May 17 2012 Linux is an operating system created by Linus
Torvalds during his days as a student at the University of
Helsinki. Linux was created and meant to be used as an option or
substitute to the other operating systems being used by computer
users, like MS-DOS, Windows, Mac OSX, etc. Linux is not a
program or a set of programs like a word processor of an office
suite. While studying at the University of Helsinki, Linus used
a version of the UNIX operating system called ‘Minix’. Several
requests for modifications and improvements for the operating
system were being sent by Linus and other users to Andrew
Tanenbaum, Minixâ€™s creator, but he felt that they weren’t
necessary. Therefore, Linus decided to create his own operating
system; one that would take into account the users’ comments and
suggestions for improvements. A â€œkernelâ€ is the focal point
of any operating system. Without going into great detail, the
kernel tells the CPU to do what you want the program or
application that you’re using to do. A