Linux operating systems for different tasks. Choosing a Linux distribution: recommendations for a beginner
Any user may be interested in trying out the Linux operating system. That's what happened to me once. There is a lot of literature on the Internet, but there is always topical issue: "Where to begin?". Some saw Linux from friends, some found a video or read articles on the Internet, but all this more often ready-made options. And if you yourself want to install such an OS on your computer, then you will have a lot of questions. The first question that worried me was the choice of distribution...
I rummaged through a bunch of literature, but opinions were divided, and still are. Some are for Debian, others are for Mandriva, RedHat, etc. Currently, there are more than 1,300 builds of the Linux OS, and choosing one specific one makes the hardcore Windows user think deeply. I tried to install different ones, but it was not always possible due to equipment conflicts and simply inexperience. The first successfully installed distribution was OpenSuse 11.1, then Debian. The catch is that these distributions have different file structure, programs and more. This confused me even more, but I continued experimenting until I decided on Ubuntu. This is what we will talk about.
I think it's worth noting that Ubuntu is based on the Debian distribution, which in turn is very popular among system administrators. What does "founded" mean? I'll try to draw a parallel with Windows OS. Imagine an ordinary licensed disk Windows. Introduced? Now imagine any assembly, even the notorious ZverDVD. So, Ubuntu is a “build” of Debian, which has an updated kernel, patches, own programs and repositories. Later I will talk about all this separately. I don't think we should go too deep into Ubuntu differences from Debian, I’ll just add that this distribution is very popular and new versions of Ubuntu are released every six months (in April and October). And yet, why Ubuntu? Yes, it simply meets the requirements that a novice user sets for a new OS.
- Simplicity and ease of installation. I want to insert the disc, install it, watch it, and not have any unnecessary dances with a tambourine (although further work can’t do without dancing with a tambourine). I note that when working in Windows you can be simple user and don’t bother yourself with how and what works, and if infrequent problems or difficulties arise, simply turn to knowledgeable and understanding people who can help you. In the case of Linux, you will have to figure out a lot of things on your own and become a “knowledgeable” person yourself. But don’t be afraid, that’s not what you came here for. Be that as it may, you can always ask a question, and we, in turn, will try to help you.
- To make everything work. Installed? Here you have a desktop and all sorts of menus and many programs, and a browser, and a package office programs and a network configuration applet (however, we will learn to work without it and configure the network manually). There is even a player, but it cannot play many audio/video formats by default; I will explain later why this is so and how to solve it.
- I don't want to lose anything. There are a lot of applications and documents on the Windows OS partition that I don't want to lose when Linux installation. Ubuntu will prompt you to partition HDD into parts, it will save Windows or any other OS and install its own bootloader, which can load both Windows and Linux. Modern Linux distributions, considering Ubuntu has a wonderful opportunity - launching from a disk or flash drive without installing it on the computer’s hard drive. Distributions that can do this are called LiveCD / LiveDVD (or “live disk”). I advise you to first try to start the OS with installation disk . This way you will know for sure that a particular distribution can handle your computer’s hardware and there will be no problems during installation. By the way, there is a high probability that when starting Ubuntu With LiveCD You can, by entering the network settings, use the Internet and the network. You will be able to work with text documents and tables. You can view pictures and so on. Just try booting from the disk. Do not forget that working with a LiveCD is still not working in a full-fledged operating system installed on a hard drive, so be prepared for “brakes” when reading from a CD in an attempt to open this or that program.
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Linux is one of the modern operating systems in popularity, which is growing more and more every year. The main advantages due to which this system is becoming increasingly popular are accessibility and the ability free use. When used correctly, Linux is quite simple and convenient.
So, you decided to use this operating system, and the question immediately arose: where to start? You can start with the system administrators blog. Exactly , You can get acquainted with all the pitfalls when installing this operating system, as well as decide on the choice of distribution for Linux. One of the advantages of such blogs is the opportunity to ask questions and learn about problems that arise during installation.
Let's take a closer look at the existing distributions for this system. The most common for desktop computers is Ubuntu version, it runs on the Linux kernel and allows you to use a fairly clear, simple and at the same time productive working environment, taking into account the individual capabilities of the computer and the personal wishes of the users. This version is very easy to administer and use and has a number of positive qualities, such as a large number of free applications and high quality open source and high security.
Linux Mint another one of the most common systems. It has some similarities with Ubuntu, as it is based on it, but at the same time has its own desktop experiences. Today this operating system has 17 (seventeen) versions. And its interface is quite similar to XP, Vista and Windows 7, which greatly simplifies the transition from these operating systems to Linux Mint. There are many distributions that you can choose for yourself individually, but the two systems listed above are the most optimal for beginners.
The system installation procedure is quite simple; if all instructions are followed, errors should not occur. But still, if it gets out, you can turn to the administrators’ blogs and get a qualified answer to eliminate this error.
And finally, I want to emphasize that in order not to be initially disappointed in this system, you first need to become thoroughly familiar with it. This can be done through video lessons, manuals, tutorials, and most importantly, practice.
Linux supports Live CD technology. To try Linux you don't need to install it on your computer. Just need to write it down Linux image to CD or USB and boot from it. will appear before you working Linux, where you can touch and click everything. Today there is enough on the Internet educational materials and just useful tips how to get around everything underwater rocks newbie when working with Linux.
Let's face it, Linux can overwhelm almost any complexity for new users. But then, it is not Linux that brings this complexity, it is most likely the “newness” factor that causes such feelings.
This article is especially for those who have no idea what else you can use on your computer instead of Windows or Mac OS.
The best distributions for new users
Please remember that this is a list in no particular order. The main criteria for compiling this list are ease of installation out of the box, ease of use and availability of software packages.
If you've ever been interested in Linux on the Internet, then it's very likely that you've already come across . Ubuntu is one of the leading Linux distributions. And it's almost the perfect distro to start your Linux journey with.
Ubuntu has been labeled as Linux for the people. This happens because Ubuntu already put a lot of effort into universal usability. Ubuntu doesn't require you to be a prodigy. It breaks the concept of the Linux line - for programmers, and this is one of the main points.
Ubuntu offers a very convenient installation procedure. The installer simply says, “in what language do you want to install me?” You can even try Ubuntu before you start the installation procedure. The installer provides simple options:
- Erase disk and install Ubuntu
- Installing Ubuntu next to the existing OS (a choice is given at each startup to select the OS to boot).
- Setting up sections for users who know what they are doing.
Initial tip: Choose the second option if you are not sure what to do.
The user interface in Ubuntu is called Unity. This is a very simple desktop shell. Launch and favorite applications in the dock on the left side (the so-called “Dash”) and search for applications, which is carried out by clicking on the Super button (Windows) or by clicking on the Ubuntu logo. It couldn't be simpler, could it?
There is no hassle in installing drivers in Ubuntu, which comes with a hardware detector that detects, downloads and installs the optimal drivers for your PC. Besides, installed system comes with all basic software such as music player, video player, office suite and other useful programs.
Ubuntu has great documentation and public support. The Ubuntu and Ask Ubuntu forums provide significant quality support on almost every aspect related to Ubuntu. And it is very likely that any question you want to ask may already be answered by someone.
If you decide to install Ubuntu, then you can download this distribution on the official website.
Linux Mint Cinnamon
Most computer users are Windows users. And when a Windows user gets Linux, there is a fair amount of 'unlearning' that the user must go through. A huge number of operations have been recorded in our muscle memory. For example, the mouse goes to the bottom left corner of the screen (Start), you probably want to launch the application every time. I can only recommend a distribution that alleviates all these problems on Linux, and half the battle is won. Look at .
Zorin OS is a distribution based on Ubuntu based, with well polished Linux distribution, which is well suited for users switching from Windows. Although almost every Linux distribution can be used by everyone, some people are very uncomfortable with seeing someone else's desktop, and Zorin OS will make this transition easier for you.
Package managers seem at first Linux newbies, something supernatural. That's why Zorin OS comes with a huge (and I mean really huge) list of pre-installed software. Everything you need is already installed in Zorin OS.
Zorin OS comes with amazing feature change the topic. It offers some heavy customization options with presets to make your OS look like Windows 7, XP, 2000 or even Mac.
These features make Zorin OS, best Linux a distribution for beginners, isn't it?
Go to the official website to download it yourself latest version Zorin OS.
Since we looked at distributions for Windows users, let's see something for MacOS users. very quickly rose in the rankings, and is now always included in the list of the best distributions, all thanks to its aesthetic essence. Inspired by the look of MacOS, Elementary OS is one of the most beautiful distributions Linux.
Elementary OS is another Ubuntu-based distribution, which means that the operating system itself is undoubtedly stable. Elementary OS comes with the Pantheon desktop environment, and you can immediately notice the similarities with MacOS. This is an advantage for MacOS users who are moving to Linux, as they will feel very comfortable with this distribution, and it really makes the process of coping with the change easier.
The menu is very simple and customizable according to user preferences. The operating system is not intrusive, so you can really focus on your work. It comes with very a small amount pre-installed software, so any New user, won't be distracted by huge bells and whistles, but will have everything you need out of the box. For additional software, Elementary OS provides a neat AppCenter that is accessible and easy to use. All in one place. You can have it all software, you want and update in just a few clicks.
You should try it. You can download Elementary OS on the official website.
A large number of people who come to Linux are looking to revitalize old computers. In the operating room Windows system 10, many computers that had decent performance just a few years ago have become incompetent. And if you are looking for a distribution that will resurrect your old computer, then look at Linux side Mate.
Linux Mint Mate A very lightweight, not demanding, but still polished distro. It can work smoothly on weak computers. The desktop environment won't bring you bells and bells. But it is in no way inferior in functionality to any other desktop environment. The operating system is not intrusive and allows you to work productively without loss of quality.
Again, Linux Mint Mate is based on Ubuntu and has the advantage huge base solid storage of Ubuntu software. It comes with a minimum number of essentials that are pre-installed. Easy installation Drivers and system configuration management are very accessible even for beginners.
You can run Linux Mint Mate even if you have 512 MB random access memory and 9 GB free space on your hard drive (the more, the better).
If you have already made your choice, then you can download Linux Mint Mate on the official website.
Before you say that you shouldn't guide a newbie to such a complex distribution as ArchLinux, listen to me first.
Arch is considered an expert distribution only because of its very complex installation procedure. Manajro and Arch Linux have common origin. But they're in to a large extent different in everything else.
Has a very beginner friendly installation procedure. Many things are automated, such as driver installation using Hardware Detection. With Manjaro, you will forget about searching for manuals for installing drivers, which plagues many other Linux distributions. And even if you have questions, Manjaro has amazing community support.
Manjaro has its own software repository which maintains the latest software and this is one of the priorities for the users. One of the main differences between Arch and Manjaro is that Manjaro delays package releases to ensure that they are completely stable and will not cause regressions. You can also access the Arch User Repository on Manjaro, which has everything you need available.
Greetings, colleagues. For a long time the NetSkills project was dedicated exclusively network technologies - Young Soldier Course, GNS Basics, UNetLab. However, more and more often the question was raised from subscribers: “What else should a network engineer or system administrator know?”. Here you can cite big list technologies/directions and ultimately conclude that knowing only networks is not enough! It is clear that a successful career requires much more. Therefore, it was decided to expand the project and first release the “Linux for Beginners” course.
An important detail, teacher - young woman, who recently joined the project NetSkills. What can a girl teach? If you are interested, welcome to the cat...
Purpose of the course– learn the basics of administering Linux operating systems. The material is mostly practical and contains a minimal amount of theory. The course is suitable for both beginning system administrators who are involved in setting up company servers, and for network engineers, because most of network equipment works under Linux control(especially if we take into account the trend of import substitution), so their skills in working with this system will definitely not hurt them. And in general, every self-respecting IT professional is simply obliged to have basic skills in working with Linux systems. The value of such an employee immediately increases.
The entire course will be divided into two parts: basic and advanced course. In the basic course we will look at the basic concepts, learn how to produce initial setup server, and also configure the Internet access gateway. In the advanced course, we'll look at how to deploy server infrastructure companies on Linux based.
To plan basic course included the following topics:
1.Purposes of studying the operating room Linux systems, its main advantages.
2.Creation of virtual machines.
3. Installation of the CentOS operating system.
4.Structure file system Linux.
5.Basic commands needed to work in Linux consoles(cd, ls, man, grep, find, cp, mv, rm, etc.).
6.Network setup in CentOS. Utilities Putty, WinSCP.
7.Basics of safety. Adding new users to the system.
8.Installing packages. Package Manager. Repositories.
9.MC file manager, text editor nano and network utilities(ifconfig, nslookup, arp, telnet).
10.Configuring an Internet access gateway. Iptables. NAT DHCP.
So, why learn Linux and what are its benefits? I think it's worth starting with a definition.
GNU/Linux is a family of unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel. OSes from this family are usually distributed free of charge in the form of so-called distributions, which, in addition to the OS itself, also contain a set of application software (that is, essentially an assembly). Linux distributions exist today great amount, but almost all of them are descendants of the three main distributions: Debian, Slackware and Red Hat. You can read more about GNU/Linux and distributions.
Perhaps someone has a question: why GNU/Linux, and not just Linux. The thing is that Linux is just a kernel, while GNU/Linux is an operating system. However, Linux can be called both the kernel and the OS - and either way will be correct.
Relatively speaking, the OS consists of two parts: kernel space And user space. Kernel space is the kernel that directly interacts with devices in the system, services them and configures them. In our case, this is Linux kernel, the development of which began in 1991 by Linus Torvalds, who was a student at that time. It supports multitasking, dynamic libraries, virtual memory, lazy loading, most network protocols and a powerful memory management system and is distributed across GNU licenses GPL, i.e. free. You can find out more about the kernel itself and its “fascinating” version numbering system. Users work in user space (application space), and these, in turn, are files. Generally speaking, everything in Linux is represented by files - settings, applications themselves, even processes. This is very convenient when setting up and when you are trying to figure out why everything broke.
Linux distributions are primarily distributed under the GNU General Public License, a free software license. The purpose of the GNU GPL is to provide the user with the rights to copy, modify and distribute (including commercially) programs, and to ensure that users of all derivative programs receive the above rights.
In addition to the above mentioned undeniable advantages of this OS, it also has a number of features:
1.Safety
2.Performance
3.Reliability
4.Scalability
5.Hardware compatibility
6.No import substitution required
7.Linux administrators' salaries are higher than those of regular administrators
Thanks to the above features, Linux has become widespread and is used in many areas: critical services (high-speed trains in Japan, CERN, air traffic control systems), social networks, search services, as well as in mobile phones, tablets, PCs, ATMs and automotive electronics.
Generally speaking, there are a lot of things you can do with Linux, but we'll stick to more everyday things. Let's assume that in a company with a large number of users, you need to deploy a server infrastructure, i.e. users need to be given access to the Internet, denied work time sit in in social networks, organize corporate mail, file server, etc. What can we do with Linux? In fact, quite a lot.
We can:
1. Configure a software router/Internet access gateway with functions firewall and DHCP servers
2. Restrict user access to the Internet using a proxy server
3.Organize mail server for corporate mail
4.Create a web server for a corporate website and internal web resources
6.Configure primary and secondary DNS servers
7.Deploy a file server
8.Collect backups from other servers
9. Deploy a logging server to collect events from other servers
We will deploy such a scheme within the framework of this course.
I think this concludes the first lesson.
