Linux Essentials

Linux Essentials
The LPI Introductory Programme

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Authors: Tobias Elsner, Thomas Erker, Anselm Lingnau Technical Editor: Anselm Lingnau ⟨anselm.lingnau@linupfront.de ⟩ Typeset in Palatino, Optimaand DejaVu Sans Mono Register this manual on-line via the QR code on the left or http://shop.linupfront. com/register/hnINuUQTazcf7HFRIM80of/ for updates and interesting special offers.

Contents
1 Computers, Software and Operating Systems 1.1 What Is A Computer, Anyway? . . . . . 1.2 Components Of A Computer . . . . . 1.3 Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 The Most Important OperatingSystems . . 1.4.1 Windows And OS X . . . . . . . 1.4.2 Linux . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4.3 More Differences And Similarities . . 1.5 Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14 15 19 20 20 21 22 22 25 26 28 28 31 32 3537 37 37 38 39 39 39 40 40 40 41 42 43 44 44 47 48 49 49 51 51 51

2 Linux and Free Software 2.1 Linux: A Success Story . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Free Or Open Source? . . . . . . . . . . 2.2.1 Copyright And “Free Software” . . . . 2.2.2 Licences . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2.3 The GPL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2.4 Other Licences . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 Important Free Software . . . . . . . . .2.3.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.2 Office and Productivity Tools . . . . . 2.3.3 Graphics and Multimedia Tools . . . . 2.3.4 Internet Services . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.5 Infrastructure Software. . . . . . . . 2.3.6 Programming Languages and Development 2.4 Important Linux Distributions . . . . . . . 2.4.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4.2 Red Hat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4.3 SUSE...