Linux Basics (1) - What is a Linux system? What is the difference with Windows? Common installation methods [New Star Project Linux]

#2023 Blog Star – City Star Leader Activity Opens#

Linux is a free and open source Unix operating system whose kernel was written by Linus Torvalds in 1991. The Linux operating system uses many components and tools from the GNU project and runs on a variety of hardware platforms.

01 | Features of Linux

Linux has become an important part of modern computers, it has the following advantages:

1. Open source code : users can freely modify, distribute and use the Linux operating system, which is one of the important reasons why Linux can develop into one of the most popular operating systems at present.

2. Stability : The Linux operating system has excellent stability and reliability, and most servers will choose to use Linux as the operating system to ensure the continuous and stable operation of the system.

3. Security : Not only does the Linux operating system have strong security features, but it also enjoys extensive attention and scrutiny in the open source community, which can help reduce the time it takes for vulnerabilities to be discovered and fixed.

4. Flexibility : The Linux operating system can be customized and configured according to specific needs. Users can choose different versions of Linux distributions or manually compile the required software packages according to their needs.

In addition, the Linux operating system can be downloaded and used for free, and with a rich open source software library, it can be applied to various application scenarios, such as desktops, servers, workstations, mobile devices, etc.

02 | Linux and Windows

Linux and Windows are two different operating systems with several key differences:

1. Open Source and Proprietary : Linux is an open source operating system, and users can freely view, modify, and distribute its source code. Windows, on the other hand, is a proprietary operating system whose source code is not publicly available.

2. User interface : Linux operating systems usually use a graphical interface (such as GNOME, KDE, etc.), but can also use a command-line interface entirely. The Windows operating system uses a graphical interface by default (such as the desktop interface of Windows 10).

3. Applications : In the Windows operating system, most applications are developed specifically for the Windows platform. In the Linux operating system, there are many open source software and tools, which are free to download and use.

4. Security : A securely configured Linux operating system is generally more secure than Windows because Linux has more built-in security features and its open source code is shared with the community for use and review.

5. Portability : Because Linux has good portability, it can run on various hardware platforms, such as servers, embedded devices, mobile devices, etc. Windows, on the other hand, runs primarily on personal computers and servers.

03 | Types of Linux

Linux is a broad operating system with many different versions and distributions. Here are a few common Linux categories:

1. Desktop-based Linux : These Linux distributions are designed to provide a great experience for desktop users, such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, etc.

2. Server Linux : These Linux distributions are suitable for cloud servers, web servers, database servers, etc. such as CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ubuntu Server, SUSE Linux Enterprise, etc.

3. Embedded Linux : These Linux distributions are designed for use on embedded devices, smartphones or tablets, etc. such as Android, Embedded Linux, Tizen, etc.

4. Lightweight Linux : These Linux distributions are designed for resource-constrained devices and older computers, such as Puppy Linux, Tiny Core Linux, Garuda Linux, etc.

5. Scientific computing and data analysis Linux : These Linux versions are mainly used for scientific research, engineering simulation, data analysis, etc., such as Fedora Scientific, Scientific Linux, Calcium OS, etc.

In addition, there are many other domain-specific Linux distributions, such as Kali Linux (penetration testing), ArcoLinux (desktop customization), and SteamOS (gaming). Linux distributions are very rich, and users can choose according to their needs.

04 | How to install Linux

There are two common Linux installation methods: CD/USB boot installation, virtual machine installation

1. CD/USB boot installation : This is the most common installation method, users can download the Linux ISO image file and burn it to a CD or USB, and then boot the computer from the media to install;

2. Virtual machine installation : Users can install the Linux operating system in virtual machine software (such as VMware, VirtualBox), which can avoid damage to physical hardware.

If it is only used for learning and there is no spare computer available, the virtual machine installation method is usually selected. After all, we usually use the Windows system, and most usage scenarios are also carried out under Windows, so there is no need to install the computer system. into a Linux system.

What about installing a dual system?

As far as my personal experience is concerned, installing a dual system is not as good as installing a virtual machine (based on not pursuing Linux hardware performance).

Because installing dual systems does not mean that you can switch at any time, but choose the system you want to use this time when you turn it on. In this way, it is actually impossible to transfer data between the two systems in real time, as I am used to Operating on the Windows graphical interface, I like to watch videos and learn while doing practical operations and then take notes. It’s not impossible to use dual systems, or do I need to move the Windows stuff to Linux again?

Of course, this is just my personal experience, and I haven’t tried it in depth. If there is a way to switch in real time, please let me know. I’ll make a set right away hahahaha.
About how to use a virtual machine to install Linux, I will record it in the next article. stay tuned

Everyone, pay attention, like, bookmark, and come back when you are free, thank you