Contents

Acknowledgments v

Introduction XVII

Part 1 linux Fundamentals

Making the Move from Windows to linuxIntroduction

3

4

What is Linux?

Where did Linux come from?

5

7

9

13

14

14

How does Linux Compare to Windows?

Where is Linux Going?

Summary

Review Questions

2 linux Distributions

The Concept of Distros

What's Available

Other Distributions

FileMigration

Summary

ReviewQuestions

15

16

16

26

26

27

27

3 Installing linuxIntroduction

Getting Started

Installing SuSE9.3

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viii Contents

Disk PartitioningSoftware

Continuing with the Installation

Completing the Installation

Installing Fedora Core

Choosing Packages

A BriefLook at Installing Other Distros

Summary

ReviewQuestions

41

43

49

54

54

66

71

73

74

4 Basicsof the linux Operating SystemIntroduction

Desktop and Shells

Shell Basics

Moving around in KDE

Summary

ReviewQuestions

75

75

76

81

88

97

98

Part II The linux Graphical User Interface 99

5 System Configuration in KDE

Introduction

Desktop Preferences

Setting PreferencesHardware Information

Configuring Network Settings

Internet Settings

Summary

ReviewQuestions

101

101

102

108

109

110

118

127

127

6 Using KDEfor EverythingYou Used to Do in WindowsIntroduction

Text Editors

Calculators

Paint Programs and Screen Capture

The File Manager

Accessibility

Other Office Applications

Summary

Review Questions

7 Linux Administration from KDE

Introduction

Managing Users and Groups

Important SystemTools

Using the KDEControl Center

SystemAdministration

Regional and Accessibility

Scheduling TasksAuto Y aST

Summary

ReviewQuestions

8 The GNOMEInterface

Introduction

Getting Around in GNOME

GNOME Graphics Applications

GNOME OfficeApplications

SystemTools

Summary

ReviewQuestions

Contents ix

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x Contents

Part III Moving from Microsoft Office to Open Office 219

9 Moving from Microsoft Word to Open Office Writer

Introduction

221

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224

239

243

243

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250

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252

Open Office AddressBook

Essentialsof Open Office Writer

Creating a Document

File Importing, Shortcomings, and Quirks

Extra Features

Formatting and Configuring

Printing

Summary

ReviewQuestions

10 Spreadsheets with Open Office Calc

Introduction

253

253

255

270

274

275

275

Calc Basics

Working through a Spreadsheet

Configuration

Summary

ReviewQuestions

11 Moving from Microsoft PowerPoint to Open Office Impress

Introduction

Getting Startedwith Impress

Creating a Basic Slide Show

Setting up Your Slide Show

Formatting and Configuring

Templates

File Importing, Shortcomings, and Quirks

Summary

277

277

278

288

292

295

296

299

299

File Sharing

Chat

Summary

Review Questions

Review Questions

12 Other Open OfficeApplicationsIntroduction

Draw

HTML Editor

Open OfficeSetupMath

Templates and Documents

Running OfficeApplications Under Wine

Summary

ReviewQuestions

Part IVImportant LinuxApplications

13 Web Browsers, Email,and Internet ApplicationsIntroduction

IP Addresses and the Web

Web Browsers

Email

FTP Clients

Usenet

14 Movingfrom Adobe Photoshop to GIMPIntroduction

What is GIMP

GIMP Basics

Contents xi

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Shortcomings and Quirks 377

The Toolbox 378

Summary 386

ReviewQuestions 386

15 Miscellaneous Linux Applications 387

Introduction 387

Sound Utilities 388

KPilot 390

KDEPrintFax 392

Configure Panel 393

K3B 397

Video and Multimedia 398

Kandalf s Tips 400

F-Spot Photo ALbum 401

Adding Packages 403

Utilities 406

Summary 412

ReviewQuestions 412

16 Web Servers in Linux 413

Introduction 413

How do Web ServersWork? 414

The Apache Web Server 417

Configuring Apache from within KDE 426

Other Web Serversfor Linux 429

Summary 431

ReviewQuestions 431

17 Fun and Games in Linux 433

Introduction 433

Freeciv

Frozen- Bubble

GL-1l7

Super Tux

Finding other Linux Games

First -Person Shooters

Cedega

Multimedia

Summary

Review Questions

18 linux Shell Commands

Introduction

The Shell Itself

File and Directory Management

System Commands

Network Utilities

MiscellaneousCommands

Summary

ReviewQuestions

19 System Admnistration from the ShellIntroduction

Run Levels and ini t

The File System

Managing Users and Groups

Configuring and Activaating Network Cards

Miscellaneous Shell Commands

File Compession from the Shell

Summary

ReviewQuestions

Contents xiii

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20 Basic Shell ScriptingIntroduction

Script Basics

Variables in Shell Scripts

Getting Input from the User

Math in Scripts

if Statements in Scripts

Loops in Scripts

Summary

Review Questions

495

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517

21 Advanced Shell Functions

Introduction

Advanced Shell Commands

Shell Editors

Advanced Shell Scripting

Summary

Review Questions

519

519

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525

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534

22 Samba, Printing,and MoreIntroduction

What is Samba?

Configuring Samba

Other Services

Summary

Review Questions

537

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549

Appendix A About the DVD-ROMDVD-ROM Folders

Overall System Requirements

551

551

552

AppendixB Other ResourcesGeneral Linux Links

Distributions

Linux Tutorials

Linux Software

Linux Games

General PC Tutorials

Samba

Apache

Support via Usenet, Forums, and the Linux CommunitySUSELinux Documentation and Source Code

AppendixC Glossaryof Linuxand OperatingSystemTerms

AppendixD Answersto ReviewQuestions

AppendixE PCHardware

Index

Contents XV

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