LECTURE 1:

INTRODUCING UNIX
CS0024 : INTRODUCTION TO UNIX/LINUX
Acknowledgement
 These lecture slides are adopted from lecture
notes by William Knottenbelt,
(wjk@doc.ic.ac.uk)
 Link to the original notes is

http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~wjk/UnixIntro/Lecture1.
html (Accessed in March 2014)
 These slides have been prepared by Mbega,

Juma C. (University of Dodoma, 0757 939263,

jumambega@gmail.com)
Agenda
 The concept of an operating system.
 The internal architecture of an operating system.
 The evolution of the UNIX operating system into
two broad schools (BSD and SYSV) and the
development of Linux, a popular open source
operating system.
 The architecture of the Linux operating system in
more detail.
 How to log into (and out of) UNIX and change
your password.
 The general format of UNIX commands.
What is an Operating System?
 OS is a resource manager.
 OS takes a form of a set of software that allow
users and Application program to access
system resources (e.g. CPU) in a Safe,
Efficient and Abstract manner.
General OS Architecture
General OS Architecture (2)
 Kernel
 Provides
low-level device, memory and processor
management functions (eg. hardware interrupts)
 System call
 Exposes hardware-independent kernel services
to high level programs (e.g. creating a file)
 Application Programs and System Utilities
Programs.
 Launched using Shell or GUI

 [Basis for distinguishing operating systems]

A brief history of Unix
 Unix is popular because (Characteristics of
Unix)
 Multi-user environment
 Multi-tasking environment

 Stability

 Portability

 Powerful networking capabilities

 Security and Protection

 Availability of compilers/tools/utilities
A brief history of Unix (2)
 Simplified UNIX
Family tree
SYSV vs BSD: Historical difference
Feature Typical SYSV Typical BSD
Kernel Name /unix /vmunix
Boot init /etc/rc.d directories /etc/rc.* files
Mounted FS /etc/mnttab /etc/mtab
Default shell sh, ksh csh, tcsh
FS Block Size 512 byte -> 2K 4K -> BK
Print subsystem lp, lpstat, cancel lpr, lpq, lprm
echo Command echo “\c” echo –n
ps command ps –fae ps –aux
Multiple wait syscalls poll select
Memory access syscalls memset, memcpy bzero, bcopy
Popular Linux Distributions
 Distribution comprises a prepackage kernel,
system utilities, GUI interface and application
programs. Some popular distribution are
 Redhat and Fedora
 Ubuntu

 LinuxMint
 Debian GNU/Linux

 openSUSE

 CentOS

 Slackware Linux
Architecture of the Linux OS
 Kernel
 found in /boot/vmlinuz (and /usr/src/linux)
 Includes device drivers for a large number of PC
hardware devices, advanced processor and
memory management features and support for
many types of file systems.
 Implement most BSD and SYSV system calls as
well as conforming to POSIX specification
 Shell and Graphical User Interface (GUI)
 Support two forms of command inputs: textual
shells like (sh, bash) and GUI (like GNOME, KDE)
Architecture of the Linux OS (2)
 System Utilities
 System Utilities are designed to be powerful tools
that do a single task extremely well (e.g. grep)
 Contain all utilities found in UNIX and POSIX
Specification.
 Includes Server programs called daemons which
provide remote network and administration
services
 Application Programs
 Linuxdistribution comes with several useful
application programs like vi editor, gcc compiler etc
Logging into UNIX Systems
 Text-based (TTY) terminals:
 You will see prompt [ login: ]
 Enter your name and then press enter, you will
get the prompt to enter the password.
 If log in is successful you will se prompt [ $: ]
 To log out type: exit or logout or press “ctrl-d”

 Graphical terminals:
 This
present a graphical prompt with login and
password fields
Changing your password
 One of the things you should do when you login
for the first time is to change password.
 Command is: passwd
 You will be asked for your old password and
also prompted to enter and confirm new
password
 Remember the following
 Don’tuse characters that may not be found in
some other keyboards, example € or £.
 Password is the weakest security link. Don’t write it
down or tell it to anyone. Always keep it secret.
Changing your password (2)
 Characteristics of a good password
 Contain a mixture of Alphanumeric and special
characters
 Contain both Small and Capital letters

 It is at least 8 characters long

 Not a dictionary word, your name, username or

words related to your personal details (e.g. your
boyfriend or girlfriend’s name)

 Example: P0poBaw@
General format of UNIX commands
 The general syntax for a UNIX command is
$ command –options targets
 command is the action that you want to be
performed
 options are qualifiers that tells in which
manner should the action be taken
 targets in the object(s) you want to be affected
by the specified action.
Questions
 Describe the role of UNIX as a resource
manager
 Assume you’re a decision maker at a big
Business organization which wants to enhance
its IT infrastructure by purchasing new
computers. In terms of OS, will you
recommend Unix-related family of OS or
Microsoft family of OS or both? With reasons
back up your answer.
End.

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of this lecture