Beginning Fedora - From Novice to Professional

Contents at a Glance

Contents

About the Authors

About the Technical Reviewer

Acknowledgments

Introduction

About Fedora

What You’ll Find in This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

Support from Apress

Introducing the World of Linux

Welcome!

What Is Linux?

The Age of Linux

The Problems with Windows

The Benefits of Linux

The Linux Community

Summary

A History and Politics Lesson

In the Beginning

The GNU Project

Proprietary Software and the GPL

GNU and Linux Together

Different Flavors of Linux

Linux Today

Modern Linux Development

Summary

The Realities of Running Linux

Learning to Use Linux

Who Uses Linux?

Getting Ahold of Linux

Using Fedora

Summary

Installing Fedora

Preinstallation Steps

Understanding Partitioning

Freeing Up Space

Backing Up Your Data

Summary

Installing Fedora

An Overview of the Installation Process

Step- by- Step Guide

Summary

Solving Installation Problems

Preinstallation Problems

Installation Problems

Postinstallation Problems

Graphical Problems

Summary

The No-Nonsense Getting Started Guide

Booting Fedora for the First Time

Starting Up

Logging In

Exploring the Desktop

Running Programs

Working with Virtual Desktops

Using the Mouse

Copying and Pasting Text

Summary

Getting Everything Up and Running

Fedora Hardware Support

Getting Online

Setting Up Online Software Repositories

Configuring E- Mail and Instant Messaging

Adding a Printer

Setting Up Digital Imaging Devices

Using a USB Memory Stick

Installing 3D Graphics Card Drivers

Configuring Bluetooth

Pairing Bluetooth Devices

Configuring Sound Cards

Summary

How to Secure Your Computer

Windows Security vs. Linux Security

Root and Ordinary Users

Common- Sense Security

Online Updates

The Fedora Firewall

Summary

Personalizing Fedora: Getting Everything Just Right

Changing the Look and Feel

Configuring Input Devices

Personalizing Login Options

Adding and Removing Desktop Items

Adding and Removing Menus

Personalizing the Panels

Working with Applets

Setting Power- Saving Features

Summary

Fedora Replacements for Windows Programs

Available Software

A Quick Start with Common Linux Programs

Summary

Managing Your Files

Understanding File System Concepts

Using Nautilus

Launching Files and Running Programs

Accessing Windows Files

Accessing Removable Storage Devices

Summary

The Shell and Beyond

Introducing the BASH Shell

What Is the BASH Shell?

Why Bother with the Shell?

When Should You Use the Shell?

Getting Started with the Shell

Running Programs

Getting Help

Running the Shell via a Virtual Console

Working with Files

Changing and Creating Directories

Summary

Understanding Linux Files and Users

Real Files and Virtual Files

Users and File Permissions

The File System Explained

Mounting

File Searches

File Size and Free Space

Summary

Working with Text Files

Viewing Text Files

Using a Command- Line Text Editor

Searching Through Files

Comparing Text Files

Summary

Taking Control of the System

Viewing Processes

Controlling Processes

Controlling Jobs

Summary

Cool Shell Tricks

Using Autocompletion

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Using the Command History

Piping and Directing Output

Summary

Multimedia

Digital Music

Understanding the Legalities of Playback

Playing Music Files

Listening to Audio CDs

Tuning In to Online Radio Stations

Ripping Music from CDs

Creating Your Own CDs

Summary

Movies and Multimedia

Watching Videos

Installing VLC Media Player

Installing Codecs

Playing Back Video

Watching DVDs

Playing Flash Animations

Watching TV

Summary

Image Editing

Getting Pictures onto Your PC

Introducing The GIMP

Editing Images with The GIMP

Applying Filters

Summary

Office Tasks

Making the Move to OpenOffice.org

Office Similarities

OpenOffice. org Key Features

File Compatibility

The Right Fonts

Summary

OpenOffice.org Overview

Introducing the Interface

Customizing the Interface

Using OpenOffice. org Core Functions

Summary

In Depth: Writer

Formatting Text

Spell- Checking

Inserting Pictures

Working with Tables

Mail Merging

Adding Headers and Footers

Summary

In Depth: Calc

Entering and Formatting Data

Deleting and Inserting Data and Cells

Working with Formulas

Sorting Data

Creating Charts

Using Filters

Summary

In Depth: Impress

Creating a Quick Presentation

Working in Impress

Animating Slides

Applying Fontwork

Using 3D Effects

Exporting a Presentation As a Flash File

Summary

In Depth: Base

Getting Started with Base

Creating a Database

Using the Database

Summary

In Depth: Evolution

Evolution Modes

Basic E- Mail Tasks

Advanced E- Mail Tasks

Creating Search Folders

Contacts

Calendars

Tasks

Summary

Keeping Your System Running

Installing and Removing Software

Software Installation Basics

Managing Software via the GUI

Managing Software from the Shell

Summary

Managing Users

Understanding User and Group Accounts

Adding and Deleting Users and Groups

Adding and Changing Passwords

Summary

Optimizing Your System

Speeding Up Booting

Optimizing Hard Disk Settings

Prelinking

Freeing Disk Space

Adding Space to an Existing Logical Volume

Summary

Backing Up Data

What Data Should You Back Up?

Using Pybackpack

Burning a Backup File to CD/ DVD

Making Backups from the Command Line

Summary

Scheduling Tasks

Scheduling with crontab

Scheduling with anacron

Using at to Schedule One- Off Tasks

Summary

Accessing Computers Remotely

Using Secure Shell

Accessing GUI Applications Remotely

Connecting to Remote Windows Computers

Summary

Glossary of Linux Terms

BASH Command Index

Getting Further Help

Read the Manual!

Getting Help Online

Index