Introduction to Linux

Objectives

The objectives of this tutorial are:

  • Navigate the basic graphical interface of the Debian 13 operating system.
  • Understand how the Linux file system differs from Windows.
  • Open and interact with the Command Line Interface (The Terminal).
  • Execute basic commands to navigate folders and manage files.

Why use Linux for OpenFOAM?

Why use Linux for OpenFOAM and not Windows for this seminar? There are three major reasons:

  1. Native Environment: OpenFOAM was originally built for Linux. While there are methods to run the software on Windows (such as WSL or Docker), running it natively on Linux provides optimal performance, stability, and access to all features.
  2. Command-Line Workflow: Unlike traditional software that relies on graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and buttons, OpenFOAM is entirely text-based. Setting up, executing, and processing simulations is done using text files and terminal commands. Linux is specifically designed to excel at this type of workflow.
  3. Industry & HPC Standard: Complex CFD simulations demand significant computational power, eventually requiring the use of High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters or supercomputers. These computing clusters almost exclusively run on Linux. Learning this operating system now serves as crucial preparation for professional engineering environments.

Preparation

Before beginning the tutorial, complete the following steps to access the work environment:

  1. Power on the computer, and select the Debian GNU/Linux operating system from the boot manager menu and press Enter.
  2. Log in using your standard university account credentials.

Table of contents

This site uses Just the Docs, a documentation theme for Jekyll.