An introduction into the world of Linux
Jannusch Bigge Januar 2021 What is Linux?
Which Linux distribution 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
• Linux Mint • only LTS • newest version 20.1 • ubuntu 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
• Arch Linux • Version 2021.01.01 • Kernel Version 5.10.3 • Rolling Release • official Repositories and User Repository (AUR) • Manjaro • basically Arch • graphical installer • a lot of preinstalled software
13 ...and many more
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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
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)