Ivy Tech Linux Paper-1-Banks

Matthew J. Banks CINT 10811R 20112 Linux Fundamentals Instructors: Daniel Sanford Lauran Sattler 1 October, 2011
Linux is an intimation of years of open source operating system solutions for internetwork communications built on discoveries and advancements over the years of computer hardware and software developments. It is free to try, and free to use, certain distribution types are protected from copyright infringement, as other distributions are free to experiment and adapt from surface to kernel levels. For many users of proprietary operating systems that compete for market value, the experience of using Linux can be gross and intimidating, though thru popularity, accessibility and practice has overtaken negative rumors to overcome popular aversion. The Linux community, the world over, is receptive to the woes of inexperienced users and the copy-left protection mandates an overly documented and overtly protected skillset that when implemented builds upon itself, as a network learning together thus working together.

Before installing Linux an operating system is readily available as a free download, possibly free to order, if your finances are stifled by life as a technology student. Once a disk is downloaded and copied properly to an optical disc, or simply ready to put in your computer many distributions of Linux have a practical use known as a live disc or live boot, simply put the disc into the optical drive and restart your computer. With little effort or time spent, an OS running within temporary memory will allow you to peruse the faculties of your particular Linux distribution, make a judgment to assess its capabilities impact on efficiency, and choose it as a plausible computing resource. If it is agreeable, a simple click of the desktop icon that initiates permanent installation (*which will delete permanently whichever data resides on destination installation directory). The benefits of understanding the Linux operating system is simply its uses, as technical savvy regarding it becomes increasingly vital with rising market demand by users, in both private and public industry, needing expert assistance. The expert user will need to understand source code, the programming language in which it was written, and how the operating system interprets the script. Among the many types of programming code developers and experts begin by picking one easy to them and expanding on their knowledge, in some instances creating the code that today many users, novice or expert, commonly use throughout the vast world of computer networking. The programming language and code used in Linux operating systems is legally accessible, modifiable, and even redistributable if the proper documentation of any and all changes that were made are specifically listed in detail. This communal distributive process allows further developers to modify and advance the quality and capability of a Linux distribution if desired. Alterations are commonly a contracted task by companies that require a popular distribution to advocate a new technology they have appropriated or designed, but the documentation must be listed and done so free of charge. To be certain the operating system can be used, first a checklist of propriety requirements must be first met, before a desktop computer operating system can be used or command line terminal interface accessed, the computer hardware must conform to efficient operating standards. The operating system is a software program that communicates and then controls computer hardware; this requires minimum hardware requirements for a functional end-user system to perform properly simultaneously. Making

sure this is done before installation is nearly critical; it is achieved by obtaining a list of minimum installation requirements from a file on the optical disk or from the operating system vendors website. In some instances each operating system only supports certain hardware peripherals and components. Though it isnt commonplace for Linux to not support typical hardware, as operating systems advance and develop, older hardware prerequisites may be omitted from new code designed for new systems. Using a Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) minimizes issues with functionality. Comparable to command line utility common to most operating systems is a terminal. The terminal in Linux allows users to administrate from the command line to alter and implement functions of the operating system by entering basic commands into a shell such as BASH, with operability that other network operating systems cannot. From the shell the entire file structure and operating system utilities can be accessed, viewed, edited and given permissions of access. A basic comprehension of the hierarchical filesystem structure and the commands used to navigate it are necessary to begin navigation and system administration. A user can explore the Linux filesystem hierarchy by changing positions in the filesystem tree, but can also listing differing file types, ultimately through simple Linux commands alongside wildcard met characters, e.g. *asterisk, specific or multiple filenames, contents of a file, ownership, and user access rights can be displayed by entering easy shell commands. Linux filesystem management uses specific commands with optional modifiers, parameters used to refine results, (-l, #, -a, etc.) in order to locate and manage files and directories within the navigable operating system. As oppose to maneuvering the filesystem hierarchy to view and edit files, the organization of files can be especially important, whereas creating and linking files for security allows critical system files to become less vulnerable under a less renowned file name that is readily accessed to maintain privatization of files. Other commands manage files and directories, such as copy cp, and move mv, for example. Without being unable to find them additional commands allow the discovery of listed and unlisted files such as hidden files. Creation, mounting, and management, the administration of Linux filesystems is not limited to only one type of filesystem, for there are many,

conversely there are many device files that are used to refer to hardware devices that might use any number of filesystems. Both administrators and low privileged users browse directories, but the administrator must allocate which directory new network users must use and their disks utilized. These tasks take practice and dedication to Linux, an operating system I resoundingly approve, its obscurity to certain markets shrinks as its popularity increases, its network security is to be considered when considering the open source principle of distribution but without diminishing the certainty that most users are not experts in Linux infiltration and sabotage, as most end-users merely want to log-in and play games or focus on data entry related tasks. Linux is versatile, allowing hidden files, security access procedures, and privilege escalation structures to maintain a hierarchy for users that have visible access to a network. With the proper skills a parent can as easily secure resource files and the network a computer uses just as much as a large scale network administrator. Far different from the other frequented operating systems Linux provides a cheaper solution to networking needs while supporting security and functionality without a loss. The differences between proprietary operating systems will soon be oblivious to the untrained eye as a user network gradually develops the missing pieces to an equally competitive operating system.

Works Cited Eckert, J. W. (2011). Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification. Boston, MA 02210: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.