LWM-Linux/15 - Linux Distributions and Deployment/Overview of Popular Distobutions (Fedora).md

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Overview of Popular Distobutions (Fedora)

1. Introduction to Fedora

Fedora is a popular Linux distribution sponsored by Red Hat. It's known for providing cutting-edge features, frequent releases, and a strong focus on free and open-source software. Fedora serves as the upstream source for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

2. Key Features

  • Frequent releases (approximately every 6 months)
  • Up-to-date software packages
  • Strong security features, including SELinux
  • GNOME desktop environment by default (other options available)
  • DNF package manager
  • Wayland display server

3. Editions

Fedora offers several editions:

  • Fedora Workstation: For desktop/laptop users
  • Fedora Server: For server environments
  • Fedora CoreOS: For container-based workloads
  • Fedora IoT: For Internet of Things devices
  • Fedora Silverblue: An immutable desktop OS

4. System Requirements

Minimum requirements for Fedora Workstation:

  • 2 GHz dual-core processor
  • 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
  • 20 GB disk space
  • Graphics card capable of 1024x768 resolution

5. Installation Process

  • Download the ISO from getfedora.org
  • Create a bootable USB drive using tools like Rufus or dd
  • Boot from the USB drive
  • Follow the installation wizard
  • Choose partitioning scheme (automatic or manual)
  • Set up user account and root password
  • Complete installation and reboot

6. Package Management with DNF

DNF (Dandified Yum) is Fedora's package manager. Common commands:

  • sudo dnf install : Install a package
  • sudo dnf remove : Remove a package
  • sudo dnf update: Update all packages
  • dnf search : Search for packages
  • dnf info : Get package information

7. Software Repositories

Fedora uses several repositories:

  • fedora: Main repository for the current release
  • updates: Updated packages for the current release
  • updates-testing: Test updates before they're pushed to the main repos
  • rpmfusion: Third-party repository for additional software

8. Desktop Environments

While GNOME is the default, Fedora supports various desktop environments:

  • KDE Plasma
  • Xfce
  • MATE
  • Cinnamon
  • LXQt

You can install these using Fedora spins or by installing the respective packages.

9. System Administration

  • systemctl: Manage system services
  • firewall-cmd: Configure firewall
  • journalctl: View system logs
  • semanage: Manage SELinux policies

10. Development Tools

Fedora is popular among developers due to its up-to-date tools:

  • GCC, Clang, and other compilers
  • Python, Ruby, Java, and other programming languages
  • IDEs like VSCode, Eclipse, and PyCharm available through repositories

11. Virtualization

Fedora includes tools for virtualization:

  • QEMU/KVM: For running virtual machines
  • Boxes: A user-friendly VM manager
  • Podman: For running containers

12. Security Features

  • SELinux: Mandatory Access Control system
  • Firewalld: Dynamic firewall manager
  • LUKS: For disk encryption
  • Regular security updates

13. Fedora Release Cycle

  • New versions released approximately every 6 months
  • Each release supported for 13 months
  • Option to use Fedora Rawhide for bleeding-edge updates

14. Upgrading Fedora

  • Use 'dnf system-upgrade' for version upgrades
  • Alternatively, use the GNOME Software center for graphical upgrades

15. Community and Support

  • Fedora Project website: docs.fedoraproject.org
  • Fedora Forums: forums.fedoraforum.org
  • IRC channels on Libera.Chat
  • Mailing lists for various Fedora teams and projects