K4DGW - Linux

I started playing with Linux in the mid-nineties because it was something new and interesting to learn. I wasn't as rabid in my dislike for Winders then as I am now. I remember the days when there were many different operating systems and if you had a diskette (one of the primary storage mediums) from one system, it was unlikely to be able to be read by another. I felt that the accessibility brought about by Winders was a great thing. Of course that was before my computer could be infected with a Trojan or a virus from an image on a web page. A vulnerability that exists on ALL Winders computers. The many woes and issues of Winders are articulately stated here. Once again, the issue is accessibility. The accessibility that everyone else has to your Winders system.

What's so great about Linux? For me, it comes down to the fact that programs at the heart of the operating system, can't be initiated by a website or email. It is just that simple.

If someone sent me a Linux virus, I would have to save the file, give it permission to be executable, and then execute it. At that point it would screw up MY directory on my Linux box. In a worst case scenario, IF it a exploit was available to get it to root, it could possibly screw up the whole box. But it could not propagate any further. Unless of course, all Linux users were dumb enough to give executable permissions to untrusted code. It would be nice to go back and find out who at MS had the idea to deeply link the browser (Internet Exploder) into the operating system (the kernel) and use it to communicate to the modern day equivelant of the wild, wild west (the Internet) without any kind of security measures.

Linux is not without its own issues, vulerablities, and complexities. As is any operating system. For me the worst thing about using Linux is when I have to go back and use Winders. The second worst is hardware support. For ME, these issues are out weighed by the stablity and flexability of the OS.

What makes up a Linux desktop system?

This confounds many new users to Linux. Most Linux desktops can be broken down into distinct pieces.

Linux - the "kernel" of the operating system. The "kernel" is loaded into memory, and has the ability to load other modules and call applications to manager and use hardware. It is the core of the system, and everything we use to communicate with it is not linux, but some application.

X windows / Xorg - the GUI that allows you to see the window managers. If you are using a browser to view this webpage, you are using a graphical user interface (GUI). Windows is a GUI that provides applications to access MS's kernel. In the Linux world, X is the GUI.

Window managers - Gnome, KDE, Fluxbox, XFCE, and many others. Window managers manage windows. Not too complicated here. They setup the windows, menus, and tools used in a modern desktop.Different window managers have different levels of interaction of menus and applications.

Applications - Firefox, Thunderbird, as examples for browsers and email.

Distributions

Anyone can take the Linux kernel, and make a Linux distribution. In this particular case, I am using "anyone" in the legal concept, as opposed to the technical concept. A distribution is all about trade offs. If things are made very simple, easy to use, and "user" proof, then it tends to be less flexible. This statement has to be taken with a grain of salt. Because, simple and easy to use are relative terms. Anything is simple, if you take the time to learn it well.

In my mind, I break distributions down into three categories. These are based on technical difficulty of use. I assume a user can use a Windows operating system, and install programs. If the user is not at this level there will be a steeper learning curve, and they should have a close friend or acquaintance to mentor them. The categories are simply; easy, intermediate, and advanced.

Once again, I will talk about distributions that I have used. Others may exist.

Easy - Knoppix, Xandros, and Ubuntu
Intermediate - Fedora, and Mandriva
Advanced - Debian, and Slackware

Easy

For the new user to try out Linux, the easiest thing to do is follow the Knoppix link. Download the file to make a CDROM (called an ISO), place it in the CDROM drive, reboot your system and you should have a Linux system to play with. If not, find out (or get the mentor mentioned before to help) how to set your system so it will boot from the CDROM. You will end up with a fully function Linux system that you can use to browse the web and explore Linux. Shutdown, take the CDROM out, and reboot the system and you are back where you started out, with no changes to your base system.

The next step is to try distribution like Xandros or Ubuntu. Xandros has a free unsupported system to try, even a "live" CDROM linke Knoppix. But to get the fully experience, you purchase a copy of Xandros. This is a GREAT OS that is based on Debian, so it is stable and capable. But it has been heavy massaged for easy of use. In addition, this distribution is ready to go, out of the box.

Ubuntu is popular these days, but I have concerns recommending it for new users because of it not really having a root password. But if this doesn't bother you, it is a popular, modern, well supported Debian based distribution.

Intermediate

I personally use Fedora and have seen folks use it as new users. If you have an experienced person to help with the follow up to the installation, or you are able to read the FAQ and support sites and do it your self, this is a good distribution. Mandriva could fit in the easy category. It has been a couple of years since I used it. As I recall, it had some post installation attention needed to get multimedia running, which is what causes it to be in this category.

Advanced

Debian is an amazing OS. I tried it, and was impressed, but I ran into quite a few issues. It has been a long time since I played with Slackware. Both of these systems are well loved by their loyal users. But they require a level of knowledge that is above the level at which this essay is dedicate.