Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Defination of Linux Kernel..??

The Kernel is the first part of the oprating system to load into memory during bootingand it remains there for the entire duration of the computer session because its serviceare required continuously. The kernel code is usually loaded into a protected area of memory, which prevents it from being overwritten by other, less frequently used parts of the operation system or by application program.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

What is "LILO"?

LILO is an LInux LOader and has been used to boot Linux on x86 systems for many years. Although GRUB is now the default boot loader, some prefer to use LILO because it is more familiar to them and others use it out of necessity, since GRUB may have trouble booting some hardware.

LILO and GRUB: Boot Loaders Made Simple

LILO (Linux Loader) and GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) are both configured as a primary boot loader (installed on the MBR) or secondary boot loader (installed onto a bootable partition). Both work with supporting operating systems such as Linux, FreeBSD, Net BSD, and OpenBSD. They can work with unsupported operating system, such as Microsoft Windows XP, in the configuration file. Both allow users—root users—to boot into single-user-mode.



If you more learn about LILO.Then click here and read it.

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STATIC LIBRARY AND A DYNAMIC LIBRARY?

Static libraries are loaded when the program is compiled and dynamically-linked libraries are loaded in while the program is running. Dynamic libraries save the RAM space as against the static library because linking to static libraries includes the actual code for the library function(s)/procedure(s) with the executable. DLL code is kept at one location and is usually shared among all the processes that use the DLL.

What is the difference between internal and external commands?

Internal commands are commands that are already loaded in the system. They can be executed any time and are independent. On the other hand, external commands are loaded when the user requests for them. Internal commands don’t require a separate process to execute them. External commands will have an individual process. Internal commands are a part of the shell while external commands require a Path. If the files for the command are not present in the path, the external command won’t execute.

What is the difference between home directory and working directory?

Home directory is the default working directory when a user logs in. On the other hand, working directory is the user’s current directory. Working directory can be changed. It can be changed using cd command.

Home directory in Linux contains user’s personal data, configuration files, settings of a software etc. The content of home directory is private and the user has a complete control of it.

History of "OPENSOURSE"?

History

I'd like to tell you a story about what everyone calls "open source" software. There's a lot of heros, a wild-eyed visionary but no villians. At least not yet. It's a pretty long story, and I'm only telling you a few of the parts I know. This story started almost twenty years ago, and it isn't over yet.

Richard Stallman In the early 80's, a programmer named Richard Stallman worked for MIT. He spent huge amounts of time working on the original Emacs an operating system called ITS, and the exceedingly cool LISP machines. Stallman wrote good software. His programs were clever--they were frequently built around a few good ideas that made everything else easy. But Stallman was also an ideologue. His software came with instructions: Share this code with your fellow users. Learn from it. Improve upon it.

The GNU Project and The Free Software Foundation Stallman found some volunteers, set up the Free Software Foundation, and started writing software. He wrote a new version of Emacs, which still gets rave reviews from authors like Neal Stephenson. He wrote GCC, which was one of the best C compilers of the age. The GNU project also adopted some their software from outside sources. They borrowed the X Window System from MIT and Compaq. They adopted TeX (a typesetting system) from Donald Kunth. They stayed away, however, from the BSD code, which was the target of an AT&T lawsuit at the time.

Linus Torvalds By 1991, the GNU Project had either written or located most of the parts of a complete Unix system. But they were having problems with the kernel. Meanwhile, young Linus Torvalds was hacking on a tiny kernel, just a toy. He annouced it on comp.os.minix: I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. To compile Linux, you needed GCC. To run any programs, you needed the GNU C library. And half of the programs available for Linux were originally written by GNU volunteers.

The Linux Explosion But despite Linus's debt to the GNU project, he made a much better leader than Stallman. Linus was a software guy, pure and simple. Linus could convince people, many of whom were frightened by Stallman. And Linux grew from "just a hobby" to the third most popular operating system in the world.

What is opensourse?

Open Source

Open source usually refers to software that is released with source code under a license that ensures that derivative works will also be available as source code, protects certain rights of the original authors, and prohibits restrictions on how the software can be used or who can use it.

Free Redistribution

The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license shall not require a royalty or other fee for such sale.

Source Code

The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form. Where some form of a product is not distributed with source code. Its downloading via the Internet without charge. The source code must be the preferred form in which a programmer would modify the program.

Derived Works

The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software.

Distribution of License

The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties.



After this, If you want read about "Defination of Linux". Then click here.