linux a beginner's guide

Posted on 25 Oct 2004 at 10:30

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Can't afford Windows for your new PC? Try something different - Linux. Users of this free operating system swear by its security, stability and versatility. LIAM PROVEN and MARTIN COOPER explain.

Everyone's heard of Windows. Chances are, there's a copy installed on the PC in front of you. After all, Windows is the world's most widely used PC operating system - installed on millions of PCs worldwide. But that's not to say it's the only operating system. And its major challenger is Linux. Unlike Windows, the product of Microsoft's singular toil, Linux was developed by members of the public and it continues to be improved and updated by users across the globe. The Linux project was begun as a hobby in 1991 by Linus Torvalds, a programmer from Finland. He shared his work with other developers over the Internet. In the following years, interest in the operating system swelled, as did the number of developers devoting their time to it. Soon millions of people were using Linux - and paying nothing.

It's this public spirit that makes Linux so different from Windows. In order to work, software needs to be 'compiled' into a set of instructions that the PC's processor understands. This effectively scrambles the underlying programming - known as 'source code' - to the eyes of ordinary people. Microsoft likes it to stay that way, keeping its code secret to prevent rivals creating software that integrates with Windows. By contrast, Linux is a type of software known as 'open source'. Anyone can see the lines of program code that make Linux run - and modify them.

Because of this, a huge number of different groups and companies have developed their own versions of Linux, known as 'distributions'. Different distributions are generally designed to do slightly different jobs - some are designed to be very secure, while others are intended to run Web sites and parts of the Internet's infrastructure. Some Linux distributions are intended to be as easy to install and use as Windows. The only condition placed upon Linux developers is that the source code of every version must be made public. There are no trade secrets in the world of Linux.

In this workshop, we're going to explore the basics of Linux. We'll walk you through the installation process and explain how it works. As you'll see, if you're proficient in Windows, you should take to Linux with ease. Next month, we'll go a few steps further and discover how to use other software within the new operating system.

Why use Linux?
There are lots of reasons you might want to try Linux. Firstly, it's reckoned to be more reliable and less likely to crash than Windows. It's also claimed to be safer and more secure than Windows, too. Because it doesn't run ordinary Windows software, it's immune to the viruses, worms and spyware that regularly target Windows machines. It is also compatible with Unix, another operating system used to run corporate networks and the Internet.

Even more usefully, Linux doesn't require a powerful or ultra modern PC - making it the perfect choice to install on an old PC. SuSE Linux, included on this month's cover DVD, requires only a K6 II processor to run - this type of chip predates the current Athlon XPs by several generations!

Installing SuSE Linux
Before installing SuSE Linux, which you'll find on this cover DVD, you'll first have to burn the program on to a CD - see the boxout below for full instructions. Next, you must ensure your PC is set to boot from its CD drive, rather than its hard disk. To do this you'll need to access your PC's BIOS. To do this, you'll need to press a specific key when the PC first starts up. It's usually the Delete key, but you'll be given on-screen instructions as the PC starts. Next, you'll see a menu of options. Following that you'll usually need to enter the 'Advanced' BIOS settings (precise details vary from PC to PC, so check your manual). Set 'boot device one' to CD-ROM. This instructs the PC to look first at the CD drive for an operating system to boot up. When you've made and saved that change, reboot your PC with your new SuSE Linux CD in the CD drive. The installation software should then load automatically. When the first menu appears, move the cursor down from 'Boot from Hard Disk' to 'Installation'. When you've done that, your machine will spend a few moments loading up more installation software.