Linux, Module 1

A version of UNIX developed by IBM.

A mobile Linux-based operating system currently developed by Google’s Open Handset Alliance.

The software that runs on an operating system and provides the user with specific functionality (such as word processing or financial calculation). Applications are commonly referred to as apps today.

A major Linux distribution known for its simplicity and customization features.

An open source license that allows source code to be distributed freely but changed at the discretion of the original author.

A type of encryption that uses a key pair to encrypt and decrypt data.

The process whereby each user must log in with a valid user name and password before gaining access to a system.

A popular and widespread method of clustering computers together to perform useful tasks using Linux.

A version of UNIX developed out of the original UNIX source code and given free to the University of California, Berkeley by AT&T.

A digitally signed public key file.

A server that digitally signs public keys used by other computers to validate their authenticity.

The software whose source code is not freely available from the original author; Windows 10 is an example.

Another term for the Internet.

A series of software components that are used to provide access to IaaS virtualized operating systems.

An organization that provides Internet access to resources in a data center.

A grouping of several smaller computers that function as one large supercomputer.

The act of making a cluster; see also cluster.

A subset of an operating system that provides a unique service on the network.

A person who uses computer software maliciously for personal profit.

A term that refers to the technologies and processes used to provide security within a network environment and on the Internet.

A file that contains data organized into tables.

Software that manages databases.

A major Linux distribution that is widely used worldwide.

A Linux kernel that has been recently developed yet not thoroughly tested.

A piece of software containing instructions that the kernel of an operating system uses to control and interact with a specific type of computer hardware.

Information that has been encrypted using a private key.

A complete set of operating system software, including the Linux kernel, supporting function libraries, and a variety of OSS packages that can be downloaded from the Internet free of charge. These OSS packages are what differentiate the various distributions of Linux.

A production Linux kernel that receives long term patch support for a particular Linux distribution.

The naming convention used by computers on the Internet.

The protocol that is used to automatically obtain IP configuration for a computer.

A term that refers to a specific type of UNIX operating system. For example, macOS and BSD are two different flavors of UNIX.

An organization started by Richard Stallman that promotes and encourages the collaboration of software developers worldwide to allow the free sharing of source code and software programs.

Software distributed by the developer at no cost to the user.

An area on a Web site where answers to commonly posed questions can be found.

A host name that follows the DNS naming convention.

A major Linux distribution known for its focus on hardware and software optimization.

An acronym that stands for “GNU’s Not Unix.”

A software license, ensuring that the source code for any OSS will remain freely available to anyone who wants to examine, build on, or improve upon it.

The default desktop environment on most modern Linux systems; it was first created in 1997.

A free operating system project started by Richard Stallman.

The component of an operating system that provides a user-friendly interface comprising graphics or icons to represent desired tasks. Users can point and click to execute a command rather than having to know and use proper command-line syntax.

A GUI core component such as X Windows, combined with a window manager and desktop environment that provides the look and feel of the GUI. Although functionality might be similar among GUI environments, users might prefer one environment to another due to its ease of use.

A person who explores computer science to gain knowledge–not to be confused with “cracker.”

The tangible parts of a computer, such as the network boards, video card, hard disk drives, printers, and keyboards.

A particular configuration and grouping of computer hardware, normally centered on and determined by processor type and architecture.

A solution for a software bug.

A task-specific instruction guide to performing any of a wide variety of tasks; it is freely available from the Linux Documentation Project at www.tldp.org.

A version of UNIX developed by Hewlett-Packard.

A cloud strategy that allows access to virtualized operating systems stored within a data center.

A unique string of numbers assigned to a computer to uniquely identify it on the Internet.

A mobile version of UNIX developed by Apple for use on iPhone, iPod, and iPad devices.

A Linux desktop environment created by Matthias Ettrich in 1996.

A network protocol used by most authentication services.

The central, core program of the operating system. The shared commonality of the kernel is what defines Linux; the differing OSS applications that can interact with the common kernel are what differentiates Linux distributions.

A unique piece of information that is used within an encryption algorithm.

A Finnish graduate student who coded and created the first version of Linux and subsequently distributed it under the GNU Public License.

A software operating system originated by Linus Torvalds. The common core, or kernel, continues to evolve and be revised. Differing OSS bundled with the Linux kernel is what defines the wide variety of distributions now available.

A large collection of Linux resources, information, and help files supplied free of charge and maintained by the Linux community.

A major Linux distribution that is known for its small learning curve.

The open forums of Linux users who discuss and assist each other in using and modifying the Linux operating system and the OSS run on it. There are LUGs worldwide.

A feature of some network devices that allows requests for a service to be spread across several different computers for fault tolerance and performance.

A version of UNIX developed by Apple for use on Apple desktop computers and servers.

The service that downloads email from a mail transfer agent.

An email server.

A program that allows users to read email.

When referring to device files, it is the number used by the kernel to identify which device driver to call to interact properly with a given category of hardware; similar devices share a common major number. When referring to kernel versions, it is the number preceding the first dot in the kernel version; it is used to denote a major change or modification.

A system that is used on Beowulf clusters to pass information to several separate computers in a parallel fashion.

Mini-UNIX created by Andrew Tannenbaum. Instructions on how to code the kernel for this version of the Unix operating system were publicly available. Using this as a starting point, Linus Torvalds improved this version of UNIX for the Intel platform and created the first version of Linux.

When referring to device files, it is the number used by the kernel to identify which specific hardware device, within a given category, to use as a driver to communicate with. When referring to kernel versions, it is the number following the first dot in the kernel version; it denotes a minor modification.

A prototype time-sharing operating system that was developed in the late- 1960s by AT&T Bell Laboratories.

A type of operating system that is able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

A type of operating system that is able to provide access to multiple users simultaneously.

A protocol that is used to obtain time and time zone information from servers across a network, such as the Internet.

An Internet service that allows access to postings (e-mails in a central place accessible by all newsgroup users) normally organized along specific themes. Users with questions on specific topics can post messages, which can be answered by other users.

Often used to describe a security appliance that performs multiple security functions.

The programs distributed and licensed so that the source code making up the program is freely available to anyone who wants to examine, utilize, or improve upon it.

One of the most popular and prevalent distributions of Linux, originally developed in Europe.

The software used to control and directly interact with the computer hardware components.

A system that defines a standard package format and can be used to install, query, and remove packages.

The process whereby a CyberSecurity worker attempts to break into systems to test security functionality.

A cloud strategy that allows organizations to host custom apps and data within a data center.

A private data center hosted by an organization that is accessible to other computers across the Internet.

An asymmetric encryption key that is used to decrypt data and create digital signatures.

A program currently loaded into physical memory and running on the system.

A Linux kernel whose minor number (the number after the dot in the version number) is even, therefore deemed stable for use through widespread testing.

A structured set of commands stored in an executable file on a filesystem. A program can be executed to create a process.

The syntax used for developing a program. Different programming languages use different syntaxes.

A server or hardware device that requests Internet resources on behalf of other computers.

An asymmetric encryption key that is used to encrypt data and decrypt digital signatures.

A system whereby a CA is used to validate the authenticity of public keys.

One of the most popular and prevalent distributions of Linux in North America, distributed and supported by Red Hat, Inc. Fedora is a Red Hat-based Linux distribution.

The number after the second dot in the version number of a Linux kernel that identifies the release number of a kernel.

A device capable of transferring packets from one network to another.

The capability of computers to increase workload as the number of processors increases.

An Internet Web site, such as www.google.com, where you simply enter a phrase representing your search item and receive a list of Web sites that contain relevant material.

A server that provides advanced security services on a network. Most security appliances run a custom Linux distribution.

A computer configured to allow other computers to connect to it from across a network.

The services that are made available for other computers across a network.

The programs developed and provided at minimal cost to the end user. These programs are initially free but require payment after a period of time or usage.

The programs stored on a storage device in a computer, which provide a certain function when executed.

A cloud strategy that provides access to a service hosted on servers within a data center.

The sets of organized instructions on how to function and perform tasks that define or constitute a program.

A type of encryption that uses a single key to encrypt and decrypt data.

The additional functionality provided by a program that has been incorporated into and started as part of the operating system.

A compressed tar archive.

The full sum of all accumulated costs, over and above the simple purchase price of utilizing a product. Includes training, maintenance, additional hardware, and downtime.

A major Linux distribution that is widely used worldwide.

Often used to describe a security appliance that performs multiple security functions.

The first true multitasking, multiuser operating system, developed by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie, and from which Linux was originated.

A person who uses a computer. When used in the mode of a certain file or directory, it refers to the owner of that file or directory.

The interface the user sees and uses to interact with the operating system and application programs.

The process whereby a cybersecurity worker scans computers and networks for security vulnerabilities.

A computer used to connect to services on a server.

The services that are used to access shared resources on a network server.

The core component of the Linux GUI that displays graphics to windows on the terminal screen.