Linux Operating System

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1. What did Richard Stallman mean when he stated that GNU was a free operating system? * Stallman meant that users have the freedom to distribute and change the software, not selling the software. 2. Describe the relationship between Linux and the GNU Project. * The relationship between Linux and the GNU project is that Linux is actually a modified version of the GNU system developed through the GNU Project. Linux is the Kernel; which is the system that allocates the machine’s resources to the other programs that is run by the user. The Kernel is the essential part of the operating system, but useless by itself. It can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system. The whole system is basically GNU with Linux added. 3. List and describe in detail four advantages of Linux. * Cost – The most obvious advantage of using Linux is the fact that it is free to obtain, while Microsoft products are available for a hefty and sometimes recurring fee. Microsoft licenses typically are only allowed to be installed on a single computer, whereas a Linux distribution can be installed on any number of computers, without paying a single dime. * Security – In line with the costs, the security aspect of Linux is much stronger than that of Windows. Why should you have to spend extra money for virus protection software? The Linux operating system has been around since the early nineties and has managed to stay secure in the realm of widespread viruses, spyware and adware for all these years. Sure, the argument of the Linux desktop not being as widely used is a factor as to why there are no viruses. Linux operating system is open source and if there were a widespread Linux virus released today, there would be hundreds of patches released tomorrow, either by ordinary people that use the

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