The first wide spread distribution of UNIX was the sixth version Edition V, but it has since been named System V ('System Five').

Linux ('linn-ux') was initally named Freax (which was a conjuntion of Free, Freak and X), as Linus Torvalds thought that people might think that he was big-headed in naming his operating system after himself. Luckily the person resonsible for distributing the code used the Linux name.

There are now between 7 and 10 million users of Linux, and more than 10,000 programmers. In fact, for real-time, multi-tasking embedded systems it is often the natural choice, as it has a proper kernal, which can be easily modified for specific tasks.

'A standalone computer is about promising as a standalone phone.'

- AT&T Vice President

Module information

The usage of module registration, and email backup was a great success in the 2000/2001 session. If you are studying this module in the Session 2001/2002, please try and register for the module, and you will be kept up-to-date with any developments:

Module registration (Check to see if you've registered)
Module organiser
Teacher's notes
Module notes
Module presentations
Module project
On-line tests

Worksheet 1
Router emulator

Worksheet 2

2000/2001 archive

The NOS module ran for the first time in the session 2000/2001. For over 60 students who sat the module, nearly all of them pass the module at the first diet. If you want to access some of the material for this session, select the following:

2000/2001 Coursework marks
2000/2001 Coursework feedback
2000/2001 Coursework specifications
2000/2001 Exam marks
2000/2001 Exam paper
2000/2001 Exam details
2000/2001 Exam answers
2000/2001 Exam FAQs
2000/2001 Questionaire results

WAP access

Mobile computing is advancing rapidily. As an experiment these pages will also be avialable in a WAP form at:

buchananweb.co.uk/nos.wml

Reference material

All the notes and presentations are supplied in the teaching pack. These are based on the following publications:

Buchanan WJ, Distributed Systems and Networks, McGraw-Hill, 2000, ISBN 0-077-09583-9.

Buchanan WJ, Mastering Networks, Macmillan, 1999. ISBN 0-333-748042.

Others

If you interesting in developing your practical skills in networking and the Internet, why not register your interest in the Cisco Academy at:

cisco@napier

The following gives the links for Adobe Reader, and Flash 5:

Adobe Reader
Flash 5