CHAPTER 5

Managing Hardware

Although Linux is software, it relies on hardware to operate. The capabilities and limitations of your hardware will influence the capabilities and limitations of Linux running on that hardware. Therefore, you should know these features for any computer you use extensively or that you plan to buy. This chapter will help you learn about and perform basic management tasks with your hardware. I begin with low-level issues, such as the nature of your central processing unit (CPU) and motherboard. Often overlooked, the power supply can cause problems if it's undersized or misbehaves, so I describe it. Hard disks require special care in their setup, which I briefly describe. A common sticking point in Linux is display issues, ...

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