desktop linux - part 1, basics

© 2009 IBM Corporation

Desktop Linux Workshop

Part 1: Introduction to the Linux Desktop

Dan FitzGerald – z/VM DevelopmentApril 19, 2010

2 © 2009 IBM Corporation

Desktop Linux Workshop I: Outline

■ What is Desktop Linux?

■ Advantages of Desktop Linux

■ “Open House” - Touring a Developer's Linux Rig

■ Disadvantages of Desktop Linux

■ “Where do I go from here?”

■ Questions?

IBM Presentation Template Full Version








■ Questions?



What is Desktop Linux?

■ “Traditional” z/Linux or UNIX experience– Powerful command-driven interface– Teletype or DEC-VT100 style terminals

■ You can still use that command line, or you can use the GUI.– Each is a different interface to the kernel, which contains the actual OS


What is Desktop Linux?

■ The GUI is made up of two components: The X Window System and the Desktop Manager

■ X Window System – provides primitives for constructing a GUI– Controls windowing on the display (the terminal or virtual terminal)– Mouse/keyboard interactions– Very simplistic

■ Desktop Manager– Robust user interface– Provides the desktop...– ...“start menu”, “system tray”– ...tray applets– ...“control panel”– ...sound effects– ...graphics libraries








■ Questions?



Advantages of Desktop Linux

■ Rapid boot time– Between 30 – 45 seconds with Ubuntu 9.10

■ More secure– Very few viruses, malware, and adware in the wild than Windows– There has never been a widespread virus attack against Linux desktop

• Citation: http://librenix.com/?inode=21

■ More stable– You can have uptime of months or years– Anecdote: in college, I once left my Linux desktop on for three months

■ Hardware support– Supports thousands of devices out of the box with no drivers needed– Runs quite well on older hardware

• My T60 running under Linux ran as fast in 4/2010 as it did in 6/2007

http://librenix.com/?inode=21


■ Its free!– “Free as in beer”– “Free as in speech”

■ Hundreds of thousands of free programs available– Downloader (Synaptic) is integrated right into the desktop– Synaptic reads from databases of safe, quality software

• That means no malware!– You can find a tool for almost any need

■ And what's more...



■ ...IBM uses Synaptic for seamlessly applying software updates!



■ ...IBM uses Synaptic for seamlessly applying software updates!– Net effect: (ISSI) x (Windows Update) x (toolcat vmtools)

■ IBM maintains its own internal Synaptic repositories– IBM-internal tools– Lotus software– Software IBM holds licenses for (such as Symantec Antivirus)



■ IBM is a big supporter of Linux– Largest company to push Linux– Has Linux versions of many, if not all, Lotus tools– Lotus Symphony and OpenOffice are “first-cousins”

• OpenOffice is the de-facto productivity suite for Linux• Lotus Symphony shares the OpenOffice code base• Lotus Symphony uses OpenOffice file formats

– Tools to make your workstation WST, ITCS compliant• IBM Standard Asset Manager (ISAM)• Workstation Security Tool (WST)

– Other IBM tools• IBM Global Printer Service

■ There are Linux tools for mainframe work– 3270 terminal emulator: x3270– Jason Herne's EDL Workstation



■ Clearer, more featureful desktop environment– “Virtual desktops”– Panels

• Like the Windows “Start” bar• Can be added and removed by the user

– Panel applets• “Weatherbug” clone without the malware• Trash can• CPU load monitor

■ The Linux desktop is highly customizable









■ Questions?



■ You'll have to learn the quirks of a new system– You will need to do this whenever you change operating environments– Learning how to use Linux will take some time

■ Some things aren't as “highly polished” as they are on Windows– Case in point: x3270 vs PCOMM

• Difficult to change key mappings• Default key mapping differs from PCOMM

■ If something breaks, you'll have to fix it yourself– This is the most significant disadvantage to using Linux– Fixing problems can take a significant amount of time– No “official” IBM helpdesk support

• Positive: large and active community willing to help you• Many VMmers are willing to help you:

– Dan FitzGerald, Jason Herne, others

Disadvantages of Desktop Linux








■ Questions?



■ “Lightweight Linux Development Desktop (L2D2)” DVD– Bootable Ubuntu Linux 10.10 DVD– Allows you to “look before you leap”

• Runs Linux without installing anything on your workstation– Contains everything you need to work on Linux

• AT&T Global Network Client• OpenOffice 3.1• IBM Lotus Notes• IBM Lotus Sametime• x3270• EDL Workstation• Ubuntu installer

■ Desktop Linux Workshop, Part II– For anyone who still wants to run Linux on their workstation– This will be an interactive workshop, where I will walk you through installing

Ubuntu Linux alongside Windows on your workstation– Date TBD

“Where do I go from here?”








■ Questions?



■ Jason Herne– Technical review and presentation concept

■ The z/VM desktop Linux crew, for their continued support– Kodin Taylor– Scott Coyle

Acknowledgements

desktop linux - part 1, basics

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