Overview | UNIX, the Precursor to Linux | The Introduction of Linux | General Public License and Linux | Linux Distributions | The Linux Kernel | Linux Installation | Linux Application Packages
Overview
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In this week's lecture, we talk about the items in TCO 2. Each student will be required to perform a Linux installation. Planning for the installation is key, as well as deciding which type of Linux to use for either a workstation or server installation. Please use all items in this lecture and the accompanying lab assignment to provide research for your Project Paper as described in TCO 1.
UNIX, the Precursor to Linux
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UNIX is characterized as a multiuser, multitasking, stable, reliable, and portable OS. UNIX was developed at AT&T Bell Labs in 1969. Two programmers, Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson, had returned to Bell Labs after being loaded on a project named Multics with programmers from MIT and GE. The Multics project (1965–1969) was an attempt to write a dependable timesharing system in the days of batch processing on large mainframe computers. Bell Labs withdrew from the Multics project in 1969.
Upon returning to Bell Labs, Ritchie and Thompson began developing a game called Space Travel using the Multics language and a retired DEC PDP-7 minicomputer. Space Travel led to the development of a file system structure, paging, a command-line shell, and processes. In 1971, UNIX was chosen as the operating system name, a play on the name Multics. Ritchie wrote the C Language (1971–1973) to provide a more flexible programming environment for UNIX; earlier versions were written in the assembler and B languages, which had been written by Thompson.
In 1973, UNIX was selected as the operating system for AT&T's Switching Control Center System (SCCS). In 1983, the Class 5 Electronic Switching System (5ESS) running UNIX was announced by AT&T. UNIX was chosen for its speed, flexibility,