A brief introduction
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce you to the Ubuntu operating system, and the philosophy that underpins it. The fact you’re reading this book might mean you already know about Ubuntu, but one or two readers might have bought the Print Edition of this book (or downloaded the PDF) on a whim to see what the fuss is all about. These people might lack specifics, and remain unconvinced of the benefits of Ubuntu. So, I’m going to burn through some precious pages of this slim volume to evangelize and explain just a little.

What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a version of the Linux operating system. An operating system
is the software that “runs your computer”. Microsoft Windows is the
world’s most popular operating system, at least for desktop computers,
but Linux is a completely separate endeavor.

GNU
The ball started rolling back in the 1980s, when a hugely talented computer scientist called Richard Stallman decided to create a clone of a venerable operating system called Unix. At the time, Unix ran many of the world’s industrial and academic computer systems. Stallman did this because Unix was becoming increasingly proprietary—it was no longer permitted to share its source code (the listings created by programmers), as had happened since the inception of Unix in 1969.
This was anathema to Stallman, who believed sharing software was natural and healthy. He decided his version of Unix would always be freely available, and invented the legal and ethical concept of Free Software to ensure this happened. Put simply, Free Software says users should always have the freedom to share software, without restrictions. On a technical level, Free Software guarantees the right to view and also modify source code, or even use it as a basis to make a new program. However, any additions or changes must be released as Free Software too, so others can continue to benefit. NOTE The Free Software ideal is enshrined in a software license applied to all Free Software projects. It’s called the GNU Public License, or GPL. This is like Microsoft’s End User License Agreement that comes with Windows (and you see whenever you install Windows from scratch), except whereas the Microsoft EULA prohibits sharing Windows under any circumstances, the GPL says exactly the opposite—that you can always share the software! Stallman called his version of Unix “GNU” (pronounced G-noo). This is a recursive acronym, standing for GNU’s Not Unix. In other words, the acronym refers to itself—a joke of a type favored by programmers.

* Covering the most popular Linux shells (such as bash, ash, tcsh, ksh, korn, and zsh), this reference shows how to use commands to create scripts within each shell and demonstrates practical applications for shell scripts (including retrieving information from Web sites and sending automated reports via e-mail)
* For each shell, the author discusses the commands available and explains how to use these commands to create scripts that can automate common functions and reports
* Guides administrators through advanced projects for using shell scripts in real-world applications and features advanced topics such as using a database and Web programming

There's a lot to be said for going back to basics. Not only does this Bible give you a quick refresher on the structure of open-source Linux software, it also shows you how to bypass the hefty graphical user interface on Linux systems and start interacting the fast and efficient way—with command lines and automated scripts. You'll learn how to manage files on the filesystem, start and stop programs, use databases, even do Web programming—without a GUI—with this one-stop resource.

*Understand the Linux desktop and various command-line parameters
*Learn filesystem navigation, file handling, and the basics of bash shell commands
*Write shell scripts to automate routine functions and reports
*Harness nesting loops and structured commands
*Monitor programs, master file permissions, and make queries
*Run scripts in background mode and schedule jobs
*Use sed, gawk, and regular expressions
*Explore all alternate shells, including ash, tcsh, ksh, korn, and zsh

* New features: Instead of just telling you about how the technology works, new “Bringing Linux In” sections describe how people have implemented Linux in the real world. New sections describe real-life examples, such as how:

* A Small office created an inexpensive Web, print, and file server

* A do-it-yourselfer combined Linux audio and video features to create a home multimedia center

* A school build a computersoftware

* A large corporation deployed thousands of Linux systems

* Unique CD and DVD: No other book on the market includes so many Linux distributions on CD and DVD. Our DVD and CD will include the latest versions of at least the following Linux distributions: Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, SUSE, KNOPPIX, Gentoo, servers, and firewall/routers. and server components, and the actual distributions on CD and DVD, let readers get started using Linux immediately. The Bible will serve a broad range of readers, from those starting with Linux to anyone looking to evaluate different Linux distributions. It also covers broad usage including they choose. Descriptions of different Linux distributions helps users choose the Linux distribution that’s right for them. Detailed installation instructions, step-by-step descriptions of key book for new or migrating users. By focusing on the building-block nature of Linux, and offering true up-to-date descriptions of Linux technology, the Bible helps the reader learn how to jump headlong into Linux, regardless of the , Slackware, Mandriva, Damn Small Linux, SLAX, BackTrack, GeeXbox, and others. lab with free educational

Here’s the book you need to prepare for CompTIA’s updated Linux+ exam, #XK0-002. This Study Guide was developed to meet the exacting requirements of today’s certification candidates. In addition to the consistent and accessible instructional approach that has earned Sybex the reputation as the leading publisher for certification self-study guides, this book provides:

Clear and concise information on setting up and administering a Linux system
Practical examples and insights drawn from real-world experience
Leading-edge exam preparation software, including a Windows- and Linux-compatible testing engine and electronic flashcards

Book Description: Complete with extensive end-of-chapter review questions, hands-on projects and exercises, “Linux+ 2005 In Depth” serves as a practical guide that maps completely to CompTIA?s 2005 Linux+ certification objectives and is designed to prepare you to successfully pass the exam. The topics introduced in this book?and covered in the certification exam?are geared toward systems administration; however, they are also ideal if you plan to use or develop programs for Linux systems.
About the Author: A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Jason has 13 years of experience as a UNIX administrator and software developer, mainly in large batch-scientific computing environments. He currently teaches at triOS College and holds 12 different UNIX and Linux certifications. A graduate of McMaster University, M. John Schitka is a former instructor at triOS College. Initially teaching NT4 technologies, he currently conducts courses on Windows 2000, UNIX, Linux, and more.

CBT NUGGETS LINUX SERIES (BEGINNERS)

01. Introduction to Using Linux.

02. Intro to Linux Part 2.

03. Planning your Installation.

04. Pre-installation Hardware Considerations.

05. Installation of Linux.

06. Installing and Updating Software in Linux.

07. User administration in Linux.

08. Administration of Filesystems and Security.

09. Administration of Networks in Linux.

10. Linux Essentials.

11. Configuring Printers and Services for File Sharing.

12. Configuration Files and Related Topics.

13. Maintenance of a Linux System.

14. Troubleshooting Problems in a Linux System.

15. Troubleshooting Problems in a Linux System Part 2.

16. Troubleshooting Problems in a Linux System Part 3.

17. Hardware Issues in Linux.

18. More Hardware Issues in Linux.

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CBT NUGGETS LINUX SERIES (INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED)

01. Intro Red Hat Certified Engineer Exam.

02. Pre-Installation Considerations.

03. Installation Issues, Working with Hard Disks.

04. More Installation Issues.

05. Advanced Installation Issues.

06. Post-Installation, Validation, and Configuration.

07. X Windows.

08. Desktop Managers, Window Managers, and Related Topics.

09. Red Hat Package Management.

10. The Linux Rescue and Recovery Process.

11. User Administration and User Environment.

12. Administration of Groups, Quotas, and Sudo Privileges.

13. The Linux Kernel.

14. The Linux Kernel Part 2.

15. The Network File System (NFS).

16. The Apache Web Server.

17. Mail Services.

18. DNS and BIND.

19. FTP and Internet News.

20. Bash Shell Scripting.

21. Perl Programming Language.

22. Performance Monitoring.

23. Linux Security Part 1.

24. Linux Security Part 2.