Beginning Red Hat Linux 9

Summary

Red Hat Linux 9 is a powerful, flexible open source operating system. Its popularity is growing, both in home use and in corporate environments of all sizes. Its user interface makes it every bit as accessible as other operating systems, and its open source pedigree opens the doors to a mind-blowing amount of free software.
This book guides you through that difficult time that comes just after you've installed a new operating system, by giving you the confidence to open your wings and fly with it. We'll take you through the installation, we'll get you working, and by the end of the book you'll have a well-configured, stable, secure operating system and a world of possibilities.
Who is this book for?
This book is for you if you're using (or planning to use) the Red Hat Linux operating system for the first time. It offers the simple, plain-speaking guidance you need as you begin to explore the vast potential of open source software. The book assumes that you're familiar with using Microsoft Windows, and aims to help you make the jump from Windows to Linux by introducing it in those terms. No previous knowledge of Linux is assumed.
What you will learn in this book
* How to install Red Hat Linux 9 using the included 2 CD-Rom distribution from Red Hat
* How to use Red Hat Linux 9 to connect to networks, printers, and the Internet
* How to get working - using Office applications, web browsers, multimedia applications, and so on
* How to get the most from Linux - by understanding Linux's powerful file system and command line interfaces
* How to set up and configure a web server, a mail server, a file server, and various other types of service
* How to secure your machine against unauthorized use - both from the Internet and from internal threats
* How to modify your machine to suit the way you work - installing software to create a tailored working environment

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION.

Who Is This Book For?

What You Need To Use This Book.

What Is Linux?

What Is Covered In This Book?

Conventions In This Book.

Customer Support.

1. INSTALLING RED HAT LINUX 9.

Preparing For The Installation.

The Installation.

2. RED HAT LINUX 9 BASICS.

Moving Around The Desktop.

The File System.

Managing The Hardware.

Configuring The Desktop.

Managing Users.

3. CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET.

Connecting To The Internet.

Managing Multiple Isps And Connections.

Software And Configuration.

4. INSTALLING SOFTWARE.

What Is Rpm?

The Rpm Command Line Tool.

5. EVERYDAY APPLICATIONS.

Office Applications.

Internet Applications.

Personal Information Management.

Multimedia Applications.

System Applications.

6. THE SHELL.

The Shell As A Command Line Interface.

Built-In Programs And External Programs.

Some Common Shell Commands.

Special Keys And Shortcuts.

Command Line Syntax.

Configuring The Shell.

Managing Tasks.

Shell Scripting.

7. THE FILE SYSTEM.

What Is The File System?

File Search Utilities

Navigating The File System.

Managing Drives And Partitions.

File System Maintenance.

8. MANAGING YOUR USER ACCOUNTS.

The Purpose Of Different User Accounts.

The Red Hat User Manager.

How Linux Stores User Account Information.

Advanced User Account Management.

Advanced Group Management.

Users, Groups, And File System Permissions.

When Root Is Not Necessary.

Who Is Logged In?

9. BUILDING NETWORKS.

Networking.

Setting Up A Web Server.

Setting Up An Ftp Server.

Setting Up A Print Server.

Setting Up A File Server.

Setting Up A Mail Server.

Setting Up A Dhcp Server.

10. ADVANCED SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION.

System Configuration.

Logging.

Backing Up And Archiving.

Building From Source.

Rebuilding The Linux Kernel.

11. MANAGING YOUR SYSTEM WITH PERL.

What Is Perl?

Installation.

Learning Perl.

And Finally.…

12. SECURITY.

What Is Meant By Computer Security?

Countering The Threats.

Hardware.

Local Security.

Keeping Software Up To Date.

Monitoring Security.

Network Security.

Where To Find Out More.

13. WHERE TO NOW?

Online Resources And Licensing Schemes.

System Administration Applications.

Development Applications.

INDEX.

GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE.