Beginning Fedora: From Novice to Professional

Beginning Fedora: From Novice to Professional

Released August 2007
Publisher(s): Apress
ISBN: 9781590598559

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Book description

Beginning Fedora: From Novice to Professional guides you through the tasks most new Linux users desire to perform, while explaining potentially confusing concepts along the way. It will steer you through system customization opportunities and common tasks like listening to audio CDs and MP3s, watching movies, and performing office- and Internet-related jobs. A large part of the book is dedicated to advanced command-line techniques necessary to maintain your system and become a true Linux master!

Highlights of this title include the following:

  • Provides an illustrated, step-by-step guide to Fedora installation and hardware configuration

  • Includes a DVD consisting of the latest Fedora operating system. Just place the disk into your drive and begin!

  • Eases the transition from the Windows to the Linux desktop by focusing on key everyday tasks such as file management, peripheral configuration, MP3/video playback, and office tasks

What you'll learn

  • Install and configure the Fedora operating system. Youll also learn how to install it alongside Windows, allowing you to switch between the operating systems at will!

  • Browse, manage, edit, and view your MP3s, movies, and pictures

  • Manage office files using OpenOffice, the open source alternative to Microsoft Office!

  • Execute key administration tasks such as user management, backups, and remote access

  • Navigate the Linux environment using the powerful Bash shell

Who this book is for

This book was written for individuals seeking to make the most of the Fedora Linux distribution and the many useful open source software applications that collectively offer a powerful alternative to Microsoft Windows.

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Contents at a Glance
  3. Contents
  4. About the Authors
  5. About the Technical Reviewer
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. Introduction
    1. About Fedora
    2. What You'll Find in This Book
    3. Conventions Used in This Book
    4. Support from Apress
  8. PART 1: Introducing the World of Linux
    1. CHAPTER 1: Welcome!
      1. What Is Linux?
      2. The Age of Linux
      3. The Problems with Windows
      4. The Benefits of Linux
      5. The Linux Community
      6. Summary
    2. CHAPTER 2: A History and Politics Lesson
      1. In the Beginning
      2. The GNU Project
      3. Proprietary Software and the GPL
      4. GNU and Linux Together
      5. Different Flavors of Linux
      6. Linux Today
      7. Modern Linux Development
      8. Summary
    3. CHAPTER 3: The Realities of Running Linux
      1. Learning to Use Linux
      2. Who Uses Linux?
      3. Getting Ahold of Linux
      4. Using Fedora
      5. Summary
  9. PART 2: Installing Fedora
    1. CHAPTER 4: Preinstallation Steps
      1. Understanding Partitioning
      2. Freeing Up Space
      3. Backing Up Your Data
      4. Summary
    2. CHAPTER 5: Installing Fedora
      1. An Overview of the Installation Process
      2. Step-by-Step Guide
      3. Summary
    3. CHAPTER 6: Solving Installation Problems
      1. Preinstallation Problems
      2. Installation Problems
      3. Postinstallation Problems
      4. Graphical Problems
      5. Summary
  10. PART 3: The No-Nonsense Getting Started Guide
    1. CHAPTER 7: Booting Fedora for the First Time
      1. Starting Up
      2. Logging In
      3. Exploring the Desktop
      4. Running Programs
      5. Working with Virtual Desktops
      6. Using the Mouse
      7. Copying and Pasting Text
      8. Summary
    2. CHAPTER 8: Getting Everything Up and Running
      1. Fedora Hardware Support
      2. Getting Online
      3. Setting Up Online Software Repositories
      4. Configuring E-Mail and Instant Messaging
      5. Adding a Printer
      6. Setting Up Digital Imaging Devices
      7. Using a USB Memory Stick
      8. Installing 3D Graphics Card Drivers
      9. Configuring Bluetooth
      10. Pairing Bluetooth Devices
      11. Configuring Sound Cards
      12. Summary
    3. CHAPTER 9: How to Secure Your Computer
      1. Windows Security vs. Linux Security
      2. Root and Ordinary Users
      3. Common-Sense Security
      4. Online Updates
      5. The Fedora Firewall
      6. Summary
    4. CHAPTER 10: Personalizing Fedora: Getting Everything Just Right
      1. Changing the Look and Feel
      2. Configuring Input Devices
      3. Personalizing Login Options
      4. Adding and Removing Desktop Items
      5. Adding and Removing Menus
      6. Personalizing the Panels
      7. Working with Applets
      8. Setting Power-Saving Features
      9. Summary
    5. CHAPTER 11: Fedora Replacements for Windows Programs
      1. Available Software
      2. A Quick Start with Common Linux Programs
      3. Summary
    6. CHAPTER 12: Managing Your Files
      1. Understanding File System Concepts
      2. Using Nautilus
      3. Launching Files and Running Programs
      4. Accessing Windows Files
      5. Accessing Removable Storage Devices
      6. Summary
  11. PART 4: The Shell and Beyond
    1. CHAPTER 13: Introducing the BASH Shell
      1. What Is the BASH Shell?
      2. Why Bother with the Shell?
      3. When Should You Use the Shell?
      4. Getting Started with the Shell
      5. Running Programs
      6. Getting Help
      7. Running the Shell via a Virtual Console
      8. Working with Files
      9. Changing and Creating Directories
      10. Summary
    2. CHAPTER 14: Understanding Linux Files and Users
      1. Real Files and Virtual Files
      2. Users and File Permissions
      3. The File System Explained
      4. Mounting
      5. File Searches
      6. File Size and Free Space
      7. Summary
    3. CHAPTER 15: Working with Text Files
      1. Viewing Text Files
      2. Using a Command-Line Text Editor
      3. Searching Through Files
      4. Comparing Text Files
      5. Summary
    4. CHAPTER 16: Taking Control of the System
      1. Viewing Processes
      2. Controlling Processes
      3. Controlling Jobs
      4. Summary
    5. CHAPTER 17: Cool Shell Tricks
      1. Using Autocompletion
      2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts
      3. Using the Command History
      4. Piping and Directing Output
      5. Summary
  12. PART 5: Multimedia
    1. CHAPTER 18: Digital Music
      1. Understanding the Legalities of Playback
      2. Playing Music Files
      3. Listening to Audio CDs
      4. Tuning In to Online Radio Stations
      5. Ripping Music from CDs
      6. Creating Your Own CDs
      7. Summary
    2. CHAPTER 19: Movies and Multimedia
      1. Watching Videos
      2. Installing VLC Media Player
      3. Installing Codecs
      4. Playing Back Video
      5. Watching DVDs
      6. Playing Flash Animations
      7. Watching TV
      8. Summary
    3. CHAPTER 20: Image Editing
      1. Getting Pictures onto Your PC
      2. Introducing The GIMP
      3. Editing Images with The GIMP
      4. Applying Filters
      5. Summary
  13. PART 6: Office Tasks
    1. CHAPTER 21: Making the Move to OpenOffice.org
      1. Office Similarities
      2. OpenOffice.org Key Features
      3. File Compatibility
      4. The Right Fonts
      5. Summary
    2. CHAPTER 22: OpenOffice.org Overview
      1. Introducing the Interface
      2. Customizing the Interface
      3. Using OpenOffice.org Core Functions
      4. Summary
    3. CHAPTER 23: In Depth: Writer
      1. Formatting Text
      2. Spell-Checking
      3. Inserting Pictures
      4. Working with Tables
      5. Mail Merging
      6. Adding Headers and Footers
      7. Summary
    4. CHAPTER 24: In Depth: Calc
      1. Entering and Formatting Data
      2. Deleting and Inserting Data and Cells
      3. Working with Formulas
      4. Sorting Data
      5. Creating Charts
      6. Using Filters
      7. Summary
    5. CHAPTER 25: In Depth: Impress
      1. Creating a Quick Presentation
      2. Working in Impress
      3. Animating Slides
      4. Applying Fontwork
      5. Using 3D Effects
      6. Exporting a Presentation As a Flash File
      7. Summary
    6. CHAPTER 26: In Depth: Base
      1. Getting Started with Base
      2. Creating a Database
      3. Using the Database
      4. Summary
    7. CHAPTER 27: In Depth: Evolution
      1. Evolution Modes
      2. Basic E-Mail Tasks
      3. Advanced E-Mail Tasks
      4. Creating Search Folders
      5. Contacts
      6. Calendars
      7. Tasks
      8. Summary
  14. PART 7: Keeping Your System Running
    1. CHAPTER 28: Installing and Removing Software
      1. Software Installation Basics
      2. Managing Software via the GUI
      3. Managing Software from the Shell
      4. Summary
    2. CHAPTER 29: Managing Users
      1. Understanding User and Group Accounts
      2. Adding and Deleting Users and Groups
      3. Adding and Changing Passwords
      4. Summary
    3. CHAPTER 30: Optimizing Your System
      1. Speeding Up Booting
      2. Optimizing Hard Disk Settings
      3. Prelinking
      4. Freeing Disk Space
      5. Adding Space to an Existing Logical Volume
      6. Summary
    4. CHAPTER 31: Backing Up Data
      1. What Data Should You Back Up?
      2. Using Pybackpack
      3. Burning a Backup File to CD/DVD
      4. Making Backups from the Command Line
      5. Summary
    5. CHAPTER 32: Scheduling Tasks
      1. Scheduling with crontab
      2. Scheduling with anacron
      3. Using at to Schedule One-Off Tasks
      4. Summary
    6. CHAPTER 33: Accessing Computers Remotely
      1. Using Secure Shell
      2. Accessing GUI Applications Remotely
      3. Connecting to Remote Windows Computers
      4. Summary
  15. APPENDIX A: Glossary of Linux Terms
  16. APPENDIX B: BASH Command Index
  17. APPENDIX C: Getting Further Help
    1. Read the Manual!
    2. Getting Help Online
  18. Index

Product information

  • Title: Beginning Fedora: From Novice to Professional
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: August 2007
  • Publisher(s): Apress
  • ISBN: 9781590598559