Day 11. Mac and Linux Operating Systems
CompTIA A+ 220-901 Exam Topics
Objective 2.1: Identify common features and functionality of the Mac OS and Linux operating systems.
Key Topics
In this day, we will explore the Mac OS and the Linux OS. We will discuss how these operating systems compare and what features they have in common. We also will discuss how their functionality compares.
Features of Mac and Linux
Windows is the most widely used operating system (OS) for desktops and laptops, but other operating systems can be used. Apple users use OS X (pronounced OS 10), and instead of Windows, Linux can be used. Linux has many distributions (flavors) that offer different features.
Like Windows, both OS X and Linux have a desktop graphical user interface (GUI), a command line (Terminal), a web browser, and many of the same types of tools. The tools and desktop features are similar to those of Windows, but they might have a different name. The OS X desktop is shown in Figure 11-1, and a Linux desktop (Ubuntu) is shown in Figure 11-2.
Both OS X and Linux enable you to set up multiple desktops for organizing applications. OS X uses a program called Mission Control that also shows everything that is open on the computer, switches between applications, and manages different open windows. To launch Mission Control, swipe up on the trackpad with three fingers, double-tap the Magic Mouse, click the Mission Control icon in the Dock, or press the Mission Control button on the keyboard.
The Dock is an OS X version of the Windows taskbar. It contains frequently used application shortcuts and shows currently running applications. In Linux, this is called the Launcher and may be on the left side of the desktop. The Dock and Launcher can be customized with different application shortcuts, just like the Windows taskbar.
OS X also has a program that is used for managing files and finding and opening applications. In OS X, this program is called Finder. Finder is very similar to the Windows File Explorer. It can copy and paste files and folders, access favorite items, and navigate to storage devices. For applications and files not found in Finder, Spot Light can be used. Spot Light will search through every type of file on any storage device; it also can search other computers on the network. In addition, Spot Light will search through online resources such as Bing and Wikipedia.
The user experience of OS X is enhanced through the use of gestures. By using a Magic Mouse or trackpad, certain gestures will accomplish tasks quickly. This is similar to the way touch input is used on a mobile device. For example, when looking at a photo, the user can double-tap to zoom in, swipe left or right to view a different photo, or use two fingers to swipe up or down on the device to scroll the screen.
Another feature of OS X that increases the user experience is the Keychain, shown in Figure 11-3. Keychain is a program that manages all the user’s information, credentials, and passwords needed for programs and websites in one location. A master password is used to open the program, which will fill in the required information in the program or web page.
Many Macs do not have a built-in optical drive. These computers can still access optical discs by using a utility called Remote Disc. Remote Disc enables the Mac to access optical drives that are connected to other Mac computers. In the past, the optical drive was used to store data and backups. Storage of data and backups is still possible with OS X—Apple created the iCloud for this purpose. iCloud can be set to back up all your photos and music, the data folder, or entire storage devices.
Not all programs are compatible with OS X. With the advent and versatility of virtual computing, Apple has created Boot Camp to enable users to install Windows on the Mac. Boot Camp allows you to switch quickly and easily between OS X and Windows while the computer is running.
Mac and Linux Tools
One of the most important tools when computing is backup. Data is susceptible to corruption, storage devices can fail, and computers can be infected with malware that can destroy files or prevent access to them. OS X provides a backup program called Time Machine, shown in Figure 11-4. Time Machine enables you to restore data to a specific point in time because backups are completed automatically in the background any time a file changes. A backup created by Time Machine is known as a snapshot. The snapshot can be restored at any time, either from a local storage device or from iCloud.
If the computer crashes, all the files can be recovered. Previous versions of files, deleted files, or corrupted files can be restored from a list of versions in Time Machine. To protect against drive failure, the Disk Utility can be used to validate data on a drive, repair a drive, or boot from the recovery partition. A complete disk image file also can be created that can restore the entire disk contents to a new disk, if necessary.
A Mac user can request another user to view his computer and allow him to take control for troubleshooting or demonstration purposes. The Screen Sharing tool is similar to Windows Remote Desktop Connection.
Finally, a very useful tool is Force Quit. This tool is used to force an application to close when it becomes unresponsive. Like Task Manager in Windows, Force Quit can be accessed using a keyboard combination: Command+Option+Esc. The tool shows all running applications, and you can choose which to close.
The Terminal
The desktop is not the only way users run programs and manipulate files. In both OS X and Linux, the command line, often called the Terminal, can be used. The Terminal is shown in Figure 11-5. The Terminal is similar to the Windows Command Prompt, but because it is based on Linux, the syntax is not exactly the same. Some commands are the same; many are not, although they accomplish the same tasks. Both OS X and Linux Terminals function almost exactly the same because they are both based on Unix.
Both OS X and Linux prevent users from having full privileges and access to all files. This is a security measure to prevent malicious programs from manipulating important OS files and folders. The user can use the elevated privileges of the root user to run a command that requires a high level of permission. The command sudo (superuser do) is used before the command to let the system know that the user wants to run the command as root. The system prompts the user for the root password before executing the command. Many basic Linux commands are shown in Table 11-1.
Activity 11-1: Match the Command to Its Function
Refer to the Digital Study Guide to complete this activity.
Mac and Linux Best Practices
Like Windows, certain best practices should be followed when using OS X or Linux. One of the most important best practices is to schedule backups to complete automatically. You can back up locally or to iCloud automatically. You can choose the files you want to back up or back up the entire system or data drive.
It is also important to schedule disk maintenance. Use Disk Utility to check the file system, validate data, or repair the drive. Set disk maintenance to run before an automatic backup. This will ensure that the backup is performed on a disk that is working properly and has a clean and functioning file system.
The system and applications must be updated periodically. One convenient way to complete system and application updates in OS X is through the App Store. Both OS X and Linux will alert you when software updates are available. In many Linux distributions, the Software Updater handles these updates, as shown in Figure 11-6. Updates to the system and applications are known as patch management.
Driver and firmware updates in OS X are mostly handled by upgrading to a new version of OS X. Many of the drivers are built in to the OS. If a device requires a newer version of OS X, the operating system must be updated to support the device.
For anti-malware updates, most programs should automatically update definitions. If they do not, use the program itself to perform updates.
Study Resources
For today’s exam topics, refer to the following resources for more study.
