file system should be arranged. In other words, you can rely on many components of
Linux being in the same place on LSB-certified Linux systems.
Open source projects -- Many Linux distributions include the same open source proj-
ects. So, for example, the most basic command and configuration files for an Apache
Web server, Samba file/print server, and sendmail mail server will be the same whether
you use Red Hat, Debian, or many other Linux systems. And although they can change
backgrounds, colors, and other elements of your desktop, most of the ways of navigating
a KDE or GNOME desktop stay the same, regardless of which Linux you use.
A shell is a shell -- Although you can put different pretty faces on it, once you open a
shell command-line interpreter (such as bash or sh) in Linux, most experienced Linux or
UNIX users find it pretty easy to get around on most any Linux system. For that reason, I
recommend that if you are serious about using Linux, you take some time to try the shell
(as described in Chapter 2). Additionally, Chapters 2427 focus on command-line and
configuration file interfaces for setting up servers, because learning those ways of config-
uring servers will make your skills most portable across different Linux systems.
Some of the ways that Linux distributions distinguish themselves, however, are with the installers
they use, their package management tools, and system administration tools. Also, distributions such
as those sponsored by Red Hat will include new features developed by its sponsors to meet its
commercial needs. For example, Red Hat has done a lot of work that is useful for enterprise com-
puting environments, such as virtualization, global file systems, and software distribution tools.
Is the Linux Mascot Really a Penguin?
Figure 1-1 shows the penguin logo that Linus Torvalds approved as the official Linux mascot. His
name is Tux. Use of this logo is freely available, and you find it everywhere on Linux Web sites,
magazines, and other Linux venues. (I used it in my book Linux Toys II and on the Linuxtoys·net
Web site, for example.)
FIGURE 1-1
Tux, a gentle and pleasant penguin, is the official Linux mascot.
31
Starting with Linux
1
