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Is Linux right for you?
Some years ago, a Unix-like operating system called “Linux” first surfaced on the computing scene. Dubbed as the “Next Big Thing” in the industry, Linux soon became a pragmatic alternative to a Windows-based desktop due to its ease of use, its crash resistance and its ability to run on numerous platforms without a glitch — from Intel-based PCs and Apple Macintoshes to the high-end Sun servers.
But what was so special about Linux in the first place? For Windows users like us, the Linux hype raises many questions. The focus of this article is to primarily deal with such unrequited queries and clarify any doubts and misconceptions that many of us may have about Linux.
So what makes Linux a viable alternative to other OSs? If you’re looking for a fast, dependable, low-maintenance operating system that can easily accommodate several users, resist crashes much better, act as an internet server, and still support a polished, user-friendly graphical interface, Linux fits the slot perfectly. Moreover, reliability is what Linux is all about. When put to the test for a period of seven weeks, a Linux-based PC never crashed unlike its Windows-based counterpart. As a matter of fact, some Linux installations have been known to survive for years without even requiring a reboot. At the end of the day, perhaps the most important question that remains to be answered is: are you any closer to ditching Windows than you were a couple of months back?
Set it free
You probably know that Linux is open-source software. This goes to say that Linux users can download, test, use, modify, and copy it as much as they want. Moreover, open-source software is supposedly more stable than proprietary (or closed-source) software. The reason being that whenever something goes wrong, any programmer can analyze the problem, and immediately offer fixes to all users. Astonishing, isn’t it?
Linus Torvalds created the core (the “kernel”) of Linux way back in 1991 while he was still a university student and made it available to everyone. That’s why today Linux isn’t controlled by a single company or organization. Firms such as Caldera, Corel, Red Hat and Debian are responsible for distributing their versions of Linux. Each of these companies has added its own embellishments and superfluities to the OS in the form of a unique graphical user interface (GUI), a range of applications, a customized setup program as well as an assortment of system utilities.
The apps
The roadblock Linux currently faces is the lack of popular software that will run on it. The absence of Linux versions of business and personal apps like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, etc. still debilitates the OS, but PC users no longer have to choose between running Linux and using their favourite apps. That’s because there are several programs around that let Linux PCs run Windows-based software. Users can now get the stability of Linux while still using Windows apps.
On the other hand, where popular apps are simply unavailable in Linux versions, a plethora of open-source alternatives exists. The underlying problem with these is that though they are plentiful, you’d only fancy a few of them as most of these apps are either highly specialized (like 3D object modelers) or targeted primarily at servers.
Graphical user-interface
Unlike Windows, a Linux system does not have a standard graphical user interface. The Xfree86 GUI architecture that comes with all distributions does not determine the look and feel of the interface, what menu bars, scroll bars, etc, would look like. A piece of software called “window manager” handles that. Furthermore, taskbars, application launchers, etc, aren’t provided by it. The “desktop environment” manages that bit.
The two main desktop environments existing today are Gnome and KDE. Despite some differences in software architecture, neither environment is superior to the other. Both put a clean, uncomplicated interface on top of Linux — so most Windows users who haven’t seen Linux before can feel somewhat at home right after installation. As a final remark, remember that when you boot Linux, you will arrive at a recognizable desktop.
Things to ponder about
Getting started with Linux can be as nerve-racking as a walk in the park during a thunderstorm. For one thing, Linux comes in many flavours and each distribution of the OS has its pros and cons. Think of the distributions as competing brands of the same-flavoured ice cream at a grocery store. Major Linux distributions include those offered by Red Hat Software, Caldera, Slackware, SuSE, Debian and TurboLinux.
To be on the safe side, back up all your crucial data on removable media before you attempt to install Linux. But before you do that, here are the essentials you need to know about Linux:
Hardware requirement: Installing Linux on your PC might take some time. That’s because the main problem with Linux has been its hardware support. You can’t just install Linux on any PC and expect it to work flawlessly. For instance, many people have trouble with graphics hardware under Linux, because drivers for them are unavailable. However, this situation is steadily improving as of late. Another dilemma encountered by some concerns modems. Problems arise with devices called “winmodems.” Although they work like regular modems and are comparatively cheaper, winmodems rely on your CPU to handle much of the processing that standard modems do themselves. Here’s where the conflict with Linux starts, as the software that works with these modems runs exclusively under Windows.
So if you fancy delving into the Linux world, you first need to check with the makers of the various Linux distributions for device compliance. Most maintain extensive hardware compatibility lists online. Ensure all of the peripherals and components you need to use are listed there. If one is not listed, check to see whether another distribution supports it.
On the other hand, if you wish to try Linux but don’t want to jettison Windows from your system, you can put Linux and Windows on the same PC. By installing Linux in a separate area of your hard drive, both operating systems can co-exist in harmony. Linux generally requires a minimum of two partitions, unlike Windows, which is capable of working with just one. To prepare your hard drive for Linux, either you can use a program called PartitionMagic or you can opt for the Mandrake distribution, which does the partitioning for you.
Test it first: If you have an extra PC with no critical programs or data on it, you might want to use it as your Linux lab rat before trying it out on your main machine.
Know your needs: Make sure that you have enough space on your hard drive, RAM and processor power to accommodate and handle a Linux install. Check the Linux distribution you plan to install, and ascertain its hardware requirements.
A spare floppy: Most distributions will prompt you to create a rescue disk incase anything goes horribly wrong. Have a blank floppy ready so you won’t have to skip this important step.
Reason to change: If you’re confused like several other people, and can’t decide whether you should try Linux, just ask yourself a simple question. Is your PC already doing everything you need it to? If the answer is yes, working with Linux will be a waste of time. If the answer is no - because you’re sick of running into constant application crashes and dealing with cryptic error messages with Windows — then perhaps Linux is worth a look.
Keep in mind that performing the installation is the hardest part of becoming a Linux user. Once you’ve cleared that impediment, you’ll have an extremely stable, very powerful, Internet-ready operating system at your fingertips. And with the desktop environment your Linux distribution sets up, you’ll have an easy-to-use, handsome-looking interface that might make your Windows-using friends jealous.
Getting started
If you’ve come this far, you’d really want to give Linux a shot. But installing Linux can be quite perplexing. To make everything easy for you, here’s a useful insight into the entire installation process:
Choose your ‘flava’: The right distribution of Linux for you should reflect your priorities and what you’d wish to do with your new OS. If you just want to give Linux a spin to see what it has to offer, Corel Linux is probably your best bet, owing to its simple installation process. Otherwise, Red Hat Linux would be the perfect choice, considered by a good number to be the oldest, most trusted distribution around. The main installation procedures mentioned below are for Red Hat Linux 7.1.
Installation: After you’ve bought yourself a bootable CD of Linux, the first step is to set up a partition for Linux on your hard drive. Linux requires a minimum of 500MB drive space. If Windows is already installed on your machine, you can rely on PartitionMagic or any other third-party program to create this space by shrinking existing partitions, leaving a contiguous stretch of empty space on your hard drive.
A few years back, a notoriously frustrating installation prevented most people from installing Linux on their PCs. But now, the situation has improved somewhat, though Linux is still unable to automatically detect all the hardware on your system.
During the installation, you’ll be bombarded with an array of questions. To tackle these, you need to be familiar with all the devices connected to your PC. In Windows, open Device Manager (Right-click My Computer > Properties > Device Manager). In Windows XP, select the Hardware tab before opening Device Manager and print everything out (Action > Print), after selecting “All devices and system summary.”
Next, boot from the installation CD to load the installer. If you can’t, change the BIOS settings to make your CD-ROM bootable by selecting it as the 1st boot device. On most PCs, you can enter the BIOS by pressing the “delete” key or “F1” during start up. Within a few seconds, the Linux installation window will be visible.
After selecting your preferred vernacular, your keyboard type and the sort of mouse you’re using, the installation will begin. Proceed after selecting “Workstation” in the install options.
Partitioning: To set up the file system on your hard drive, the installer comes with a tool called the Disk Druid. Using this, two partitions will have to be formed inside the space you earlier created. One would be a large partition for all your files. The other would be a much smaller swap partition (similar to Windows’ swap file). Instead of configuring the Disk Druid, you can have setup automatically do the partitioning for you.
Linux names partitions differently. For instance, your hard drive is called “/dev/hda”, and partitions within it are called “/dev/hda1”, “/dev/hda2” and so on. If you have a second hard drive, it’ll be called “/dev/hdb.” Moreover, the notation for an extended partition (if you had one) will be “/dev/hda5.”
Security options: Accept all the default settings.
User accounts: In Linux, the system administrator is called the “root.” You can input the root password here. Bear in mind that the administrator account is only for system maintenance and administration. You can create a second account, if you wish, for your day-to-day use.
Packages: The installer pre-selects a number of software packages automatically. Ensure that you install both the GNOME and KDE desktop environments.
Drivers: Once the installation program determines your video card and monitor type, it will automatically display the results of its search for your approval, along with the appropriate drivers. The report you printed out earlier may come in handy at this point.
Desktop: Here you can select your graphical desktop from either Gnome or KDE.
Once you’re done, the installer will take about half an hour to get all the packages installed to your system.
LILO: Once you reboot after installation, a small program called the Linux Loader (LILO) will load, giving you the choice of starting either Windows (called “DOS”) or Linux. Answer “dos” if you wish to run Windows, or answer “linux” to start Linux. By default, if you don’t choose anything, Linux will automatically load. But you can change this setting to automatically start Windows by default. After this you’ll be asked to log in with your root account.
Although Linux is still in its formative years, it is expected to develop tremendously in the coming months. To empower yourself with the latest tools and learn more about Linux, including full documentation and informative tutorials, the internet is the place to search as there are literally hundreds of pages peppering the vast expanse of the information superhighway.
— First of all, be sure to check the Linux home page, at http://www.linux.org/
— If you suspect any non-standard hardware on your system and need HOW-TO documentation on Linux, the best place to visit is http://www.linuxdoc.org/docs.html#howto
— For an excellent set of links to various Linux sites, be sure to try http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Linux
— Lastly, if you wish to check out the latest happenings in the Linux community, try http://www.linuxtoday.com
The writer
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