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Getting started with Linux; Pt.1 Most PC users think of Windows 95/98 as an inseparable part of their computer. Sure, there are still a few diehard DOS users about and some who think that Windows 3.1 is all there is to life but it’s a relative newcomer to the scene, Linux, that’s really starting to make an impact in some places. By BOB DYBALL L INUX BEGAN AS the brainchild of Linus Torvalds, then at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Basically, he wanted an affordable Unix implementation that would run his programs without the need for a complete rewrite, as was necessary for Minix. He also wanted an operating system that didn’t need expensive hardware. He ended up writing it himself. Linus released a version to the public in 1991 under the Free Software Foundation’s General Public License (GPL). When he uploaded it to an FTP site for public access, the person maintaining the site felt that Linus’ choice of the name “Freix” was not the best and renamed the upload directory Linux (after Linus and Unix). The name stuck and has been with us ever since. Since then debate over Linux has ranged from how to pronounce it, through “what do I do with it now?”, on to “is it a threat to Microsoft?”. First for the easy one – the pronunciation. Linux is pronounced “Lihnucks” and doesn’t rhyme with the American pronunciation of “Linus”. You can download Linux for free over the Internet (provided you have lots of time) or you can take the easy approach and purchase a packaged commercial version. This package from Caldera includes a 240-page “Getting Started Guide”, a non-commercial copy of Star Office plus some useful back-up software. What’s more, they provide 30-day support. If you’re not convinced, go to http:// www.linux.org.au/linux.shtml where you can hear it from Linus himself! Now the next two questions: what can you do with Linux and is it a serious competitor to Microsoft? There are no simple yes/no answers to these questions. It really depends on your needs, your budget and your requirements for ongoing support. This first article looks at some of the features that Linux offers and tells you how to get hold of it. In later articles, we’ll cover some of the more in depth aspects of Linux. Licensing The GPL license means that you can legally copy the software and give it to others. It also means that you get the source code included with the software, although this is probably only of interest if you are a programmer or have one in your employ who can modify it. (Note: if you are a developer or wish to use GPL code in a commercial product, you should consult the GPL license carefully). By contrast, if you copied one of the Windows operating systems, you would be guilty of breaking the law. In addition, you’re certainly not likely to see the source code for say Windows 98 given to you by Microsoft free of charge. What to expect from Linux With Linux, you have two basic modes of operation. Initially, you’ll normally see Linux in a “shell” that looks a little like DOS. However, closer inspection soon reveals that it has a different prompt. It also has different commands and a number of other differences. For example, paths MARCH 1999  7 Fig.1: the screen shot at left shows Xwindows running on Caldera’s Linux, while above is a typical menu from Xwindows. don’t use the backslash but instead use a forward slash (/) and so on. The second mode of operation is “Xwindows”, popularised from other Unix implementations. You can think of Xwindows as something like Microsoft Windows and indeed there are a number of similarities. The GUI mode is also more resource hungry, needing more RAM and more PC power than the shell mode but is still quite fast. Applications A fairly important consideration with Linux is the availability of applications. An operating system isn’t much good unless there’s also some useful software to run with it! From the outset, it’s important to realise that, when it comes to applications, Linux doesn’t have anywhere near the same degree of support as Microsoft Windows – you won’t find dozens of word processors or graphics packages for Linux in your local computer shop, for example. Nevertheless, there are quite a few applications available for Linux and more are coming. For example, two all-in-one packages, “Officesuite” from Applix­ ware and “StarOffice” from Star­Division, are now available. Among other functions, these offer a spread­sheet, a database and a word 8  Silicon Chip processor. Corel also has a Linux version of WordPerfect on the market and there is a Linux version of Net­ scape Navigator. For the time being, the most popular use for Linux is on PC servers. It can be used as a file server, a printer server and a fax server – all for a fraction of the cost of a competing Windows NT system. Linux is also quite popular with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as a “router” for handling incoming calls via modems and for “routing” Internet traffic. Another common use for Linux is as a platform for the popular Apache web server. This is usually supplied with commercial versions of Linux and enables a web server to be set up without the need for expensive commercial software. Getting hold of Linux There are a quite few ways to get Linux, apart from trying to find get a free copy from someone under the GPL license. If you have Internet access, many implementations or “distributions” of Linux are available for free by FTP (file transfer protocol). However, waiting for hours, or more like days, for the files to arrive over the net via a modem is not everyones idea of fun. For this reason, there are a number of companies that survive by supplying Linux on a CD-ROM as part of a low-cost commercial package! These packages will save you time and money compared to Internet access and usually also come with books and additional programs and utilities. As an added benefit, some of these companies also provide a certain level of support for their customers or bundle in special programs to go with their version of Linux. Some of the more popular versions include: Caldera Open Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Red Hat Linux, Slackware Linux, Pacific HiTech’s Turbo Linux and SuSE Linux. However, these are just some of the packages that are available – there are a great many more. When choosing the distributor, compare your hardware to the system requirements on the particular package. Sometimes you’ll find differences between packages when it comes to supporting a particular SCSI card or sound card, for example. This may not be the end of the world, as given the source code you can recompile Linux. However, this isn’t for the fainthearted or something recommended for the first-time user. As well as the hardware considerations, you also need to look at what Fig.2: this screen shot is from the StarOffice application that comes bundled with Caldera Open Linux. Among other things, it offers a spread­sheet, a database and a word processor. other software is bundled with the package and consider the support that’s offered. You might have some special requirements for example. If you have a situation where you need to run low-cost PCs as Novel Netware clients in a LAN, then you should consider Caldera Open Linux. Low in cost and relatively easy to set up, this special implementation excels when it comes to Novel connectivity. Caldera also bundle a very useful 240-page “Getting Started Guide”, a non-commercial copy of Star Office and back-up software in their standard package. What’s more, they provide 30-day support. Another popular distribution is the Red Hat Linux. Red Hat features “smart” upgrades, so popular that the patch files used in Red Hat’s RPM format are now also used by a number of other distributors. Red Hat can be installed on PCs ranging from 386s with 16MB of RAM to the latest Pentium IIs. You’ll need around 120MB of free hard disc space for a minimum installation, or around 500MB if performing a typical installation. The installation is very easy to follow, the setup procedure leading you by the hand through a series of simple questions. Debian GNU/Linux is becoming another popular distribution. Debian has 400 volunteers working on it, making it one of the largest, if not the largest, Linux development groups. Installation of Debian GNU/Linux is also quite simple and updates are in the Red Hat RPM format. Debian is compatible with Slack­ ware updates as well as Red Hat RPM update files. It can also be updated over the net using FTP. Slackware has been compiled by Patrick Volkerding and has been distributed for some time now. There is some debate as to whether Slackware or Red Hat has the easiest installation program, although I feel that both are quite straightforward. Slackware includes both a bootable CD-ROM and a standard installation CD-ROM. Hardware requirements are 8MB of RAM and 12MB of hard disc space for a CD-ROM dependant installation. Of course, you get better performance if the system is installed on the hard disc and for this you’ll need between 40-400MB of free space, depending on the options you choose to install. Linux Pro, by Workgroup Solutions, aims to deliver a very stable Linux package. It is not necessarily made up of all of the latest components, on the premise that the “latest is not always the greatest”. However, you’ll find all of the latest on a supplementary CD in the package, if you can’t resist keeping up with the Joneses. SuSE Linux, originally from Germany, has a very easy installation, and is ideal for the novice. Purchasers of the boxed package get 60 days of free installation support with SuSE. Finally, TurboLinux from Pacific HiTech offers a high-performance Linux, optimised for places where speed is the most important factor. It is ideal for those who want to get the best performance from their system but is still suitable for both novices and experts alike. TurboLinux is also easy to maintain and update. It supports RPM updates and has its own easy-to-use front end. An alternative kernel is supplied too, for people wishing to have APM (Advanced Power Management) support. Turbo Linux is currently the most popular distribution in Japan, with sales of over 500,000 in just six months. Next month we’ll describe how Linux is installed and show you how to set up a dual-boot system with Windows. In addition, we’ll give you some basic command and troubleshooting tips to keep you running. SC MARCH 1999  9