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What is Linux Operating System

Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2024

The Linux Operating System is a type of

operating system that is similar to Unix,
and it is built upon the Linux Kernel. The
Linux Kernel is like the brain of the
operating system because it manages
how the computer interacts with its
hardware and resources. It makes sure
everything works smoothly and efficiently.
But the Linux Kernel alone is not enough
to make a complete operating system. To
create a full and functional system, the
Linux Kernel is combined with a collection
of software packages and utilities, which
are together called Linux distributions.
These distributions make the Linux
Operating System ready for users to run
their applications and perform tasks on
their computers securely and effectively.
Linux distributions come in different
flavors, each tailored to suit the specific
needs and preferences of users.

Table of Content
Linux History
What is Linux?
What is Linux Operating System?
What is a “distribution?”
Why use Linux?
Architecture of Linux
Which distribution is right for you?
Installing Linux
Installing software on Linux
Advantages of Linux
Disadvantages of Linux
Linux Commands

Linux History
Linus Torvalds designed the free and
open-source Linux operating system
kernel in 1991. Torvalds set out to develop
a free and flexible system for personal
computers, drawing ideas from the UNIX
operating system and the MINIX operating
system. Teamwork in development was
encouraged with the initial release of the
Linux kernel, which attracted developers
and enthusiasts globally quickly. Various
open-source software packages
integrated with the Linux kernel created
fully operational operating systems,
occasionally referred to as Linux
distributions. Over the years, Linux has
become known as a key component of
modern computing, powering everything
from servers and personal computers to
supercomputers and smartphones. Due to
its flexibility, durability, and strong
community support, developers,
businesses, and educational institutions
frequently opt for it.

What is Linux?
Linux is a free and open-source family of
operating systems that is resilient and
flexible. In 1991, an individual by the
name as Linus Torvalds constructed it.
The system’s source code is accessible to
everyone for anyone to look at and
change, making it cool that anyone can
see how the system works. People from
all across the world are urged to work
together and keep developing Linux due
to its openness. Since the beginning,
Linux has grown into a dependable and
safe OS that is used in an array of
gadgets, including PCs, cell phones, and
huge supercomputers. It is well-known for
being cost-effective, which implies that
employing it doesn’t cost a lot, and
efficient, which indicates it can complete a
lot of jobs quickly. A lot of people love
Linux, and

What is Linux Operating

System?
Developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991, the
Linux operating system is a powerful and
flexible open-source software platform. It
acts as the basis for a variety of devices,
such embedded systems, cell phones,
servers, and personal computers. Linux,
that’s well-known for its reliability, safety,
and flexibility, allows users to customize
and improve their environment to suit
specific needs. With an extensive and
active community supporting it, Linux is
an appealing choice for people as well as
companies due to its wealth of resources
and constant developments.

What is a “distribution?”
Linux distribution is an operating system
that is made up of a collection of software
based on Linux kernel or you can say
distribution contains the Linux kernel and
supporting libraries and software. And you
can get Linux-based operating system by
downloading one of the Linux distributions
and these distributions are available for
different types of devices like embedded
devices, personal computers, etc. Around
600 + Linux Distributions are available
and some of the popular Linux
distributions are:

MX Linux
Manjaro
Linux Mint
elementary
Ubuntu
Debian
Solus
Fedora
openSUSE
Deepin

Why use Linux?

Because it is free, open-source, and
extremely flexible, Linux is widely utilized.
For servers and developers, it is the ideal
option because it offers strong security,
stability, and performance. Generally
interoperable hardware, a broad software
library, and a vibrant community that
offers support and regular updates are the
many benefits of Linux. Due to its
adaptability, users can customize the
operating system according to their own
needs, whether they become for personal
or large enterprise use.

Architecture of Linux
Linux architecture has the following
components:

Linux Architecture

1. Kernel: Kernel is the core of the Linux

based operating system. It virtualizes
the common hardware resources of the
computer to provide each process with
its virtual resources. This makes the
process seem as if it is the sole
process running on the machine. The
kernel is also responsible for
preventing and mitigating conflicts
between different processes. Different
types of the kernel are:
Monolithic Kernel
Hybrid kernels
Exo kernels
Micro kernels

2. System Library: Linux uses system

libraries, also known as shared
libraries, to implement various
functionalities of the operating system.
These libraries contain pre-written
code that applications can use to
perform specific tasks. By using these
libraries, developers can save time and
effort, as they don’t need to write the
same code repeatedly. System
libraries act as an interface between
applications and the kernel, providing a
standardized and efficient way for
applications to interact with the
underlying system.
3. Shell: The shell is the user interface of
the Linux Operating System. It allows
users to interact with the system by
entering commands, which the shell
interprets and executes. The shell
serves as a bridge between the user
and the kernel, forwarding the user’s
requests to the kernel for processing. It
provides a convenient way for users to
perform various tasks, such as running
programs, managing files, and
configuring the system.
4. Hardware Layer: The hardware layer
encompasses all the physical
components of the computer, such as
RAM (Random Access Memory), HDD
(Hard Disk Drive), CPU (Central
Processing Unit), and input/output
devices. This layer is responsible for
interacting with the Linux Operating
System and providing the necessary
resources for the system and
applications to function properly. The
Linux kernel and system libraries
enable communication and control
over these hardware components,
ensuring that they work harmoniously
together.
5. System Utility: System utilities are
essential tools and programs provided
by the Linux Operating System to
manage and configure various aspects
of the system. These utilities perform
tasks such as installing software,
configuring network settings,
monitoring system performance,
managing users and permissions, and
much more. System utilities simplify
system administration tasks, making it
easier for users to maintain their Linux
systems efficiently.

Which distribution is right

for you?
Choosing the right Linux distribution
depends on your needs and experience
level:

For Beginners: Because of its simple

user interface and strong community
support, Ubuntu is a wonderful choice
for initially Linux users. On the
opposite hand, Linux Mint make it
straightforward for novices to transition
to Linux by offering an experience
comparable to Windows out of the box.
For Advanced Users: Advanced
users who appreciate customization
and direct control might opt for Arch
Linux, it is known for its simplistic style
and ability to create highly unique
systems from the ground up. Another
choice is
Gentoo,
that provides total control of the system
but requires manual setup and a
lengthy learning process.
For Developers: Fedora was a
popular choice among developers due
to its focus upon modern technology
and software, making it a perfect
platform for software testing and
development. On the other hand,
Debian is well known for its reliability
and extensive package repository,
which implies it may be used in both
production and development
environments.
For Servers: For server environments,
CentOS
is a powerful, community-maintained
distribution that matches
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
quite somewhat. As an alternative,
Ubuntu Server offers an extensive list
of server applications in addition to
strong community support and ease of
use.
For Lightweight Systems: Lubuntu is
frequently picked by users either like
lightweight operating systems or have
outdated equipment due to its ability to
utilize system resources efficiently
while maintaining functionality. Another
slim option is Puppy Linux, that is
made to run well on outdated hardware
while maintaining the essential
functions and applications.

Installing Linux
Selecting a Ubuntu, Fedora, or Linux Mint
distribution which suits your needs is the
initial step in the straightforward
procedure for installing Linux. Download
the ISO file first from the distribution’s
official website. Next, utilize an application
like Etcher for macOS and Linux or Rufus
for Windows to create a bootable USB
drive. Following you insert the USB drive
into your computer and restart it, you may
set the USB drive as the primary boot
device by traversing to the BIOS or UEFI
settings. Upon booting from the USB the
hard drive, the Linux setup will show up.
To partition the drive, choose your time
zone, create user accounts, and change
system settings, simply adhere to the
instructions displayed on the screen.
When the installation concludes,
disconnect the USB drive and turn on
your computer normally. For mare detailed
way to install the Linux Mint Refer this
link.

Installing software on Linux

On Linux, installing software is simple. For
Debian-based systems (like Ubuntu), use
package managers like apt and sudo apt
install package_name; for Fedora, use dnf
and sudo dnf install package_name.
Software centers are another source for a
graphical application installation and
searching interface. For Python
installation specifics, detailed guidance
can be found in the provided link.

Advantages of Linux
The main advantage of Linux is it is an
open-source operating system. This
means the source code is easily
available for everyone and you are
allowed to contribute, modify and
distribute the code to anyone without
any permissions.
In terms of security, Linux is more
secure than any other operating
system. It does not mean that Linux is
100 percent secure, it has some
malware for it but is less vulnerable
than any other operating system. So, it
does not require any anti-virus
software.
The software updates in Linux are
easy and frequent.
Various Linux distributions are
available so that you can use them
according to your requirements or
according to your taste.
Linux is freely available to use on the
internet.
It has large community support.
It provides high stability. It rarely slows
down or freezes and there is no need
to reboot it after a short time.
It maintains the privacy of the user.
The performance of the Linux system
is much higher than other operating
systems. It allows a large number of
people to work at the same time and it
handles them efficiently.
It is network friendly.
The flexibility of Linux is high. There is
no need to install a complete Linux
suite; you are allowed to install only
the required components.
Linux is compatible with a large
number of file formats.
It is fast and easy to install from the
web. It can also install it on any
hardware even on your old computer
system.
It performs all tasks properly even if it
has limited space on the hard disk.

Disadvantages of Linux
It is not very user-friendly. So, it may
be confusing for beginners.
It has small peripheral hardware
drivers as compared to windows.

Linux Commands
Basic tools for utilizing the command line
interface (CLI) to communicate with the
operating system are Linux commands.
Commonly used commands include ls to
list contents of directories, cd to modify
directories, and pwd to show the path of
the current directory. With commands like
cp (copy), mv (move), and rm (delete),
someone can manage file activities.
Commands for system information and
management include free for memory use,
df to evaluate disk space usage, and top
for monitoring system processes. Utilizing
networking commands such netstat,
ifconfig, and ping, users can monitor and
troubleshoot network connections.
Package management differs depending
on the distribution; Fedora-based
machines use dnf, while Debian-based
systems use apt. Commands like cat,
grep, awk, and sed are required for
editing text files. Knowing and performing
these directions well enables. For clear
understanding about the Linux commands
refer this link.

Conclusion
In this article, we discussed Linux
Operating System which is a powerful and
flexible open-source operating system
based on the Linux Kernel. With a
collaborative global community, it offers
security, frequent updates, and diverse
distributions tailored to user needs. Its
architecture, comprising the kernel,
system libraries, shell, hardware layer,
and utilities, ensures efficient functionality.
While Linux boasts high performance,
stability, and compatibility, challenges
include user-friendliness for beginners
and a limited number of peripheral
hardware drivers. Despite this, Linux
remains a significant player in computing,
poised for continued evolution and
relevance.

Linux Operating System –

FAQs

What is Linux Operating System?

Linux is an open-source operating

system developed by Linus
Torvalds in 1991. It provides a
customizable and secure alternative
to proprietary systems. With its
stable performance, Linux is widely
used across devices, from personal
computers to servers and
smartphones. The collaborative
efforts of its developer community
continue to drive innovation, making
Linux a dominant force in the world
of computing.

Is There Any Difference between

Linux and Ubuntu?

The answer is YES. The main

difference between Linux and
Ubuntu is Linux is the family of
open-source operating systems
which is based on Linux kernel,
whereas Ubuntu is a free open-
source operating system and the
Linux distribution which is based on
Debian. Or in other words, Linux is
the core system and Ubuntu is the
distribution of Linux. Linux is
developed by Linus Torvalds and
released in 1991 and Ubuntu is
developed by Canonical Ltd. and
released in 2004.

How do I install software on Linux

Operating System?

To install software on Linux, we can

use package managers specific to
your Linux distribution.

For example,

In Ubuntu, you can use the “apt”

package manager,

while on Fedora, you can use “dnf.”

You can simply open a terminal and

use the package manager to search
for and install software.

For example,

To install the text editor “nano” on

Ubuntu, you can use the command

sudo apt install nano

Can we dual-boot Linux with

another operating system?

Yes, we can dual-boot Linux with

another operating system, such as
Windows. During the installation of
Linux, we can allocate a separate
partition for Linux, and a boot
manager (like GRUB) allows us to
choose which operating system to
boot when starting our computer.

How can I update my Linux

distribution?

We can update our Linux

distribution using the package
manager of our specific distribution.
For instance, on Ubuntu, we can
run the following commands to
update the package list and
upgrade the installed packages:

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

What are the essential Linux

commands for beginners?

Some essential Linux commands

for beginners include:

ls: List files and directories

cd: Change directory
mkdir: Create a new directory
rm: Remove files or directories
cp: Copy files and directories