Mastering Cybersecurity: Day 16 of the 100-Day Challenge

Linux Architecture

Linux architecture operating systems have an architecture and are made up of discrete components that work together to form the whole. In this video, we're going to look at all the components that, together, make up Linux.

The components of Linux include the user, applications, the shell, the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, the kernel, and the hardware. Don't worry—we'll go into these components one by one together.

First, you are the user. The user is the person interacting with the computer. In Linux, you're the first element in the architecture of the operating system. You're initiating the tasks or commands that the OS is going to execute. Linux is a multi-user system. This means that more than one user can use the system's resources at the same time.

The second element of the architecture is the applications within a system. An application is a program that performs a specific task, such as a word processor or a calculator. You might hear the words "applications" and "programs" used interchangeably. As an example, one popular Linux application that we'll learn more about later is Nano. Nano is a text editor. This simple application helps you keep notes on the screen. Linux applications are commonly distributed through package managers. We'll learn more about this process later.

The next component in the architecture of Linux is the shell. This is an important element because it is how you will communicate with the system. The shell is a command-line interpreter. It processes commands and outputs the results. This might sound familiar. Previously, we learned about the two types of user interfaces: the GUI and the CLI. You can think of the shell as a CLI.

Another element of the architecture of Linux is the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, or FHS. It's the component of the Linux OS that organizes data. An easy way for you to think about the FHS is to think about it as a filing cabinet of data. The FHS is how data is stored in a system. It's a way to organize data so that it can be found when the data is accessed by the system.

That brings us to the kernel. The kernel is a component of the Linux OS that manages processes and memory. The kernel communicates with the hardware to execute the commands sent by the shell. The kernel uses drivers to enable applications to execute tasks. The Linux kernel helps ensure that the system allocates resources more efficiently and makes the system work faster.

Finally, the last component of the architecture is the hardware. Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer. You can compare this to software applications that can be downloaded into a system. The hardware in your computer includes things like the CPU, mouse, and keyboard.

Conclusion

The Linux architecture comprises the user, applications, shell, Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS), kernel, and hardware. Each component plays a crucial role: users initiate tasks, applications perform specific functions, the shell processes commands, the FHS organizes data, the kernel manages processes and memory, and hardware provides the physical resources. Together, these components create a robust and efficient operating system. Understanding their interactions helps in maximizing the potential of Linux.