Linux Installation: From Difficult to Easy
Revisiting Linux: A Modern User Experience
The process of installing and utilizing Linux has become significantly more streamlined in recent years. Individuals who encountered difficulties with Linux in the past might find that contemporary distributions warrant a fresh evaluation.
For illustrative purposes, we will focus on Ubuntu 14.04. However, it's important to note that Linux Mint offers a comparable level of user-friendliness.
Improvements Across Distributions
Numerous other Linux distributions have also undergone substantial enhancements. While not all achieve the same polished feel as Ubuntu or Mint, the overall user experience has demonstrably improved.
These advancements encompass simplified installation procedures, more intuitive graphical interfaces, and broader hardware compatibility.
Key Benefits of Modern Linux
- Ease of Installation: Modern installers guide users through the setup process with minimal technical expertise required.
- User-Friendly Interfaces: Distributions like Ubuntu and Mint provide desktop environments that are familiar and easy to navigate.
- Enhanced Hardware Support: Greater compatibility with a wider range of hardware components is now standard.
Consequently, Linux is now a viable option for a much broader audience than ever before. Its accessibility has increased dramatically.
Requirements for Installing Linux
Related: A Comparison of 10 Widely Used Linux Distributions
With the increase in internet speeds, Linux distributions have become significantly smaller in size. Previously, installation often involved downloading numerous CD images and burning them to multiple discs, requiring frequent swapping during setup. Alternatively, a single, massive ISO file might be necessary, potentially exceeding the capacity of a DVD – or even necessitating several DVDs.
Contemporary Linux distributions generally occupy an amount of space comparable to a standard CD. While some have expanded beyond this, requiring a DVD for burning, they are optimized for minimal size and do not fully utilize the DVD’s capacity.
The need for writable discs has also been eliminated. Creating a bootable USB drive with the Linux distribution is now the preferred and more efficient method. A substantial USB drive isn't required; most distributions can fit on a 1 GB drive, and 2 GB provides ample space.
Furthermore, Linux now boasts broader hardware compatibility than ever before. This improvement extends to laptops, which historically presented challenges for Linux. Modern Linux distributions also feature enhanced power management, maximizing battery life on portable computers.
A Transformation in the Installation Experience
Historically, installing an operating system was a significantly more complex undertaking. The process typically involved booting from a physical disc and initiating the installer, which often commenced in a text-based interface before transitioning to a series of intricate configuration screens.
For those desiring a dual-boot setup alongside Windows, pre-emptive resizing of the Windows partition was a necessity. Linux systems of the past lacked dependable capabilities for resizing NTFS partitions, frequently resulting in data loss for users attempting this procedure.
Following installation, a system test was crucial. Users needed to verify the stability of the Linux distribution, confirm hardware compatibility, and assess overall satisfaction. Should issues arise, the entire process had to be repeated with a different distribution.
While running Linux directly from a disc without installation was possible, it necessitated specialized distributions like Knoppix.
Related: How to Boot and Install Linux on a UEFI PC With Secure Boot
Currently, the vast majority of Linux distributions offer "live" media that also functions as installation media. Inserting an Ubuntu disc or USB drive allows for immediate booting into a live environment. This enables users to evaluate hardware functionality and system preferences without committing to an installation.
Should problems be encountered, a simple reboot restores the system to its original state. Furthermore, this live environment provides an opportunity to explore Linux without the need for a permanent installation. On Windows 8 systems utilizing Secure Boot, temporary disabling of Secure Boot may be required for installation, though this is typically a straightforward process.
The installation itself has become considerably streamlined. Ubuntu, for example, features a user-friendly installation wizard guiding users through time zone selection, keyboard layout configuration, username and password creation, and partitioning options. While partitioning remains the most complex step, it mirrors the process even with Windows installations.
Ubuntu offers automated disk partitioning in multiple configurations. The ability to reliably resize NTFS partitions eliminates the need for pre-installation adjustments. However, maintaining backups of critical data remains a best practice.
Installation now occurs within a fully functional live desktop environment, allowing users to continue browsing the web or exploring the Linux interface during the installation phase.
Establishing a dual-boot configuration allows users to select their preferred operating system at startup, functioning similarly to Boot Camp on macOS.
Hardware Configuration
Historically, configuring hardware presented a significant challenge during Linux installation. Installation programs would attempt automatic hardware detection, prompting users to verify accuracy and adjust settings.
For those familiar with older systems, manually inputting IRQ values was sometimes necessary, particularly when dealing with ISA peripherals.
Modern Linux distributions now manage this process dynamically through autodetection. The once-complex XF86Config file has been superseded by an X.org graphical server capable of automatic detection and configuration of graphics hardware.
Removable Media and File System Support
Previously, utilizing CDs, DVDs, USB drives, or even floppy disks could be problematic. Linux distributions attempted automatic mounting of removable media, a process that wasn't always reliable.
Today, mounting is seamless and automatic; inserting a drive makes it immediately accessible, mirroring the user experience in Windows.
NTFS file system support is now natively integrated into Linux. Users no longer need to seek out separate write support solutions.
Writing to Windows drives is now a standard, straightforward operation.
Software Inclusion and Configuration in Linux DistributionsHistorically, older Linux distributions, often distributed across multiple discs, featured an extensive software selection. Opting for a "complete" installation could result in a considerable amount of unnecessary software accumulating within the system menus. For example, the internet menu might contain five distinct multi-protocol chat applications.
Furthermore, configuration tools were sometimes complex and cumbersome. SUSE's YaST (Yet Another Setup Tool) serves as an example, offering numerous configuration panels for managing diverse configuration files and executing scripts with each modification.
Contemporary Linux distributions have adopted a revised strategy. They now prioritize a curated selection of desktop applications and streamlined, user-friendly configuration utilities. A significant emphasis is placed on automating configuration processes wherever feasible.
This shift aims to provide a more focused and efficient user experience, reducing clutter and simplifying system administration.
The goal is to offer a more intuitive and accessible Linux environment for both novice and experienced users.
The Evolution of the Web
A period existed where Internet Explorer 6 held dominance over the web browsing experience. Frequently, users encountered websites exclusively designed for Internet Explorer, requiring the installation of mandatory ActiveX controls. Alternatively, many sites simply lacked testing across different browsers, particularly those outside of the Internet Explorer ecosystem.
Attempting to stream online video often presented challenges, with the mplayerplug-in struggling to render Windows Media or QuickTime content within web pages. RealPlayer, however, stood out as a positive exception. It uniquely offered an official browser plug-in compatible with Linux systems, enabling playback of some RealVideo content online.
The Modern Web Landscape
The web has undergone a significant transformation since then. Both Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome now operate seamlessly on Linux, providing a user experience equivalent to that on Windows. Instances of websites functioning solely within Internet Explorer are now rare, with the exception of users in South Korea.
Websites now predominantly utilize either the Flash plugin or HTML5 for delivering web-based video content, and both technologies are fully supported on Linux. While Silverlight, still employed by Netflix, presents a challenge, solutions exist for accessing Netflix on Linux, and Netflix is actively transitioning towards HTML5.
Decreasing Software Dependency
Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of web-based applications has diminished the impact of Linux's historically limited desktop software support. For instance, users seeking compatibility with Microsoft Office can leverage Microsoft’s complimentary Office Online service directly within their web browser.
Desktop software support for Linux has also seen improvements. Applications like Microsoft’s Skype are now installable on Linux, and Valve’s Steam service allows users to play a vast library of commercial games that now offer Linux support.
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Software Installation on Linux
Historically, Linux distributions were distributed on large media due to the extensive collection of software packages included. Previously, installing a program often involved utilizing the software directly from the distribution's installation discs.
Early Linux distributions, such as Mandrake or SUSE, frequently lacked pre-configured internet software repositories. Users often needed to rely on external websites like rpm.pbone.net to locate software packages compiled specifically for their Linux version.
This process involved manually downloading each package and its necessary dependencies. The frustrating experience of downloading a package, only to discover it required additional packages, and then repeating the process, became known as "dependency hell."
Complications could escalate to a "circular dependency hell," where package A depended on package B, package B on package C, and package C back on package A. Resolving such issues presented a significant challenge to users.
Modern Linux distributions have significantly improved this process. They now offer pre-configured online repositories containing a vast array of software. Installing software is now streamlined, often requiring just a few clicks or a single command.
The system automatically downloads and installs the desired software, along with any required dependencies. While some distributions, like Debian, pioneered this approach, popular RPM-based systems like Red Hat, Mandrake, and SUSE have since adopted similar functionality.
Ubuntu, inheriting its robust software management system from Debian, exemplifies this ease of use. Even those RPM-based distributions have made substantial improvements to their software handling capabilities.
Ubuntu’s Software Center provides an interface resembling an "app store," though centralized software management was present in Linux before it became a mainstream concept.
Proprietary Software
Related: Why Ubuntu Doesn't Come With Support for MP3s, Flash, and Other Multimedia Formats
Historically, installing software encumbered by patents or licensing restrictions – such as NVIDIA or AMD graphics drivers, Flash, MP3 support, or video codecs – often required users to locate third-party repositories. Distributions like Mandrake utilized the Penguin Liberation Front (PLF), SUSE employed the Packman repository, and Fedora relied on rpm.livna.org.
Adding these repositories to your system and installing the necessary software was a manual process. Furthermore, updates to the Linux kernel could potentially cause incompatibility issues with drivers obtained from these external sources.
Currently, much of this software is readily available within the standard repositories of most distributions. Ubuntu, for example, provides a convenient checkbox during installation to download support for Flash, MP3s, common video formats, and other frequently desired components. This eliminates the need for extensive research or complex configuration.
However, one significant exception remains: commercial DVD playback support, which faces legal considerations in the USA.
The inclusion of the majority of hardware drivers is now standard, reducing the need for manual searches. Should a closed-source driver be required, Ubuntu features a tool designed to automatically locate and install it.
These drivers receive official support from Ubuntu, minimizing the risk of breakage during kernel updates.
It's important to note that not all Linux distributions mirror Ubuntu's approach. Fedora prioritizes open-source software and does not facilitate the acquisition of patent-encumbered or closed-source components.
Arch Linux, conversely, eschews automatic configuration, presenting users with a terminal interface for system setup and customization.
Different Distributions, Different Philosophies
While some users may prefer these more hands-on Linux distributions, they are no longer the sole available option. A wider range of choices now exists to accommodate varying levels of technical expertise and preference.
Image Credit: francois on Flickr