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Chapter 1
Introduction
Linux: What Is an Operating System ?
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An Operating System is a collection of programs and utilities, that
manage the functions of a computer. It acts as a form of middle-ware
between the software, and the hardware, linking them together.
Operating Systems are divided into two sections.4
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The Kernel (or core)
The Kernel is the heart of the OS. It will be defined shortly.
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The Applications
Applications that make use of the computer, and allow the
user to preform tasks and computations.
Linux is a free and open source Operating System, developed by Linus
Trovalds. It is a clone of UNIX, developed from scratch to be
compatible with the x86 CPU architecture, and later one evolved into
3 See References – Operating Systems
4 UHD http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=X&start=5&oi=define&q=http://www.uhd.edu/a
cademic/support/lc/student_resources/glossary.htm
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