
Appendix B
Introduction to Linux
B.1 Introduction
Linux is a multi-user, multi-tasking operating system that is Unix-like and per-
forms many of the same functions as UNIX. Linux is freely available; to acquire
Linux is to purchase a Linux distribution.
A Linux distribution is an organized bundle that includes the kernel (core of the
operating system), a large set of utility programs, which includes an installation util-
ity. Some of the most widely-used Linux distributions are: Red Hat, Debian, Ubuntu,
CentOS, Slackware, and others.
B.2 Operating System Interfaces
Users and application programmers can communicate with an operating system
through its