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Linux Installation Lab Overview

This document provides an overview of installing Linux (Ubuntu) and introduces some basic Linux concepts. It discusses dual-booting and virtualization as two ways to run multiple operating systems on one machine. Dual-booting allows selecting an OS at startup but only one can be used at a time, while virtualization allows running systems simultaneously using software like VMware. The document then describes installing Ubuntu in a virtual machine and organizing the Linux file system, which standardly structures directories like /home, /etc, and /bin. It concludes by defining pathnames and listing some common Linux directories.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
246 views6 pages

Linux Installation Lab Overview

This document provides an overview of installing Linux (Ubuntu) and introduces some basic Linux concepts. It discusses dual-booting and virtualization as two ways to run multiple operating systems on one machine. Dual-booting allows selecting an OS at startup but only one can be used at a time, while virtualization allows running systems simultaneously using software like VMware. The document then describes installing Ubuntu in a virtual machine and organizing the Linux file system, which standardly structures directories like /home, /etc, and /bin. It concludes by defining pathnames and listing some common Linux directories.

Uploaded by

Sikandar Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Operating System Lab Lab – 2

Fall 2019 Linux Installation and Overview

Lab - 2: Linux Installation:


In the previous Lab there was a brief introduction about Operating System and
Linux. Objectives of today's lab is to learn how to install Linux (Ubuntu) and
setting up environment and some basic Linux commands.

Basic Terminologies:
When Operating system is power on, it loads operating system files into RAM.
This process is called boot a system. Program that perform this job is called
boot-loader.

people often talk to run multiple operating systems on the same machine. This is
possible in following ways

1. Dual-boot:
 One of the most common ways to achieve multiple usable operating
systems on a single computer is known as dual boot.
 It allows you to select an operating system during startup.
(see picture below)

 You can use only single Operating System at one time i.e computer
must be restarted whenever the user wants to switch to the other
operating system
 The advantage of dual boot is each operating system works practically
independent of the other,

2. Virtualization:
 Virtualization is a newer way of running multiple operating systems
on one system. virtualization requires a virtualization program such as
Oracle's VirtualBox ($0) or VMWare's VMWare Workstation (~$200)

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Operating System Lab Lab – 2
Fall 2019 Linux Installation and Overview
 The virtualization program is installed on your host or primary
operating system, and then your 'guest' operating systems are
installed within that application.
 The main advantage of virtualization over dual boot is that you are
able to run both of your operating systems simultaneously without
rebooting. (See picture below)

 The most obvious drawback of virtualization is that if your host OS is


not working right, your guest operating systems could be affected by
those problems.
 System hardware needs to support virtualization. This feature can be
disabled and enabled. Normally older systems don't support virtualization.
So first turn on virtualization setting from BIOS.
(see picture below)

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Operating System Lab Lab – 2
Fall 2019 Linux Installation and Overview

Hardware virtualization:
[Source: Wikipedia]
Computer hardware virtualization (or hardware virtualization) is the
virtualization of computer or operating systems. It hides the physical characteristics of a
computing platform from users, instead showing another abstract computing platform.
At its origins, the software that controlled virtualization was called a "control program",
but nowadays the terms “hypervisor” are preferred.

VMware
VMware, Inc. is a company providing virtualization software, founded in 1998 and based
in Palo Alto, California, USA.
VMware's desktop software runs on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, while
Vmware's enterprise software hypervisors for servers, VMware ESX and VMware ESXi,
are bare-metal embedded hypervisors that run directly on server hardware without
requiring an additional underlying operating system.
Desktop software
 VMware Workstation (first product launched by VMware in 1999). This software suite
allows users to run multiple instances of x86 or x86-64- compatible operating systems
on a single physical PC.
 VMware Fusion provides similar functionality for users of the Intel Mac platform,
along with full compatibility with virtual machines created by other VMware products.
VMware Player is a freeware virtualization software package from VMware, Inc.(a
company which was formerly a division of and whose majority shareholder remains EMC
Corporation). VMware Player can run existing virtual appliances and create its own
virtual machines (which require an operating system to be installed to be functional). It
uses the same virtualization core as VMware Workstation, a similar program with more
features, but not free of charge. VMware Player is available for personal non-commercial
use, or for distribution or other use by written agreement. No support is provided by
VMWare, but there is an active community website for discussing and resolving issues.
Download Link:
[Link]

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Operating System Lab Lab – 2
Fall 2019 Linux Installation and Overview

Linux (Ubuntu Linux) Installation:


To install Linux you need to have VMWare/Virtual Box, and Linux ISO Image file.

Exercise
Follow instructions provided by your Instructor and install Ubuntu Linux on your
system or use live version.

Organization of the Linux File System

Unlike DOS, which permits you to organize your disks any way you please. the
Linux file system is organized into a standard directory structure. A portion of the
Linux directory structure is pictured below:
/(Root Directory)

etc/ bin/ usr/ home/ div/ lib/ sbin/ tmp/

bin/ lib/ info/ sbin/

Root Directory
The top most directory is called root directory. The hierarchical structure of
directory begins with a root directory. The name of root directory is /.
Directory
A file, which holds other files and sub-directories.
Subdirectory
A directory residing within another directory.
Home Directory
The directory selected by Linux as the working directory when a user logs on.
When a user logs on Linux selects home directory (its name usually matches
your login name) as his/her working directory.

Current/Working Directory
The directory currently being used.

Pathname
Pathname is a reference to identify a file within the directory structure.
For example the following file name indicates the file in the hierarchy of
directories:

/usr/users/bill/letters/pay

The first slash (/) indicates the root directory (start from root directory), move
down to usr, then users, then bill, then letters and finally to the file. So this
pathname is reference to the file pay with respect to the root directory.

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Operating System Lab Lab – 2
Fall 2019 Linux Installation and Overview
A path may be of two types.

Absolute Pathname

The pathname, which identifies a file or a directory irrespective of the current


state of the user. The user's "current directory" is part of the user's state. The
absolute pathname always starts from the root directory.

For example, to locate file any file in lib directory, the absolute path of the file is:
/usr/local/lib/filename

Relative pathname
The pathname, which identifies a file or a directory in a way that depends on the
state of the user i.e. users current directory. Relative pathname identifies files
with respect to user current directory.

Consider the following diagram.

Current Directory (Working Directory)

thesis

[Link]

to refer a file [Link] in the in the subdirectory thesis with respect to the
current directory, we use pathname.

thesis/[Link]

Some standard Linux directories are given below:

/home Users’ home directory

/etc All system administrator commands, configuration files, and


installation control files.

/bin The core set of system commands and programs. Most


systems cannot boot (initially start) without executing some of the commands in
this directory.

/dev The device files used to access system peripherals (for


example, your terminal can be accessed from /dev/tty).

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Operating System Lab Lab – 2
Fall 2019 Linux Installation and Overview
/lib The standard set of programming libraries linked with Linux
programs.

/tmp Temporary files created and used by many Linux programs.

/sbin The system program used to boot the system.

/var Log files(Record of Web activity), spool files(temp files) etc.

/root The root user’s home directory.

/usr/bin Common commands and programs.

/usr/doc Documentation

/usr/games Games

/usr/include Header files

/usr/info Online documentation

/usr/lib Shared libraries

/usr/man Manual pages (help)

/usr/sbin All system administration utilities

/usr/share Shared information

/usr/src Source code

_______________________________________________________

Instructor:
Atizaz Ahmad,
Faculty of Computing, Riphah International University Islamabad

Page 6 of 6

Common questions

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The primary directory structure of a Linux file system starts with the root directory '/', which is the top-level directory. Key directories include: '/etc' for system admin commands and configuration files, '/bin' for core system commands, '/home' for users' home directories, '/lib' for programming libraries, '/dev' for device files, '/tmp' for temporary files, '/sbin' for system programs to boot, and '/var' for log and spool files.

A hypervisor functions as a virtual machine monitor, allowing multiple operating systems to share a single hardware host. It abstracts the physical hardware resources, providing virtualized environments for each OS. Hypervisors are critical for managing and isolating system resources, ensuring efficient allocation and safe operation of different environments. They enable task segregation and resource optimization without interference from other systems.

Hardware virtualization must be enabled in BIOS settings because it allows the CPU to create and manage virtual machines at the hardware level. This is essential for effective performance and operation of virtualization software, as some older systems may not support virtualization unless explicitly enabled.

VMware Player is a free tool that allows users to run existing virtual machines and create new ones. It lacks some advanced features available in VMware Workstation, which is a more comprehensive suite allowing multiple instances of x86 or x86-64-compatible OSes. VMware Workstation also provides enhanced features like snapshots, cloning, and more extensive hardware compatibility.

Understanding absolute and relative pathnames is crucial in Linux for accurate file and directory navigation. Absolute pathnames provide a complete path from the root directory, ensuring access irrespective of the user's current directory. Relative pathnames depend on the current directory, requiring an understanding of the present working context to accurately locate files. Mastery of both enables efficient file system management and scripting in Linux environments.

A user might prefer VMware Fusion for Mac because it provides full compatibility with Intel Mac platforms and can seamlessly integrate macOS features with virtual machines. It also maintains compatibility with virtual machines created by other VMware products, making Fusion a flexible and reliable option for Mac users who require multiple operating system environments.

Hardware virtualization enables multiple operating systems and applications to run on a single physical machine, optimizing resource usage and improving scalability. It allows for easier system backups, migrations, and testing environments, reducing costs associated with physical hardware. Unlike dual-booting, it allows simultaneous usage of multiple OS configurations.

A boot-loader is a program responsible for loading the operating system files into RAM during system startup. It initiates the booting process, allowing the OS to take control of the computer.

The main risk of virtualization concerning system stability is the dependency on the host operating system. If the host OS experiences failures or stability issues, it can negatively impact all the guest operating systems running in the virtualized environment. This interconnectedness can lead to system downtime and loss of data if not properly managed.

Dual-boot allows multiple operating systems to be installed on the same computer, enabling users to choose which OS to boot at startup. However, only one OS can be used at a time, requiring a restart to switch. In contrast, virtualization allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on one system using a virtualization program (e.g., Oracle's VirtualBox or VMware Workstation). Virtualization does not require a reboot to switch between OS, but it depends on the host OS, potentially affecting guest systems if issues occur with the host.

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