Understand Linux and Opensource

Slide 3) Open Source Definition Timestamp 3:00
  • Timestamp Link: Understanding Linux Slide 3
  • What is Open Source
    • Open source is wehre the code that runs software is available to the public to view the source code. Modification and redistribution could be possible.
  • How is software designated as open source
    • Designated by license agreements when the software is downloaded, etc.
      • Restrictions can be placed if software can be modified ore redistributed.
    • Example is GPL (General Public License)
  • Does open source equal free?
    • NO!!!
      • A fee can be applied when downloading the software, or other restrictions. Refer to the details of the license agreement when downloading.
  • Link to slide 4 segment
  • Community; (Single Person to Large Community)
  • Non Profit Organization
  • Commercial Software Sales
  • Hardware Sales
  • Enterprise / Support Models
  • Slide 5 TimeStamp
  • Commercial Sales
    • Software company charges fee for downloading and limits sharing and modification.
    • To be open source must allow view of source code. Maybe more restrictive on modification and redistribution.
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  • Can be individual or large groups.
    • Generally under GPL General Public License
  • May ask for a donation.
  • Caution! Software supported by a single or small group.
    • They could decide not to support at anytime
    • If code is new and not reviewed could have malware, etc.
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  • Foundations created with belief that software should be free and open source. Get funding from donors.
  • Example Office Document Foundation that created Libre Office.
  • Can review foundation background, support commitment, etc.
  • Generally Free.
  • May ask for donation.
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  • Company provides their software for personal usage at no cost.
  • Funded by Corporate / Business Licenses and or Service Fees.
    • Technical support for installation, troubleshooting, training, etc.
  • Open source software still available for review however can have license restricted from modification and redistribution.
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  • Company creates operating systems for their hardware.
  • Offers software as open source.
  • Financially they are backed by hardware sales.
  • Software works best on their hardware
  • Examples of hardware vendors with their own Linux distro
    • System76 (Linux computers): OS is POP OS
    • Tuxedo (Linux Computers): OS is Tuxedo
    • Purism (Linux Computers, Linux Phones):
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  • Remember free could mean you are the product.
  • Core Android OS is open source however is it free when Google adds services that collects data, etc.
  • Check where you are getting the software and their license terms.

Slide 11 Time Stamp

There are numerous Operating Systems however here are some of the most common core. Other distributions will utilize these as their foundation.

  • Debian
    • Ubuntu
  • Red Hat
  • RPM
    • Suse / OpenSuse
  • Arch
  • FreeBSD Non Linux however open source
  • Slide 12 Time Stamp
  • Is not a Linux Distribution however open source
  • Used on Notwork Access Storage (NAS) and other small server devices.
  • Was the initial open source to support ZFS file system which enabled mirroring, snapshots etc.
  • Was used as code base for TrueNAS Core (Home NAS/ Lab software)
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  • Developed by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market (Servers)
  • Red Hat uses strict licensing rules to restrict modification and re-distribution of its officially supported versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, However still freely provides is source code.
  • Red Hat based systems are best used by people working towards Red Hat Certifications.
  • Distributions
    • Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise.
  • Slide 14 Time Stamp
  • OpenSuse: Was created by the SUSE project to provide a full Linux distributions to individuals.
  • Uses RPM based packages.
  • UI for large portion of advanced system admin setup compared to Debian/Ubuntu
  • With UI system configuration can make a great server.
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  • ARCH is built for experienced Linux users
  • ARCH is generally a rolling release which could introduce new features however with faster newer code could experience some functional issues until a patch is provided.
  • Benefits
    • Install multiple kernels (Base Linux Code)
    • Special Bash Scripts for managing graphics drivers
  • Common Distribution
    • Manjaro
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  • Contains approximately 50,000 packages (DEB) that can be used on its system from underlining system packages to software (Document editing, etc.)
  • Very large number of distributions based on Debian.
    • Some might be directly based of Debian or a fork of Ubuntu (Debian based)
      • Examples
      • Ubuntu
      • Kubuntu
      • Pop OS
      • KDE Neon
      • Mint
      • Kali
      • Pure OS
      • Tuxedo OS
  • Why are there so many distributions of Debian?
    • Specific focus for end users
      • Example Kali is specifically setup for security testing and ethical hacking
    • Different UI experiences and other user focused tweaks
      • Ubuntu and Kubuntu: Ubuntu has their UI while Kubuntu is Ubutnu with KDE Plams UI.
      • KDE Neon: Supplies a faster KDE plasma update and other KDE software updates than Kubuntu or other distributions that use KDE desktop.
      • Zorin OS: is focused on new users to Linux migrating from windows.
      • Mint: Provides a classic desktop and convenient tolls and customization.
  • Vendor specific systems: Linux computer vendors may make a fork of Debian/Ubutnu specifically for their hardware and target customers. They can include firmware and tools specifically configured for their hardware monitoring, graphics, etc.
    • Examples
      • Tuxedo OS: Is provided by the company making Tuxedo computers (Europe) and uses plasma as default UI. General public.
      • POP OS: Is provided by System76 (USA). Target is for coders / engineers
      • Pure OS: Is provided by Purism and is focused on privacy hardening software.
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  • Are there Linux based Antivirus applications?
    • Yes. ClamAv is one solution provided in Linux
  • Do you transfer files from Windows / IOS to Linux and back to Windows / IOS?
    • What if you copy a corrupted file and restore it back to windows / IOS.
  • Most distributions contain a firewall that can be configured from a GUI.
  • Slide 20 Time Stamp
  • Do you desire to have your computer encrypted?
  • Linux does have options to encrypt your drives
    • On almost all distributions have settings to setup encryption. If done after installation could require some configuration / setting changes.
    • Some distributions offer this on their initial setup.
      • Examples are Ubuntu, Kubuntu, PopOS, Tux and others.
  • Limitations of Dual Boot
    • Dual boot on two separate physical drives
      • Dual boot. Cannot encrypt both a Linux drive and windows / IOS drive that is used for dual booting.
      • Can still encrypt the Linux drive by itself.
    • Encrypt hard drive where dual boot is on single drive
      • Not Possible. The entire drive has to be a Linux format for it to encrypt
  • Slide 21 Time Stamp
  • Review your goal for using a Linux Distribution
  • Write out all the software / functions you utilize and find a program that can handle the same functionality in Linux
  • If any of your software is truly proprietary and might not have a Linux capable equivalent than might still need Windows or IOS.
  • Review different distributions and their UI and find one that best matches your UI and software style.
  • Try some of the distributions via Live USB, Virtualization, Then plant out and execute your conversion.
  • https://distrochooser.de A resource that will ask questions and provide a list of Linux distributions. Note they are suggestions and you should still use your own judgment.
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  • Dual Boot
    • Operation systems load on two separate physical drives.
    • Physical machine must have minimal requirements for both (TPM for windows 11, etc.)
  • Virtualization
    • Only one OS to boot into and comply with hardware requirements.
    • Linux encryption of hard drives
    • KVM is best option for Linux host (my opinion)
      • Can use physical hardware connected to machine
  • Separate Linux Device
    • You can use an older laptop / PC to test out Linux. Allows changes without impacting your day to day usage.
    • Can use existing windows device for anything that cannot migrate to Linux.
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