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Distributions (Distros) and Desktop Environments
Linux is an operating system under the FOSS (Free Open-Source Software) label and the GNU general free license. Linux will come in different forms known as Distributions, or "distros" for short. The ones used at Oregon State are:
Linux is an openly modifiable Operating System, meaning that any components of Linux can be reinstalled or swapped out for other software. These components include Desktop Environments, Package Managers,and Window Managers.
Common Widely-Used Desktop environments are as follows. KDE and Gnome are the two most popular, but Linux Mint offers Cinnamon in addition to these:
Ubuntu Release Cycle
The Lifetime of each version of Ubuntu can be found on their website under the release-cycle page. The only versions currently supported at OSU are 18.04 and onward. However, as of 2023 the Hardware and Maintenance updates for 18.04 (Bionic Beaver) will cease, leading to potential issues in compatibility or stability. there is an Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) window extending to early 2028, but this requires a subscription to Canonical to maintain security updates. They recommend upgrading to the latest LTS release or a step above to maintain updates and patches.
Currently, 20.04 (Focal Fossa) and 22.04 (Jammy Jellyfish) are the versions that are still supported beyond 2023. More information found on the Release Cycle page.
Package Management
Package Managers are used to allow updates, upgrades, and installation of new software on Linux. Distributions will come with their own package manager, but you are allowed to change what you are using. However, it is strongly advised to keep what comes with your Linux system for stability although you can alter what works with your package manager.
Ubuntu and Linux Mint use APT for their package manager. This is used to update any existing software on the PC, and also allow installation of other software inside the repository.
Software Update is a front-end for APT, but commands can also be used in a terminal window to run updates automatically. The one-line wonder is:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt upgrade -y
This command will update the repositories for apt and then upgrade any installed software, automatically saying yes when it asks if you wish to make changes.
Software can also be installed with binary packages with the .deb extension, this is generally a simple double-click to run, or using dpkg in terminal to run the package.
sudo dpkg -i package_file.deb (replacing with the actual file name)
Uninstalling software you do not use is also simple using Software Store, or using terminal with sudo apt-get remove package_name (replacing with actual package name)
General Help Forums
Linux offers a lot of DIY solutions based on many questions and answers from the community. Many people will ask you to check the available manuals for your distribution, but many answers you have may already be available on their respective forums. A google search with information on your install (e.g. Ubuntu 18.04 <error number>) will often yield results from the Ubuntu Forums.
RAID Information
Important to note: RAID IS NOT BACKUP!
RAID can fail in a number of ways:
- Drive failure can result in data loss
- Not the ideal choice for mission critical systems
- Can cost a great deal depending on RAID type.
- Rebuilding the array can take a lengthy amount of time
- Different RAID types have different performance levels, one type may be slower than a normal drive.
RAID can offer good performance, and be one of many means of backup. However, it is recommended to have data stored in multiple areas. (Cloud + External Disks + Network Drives, etc) For example, RAID 0 is pure performance, striping data from one disk to the next in the pair. If one drive fails, they both fail. RAID 1 is parity through mirroring. If one disk fails the backup disk will still work. (you can replace the corrupt/damaged Hard drive and rebuild the RAID to restore the failsafe)
However, it is recommended to avoid RAID unless there is a need for it. Solid State drives offer more performance with less risk of data loss. RAID is great for servers and general performance if there is no risk of data loss, but it is highly recommended to back up files from a RAID to other areas (Box, Dropbox, network drives, and external disks) before assuming it is stable and safe.
For any assistance, you're welcome to call the service desk or put in a request. However, if the data is extremely sensitive and mission critical and you need the highest chance of data recovery, it is imperative to contact recovery specialists before doing anything more with the disks. Further operations done on hard drives after corruption or failure is detected means less chance of data recovery. Most specialists will charge a high cost, but should only charge you when data recovery is successful. The cost can be several hundred dollars, but is well worth it if the data is critical and has not been saved anywhere else.