Laboratory for Scientific Computing, University of Cambridge

Linux

Strictly speaking, "Linux" refers only to the kernel of many operating-systems, and is responsible for interfacing between software and hardware, i.e. CPU, disks, RAM, monitor, network, etc. However, "Linux" has come to refer to one of many distribution packages which use this as their kernel, e.g. Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, Debia, Suse, etc.

Command Line

Most useful work in Linux is done via the command line. A list of some useful commands is:

ls: Lists the contents of the current directory
cd My_Documents: Change directory to the one given
ssh myPC.lsc.phy.cam.ac.uk: Login to another computer called myPC on the LSC network. See here for a list of available computers.

More substantial introductions to Linux can be found at:

Linux introduction - run as part of the MPhil in Scientific Computing
Surrey Linux Guide
Southampton Unix primer

Privacy