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 Logging In . ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... . 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 The Panel . ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... . 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

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Chapter 3 The KDE Desktop Environment . .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... . 43
3.1 Using Your Mouse ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... . 43
3.2 The Desktop . .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... . 44
3.3 The Panel . ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... . 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

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 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

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 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

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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

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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 differently from 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 [Link]

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 ( [Link] 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

• X or 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 beginning with the letters "rhl" can be installed on 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.