How to Install and Configure Linux

Last updated: 16 Oct 2008

Overview

Overview of Linux; selection of applications and services; hands-on experience installing on surplus computer or virtual machine; configuring some services; testing configurations

Workshop Duration

2 hrs.

Student Prerequisites

OS installation skill; knowledge of computer components

Student Provides
  1. nothing
Lab Provides
  1. computer with CDROM and hard drive, monitor, keyboard, mouse
  2. Fedora CDs, DVD, or .iso images
Preparation

  1. Copy and label Live CDs (Qty 12 CDs)
  2. Install fixed hard drives and connect primary IDE cable to them
  3. Make sure all computers are functional
Delivery

  1. History of UNIX

    Roots at AT&T Bell Labs; Thompson, Ritchie, McIlroy, Ossanna

    1. CTSS->Multics->UNIX
      • What researchers wanted (spring 1969)
      • GE 635 computer to PDP-7 via paper tapes
      • Consisted of file system with copy/print/edit/delete utilities; processes; shell
      • Written in assembler->B->New B->C; eventually added structures
      • pipes took two years to conceive (McIlroy)
    2. Unix v.6 (1976-1977)
      • Thompson goes to Berkeley to teach OS as visiting prof.
      • Creates UNIX version 6 during that time
      • Academic licenses appear; Berkeley Systems Distribution (BSD)
      • Commercial interest appears
    3. Commercial licenses: System III and V (1981-1984)
      • early 1980s: GNU Project; Stallman
      • late 1980s: Jobs starts NextStep, based on BSD
    4. AT&T sells UNIX to Novell in 1993, who sells it to Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) in 1995
      • MINIX starts in late 1980s/early 1990s as teaching Unix by Tanenbaum
      • Linux starts in early 1990s by Linus Torvalds, student of Tanenbaum
  2. Design of Linux
    1. Monolithic vs. micro kernel; kernel is Linux
    2. GNU compilers, tools and utilities, X Window System (MIT), Apache web server (httpd), plus more
    3. Command-based; GUI on top (Gnome and KDE popular)
    4. Biggest open-source project; uses GNU Public License
    5. Compiled with gcc; many compilers and interpreters available
    6. daemons and services central; e.g., ftpd, sendmail, bind, httpd, sshd and local ones
    7. runs on palmtops to supercomputers
    8. also in cell phones, routers, sensors, gaming consoles, etc.
  3. Distributions (distros)

    All GNU/Linux, just different collection of packages and philosophy, plus installers and packagers.

    • Red Hat/Fedora
    • Novell/SUSE
    • Debian
    • Slackware
    • Gentoo (compile your own Linux)
    • Canonical/Ubuntu
    • OLPC
    • hundreds of others
  4. Live CD/DVD/USB

    Knoppix popularized

    1. Install to hard drive; initial configuration
    2. Configure after reboot
    3. Update to latest packages (auto-detected)
    4. See Add/Remove Programs for more
Cleanup

  1. If using virtual machines, delete the virtual machine and the .iso files.