part0020

CHAPTER 16. GNU Utilities

In this chapter, we will cover the general components of the Linux operating system. We will delve into the critical elements that work together to make Linux the most versatile operating system. You will understand the difference between the GNU project and the GPL.

All Linux distributions come with software developed under the GNU project. When you use the distro in text terminal mode, you will be able to see the GNU utilities.

What is GNU?

GNU (GNU’s Not Unix) is a free operating system of GNU packages that were released under the GNU project and other third parties free software. Linux has become the most preferred operating system recently because it comes with all the software installed. Linux distributions come with graphics software, office packages, and even coding packages under the GNU GPL license.

In 1984, Richard Stallman started the GNU project, which was intended to be a UNIX based Operating system.

GNU utilities are a collection of GNU software that contains tools like Is, Cat, and rm, which are mostly implemented in Unix Operating systems.

rm – is a command used to remove objects like computer files, directories, and links from file systems.

cat – is a Unix utility that reads files in sequence and writes them as standard output. Name derived from its functionality; to concatenate.

ls – is the command used to list files in Unix System and all UNIX based systems.

The GNU General Public License (GPL) for Linux, ensures that the software is always free and open to anyone. No single person or/and a company can claim ownership or control its use. Additionally, any user can copy, edit, and re-distribute the software’s source code.

You may ask yourself, then who funds the GNU project? How do they raise funds? The Free Software Foundation funds the project (FSF), a tax-exempted charity organization. To support the project, log on to www.gnu.org for details.

The GNOME GUI and the bash are both programs made under the GNU project. The Shell is the GNU program that executes your commands, most commonly referred to as the command interpreter.

Linux distributions are developed using GNU C and C++ compiler. Text files in Linux are edited using the ed and emacs editors.

Example of GNU Utilities

Other popular GNU utilities include:

Binutils - is comprised of different packages for handling binary files. Accompanying packages include ar, as, gasp, id, nm, objcopy, objdump, ranlib, readlf, size, and strip.
Bash – is the GNU package responsible for interpreting shell commands in Linux.
Automake – is the GNU software for generating a makefile.in files that are used with Autoconf.
Autoconf – is the package for generating shell scripts that are used for configuring source-code packages.
Emacs – is the text editor package for Linux.
Ed – is the line-oriented text editor.
Diff – is the package used to compare files and show the difference line by line.
GNU Chess – is the package for running the Linux chess game.
The GIMP – is a GNU program for manipulating images. It’s like photoshop for Linux.
GNOME – provides the display or GUI for Linux Distributions.
Gnumeric – is a spreadsheet GNU program that works on GNOME GUIs. It’s an equivalent of MS. Excel.
Time – is a GNU program that manages time for the user.

Installation and Setting up Linux System

In this chapter, we will learn the necessary steps for installing and setting up Linux. The beauty of Linux OS is that it usually comes with pre-installed basic programs. Here we will understand the installation steps, minimum requirements for installation and configurations settings, and needs for different distributions.

About installing Linux OS

Most computers usually come pre-installed with either Windows or MS. DOS system. Although recently, some computer manufacturers sell PCs with Linux pre-installed.

If your PC is not pre-installed with Linux, you will have to install it yourself. The first step is to choose the flavor/distribution that you would wish to install.

You can choose to either install the Linux distribution or run it directly from a Live CD. A Live CD allows you to boot the Linux system directly from the disc without necessarily installing. This feature makes Linux into a portable Operating system.

Alternatively, you can choose to add Linux OS as a virtual OS within Windows. To do this, you will need to install a virtual box first. Once the VirtualBox is installed in Windows, you can install Linux in the virtual environment. Thus you will have to partition your hard drive to accommodate the two operating systems.

Partitioning of the hard drive is not necessary if you opt to use Live CDs.

Steps to Follow to Install Linux OS

Installing Linux OS is not rocket science. A series of easy to follow steps are all you need to know to install Linux. In this chapter, we will go through the necessary steps that apply to most distributions. We will later go through steps for installing and setting up the Linux Mint distribution.

We will, first of all, go through the general installation requirements and procedures.

Before installing some Linux distribution, you may be required to at least know your system’s requirements, like the hardware and other components. Below are the simple steps for installation of any Linux distribution:

The first step in the installation of a Linux Distribution is downloading the distro from the web. All you need to do is to download the software and burn it on a CD. You can also copy the installation files onto a USB stick and install from it.
It’s essential to confirm that your PC is set to boot from CD or USB stick. Some PCs will require the settings changed in the BIOS before booting. On most PCs, on the booting screen, you press F2 or F8 (depending on BIOS version) to go to boot settings. While in the settings, change the boot priority to start with the CD or USB stick (where your Linux OS resides).
If you plan to run from the Live CD, all you need now to do is to restart your system. But if you plan to install, the third step will be to create some space (partition) on the hard drive, where Linux installed.
If you want to create a partition on your disk, it’s safe to use a partitioning program like partition magic. Download the partition magic software from www.powerquest.com .
Once you have the partition prepared, you can now boot your system to start the Linux installation.
The particular steps may vary from one distribution to another. The GUI will guide the user through the installation process.
You will be required to set the timezone, network settings, and the installer will automatically complete the remaining steps. Linux will install all the default programs necessary for running the system.
After the installation is complete, reboot your PC. You will be prompted to make configuration settings after that. You can as well install additional packages.

Linux System Requirements for Major Distributions

As mentioned earlier, it’s important to know your system’s attributes before installing a Linux distribution. Many Linux distributions have varying minimum requirements for installation. Consider this as the pre-installation requirements for Linux OS.

We will discuss some of the minimum system requirements for installation of Linux:

Most Linux system requires a CD/DVD drive to install. Although you can also use a USB stick to install or/and run the Linux OS. Most PCs come fixed with internal IDE or ATA DVD drives. You can as well use an external DVD drive connected via USB.
The next thing to check before installing Linux is the hard drive. Linux works with almost all IDE hard disks. Some PCs have SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) hard disks. Linux can equally work well with SCSI drives. Most distributions require a minimum of at least 5GB of hard drive space to install. Remember, if you run the Live CD; you don’t need hard disk space.
Ensure you also have a compatible keyboard, although most keyboards work effectively on Linux. Most USB keyboards are plug and play, thus reducing the complexity of setting up keyboards.
If you plan to access the internet using your Linux system, you need a modem that is compatible with Linux. Check the manufacturer manual for compatibility with Unix based system. Most manufacturers nowadays usually indicate this on the user manual with steps to follow in case setting up is needed.
Your display option is important too, although not sensitive since most basic monitors can work with many of the latest resolutions. All you need to confirm is that the monitor can work well with the available graphics cards installed in your system.
The type of mouse you use is equally important. Most Linux distributions work with both PS/2 and USB mouse.
If your PC uses a PC card to connect to the internet or local area network, it’s important to check compatibility with Linux. During installation, Linux will check the compatibility of your card.
Another essential pre-installation requirement for Linux is the Processor. Most Linux distribution requires processors of at least 400MHz (Pentium II). Although the latest distros require multi-thread processors, it’s crucial to ensure you choose a distro that can run effectively on your system.
Your RAM (Random Access Memory) is a critical component. This is the memory available for your system processes. The more, the better, although for effective running, you will require at least 256MB and above of RAM. To comfortably run a GUI desktop, because of the graphics, it’s important to have sufficient memory.
Something else you need to confirm is the sound card. Linux will work with most sound cards to play media. See the manufacturer manual for necessary settings after installing Linux. Some audio card manufacturers will share Linux specif drivers for their sound cards.
Check your graphic cards for compatibility. If you install GUI Linux, you will need a graphic card that can work with the X window system. Linux can detect and indicate whether a graphics card is compatible with the Linux system.
If you have a printer installed, it’s advisable to check the user manual for instruction on compatibility with Unix based systems. Most manufacturers share a CD that contains drivers for both Windows and Linux based systems.

Installing Linux Mint in VirtualBox

There are occasions where you would want to maintain your Windows installation but still have Linux installed on the same PC. To achieve this, you will have to install a virtual box in Windows.

A virtual box is a virtual environment that allows you to install Linux within it. Alternatively, a virtual box can assist you in installing more than one distribution in your PC. One will be installed on a partition on your hard disk, and the other will be installed in the virtual box.