Introduction to Linux
Linux is a set of Unix-like operating systems that are free to use and spread freely. It is a multi-user, multi-tasking, multi-threading and multi-CPU operating system based on POSIX and UNIX.
Linux can run major UNIX utilities, applications and network protocols. It supports 32-bit and 64-bit hardware. Linux inherits the network-centric design idea of Unix, and is a multi-user network operating system with stable performance.
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is simply a package of the Linux kernel and application software.
At present, the more well-known distributions on the market are: Ubuntu, RedHat, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, SuSE, OpenSUSE, Arch Linux, SolusOS, etc.
Linux application areas
Today, various Linux distributions are used in various occasions, from embedded devices to supercomputers, and have established a position in the server field, usually the server uses LAMP (Linux + Apache + MySQL + PHP) or LNMP (Linux + Nginx + MySQL + PHP) combination.
Linux vs Windows
At present, domestic Linux is more applied to the server, and the desktop operating system is more Windows. The main differences are as follows
| Compare | Windows | Linux |
|---|---|---|
| interface | The interface is unified, the shell program is fixed, the menus of all Windows programs are almost the same, and the shortcut keys are also almost the same | GUI styles vary from release to release and may not be compatible with each other. GNU/Linux terminals are inherited from UNIX, and the basic commands and operation methods are almost the same. |
| driver | Drivers are abundant, and versions are updated frequently. The default installation program generally contains the popular hardware drivers when the version is released, and the new hardware drivers released after that depend on the hardware manufacturers. For some old hardware, it is sometimes difficult to support without the original driver. In addition, sometimes the hardware manufacturer does not provide the required version of the driver under Windows, it will also be a headache. | Developed by volunteers and released by the Linux core development team, many hardware manufacturers do not provide drivers based on copyright considerations. Although most of them do not require manual installation, the installation is relatively complicated, making new users face driver problems (whether it exists and installs). method) will be helpless. But under the open source development model, many older hardware can easily find drivers even though they are hard to support under Windows. Hardware manufacturers such as HP, Intel, and AMD are gradually supporting open source drivers to varying degrees, and the problem is being alleviated. |
| use | Simple to use and easy to get started with. The graphical interface is very beneficial for users without computer background knowledge. | The graphical interface is simple to use and easy to get started with. Text interface, need to learn to master. |
| Learn | The system structure is complex and changes frequently, and knowledge and skills are quickly eliminated, making in-depth learning difficult. | The system structure is simple and stable, and the knowledge and skills are well inherited, making it relatively easy to learn in depth. |
| software | Each specific function may require commercial software support, requiring the purchase of a corresponding license. | Most of the software is freely available, and there are fewer options for software with the same function. |