Linux Operating System and its Features

 What is Linux Operating System

Linux is popular operating system for PC users around the world. It is an independent portable operating system interface (POSI) implementation. Linux does true multitasking and includes virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, memory management, TCP/IP networking and other features that are available with current full featured commercial operating system. This operating system was initially created by Linus Torvalds, in 1991. In 1994 the first version of Linux kernel was released on internet, Linux is an example of open source code operating system.it has nearby all the features present in UNIX operating system. Linux also supports TCP/IP protocol and we can access local area network and internet. Linux is generally provided with two types of graphical user interface one is known as KDF and other one is known as gnome. Other interfaces like command interpreter is also available.

Kernel: kernel is the core part of Linux, it is responsible for all major activities for this operating system.it consists of various modules and it interacts directly with the underlying hardware. Kernel provides the required abstraction to hide low level program interfacing with the hardware (CPU, RAM, disks, network…) on top of which application are running.

System library: System libraries are special functions of programs using which application program or system utilities accesses kernel’s features. These libraries implement most of the functionalities of the operating system and do not require kernel module’s code access right.

Shell: A shell is a command interpreter, i.e. the program that either process the command you enter in your terminal emulator (interactive mode) or process shell script (text files containing commands)(batch mode).In early UNIX times, it used to be the unique way for users to interact with their machine. Nowadays, graphical environments are replacing the shell for most casual users.

Feature of Linux operating system

Multiusers capability: Multiple users can access the same system resources like memory, hard disk etc., but they have to use different terminal to operate.

Multitasking: More than function can be performed simultaneously by diving the CPU time intelligent.

Portability: portability doesn’t mean it is smaller in file size or can be carried in pen drives or memory cards.it means that it support different types of hardware.

Security: it provides security in three ways namely authenticating (by assigning password and login Id) authorization (by assigning permission to read, write and executes) and encryption (converts file into an unreadable format).

Graphical user interface (x window system): Linux is command line based OS but it can be converted to GUI based by installing packages.

Application support: it has its own software repository from where user can download and install many applications.

File system: provides hierarchical file system in which files and directories are arranged.

Open source: Linux code is freely available to all and is a community based development project.