Chapter 2: Introduction to Operating Systems

Reading

Required:

• Both, “Using and Administering Linux, volume 1”, chapter 2: “Introduction to Operating Systems”

Optional:

• Kernighan, Brian W, “UNIX: A History and a Memoir”
• Gancarz, Mike, “Linux and the Unix Philosophy”

Geek out:

• Linux like original Unix (video on YouTube)

Objectives

In this chapter you will learn to

• Describe the functions of the main hardware components of a computer
• List and describe the primary functions of an operating system
• Briefly outline the reasons that prompted Linus Torvalds to create Linux
• Describe how the Linux core utilities support the kernel and together create an operating system

Choice – Really!

What is an operating system?

Hardware

Motherboard

The processor

Peripherals

The operating system

The definition

Typical operating system functions

Memory management

Multitasking

Multiuser

Process management

Interprocess communication

Device management

Error handling

A bit of history

Starting with UNICS

UNIX

The Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD)

The Unix Philosophy

A (very) brief history of Linux

Core utilities

GNU coreutils

util-linux

Copyleft

Games

Chapter summary

Exercises