Hardware, Software, and Information Requirements
Before installing Linux, you must ensure that your computer meets certain minimum hardware requirements.You also need to have certain specific information ready concerning your monitor, video card, mouse, and cD-ROM drive. All the requirements are presented in detail in the following sections. Be sure to read them carefully before you begin installation. During the installation program, you need to provide responses that reflect the configuration of your computer.
Hardware Requirements
Listed here are the minimum hardware requirements for installing a standard installation of the Linux system on an Intel-based PC:
S A 32-bit Intel-based personal computer. At least an Intel or compatible 80386, 80486, or
Pentium-class microprocessor is required. A 400 MHz Pentium is recommended for a graphical
interface and 200 MHz for text.
S A CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive (if you are using the DVD-ROM included with this book, you will need a DVD-ROM drive).
S A 3 1/2-inch floppy disk drive and floppy disk, if your PC is not capable of booting from CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. A 3 1/2-inch, DOS high-density (HD) floppy disk drive is used to create an install disk (if you are installing from a floppy). If you install directly from a CD-ROM, you will not need it.
A boot floppy can be created using either the Linux or Windows operating system.
S Normally, at least 64MB RAM for text, and 192MB for graphical. (Linux can run on as little as
12MB RAM.) At least 2GB free hard disk space for a standard installation, including applications
(keep in mind that Linux can run on far less on a minimum installation, as little as 100MB and
16MB swap); 3GB to 6GB or more is recommended for a full installation (all applications). You
need about 5GB to install all the software packages on most distribution CD-ROMs. The standard installation of basic software packages normally takes 3GB, plus 64MB to 512MB for swap space, depending on the amount of RAM memory you have. If you have less than 1GB of hard disk space, you can elect to perform a minimum install, installing only the Linux kernel without most of the applications. You could later install the applications you want, one at a time, using the redhat-config-packages tool accessible on the System Settings window.
S Hard disk requirements depend on the kind of installation you want:
o Custom Installation (minimum): 520MB
o Server (minimum): 870MB
o Personal Desktop: 1.9GB
o Workstation: 2.4GB
o Custom Installation (everything): 5.3GB
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Linux Software
A great deal of Linux software is currently available from online sources. You can download applications for desktops, Internet servers, office suites, and programming packages, among others. Several centralized repositories make it easy to locate an application and find information about it. Of particular note are sourceforge.net, freshmeat.net, rpmfind.net, and apps.kde.com.
Software packages are distributed in compressed archives or in RPM packages. RPM packages are those archived using the Red Hat Package Manager. Compressed archives have an extension such as .tar.gz or .tar.Z, whereas RPM packages have an .rpm extension. For Red Hat Fedora Core, you can update to the latest Red Hat RPM package versions of software from their Fedora Yum repository using the Red Hat Update Agent . For Red Hat Enterprise Linux, you can automatically download upgrades for your system using the Red Hat Network described. Also, any RPM package that you download directly, from whatever site, can be installed easily with the click of a button using the redhat-config-packages tool on either the GNOME or KDE desktop. You could also download the source version and compile it directly on your system. This has become a simple process, almost as simple as installing the compiled RPM versions.
Red Hat also has a large number of mirror sites from which you can download their software packages for current releases. Most Linux Internet sites that provide extensive software archives have mirror sites, such as www.kernel.org, that hold the new Linux kernels. If you have trouble connecting to a main FTP site, try one of its mirrors.
A great deal of Linux software is currently available from online sources. You can download applications for desktops, Internet servers, office suites, and programming packages, among others. Several centralized repositories make it easy to locate an application and find information about it. Of particular note are sourceforge.net, freshmeat.net, rpmfind.net, and apps.kde.com.
Software packages are distributed in compressed archives or in RPM packages. RPM packages are those archived using the Red Hat Package Manager. Compressed archives have an extension such as .tar.gz or .tar.Z, whereas RPM packages have an .rpm extension. For Red Hat Fedora Core, you can update to the latest Red Hat RPM package versions of software from their Fedora Yum repository using the Red Hat Update Agent . For Red Hat Enterprise Linux, you can automatically download upgrades for your system using the Red Hat Network described. Also, any RPM package that you download directly, from whatever site, can be installed easily with the click of a button using the redhat-config-packages tool on either the GNOME or KDE desktop. You could also download the source version and compile it directly on your system. This has become a simple process, almost as simple as installing the compiled RPM versions.
Red Hat also has a large number of mirror sites from which you can download their software packages for current releases. Most Linux Internet sites that provide extensive software archives have mirror sites, such as www.kernel.org, that hold the new Linux kernels. If you have trouble connecting to a main FTP site, try one of its mirrors.
Operating Systems and Linux
An operating system is a program that manages computer hardware and software for the user. Operating systems were originally designed to perform repetitive hardware tasks, which centered around managing files, running programs, and receiving commands from the user. You interact with an operating system through a user interface, which allows the operating system to receive and interpret instructions sent by the user. You only need to send an instruction to the operating system to perform a task, such as reading a file or printing a document. An operating system's user interface can be as simple as entering commands on a line or as complex as selecting menus and icons on a desktop.
An operating system also manages software applications. To perform different tasks, such as editing documents or performing calculations, you need specific software applications. An editor is an example of a software application that enables you to edit a document, making changes and adding new text. The editor itself is a program consisting of instructions to be executed by the computer. For the program to be used, it must first be loaded into computer memory, and then its instructions are executed. The operating system controls the loading and execution of all programs, including any software applications. When you want to use an editor, simply instruct the operating system to load the editor application and execute it.
File management, program management, and user interaction are traditional features common to all operating systems. Linux, like all versions of Unix, adds two more features. Linux is a multiuser and multitasking system. As it is a multitasking system, you can ask the system to perform several tasks at the same time. While one task is being done, you can work on another. For example, you can edit a file while another file is being printed. You do not have to wait for the other file to finish printing before you edit. As it is a multiuser system, several users can log in to the system at the same time, each interacting with the system through his or her own terminal.
An operating system is a program that manages computer hardware and software for the user. Operating systems were originally designed to perform repetitive hardware tasks, which centered around managing files, running programs, and receiving commands from the user. You interact with an operating system through a user interface, which allows the operating system to receive and interpret instructions sent by the user. You only need to send an instruction to the operating system to perform a task, such as reading a file or printing a document. An operating system's user interface can be as simple as entering commands on a line or as complex as selecting menus and icons on a desktop.
An operating system also manages software applications. To perform different tasks, such as editing documents or performing calculations, you need specific software applications. An editor is an example of a software application that enables you to edit a document, making changes and adding new text. The editor itself is a program consisting of instructions to be executed by the computer. For the program to be used, it must first be loaded into computer memory, and then its instructions are executed. The operating system controls the loading and execution of all programs, including any software applications. When you want to use an editor, simply instruct the operating system to load the editor application and execute it.
File management, program management, and user interaction are traditional features common to all operating systems. Linux, like all versions of Unix, adds two more features. Linux is a multiuser and multitasking system. As it is a multitasking system, you can ask the system to perform several tasks at the same time. While one task is being done, you can work on another. For example, you can edit a file while another file is being printed. You do not have to wait for the other file to finish printing before you edit. As it is a multiuser system, several users can log in to the system at the same time, each interacting with the system through his or her own terminal.
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