Learning Debian GNU Linux.pdf

Learning Debian GNU/Linux

By Bill McCarty

1st Edition September 1999

Preface

Lately it seems that two topics crop up in conversation after conversation: the

stock market and Linux. As for the stock market, I'm something of a pessimist.

When friends and even perfect strangers continually recount their recent financial

successes, I conclude that a stock market correction is overdue. (I've shifted my

investments to bonds.)

As for Linux, I'm considerably more - perhaps wildly - optimistic. When my realtor

tells me about the TV feature on Linux she saw on CNN, I see it as a harbinger of

Linux Spring. Like her, my cable TV repairman, and my colleague in the next

office, you've probably heard about Linux from a magazine, radio or TV program,

or a friend. You're wondering what Linux is about and whether you should give it a

try. If so, particularly if you currently use Microsoft Windows, this book was

written for you.

Not long ago, Linux was the plaything of the technical elite. Today, however,

Linux is much easier to use. Every day brings a new tool or feature designed for

ease of use. If you work with Microsoft Windows and have dabbled a bit in MS-

DOS, or are curious about what happens inside Windows, you can install and

configure Linux. Thousands of people from all walks of life - even journalists, who

are notorious for their technical ineptitude - have already done so.

This book will make your Linux journey easier, by giving you the big picture,

providing you with step-by-step procedures, and getting you started doing useful

or fun activities, such as word processing or games. This book focuses on the

needs of the new Linux user and on desktop Linux applications. You'll learn about

networks and servers, but the details of those topics are left for more advanced

books.

This book includes a CD-ROM that contains Debian GNU/Linux, so you have in

your hand all you need to get started using Linux. Much of the material in this

book applies to Linux generally and not merely to Debian GNU/Linux; so, even if

you prefer to use another Linux distribution, you'll probably find this book useful.

Organization of This Book

Chapter 1, Why Run Linux? , is designed to introduce you to Linux and help

you determine whether Linux is appropriate for you.

Chapter 2, Preparing to Install Linux , helps you understand what's

involved in installing Linux and guides you through a procedure to gather

information needed to successfully install Linux.

Chapter 3, Installing Linux , takes you step-by-step through the

installation of Linux.

Chapter 4, Issuing Linux Commands , describes the basics of how to use

the Linux command-line interface, which resembles MS-DOS but is much more

powerful and sophisticated.

Chapter 5, Installing and Configuring the X Window System ,

shows you how to install and configure X.

Chapter 6, Using the X Window System , shows you how to use X, the

graphical user interface included with Debian GNU/Linux. If you've used Microsoft

Windows, you'll find X familiar and easy to use.

Chapter 7, Configuring and Administering Linux , shows you how

to configure your Linux system. Administering a multi-user operating system such

as Linux is somewhat more complicated than administering a single-user operating

system, but Linux includes tools that simplify the work.

Chapter 8, Using Linux Applications and Clients , describes

several of the most popular applications available for Linux, including desktop

suites and word processors.

Chapter 9, Playing Linux Games , describes several of the most popular

games available for Linux. The chapter also shows you how to run your favorite

Microsoft Windows games under Linux.

Chapter 10, Setting Up a Linux-Based LAN , shows you how to

connect your Linux system to other systems on your local area network.

Chapter 11, Getting Connected to the Internet , shows you how to

connect via your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to the Internet. Once connected,

you can use your Linux system to surf the Web and access other familiar Internet

services.

Chapter 12, Setting Up a Linux-Based WAN , shows you how to set up

servers that users around the world can access via the Internet. For example, you'll

learn how to install and configure Apache, the world's most popular web server.

Chapter 13, Conquering the BASH Shell , digs deeper into the BASH

shell, the Linux command-line interface first introduced in Chapter 4 . Here you'll

see firsthand just how powerful and easy to use Linux can be.

Appendix A, Linux Directory Tree , describes the structure of the

principal Debian GNU/Linux directories.

Appendix B, Principal Linux Files , describes the principal Debian

GNU/Linux configuration files.

Appendix C, The Debian Package Management Utilities ,

describes the utilities provided by Debian GNU/Linux for working with packages.

These utilities let you install applications, uninstall applications, and query a

database that describes installed applications. This appendix also includes

commands for installing the applications described in this book.

Appendix D, Managing the Boot Process , explains how PCs boot and

describes how to configure your system to conveniently boot Linux.

Appendix E, Linux Command Quick Reference , briefly describes the

most useful Linux commands. It also presents Linux equivalents for common MS-

DOS commands.

Appendix F, Open Publication License , describes the Open Publication

License this book is distributed under.

The glossary defines terms used in the book. Use it to spare yourself the effort of

searching the index to discover the page on which a term is defined.

Conventions Used in This Book

The following typographical conventions are used in this book:

Boldface

indicates a keyboard command, such as Enter .

Constant width

indicates command-line computer output, code examples, and keyboard

accelerators (See "Keyboard Accelerators" later in this section).

Constant width italic

indicates variables in examples.

Constant width bold

indicates user input in examples.

Italic

introduces new terms and indicates URLs or user-defined files and directories,

commands, command options, file extensions, filenames, directory or folder names,

and pathnames.

Path Notation

I use a shorthand notation to indicate paths. Instead of writing "Click on the Start

menu, then click on Find, then Files or Folders," I write: Start Find Files or

Folders. I distinguish menus, dialog boxes, buttons, or other GUI elements only

when the context would otherwise be unclear. Simply look for the GUI element

whose label matches an element of the path.

Keyboard Accelerators

In a keyboard accelerator (such as Ctrl-Alt-Del ), a dash indicates that the keys

should be held down simultaneously, whereas a space means that the keys should

be pressed sequentially. For example, Ctrl-Esc indicates that the Ctrl and Esc keys

should be held down simultaneously; whereas Ctrl Esc means that the Ctrl and

Esc keys should be pressed sequentially.

Where a keyboard accelerator contains an uppercase letter, you should not type the

Shift key unless it's given explicitly. For example, Ctrl-C indicates that you should

press the Ctrl and C keys; Ctrl-Shift-C indicates that you should press the Ctrl ,

Shift , and C keys.

We'd Like to Hear from You

I tested and verified the information in this book to the best of my ability, but you

may find that features have changed or that I've made a mistake. Please let O'Reilly

know about any errors you find, by writing:

O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.

101 Morris Street

Sebastopol, CA 95472

800-998-9938 (U.S. and Canada)

707-829-0515 (International and local)

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