1. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, Second Edition Chapter 2 Preparing for Linux Installation

2. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e2 Objectives Describe common types of hardware and their features Obtain the hardware and software information necessary to install Linux

3. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e3 Understanding Hardware: Central Processing Units (CPUs) Core component of any computer –Also known as microprocessor or processor Two main components: –Arithmetic logic unit (ALU): Mathematical calculations and logic-based operations executed here –Control unit (CU): Instruction code or commands loaded and carried out here

4. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e4 Understanding Hardware: CPUs (continued) Processor architecture: Arrangement of a processor’s integral electronics Two main processor architectures: –Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) –Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)

5. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e5 Understanding Hardware: CPUs (continued) Clock speed: Internal time cycle of a processor –Determines speed that processor executes commands –Measured in Megahertz (MHz) A processor may require one cycle to complete a command or may be superscalar Amount of information a processor can process at one time is a major factor in clock speed –Measured in binary digits (bits) –The more information that can be worked on at once, the faster data can be manipulated

6. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e6 Understanding Hardware: CPUs (continued) Cache: Temporary store of information –Cache size and location affect a processor’s ability to calculate larger volumes of data Level 1 (L1) cache: Cache stored in the processor itself Level 2 (L2) cache: Cache stored in a separate computer chip –Connected to processor via high speed link Level 3 (L3) cache: Cache stored on a separate computer chip –Connected directly to processor

7. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e7 Understanding Hardware: CPUs (continued) Multiple processors can work together –Perform the same tasks faster –Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP): Allows OS and memory to use both processors simultaneously for any task –ASymmetric Multi-Processing (ASMP): Each processor given a set of tasks to complete independently

8. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e8 Understanding Hardware: Physical Memory Storage area for information that is directly wired through circuit boards to the processor Two main categories: –Random Access Memory (RAM) Volatile memory –Read Only Memory (ROM)

9. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e9 Understanding Hardware: Physical Memory―RAM Requires constant supply of electricity to maintain stored information Directly related to computer performance Two major categories: –Dynamic RAM (DRAM) –Static RAM (SRAM)

10. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e10 Understanding Hardware: Physical Memory―RAM (continued) Three main types of DRAM sticks: –Single In-line Memory Modules (SIMM) No longer produced –Dual In-line Memory Modules (DIMM) –Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Modules (SODIMM) Used in portable notebook computers and Macintosh systems

11. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e11 Understanding Hardware: Physical Memory―RAM (continued) Three recent DIMM technologies: –Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) –Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR SDRAM) –Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM)

12. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e12 Understanding Hardware: Physical Memory―ROM Read-only Memory: Physical memory that can be read but not written to –Nonvolatile Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) ROM: Stores programs used to initialize hardware components when starting computer

13. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e13 Understanding Hardware: Physical Memory―ROM Variants Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM): Can only be written to once Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM): Contents can be repeatedly erased and rewritten as a whole Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM): Whole or partial contents can be repeatedly erased/rewritten

14. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e14 Understanding Hardware: Disk Drives Most information in a computer maintained using nonvolatile media, not consisting of integrated circuits –Hard disk –Floppy disk –CD-ROM, DVD –CD-RW, DVD-RW disk –Zip disk –Flash Memory

15. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e15 Understanding Hardware: Disk Drives―Hard Disk Drives Not directly wired to the processor –Pass through a hard disk controller card Controls flow of information to and from the hard disk drive (HDD) Two types of controller cards: –Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) Also known as Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) controllers –Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

16. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e16 Understanding Hardware: Disk Drives―HDDs (continued) Table 2-1: IDE HDD configurations

17. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e17 Understanding Hardware: Disk Drives―HDDs (continued) Partitions: Small, manageable sections of a hard drive Filesystems: Specify how data should reside on the hard disk itself –A partition must be formatted with a filesystem

18. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e18 Understanding Hardware: Disk Drives―HDDs (continued) Primary partitions: Major unique and separate HDD divisions Extended partitions: Partitions that can be further subdivided into logical drives Master Boot Record (MBR): Table of all partition information for a hard disk –Stored outside of all partitions

19. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e19 Understanding Hardware: Disk Drives―HDDs (continued) Table 2-2: Example partitioning scheme for a primary master IDE HDD

20. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e20 Understanding Hardware: Disk Drives―Other Information Storage Devices Removable media: Information storage media that can be removed from the computer –Transferable between computers Floppy disks: Store information electro- magnetically –Used in floppy disk drives Zip disks: Similar to floppy disks –Can store much more information –Used in zip drives

21. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e21 Understanding Hardware: Disk Drives―Other Information Storage Devices (continued) DVDs and CD-ROMs: Use lasers to read reflected light pulses –Greater data transfer speed –Larger storage capacity –More resistance to data loss than floppy disks or ZIP disks Flash memory drives: Use EEPROM chips to store information

22. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e22 Understanding Hardware: Mainboards and Peripheral Components Bus: Pathway information takes from one hardware device to another via a mainboard Mainboard (also called a motherboard): Circuit board that connects all other hardware components together via slots or ports on the circuit board Peripheral components: Attach to the mainboard of a computer –e.g., video cards, sound cards, and network interface cards (NICs) –Connected via an Input/Output bus represented by different slots or ports on the mainboard

23. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e23 Understanding Hardware: Mainboards and Peripheral Components (continued) Three common slots for peripheral devices: –Industry Standard Architecture (ISA): Information transfer at 8 MHz –Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI): Information transfer at 33 MHz Can use Direct Memory Access (DMA) –Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP): Information transfer over 66 MHz Designed for video card peripherals

24. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e24 Understanding Hardware: Mainboards and Peripheral Components (continued) Figure 2-1: Mainboard components

25. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e25 Understanding Hardware: Mainboards and Peripheral Components (continued) Other peripherals may have external connections to mainboard –PS/2 –COM (Serial) –LPT –USB –IEEE1394 (Firewire) –PCMCIA

26. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e26 Understanding Hardware: Mainboards and Peripheral Components (continued) PS/2 ports: Connect keyboards and mice to computers COM ports: Connect a variety of peripherals to the mainboard –S erial port LPT ports: Most commonly connect printers to the mainboard –Parallel ports

27. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e27 Understanding Hardware: Mainboards and Peripheral Components (continued) Universal Serial Bus (USB) port: Connects peripheral components such as mice, printers, and scanners –Hot-swappable: Can be attached to the computer while it is running FireWire (IEEE1394): Hot-swappable variant of USB commonly used to connect SCSI hard disks, scanners, digital cameras, and CD-RW drives

28. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e28 Understanding Hardware: Mainboards and Peripheral Components (continued) Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) ports: Allow a small card to be inserted into the computer with electronics necessary to provide certain functionality Advanced Power Management (APM): BIOS feature that shuts off power to unused peripheral devices

29. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e29 Understanding Hardware: Mainboards and Peripheral Components (continued) Interrupt Request Line (IRQ): Specifies a unique channel from a device to the CPU Input/Output (IO) address: Small working area of RAM where CPU can pass information to and receive information from a device Plug-and-Play (PnP): OS and peripheral devices that automatically assign the correct IRQ, I/O address, and DMA settings

30. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e30 Understanding Hardware: Video Adapter Cards and Monitors Video adapter cards: Provide graphical display when connected to a monitor –Commonly referred to as video cards Resolution: Total number of pixels that can be displayed on a computer video screen Color depth: Total set of colors that can be displayed on a computer video screen

31. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e31 Understanding Hardware: Video Adapter Cards and Monitors (continued) Table 2-3: Memory requirements for screen resolution and color depths

32. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e32 Understanding Hardware: Video Adapter Cards and Monitors (continued) Refresh rate: Rate at which information displayed on a video screen is refreshed –Measured in Hertz (Hz) –Two types of refresh rates: HSync (horizontal refresh) VSync (vertical refresh)

33. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e33 Understanding Hardware: Keyboards and Mice Facilitates user input and direction Variety of ways to connect to motherboard –Serial port –Large circular AT 5-pin connector –Small circular PS/2 6-pin connector –USB connection –Wireless or radio connection Check hardware components against a Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)

34. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e34 Gathering Preinstallation Information Table 2-4: Red Hat 7.2 hardware requirements

35. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e35 Gathering Preinstallation Information (continued) Table 2-5: Sample pre-installation checklist

36. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e36 Gathering Preinstallation Information (continued) Table 2-5 (continued): Sample pre-installation checklist

37. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e37 Gathering Hardware Information Tools and resources to check hardware against a preinstallation checklist: –Computer manuals –Windows System Information tool (if Windows already installed) –Windows Device Manager (if Windows already installed)

38. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e38 Gathering Hardware Information (continued) Figure 2-2: The Windows System Information tool

39. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e39 Gathering Hardware Information (continued) Figure 2-3: The Windows Device Manager

40. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e40 Gathering Hardware Information (continued) Figure 2-4: The Windows Display applet

41. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e41 Gathering Hardware Information (continued) Figure 2-5: System Power-On Self Test (POST)

42. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e42 Gathering Hardware Information (continued) Figure 2-6: BIOS Setup Utility

43. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e43 Gathering Software Information Identifying system network configuration: –Hostname –IP address –Netmask –Gateway –DNS servers Resolve FQDNs

44. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e44 Gathering Software Information (continued) Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server: Server on network providing IP configuration to requesting computers –If selected during installation, Linux will attempt to get IP settings from a DHCP server on the network

45. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e45 Gathering Software Information (continued) Table 2-6: Common Linux packages

46. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e46 Gathering Software Information (continued) Table 2-6 (continued): Common Linux packages

47. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e47 Summary Understand the hardware before an installation –Allows you to make appropriate choices –Verify that the installation was successful CPUs process most instructions in a computer Two CPU architectures: RISC and CISC Computer memory can be volatile (RAM) or nonvolatile (ROM)

48. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e48 Summary (continued) Most information is stored on hard disks, floppy disks, and CD-ROMs in a nonvolatile manner –Two main types of hard disks: SCSI and IDE Peripheral components (video adapter cards, sound cards, mice, keyboards, NICs) attach to mainboard via an expansion slot or port Common expansion slots: ISA, PCI, and AGP Common ports: PS/2, serial, parallel, USB, FireWire, and PCMCIA

49. Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, 2e49 Summary (continued) All peripherals must have a unique IRQ and I/O address to communicate with the processor –Can use DMA to bypass some processor operations Hardware information can be gathered from computer manuals, BIOS, or other OSs Can set software information at installation