Adolfo, Lester Jun Z.

BSAB - 2

Linux OS

a. What is Linux?
Linux is the best-known and most-used open source operating system. As an operating system,
Linux is software that sits underneath all the other software on a computer, receiving requests from
those programs and relaying these requests to the computer’s hardware.
b. Who is the founder of Linux?
Linus Torvalds is the founder of Linux.
c. Name of Linux logo and its origin.
The first person to call the penguin "Tux" was James Hughes, who said that it stood for
"(T)orvalds (U)ni(X)". However, tux is also an abbreviation of tuxedo, the outfit which often springs
to mind when one sees a penguin. Tux was originally designed as a submission for a Linux logo contest.
d. What is open source?
In general, open source refers to any program whose source code is made available for use or
modification as users or other developers see fit. Open source software is usually developed as a public
collaboration and made freely available.
e. What does the term GNU means?
GNU (“g-new”) is an operating system like Unix with a collection of compatible software,
developed and distributed as a free alternative to commercial systems. GNU is a recursive acronym for
"GNU's Not Unix!", chosen because GNU's design is Unix-like, but differs from Unix by being free
software and containing no Unix code. The GNU project includes an operating system kernel, GNU
HURD, which was the original focus of the Free Software Foundation (FSF).
f. What does the term GNOME stands for and its meaning?
GNOME (/(ɡ)noʊm/) is a free and open-source desktop environment for Unix-like operating
systems. GNOME was originally an acronym for GNU Network Object Model Environment, but the
acronym was dropped because it no longer reflected the vision of the GNOME project. GNOME is a
Windows-like desktop system that works on UNIX and UNIX-like systems and is not dependent on
any one window manager. The main objective of GNOME is to provide a user-friendly suite of
applications and an easy-to-use desktop.
g. Give some Linux distributions.
A Linux distribution (often abbreviated as distro) is an operating system made from a software
collection, which is based upon the Linux kernel and, often, a package management system. What
follows, then, is a roundup of sorts of the top 10 Linux distributions today.
 Ubuntu

Charity Mae Laviña

Adolfo, Lester Jun Z. BSAB - 2

 Fedora
 Linux Mint
 openSUSE
 PCLinuxOS
 Debian
 Mandriva
 Sabayon/Gentoo
 Arch Linux... plus Slackware
 Puppy Linux... plus DSL
h. What are some common uses of Linux?
Linux is simply a computer operating system, so its uses are as diverse as any other. It is
popular in certain areas, though:

 Web Serving
Nearly 60% of all websites on the Internet are run using an Open Source program named
"Apache." Most often, it's run on Linux. If you've ever surfed the web, you've (indirectly) used
Linux!
 Networking
Linux is based on Unix, an operating system developed in the 1970s and which is still used
heavily today, especially to run the Internet. Linux is used both to run parts of the Internet, as
well as to run small and large networks in corporations, offices and homes.
 Databases
Since Linux is stable, secure and robust, it's perfect for storing huge databases of information.
 Desktops
People like us use Linux on our home and work computers, because of its stability and flexibility.
 Scientific Computing
Many dozens (or even hundreds or thousands) of Linux systems can be clustered together to work
on a single task (like weather forecasting, physics simulations, computer graphics rendering, etc.)

A large collection of inexpensive PCs running Linux can be just as powerful as a mainframe
computer, but at a tenth of the cost.

 Home Computing
And, of course, people like us, and people like you, can and do use Linux daily at home and in the
office!

Charity Mae Laviña

Adolfo, Lester Jun Z. BSAB - 2

i. Advantages and Disadvantages of using Linux.

 Advantages of using Linux
Linux was one of the first open-source technologies, but many programmers have contributed
and added software that’s completely open-source for any user. This means that you can download the
source code and change it any way you like. Some developers have restrictions on how you can
distribute the code. For instance, some developers allow you to change the code, but you cannot
distribute it for money.
One main advantage of open-source technologies such as Linux is the wide range of options
available to users and the increased security. With Linux being open-source, several distributions are
available to the end-user. Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu and Mint are just a few of the distributions available
to end users, and these distributions are completely free to download.
Security is the other main advantage. Several white hat hackers have contributed to the overall
security of Linux, and by making the source available to anyone, security experts can help identify
any main security flaws in the operating system. The advantage over operating systems such as
Windows is that security flaws are caught before they become an issue for the public.
 Disadvantages of using Linux
Because Linux does not dominate the market like Windows, there are some
disadvantages to using the operating system. First, it’s more difficult to find applications to
support your needs. This is an issue for mostly businesses, but more programmers are
developing applications that are supported by Linux. Many more applications are available
for the working world compared to what was available a decade ago.
One main issue with Linux is drivers. Before you can install any hardware component
in your computer, you must make sure the hardware has drivers available. Hardware
manufacturers usually write drivers for Windows, but not all brands write drivers for Linux.
This means that some of your hardware might not be compatible with Linux if you decide to
switch.
Support for open-source can also be an issue. While there are plenty of Windows
support people, Linux is not supported out-of-the-box. The way Linux distribution companies
make money is through their support channels. This means that companies must pay fees for
support, if they cannot solve an issue. However, there are plenty of forums and blogs that
support Linux issues. If your company has a good Linux administrator, the administrator can
typically find answers through one of these free channels without paying for support.

Charity Mae Laviña