An introduction into the world of Linux

Jannusch Bigge Januar 2021 What is Linux?

Which suits me best?

Installation

Linux Basics

Questions (and hopefully answers)

2 What is Linux? Linux is a kernel.

3 What is a Kernel?

The kernel is a program that constitutes the central core of a computer operating system. It has complete control over everything that occurs in the system.1

1Kernel Definition, http://www.linfo.org/kernel.html, visited: 22.01.2021

4 What is a Kernel?

Figure 1: OS with their kernel

5 Why should I use Linux?

• Privacy • Open Source • Easier to use

6 Which Linux distribution suits me best? What is a package manager?

A package manager is a tool that allows users to in- stall, remove, upgrade, configure and manage software packages on an operating system2

2Linux Jargon Buster: What is a Package Manager in Linux? How Does it Work?; It’sfoss; https://itsfoss.com/package-manager/; visited: 22.01.2021

7 What types of release cycles exist

Different times when updates are published:

• Long Term Support (LTS) • Short Term Supported (STS) • Rolling release

8 What types of release cycles exist

Different times when updates are published:

• Long Term Support (LTS) • support for five years • (only) bug and security fixes • published every two years in April • well tested and ultimate stability • Short Term Supported (STS) • Rolling release

9 What types of release cycles exist

Different times when updates are published:

• Long Term Support (LTS) • Short Term Supported (STS) • support for 9 months • feature release • good tested and stable • Rolling release

10 What types of release cycles exist

Different times when updates are published:

• Long Term Support (LTS) • Half-yearly publication cycle (STS) • Rolling release • feature release every time, a package is updated • carefully when updating

11 Long Term Support and Short Term Support

• only LTS • newest version 20.1 • focal as base system • Debian • kind of LTS and STS • newest version 10.7.0 ”buster” • LTS not supported by Debian • Ubuntu • v20.04 (LTS) and v20.10 (STS) • new version in April and October

12 The Meme OS

• Version 2021.01.01 • Kernel Version 5.10.3 • Rolling Release • official Repositories and User Repository (AUR) • • basically Arch • graphical installer • a lot of preinstalled software

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Figure 2: ...and many more

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Avoid distro hopping!

21 Which Linux distribution suits me best?

Now you have the most important information.

22 Which Linux distribution suits me best?

Now you have the most important information. But wait, I haven’t seen one yet...

23 Please download now your distro Desktop Manager

• Gnome • KDE Plasma • XFCE • i3

24 Gnome

25 KDE Plasma

26 KDE Plasma

27 XFCE

28 XFCE

29 i3

30 Installation Make USB stick with ISO

1. install Balena Etcher 2. insert USB stick 3. select USB device 4. select downloaded ISO 5. press multiple times Enter :)

31 Installation

Restart your computer and enter the BIOS menu

32 Secure Boot

Disable Secure Boot in BIOS

33 Select boot device

Select the USB stick as boot device often this is done automatically

34 The main installation

Choose which distro you want me to show you https://invote.tu-dresden.de/34269

35 Linux Basics Shell and terminal

• Shell • Bash (default) • Fish (friendly interactive shell) • ZSH • Terminal • xterm • Terminator • Kitty

36 Package manager

Always run as root or privileged user:

• Ubuntu or Debian: • $(sudo) apt install • $(sudo) snap install • Fedora: $(sudo) dfn -y • Arch: $(sudo) pacman -S

37 Secure Shell aka SSH

Used to connect secure to a different machine.

• install openssh-client • generate new ssh key • $ssh-keygen • follow the instructions on your screen • usage: ssh @

38 Other useful stuff

• git • editor • Visual Studio Code (code) • Atom (atom) • (Neo)vim (vim) • Pycharm (pycharm-community) (pycharm-profession) • python 3 (python3)

39 I need help

There are plenty of wikis in the web

• Ubuntu • Debian • Arch

and a lot of other useful sites

• It’s Foss • linuxize

40 Questions (and hopefully answers)