A. Using a Linux “Live” CD or DVD

A Linux “live” CD or DVD contains the complete Linux OS (operating system) on a single CD or DVD. This includes a Linux
“point-and-click” desktop, which is very much like the Windows desktop, and many other programs, such as application software programs, utilities, and servers. Pretty incredible, really. To use a Linux live CD or DVD, you need to boot your system with it. After a minute or so, a Linux desktop will appear on the
screen. From the desktop, you use menus to run lots of different programs and you can also go to the command line prompt to run Linux commands.

Linux Tech Tip: After booting a system from a Linux live CD or DVD, you don’t have access to any other OS on your system, such as Windows. In other words, if you boot with a live CD, you don’t have access to Windows or any Windows programs.

Most computers boot from a hard disk inside the system, if there is nothing in the CD or DVD drive. To use a Linux live CD or DVD, you need to put it in the appropriate drive and boot your system from it. That is, you need to shut your system down and then start it again with the CD or DVD in the drive.

Some systems will automatically detect the CD or DVD in the drive and boot from it, but on other systems you may need to do one or two extra steps if this doesn’t happen.

Linux Tech Tip: On many newer systems, you can get your system to boot from CD or DVD (rather than from its hard disk) by simply pressing a key, such as the letter “C”, as your system is booting up. On other systems, you may need to change a setting in your system’s BIOS (Basic Input Output System) so that it boots from CD or DVD - if in doubt, see your manual (yeah, right!) or call the place you got it from.

B. The Linux “Live” Environment

Here’s a recap: When you boot a live version of Linux, you start the Linux OS entirely from CD or DVD and get a Linux desktop, at which you can run programs and go to the prompt to run commands.

After booting a Linux “live” version, you’ll see the Linux desktop, which looks surprisingly like Windows! You can use your
mouse to select items from the menus and double-click on icons on the desktop to run Linux programs.

For example the Open Office suite of programs is automatically available on lots of Linux live distros, and is remarkably
similar to the Microsoft Office suite of programs (such as Word and Excel).

Think -> Open Office (Linux) = Microsoft Office (Windows).

The Open Office suite is used on lots of Linux systems. It has a powerful, full-featured word processor, spreadsheet, database,
and other programs.

When using a Linux live CD or DVD, you start out working at the desktop. The Linux desktop has menus that give you access to lots of other programs.

Think -> Linux Desktop Menus = Windows Desktop Menus.

The Windows desktop usually only gives you access to local programs, and not to servers on the same system. However, the
Linux desktop gives you access to local programs AND several types of F-R-E-E Linux servers.

For example, you can boot a Linux live version and easily run the Samba server (a popular “Windows compatible” file server) and the Apache server (the world’s most popular web server).

Tech Tip: A recent survey estimated that over 80% of all web sites in the world were running the Apache web server, on top of
the Linux OS! That’s a HUGE number of servers!

Linux is everywhere, but it’s usually running as a server OS rather than a desktop OS and so you don’t see it. You can easily
see web pages at a web site, but don’t know that the web site is running the Apache web server on top of Linux!

Another thing you can do from a Linux live desktop is go to the command prompt to run commands - the real power behind Linux administration.

Tags: linux training, linux os, rhce certification, rhcss training, rhct training, red hat training, rhce training, linux command, rhcss certification, linux certification

A. The Dangers of Installing Linux on a Windows System

Many people have only one computer system, and this system is often running Windows. They still need to use Windows, but also want to learn Linux by installing it on their Windows system (rather than installing Linux on a new system or a used system). Installing Linux on an existing Windows system creates what is called a “dual-boot system”. When you boot (start up) a dual-boot system, you see a menu and you can choose to either boot to Windows, or boot to Linux.

Installing Linux on an existing Windows system can work for some, but can also be a disaster!

Linux Tech Tip: Beware that if you install Linux on a Windows system, you may damage or destroy your existing Windows software setup and lose some or all of the programs and data on the Windows system. Believe me, I know.

I had installed Linux on a Windows system and then removed Linux from the system, after I installed Linux on another system.

And I almost lost everything - data, setups, programs and all!

Fortunately I was able to boot the damaged Windows system with a “live” version of Linux, then do some steps to get the data off the system. After recovering the data, I had to re-install Windows, and all my Windows programs, but at least I got all my
data back!

B. Running Linux from a Linux “Live” CD or DVD

Another popular way to get Linux running is to boot a system, such as an existing Windows system, from CD or DVD with a “live” version of Linux. A Linux live CD or DVD isn’t used to install Linux on a system. It’s used to boot a system and then
automatically run Linux.

When you boot a system with a Linux live cd, the system boots up and then Linux starts up - and runs completely from CD or DVD - without having to be installed!

A Linux live CD or DVD gives you a fully functional version of Linux by simply booting with the live CD or DVD.

One of the reasons Linux live versions are so popular is that you don’t have to install them. Therefore, you avoid the danger of
damaging or destroying the software on an existing Windows system. This is a good solution if you already have a Windows
system, but don’t have a spare system on which to install Linux.

Written by Clyde Boom.

If you don’t want to buy a computer just for the purpose of running Linux, you can install Linux on your Windows system. You do this to create what is called a “dual boot” (Linux and Windows) system.

After you install Linux and boot your system, a menu appears allowing you to boot into Windows or boot into Linux!

7 Steps to Install Linux on Windows and Create a Dual Boot System

1. Back up your Windows programs and data

If you make a mistake when you install Linux on Windows you can loose all your Windows programs and data! Also, if you install Linux and then remove it later, you may not be able to boot into Windows.

Some people have run dual boot Linux systems without loosing programs and data, but it’s good to know this downside. It’s extra incentive to do a backup.

Doing a backup is like buying insurance. If you don’t need it, fine. But if you do, you’ll be very glad you took this extra step.

2. Get Linux on CD or DVD

Select a Linux distribution (a.k.a. distro) and either download it and burn it to disk or buy it and have it delivered.

Linux Tip: To get Linux delivered, just do an Internet search for “linux cd” and you can have it mailed to you anywhere in the world for a very small fee.

3. Create empty unpartitioned disk space for Linux

Make sure your system has enough empty unpartitioned disk space for Linux. This isn’t just free disk space, as seen from within Windows. This is empty disk space that isn’t seen from within Windows.

4. Document your Linux installation settings

During the Linux installation, you need to specify some system settings. These include the Linux software programs and desktop(s) you want installed, networking settings, and disk partition sizes.

5. Start the Linux installation routine

To start installing Linux, you need to shut down your system and boot it with Linux CD / DVD number 1.

Some systems are set up to automatically boot from a CD / DVD if there’s one in the drive, and some need to have a system setting made. On other systems, you may simply need to hold down a key, like the letter “c” to boot Linux from CD / DVD.

6. Follow the prompts to specify settings and create a user

Linux systems have users and these users have names. You log in with a user name and password to work on a Linux system.

You work as the user named “root” to do Linux system administration. The root user is always created automatically during the installation. However, for security reasons, you should never log in to a Linux desktop as the root user.

As the installation routine runs, you will be asked if you want to create users. Always create at least one “regular” (non-root) user and give this user a password.

7. Have fun!

The Linux operating system is an incredible phenomenon. By getting it, installing it, and running it, you can get tons of experience working with it. Get a mitt and get in the game!

Written by Clyde Boom.