,Solution and Answer Guide: Eckert, CompTIA Linux+ and LPIC-1: Guide to Linux Certification, 6e 2024, 9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Solution and Answer Guide
ECKERT, COMPTIA LINUX+ AND LPIC-1: GUIDE TO LINUX CERTIFICATION, 6E 2024, 9798214000800; CHAPTER
01: INTRODUCTION TO LINUX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Review Questions ..............................................................................................................................1
Hands-On Projects .............................................................................................................................6
Discovery Exercises ............................................................................................................................6
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following components comprise an operating system? (Choose all that apply.)
a. user interface
b. kernel
c. device drivers
d. services
Answer: a, b, c, d
An operating system is comprised of a kernel and associated hardware drivers, as well as software
(user interfaces, frameworks, libraries, services, and applications).
2. Which of the following kernels are development kernels? (Choose all that apply.)
a. 2.3.4
b. 4.5.5
c. 5.10-rc5
d. 6.0.0
Answer: a, c
For early Linux kernels (<2.6), odd minor numbers denoted a development kernel. Later Linux kernels
appended release candidate (rc) numbers to development kernels.
3. Many types of software are available today. Which type of software does Linux represent?
a. open source
b. closed source
c. freeware
d. shareware
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 1
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Answer: a
Linux is open source software.
4. Which of the following are characteristics of OSS? (Choose all that apply.)
a. The value of the software is directly related to its price.
b. The software is developed collaboratively.
c. The source code for software is available for a small fee.
d. Bugs are fixed quickly.
Answer: b, d
Open source software is developed collaboratively, and source code is distributed free of charge. As a
result, bugs are fixed and new features added quickly.
5. To which license does Linux adhere?
a. BSD
b. MIT
c. GNU GPL
d. Apache
Answer: c
Linux is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
6. What are some good reasons for using Linux in a corporate environment? (Choose all that apply.)
a. Linux software is unlikely to be abandoned by its developers.
b. Linux is secure and has a lower total cost of ownership than other operating systems.
c. Linux is widely available for many hardware platforms and supports many programming
languages.
d. Most Linux software is closed source.
Answer: a, b, c
Because Linux is open source, it is supported for a long period of time, has greater security, lower
costs, and supports nearly all hardware platforms and programming languages.
7. Which of the following are common methods for gaining support for Linux?
a. websites
b. Linux User Groups
c. online forums
d. all these methods
Answer: d
You can find Linux support online at many different websites and forums, as well as at local Linux
User Groups (LUGs).
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 2
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
8. Which two people are credited with creating the UNIX operating system? (Choose two answers.)
a. Dennis Ritchie
b. Richard Stallman
c. Linus Torvalds
d. Ken Thompson
Answer: a, d
UNIX was created by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie.
9. On which types of systems can Linux be installed? (Choose all that apply.)
a. IoT devices
b. supercomputers
c. servers
d. workstations
Answer: a, b, c, d
Linux can be installed on any type of computers from embedded/IoT devices to supercomputers.
10. Who formed the Free Software Foundation to promote open development?
a. Dennis Ritchie
b. Richard Stallman
c. Linus Torvalds
d. Ken Thompson
Answer: b
Richard Stallman created the Free Software Foundation (FSF).
11. Which culture embraced the term “GNU” (GNU’s Not UNIX) and laid the free software groundwork for
Linux?
a. the hacker culture
b. the BSD culture
c. the cracker culture
d. the artificial intelligence culture
Answer: a
The hacker culture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) directly led to the free and
open source software movement and Linux.
12. Linux was developed by _____ to resemble the _____ operating system.
a. Linus Torvalds, MINIX
b. Linus Torvalds, GNU
c. Richard Stallman, GNU
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 3
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
d. Richard Stallman, MINIX
Answer: a
Linus Torvalds created Linux as an improved version of the MINIX operating system.
13. When the core components of the Linux operating system are packaged together with other OSS, it is
called a _____.
a. new kernel
b. new platform
c. Linux distribution
d. GNU Project
Answer: c
A Linux distribution consists of a Linux kernel alongside core open source software libraries and other
software.
14. Which common desktop environments are available in most Linux distributions? (Choose all that apply.)
a. GNOME
b. CDE
c. KDE
d. RPM
Answer: a, c
GNOME and KDE are the two most common desktop environments on Linux systems.
15. Which of the following are factors that determine which Linux distribution a user will use? (Choose all that
apply.)
a. package manager support
b. hardware platform
c. kernel features
d. language support
Answer: a, b, c
Different Linux distributions may support different package managers, hardware platforms, and
kernel features.
16. What is a common open source web server available for Linux?
a. Samba
b. Apache
c. Squid
d. NFS
Answer: b
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 4
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Apache is the most common web server used on Linux systems.
17. Which of the following components is required to run Linux virtual machines?
a. container runtime
b. desktop environment
c. hypervisor
d. orchestration software
Answer: c
To run a virtual machine, hypervisor software must be present on the system.
18. Which of the following Linux distributions is likely to be used by a cybersecurity worker?
a. Fedora
b. Ubuntu
c. Kali
d. Gentoo
Answer: c
Kali Linux is a security-focused Linux distribution designed specifically for cybersecurity workers. It
includes tools used for penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.
19. When Linux is hosted within a container on a cloud provider, what cloud delivery model is being used?
a. IaaS
b. PaaS
c. XaaS
d. SaaS
Answer: b
Containers are hosted on a cloud provider using the Platform as a Service (PaaS) delivery model.
20. What component within a CD workflow creates a new virtual machine or container to host the web app?
a. orchestration server
b. testing server
c. code repository server
d. build automation server
Answer: d
In a CD workflow, the build automation software creates new containers or virtual machines.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 5
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
HANDS-ON PROJECTS
[There are no Hands-On Projects for Chapter 1.]
DISCOVERY EXERCISES
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-1
Prompt: You work for a large manufacturing company that is considering Linux as a solution for some or
all servers in its IT Department. The company hosts an Oracle database on UNIX, and the UNIX servers
that host this database contain several small programs that were custom made. Furthermore, Windows
11 is currently used on desktops throughout the company, and users store their data on Windows Server
2019 file servers. What considerations must you keep in mind before migrating your company’s servers to
Linux? Which distribution(s) and OSS would you choose to accomplish this? If you need to create a report
detailing the benefits of moving to an open source solution using Linux, what benefits would you list in
the report to persuade others in the company that Linux lowers the total cost of ownership?
Solution: Answers will vary. Common considerations include total cost of ownership, whether Oracle can
run on Linux, and whether hardware will be newly purchased or the Windows servers upgraded. The
distribution to be chosen will likely be a major distribution, such as Red Hat, openSUSE, Ubuntu, or
Debian. A report on Linux advantages could include the following points:
• Linux and Linux software are continuously developed and rarely become abandoned projects.
• Bugs are fixed quickly in OSS.
• Hardware support is abundant.
• Linux support and documentation are abundant.
• Customizing Linux is easy.
• The custom UNIX software used in the company can port to Linux easily.
• Linux and most software needed for this task are freely obtainable.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-2
Prompt: At a local Linux User Group (LUG) meeting, some people who are unfamiliar with Linux ask you to
explain what the GPL is and how it relates to OSS. These people also don’t understand how OSS generates
profit and are under the impression that the quality of OSS is poor compared to commercial software.
They suggest that the potential for OSS in the future might be limited. How do you reply? Include
examples to demonstrate your points. To which websites can you direct them for further information?
Solution: Answers will vary. The GPL stands for the GNU General Public License and allows OSS such as
Linux to be freely available and improved for an indefinite period. The open source business model is
different from conventional software; the value of software is based on its use and its use generates profit
indirectly by means of support, hardware sales, and so on. OSS is scrutinized by several developers
worldwide via the Internet; thus, software bugs and security loopholes are found and fixed quickly. This
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 6
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
makes OSS very high-quality software compared to commercial software. Websites that can be used for
more information include but are not limited to the following list:
catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/
gnu.org
opensource.org
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-3
Prompt: As a software developer working for a large clothing store chain, you are responsible for creating
software used to connect retail store computers to a central database at the head office. Recently, some
friends of yours suggested that you publish your software under a permissive open source license. What
are some direct benefits to publishing your software under a permissive open source license? To publish
software made for a company under any open source license, you need the company’s permission
because the company owns all software that it pays developers to create. When you approach people in
your company regarding OSS and explain how companies benefit from releasing software as open source,
you are asked what benefits the company will receive from funding an open source project over time.
Your company also wants to know what the procedure is for releasing and maintaining OSS. What
benefits will you offer them? Where could you send them to gain more information on procedures
involved in the open source community?
Solution: Answers will vary. Benefits to publishing software under an open source license include rapid
collaborative development in new areas, regular feedback, greater usage, and low chance of
obsolescence. Permissive open source licenses specifically encourage adoption in other projects, thus
maximizing the likelihood that other developers will work on the open source project. Companies can
benefit from the free development of other open source developers and reduce the cost of creating
software packages by contributing people to only those open source projects of corporate interest. To
release software as open source, you must read the open source definition and either subscribe to a
license or create a new one that is accepted at opensource.org. Then, you must coordinate the
development by providing an Internet-accessible means of communication between developers (e.g.,
github.com). Both aforementioned websites also list the rules and resources available to those who want
to gain more knowledge about the open source procedure.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-4
Prompt: You are a network administrator who oversees a medium-sized network consisting of Linux
servers, as well as Linux, macOS, and Windows clients. The company you work for asks you to implement
Kerberos authentication in the network, a topic with which you are unfamiliar. Where could you go to
learn what you must obtain to enable Kerberos on your network? Provided that you have a functional
web browser and an Internet connection, explore this topic on the Internet and list the websites that you
used to obtain the information required. This information might range from broad descriptions of what
you need to do to accomplish a certain task to detailed guides and instructions on putting your plan into
action. From these sources of information, devise a report outlining the major steps necessary to
implement Kerberos on your network.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 7
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Solution: Answers will vary. In general, to implement Kerberos, you must first implement a Kerberos
authentication server (or servers), such as Microsoft Active Directory. Next, you must configure each
system to join the Kerberos realm (for Microsoft Active Directory, this would be called an Active Directory
domain), as well as ensure that each user has credentials in the database that the Kerberos authentication
system uses.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-5
Prompt: At a company function, a top executive corners you and complains that your department is
wasting too much money. The executive demands to know why the company must spend so much money
on computers and software, especially operating systems and related licenses (for closed source programs
and operating systems). Write a report that defends your department by explaining the nature of
hardware, software, and operating systems. In the report, be sure to explain how OSS and the Linux
operating system can be used to reduce these costs in the long term.
Solution: Answers will vary. In general, Linux lowers the total cost of ownership for an organization
because it can be obtained free of charge (although some Linux distributions, such as Red Hat Enterprise
Linux, have a paid support subscription). Additionally, Linux systems are more secure and stable due to
the rapidly evolving nature of open source software in general.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-6
Prompt: You are contacted by a project organizer for a university computer science fair. The project
organizer asks you to hold a forum that discusses the origins of the Linux operating system, including how
it has evolved and continues to develop. The main focus of this forum is to encourage university students
toward participating in the open source community; therefore, it should detail the philosophy, major
features, and methods of the hacker culture. Prepare a bulleted list of the major topics that you will
discuss and write some sample questions that you anticipate from the participants as well as your
responses.
Solution: Answers will vary. The philosophy of the hacker culture dictates that the sharing of knowledge
advances computer science and enhances personal development. Software is distributed for free along
with the source code; should one person change that source code, that person must redistribute that
source code so that others can benefit from the changes or give appropriate feedback (for example, to fix
bugs). The hacker culture is a global culture tied together by Internet communication (websites, email,
forums, code repository websites, and so on) and produces high-quality software in short periods of time.
The software produced by the hacker culture is developed to meet a certain demand and, thus, is rarely
abandoned. The point-form list required for this Discovery Exercise should mention the previous topics
but can also mention any other aspect of Linux, GNU, FSF, OSS, or UNIX. The anticipated questions will
also vary but could include questions regarding the profit structure of OSS, personal benefits to
developing OSS, and school-related benefits of developing OSS.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-7
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 8
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Prompt: Research three different distributions of Linux on the Internet that were not mentioned in this
chapter. Record where you went to obtain your information. Compare and contrast the distributions with
regard to their strengths and the packages available for each. After you finish, visit two Linux forums. How
did you locate them and where did you obtain the information? What are the topics specific to each? Find
two questions per forum posted by a user in need of a solution to a problem and follow the thread of
responses suggested by others to find possible solutions to that problem.
Solution: Answers will vary. At any time, distrowatch.com lists over 250 actively supported Linux
distributions, so the distributions that the students choose can vary tremendously from student to
student. However, each distribution will have distinct features, support, and focus (e.g., PearOS is
designed to be a macOS replacement), and will provide an online forum (Reddit, GitHub, website) that
students can use to research issues or obtain support.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 9
website, in whole or in part.
Solution and Answer Guide
ECKERT, COMPTIA LINUX+ AND LPIC-1: GUIDE TO LINUX CERTIFICATION, 6E 2024, 9798214000800; CHAPTER
01: INTRODUCTION TO LINUX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Review Questions ..............................................................................................................................1
Hands-On Projects .............................................................................................................................6
Discovery Exercises ............................................................................................................................6
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following components comprise an operating system? (Choose all that apply.)
a. user interface
b. kernel
c. device drivers
d. services
Answer: a, b, c, d
An operating system is comprised of a kernel and associated hardware drivers, as well as software
(user interfaces, frameworks, libraries, services, and applications).
2. Which of the following kernels are development kernels? (Choose all that apply.)
a. 2.3.4
b. 4.5.5
c. 5.10-rc5
d. 6.0.0
Answer: a, c
For early Linux kernels (<2.6), odd minor numbers denoted a development kernel. Later Linux kernels
appended release candidate (rc) numbers to development kernels.
3. Many types of software are available today. Which type of software does Linux represent?
a. open source
b. closed source
c. freeware
d. shareware
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 1
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Answer: a
Linux is open source software.
4. Which of the following are characteristics of OSS? (Choose all that apply.)
a. The value of the software is directly related to its price.
b. The software is developed collaboratively.
c. The source code for software is available for a small fee.
d. Bugs are fixed quickly.
Answer: b, d
Open source software is developed collaboratively, and source code is distributed free of charge. As a
result, bugs are fixed and new features added quickly.
5. To which license does Linux adhere?
a. BSD
b. MIT
c. GNU GPL
d. Apache
Answer: c
Linux is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
6. What are some good reasons for using Linux in a corporate environment? (Choose all that apply.)
a. Linux software is unlikely to be abandoned by its developers.
b. Linux is secure and has a lower total cost of ownership than other operating systems.
c. Linux is widely available for many hardware platforms and supports many programming
languages.
d. Most Linux software is closed source.
Answer: a, b, c
Because Linux is open source, it is supported for a long period of time, has greater security, lower
costs, and supports nearly all hardware platforms and programming languages.
7. Which of the following are common methods for gaining support for Linux?
a. websites
b. Linux User Groups
c. online forums
d. all these methods
Answer: d
You can find Linux support online at many different websites and forums, as well as at local Linux
User Groups (LUGs).
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 2
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
8. Which two people are credited with creating the UNIX operating system? (Choose two answers.)
a. Dennis Ritchie
b. Richard Stallman
c. Linus Torvalds
d. Ken Thompson
Answer: a, d
UNIX was created by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie.
9. On which types of systems can Linux be installed? (Choose all that apply.)
a. IoT devices
b. supercomputers
c. servers
d. workstations
Answer: a, b, c, d
Linux can be installed on any type of computers from embedded/IoT devices to supercomputers.
10. Who formed the Free Software Foundation to promote open development?
a. Dennis Ritchie
b. Richard Stallman
c. Linus Torvalds
d. Ken Thompson
Answer: b
Richard Stallman created the Free Software Foundation (FSF).
11. Which culture embraced the term “GNU” (GNU’s Not UNIX) and laid the free software groundwork for
Linux?
a. the hacker culture
b. the BSD culture
c. the cracker culture
d. the artificial intelligence culture
Answer: a
The hacker culture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) directly led to the free and
open source software movement and Linux.
12. Linux was developed by _____ to resemble the _____ operating system.
a. Linus Torvalds, MINIX
b. Linus Torvalds, GNU
c. Richard Stallman, GNU
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 3
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
d. Richard Stallman, MINIX
Answer: a
Linus Torvalds created Linux as an improved version of the MINIX operating system.
13. When the core components of the Linux operating system are packaged together with other OSS, it is
called a _____.
a. new kernel
b. new platform
c. Linux distribution
d. GNU Project
Answer: c
A Linux distribution consists of a Linux kernel alongside core open source software libraries and other
software.
14. Which common desktop environments are available in most Linux distributions? (Choose all that apply.)
a. GNOME
b. CDE
c. KDE
d. RPM
Answer: a, c
GNOME and KDE are the two most common desktop environments on Linux systems.
15. Which of the following are factors that determine which Linux distribution a user will use? (Choose all that
apply.)
a. package manager support
b. hardware platform
c. kernel features
d. language support
Answer: a, b, c
Different Linux distributions may support different package managers, hardware platforms, and
kernel features.
16. What is a common open source web server available for Linux?
a. Samba
b. Apache
c. Squid
d. NFS
Answer: b
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 4
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Apache is the most common web server used on Linux systems.
17. Which of the following components is required to run Linux virtual machines?
a. container runtime
b. desktop environment
c. hypervisor
d. orchestration software
Answer: c
To run a virtual machine, hypervisor software must be present on the system.
18. Which of the following Linux distributions is likely to be used by a cybersecurity worker?
a. Fedora
b. Ubuntu
c. Kali
d. Gentoo
Answer: c
Kali Linux is a security-focused Linux distribution designed specifically for cybersecurity workers. It
includes tools used for penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.
19. When Linux is hosted within a container on a cloud provider, what cloud delivery model is being used?
a. IaaS
b. PaaS
c. XaaS
d. SaaS
Answer: b
Containers are hosted on a cloud provider using the Platform as a Service (PaaS) delivery model.
20. What component within a CD workflow creates a new virtual machine or container to host the web app?
a. orchestration server
b. testing server
c. code repository server
d. build automation server
Answer: d
In a CD workflow, the build automation software creates new containers or virtual machines.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 5
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
HANDS-ON PROJECTS
[There are no Hands-On Projects for Chapter 1.]
DISCOVERY EXERCISES
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-1
Prompt: You work for a large manufacturing company that is considering Linux as a solution for some or
all servers in its IT Department. The company hosts an Oracle database on UNIX, and the UNIX servers
that host this database contain several small programs that were custom made. Furthermore, Windows
11 is currently used on desktops throughout the company, and users store their data on Windows Server
2019 file servers. What considerations must you keep in mind before migrating your company’s servers to
Linux? Which distribution(s) and OSS would you choose to accomplish this? If you need to create a report
detailing the benefits of moving to an open source solution using Linux, what benefits would you list in
the report to persuade others in the company that Linux lowers the total cost of ownership?
Solution: Answers will vary. Common considerations include total cost of ownership, whether Oracle can
run on Linux, and whether hardware will be newly purchased or the Windows servers upgraded. The
distribution to be chosen will likely be a major distribution, such as Red Hat, openSUSE, Ubuntu, or
Debian. A report on Linux advantages could include the following points:
• Linux and Linux software are continuously developed and rarely become abandoned projects.
• Bugs are fixed quickly in OSS.
• Hardware support is abundant.
• Linux support and documentation are abundant.
• Customizing Linux is easy.
• The custom UNIX software used in the company can port to Linux easily.
• Linux and most software needed for this task are freely obtainable.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-2
Prompt: At a local Linux User Group (LUG) meeting, some people who are unfamiliar with Linux ask you to
explain what the GPL is and how it relates to OSS. These people also don’t understand how OSS generates
profit and are under the impression that the quality of OSS is poor compared to commercial software.
They suggest that the potential for OSS in the future might be limited. How do you reply? Include
examples to demonstrate your points. To which websites can you direct them for further information?
Solution: Answers will vary. The GPL stands for the GNU General Public License and allows OSS such as
Linux to be freely available and improved for an indefinite period. The open source business model is
different from conventional software; the value of software is based on its use and its use generates profit
indirectly by means of support, hardware sales, and so on. OSS is scrutinized by several developers
worldwide via the Internet; thus, software bugs and security loopholes are found and fixed quickly. This
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 6
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
makes OSS very high-quality software compared to commercial software. Websites that can be used for
more information include but are not limited to the following list:
catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/
gnu.org
opensource.org
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-3
Prompt: As a software developer working for a large clothing store chain, you are responsible for creating
software used to connect retail store computers to a central database at the head office. Recently, some
friends of yours suggested that you publish your software under a permissive open source license. What
are some direct benefits to publishing your software under a permissive open source license? To publish
software made for a company under any open source license, you need the company’s permission
because the company owns all software that it pays developers to create. When you approach people in
your company regarding OSS and explain how companies benefit from releasing software as open source,
you are asked what benefits the company will receive from funding an open source project over time.
Your company also wants to know what the procedure is for releasing and maintaining OSS. What
benefits will you offer them? Where could you send them to gain more information on procedures
involved in the open source community?
Solution: Answers will vary. Benefits to publishing software under an open source license include rapid
collaborative development in new areas, regular feedback, greater usage, and low chance of
obsolescence. Permissive open source licenses specifically encourage adoption in other projects, thus
maximizing the likelihood that other developers will work on the open source project. Companies can
benefit from the free development of other open source developers and reduce the cost of creating
software packages by contributing people to only those open source projects of corporate interest. To
release software as open source, you must read the open source definition and either subscribe to a
license or create a new one that is accepted at opensource.org. Then, you must coordinate the
development by providing an Internet-accessible means of communication between developers (e.g.,
github.com). Both aforementioned websites also list the rules and resources available to those who want
to gain more knowledge about the open source procedure.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-4
Prompt: You are a network administrator who oversees a medium-sized network consisting of Linux
servers, as well as Linux, macOS, and Windows clients. The company you work for asks you to implement
Kerberos authentication in the network, a topic with which you are unfamiliar. Where could you go to
learn what you must obtain to enable Kerberos on your network? Provided that you have a functional
web browser and an Internet connection, explore this topic on the Internet and list the websites that you
used to obtain the information required. This information might range from broad descriptions of what
you need to do to accomplish a certain task to detailed guides and instructions on putting your plan into
action. From these sources of information, devise a report outlining the major steps necessary to
implement Kerberos on your network.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 7
website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Solution: Answers will vary. In general, to implement Kerberos, you must first implement a Kerberos
authentication server (or servers), such as Microsoft Active Directory. Next, you must configure each
system to join the Kerberos realm (for Microsoft Active Directory, this would be called an Active Directory
domain), as well as ensure that each user has credentials in the database that the Kerberos authentication
system uses.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-5
Prompt: At a company function, a top executive corners you and complains that your department is
wasting too much money. The executive demands to know why the company must spend so much money
on computers and software, especially operating systems and related licenses (for closed source programs
and operating systems). Write a report that defends your department by explaining the nature of
hardware, software, and operating systems. In the report, be sure to explain how OSS and the Linux
operating system can be used to reduce these costs in the long term.
Solution: Answers will vary. In general, Linux lowers the total cost of ownership for an organization
because it can be obtained free of charge (although some Linux distributions, such as Red Hat Enterprise
Linux, have a paid support subscription). Additionally, Linux systems are more secure and stable due to
the rapidly evolving nature of open source software in general.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-6
Prompt: You are contacted by a project organizer for a university computer science fair. The project
organizer asks you to hold a forum that discusses the origins of the Linux operating system, including how
it has evolved and continues to develop. The main focus of this forum is to encourage university students
toward participating in the open source community; therefore, it should detail the philosophy, major
features, and methods of the hacker culture. Prepare a bulleted list of the major topics that you will
discuss and write some sample questions that you anticipate from the participants as well as your
responses.
Solution: Answers will vary. The philosophy of the hacker culture dictates that the sharing of knowledge
advances computer science and enhances personal development. Software is distributed for free along
with the source code; should one person change that source code, that person must redistribute that
source code so that others can benefit from the changes or give appropriate feedback (for example, to fix
bugs). The hacker culture is a global culture tied together by Internet communication (websites, email,
forums, code repository websites, and so on) and produces high-quality software in short periods of time.
The software produced by the hacker culture is developed to meet a certain demand and, thus, is rarely
abandoned. The point-form list required for this Discovery Exercise should mention the previous topics
but can also mention any other aspect of Linux, GNU, FSF, OSS, or UNIX. The anticipated questions will
also vary but could include questions regarding the profit structure of OSS, personal benefits to
developing OSS, and school-related benefits of developing OSS.
DISCOVERY EXERCISE 1-7
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website, in whole or in part.
, Solution and Answer Guide: ; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
9798214000800; Chapter 01: Introduction to Linux
Prompt: Research three different distributions of Linux on the Internet that were not mentioned in this
chapter. Record where you went to obtain your information. Compare and contrast the distributions with
regard to their strengths and the packages available for each. After you finish, visit two Linux forums. How
did you locate them and where did you obtain the information? What are the topics specific to each? Find
two questions per forum posted by a user in need of a solution to a problem and follow the thread of
responses suggested by others to find possible solutions to that problem.
Solution: Answers will vary. At any time, distrowatch.com lists over 250 actively supported Linux
distributions, so the distributions that the students choose can vary tremendously from student to
student. However, each distribution will have distinct features, support, and focus (e.g., PearOS is
designed to be a macOS replacement), and will provide an online forum (Reddit, GitHub, website) that
students can use to research issues or obtain support.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 9
website, in whole or in part.
