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Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. What is Linux? 3. What should I consider before switching to Linux? 4. should I get? 5. Checking your system specifications 6. System requirements 7. Installation 8. Dual/Multi-boot setup 9. Official Distribution Websites 10. Further Reading 11. Glossary

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Introduction In this class, we’ll focus on beginner-friendly distributions for people use their mainly for surfing, email, and , perhaps on older that run poorly or not at all with modern versions of and MacOS. We will mainly cover versions (or ‘flavors’) of and that address these needs. What is Linux? While Linux can refer to the - kernel originally created by in the early 1990s, in this class we use it in its other common meaning, to refer to a family of operating systems also known as GNU/Linux distributions, which combine the with other from the GNU project. Versions of GNU/Linux such as Ubuntu, , or Linux Mint are known as distributions or ‘distros’ for short.

The mascot for Linux is a , known as (pictured, 1). What should I consider before switching to Linux? Two questions: does Linux do what I need? Am I ready for a bit of a learning curve? If there’s a program or app you depend on, you should sure that there’s either a Linux version or a near equivalent available—unless you plan to keep your current as well. It’s also wise to out your chosen distribution before installing it, using a live USB or similar (we’ll about this later). Second, Linux is not quite like any other operating system, and you can expect that using it will be an adjustment even if all goes well. And if something doesn’t work, you probably got it for free, so you’ll rely on the community for tech support, not a paid professional.

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Which Linux distribution should I get? The sheer variety of Linux distributions might seem overwhelming at first, but the beauty of most of them being free is that if the first one doesn’t work out for you, you can always try a different one. While there are many options available for any need, we’ll be focusing on two distributions, Ubuntu and Linux Mint, which are designed to be beginner-friendly and to include all the software an average computer user needs, such as a and a desktop publishing program. Both are popular as well, meaning that it’s easier to find help if you run into an issue, because someone else has probably had the same problem. They also follow a similar release model, with a major release every six months, with some releases receiving three or more years of support. If you favor stability over the latest cutting-edge developments, I recommend choosing a long-term support (LTS) release of Ubuntu or Linux Mint. If you have at least 4 GB of RAM and a dual core, 2 GHz processor or better, you can run any version of Ubuntu or Linux Mint (see the next two sections for instructions on checking system specifications and minimum requirements). As of this writing, the most recent releases are Linux Mint 20 and Ubuntu 20.04, both of which are long-term support releases.

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Above: Ubuntu 20.04 The original flavor of Ubuntu has more visual bells and whistles than some of the other flavors, which I’ll discuss below, but in exchange requires a faster computer.

Above: Linux Mint 20’s desktop

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Lubuntu and are lighter-weight flavors of Ubuntu, recommended for systems that don’t quite meet the requirements of Ubuntu, while Linux Mint is the same for Linux Mint. Note, however, that some older processors won’t work with Linux Mint, so is a better option in that case. As to other Ubuntu flavors, (which is based on KDE) is another solid, mainstream option. Ubuntu MATE, which I’ll be using for the demo, is a slightly retro version, not as visually fancy as Ubuntu but a bit lighter-weight—roughly comparable to Xubuntu. comes preloaded with software for content creation. is a newer option with a minimalist interface and features Mac users may appreciate. Ubuntu is intended for users that Chinese and has a very Windows-like look to it. If you have an older computer that cannot run any version of Ubuntu or Mint, consider antiX or Elive as even lighter-weight, actively updated distributions. If you only want to boot into Linux from (USB stick/SD card), not it on your hard drive, I recommend looking into , which is small (about 300 MB), lightweight, and designed for exactly that purpose. Lastly, if you are an advanced computer user who wants a more custom experience and/or more cutting-edge software, you might consider looking into other distributions, such as or . Note that Ubuntu is based on Debian and Mint is based on Ubuntu (unless you get the Debian version), so they’re similar ‘under the hood’. Checking your system specifications In order to determine what distribution is best for you, it’s good to know how powerful your computer is. The main things you want to look for are the processor/CPU, the RAM, and the storage (hard drive, etc.). On : hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then click the Performance tab. Under CPU you want to note down the ‘Base speed’ and ‘Cores’. Under Memory the number of MB or GB should be at the . Under Disk look at Formatted. You can also open the Settings -> System -> About and scroll down to Device specifications, but it will not display the hard drive size. On Windows XP/Vista/7/8: try Ctrl + Alt + Del to open the Task Manager

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On Mac OS X: Mac icon in the top bar -> About this Mac If you have a , an all-in-one computer or a prebuilt desktop, you may be able to find a model number and search for that online to find what components it includes as well. For PCs, look for a sticker, usually on the underside () rear (all-in-ones) or side (desktops). For Macs, there is a number printed on the computer as well, but searching for the product line, screen size, and year may be enough. For example, “ 2018” or “MacBook Pro 15-inch 2014”. System requirements Name CPU RAM Storage Ubuntu 2 GHz/2 cores 4 GB 25 GB Xubuntu 1.5 GHz/2 cores (64 bit) 512 MB 20 GB PAE support (32 bit) Lubuntu (2000) 512 MB Linux Mint (Cinnamon) 64-bit only. 2 GHz/2 1 GB 15 GB cores recommended Linux Mint Xfce 64-bit only. 2 GHz/2 1 GB 15 GB cores recommended antiX Linux Pentium II (1997) 256 MB 4 GB Elive Pentium II (1997) 512 MB 5 GB Note that 1 MB is about 1/1000 of a GB. In other words, if your system says that you have 2 GB RAM, that is about four times 512 MB, and you can run most of these distributions, if your processor is also fast enough. The Pentium II and 4 are not considered very fast by today’s standards, so for those distributions, if your computer was released with a different CPU at least a few years after the turn of the millennium, you should be fine. In general, the minimum storage/hard drive space listed above is calculated to allow you to install updates and a few additional programs, as well as some documents. If you like to keep lots of videos, , and photos, you may need more space. On the other hand, if you don’t want any additional programs and only work with text/word processing documents, you won’t need much space at all. Most new processors are 64-bit, but some Linux distributions, other than Mint, exist in 32-bit versions which will run on older hardware.

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PAE support allows a 32-bit processor to support more RAM. Installation I recommend, if possible, making a live (bootable) USB drive or SD card to test out how well your chosen distribution runs, and then, if it runs well, proceeding with a single-boot (Linux-only) installation. It is also possible to install Linux alongside Windows or MacOS X, so that when you turn on your computer, you can choose which operating system to use each , but this is more difficult and more likely to run into issues. That said, if you do choose the Linux-only installation, it will wipe your entire hard drive, so you will need to back everything up, and you will lose Windows or OS X (though reinstalling them is often an option). For Ubuntu, there is a guide on creating a bootable USB drive here. For Linux Mint the equivalent guide is here. You will need a blank USB stick or SD card (if your computer has an SD card reader) with at least a 4 GB capacity, as well as some way of backing up your important documents. An external hard drive is ideal due to the good price to capacity ratio, but if you don't need that much space, cloud storage or a second USB stick might be good enough. Creating the bootable Linux drive requires wiping all existing on the USB stick or SD card, so back on anything that’s on there already. It’s possible to create a bootable or DVD instead, but you’re more likely to have issues while creating it, and most modern distributions are too large for a CD. You’ll also want to look up how to the BIOS settings for your computer, since you might need to change some options before you boot into Linux the first time. I recommend searching for the manufacturer of your computer with the word ‘BIOS’, or if you have a custom-built computer, the manufacturer of your motherboard. The specific settings to look for are the following: 1. Secure boot – OFF (some computers won’t have this setting) 2. Fast boot – OFF (some computers won’t have this setting)

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3. Boot order – you'll want to set whatever device you’re using to install Linux as the first in the list, above your existing Windows or Mac OS installation, if any. You may have to set this when you’re ready to try Linux, as some modern systems periodically overwrite this setting to put Windows first On most computers, to access the BIOS you start up your computer and repeatedly press either the Esc, F9, F10, or F12 key while the screen is still dark, but what key you use depends on the computer. Once you’ve started up your computer using the bootable storage you just made, you should have options to either use the OS without installing or to install it right away. Using it without installing will tend to be a little bit slower (especially for opening programs or files) but will let you test if everything works. Key things to check are the wifi, the sound, and any external devices you use frequently with your computer. Some issues may be fixable after installation, so if you like the distribution except for one or two issues, it’s good to check online to see if anyone has a solution. Once you do start the installation, on Ubuntu and Linux Mint, the installer will guide you through the , and for a single-boot (Linux-only) installation the default options are generally fine. However, if you’ like a more detailed guide, try this one for Ubuntu (it says ‘desktop’ but it’s the same if you use a laptop) or this guide for Linux Mint. Dual/Multi-boot setup Dual- or multi- means setting up your computer with at least two operating systems. For instance, if you have a Mac, you could even have Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux installed, and decide which one to use each time you start your computer. I don’t recommend dual- or multi-booting unless you are confident in your computer skills. Why? Three reasons: 1. It’s harder to set up, you must: a. Create additional hard drive partitions b. Make sure the boot order is correct – Linux first

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2. Issues accessing Linux on modern Linux/Windows dual boot systems a. Some computers released in the last ten years or so will tend to overwrite your boot order to favor the Windows , meaning you cannot log in to Linux until you change the boot order back, but this won’t affect you if you only have Linux installed b. This is particularly true of HP computers, for whatever reason – you might have better luck with other manufacturers 3. It takes more hard drive space, because you need to keep your Windows or Mac OS X installation. If you have a large hard drive with plenty of empty space, this may not be an issue for you. If you feel up to the challenge, here are some guides to setting up a dual boot system: How To Install Ubuntu Alongside Windows 10 How to Install Linux Mint 19 Alongside Windows 10 or 8 in Dual-Boot UEFI Mode (note that the current version of Linux Mint as of this writing is 20) If you decide to dual-boot with Windows, it usually works best to make sure Windows is installed before you install Linux. Official Distribution Websites This is where you can find the downloads, community , and official help documents. This is a very incomplete list; many other distributions exist. Linux Mint (all versions): https://linuxmint.com/ Ubuntu: https://ubuntu.com/ Xubuntu: https://xubuntu.org/ Ubuntu MATE: https://ubuntu-mate.org/ Kubuntu: https://kubuntu.org/ Lubuntu: https://lubuntu.net/

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Further Reading A comparison of 10 popular Linux distributions: https://www.howtogeek.com/191207/10-of-the-most-popular-linux- distributions-compared/ Another comparison list, from more of a tech geek or software developer perspective: https://linuxhint.com/linux_distribution_comparison/ FOSS Philosophy: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FOSS_A_General_Introduction/Introduction#The_F OSS_philosophy An introduction to the philosophy and history of the Free/ Software movement, of which the Linux kernel and most Linux distributions are a part. Glossary All-in-one computer: A computer with a built-in screen, but which is not designed to be portable, and does not have a built-in keyboard or trackpad. Generally this looks like a monitor, but thicker to hold the computer. Not to be confused with 3- in-1, which refers to a printer//copier combo. Bootable CD, DVD, flash drive etc.: an installation of sorts of an operating system onto removable storage, which lets you try out the operating system before (or instead of) installing to your hard drive. Also known as a live CD, DVD, flash drive, etc. Boot order: this BIOS setting determines where your computer checks first for an operating system to use. BIOS: a low-level program that controls many things about the computer’s hardware. Accessible upon startup by hitting a particular key (usually Esc, F9, F10, or F12) Bit: the smallest unit of computer data, which has two possible values: 0 and 1. Byte (pronounced ‘bite’): a small unit of data, consisting of eight bits. Because 28 = 256, this gives 256 possible values for any given byte. At one time, letters and other typographical characters were encoded using one byte each, but now they use roughly one to four bytes.

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CPU: . This component is located on your computer’s motherboard and handles most of the commands. In other words, it’s the part of the computer that computes. Also known as a processor. : a computer that does not include a built-in screen. There will be a which contains the actual computer as well as a monitor (screen), usually connected with a cable. Dual core: a processor (CPU) that has two processor cores. It’s almost as if it had two processors in one, and many programs can now split their processes between multiple cores for better performance on a multi-core system. As of July 2020, high-end laptops can have up to 8 cores, and high-end desktops can have even more. Flash drive: An external storage device that connects via a USB connector. Also known as a thumb drive or USB stick, due to the shape and size. They come in a variety of storage capacities. GB: Gigabytes. A measure of storage capacity for hard drives, RAM, external storage devices, etc. 1 GB = 1000 MB = 1,000,000 KB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Large hard drives now come in sizes larger than 1 TB (terabyte). 1 TB = 1000 GB. GHz: Gigahertz. A measure of the clock speed or clock rate of processors and RAM. 1 GHz = 1,000,000,000 hertz Hertz: 1 cycle per second. A measure of the clock speed or clock rate of processors and RAM. Recent computers usually have processor clock speeds in the gigahertz (GHz) range and RAM speeds in the megahertz (MHz) range. Hardware: all the physical parts of your computer, from the monitor and chassis to the CPU, RAM, hard drive, etc. Kernel: in computing, this is a core piece of the operating system. Linux is a kernel. macOS runs on the ‘Darwin’ kernel and is structured more similarly to Linux than Windows is, though Windows also uses a type of kernel. Live CD, DVD, flash drive: See ‘bootable’ Partition: a sectioned-off portion of a hard drive or other storage device. It’s common for Windows installations to have at least two partitions: a main

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partition for the OS, installed programs, and user data, and a second partition for OS recovery in case of issues. In single boot Ubuntu and Linux Mint installations, partitioning is usually done automatically by the installer. MB: Megabytes. 1,000,000 bytes. MHz: Megahertz. 1,000,000 hertz. Memory: usually, this refers to RAM, but some owners use it to refer to the long-term information storage built into their phones Processor: see CPU Operating system (OS): software that forms the link between the hardware and other programs. Examples include Windows, Mac OS X, FreeBSD, and GNU/Linux distributions such as Debian, Arch Linux, Ubuntu, etc. RAM: random access memory. When you open a program or , it gets loaded from your hard drive (which is slow but holds information for a long time) to your RAM (which is faster but only keeps information for a little while) in order to run more quickly. Software: this refers to the code that makes your computer do things, rather than sit there being a useless pile of plastic, metal, and silicon. Apps, programs and applications are software. TB: terabytes. A measure of storage capacity for hard drives, RAM, external storage devices, etc. In practice, in July 2020 you will easily find hard drives (internal and external) measured in terabytes, but RAM and other types of storage will be smaller. 1 TB = 1000 GB.

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