Red Hat LINUX 7.2 - OFFICIAL LINUX CUSTOMIZATION... User manual

Red Hat Linux 7.2
The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started
Guide

ISBN: N/A
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© 2001 Red Hat, Inc.
rhl-gsg(EN)-7.2-Print-RHI (2001-09-12T11:19-0400)
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ii

Contents
Red Hat Linux 7.2
Introduction................................................................................... ix
About This Manual — Read This? Please?............................................. ix
Introductory Terms......................................................................... x
A Note About Environments .............................................................. xi
Documentation Resources................................................................ xii
We Need Feedback! ....................................................................... xv
Sign Up for Support........................................................................ xv
Part I The Basics ........................................................................ 17
Chapter 1 Getting Started ....................................................... 19
1.1 LoggingIn......................................................................... 19
1.2 Creating a user account ......................................................... 23
1.3 Logging Out of Root.............................................................. 25
Chapter 2 The GNOME Desktop Environment...................... 27
2.1 GNOME Fundamentals.......................................................... 27
2.2 The Desktop ...................................................................... 27
2.3 The Nautilus File Manager ...................................................... 29
2.4 ThePanel ......................................................................... 33
2.5 Main Menu Button................................................................ 35
2.6 Finding Help....................................................................... 35
2.7 Multiple Desktops................................................................. 35
2.8 Switching Environments ......................................................... 37
2.9 Quitting from GNOME............................................................ 38
2.10 Adding a Log Out Button ........................................................ 40
2.11 Shutting Down from the Run Program Menu .................................. 41
2.12 Shutting Down at the Shell Prompt............................................. 41
iii

Chapter 3 The KDE Desktop Environment............................ 43
3.1 Using Your Mouse ................................................................ 43
3.2 The Desktop ...................................................................... 44
3.3 ThePanel ......................................................................... 45
3.4 The Main Menu K Icon........................................................... 48
3.5 The Taskbar....................................................................... 48
3.6 Finding Help....................................................................... 49
3.7 Switching Environments ......................................................... 50
3.8 Quitting from KDE ................................................................ 51
3.9 Shutting Down at the Shell Prompt ............................................. 51
Chapter 4 Customizing Your Desktop ................................... 53
4.1 Customizing with the GNOME Control Center ................................ 53
4.2 Customizing with the KDE Control Center ................................... 57
Chapter 5 Getting Online......................................................... 61
5.1 Internet Druid ..................................................................... 61
5.2 Network Configuration ........................................................... 67
5.3 Connecting and Disconnecting.................................................. 68
5.4 Connecting With Cable .......................................................... 68
Chapter 6 The Mozilla Web Browser...................................... 71
6.1 Mozilla User Accounts ........................................................... 71
6.2 Mozilla Navigator ................................................................. 73
6.3 The Mozilla Navigator Sidebar .................................................. 80
6.4 Customizing Mozilla Preferences............................................... 81
6.5 Mozilla Mail........................................................................ 86
6.6 Mozilla and Newsgroups......................................................... 90
6.7 Mozilla Composer ................................................................ 92
Chapter 7 Printer Configuration............................................. 93
7.1 Adding a Local Printer ........................................................... 95
7.2 Modifying Existing Printers ...................................................... 98
iv

7.3 Additional Resources ............................................................ 100
Chapter 8 Audio, Video, and General Amusement.............. 101
8.1 Configuring a Sound Card....................................................... 101
8.2 Speakers, Headphones, and Sound Etiquette ................................ 102
8.3 Playing CDs....................................................................... 102
8.4 Configuring a Video Card........................................................ 103
8.5 Games and Amusements........................................................ 104
Chapter 9 Manipulating Images With GIMP.......................... 107
9.1 Introduction to the GIMP......................................................... 107
Part II Intermediate Tasks........................................................... 109
Chapter 10 Shell Prompt Basics............................................... 111
10.1 Why Use a Shell Prompt? ....................................................... 111
Chapter 11 Managing Files and Directories............................ 113
11.1 The GNOME File Manager...................................................... 113
11.2 The KDE File Manager........................................................... 121
11.3 Creating Files and Directories................................................... 124
11.4 A Larger Picture of the Filesystem.............................................. 124
11.5 Identifying and Working with File Types........................................ 128
11.6 File Compression and Archiving with Gzip, Zip, and Tar ..................... 130
11.7 Viewing PDFs..................................................................... 132
11.8 Manipulating Files at a Shell Prompt ........................................... 132
Chapter 12 Updating and Adding Packages to Red Hat
Linux............................................................................ 137
12.1 Introduction to RHN .............................................................. 137
12.2 Red Hat Network ................................................................. 137
12.3 Red Hat Update Agent........................................................... 140
v

12.4 Red Hat Network Software Manager........................................... 148
12.5 Synchronizing Your System Profile ............................................. 154
12.6 Updating With Errata............................................................. 154
12.7 Installing RPMs From the Installation CDs..................................... 157
Part III Q & A.................................................................................. 159
Chapter 13 Frequently Asked Questions................................ 161
13.1 Using a Diskette .................................................................. 161
13.2 Putting Linux Files on a Windows Disk......................................... 162
13.3 Localhost Login and Password.................................................. 163
13.4 Displaying ls in color ............................................................. 164
13.5 Switching Environments ......................................................... 165
13.6 Shutting Down .................................................................... 166
13.7 Error Messages During Installation of RPMs.................................. 167
13.8 Starting Applications ............................................................. 168
13.9 Accessing a Windows Partition ................................................. 169
13.10 Finding Commands Quickly ..................................................... 170
13.11 Keep ls Output from Scrolling ................................................... 171
13.12 Tips on Using Command History ............................................... 171
13.13 Forgotten Password.............................................................. 172
13.14 Changing Login from Console to X at Startup................................. 173
13.15 Configuring X ..................................................................... 174
Part IV Appendixes....................................................................... 179
Appendix A Computer Basics.................................................... 181
A.1 Introduction........................................................................ 181
Appendix B A Comparison of Common DOS and Linux
Commands.............................................................. 193
vi

Appendix C Identifying/Finding File Extensions..................... 195
C.1 Introduction........................................................................ 195
C.2 Missing or Incorrect Extension?................................................. 196
Appendix D System Directories................................................. 197
Appendix E Keyboard Shortcuts ............................................. 199
vii

viii

Section 0.1:About This Manual — Read This? Please? ix
Introduction
Welcome to the Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide!
By now, you should have read the Official Red Hat Linux Installation Guide and successfully in-
stalled Red Hat Linux. This manual is designed to help new and intermediate Linux users navigate
and perform common tasks. Keep in mind that Linux looks, feels, and performs differentlyfrom other
operating systems you may have used. Forget about the conventions of other operating systems and
with an open mind, approach Red Hat Linux as a new, interesting, and versatile alternative.
This manual is task-oriented. You will find useful tips, hints, warnings, and screen shots interspersed
throughout. First, you will learn the basics of using Red Hat Linux, such as customizing a desktop,
configuring a printer, and getting online. Once the basics are covered, the tasks covered in this manual
become progressively more advanced.
Most users choose to work within either the GNOME or KDE graphical desktop environments (other
desktop environments are available). The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide focuses pri-
marily on how to perform tasks in these two environments.
Topics discussed include:
• Using the GNOME and KDE graphical desktop environments
• Managing files and directories
• Navigating the filesystem
• Connecting to the Internet
• Upgrading applications
• And links to online resources covering common questions and answers, computer basics, an ex-
planation of Red Hat Linux system directories, and more.
After conquering the basics of your Red Hat Linux system, you may need information on more ad-
vanced topics. You can find this information in the Official Red Hat Linux Customization Guide and
the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide. All of our manuals are available in HTML and PDF
formats at http://www.redhat.com/support/manuals.
About This Manual — Read This? Please?
This book explains how to get started with Red Hat Linux using both the graphical user interface
and the shell prompt. New users tend to be more comfortable using the graphical interface, so each
chapter explains graphical procedures first and shell prompt procedures second (see A Note About
Environments and Chapter 10, Shell Prompt Basics for more on working from the shell prompt).

x Introduction
Also, there are chapters in the printed version of this manual that contain only general explanations of
the topic at hand (specifically Chapter 9, Manipulating Images With GIMP, Chapter 10, Shell Prompt
Basics, and Chapter 12, Updating and Adding Packages to Red Hat Linux). The documentation CD
and the Red Hat website ( http://www.redhat.com) have the Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started
Guide in its entirety. This non-printed information is certainly important, but not vital to getting started
with Red Hat Linux. Placing this information online helps keep the printed manual smaller, easier to
handle, and more focused.
Introductory Terms
When you learn about a new operating system, you also need to learn new terminology. Here are a
few basic terms you should learn. You will see these terms often:
•Shell prompt: A software interface (similar to a DOS screen) between the user and the operating
system. The shell interprets commands entered by the user and passes them on to the operating
system. The shell prompt displays the command line.
•Command line: The place in the shell prompt where commands are typed.
•Command: An instruction given to the computer, most often with the keyboard or mouse.
•Graphical User Interface (GUI): A screen with icons, menus, and panels for the user to click
on to initiate functions.
•GNOME and KDE: Two popular GUIs included with Red Hat Linux.
•Panel: A GUI environment toolbar, usually located across the bottom of the screen. The panel
contains the main menu button, among other things, and can be customized by the user.
•Root: The root user account is created during installation and has complete access to your system.
You must be logged in as root to accomplish certain system administration tasks. User accounts
are created so typical user tasks can be done without using the root account, to reduce the chance
of damaging your OS.
•su and su -: The command su gives you access to the root account or other accounts on your
system. When you su to root, or switch to your root account while still inside your user account
shell, you have access to important system files that you can change, or damage, permanently.
Logging in with the su - command makes you root within the root account shell. If you log in as
root with su -, you have access to certain commands that the su command does not grant. Use
caution when you are logged in as root.
•Man page and info page: Man (short for manual) and info pages give detailed information about
a command or file (man pages tend to be brief and provide less explanation than info pages). To
read the man page for the su command, for example, type man su at a shell prompt (or type
info su for the info page). To close one of these pages, press [q].

Section 0.3:A Note About Environments xi
•Xor X Window System: These terms refer to the graphical user interface environments. If you
are "in X" or "running X" you are working in a GUI rather than a console environment.
•Console: Console, shell prompt, terminal, "the screen that looks like DOS" — these are all the
same thing: a non-graphical interface. This environment has no icons, limited menus, and requires
that you type commands to perform tasks, rather than pointing and clicking with your mouse.
•RPM: An RPM is a software package file you can install on your computer. All Red Hat Linux
files are available as RPMs.
A Note About Environments
Your Red Hat Linux system is more than the graphical user interface. However, most new and inter-
mediate users are likely to work within the graphical environment. The Official Red Hat Linux Getting
Started Guide demonstrates the techniques behind accomplishing tasks in two popular environments:
GNOME (as shown in Figure 1, A GNOME Desktop) and KDE.
Figure 1 A GNOME Desktop
In addition to the chapters covering KDE and GNOME, this guide contains plenty of useful informa-
tion on using the shell prompt (as shown in Figure 2, Viewing Text in a Shell Prompt). Using the shell
prompt requires typing commands to perform tasks, as opposed to using the menus and icons in a
graphical environment. The shell prompt can often perform tasks faster than a graphical environment,
but may take more time and effort to learn to use. The shell prompt is something that Linux users
generally become comfortable with over time.
Do not let the appearance of one of these text screens intimidate you. The shell prompt is a lot easier
to use than you might think and it often lets you perform tasks much more quickly than you can in a
graphical environment. Give it a chance, be patient, and give yourself time to learn.

xii Introduction
Figure 2 Viewing Text in a Shell Prompt
Documentation Resources
If you have the Official Red Hat Linux boxed set, remember to take a look through the Red Hat Linux
7.2 Documentation CD. All of our manuals are on this CD, as well as other useful resources. Inserting
the Documentation CD in the CD-ROM drive should automatically open the file manager (Obviously,
you will need to be logged in to do this. See Chapter 1, Getting Started for information on how to log
in). If the file manager does not open automatically after a minute or so, right-click on the CD-ROM
icon on your desktop and select Mount Device or Mount, whichever appears on the pop-up menu.
When the file manager opens, click on RH-DOCS in the left window. On the right, you will see several
files. There are three ways to view the manuals:

Section 0.4:Documentation Resources xiii
Figure 3 Documentation CD Files
View in PDF format.
You will see one file whose name starts with the letters "pdf". Click on this to view the manuals in
PDF format.
Install the manuals on your computer.
Files beginningwith the letters "rhl" can be installedon your system. To do this, select the /cdrom/Red-
Hat directory in the left window of the file manager. Expand the folder (click on the + sign) and then
click on RPMS beneath it. You will see a variety of documentation files on the right.

xiv Introduction
Figure 4 Installing Documentation Files
Scroll through the right side of the file manager screen and look for files beginning with the letters
"rhl" (as shown in Figure 4, Installing Documentation Files. There will be one file for each of our
four manuals. The file names contain the abbreviations IG, RG, CG, and GSG, corresponding to the
Installation, Reference, Customization, and Getting Started guides respectively.
Now, open a terminal by clicking on the Terminal Emulation Program button on the panel at the
bottom of your desktop. Type the following at the command line:
cd su
Now press [Enter]. You will be asked for your root password. Enter the password at the command line
and press [Enter]. You are now logged in as root. To install all four manuals, type the following:
rpm -ivh rhl-*.rpm
Press [Enter].
If you only want to install certain manuals, replace "rhl-*.rpm" with the full file name (as shown in
the right window of the file manager) of the manual that you want to install. For example, the file
name for the Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide will look something like rhl-gsg-en-7.2-
5.noarch.rpm, so you would type the following to install the Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started
Guide on your computer:

Section 0.6:Sign Up for Support xv
rpm -ivh rhl-gsg-en-7.2-5.noarch.rpm
Press [Enter]. Type exit at the command line and press [Enter]. This takes you out of the root login
and back to your user account.
Now go to Main Menu =>Programs => Documentation => Official Red Hat Linux and select the
manual you want to open. It will automatically open in a Web browser.
View manuals online (HTML).
Look under RH-DOCS in the file manager tree. The file that ends with the letters "html" opens the
manuals for viewing in a Web browser without installing them on your system. Double-click on the
.html file in the file manager and you will see a screen with links to all of the manuals. At the bottom
of this page, there is a link to the opening page of the documentation CD. The opening page has links
to a variety of Linux documentation resources.
Of course, you can also go to http://www.redhat.com/support/manuals and bookmark the site. All of
the manuals are available there in PDF and HTML format.
We Need Feedback!
If you spot a typographical error in the Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide, or if you have
thought of a way to make this manual better, we would love to hear from you! Please submit a report
in Bugzilla ( http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla) against the component rhl-gsg.
Be sure to mention the manual’s identifier:
rhl-gsg(EN)-7.2-Print-RHI (2001-09-12T11:19-0400)
If you mention the manual’s identifier, we will know exactly which version of the guide you have.
If you have a suggestion for improving the documentation, try to be as specific as possible when de-
scribing it. If you have found an error, please include the section number and some of the surrounding
text so we can find it easily.
Sign Up for Support
If you have an official edition of Red Hat Linux 7.2, please remember to sign up for the benefits you
are entitled to as a Red Hat customer.
Depending on which Official Red Hat Linux product you purchased, you can receive any or all of the
following benefits:
• Official Red Hat support —Get help with your installation questions from Red Hat, Inc.’s support
team.

xvi Introduction
• Red Hat Network — Use Red Hat Network to automatically retrieve and install system and secu-
rity updates, as well as other packages.
•Under the Brim: The Official Red Hat E-Newsletter Red Hat Linux Every month, get the latest
news and product information directly from Red Hat.
To sign up, go to http://www.redhat.com/apps/activate. You will find your Product ID on the black,
red and white registration card in your Official Red Hat Linux box.
And for even more support, go to http://www.redhat.com/support/ where you will find plenty of in-
formation on documentation, support programs, updates, and more.
Good luck and enjoy your new Red Hat Linux system!
The Red Hat Documentation Team

Part I The Basics

Section 1.1:Logging In 19
1 Getting Started
Time to get started. The first thing you have to do is log in. When you log in, you are basically
introducing yourself to the system.
Linux is Case Sensitive
Like UNIX, Linux is case sensitive. That means that typing "root" refers to
a different account than "Root". As far as Linux is concerned, the lowercase
"root" refers to the root login, or system administrator.
When you installed Red Hat Linux, you had the opportunity to install the X Window System (also
simply called X), which provides the display of graphical information. You were also asked whether
you wanted to use a graphical screen, rather than a console (or shell prompt) to log in. A graphical
screen has icons, lots of menus, and is generally more approachable for a new user. A console, or
shell prompt, resembles an MS-DOS screen and requires the use of specific phrases or commands,
which the user types at the command line. Although our emphasis throughout this book will be on
navigation and productivity using X, we will cover both the graphical and console methods of logging
in and starting the X Window System.
1.1 Logging In
Unlike some other operating systems, your Red Hat Linux system uses accounts to manage privileges,
maintain security, and more. Not all accounts are created equal: some accounts have fewer rights to
access files or services than others.
If you have already created a user account, you can skip ahead to Chapter 2, The GNOME Desktop
Environment. If you created only the root account, read on to learn how to set up a user account.
CAUTION
Because your Red Hat Linux system creates the root account during instal-
lation, some new users are tempted to use only this account for all their ac-
tivities. This is a bad idea. Since the root account is allowed to do anything
on the system, you can easily damage your system by accidentally deleting
or modifying sensitive system files. You may be tempted to forego creating
and using a user account during or after installation, but this is risky.

20 Chapter 1:Getting Started
1.1.1 Logging In As Root
If you did not create a user account during installation, you must log in as root. Regardless of whether
you have chosen a graphical or console login screen, you will have to supply a login account name
and the password associated with that account.
From a shell prompt, for example, you will see something like:
Red Hat Linux release 7.0
Kernel 2.
xx on an i686
localhost login:root
Password:
yourrootpassword
Unless you have chosen to give your machine its own hostname, which is primarily used in a network
setting, your machine will probably be called localhost.
To log in to the root account, type root at the login prompt and press [Enter]. Then type the root
password you chose during installation at the password prompt and press [Enter].
Figure 1–1 The Graphical Login Screen
If you see a shell prompt (instead of the graphical desktop as shown in Figure 1–1, The Graphical
Login Screen) you can start the X Window System by typing startx as follows:
[root@localhost /root]# startx