximum ease-of-use. Alternately, you can obtain files
using ordinary means such as a Web browser or a command line utility, then install those
files locally as packages. DSL also provides the flexible FUSE file system framework to
support more exotic back-up solutions including SSHFS, a file system that mounts remote
partitions and drives using Secure Shell (SSH). This is an excellent feature for creating secure
backups where sensitive or confidential information is involved.

Feather Linux also uses the 2.4 kernel and offers much of the same capability as DSL, but
lacks its localized extension framework. Insert uses a newer 2.6 kernel than either DSL or
Feather Linux, so it’s better acclimated to modern technologies and less concerned about
legacy hardware applications than kernel version 2.4.

However, in our experiments with various images, the 2.6 kernel failed to load USB drivers
in a timely fashion on two separate nForce4-based motherboards. Alas, this resulted in a non-
functional system when mission-critical file structures couldn’t be located once the software
got past its colourful splash screen. To its credit, Insert (like most other portable Linux
distributions) drops into an utterly crippled minimal shell, but functionality of this is so
barren that it is impractical to use under most circumstances. With some unintuitive tooling
around this can be corrected, but it’s neither easy nor straightforward for the inexperienced to
hack their way through the thicket of obstructions one most overcome in that situation.

Question 2

2) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of open source using the GNU public
library/GNU open source license, in terms of:

a)The advantages and disadvantages of Off-the-shelf and Bespoke Software

Off-the-shelf software: The Pros

*Off-the-shelf software tends to be relative cheap. The cost of development can be spread
over a large number of users.

*Off-the-shelf software can be very sophisticated. For example, (Excel of Word) as the
revenue from a very large number of users equals a lot of resources that can be applied to its
development.

Off-the-shelf-software: The Cons

*Off-the-shelf software can be highly complex. It will usually include large sections that
you will never use. The average Word use is reputed to only use about 10% of the available
facilities.

*Off-the-shelf software tends to be a compromise. By its very nature this software is

designed for many different types of users. Each will have different requirements.

*Off-the-shelf software may take a long time to learn properly. This is because this software
tends to be large and complicated.

*You may have to make adjustments. This means altering the way that you work in order to
fit in with the way that the software has been designed. There will probably be operations that
you require that you simply cannot do with the software.

*Your competitors are on your level. As the same system can be bought by your competitors
it is very difficult to gain any competitive advantage from it’s use
b) The Effects of Advancement in Computing Technology in Business

-Advancements in computing technology have increased the speed at which businesses

operate.

*The business world is vastly competitive with corporations using every available tool to
stay ahead and meet demands before the rest of the pack does. Advancements in computing
technology over the years have enabled businesses to use their employees in innovative ways
to make on the fly changes to proposals, business models and other documents in an effort to
stay current and, more important, relevant in an ever changing world of shifting needs and
demand.

-Electronic Inventory

*Advancements in computing technology have allowed businesses to cut costs by

maintaining all electronic inventory systems. Through tracking, inventory and auditing
software, businesses are able to control what leaves their facilities more accurately than
through just eyes on the ground, which leads to higher percentage of accurate consumer
orders, increased ability to track profit versus cost and allow for a tighter grip on loss
prevention.

-Instant Communication

*The advancement in the computing power of cell phones has created o whole legion of
business people attached to their PDAs and smart phones. Email, instant messaging systems
and document opening abilities of these portable devices now enable real-time examination
of proposals and reports as well as real time adjustment of the documents allowing for
businesses to stay ahead of their competition by tailoring plans to meet partner’s/customer’s
needs on the fly.

-Better Business Models

*Computing technology has enabled the business world to create three-dimensional business
models using computational advancements to predict costs and trends years in advance
ensuring (or at least providing enough notice) that their company will be able to implement
strategies to stay relevant to the consumer or any entity they may service. Effective business
models are essential for larger businesses to acquire investors, operating capital and reassure
clients that job is being handled properly and with great skill.
c)Business ethics and processes

*Advantages

-We’ve already mentioned many GNU/Linux advantages-the security, stability and other
points. And we’ve mentioned the increased freedom you get with Linux. You get freedom
from insecurity, freedom from instability, freedom from software and its and piracy charges,
and freedom to customize your software.

You are also free to change vendors-what a concept in today’s computing world! For
example, if you opt to go with Red Hat Linux, but you later decide to switch to Mandrake
Linux, you can easily do it. You run the same free, stable Linux system, but with a different
vendor producing and backing the software.

Here are some other reasons to consider using GNU/Linux systems for your organization:

*An easy install: Modern GNU/Linux distributions are just as easy (or easier) to install as any
other modern operating system.

*Interoperability: Linux vendors do not try to force you to use only their software.
GNU/Linux systems work seamlessly with other operating systems like the MacOS,
Windows, and Unix systems.

*Linux is standard-based: Every part of GNU/Linux systems are based on open computing
standards. There is no vendor which is trying to invent their own secret, proprietary
“standards” in an attempt to lock you into their own specific platform.

*Your choice of vendors: As mentioned above, you can choose between many different
GNU/Linux vendors. This competition forces vendors to earn your business.

*Your choice of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). Linux distributions give you a choice of
desktop GUIs. Two popular ones, GNOME and KDE, are just as easy to use as Windows or
other GUI operating systems. In fact, GNOME or KDE can be configured to look and work
almost identically to Windows! But GNU/Linux also gives you more choices! For example,
the Burlington Coat Factory chain of stores is using one Linux GUI to create an easy-to-give
gift registry for its customers. GNU/Linux doesn’t force you into one way of doing things.

*Remote Desktop Support: GNU/Linux adopted the X windowing system which was
developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MII). This GUI allows you to easily
have a remote desktop on a machine located half a world away – all without buying
expensive third-party software to do this.
*Graphical Terminal Support: Using the X windowing system mentioned above, with
GNU/Linux you can use inexpensive graphical terminals instead of buying a full-blown PC
for every user in your office. This will not only save in terms of hardware cost, but also allow
you to centrally administer all desktop from one server.

*Linux runs on different hardware: GNU/Linux systems run on many types of computers.
Not only on traditional Intel and AMD personal computers, but also on Sun SPARC systems,
PowerPC, Apple computers, and a huge of IBM computers – right on up to IBM’s largest
mainframe computers. While you may never want to explore these options, isn’t nice to know
that you have multiple options?

*Linux runs efficiently: Because of the efficiency caused by the free software development
process, GNU/Linux can be happily run on older computers. Your old Pentium computer can
be brought back into service as a useful machine. Even ancient 386 or 486 computers can be
used, either as a lightweight GNU/Linux system or perhaps as a graphical terminal (see
above).

*Linux is multi-user: Unlike operating system (Oss) built from single-user systems (e.g.
Windows, MacOS) which have had band-aids applied to make them appear to be multi-user
systems, Linux has the multi-user Unix system as its model and seamlessly handles multiple
people using a single machine.

*Linux evolved on the Internet: Linux has been modelled after the Unix operating system, a
system whichwas evolved on college campuses and the hostile computing environment of
academia. Linux itself was also born in and evolved in a hostile environment – the Internet.
Linux’s rough and tumble neighbourhood means that you benefit from increased security and
stability.

*Linux is easy to network: Because of Linux’s birth and evolution on the Internet,
GNU/Linux systems network easily, “naturally” and seamlessly.

.
Question 3

-Explain the shortcomings and limitations of Linux distro to become the most used OS in the
computing world.

The Case for the Knoppix Partition

*Hard disk are regularly separated from their computer. Perharps a hard disk is replaced, and
is now lying around. Or perharps it’s replaced and then you find a need to copy its data.

*In such a case you have several alternatives. You can plug it into spare port of an existing
computer. But in doing so, you need that computer’s existing operating system to read the
disk, meaning you must temporarily modify that operating system just to accommodate the
nwe disk, and remember to undo the modifications after removing the disk. If you’re like me,
you don’t want to do that.

*One way to get away from charging the host computer is to boot a Knoppix CD after
plugging in the hard disk. Just plug in the hard disk, either in addition to those already in the
computer, or in place of them. Either way, with no modification to the computer’s existing
operating system, you can access the newly inserted hard disk.

*The problem is, you’re now running off a CD. If you modify / etc / fatab, which will
probably be necessary, such modification will vanish the next time you reboot the system.
Any scripts you write will likewise vanish. The place a lot pressure on your technologists.

*An alternative I like much better is to install a Knoppix partition on every hard drive, or at
least every hard drive of any importance, especially dedicated data hard drives. The Knoppix
partition costs only 4GB (2 for Knoppix, 2 for small amounts of data). It takes about 30
minutes to install. Using Grub, you can multiboot between Windows, Knoppix, and other
operating systems that might conabit the disk. As a matter of fact, I also recommend
installing a dedicated grub partirion, but that’s not essential for creating partition.

*Once the Knoppix partition is installed, and its / etc / fstab has been modified to mount the
partition on the disk by meaningful names (instead of / mnt / hda5 and the like), it’s trivial to
access the data on the hard disk. Even without such / etc / fstab modifications, Knoppix itself
usefully mounts all found partitions. With the disk’s onboard Knoppix running, transferring
the data is as simple as an scp – rp command. Don’t forget the –p or all modification times
will be today – definitely not what you want.

*Perhaps the disk houses a Windows OS and Windows application created data. Perhaps
somebody hosed the registry, and you just want your data. No problem – mount it in
Knoppix, and copy the data elsewhere.Perhaps an employee played a rootkit in fected music
CD on the computer. No problem – those files that are so hidden in Windows are totally
visible in Linux – you can diagnose the situation without the Windows enforced obscurity.
I’ve saved a fortune in time with Knoppix partitions, and put them on every disk I have. It’s
4GB well spent.

How to Do It

*What i’m doing these day is the second i buy a new hard drive, I install a Knoppix partition
and swap partition, perhaps also installing a dedicated grub partition. Then I install
everything else. By installing Knoppix. First I minimize the risk of butchering existing data
or code. Then, after everything else is installed, I can simply use Grub’s root and set up
commands to point from the MBR to wherever the boot loader is located. That works for me
because I buy my own hard drives.

*A small business that buys compuers ready made could accomplish the same thing by
asking their (presumably small) supplier to format their drives that way. Many local white
box shops would be willing to do that. A large organization might be able to convince a large
supplier to format their machines like that. Even a large company will often go the extra mile
to get an order for a few thousand computers.

*If nothing else, Knoppix can be installed after the data other operating system, even
Windows. It’s riskier, but doable.As far as actually accomplishing it, you create a partition
(4GB is big enough for the operating system and a moderate amount of data), format the
partition with. ext3, fire up a Knoppix CD, and then use the Knoppix-installer command to
install to the partition.

The Case Against the Knoppix Partition

*Automatically installing Knoppix on hard drives isn’t for everyone. There are some
disadvantages.

-Most obvious, it coast disk space. If you buy a 400GB disk and use 4GB for Knoppix,
you’ve lost 1% of your disk space.

-Then there’s are the security issue. If Knoppix is on a disk that’s otherwise entirely data, if
disk is found by a curious or malicious person, if that person puts the hard drive in a
computer it’s likely to boot up and expose all partitions as mount point. Of course, not putting
on a Knoppix partition would only stop those without smarts and desire, because most
informed people know you can boot a Knoppix CD and see all the partitions on the drive.
Leaving off a Knoppix partitions would be security by obscurity.

-The existence of the Knoppix partitions could cause data loss, either during installation, or
later if an uninformed person boots the Knoppix partitions and folls around with the system.

-The Knoppix partitions could lead to a false sense of security. Although the Knoppix
partition would be a great way to recover data if the operating system gets hosed (a mishap
with regedit for instance), or if for whatever reason the drive is separated from its original
computer. However, the Knoppix partition would probably prove worthless in cases of data
corruption at either the sector/cylinder level (bad blocks and the like), and often at the file
system level.