Day 4 of 90 Days of DevOps Challenge: Getting Started with Linux on AWS, Setup and Fundamentals

In yesterday’s blog, I covered the basics of Cloud Computing, exploring deployment models like Public, Private, and Hybrid, as well as service models such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. I also highlighted how cloud technologies play an important role in enhancing the efficiency and scalability of the DevOps lifecycle. In today’s post, let’s shift our focus to the Linux operating system. I’ll cover its benefits, file system structure. Also, I’ll give a quick overview of AWS cloud services, show you how to set up a Linux environment on AWS EC2, and walk through some basic Linux commands to get started.

What is an Operating System?

An Operating System is the software that acts as an interface between computer hardware and the user. It manages hardware, runs applications, handles files, and enables communication between software and hardware.

Components of an Operating System

An operating system is made up of several key parts that work together to manage the system’s hardware and software resources. The most important components are:

1. Kernel

The kernel is the core part of the operating system. It acts as a bridge between applications and the hardware. It handles:

• Process and memory management

• Device control (input/output operations)

• File systems and system calls

There are different types of kernels (like monolithic, microkernel, hybrid), and Linux uses a monolithic kernel.

2. Shell

The shell is the interface between the user and the kernel. It interprets the commands you type and passes them to the kernel for execution.
There are two types of shells:

• Command-line Shell (e.g., Bash, Zsh)

• Graphical Shell (e.g., GNOME, KDE on Linux)

When we are typing commands in the terminal, we’re interacting with the shell.

3. File System

The file system organizes data and files on disk. Linux uses a hierarchical file system structure that starts from the root/directory and expands into subdirectories.

4. System Libraries

These are special functions or programs used by applications to communicate with the kernel. They allow developers to write software without having to interact directly with the kernel.

5. System Utilities and Applications

These are essential programs provided by the OS to manage files, processes, users, and system resources.

Introduction to the Linux Operating System

Linux is a free, open-source operating system built on Unix principles. It’s widely used in servers, cloud platforms, and DevOps environments due to its stability, performance, and flexibility.

Why Linux for DevOps?

• Open-source and customizable

• Highly secure and stable

• Supports powerful command-line tools

• Preferred OS for servers and cloud platforms

• Lightweight and resource-efficient

Popular Linux Distributions

A Linux distribution is a variant of Linux bundled with its own set of tools and package managers. Some commonly used ones are:

• Ubuntu – user-friendly, great for beginners

• CentOS / Rocky Linux – stable, enterprise-ready

• Debian – very stable, great for servers

• Kali Linux – focused on security testing

• Fedora – cutting-edge features

Setting Up a Linux Environment on AWS EC2

To start practicing Linux commands, we first need to set up the right environment. Since this journey combines AWS and DevOps, I'll be using AWS EC2 to create and work within a cloud-based Linux environment.

1. Create an AWS account

2. Login to AWS Console

3. Navigate to EC2 → Launch Instance

4. Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI), Amazon Linux

5. Select an instance type (e.g., t2.micro for free tier)

6. Configure security group (enable port 22 for SSH)

7. Create and download the .pem key and launch your instance

Connect via terminal:

ssh -i "your-key.pem" ec2-user@<EC2-Public-IP>

And it’s done !! we’ve successfully set up the Linux environment..

Final Thoughts

That wraps up today's learning! I gained a solid understanding of Linux, its file system structure, and the core relationship between the kernel and the shell. I also set up a Linux environment on AWS EC2, an important milestone in my #90DaysOfDevOps journey.

These foundational concepts are crucial as I continue exploring Linux commands and dive deeper into system administration. With Linux being a core component of most cloud platforms, especially AWS, this hands-on experience is setting the stage for everything that follows.

Thanks for reading! If you found this helpful, feel free to drop a comment, share it with others, or follow along for tomorrow’s update!