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| * Network operating system | | * Network operating system |
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− | Strictly speaking, Linux is a [[kernel]]. A [[kernel]] provides access to the computer hardware and control access to resources. The kernel decides who will use a resource, for how long and when. You can download the Linux kernel from the official web site. | + | Strictly speaking, Linux is a [[kernel]]. A [[kernel]] provides access to the computer hardware and control access to resources such as: |
| + | * Files and data. |
| + | * Running programs. |
| + | * Loading programs into memory. |
| + | * Networks. |
| + | * Security and firewall. |
| + | * Other resources etc. |
| + | The kernel decides who will use a resource, for how long and when.You can download the Linux kernel from the official web site. However, the Linux kernel itself is useless unless you get all the applications such as [[text editors]], [[email clients]], [[browsers]], [[office applications]], etc. Therefore, someone came up with idea of a [[Linux distribution]]. A typical Linux distribution includes: |
| | | |
− | However, the Linux kernel itself is useless unless you get all the applications such as [[text editors]], [[email clients]], [[browsers]], [[office applications]], etc. Therefore, someone came up with idea of a [[Linux distribution]]. A typical Linux distribution includes:
| + | * Linux kernel. |
− | | + | * GNU application utilities such as text editors, browsers etc. |
− | * Linux kernel
| + | * Collection of various GUI (X windows) applications and utilities. |
− | * GNU application utilities such as text editors, browsers | + | * Office application software. |
− | * GUI (X windows) | + | * Software development tools and compilers. |
− | * Office application software | + | * Thousands of ready to use application software packages. |
− | * Software development tools and compilers | + | * Linux Installation programs/scripts. |
− | * Thousands of ready to use application software packages | + | * Linux post installation management tools daily work such as adding users, installing applications, etc. |
− | * Linux Installation programs/scripts | + | * And, glued together by the shell. |
− | * Linux post installation management tools daily work such as adding users, installing applications, etc | |
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| Corporate and small businesses users need support while running Linux, so companies such as [[Red Hat]] or [[Novell]] provide Linux tech-support and sell it as product. Nevertheless, community driven Linux distributions do exist such as [[Debian]], [[Gentoo]] and they are entirely free. There are over 200+ Linux distributions. | | Corporate and small businesses users need support while running Linux, so companies such as [[Red Hat]] or [[Novell]] provide Linux tech-support and sell it as product. Nevertheless, community driven Linux distributions do exist such as [[Debian]], [[Gentoo]] and they are entirely free. There are over 200+ Linux distributions. |
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| [[Category:Introduction to Shells]] | | [[Category:Introduction to Shells]] |