10 terms to know before switching to linux

When switching, or planning to switch to Linux, most people find it hard to understand the new or technical terms that come with using Linux. Here is a list of 10 terms you probably should know.

Follow up:

ISO

This is not a Linux term, but if you don't know what it is, you will probably never be able to install Linux (If you downloaded Linux, which is ~85% of all people). If you download Linux, it will come in an ISO image. Most distributions will come as an ISO image as a method of fitting an entire CD into one file. You will need software such as Nero to burn the image to your CD.

BIOS

BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. BIOS comes with every motherboard and basically controls its functions. The BIOS menu can be accessed though a designated key during the first few seconds of start up (It usually ways somewhere while starting up, or read the manual for your computer). This is necessary to know, because you will have to modify settings in your BIOS menu in order to boot into the Linux installation.

GRUB / Boot loader

If you have more than one operating system (Windows and Fedora for instance) a boot loader menu will appear every time you start your computer, giving you the choice of which operating system to boot. Linux has its own boot loader called GRUP, which will be setup during the installation.

Distribution

This is one of the first things you need to know before switching to Linux. Distributions are basically different branches of Linux that include their own set of features and programs. Most distributions share much of the same software.

Live CD

Live CD is a style of Linux that will boot from the CD as though its install on the computer. Live CDs often offer a good representation and preview of how the installed version will look and feel. Some distributions of Linux, such as Ubuntu, offer Live CD ISO images, from which you can test and install the operating system onto your hard drive.

Architecture

Different CPU manufacturers base their CPU design on different "Architectures". Architecture defines how information is moved in/out and processed (There is more to it than that). You will need to download the needed architecture for your computer. Most computers support the x86 architecture, and its probably the one you are going to use.

Kernel

A kernel is the base of any operating system. It is basically the link between the software and the hardware. It's responsible for resource management and many other functions. Please note that Linux itself is the kernel, not the operating system.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

The GUI is the graphical interface in an operating system. The mouse, menus and other visual component all come from your GUI. There is another type of interface called Command Line Interface(CLI). Please see 8 for more information.

Terminal

A terminal is basically the CLI component of a GUI. It is used by typing in predefined keywords which are linked to their own functions. Get to know the terminal, because once in a while you will need to install or compile a program using the terminal.

Proprietary

You will see this term quite a bit. If a piece of software is proprietary then that means its closed source and restricted other ways. This kind of software, specially drivers, is not preinstalled on most Linux distributions and has to be installed separately.

Wine

Even though it is a piece of software, I had to include this. Wine is a program that you would want to become familiar with, as it will help you install Windows software on Linux. Wine is what is called an "Emulation Software" or "Emulation Layer", which is able to execute exe files.
note: This doesn't place Windows into Linux, most programs don't fully work.