Easiest Linux Guide Ever

The Easiest Linux
Guide You'll Ever

Read
An Introduction to Linux for Windows users
Scott Morris
SUSE Linux !"
The Easiest Linux Guide You'll Ever Read

An Introduction to Linux for Windows users
#u$lished $%
Scott Morris SUSE LINUX Rants
www"suse$lo&"co'
License under which this wor( is released) You can 'a(e unli'ited co*ies of this wor( in its entiret%
under the condition that all of its contents re'ain intact+ in the condition that the% are found at the
we$site located at htt*),,www"suse$lo&"co', " -o not 'odif% an% *art of this wor( *rior to distri$utin&
to other *arties" Scott Morris retains all co*%ri&hts to this wor(" .eel free to 'a(e as 'an% co*ies as
%ou want+ and &ive the' to as 'an% *arties as %ou want" /ust leave the content as it is"
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2o*%ri&ht ; <!!= $% SUSE LI3U6 Rants+ Salt La(e 2it%+ UT
.irst Edition+ <!!=
#u$lished in the United States of A'erica
<
About the Author
Scott Morris $e&an usin& co'*uters over <! %ears a&o+ at the a&e of !" 4e has
used <> different versions of > different o*eratin& s%ste's over this ti'e *eriod" 0f
those 'an% o*eratin& s%ste's+ he has ex*erience usin& MS?-0S+ Windows @>+
Windows @A+ Windows <!!!+ Windows 6#+ and Mac 0S @"x B 6" 4e has enCo%ed
usin& 'an% different distri$utions of Linux+ includin& Mandra(e+ Red 4at+ Gentoo+
.edora 2ore+ -e$ian+ and SUSE"
4e has wor(ed recentl% as Editor of the 3ovell 2oolSolutions Linux
co''unities" -urin& his e'*lo%'ent there+ 3ovell+ alon& with 'an% other news
outlets+ has *u$lished over ! of his articles" 4e &ets *articular enCo%'ent out of
hel*in& *eo*le discover the excite'ent of the Linux o*eratin& s%ste'" Articles he
has written can $e found on his author *a&e+ located at)
htt*),,www"novell"co',coolsolutions,author,!<"ht'l "
4e also has a *ersonal $lo&+ located at htt*),,www"suse$lo&"co'+ which he uses
for *ersonal enCo%'ent and to hel* others" 4e writes o*inions+ news+ ti*s+ and tric(s
a$out the SUSE Linux o*eratin& s%ste'" This $lo& is a li&ht?hearted resource for
$e&innin& Linux users" The latest version of this $oo( can $e found at this we$site"
D
Table of Contents
Who should read this book..............................................................................................7
An introduction before e start......................................................................................!
More fa'iliar than %ou thin(""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@
2o''on M%ths""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""!
"hin#s to kno about Linu$..........................................................................................%&
'ettin# (el) and Learnin# More.................................................................................%*
General readin& 'aterial"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""A
.oru's""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@
Mailin& Lists"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@
0ther Resources""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""<!
(o do I #et Linu$+.......................................................................................................,%
-ownload Linux and *ut it onto 2-s"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""<
#urchasin& Linux Installation 2-s"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""<D
Installin# SUSE Linu$....................................................................................................,&
Installation 0*tions"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""<D
Linux?onl% Installation""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""<9
1e&innin& the Installation"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""<>
Sharin& the co'*uter $etween Linux and Windows"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">A
1e&innin& the Installation""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">@
Introduction to Users and 'rou)s................................................................................*!
'et to -no .our /eskto)...........................................................................................!0
What is 5-EE"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@!
The 5 Menu""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@
The 5ic(er #anel"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@9
The 5-E 2ontrol 2enter""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@9
9
2han&in& Mouse 1ehavior"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@>
2han&in& Ti'e and -ate -is*la% .or'at""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@@
Window The'es"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""!9
-es(to* #references""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
5onFueror) files%ste' and we$ $rowser""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""=
1rowsin& throu&h %our files"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""=
As a we$ $rowser""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""A
5ic(er #anel""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""@
Installin# A))lications.................................................................................................%,,
A))lications..................................................................................................................%,!
0*en0ffice""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""<@
0*en0ffice Writer""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""D!
0*en0ffice 2alc"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""D<
Thunder$ird"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""D>
Settin& u* %our e'ail account""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""D=
Sendin& and receivin& e'ail"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""9=
.irefox"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""9G
So 1ou ant to use the co22and line+.......................................................................%3&
7iew director% contents with 'ls'""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">>
Ma(e a director% with ''(dir'""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">=
Re'ove a director% with 'r'dir'"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">=
2han&e to a director% with 'cd'"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">G
What director% a' I inE Usin& '*wd'"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">G
2o*%in& files with 'c*'""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">A
Movin& files with ''v'"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">A
-eletin& files with 'r''"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">@
7iewin& text files with 'cat'""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">@
7iewin& text files with 'less'"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""=!
>
What ti'e is itE What is the dateE Usin& 'date'"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""=!
Usin& ''an' to find hel*""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""=
4onclusion.....................................................................................................................%5,
=
Who should read this book
This $oo( is &eared towards Windows users who want to ta(e a loo( at Linux"
Are %ou interested in tr%in& Linux on %our co'*uterE If so+ %ou have found the
*erfect $oo(" In this $oo(+ I will &ive %ou a &entle introduction into usin& Linux+
and hel* %ou ease into it" The onl% technical s(ills %ou should have include
$rowsin& the Internet and downloadin& files" It will hel* if %ou have $urned %our
own 2-s $efore+ $ut such s(ills are not reFuired" If %ou have a co'*uter &ee(
hand%+ that also couldn't hurt" The *ur*ose of this $oo( is to 'a(e it eas% to tr% the
Linux o*eratin& s%ste'+ *articularl% for *eo*le who are used to Microsoft Windows"
Even if %ou onl% use %our Windows co'*uter for chec(in& e'ail and surfin& the
Internet+ this $oo( was written Cust for %ou"
4avin& used Windows '%self for nearl% > %ears+ I was ver% used to that
*latfor'" I didn't realiHe how used to it I was until I tried to use so'ethin& else" As
an illustration of what I 'ean+ let's sa% that %ou download Linux+ and eventuall%
fi&ure out how to download Linux" Even when %ou finall% do &et it installed+ it is
so'ewhat of a $itter?sweet triu'*h" 0n the one hand+ %ou feel &ood a$out havin&
successfull% &otten that far"
0n the other hand+ after %ou have installed it+ %ou sit there+ starin& $lan(l% at
%our new des(to* wonderin& what in the world to do next" You 'a% feel so'ewhat
lost" You have heard how wonderful Linux is+ $ut don't (now wh%+ or how to 'a(e
it *erfor' all the i'*ressive tric(s" In 'an% cases+ %ou don't even (now what those
tric(s are Iat least I didn't when I first startedJ"
If %ou are considerin& tr%in& out Linux on %our des(to*+ $ut have so'e anxiet%
a$out learnin& ever%thin&+ fro' this *oint on+ %ou have no need to worr%" We will
ta(e it one ste* at a ti'e" The to* *riorit% of this $oo( is to 'a(e ever%thin& as eas%
to learn as *ossi$le" I a' &oin& to &ive as 'uch $ac(&round and ex*lanation as I
can"
G
M% &oal is that %ou understand the *ur*ose and conce*ts involved with each ste*
that we ta(e" I want to &o over the why as well as the what" The 'ore %ou
understand+ the $etter %our foundation will $e" A &ood+ stron& foundation *rovides a
solid $ase u*on which %ou can $uild as %ou learn 'ore" This hel*s %ou learn 'ore
efficientl%+ and retain 'ore of what %ou learn in the future"
1efore we tr% and &et Linux to install it+ we will discuss so'e funda'ental
to*ics" When %ou are switchin& fro' Windows to Linux+ there are so'e
ex*ectations that %ou will need to chan&e" You are &oin& to $e usin& a $rand new
*latfor'" You cannot assu'e that the new *latfor' to $e eFuivalent in all as*ects to
the old one"
To $e&in with+ we will 'old %our ex*ectations" If %ou (now what to *lan on+
%our ex*erience will $e 'ore *leasant" In other words+ there is a 'ental shift that
will ta(e *lace as well as %ou switch *latfor's fro' Windows to Linux" I want to
'a(e that shift as eas% and *leasant as *ossi$le for %ou"
If all &oes well+ this introduction will $e *ainless" At ver% least+ I ho*e to 'a(e
the 'i&ration *rocess as enCo%a$le and eas% for %ou as I can"
Your ex*erience will &raduall% increase as we ex*lore the various as*ects of the
Linux o*eratin& s%ste'" As this occurs+ %ou will have Fuestions" You will want to
learn 'ore a$out different thin&s" If+ heaven for$id+ so'ethin& &oes wron& with
%our s%ste'+ %ou 'a% wish to see( hel*" You 'a% want to interact with other Linux
enthusiasts" You 'a% even wish to share what %ou have learned with others"
There is al'ost an endless list of online resources and co''unities that will
address all of these issues and *lent% 'ore" I will share with %ou 'an% &reat
resources that %ou can use to learn 'ore a$out Linux" 4o*efull%+ I will $e a$le to
hel* %ou (now where to &o for each of the different t%*es of hel* or infor'ation that
%ou see(" This wa%+ if %ou have a Fuestion that I do not address here+ %ou will (now
where %ou can find %our answer"
A
An introduction before we start
When %ou want to learn a$out so'ethin& new+ what do %ou doE ResearchK You
li(el% &o online and loo( thin&s u*+ &o to the li$rar%+ and tal( to an%$od% who 'a%
(now so'ethin& a$out it" 0nl% this ti'e+ %ou don't have to do an% of that" I have
alread% done all of this for %ou" You have ever%thin& %ou need ri&ht here to &et
started with Linux" 4ow eas% is thatE Gra$ a 2o(e+ ta(e this $oo(+ and head to %our
favorite ar'chair" We are &oin& to discuss so'e of the thin&s that set Linux a*art
fro' other o*eratin& s%ste's"
1ecause of how ada*ta$le it is+ there are actuall% several different (inds of Linux"
In the Linux world+ we sa% that there are different distributions" The 'ost *o*ular
distri$utions of Linux include Red 4at+ U$untu+ SUSE+ Mandriva+ -e$ian+ and
.edora 2ore" #erha*s %ou have heard of so'e of these" 0ne of the easiest
distri$utions of Linux to use is SUSE Linux" It is this distri$ution that I will $e
wor(in& with in this text"
.irst+ we will loo( at so'e of the wa%s that SUSE Linux will feel natural to %ou"
It is different+ to $e sure" 4owever+ %ou will $e sur*rised at how 'uch of it feels
fa'iliar to %ou"
2onversel%+ we will also &o over so'e of the wa%s that SUSE Linux will $e
forei&n to %ou" 1ecause honestl%+ usin& Linux is different than usin& Windows" We
will loo( at these differences and 'a(e sure %ou are co'forta$le with the' $efore
we 'ove on"
More familiar than you think
To start out in %our co'fort Hone+ let's loo( at the *arts of Linux that will feel
fa'iliar to %ou" There is Fuite a $it 'ore that falls into this cate&or% than %ou 'i&ht
thin(" .or exa'*le+ %ou have a &ra*hical des(to* Cust li(e %ou do on Windows" It
has a screen saver+ wall*a*er+ icons and windows+ Cust li(e %ou are alread% used to"
You can set the wall*a*er to %our favorite *icture" There is a 'ouse *ointer that %ou
@
'ove around the screen" You use this 'ouse cursor to select and clic( on thin&s"
There are icons on the des(to* that %ou can clic( to o*en" There will $e a ver%
fa'iliar windowin& s%ste' that functions 'uch li(e what %ou are alread% used to in
Windows"
3ot onl% will the des(to* $e si'ilar to what %ou are fa'iliar with+ $ut 'an%
a**lications will $e+ also" You have a full%?functional word *rocessor that will wor(
'uch as %ou ex*ect it to" 1rowsin& the Internet is si'*le" In 'an% cases+ %ou will
use .irefox+ the sa'e *ro&ra' %ou 'a% alread% use on Windows to surf the we$"
0ther functionalit% that Linux offers to %ou includes e'ail+ s*readsheets+ '*D
*la%ers+ video *la%ers+ and *rintin&L all conce*ts with which %ou are ver% li(el%
alread% used to" Truth $e told+ %ou alread% (now 'uch of how to use Linux" More
than %ou thin( %ou do"
Common Myths
To *ut %ou 'ore at ease+ I want to dis*el so'e co''on '%ths *eo*le have a$out
usin& Linux" #eo*les' interest in this a'aHin& *latfor' has suffered a $it $ecause
the% $elieve thin&s a$out Linux that are not true" In so'e cases+ the% were true in
the *ast+ $ut not an%'ore" When we see that these are 'ere '%ths+ the *ath to
learnin& Linux $eco'es considera$l% easier" What are so'e of the 'ost co''on
'isconce*tions a$out LinuxE
M1th 6% 7 Linux is too hard for a regular computer user. I have heard that it is only
for computer geeks because it is too hard to use.
At the *resent ti'e+ this is co'*lete nonsense" In the $e&innin&+ settin& u* and
installin& Linux and its *ro&ra's had to $e done $% hand at a co''and *ro'*t"
Yuc(%" 4owever+ within the last few %ears+ 'an% t%*es of Linux have $eco'e
si'*le enou&h that %oun& (ids are a$le to install and use the'" I have also heard
stories a$out fol(s well?advanced in %ears settin& u* and usin& Linux" When %ou
first install 'ost t%*es of Linux nowada%s+ %ou don't even see the co''and *ro'*t"
!
You don't have to wor( in the co''and line at an% ti'e" This is es*eciall% true
after %ou are done installin& Linux" Al'ost the entire o*eratin& s%ste' can $e
accessed throu&h &ra*hical+ window?$ased screens" In al'ost all cases+ this includes
thin&s li(e installin& software or confi&urin& so'e as*ect of the s%ste'" Linux+ in
'ost situations+ has $eco'e Fuite *oint?and?clic(" 0nce %ou learn where thin&s are+
nearl% ever%thin& can $e accessed throu&h the &ra*hical windows" This is one of the
$i&&est thin&s that 'a(es usin& Linux eas%"
M1th 6, 7 Linux has a very limited selection of software.
There is definitel% a lot of software availa$le for Windows" In realit%+ there is a
&reat overa$undance" Linux *rovides a narrower selection of hi&her?Fualit%
*ro&ra's" Let's tal( a$out e'ail *ro&ra's+ for exa'*le" 0n Windows+ I have tried
around =! different e'ail *ro&ra's" 0f those+ a$out six are 'ainstrea'+ well?
su**orted+ widel% used a**lications I0utloo(+ 0utloo( Ex*ress+ Eudora+
Thunder$ird+ #e&asus+ and The 1atJ" It 'a(es sense that if a &reat nu'$er of *eo*le
are usin& a *ro&ra' that it will *ro$a$l% $e around for a lon& ti'e" 3ot onl% that+
$ut there are 'ore *eo*le who %ou can as( for hel*" I reco''end usin& such t%*es
of *ro&ra's wherever *ossi$le" .or Windows+ there are a$out five 'ainstrea'
e'ail *ro&ra's"
0n Linux+ there are also a handful of the'+ such as Thunder$ird+ 5Mail+ 1alsa+
MoHilla Mail+ 0*era+ and Evolution" 0n avera&e+ the nu'$er of availa$le Windows
*ro&ra's is over(ill several ti'es over" With Linux+ %ou still have a nice handful of
choices without havin& to sort throu&h an ocean of o*tions" There are fewer
a**lications availa$le on Linux" That said+ the Fualit% of the &ood ones is ver% easil%
Cust as &ood as+ in 'an% cases $etter than+ what %ou find on Windows" This is true
es*eciall% in recent %ears+ as so'e a**lications have reached industrial?stren&th+
enter*rise?read% sta&es of develo*'ent" Man% such a**lications are e'*lo%ed in
full?ti'e use at real co'*anies throu&hout the world" In the case of e'ail+ I
reco''end usin& Thunder$ird" I will introduce this *ro&ra' alon& with so'e other
&reat software later in this $oo("
M1th 6& 7 If Linux and its software are free, they must not be very good quality.
8uite the o**osite is true" Most of the software that runs on Linux is not owned
$% an% one *erson or co'*an%" It is o*en to the co''unit%" This 'eans that
an%one who wants to can wor( on the *ro&ra' and 'a(e it $etter" The% do it
$ecause the% want to i'*rove the software+ as the% &et no other 'onetar% &ain fro'
their wor(" Thus+ 'an% such *ro&ra's have thousands and thousands of
*ro&ra''ers wor(in& on the' to 'a(e the' &enuinel% $etter"
With *ro*rietar% s%ste's+ the code is &enerall% 'ana&ed $% a s'all tea' of
*ro&ra''ers who are under &reat *ressure to &et their software finished" In so'e
cases+ the software is released with $u&s and *ro$le's in it so that the consu'er
'ust $e de*endent on the vendor for u*&rades and fixes"
1ecause of all of this+ 'an% ti'es Linux software is su*erior to Windows
software" This is one of the reasons that Linux has $een and still is 'uch 'ore
secure than Windows" It has 'an% thousands of *eo*le worldwide wor(in& to 'a(e
it as &ood as it can $e" When *ro$le's are found+ the% are fixed within a da% or two+
and 'an% ti'es within a few hours"
With these few thin&s set strai&ht+ we can $e&in learnin& 'ore a$out the Linux
o*eratin& s%ste'" There will $e 'an% thin&s si'ilar to what %ou have alread% used
on Windows" There are also so'e thin&s that will $e different for %ou" So'e thin&s
are onl% 'inor adCust'ents" 0ther thin&s 'a% ta(e a little 'ore &ettin& used to"
In an% case+ we will not rush throu&h an%thin& in this $oo(" I'd li(e to 'a(e sure
that %ou are as co'forta$le as *ossi$le with the conce*ts that we discuss" Usin& the
free Linux o*eratin& s%ste' can $e Fuite rewardin& to use" #erha*s the 'ost
o$vious $enefit is in how 'uch 'one% %ou will save" 4o*efull%+ we will also $e
a$le to 'a(e it as fun and as enCo%a$le as *ossi$le for %ou"
<
Things to know about Linux
We have loo(ed at wa%s that Linux will feel fa'iliar to %ou" While there are
'an%+ there are so'e thin&s that 'a% feel a little different" Truthfull%+ 'an% thin&s
are sli&htl% different" These will ta(e no ti'e at all to &et used to" That said+ there
are other thin&s that 'a% ta(e a little lon&er for %ou to adCust to" I would li(e to ta(e
a few 'o'ents to $riefl% discuss so'e of these differences" That wa%+ when we &et
further into this $oo(+ %ou will (now what to ex*ect" Let's ta(e a loo( at so'e of the
'aCor differences $etween Windows and Linux+ and tal( a$out the' one at a ti'e"
This will &ive %ou &reater insi&ht and understandin& into how Linux wor(s"
6% 7 Linux is very versatile and configurable.
0ne of the so'ewhat astoundin& stren&ths of Linux is its versatilit%" It can run as
a we$ server+ a des(to*+ or e'$edded into other s%ste's" There is a distri$ution of
Linux that runs on the S*ace Shuttle" There is one that controls a 'ilitar% vehicle
that actuall% drives itself" In 2anada+ the% are usin& Linux to 'ana&e coin?o*erated
'eter 'aids" 0ther distri$utions run on '%riads of electronic devices+ such as
A**le's i#od"
1ecause Linux is so versatile+ there are 'an% 'an% wa%s to *erfor' the sa'e
tas(" This 'a% $e one of the thin&s that 'a(es *eo*le thin( Linux is so co'*lex"
When %ou are tr%in& to acco'*lish a tas(+ %ou 'a% find that there are several wa%s
to acco'*lish that tas(" In such cases+ it 'a% hel* to as( a friend fa'iliar with
Linux how the% do it" 4avin& a 'entor availa$le is one &reat wa% to &et hel* with
%our Linux s%ste'" If %ou don't (now an%one who (nows Linux+ *lease do not
worr%" There are innu'era$le resources online where %ou can turn for hel*+ which I
will discuss a little later in this $oo(" As %ou visit these resources re&ularl%+ %ou will
'eet *eo*le who can hel* %ou" Within no ti'e+ %ou will have 'an% online friends
who %ou can as( for hel*"
6, 7 Getting Help with Linux
D
S*ea(in& of &ettin& hel*+ the Linux wa% is &oin& to $e a little different than what
%ou are used to" When %ou have trou$le in Windows+ %ou 'a% $e used to callin&
technical su**ort for hel*" I thin( that 'an% *eo*le *refer to &o to a live *erson for
hel*" In 'an% cases+ this does usuall% fix the *ro$le'"
4owever+ with this 'odel of *ro$le' resolution+ %ou don't usuall% learn 'uch
a$out what caused the *ro$le' or how to fix it next ti'e it occurs" 1ecause of the
nature of how %ou find hel* with Linux+ %ou do learn Fuite a $it in the *rocess"
So'e of the ti'e+ this *rocess involves research done on %our own" -o not
inter*ret this to 'ean that %ou are co'*letel% on %our own" .ar fro' it+ as it turns
out" 0nce %ou have fixed a handful of *ro$le's+ the *rocess of doin& so will
$eco'e second nature for %ou"
At a later *ortion of this $oo(+ I will outline several ver% efficient wa%s of
see(in& hel* when thin&s &o south" So'e of these involve doin& %our own research+
and others 'ethods involve as(in& other *eo*le for hel*" We will loo( at how to use
so'e of the &reat resources" I will de'onstrate how eas% it trul% is to &et hel* with
Linux" If %ou enCo% $rowsin& and readin&+ 'an% of the resources we will discuss
can $e used for learnin& 'ore a$out Linux"
6& 7 he !ommand Line
In Windows+ it is ver% rarel% necessar% to use the -0S *ro'*t" In 'odern
distri$utions of Linux+ %ou are *erfectl% a$le to use %our co'*uter without ever
touchin& the co''and line" In the *ast+ this was not the case" .or a lon& ti'e+ when
%ou wanted to learn Linux+ %ou had to (now the co''and line inside and out" With
so'e of the 'ore recent flavors of Linux+ %ou can &et awa% without (nowin&
an%thin& a$out the co''and line"
That said+ one of the 'aCor differences $etween Windows and Linux is the *ower
of the co''and line" In Windows+ it has 'ini'al value+ and *rovides little useful
functionalit%" In Linux+ on the other hand+ the co''and line interface *rovides a
9
wealth of *owerful features+ 'ore of which we will discuss later on in this $oo(" .or
now+ it is sufficient to (now that if %ou want to trul% sa% that %ou (now how to use
Linux+ %ou should ta(e the ti'e to learn how to use the co''and line" When we do
ex*lore this *owerful tool+ I will ta(e %ou throu&h so'e of the 'ost $asic
co''ands"
68 7 "oftware Installation
I a' &oin& to assu'e that %ou have installed software on Windows" The *rocess
is so'ewhat si'*le" You search online for a chea* or free software *ac(a&e that
does what %ou need it to do" You download it to %our co'*uter" When the
download co'*letes+ %ou usuall% will dou$le?clic( on the file %ou Cust downloaded+
startin& the installation *rocess" Most of the ti'e+ %ou Cust clic( 3E6T several
ti'es+ and eventuall% the software &ets installed"
The wa% %ou install software on Linux is so'ewhat different than this" If %ou are
usin& SUSE Linux+ the software is all installed with one *ro&ra'+ called YAST"
This a**lication 'a(es installin& software a sna*" The $asic *re'ise is that %ou
o*en YAST and do a search for the software %ou want" In the results that co'e u*+
%ou Cust chec( a little $ox next to the *ro&ra' that %ou wish to install" You then
clic( a $utton+ and YAST &oes a$out its $usiness of installin& %our software" Most
of these *ro&ra's will reside on the several different installation 2-s which %ou will
alread% have" 3o need to &o huntin& around"
63 7 "ecurity in Linux
0ne of the overwhel'in& stren&ths of Linux is its roc(?solid securit%" With so
'an% thousands of *eo*le wor(in& on it worldwide+ securit% holes and $u&s are
found and fixed Fuic(l%" 0ne of the &reat thin&s a$out this is that %ou 'a% onl%
have to wait for a few da%s to &et u*dates" With Windows+ studies that have $een
done have found that %ou have to wait for a$out six wee(s for securit% u*dates" This
is $ad news" Even worse+ hac(ers (now a$out the securit% hole for at least four of
those six wee(s" That 'eans for nearl% a 'onth+ %ou run a 'uch hi&her ris( of a
>
hac(er usin& that securit% hole to $rea( into %our s%ste's" With Linux+ $% the ti'e
the hac(ers (now a$out a securit% issue+ there are alread% u*dates availa$le to fix
%our s%ste'" That sounds li(e a 'uch $etter deal to 'e"
In addition to havin& Fuic( securit% u*dates availa$le+ even an un*atched Linux
s%ste' left out in the o*en on the Internet is 'ore secure than a si'ilarl% un*atched
Windows s%ste'" Studies have found that un*atched Linux s%ste's left on the
Internet last at least four 'onths without $ein& $ro(en into" Un*atched Windows
'achines last+ on avera&e+ a$out G! 'inutes"
In '% *ersonal ex*erience+ I have had Windows co'*uters $ro(en into $efore I
a' even done installin& Windows on the'K I have to (ee* the co'*uter off the
Internet until I a' co'*letel% done installin& Windows+ a**l%in& all the *atches
Iwhich %ou have to $e connected to the Internet to even &etJ+ and installin& all of the
anti?s*%ware+ anti?virus+ and firewall software" 0nl% then do I cross '% fin&ers and
*lu& it into the Internet" Rather than &o throu&h all that anxiet%+ it is Cust less hassle
to use Linux"
1ecause Linux is not susce*ti$le to a$out @@"=M of (nown viruses and s*%ware+
there are ver% few anti?virus a**lications availa$le for it" -o not let this deter %ou"
1ecause Linux is so secure+ there is al'ost no need for an anti?virus software" 0r
anti?s*%ware software" Linux does+ however+ have an industrial?stren&th firewall"
This is another reason that it *rovides full securit%"
Alon& this sa'e vein+ the *rocesses+ files+ and directories are controlled $% a ver%
strict *rivile&e s%ste'" 1ecause of this+ a user will have *er'issions to access so'e
thin&s $ut not others" .or exa'*le+ re&ular users do not have access to s%ste'
co''ands or files" If the% did+ %ou can i'a&ine that the s%ste' could $e $reached
ver% Fuic(l%" Windows has no such clearl% defined access control" This is another
reason that Linux is ver% secure" You can count on the solid securit% of the Linux
*latfor'"
=
Es*eciall% if %ou have servers at %our *lace of e'*lo%'ent+ Linux will *rovide a
solid solution to securit% concerns"
65 7 #ames and Locations of $pplications
Earlier+ we discussed so'e of the si'ilarities $etween Linux and Windows" 0ne
of those si'ilarities is the &ra*hical des(to* with icons+ $uttons+ and a windowed
environ'ent" You will *ro$a$l% intuitivel% (now how to use 'an% of these features
in Linux"
The s%ste' 'enu in Linux $ehaves a lot li(e %ou are used to" There is a $utton in
the lower left corner of %our screen" You clic( it+ and a 'enu a**ears" In the 'enu+
there are several su$'enus" You *ause the 'ouse cursor over the su$'enus and
additional 'enus and o*tions a**ear" It is ver% si'ilar to what %ou alread% (now
fro' usin& Windows"
What %ou have to learn here is where in this 'enu to find each of the
a**lications" This is no cause for concern" It will not ta(e ver% lon& to &et used to
this" There is even a wa% to search throu&h the 'enu for the *ro&ra' %ou want to
run" The a$ilit% to search this 'enu is one 'ore thin& that 'a(es Linux eas% to use"
You 'a% also ver% well $e used to the na'es of certain a**lications" You
*ro$a$l% (now i''ediatel% what 0utloo(+ Word+ and Excel are+ Cust $% their na'es"
With Linux+ the a**lications will have different na'es" A&ain+ it is onl% a 'atter of
ti'e $efore %ou will learn the na'es of these a**lications" I will even hel* %ou
cheat Cust a little"
The 'ain a**lication that is li(e Microsoft 0ffice is called 0*en0ffice" A &reat
*art a$out this is that first+ it is free" Second+ it alread% co'es installed with SUSE
Linux+ so %ou won't have to download it se*aratel% fro' an%where" Another &reat
*er( is that $% the ti'e %ou are done installin& SUSE Linux+ 0*en0ffice will alread%
$e on %our co'*uter" Isn't Linux neatE
G
Getting Help and Learning More
#reviousl%+ I said I would tal( a little $it a$out so'e wa%s to &et hel* with Linux"
Should %ou have Fuestions or run into trou$le+ %ou will ta(e a sli&htl% different
a**roach &ettin& hel* in Linux than how %ou do it in Windows" It reall% isn't all that
'uch harder" It is Cust different" 2o'in& fro' Windows+ %ou are li(el% used to
*ic(in& u* the *hone and callin& technical su**ort when %ou have trou$le" Althou&h
this is not the case when %ou need hel* with Linux+ there are thousands of *eo*le
that %ou can as( for hel*" The $i&&est difference is si'*l% that %ou are not tal(in& to
the' on the tele*hone" Instead+ the% can $e found in scores of other *laces"
What if %ou are not havin& trou$leE What if %ou Cust want to learn 'ore a$out
LinuxE You will $e *leased to (now that there are so'e &reat *laces that %ou can
&o to $rowse leisurel% throu&h and learn 'ore a$out this a'aHin& o*eratin& s%ste'"
General reading material
If %ou want to do so'e &eneral readin& a$out SUSE Linux+ there are several
*laces that %ou can &o" So'e of these *laces contain lists of other resources" Great
*laces to learn 'ore a$out SUSE Linux are listed as follows)
htt*),,en"o*ensuse"or&,2o''unicate
htt*),,www"o*ensuse"or&,
htt*),,www"novell"co',linux,
htt*),,www"novell"co',coolsolutions,feature,G<A"ht'l
You can &o to each of these *laces and s*end ti'e at %our leisure $rowsin&
throu&h the' These t%*es of resources will hel* %ou learn 'ore a$out SUSE Linux
in &eneral"
A
Forums
These are ar&ua$l% the 'ost hel*ful resource on the Internet" .oru's are
desi&ned such that the% read li(e conversations" 0ne user *osts a Fuestion" If
so'eone answers that Fuestion+ that answer is *osted ri&ht $elow the Fuestion" In
the sa'e wa%+ the rest of the conversation is *osted $elow that" It is this t%*e of
for'at that 'a(es foru's ver% user?friendl% and eas% to use" A &ood ha$it to &et
into is to read the *ostin& *olicies of the foru's $efore %ou *ost" So'e of the' have
rules that the% as( %ou to follow when *ostin&" So'e of the $est foru's for SUSE
Linux are as follows)
htt*),,foru's"suselinuxsu**ort"de,index"*h*
htt*),,www"linuxFuestions"or&,Fuestions,foru'dis*la%"*h*Eforu'idN=!
htt*),,www"suseforu's"net,
htt*),,www"linuxforu's"or&,foru',suse?linux?hel*,
In 'an% cases+ %ou can &o to the site+ create %ourself an account+ and *ost %our
Fuestion" 1e sure to chec( $ac( often and to see if %our Fuestion has $een answered"
Mailing Lists
Another &reat resource for &ettin& hel* are 'ailin& lists" The% are actuall% ver%
'uch li(e foru's+ exce*t that the% use e'ail instead of a we$site for *ostin&" To &et
hel*+ %ou will si&n u* for the 'ailin& list" Then+ %ou will send a Fuestion to the
'ailin& list" At so'e *oint+ %ou should &et a res*onse fro' so'eone re&ardin& %our
Fuestion" A handful of &reat 'ailin& lists are at the followin& locations)
htt*),,www"suse"co',en,*rivate,su**ort,onlineOhel*,'ailin&lists,index"ht'l
htt*),,en"o*ensuse"or&,2o''unicatePMailin&OLists
htt*),,&rou*s"%ahoo"co',&rou*,suse?new$ie,
htt*),,www"novell"co',coolsolutions,for's,su$scri$e"ht'l
@
There is one listed there for Yahoo" That *articular 'ailin& list was created for
new Linux users" You can &o there and as( whatever Fuestion %ou 'a% have a$out
an%thin& relatin& to SUSE Linux" You will ver% li(el% find a nice *erson there who
would $e &lad to answer %our Fuestion or hel* %ou"
Other Resources
If %ou are fa'iliar with wi(is+ and would li(e to visit so'e SUSE Linux wi(i
*a&es+ here is a handful of the')
htt*),,susewi(i"or&,
htt*),,en"wi(i*edia"or&,wi(i,SuSE
htt*),,wi(i"linuxFuestions"or&,wi(i,SuSE
htt*),,wi(i"novell"co',index"*h*,2oolOSolutionsOWi(iOMainO#a&e
htt*),,wi(i"suselinuxsu**ort"de,wi((a"*h*Ewa((aNSuSELinuxSu**ort
If %ou are interested in readin& $lo&s $% other Linux users+ %ou can visit so'e of
these lin(s)
htt*),,andreasCae&er"$lo&s*ot"co',
htt*),,www"suseroot"co',$lo&,
htt*),,ru$$erturni*"or&"u(,
htt*),,www"novell"co',cto$lo&
htt*),,tirania"or&,$lo&,index"ht'l
htt*),,nat"or&,
htt*),,www"suse$lo&"co',
htt*),,*lanetsuse"or&,
<!
I have listed all of these resources $ecause I want to hel* %ou realiHe how 'uch
hel* there is availa$le" Ta(e a 'o'ent to see how 'an% *laces %ou can &o when
%ou need hel* with so'ethin&" SUSE Linux reall% has a &reat su**ort co''unit%"
As we &o throu&h the rest of this $oo(+ %ou 'a% have Fuestions" Tr% as I 'i&ht
to cover all $ases+ I 'a% o'it the s*ecific answer %ou see(" In those cases+ I don't
want %ou to feel li(e %ou have $een left han&in&" #o* into one of the foru's+
introduce %ourself+ and as( %our Fuestion" Si&n u* for a 'ailin& list and fire awa%
with %our Fuestion" There are thousands of ver% (nowled&ea$le *eo*le who are a$le
and willin& to *rovide hel* for *ro$le's %ou 'a% encounter"
How do I get Linux?
We have now s*ent so'e ti'e loo(in& at the *arts of Linux that %ou will alread%
$e used to $efore %ou even start" We have also discussed so'e of the thin&s %ou
'a% have to s*end so'e ti'e learnin&" We s*ent so'e ti'e loo(in& at wa%s that
%ou can &et hel*+ should %ou run into *ro$le's" With all of this $ac(&round in
*lace+ the next thin& to do is &et started" The next ste* I su&&est is &ettin& %ourself a
co*% of Linux" There are a nu'$er of different wa%s to do this" I will Cust cover the
two easiest for the sa(e of si'*licit%"
Download Linux and put it onto CDs
The 'ost co''on wa% to &et Linux is si'*l% $% downloadin& it" If %ou have a
fast enou&h Internet connection and a 2- $urner+ this will $e a &reat wa% to &et
Linux" It does ta(e a little technical (nowled&e" This 'ethod reFuires a cou*le of
ste*s" As the na'e of this section i'*lies+ %ou will first download the 2- i'a&es"
Then+ %ou will $urn these disc i'a&es onto so'e $lan( 2-s" Let's wal( throu&h
how to do this"
.irst+ we will download the -isc i'a&es" These are si'*l% files containin&
ever%thin& needed to *ut on the 2-s" To &et these files+ visit this URL)
<
htt*),,'irrors"(ernel"or&,o*ensuse,distri$ution,SL?!",iso,
Towards the to* of the list on this *a&e+ %ou will see the followin& files listed)
SUSE?Linux?!"?GM?iDA=?2-"iso
SUSE?Linux?!"?GM?iDA=?2-<"iso
SUSE?Linux?!"?GM?iDA=?2-D"iso
SUSE?Linux?!"?GM?iDA=?2-9"iso
SUSE?Linux?!"?GM?iDA=?2->"iso
You can Cust clic( on each filena'e in the we$ *a&e to download it" If that
doesn't see' to wor( for %ou+ ri&ht?clic( on the filena'es and select QSave Lin(
As"""R or QSave Tar&et As"""R Then save each one to a location that %ou will
re'e'$er"
0nce %ou have all of the files downloaded+ %ou will want to $urn the' onto $lan(
2-s" You will want to exercise caution here" You want to $urn these files as 2-s"
9urnin# the 4/ i2a#e file onto a 4/ is not the sa2e thin# as burnin# the 4/
i2a#e as a 4/" You want to do the latter"
In 'an% *o*ular 2-?$urnin& software a**lications+ there is so'e (ind of o*tion
so'ewhere that will allow %ou to 'a(e a 2- fro' a 2- i'a&e" It 'a% $e called
S1urn -isc fro' I'a&eS+ SMa(e 2- fro' IS0S+ or so'ethin& si'ilar" As not all
software is the sa'e+ I cannot tell %ou exactl% what it will sa%" .ish throu&h the
'enus of %our software+ and find the o*tion that will allow %ou to $urn the i'a&e as
a 2-" When %ou have done this+ *roceed to $urn all five of the 2- i'a&es"
After %ou have $urned the 2-s+ %ou are read% to install Linux onto %our
co'*uter"
<<
Purchasing Linux nstallation CDs
-ownloadin& and $urnin& the 2- i'a&es can $e a decent a'ount of wor( and
ta(e u* valua$le ti'e" If %ou do not want to &o this route+ %ou can *urchase 2-s
with Linux alread% on the'" This wa%+ %ou can usuall% ensure that there will $e
'ini'al+ if an%+ *ro$le's with the 2-s" 0ne wa% that %ou can *urchase such 2-s is
fro' 3ovell" 0ne $enefit of doin& this is that %ou will &et official *ressed and
sil(screened 2-s and a -7- with the sa'e data on it" In addition+ %ou will &et the
nice *ac(a&in&" #erha*s the $i&&est $enefit of doin& it this wa% is that %ou will
receive co'*lete 'anuals for usin& SUSE Linux" Additionall%+ $% *urchasin& it
fro' 3ovell+ %ou 'a% also $e entitled to so'e technical su**ort" The *a&e fro'
which %ou can 'a(e %our SUSE Linux *urchase is found at the followin& location)
3ovell) htt*),,www"novell"co',*roducts,suselinux,*ricin&"ht'l
Installing !" Linux
4owever %ou choose to &et Linux+ now %ou li(el% want to install it" This next
cha*ter+ then+ will $e a$out installin& SUSE Linux" Althou&h there are several ste*s
to this *rocess+ each of the' are si'*le" Where conce*ts 'a% not $e Fuite so
strai&htforward+ I will do '% $est to ex*lain the' in a clear+ concise 'anner" 1efore
we start+ let's tal( a$out what (ind of installation we want to do"
nstallation Options
1ecause we (now that Linux is so versatile+ we would do well to decide what
(ind of installation we would li(e to *erfor'" There are two 'ain installation t%*es"
The first is that when %ou are &oin& to install Linux to wor( as a server Iwhich we
are not &oin& to do hereJ" The second t%*e is when %ou will use the co'*uter as a
des(to*" In this section+ we are &oin& to install it as a des(to*"
The next thin& we will loo( at is what (ind of des(to* environ'ent to use" The
two $i&&est choices are 5-E and Gno'e" In a later cha*ter+ we will ta(e a closer
<D
loo( at 5-E+ the 5 -es(to* Environ'ent" .or now+ Cust 'a(e a 'ental note that we
will $e installin& 5-E as our des(to*"
I would also li(e to ta(e a 'o'ent to introduce another conce*t" It is the conce*t
of runnin& two o*eratin& s%ste's on the sa'e co'*uter" You cannot run the' $oth
at the exact sa'e ti'e" 4owever+ when %ou $oot u* %our co'*uter+ %ou will $e a$le
to *ic( $etween $ootin& into Linux and $ootin& into Windows" Man% *eo*le li(e to
do this" 0ne reason is so the% can transition slowl% to Linux without havin& to
co'*letel% &ive u* Windows all at once" I had a dual?$oot 'achine for a$out a %ear
$efore switchin& exclusivel% to Linux" Another reason to dual?$oot a s%ste' is so
that *eo*le can tr% Linux out without havin& to *urchase another co'*uter for this
*ur*ose"
0ne reason I 'i&ht not reco''end this 'ethod is that it is so'ewhat *er'anent
on the Windows end" It is difficult to co'*letel% restore a co'*uter to run onl%
Windows once %ou have chosen to dual?$oot it" 4owever+ if %ou are *lannin& to
eventuall% *hase out Windows+ it is ver% eas% to convert a dual?$oot co'*uter into
one that runs onl% Linux"
Whether %ou choose to do a Linux?onl% installation or a dual?$oot installation+ I
will include instructions for $oth" You can si'*l% follow the instructions for %our
choice of installation+ and s(i* the instructions for the other choice" With that+ let's
ta(e a loo( at a Linux?onl% installation+ definitel% the easiest if %ou have a s*are
co'*uter"
Linux!only nstallation
You should $e readin& this section if %ou want to install Linux onto a co'*uter
where it will $e the onl% o*eratin& s%ste'" If %ou want to install Linux and also
(ee* Windows on the sa'e co'*uter+ s(i* to the next section"
I want to let %ou in on a secret" -urin& the installation+ %ou will $e ta(en throu&h
a series of screens" The secret is that for 'ost of the screens where it &ives %ou
<9
o*tions+ the default choices are usuall% fine" This 'eans that if %ou are on a screen
where %ou don't (now what to do+ %ou can *ro$a$l% Cust clic( 3E6T without
chan&in& a thin&"
While this is true in 'an% cases+ it isn't alwa%s that eas%" -on't worr%+ thou&h"
With the wal(?throu&h that we will do here+ we will 'a(e the installation ver% eas%"
When doin& the installation+ %ou can use either a set of 2-s or the -7-" The
*rocess should $e 'ostl% the sa'e for either one" The o$vious difference is that
with the 2-s %ou will Cust *rovide the a**ro*riate 2- when the installation as(s %ou
for it" With the -7-+ ever%thin& is on one disc+ so %ou won't need to chan&e discs"
0ne other thin& that %ou will need to chec( is that %ou have sufficient s*ace on
%our hard dis( to hold Linux" SUSE Linux &enerall% ta(es u* a$out D Gi&a$%tes" It
is reco''ended to use at least >" If %ou have 'ore s*ace than this+ %our s%ste'
should do ver% well"
#eginning the Installation
Let's &et started" If %ou are usin& 2-s+ *ut disc into %our 2-?R0M" If %ou are
usin& the -7-+ insert that disc now"
#ower u* %our co'*uter"
<>
A $lue screen will a**ear after a few 'o'ents+ with a 'enu" Select the
I3STALLATI03 o*tion I$% *ressin& the down arrowJ+ and *ress E3TER)
<=
You will see a *ro&ress $ar for a few seconds that sa%s QLoadin& Linux (ernelR+
after which the screen will &o $lac(" After a 'o'ent+ another $lue screen will
a**ear+ si'ilar to this)
This screen 'a% re'ain for several 'inutes while the Installation s%ste' is
loadin&"
<G
After a few 'inutes+ %ou will see the LA3GUAGE screen a**ear" This is the
first ste* of the installation" .ro' this screen+ select %our *referred lan&ua&e+ and
clic( 3E6T)
<A
You are ta(en to a screen that su&&ests %ou do a 'edia chec(" If %ou wish to do
this+ clic( START 24E25" When %ou are read%+ clic( 3E6T)
<@
The next screen %ou see is a license a&ree'ent" Ma(e the a**ro*riate selection at
the $otto' of this screen" Then+ clic( 3E6T)
D!
The Installation *ro&ra' will *ro$e several of the *arts of %our co'*uter" It will
sto* on a screen entitled SInstallation ModeS" Select the S3ew InstallationS o*tion"
2lic( 3E6T)
D
0n the next screen+ select %our re&ion and ti'e Hone" In the dro*?down called
Q4ardware 2loc( set to+R *ic( QLocal Ti'e"R Then+ clic( 3E6T)
D<
You are ta(en to a screen where %ou will select %our des(to*" .or our *ur*oses+
we are &oin& to select 5-E" 2lic( 3E6T)
DD
The next screen+ called SInstallation Settin&s+S will ta(e a few seconds to load"
When it does+ %ou will see three sections) #artitionin&+ Software+ and Lan&ua&e"
Since we want to 'a(e sure that onl% Linux is installed on this co'*uter+ we're
&oin& to chan&e the *artitionin& Cust a tad" I Cust want to re'ind %ou that if %ou are
installin& Linux this wa%+ the entire rest of %our hard dis( will $e wi*ed clean" If
you are sure that this is what %ou want to do+ continue"
Go ahead and clic( on the $lue #ARTITI03I3G lin( at the to* of this screen)
D9
0n the next screen+ called QSu&&ested #artitionin&+R there is a Q#artitionin&R $ox
down in the center of the screen" Inside this $ox+ select the Q2reate 2usto' #artition
setu*R radio $utton" 2lic( 3E6T)
D>
The next screen is called Q#re*arin& 4ard -is() Ste* "R 0n this screen there is
one $ox" This $ox is called Q4ard -is("R In this $ox+ si'*l% select the ver% first
radio $utton" -on't even worr% a$out what it sa%s" Then clic( 3E6T)
D=
The next screen is called Q#re*arin& 4ard -is() Ste* <"R 0n this screen also+
there is onl% one $ox" It is called QInstallin& on)"R If %ou see a $utton that sa%s QUse
entire hard dis(+ clic( it Iif not+ that is o(J" Then+ clic( 3E6T)
DG
Then+ we co'e $ac( to the QInstallation Settin&sR screen where the installer
thin(s for a few 'inutes" When this *rocess finishes+ clic( A22E#T)
DA
The Installation *ro&ra' as(s %ou if %ou want to start installin& the s%ste' to the
hard drive" If %ou are sure %ou want to do this+ clic( I3STALL)
D@
Your s%ste' then for'ats %our hard drive" Shortl% after this+ the installer $e&ins
installin& the Linux o*eratin& s%ste' to the hard drive)
Gra$ %our favorite drin( and &o *la% so'e solitaire or so'ethin&" This ste* ta(es
Fuite a while" If %ou are usin& 2-s+ don't &o too far" -urin& the installation+ %ou
will $e as(ed to insert different 2-s throu&hout this *rocess" If %ou are usin& a
-7- to install SUSE Linux+ %ou can *ro$a$l% &o do so'ethin& for D! or 9>
'inutes" Whether %ou are installin& with 2-s or with the -7-+ this ste* ta(es
awhile either wa%"
Your co'*uter 'a% re$oot itself durin& this installation *rocess" /ust let it do its
thin&+ and all will $e well"
9!
After all of the files are co*ied+ the next screen %ou see is called S4ostna'e and
-o'ain 3a'e"S You do not need to worr% a$out what an% of this is" In 'ost cases+
%ou can leave ever%thin& as it is and do what's eas%+ clic( 3E6T)
9
You are ta(en to the next screen+ called S#assword for the S%ste' Ad'inistrator
'root'"S The root user is the onl% user that can 'a(e s%ste' chan&es+ such as
installin& software" It is the account of the s%ste' ad'inistrator" You will need to
co'e u* with a reall% &ood *assword here+ and then (ee* it hidden awa% in a safe
*lace so that no one can find it"
If so'eone does find it+ the% 'a% $e a$le to lo& into %our s%ste' as the root user"
The% can then do whatever the% want to %our co'*uter" We don't want that to
ha**en" To avoid such *ro$le's+ (ee* this *assword hidden and safe"
We will tal( 'ore a$out users in a later cha*ter"
Go ahead and *ic( a *assword for %our root user" Enter that *assword here in the
to* $ox+ and then a&ain in the $otto' $ox+ for verification" When %ou are read%+
clic( 3E6T)
9<
You 'a% see a little $ox a**ear warnin& %ou a$out the *assword %ou have
selected" If %ou wish to chan&e it+ %ou 'a% do so" If not+ clic( YES)
9D
You are then ta(en to the S3etwor( 2onfi&urationS screen" /ust li(e with 'ost
other screens in the installation *rocess+ %ou can Cust clic( 3E6T)
99
The installer saves %our networ( confi&uration" It then ta(es %ou to the next
screen+ called STest Internet 2onnection"S This ste* will 'a(e sure %ou have a
wor(in& Internet connection" If %ou are connected to the Internet+ %ou 'i&ht as well
verif% that the connection is wor(in&" If %ou don't want to do this or do not have an
Internet connection+ %ou can s(i* the test" If %ou wish to s(i* the test+ select Q3o+
S(i* This Test+R and clic( the 3E6T $utton" It will ta(e %ou to the QUser
Authentication MethodR screen+ further $elow"
That all said+ I would li(e to show %ou what the test loo(s li(e"
Ma(e sure the SYes+ Test 2onnection to the InternetS radio $utton is selected"
Then we are &oin& to select 3E6T)
9>
You are ta(en to the next screen+ called SRunnin& Internet 2onnection Test"S In
the 'iddle of this screen+ there is a TEST STATUS $ox" In this $ox+ there is a
RESULT $ox" After the test has co'*leted+ this $ox will either tell %ou that the test
was successful+ or that it was not successful" 0ur test *assed+ so we are &oin& to
clic( 3E6T)
9=
The next screen is called S0nline U*date 2onfi&uration"S This is where we tell
the s%ste' that we want to 'a(e sure we &et securit% *atches when the% are
availa$le" We are &oin& to select the S2onfi&ure 3ow IReco''endedJS o*tion"
2lic( 3E6T)
9G
The s%ste' chec(s for availa$le u*date servers" If such a server is found+ it will
$e added to the confi&uration" 2lic( 05)
9A
You will then $e as(ed if %ou want to run an online u*date" Select QRun U*dateR
and clic( 3E6T)
9@
You are ta(en to the u*date screen" 0nce %ou &et here+ Cust clic( A22E#T)
>!
You s%ste' then retrieves the availa$le *atches and installs the'" When it is
finished+ Cust clic( 3E6T)
>
This next screen that %ou see is called S3ew Local User"S This is where %ou will
add %our own user account" .or nor'al usa&e+ %ou should never lo& in with the root
s%ste' ad'inistrator account" It is hi&hl% reco''ended that %ou lo& in with %our
own *ersonal account" The *ersonal account $elon&s to %ou" This is the account that
we are definin& here" .ill out the *a&e" Then clic( 3E6T)
><
>D
You are ta(en to another screen+ called SWritin& the s%ste' confi&uration"S You
don't need to do an%thin& here" /ust watch as it &oes throu&h+ u*datin& the s%ste'
confi&uration for each thin&" When it is finished+ it will &o to the next screen+ called
SRelease 3otesS a**ears" A&ain+ clic( 3E6T)
>9
The final ste* is that the s%ste' detects so'e of the hardware in %our co'*uter"
The hardware that it is detectin& are thin&s li(e %our &ra*hics card+ an% *rinters that
%ou have connected to the co'*uter+ %our sound+ T7 cards+ and $luetooth devices"
A&ain+ for the 'ost *art+ %ou don't need to worr% a$out chan&in& an%thin& on this
screen" Most of the ti'e+ %ou will Cust $e a$le to clic( 3E6T)
>>
After a 'o'ent+ %ou &et to the final screen of the installation+ called SInstallation
2o'*leted"S 0n this screen+ clic( .I3IS4)
>=
After a few 'o'ents+ %ou 'a% see so'e text scrollin& u* the screen" This is
followed $% a $lue screen with the icon of a liHard" This has a $all rotatin& around it"
A few seconds later+ %ou are lo&&ed into %our des(to*)
There will $e a screen o*en when %ou lo& in" It will have a section called SGet
Your .ree 3ovell Linux 3ewsletterKS I reco''end si&nin& u* for the newsletters
relatin& to Linux" The% contain insider ti*s and tric(s written $% other Linux users"
This is hi&h?Fualit% infor'ation+ and is totall% free" There is a lin( in the window on
%our screen that ta(es %ou to 3ovell's we$site"
In the *a&e that co'es u*+ find the S2ool SolutionsS section" 2lic( on the
su$scri*tion lin(" I hi&hl% su&&est si&nin& u* for this" These newsletters &ive %ou
ti*s+ tric(s+ and other &reat content that will teach %ou how to $etter use %our new
SUSE Linux o*eratin& s%ste'"
>G
0nce %ou have si&ned u* for these newsletters+ %ou can close all o*en windows
on %our des(to*" You can s(i* the next section $elow+ called SSharin& the co'*uter
$etween Linux and WindowsS Go to the section called SIntroduction to Users and
Grou*s"S
"haring the computer #etween Linux and $indows
As with the *revious section where we were installin& Linux $% itself on a
co'*uter+ for 'ost of the screens where it &ives %ou o*tions+ the default choices are
usuall% fine" I want to let %ou in on a secret" -urin& the installation+ %ou will $e
ta(en throu&h a series of screens" The secret is that for 'ost of the screens where it
&ives %ou o*tions+ the default choices are usuall% fine" This 'eans that if %ou are on
a screen where %ou don't (now what to do+ %ou can *ro$a$l% Cust clic( 3E6T
without chan&in& a thin&"
While this is true in 'an% cases+ it isn't alwa%s that eas%" -on't worr%+ thou&h"
With the wal(?throu&h that we will do here+ we will 'a(e the installation ver% eas%"
When doin& the installation+ %ou can use either a set of 2-s or the -7-" The
*rocess should $e 'ostl% the sa'e for either one" The o$vious difference is that
with the 2-s %ou will Cust *rovide the a**ro*riate 2- when the installation as(s %ou
for it" With the -7-+ ever%thin& is on one disc+ so %ou won't need to chan&e discs"
1efore &ettin& started+ I would su&&est that %ou defra&'ent %our hard drive in
Windows" This 'a% 'a(e it a little safer to *ut Linux on the drive with Windows"
-efra&'entin& si'*l% 'oves all the Windows data to one *art of the drive+ freein&
s*ace for the Linux installation" If %ou do not do this+ the Windows data 'a% $e
scattered over too $road an area on the hard drive+ and %ou 'a% not $e a$le to install
Linux"
If %ou are not fa'iliar with how to defra&'ent %our hard drive in Windows+ I
would as( so'eone %ou (now to hel* %ou with this"
>A
Also+ this has the *otential to render %our co'*uter un$oota$le in either
Windows or Linux" While that is extre'el% unli(el%+ I want to 'a(e %ou aware that
it is a *ossi$ilit%" I have never had this ha**en to 'e" 4owever+ I would su&&est
that %ou $ac( u* all i'*ortant data fro' Windows $efore %ou &et started with the
*rocess outlined $elow"
#eginning the Installation
Let's &et started" If %ou are usin& 2-s+ *ut disc into %our 2-?R0M" If %ou are
usin& the -7-+ insert that disc now"
#ower u* %our co'*uter"
A $lue screen will a**ear after a few 'o'ents+ with a 'enu" Select the
I3STALLATI03 o*tion I$% *ressin& the down arrowJ+ and *ress E3TER)
>@
You will see a *ro&ress $ar for a few seconds that sa%s QLoadin& Linux (ernelR+
after which the screen will &o $lac(" After a 'o'ent+ another $lue screen will
a**ear+ si'ilar to this)
This screen 'a% re'ain for several 'inutes while the Installation s%ste' is
loadin&"
=!
After a few 'inutes+ %ou will see the LA3GUAGE screen a**ear" This is the
first ste* of the installation" .ro' this screen+ select %our *referred lan&ua&e+ and
clic( 3E6T)
=
You are ta(en to a screen that su&&ests %ou do a 'edia chec(" If %ou wish to do
this+ clic( START 24E25" When %ou are read%+ clic( 3E6T)
=<
The next screen %ou see is a license a&ree'ent" Ma(e the a**ro*riate selection at
the $otto' of this screen" Then+ clic( 3E6T)
=D
The Installation *ro&ra' will *ro$e several of the *arts of %our co'*uter" It will
sto* on a screen entitled SInstallation ModeS" Select the S3ew InstallationS o*tion"
2lic( 3E6T)
=9
0n the next screen+ select %our re&ion and ti'e Hone" In the dro*?down called
Q4ardware 2loc( set to+R *ic( QLocal Ti'e"R Then+ clic( 3E6T)
=>
You are ta(en to a screen where %ou will select %our des(to*" .or our *ur*oses+
we are &oin& to select 5-E" 2lic( 3E6T)
==
The next screen+ called SInstallation Settin&s+S will ta(e a few seconds to load"
When it does+ %ou will see three sections) #artitionin&+ Software+ and Lan&ua&e" In
the #artitionin& section+ %ou can see that it has reco&niHed the Windows *artition" It
will *ro$a$l% *ro*ose to shrin( the *artition so as to fit SUSE Linux on the sa'e
drive" In 'ost cases+ it is safe to clic( A22E#T here without chan&in& an%thin&"
Re'e'$er+ however+ that %ou are 'odif%in& %our Windows installation" If %our
s%ste' is rendered useless $% this o*eration+ *lease do not atte'*t to hold 'e
res*onsi$le" It is ver% unli(el% that an%thin& will &o wron& here" In al'ost ever%
case that I have *erfor'ed this o*eration+ it has $een a success"
That all said+ we'll clic( A22E#T)
=G
The Installation *ro&ra' as(s %ou if %ou want to start installin& the s%ste' to the
hard drive" If %ou are sure %ou want to do this+ clic( I3STALL)
Ever%thin& should &o s'oothl%" 0nce in a &reat while+ however+ thin&s hit a
sna&" In cases where this o*eration was not a success+ the SUSE Linux installer
$asicall% sa%s+ QThere was a *ro$le'+ and I cannot resiHe the Windows *artition"R
This is 05 $ecause it has not 'odified the hard drive a sin&le $it" You can si'*l%
ta(e the 2- out of the drive and restart the co'*uter+ and %ou will $e a$le to &et
ri&ht $ac( into Windows"
If this error should *resent itself+ %ou will still need to resiHe %our Windows
*artition" This can easil% $e done with a &reat *ro&ra' called #artition Ma&ic"
Usa&e of #artition Ma&ic is outside the sco*e of this $oo(" You can *ro$a$l% call
technical su**ort for the *ro&ra'+ however+ and &et hel* usin& it" Alternativel%+ if
%ou have a resident co'*uter &ee( near$%+ that *erson would co'e in hand% should
=A
%ou need to use #artition Ma&ic to resiHe %our Windows drive" /ust $e sure to tell
the' that %ou need at least > Gi&a$%tes free for %our Linux installation" If %ou do
end u* usin& #artition Ma&ic to resiHe %our drive+ %ou can restart the SUSE Linux
installation without an% *ro$le'"
This ti'e+ it will not sa% that it needs to resiHe the Windows *artition+ $ut instead
it 'a% sa% QSet 'ount *oint of ,dev,hda to ,windows,2R or so'ethin& ver% si'ilar)
=@
If %ou have no *ro$le's at this sta&e of the installation+ %our s%ste' will create
so'e *artitions to install Linux onto+ and for'at the'" Shortl% after this+ the
installer $e&ins installin& the Linux o*eratin& s%ste' to the hard drive)
Gra$ %our favorite drin( and &o *la% so'e solitaire or so'ethin&" This ste* ta(es
Fuite a while" If %ou are usin& 2-s+ don't &o too far" -urin& the installation+ %ou
will $e as(ed to insert different 2-s throu&hout this *rocess" If %ou are usin& a
-7- to install SUSE Linux+ %ou can *ro$a$l% &o do so'ethin& for D! or 9>
'inutes" Whether %ou are installin& with 2-s or with the -7-+ this ste* ta(es
awhile either wa%"
Your co'*uter 'a% re$oot itself durin& this installation *rocess" /ust let it do its
thin&+ and all will $e well"
G!
After all of the files are co*ied+ the next screen %ou see is called S4ostna'e and
-o'ain 3a'e"S You do not need to worr% a$out what an% of this is" In 'ost cases+
%ou can leave ever%thin& as it is and clic( 3E6T)
You are ta(en to the next screen+ called S#assword for the S%ste' Ad'inistrator
'root'"S The root user is the onl% user that can 'a(e s%ste' chan&es+ such as
installin& software" It is the account of the s%ste' ad'inistrator" You will need to
co'e u* with a reall% &ood *assword here+ and then (ee* it hidden awa% in a safe
*lace so that no one can find it"
If so'eone does find it+ the% 'a% $e a$le to lo& into %our s%ste' as the root user"
The% can then do whatever the% want to %our co'*uter" We don't want that to
ha**en" To avoid such *ro$le's+ (ee* this *assword hidden and safe"
We will tal( 'ore a$out users in a later cha*ter"
G
Go ahead and *ic( a *assword for %our root user" Enter that *assword here in the
to* $ox+ and then a&ain in the $otto' $ox+ for verification" When %ou are read%+
clic( 3E6T)
G<
GD
You are then ta(en to the S3etwor( 2onfi&urationS screen" /ust li(e with 'ost
other screens in the installation *rocess+ %ou can Cust clic( 3E6T)
G9
The installer saves %our networ( confi&uration" It then ta(es %ou to the next
screen+ called STest Internet 2onnection"S This ste* will 'a(e sure %ou have a
wor(in& Internet connection" If %ou are connected to the Internet+ %ou 'i&ht as well
verif% that the connection is wor(in&" If %ou don't want to do this or do not have an
Internet connection+ %ou can s(i* the test" If %ou wish to s(i* the test+ select Q3o+
S(i* This Test+R and clic( the 3E6T $utton" It will ta(e %ou to the QUser
Authentication MethodR screen+ further $elow"
That all said+ I would li(e to show %ou what the test loo(s li(e"
Ma(e sure the SYes+ Test 2onnection to the InternetS radio $utton is selected"
Then we are &oin& to select 3E6T)
G>
You are ta(en to the next screen+ called SRunnin& Internet 2onnection Test"S In
the 'iddle of this screen+ there is a TEST STATUS $ox" In this $ox+ there is a
RESULT $ox" After the test has co'*leted+ this $ox will either tell %ou that the test
was successful+ or that it was not successful" 0ur test *assed+ so we are &oin& to
clic( 3E6T)
G=
The next screen is called S0nline U*date 2onfi&uration"S This is where we tell
the s%ste' that we want to 'a(e sure we &et securit% *atches when the% are
availa$le" We are &oin& to select the S2onfi&ure 3ow IReco''endedJS o*tion"
2lic( 3E6T)
GG
The s%ste' chec(s for availa$le u*date servers" If such a server is found+ it will
$e added to the confi&uration" 2lic( 05)
GA
You will then $e as(ed if %ou want to run an online u*date" Select QRun U*dateR
and clic( 3E6T)
G@
You are ta(en to the u*date screen" 0nce %ou &et here+ Cust clic( A22E#T)
A!
You s%ste' then retrieves the availa$le *atches and installs the'" When it is
finished+ Cust clic( 3E6T)
A
The next screen is called SUser Authentication Method"S We are not &oin& to
fiddle with an%thin& on this screen" You (now what to do" 2lic( 3E6T)
A<
This next screen that %ou see is called S3ew Local User"S This is where %ou will
add %our own user account" .or nor'al usa&e+ %ou should never lo& in with the root
s%ste' ad'inistrator account" It is hi&hl% reco''ended that %ou lo& in with %our
own *ersonal account" The *ersonal account $elon&s to %ou" This is the account that
we are definin& here" .ill out the *a&e" Then clic( 3E6T)
AD
A9
You are ta(en to another screen+ called SWritin& the s%ste' confi&uration"S You
don't need to do an%thin& here" /ust watch as it &oes throu&h+ u*datin& the s%ste'
confi&uration for each thin&" When it is finished+ it will &o to the next screen+ called
SRelease 3otesS a**ears" A&ain+ clic( 3E6T)
A>
The final ste* is that the s%ste' detects so'e of the hardware in %our co'*uter"
The hardware that it is detectin& are thin&s li(e %our &ra*hics card+ an% *rinters that
%ou have connected to the co'*uter+ %our sound+ T7 cards+ and $luetooth devices"
A&ain+ for the 'ost *art+ %ou don't need to worr% a$out chan&in& an%thin& on this
screen" Most of the ti'e+ %ou will Cust $e a$le to clic( 3E6T)
A=
After a 'o'ent+ %ou &et to the final screen of the installation+ called SInstallation
2o'*leted"S 0n this screen+ clic( .I3IS4)
AG
After a 'inute or so+ %ou 'a% see so'e text scrollin& u* the screen" This is
followed $% a $lue screen with the icon of a liHard" This has a $all rotatin& around it"
A few seconds later+ %ou are lo&&ed into %our des(to*)
There will $e a screen o*en when %ou lo& in" It will have a section called SGet
Your .ree 3ovell Linux 3ewsletterKS I reco''end si&nin& u* for the newsletters
relatin& to Linux" The% contain insider ti*s and tric(s written $% other Linux users"
This is hi&h?Fualit% infor'ation+ and is totall% free" There is a lin( in the window on
%our screen that ta(es %ou to 3ovell's we$site"
In the *a&e that co'es u*+ find the S2ool SolutionsS section" 2lic( on the
su$scri*tion lin(" I hi&hl% su&&est si&nin& u* for this" These newsletters &ive %ou
ti*s+ tric(s+ and other &reat content that will teach %ou how to $etter use %our new
SUSE Linux o*eratin& s%ste'"
AA
0nce %ou have si&ned u* for these newsletters+ %ou can close all o*en windows
on %our des(to*"
Introduction to !sers and Groups
#erha*s the $i&&est reason that Linux is so secure is $ecause of the wa% it
controls access to *arts of the s%ste'" This is done throu&h a s%ste' of users and
&rou*s" A user is si'*l% so'eone who lo&s into the s%ste'" Grou*s are Cust that)
&rou*s of users" Linux can allow access to thin&s in the s%ste' accordin& what user
account %ou are lo&&ed in with" Also+ it can allow &rou*s of users access to other
thin&s"
.or exa'*le+ let's sa% I have a file called schedule.txt that I (ee* an
e'*lo%ee schedule in" This file can $e o*ened and chan&ed onl% $% 'e" This is
true $ecause '% account owns the file" Linux (nows that I a' the owner and &ives
'e access to $oth o*en and chan&e the file"
4owever+ I a' also in a &rou* called users" An%one else who is in this &rou*
can read the file+ $ut the% cannot chan&e it" This 'eans that all of the other
e'*lo%ees can see when their schedule is+ $ut the% cannot chan&e it" The% can as(
'e to chan&e it"
In this wa%+ Linux (ee*s a ver% close e%e on who has access to what" Most users
have their own files and can 'ana&e the' with ease"
Most i'*ortantl%+ there is one user account that has access to ever%thin& in the
s%ste'" This is %our root user" We set u* a *assword for this account when we were
installin& the o*eratin& s%ste'" This user account can install *ro&ra's+ chan&e
s%ste' settin&s+ and can do other ad'inistrative tas(s" 1ecause of the access level of
this user+ it is i'*ortant to use this account as s*arin&l% as *ossi$le"
In other words+ whenever *ossi$le+ use %our re&ular user account" .ar too 'an%
*eo*le Cust lo& in as their root account and use that for da%?to?da% use" This is
A@
dan&erous for the securit% of %our s%ste'+ not reco''ended+ and ver% hi&hl%
frowned u*on" /ust use %our re&ular user account for nor'al s%ste' usa&e"
Get to $now %our &esktop
When %ou $oot into Linux the first ti'e+ %ou are &reeted $% a nice+ clean des(to*
environ'ent with a neat cha'eleon liHard set as %our wall*a*er" It feels *rett% &reat
to have reached this 'ilestone" You have %our own co*% of Linux+ and %ou have
installed it successfull%" 1ut now what do %ou doE As nice as it loo(s+ its &reatness
does not lie in its a**earance" 4ow do we $eco'e *roductive in this new
environ'ent as Fuic(l% as *ossi$leE Let's ta(e a loo( around and see what 5-E is
and what it does"
$hat is %D&'
The 5 -es(to* Environ'ent+ or 5-E+ is an environ'ent for %our des(to*" Its
'ain res*onsi$ilit% is to 'ana&e what %our windows do and what the% loo( li(e" It
*rovides %ou with a shortcut $ar called the 5ic(er *anel" It &ives %ou several
different des(to*s to wor( on" It 'a(es sure %our fonts loo( ri&ht" It *rovides %ou
with a 'enu that %ou can use to run a**lications" This 'enu is li(e the s%ste' 'enu
on Windows" 5-E &ives %ou a**lications li(e 5onFueror+ a feature?rich %et si'*le
wa% to $rowse around %our s%ste' and 'ana&e files" 5onFueror also acts as a we$
$rowser"
We will loo( at 'ore of 5-E in a $it"
@!
Ri&ht now+ let's ta(e a 'inute to outline the different *arts of %our des(to*)
Let's ta(e a loo( at each *art of the des(to*"
(he % Menu
The 5 Menu is where 'ost a**lications can $e found" This 'enu is divided u*
into different sections" This is so %ou will have an idea of where an a**lication can
$e found" .or exa'*le+ if %ou wanted to run %our 0*en0ffice word *rocessor+ %ou
*ro$a$l% would not loo( in the GAMES 'enu" The a**lications are or&aniHed into
these sections so %ou can find and run %our *ro&ra's Fuic(l%" The conce*t of the 5
Menu should $e Fuite fa'iliar to %ou" 1rowse throu&h the various su$'enus and &et
a feel for what a**lications there are and where the% can $e found" That will $e the
$est wa% to learn what *ro&ra' is where"
@
I 'entioned earlier that this 'enu has a search feature" Let's chec( this out reall%
Fuic(l%" 2lic( on %our 5 Menu" Then *ress the ',' Iforward slashJ (e%" It's the one
that also has the Fuestion 'ar( on it" You see that the search $ox now has a flashin&
cursor in it)
@<
We will search for the .irefox we$ $rowser" In this $ox+ t%*e the first four letters
of .irefox)
You see that as %ou t%*e+ 'an% of the 'enu o*tions start to $eco'e inactive"
This Cust 'eans that there are ite's found in the active ones that 'atch what %ou are
t%*in&" When %ou have t%*ed in Qfire+R %ou will see that ever%thin& has $eco'e
&ra%ed out exce*t for the I3TER3ET o*tion"
Go ahead and clic( on the I3TER3ET o*tion" You will see that another su$
'enu *o*s out+ showin& active and inactive o*tions" 0ne of the active ones should
$e .irefox"
After usin& this search 'echanis' a cou*le of ti'es+ it will $eco'e second
nature to %ou" Usin& this search tool+ %ou can ver% Fuic(l% deter'ine where a 'enu
o*tion is if %ou re'e'$er what it is called" This is one of the thin&s that &reatl%
si'*lifies learnin& Linux"
@D
(he %icker Panel
You will see at the $otto' of %our screen a *anel that will loo( fa'iliar" It is a
*lace where %our runnin& tas(s a**ear" This *anel can $e used for *lacin&
a**lication launchers" These are $uttons or shortcuts that reside in the 5ic(er #anel
and will &enerall% run a *ro&ra' when %ou clic( on the'"
You will also see the s%ste' tra% and s%ste' cloc( in this *anel" 0nce %ou
$eco'e accusto'ed to its ca*a$ilities+ the 5ic(er #anel is Fuite a *owerful tool"
Later in this $oo(+ we will loo( 'ore at how to use the 5ic(er #anel"
(he %D& Control Center
Wouldn't it $e nice if 5-E had so'e central location where %ou could set all of
%our *ersonal *referencesE It Cust so ha**ens that there is such a *lace" You can set
*references for how %our des(to* loo(s+ how %our windows loo(+ and how the
$uttons on the windows loo(" You can tell 5-E what icon sets %ou want+ what
cursor the'e to use+ how %ou want %our (e%$oard to act+ and how %ou want %our
'ouse to $ehave+ to na'e a few" There are 'an% additional settin&s that %ou can
adCust to %our li(in&"
This is another wa% Linux is ver% diverse" If %ou are overwhel'ed at so 'an%
o*tions+ don't $other with the'" Most thin&s are alread% set to act the wa% 'ost
users would *ro$a$l% li(e the'" 3o need to 'ess around with an% of the 5-E
2ontrol 2enter if %ou don't want to"
As a 'atter of fact+ if %ou want to s(i* the entire next section a$out the 2ontrol
2enter+ feel free" I &o over it here $ecause it is one of the funda'ental *arts of the 5
-es(to* Environ'ent" That+ and it is one of the easiest *arts of Linux to learn how
to use" Also+ don't worr% a$out 'essin& so'ethin& u* in the 5-E 2ontrol 2enter" It
is hard to cause a 'aCor s%ste' 'alfunction $% settin& so'ethin& wron& there"
@9
As an introduction to the 5-E 2ontrol 2enter+ I would li(e to show %ou how to
do a few thin&s with it" 3one of the' will $e that hard to do" All of the' can $e
done in a few clic(s"
Changing Mouse #eha'ior
0ne of the first thin&s that I li(e to do ri&ht after I have installed Linux is chan&e
the 'ouse $ehavior" 1% default+ 5-E will o*en or execute an icon when %ou clic(
on it one ti'e" I *refer to dou$le?clic( to activate the icons" 2han&in& the $ehavior
of sin&le?clic( to dou$le?clic( is Fuite si'*le" It can $e done ver% easil% in the 5-E
2ontrol 2enter"
To 'a(e this chan&e+ o*en %our 5 Menu+ and clic( on #ERS03AL SETTI3GS)
@>
The 5-E 2ontrol 2enter a**ears" 0n the left+ there will $e a *ane containin&
several ite's" 2lic( on the #ERI#4ERALS ite' in this list)
@=
Another list a**ears" 2lic( on M0USE)
@G
0n the ri&ht side+ %ou will see two $oxes" The one on the to* is called 1UTT03
0R-ER" The one on the $otto' is called I203S" Loo( in the I203S $ox" You
are loo(in& for a radio $utton that sa%s+ S-ou$le?clic( to o*en files and folders
Iselect icons on first clic(J"S Select that radio $utton)
@A
2lic( A##LY in the lower?ri&ht corner of this window to a**l% %our chan&es)
3ow+ %ou can close %our window" The 'ouse *reference has now chan&ed"
Ex*eri'ent with %our des(to* icons to see the new $ehavior"
Changing Ti(e and &ate &ispla) *or(at
Another thin& that I li(e to custo'iHe is how the date and ti'e is dis*la%ed on '%
des(to*" In different *arts of the world+ this infor'ation is dis*la%ed differentl%"
5-E allows %ou to 'odif% the la%out accordin& to %our taste"
@@
To see how this is done+ o*en %our 5 Menu+ and clic( on #ERS03AL
SETTI3GS)
!!
The 5-E 2ontrol 2enter a**ears" 0n the left+ there is a list of ite's" You are
loo(in& for the one called REGI03AL T A22ESSI1ILITY" 2lic( on it)
!
Another list a**ears" .ro' this list+ select 20U3TRY,REGI03 T
LA3GUAGE)
!<
Then+ on the ri&ht side at the to*+ %ou will see a $unch of ta$s" 2lic( on the
TIME T -ATES ta$)
.ro' this location+ %ou can select the ti'e+ date+ and first da% of the wee( as %ou
want" When finished+ $e sure to clic( on A##LY at the $otto' to 'a(e so %our
chan&es ta(e effect"
!D
You will see a window that $asicall% sa%s that %ou need to lo& out of 5-E and
lo& $ac( in for the chan&es to ta(e effect" It is fine to clic( 05 on this window)
Then+ close the 5-E 2ontrol #anel" Lo& out of 5-E and then lo& $ac( in" You
should see that %our cloc( now dis*la%s thin&s accordin& to %our settin&s"
Window The(es
#eo*le li(e to 'a(e thin&s loo( different and fun" 2han&in& the wall*a*er is one
wa% to do this" Another wa% is to chan&e how the windows loo(" We can even
custo'iHe the $uttons+ dro*?down $oxes+ and si'ilar thin&s that are inside the
windows" All of this is ver% si'*le to do in the 5-E 2ontrol 2enter" I would li(e to
de'onstrate how to chan&e the a**earance of the windows"
!9
0*en %our 5 Menu+ and clic( on #ERS03AL SETTI3GS)
!>
The 5-E 2ontrol 2enter a**ears" 0n the left+ there is a list of ite's" This ti'e+
%ou are loo(in& for the A##EARA32E T T4EMES o*tion)
!=
After selectin& this o*tion+ %ou will see another list a**ear in the sa'e *ane"
Loo( for the o*tion called STYLE)
1efore continuin&+ I thin( it would $e hel*ful to &o over so'e 'ore ter'inolo&%"
0n %our windows+ %ou have a variet% of $uttons+ dro*?down $oxes+ lists+ 'enus+
ta$s+ chec(?$oxes+ *ro&ress $ars+ and thin&s of this nature" In Linux+ when referrin&
to these thin&s+ the% are 'ost co''onl% referred to as Swid&ets"S
Thus+ in this window+ %ou will see a $ox called WI-GET STYLE" This is a short
wa% of sa%in&+ SWhat do %ou want %our dro*?down $oxes+ lists+ 'enus+ ta$s+ chec(?
$oxes+ *ro&ress $ars+ etc"+ to loo( li(eES We are &oin& to ta(e a loo( at so'e choices
here"
The 'wid&ets' dis*la%ed in the #RE7IEW $ox are fa(e" When %ou clic( on the'
the% don't do an%thin&" The% are 'erel% here so that %ou can see what the different
wid&et st%les loo( li(e"
!G
-irectl% under the WI-GET STYLE title+ there is a dro*?down $ox" This is
where %ou will *ic( the different st%les" Go throu&h this list+ *ic(in& each of the
st%les+ and watch the wid&ets on this screen chan&e to *review each st%le)
.ind a wid&et st%le that %ou li(e II *ersonall% use #LASTI5J" To save and a**l%
%our settin&s+ clic( the A##LY $utton in the lower ri&ht corner of %our window+ $ut
do not close it" We still need to chan&e the window $order st%le"
!A
In the left *ane of this window+ clic( WI3-0W -E20RATI03S" At the to*+
on the ri&ht side+ %ou will see a dro*?down $ox)
!@
'Use this to chec( out the different window st%les" The fa(e windows in the
$otto' of this screen will show %ou how the window $orders loo( with each the'e)
When %ou find one %ou li(e+ clic( A##LY in the lower ri&ht to save %our
settin&s"
There are a whole $unch of fun and hel*ful settin&s li(e this in the 5-E 2ontrol
2enter that allow %ou to fine?tune %our *references" This is one of the reasons that I
*refer 5-E" If %ou want to chan&e thin&s+ %ou are free to do so" It reall% is a ver%
nice+ well?develo*ed des(to* environ'ent" I su&&est loo(in& throu&h each of the
co'*onents and *references of the 5-E 2ontrol 2enter to hel* fa'iliariHe %ourself
with where thin&s are located"
!
Desktop Preferences
Another as*ect of 5-E that 'an% *eo*le li(e to custo'iHe is the des(to* itself"
.irst and fore'ost+ *eo*le &enerall% li(e to set the wall*a*er to show their favorite
*icture" Let's ta(e a 'inute and see how to do this in 5-E"
.irst of all+ %ou will want to have a &ra*hic to set as %our wall*a*er" There are
'an% we$ sites that %ou can &o to for that *erfect *icture for %our wall*a*er"
1rowse around and find one that %ou li(e" -ownload it to a location that %ou will
re'e'$er later"
3ow+ let's set that *icture as the 5-E wall*a*er"
.ind an e'*t% s*ace on %our des(to* and ri&ht?clic(" A s'all 'enu will a**ear"
2lic( on 203.IGURE -ES5T0#)
In the window that co'es u*+ *ic( 1A25GR0U3- fro' the o*tions on the left"
0n the ri&ht side+ there is a $ox la$eled 1A25GR0U3-" Inside that $ox+ there is a
radio $utton called #I2TURE" Ma(e sure this radio $utton is selected)
<
To the ri&ht of the radio $utton+ there is a dro*?down $ox" To the ri&ht of that+
there is a 1R0WSE $utton with a folder icon in it" 2lic( on that $utton)
A new window a**ears as(in& %ou to find the &ra*hic file %ou want to set as %our
wall*a*er" 1rowse to the folder containin& %our i'a&e" Select the i'a&e and clic(
05)
D
9
1ac( at %our des(to* *references window+ %ou will see a *review of the i'a&e)
A$out halfwa% down the window+ %ou will see an 0#TI03S $ox" In this section
of the window+ %ou will see a dro*?down $ox called #0SITI03" In this dro*?down
$ox+ 'ost of the ti'e %ou will select S2ALE-)
>
This Cust 'eans that 5-E will resiHe the i'a&e to fit on %our des(to*" .eel free
to ex*eri'ent and set the *references accordin& to what %ou li(e"
When %ou are satisfied with the settin&s+ clic( 05 to a**l% the'" Your des(to*
will u*date to reflect the chan&es %ou have Cust 'ade"
%on)ueror* filesystem and we# #rowser
0ne of the 'ost i'*ortant as*ects of an o*eratin& s%ste' is $ein& a$le to $rowse
throu&h the files and directories in %our s%ste'" Another necessar% feature of an
o*eratin& s%ste' is $ein& a$le to $rowse the Internet" As it would turn out+ 5-E
offers so'ethin& that does $oth of these" This 'a&nificent tool is called 5onFueror"
4ere is a Fuic( ti* that will 'a(e %our Linux ex*erience a tad nicer) fa'iliariHe
%ourself with 5onFueror" In this section+ we will atte'*t to hel* %ou &et started
doin& Cust that"
#rowsing through )our files
Loo( down in %our 5ic(er #anel Ithe $ar across the $otto' of the screenJ" You
should see an icon of a house" 2lic( on this icon once" It will o*en a 5onFueror
window" This window will $e dis*la%in& %our *ersonal files" Usin& this files%ste'
$rowser should $e a fairl% si'*le tas(" 5onFueror is Fuite intuitive" So'e of the
'ost useful $uttons on the tool$ar and descri*tions of what the% do are as follows)
Enlar&e icons)
=
This $utton will 'a(e the icons $i&&er"
Shrin( icons)
This $utton will 'a(e the icons s'aller"
To the ri&ht of these two $uttons are two 'ore" 0ne is the 'Icon 7iew' $utton)
You can see that it has a s'all $lac( trian&le in the lower ri&ht corner" If %ou
clic( and hold the 'ouse $utton down on this little trian&le+ a 'enu a**ears" This
'enu &ives %ou a few 'ore wa%s that %ou can dis*la% %our icons"
3ext to the 'Icon 7iew' $utton is the '-etailed List 7iew' $utton)
G
It also has a s'all $lac( trian&le in the lower ri&ht corner" A&ain+ clic( and hold
the 'ouse $utton to see a s'all 'enu a**ear" This 'enu also &ives %ou additional
wa%s to dis*la% %our icons"
A$ove these tool$ar $uttons are several 'enus" I hi&hl% reco''end loo(in&
throu&h each of these 'enus" There are so'e ver% nice features in the'+ such as the
a$ilit% to search for a file" To *erfor' this search+ clic( on the T00LS 'enu+ and
then .I3- .ILE" Ri&ht in the 5onFueror window+ a search $ox a**ears" .ill out the
o*tions of %our search" 2lic( .I3- in the u**er?ri&ht corner to execute the search" I
have located 'an% files $% usin& this tool that I thou&ht were lost"
Another reall% nice feature of 5onFueror is its a$ilit% to s*lit the dis*la% into
'ulti*le *anes" To do this+ clic( on the WI3-0W 'enu" Then+ select S#LIT
7IEW T0#,10TT0M Ior LE.T,RIG4TJ" Your window will s*lit" You can
$rowse to co'*letel% different *laces in each window"
This is *articularl% useful when %ou want to co*% files fro' one *lace to another"
You si'*l% $rowse to where the files are located in the one *ane" In the other *ane+
%ou $rowse to where %ou want the' to $e" Then+ %ou dra& the files fro' the one
*ane to the other" Si'*le as that" What's 'ore+ %ou can s*lit the window into as
'an% *anes as %ou need" I have used six at a ti'e+ $eforeK
As a web browser
5onFueror+ with all the a'aHin& thin&s it does+ also wor(s ver% well as a we$
$rowser" U* in the L02ATI03 $ar+ %ou *ut in the address of the we$site %ou wish
A
to &o to" It should $e fairl% intuitive to use 5onFueror's we$ $rowsin& ca*a$ilities"
It will have .0RWAR- and 1A25 $uttons+ a 40ME $utton" You can add+
re'ove+ and edit %our $oo('ar(s+ as well"
#eriodicall%+ %ou 'a% &et a notification fro' 5onFueror a$out whatever *a&e
%ou are viewin&" /ust read the notification carefull% and answer the Fuestion"
2oo(ie notifications are the 'ost co''on at first" 2oo(ies are files that we$sites
leave on %our co'*uter that (ee* trac( of s'all $its of infor'ation" Thus+ I would
onl% allow coo(ies on sites that I trust"
5onFueror *erfor's ver% well as a we$ $rowser" If %ou would li(e to adCust %our
*references+ %ou can &o into the SETTI3GS 'enu+ and select 203.IGURE
5038UER0R" You are *ro$a$l% safe leavin& ever%thin& how it is+ $ut if %ou want
to learn a$out how 5onFueror wor(s+ &o in and loo( at the 'enus" See what thin&s
do"
%icker Panel
The 5ic(er #anel is the $ar that &oes across the $otto' of %our screen" To its far
left+ there is the 5 Menu" To the ri&ht of the 5 Menu+ there are other launcher
$uttons for runnin& assorted *ro&ra's" This is an ideal location to *ut launcher
$uttons for the *ro&ra's that %ou use 'ost freFuentl%" -oin& this is a sna*"
Let's loo( at a de'onstration of how to do this" There is a &reat text editor
*ro&ra' called 5ate" You will find it to $e feature?rich and ver% useful" Let's add
the 5ate a**lication launcher to the 5ic(er #anel"
@
<!
0*en u* the 5 Menu" Select the UTILITIES su$'enu)
Ri&ht?clic( on E-IT0R Ithis is 5ateJ+ and %ou will see another little 'enu
a**ear" /ust clic( on A-- ITEM T0 MAI3 #A3EL)
<
You will see the 5ATE icon a**ear in %our 5ic(er #anel)
Initiall%+ it a**ears over on the ri&ht side" 4owever+ if %ou li(e+ %ou can 'iddle?
clic( and dra& it to another location on the 5ic(er #anel"
In this wa%+ %ou can ver% easil% *ut launcher $uttons on %our 5ic(er #anel for all
of the a**lications that %ou 'ost freFuentl% use"
Installing Applications
3ow that we have ta(en a few 'o'ents to &et used to the 5 -es(to*
Environ'ent+ let's run throu&h how to install software" With Windows+ %ou usuall%
have so'e (ind of installer" This can $e so'ethin& that %ou have downloaded" It
can also $e so'ethin& that %ou $ou&ht on a 2-?R0M or a -7-" Generall%+ %ou
clic( on the installer to $e&in installation of the software" This often ta(es %ou
throu&h so'e (ind of installation wiHard to finish installin& the software"
As I 'entioned $efore+ installin& software on Linux is Fuite different than
installin& software on Windows" In SUSE Linux+ %ou have a convenient tool called
YAST" This tool is what %ou use to install %our software" Let's ta(e a loo( at how to
use this tool to install software in SUSE Linux"
<<
.irst+ let's o*en the 5 Menu" 2lic( on the SYSTEM su$'enu)
<D
To launch YAST+ we will clic( on the icon that loo(s li(e a &reen $all with a
*icture of a wrench in front of it)
<9
After clic(in& on this icon+ a window will a**ear+ as(in& for %our root *assword"
This is the i'*ortant s%ste' ad'inistrator *assword" Go ahead and t%*e this in"
When %ou are done+ clic( 05)
Another window should a**ear" 2lic( on S0.TWARE in the left *ane+ and
S0.TWARE MA3AGEME3T in the ri&ht *ane)
<>
After a few 'o'ents+ another window will a**ear" This is where %ou will install
and uninstall software" Let's install a *ro&ra' that %ou can *la% %our M#Ds with"
This *ro&ra' is called 'x''s'" So+ in the search $ox in the u**er?left corner of the
window+ t%*e in 'x''s' and clic( SEAR24)
<=
After a second or two+ a list of search results a**ear in the *ane over at the ri&ht
side of the window)
These search results are the different software a**lications %ou can install" In the
Linux world+ these a**lications are 'ore co''onl% referred to as '*ac(a&es"' When
we did our search for 'x''s'+ a list of *ac(a&es a**eared in the ri&ht side of %our
window"
Let's loo( at the *ane over on the ri&ht for a 'inute" I would li(e to ex*lain so'e
of the i'*ortant *arts of it" In that window+ there are several colu'ns+ 'ost of
which have na'es+ exce*t for the first one" That colu'n doesn't have a na'e" This
colu'n usuall% has so'e (ind of visual icon that tells %ou whether the *ac(a&e is
installed or not" It can also tell %ou whether %ou have 'ar(ed it for re'oval or
installation"
If it is not installed+ it will loo( li(e a little e'*t% sFuare $ox)
<G
If it is alread% installed+ it will $e the sa'e $ox with a $lue chec('ar( in it)
If it is &oin& to $e re'oved+ it will loo( li(e a little &ar$a&e can)
If %ou are &oin& to install it+ it will loo( li(e the $ox with a $lac( chec('ar( in it)
If it is loc(ed+ it will have a little *icture of a loc( next to it)
At this *oint+ the 'x''s' *ac(a&e in the ri&ht *ane should have either a $lue or a
$lac( chec('ar( next to it" To install the 'x''s' *ac(a&e+ Cust clic( on A22E#T in
the lower?ri&ht corner of the window)
YAST 'a% *o* u* another window with so'e other thin&s it needs to install
$efore it can install x''s" If it does+ it is o( to clic( on 203TI3UE" YAST will
<A
then $e&in installin& the *ac(a&es" As it does this+ it 'a% as( %ou to insert various
2-s" Insert the 2-s it as(s for" When it is all done+ it will as( %ou if %ou need to
install an% other software" Usuall%+ %ou will Cust clic( 30+ here" When %ou do+ the
YAST window disa**ears"
That is how %ou install software in SUSE Linux" After %ou do it a few ti'es+ it
will $eco'e second nature to %ou" Until then+ Cust *o* o*en this $oo( and follow
these ste*s for whatever *ac(a&es %ou need to install"
Applications
At this *oint+ we have ex*lored 5-E+ our des(to* environ'ent" We have also
&one throu&h the *rocess of installin& software" 3ext+ let's &o throu&h so'e of the
$est software availa$le for the 'ost co''on tas(s" We will loo( at word *rocessin&
and s*readsheet software" I will also show %ou so'e of the 'ost co''on software
for chec(in& e'ail and $rowsin& the Internet"
OpenOffice
Man% *eo*le have $eco'e accusto'ed to Microsoft 0ffice" This is a collection
of a**lications that *rovide users with tools li(e word *rocessin&+ s*readsheets+
data$ases+ and e'ail" This software is ver% ex*ensive+ costin& several hundred
dollars *er license" 0n Linux+ there is an eFuivalent suite of a**lications called
0*en0ffice" It is ver% co'*ara$le to 0ffice in what it offers" Man% *eo*le even sa%
that once the% &et used to 0*en0ffice+ the% *refer it to Microsoft 0ffice"
It is '% *ur*ose to &ive a $rief introduction to 0*en0ffice here" -ue to the de*th
of the su$Cect+ it would $e i'*ossi$le for 'e to cover ever%thin& a$out this
a**lication suite in this $oo(" That said+ I will *rovide %ou with *lent% of resources
that %ou can use to learn 'ore a$out 0*en0ffice"
As an exercise+ let's 'a(e sure that we have 0*en0ffice installed" Usin& the
instructions *rovided in the *revious section+ 'Installin& A**lications'+ search for the
<@
'o*enoffice' *ac(a&e" If it has a $lue chec('ar( next to it+ %our s%ste' alread% has
0*en0ffice installed" You can close this window" 4owever+ if it Cust has a $lan(
$ox next to it+ clic( on that $ox to *ut a $lac( chec('ar( in it" You have now
'ar(ed that *ac(a&e for installation" To co'*lete the installation+ clic( A22E#T in
the lower ri&ht corner of this window"
3ext+ let's run 0*en0ffice and learn a little $it of how to use it" .irst+ let's o*en
Writer+ the word *rocessin& *art of 0*en0ffice"
+pen+ffice Writer
To start this a**lication+ o*en the 5 Menu+ and select the 0..I2E su$'enu"
Then+ clic( on the W0R- #R02ESS0R icon to o*en WRITER)
D!
You will see 0*en0ffice start u*+ and then %ou will $e ta(en to Writer+ with a
$lan( word *rocessin& docu'ent o*en)
You will see that there are 'an% for'attin& tools in the tool$ar that should see'
ver% fa'iliar" So'e of these include the a$ilit% to *ic( a font and font siHe+ and
'a(e %our words $old+ underlined+ or italics" You will see $uttons for left+ 'iddle+
and ri&ht ali&n'ent" There are also tools for creatin& $ulleted lists and nu'$ered
lists" 3ext to these are $uttons for 'ana&in& the indentation of %our text" All of this
will feel ver% fa'iliar to %ou if %ou co'e fro' usin& MS 0ffice"
A$ove these $uttons+ there are others which will also $e intuitivel% eas% for %ou
to use" Startin& at the left+ %ou have $uttons for startin& a new docu'ent+ o*enin& a
docu'ent+ and even sendin& the current docu'ent as an e'ail" 3ext to these+ %ou
see a $utton for ex*ortin& the current docu'ent as a #-. file" Were %ou usin&
Windows+ %ou would *a% lots of 'one% for the a$ilit% to do this" #-. files are &reat
for *ac(a&in& lar&e docu'ents for ease of trans*ort" This ver% $oo( which %ou are
D
readin& is a #-.+ and was written entirel% in 0*en0ffice" You don't have to *a% a
di'e for the a$ilit% to 'a(e #-. files" 3ot onl% that+ it co'es $uilt ri&ht into
0*en0fficeK
2ontinuin& across the tool$ar+ %ou will see *rintin& and *rint *review $uttons+
s*ellchec( $uttons+ and cut,co*%,*aste $uttons" There are also so'e undo,redo
$uttons for when %ou need the'" All of this will *ro$a$l% see' fa'iliar to %ou"
To learn 'ore a$out 0*en0ffice+ I would reco''end &oin& throu&h the 'enus"
Loo( at each of the o*tions" See what thin&s do" Read a$out the'" If %ou would
li(e to view the 'anual for 0*en0ffice+ *ress ." The 'anual is well?written+ clear+
and eas% to follow" S*end a while learnin& a$out the 'an% excellent features of
0*en0ffice Writer"
+pen+ffice Calc
The next $it of the 0*en0ffice suite I would li(e to ta(e %ou throu&h is called
2alc" This is the s*readsheet a**lication" Let's start it u*" 0*en the 5 Menu+ and
select the 0..I2E su$'enu" Then+ clic( on the S#REA-S4EET icon to o*en
2AL2)
D<
0*en0ffice will start u*+ and %ou will $e ta(en to 2alc+ with a $lan( s*readsheet
o*en)
You will see all of the fa'iliar for'attin& $uttons on the tool$ar" Most all of the
ones we saw in Writer are also here in 2alc"
In 'an% of %our s*readsheets+ %ou will *ro$a$l% $e usin& nu'$ers" There are
different wa%s to dis*la% nu'$ers in 0*en0ffice 2alc" .or exa'*le+ we have
currenc%+ *ercenta&es+ and deci'al *oint values" In the tool$ar+ there are $uttons
that allow %ou to a**l% the different nu'$er for'ats to the selected cell"
T%*e a nu'$er into a cell" Then clic( on the 2URRE32Y icon)
DD
3ow+ clic( on the #ER2E3T icon)
Then the STA3-AR- icon)
And the A-- -E2IMAL icon)
And finall%+ the -ELETE -E2IMAL icon)
3otice how the nu'$er chan&es for each for'at that is selected"
0*en0ffice 2alc also has the a$ilit% to handle co'*lex for'ulas" 4ere+ I would
li(e to de'onstrate how a si'*le for'ula 'a% $e used" In cell A+ *ut in the
nu'$er A" In A<+ *ut D" In AD+ t%*e in @" In A9 *ut 'NSUMIA)ADJ' without the
D9
Fuotes" This is a si'*le for'ula that adds u* the a'ount re*resented in a ran&e of
cells" You will see that the total is then dis*la%ed in cell A9"
If %ou want to learn 'ore a$out 0*en0ffice 2alc+ %ou can $rin& u* the 'anual
$% *ressin& ." It is clear+ concise+ and eas% to follow" Stud% it" You will &raduall%
learn ever%thin& %ou need as %ou ta(e it a ste* at a ti'e"
(hunder#ird
0ne of the 'ost co''on thin&s *eo*le do on their co'*uter is chec( their e'ail"
.ortunatel%+ there are a lot of e'ail software a**lications availa$le for Linux" .or
the sa(e of si'*licit%+ I will onl% discuss Thunder$ird"
This *ro&ra' is one of the 'ost widel%?used e'ail a**lications on the Linux
*latfor'" It has $een '% ex*erience that Thunder$ird will do ever%thin& that %ou
will li(el% need out of an e'ail *ro&ra'"
Let's 'a(e sure it is installed on %our co'*uter" To do this+ there are onl% two
hints that I will &ive %ou here" The first one is that I have alread% ex*lained how to
install software" You 'a% wish to consult those instructions" Secondl%+ the na'e of
the *ac(a&e %ou will $e installin& is called SMoHillaThunder$ird"S Let's use this
o**ortunit% as an exercise on installin& software in SUSE" 0nce %ou have the
*ac(a&e installed+ *lease continue $elow"
There are thousands of different t%*es of e'ail servers and account
confi&urations" 1ecause of this+ it would $e difficult for 'e to ex*lain how to set u*
ever% one of the'" Thus+ if %ou need hel* settin& u* %our e'ail account in
Thunder$ird+ I would su&&est contactin& %our IS#" /ust as( the' for instructions for
settin& u* %our e'ail account in the Thunder$ird e'ail a**lication" The% will ver%
li(el% (now exactl% what %ou need and can refer %ou to so'e instructions s*ecific to
their e'ail service"
D>
etting up )our e(ail account
That in 'ind+ I will show the 'ost co''on wa% to set u* an e'ail account in
Thunder$ird"
.irst+ let's run Thunder$ird" 0*en %our 5 Menu+ and clic( on the I3TER3ET
su$'enu" Then clic( on the EMAIL su$'enu" .inall%+ run T4U3-ER1IR-)
If this is the first ti'e %ou are runnin& Thunder$ird+ %ou 'a% see a window
as(in& %ou if %ou want to i'*ort various thin&s" /ust select the S-on't i'*ort
an%thin&S radio $utton+ and clic( 3E6T)
D=
Thunder$ird then ta(es %ou to the 'ain window+ and *resents %ou with the
Account WiHard" This is to hel* %ou set u* %our e'ail account" Ma(e sure the
SE'ail accountS radio $utton is selected here+ then clic( 3E6T)
DG
DA
You are then ta(en to a window where %ou are as(ed for %our na'e and e'ail
address" Go ahead and t%*e these in+ then clic( 3E6T)
D@
You are then as(ed what (ind of inco'in& e'ail server %ou have" This is where
%ou 'a% need s*ecific instructions fro' %our e'ail service *rovider" .or our
*ur*oses+ we are &oin& to sa% that we have a #0# server"
Leave the SUse Glo$al In$ox Istore 'ail in Local .oldersJS $ox chec(ed"
We are also &oin& to *ut in the na'e of the out&oin& 'ail server"
9!
When %ou are done with all of these ste*s+ clic( 3E6T)
9
0n the next screen+ t%*e in %our e'ail userna'e+ and clic( 3E6T)
9<
The next screen Cust as(s %ou what %ou want to call this account" It does not
'atter what %ou *ut here+ it is for %our reference onl%" When finished+ clic( 3E6T)
9D
The final screen allows %ou to verif% all of %our settin&s" It also has a chec($ox
la$eled S-ownload 'essa&es now"S If %ou wish to do this+ leave it chec(ed" When
%ou are done+ clic( .I3IS4)
You 'a% then see a s'all $ox that sa%s+ S-o %ou want to use Thunder$ird as the
default 'ail a**licationES 2hec( the $ox that sa%s S-o not dis*la% this dialo&
a&ainS" Then+ clic( YES"
99
Thunder$ird then $e&ins downloadin& the e'ail fro' %our 'ail server"
The first ti'e it does this+ it will *ro'*t %ou for %our e'ail *assword" T%*e it in"
2hec( the $ox that sa%s+ SUse #assword Mana&er to re'e'$er this *assword+S and
then clic( 05)
Another alert 'a% a**ear+ Cust clic( 05)
Thunder$ird will then download all of the e'ail 'essa&es availa$le on the server"
A&ain+ $ecause of the 'an% wa%s there are to set u* e'ail accounts+ these
instructions 'a% not wor( for %ou" If the% don't+ that is *erfectl% o(" -on't worr% a
$it" All %ou need to do is &ive %our Internet Service #rovider a call and as( the'
9>
how to set u* %our e'ail to wor( with Thunder$ird" In 'ost cases+ the% will $e a$le
to hel* %ou"
ending and recei'ing e(ail
We now have Thunder$ird installed" The e'ail is also set u*" 3ext+ let's loo( at
how to send and receive e'ail" These two thin&s are so si'*le I a' co'$inin& the'
into one section"
To send an e'ail+ clic( on the WRITE $utton in the tool$ar)
A new window a**ears where %ou will edit %our e'ail 'essa&e" .ill in who the
e'ail is addressed to+ &ive it a su$Cect+ and t%*e %our 'essa&e" When %ou are done+
clic( SE3-)
9=
That is all there is to itK
Receivin& e'ail is even si'*ler" In the 'ain Thunder$ird window+ Cust clic(
GET MAIL)
And that is it" 7er% eas%+ if %ou as( 'eK
Firefox
In this cha*ter+ we have covered word *rocessin&+ s*readsheets+ and e'ail" To
round out the list+ let's loo( at an industr%?standard we$ $rowser+ .irefox" Second
9G
onl% to Microsoft's Internet Ex*lorer+ .irefox $oasts a hu&e nu'$er of users" This is
*erha*s due to the incredi$le securit% it offers its users" Internet Ex*lorer has
$eco'e (nown for its securit% *ro$le's" It allows s*%ware+ adware+ and other
unwanted a**lications to install the'selves without an% hel* fro' the userK .irefox
does not do this" This is one of the reasons that I would li(e to reco''end it here"
The first thin& to do is 'a(e sure that it is installed usin& the sa'e 'ethod we
have $efore usin& the instructions I *rovided earlier in this $oo(" The *ac(a&e %ou
need to have installed is called SMoHilla.irefox"S You 'a% find that it is alread%
installed"
9A
0nce %ou have it installed+ &o ahead and run it" 0*en the 5 Menu+ and clic( on
the I3TER3ET su$'enu" Then clic( on the WE1 1R0WSER su$'enu+ and clic(
on .IRE.06 to run it)
9@
When .irefox runs+ the 'ain window will a**ear" You will see the address $ar at
the to*" This is where %ou t%*e in the addresses of the we$sites %ou want to &o to)
>!
Additionall%+ %ou can add a we$site to %our $oo('ar(s" To do this+ clic( the
1005MAR5S 'enu at the to* of the window" .ro' the 'enu that a**ears+ select
1005MAR5 T4IS #AGE)
A s'all window will a**ear as(in& what %ou want to call it and where it should
$e *laced" Most of the ti'e+ it is safe to Cust clic( A--)
>
Then+ at an% ti'e+ %ou can retrieve %our $oo('ar(s $% clic(in& on the
1005MAR5S 'enu at the to* of the window" Your $oo('ar(s will then a**ear)
If %ou need additional hel* with .irefox+ %ou can *ress . at an% ti'e" This
$rin&s u* the hel* 'anual for .irefox" As %ou read throu&h the 'anual+ %ou will
learn 'ore a$out how to use the full *otential of the .irefox we$ $rowser"
Re'e'$er that %ou have 'an% *laces that %ou can &o to online for hel*+ as we
discussed earlier"
In this cha*ter+ we have discussed a few of the 'an% &reat a**lications offered $%
SUSE Linux" If %ou want a 'ore co'*rehensive &uide to what software
a**lications are availa$le+ I wrote an article for 3ovell that %ou 'a% find interestin&"
><
It shows the Linux eFuivalents of the different t%*es of software that %ou 'i&ht find
in a Windows environ'ent" Ta(e a 'o'ent and review this list+ located at)
htt*),,www"novell"co',coolsolutions,feature,=A9"ht'l
As %ou read+ %ou will notice that the article was written for 3ovell Linux -es(to*
@" 4owever+ the 'ain difference is that instead of the Q3 MenuR as discussed
throu&hout the article+ %ou are loo(in& for the Q5 Menu+R denoted $% a &reen 'ar$le
icon with a white cha'eleon head in it)
2lic( on this icon in the lower?left corner of %our screen to see %our Q5 Menu"R
0ther than that+ Cust a$out ever%thin& in that article is ver% si'ilar"
o )ou want to use the co((and line?
0ne of the thin&s that 'an% new Linux users fear is the co''and line" It is true
that+ if usin& SUSE Linux as a re&ular des(to* co'*uter+ %ou will never need to
worr% a$out usin& the co''and line" This cha*ter is to de'onstrate that there is
nothin& to $e afraid of" The co''and line is Cust a different wa% of &oin& a$out
doin& thin&s" I will not lie+ it is not Fuite as eas% as the *oint?and?clic( windows that
we are used to" That said+ there is no '%ster% or 'a&ic $ehind it"
I would li(e to ta(e the o**ortunit% here to *rovide an introduction for those who
wish to fa'iliariHe the'selves with this ver% *owerful tool" It is definitel% not as
hard as 'ost *eo*le thin(" Ta(e a dee* $reath+ relax+ and let's ta(e a loo( at so'e of
the 'ost co''on co''ands" We will loo( at how and wh% we would consider
usin& each one"
At this *oint+ I would li(e to run throu&h so'e 'ore ter'inolo&%" The co''and
line is also (nown as the ter'inal or the shell" #eo*le also call it a ter'inal window+
>D
or a shell *ro'*t+ or a co''and *ro'*t" These *rett% 'uch all refer to the sa'e
thin& as the co''and line" It is all reall% Cust different wa%s to sa%+ SThe *lace
where %ou t%*e in co''ands"S An% ti'e %ou hear an% of these+ Cust thin( of that"
The first thin& we will do is show how to o*en a ter'inal window" There should
$e a little icon down in %our 5ic(er #anel that loo(s so'ethin& li(e this)
>9
2lic( on it" You will see a window a**ear loo(in& so'ethin& li(e this)
This is %our ter'inal window+ co''and *ro'*t+ shell+ etc" When we sa% an% of
those thin&s+ this is what we are referrin& to"
3ow that we have it o*en+ what do we do with itE To $e&in with+ when I refer to
'runnin&' a co''and+ this 'eans that we will $e t%*in& so'ethin& at the co''and
*ro'*t" You then *ress the E3TER (e% to execute the co''and" This will $e the
case with all of the co''ands that I discuss here" Let's ta(e a loo( at so'e of the
$asic co''ands that are the 'ost useful"
+iew directory contents with ,ls,
Let's start out $% ta(in& a loo( at the 'ls' co''and" The *ur*ose of this co''and
is to list the files that are in the current director%" At the co''and *ro'*t+ t%*e in
'ls' without the Fuotes" Then *ress the E3TER (e%" You will see a list of files that
are in the current director%" Let's loo( at an exa'*le of how to use this co''and)
user@linux:~> ls
>>
bin Desktop Documents myfile.txt public_html
user@linux:~>
You see that there are a handful of files in this director%"
Make a directory with ,mkdir,
4ow can we create a director%E There is a co''and called ''(dir' that is used for
this" You use this co''and usin& this as a *attern)
mkdir [insert directory name here]
You Cust re*lace the SUinsert director% na'e hereVS with the actual na'e of the
director% %ou are tr%in& to create" 4ere is an exa'*le of how to use this co''and)
user@linux:~> mkdir myfiles
user@linux:~>
This will 'a(e a director% called ''%files'" To see the new director%+ %ou can use
the 'ls' co''and"
Remo-e a directory with ,rmdir,
0nce we have 'ade a director%+ can we re'ove itE Yes" We use the 'r'dir'
co''and" This co''and is si'ilar to the ''(dir' co''and in re&ards to how to use
it)
rmdir [directory you want to remove]
You Cust re*lace the SUdirector% %ou want to re'oveVS with the actual na'e of the
director% %ou want to re'ove" .or exa'*le)
user@linux:~> rmdir myfiles
user@linux:~>
>=
This re'oves the director% called ''%files'" 3ote+ however+ that this co''and
onl% wor(s with e'*t% directories" You cannot re'ove a director% that has files in it
with the 'r'dir' co''and"
Change to a directory with ,cd,
Let's sa% that we have Cust created a director% called ''%files'" 4ow do we then
&o into that director%E This is what the 'cd' co''and is for" It is used to ScShan&e
SdSirectories" This is how we will use this co''and)
cd [directory name]
If we were 'ovin& into the ''%files' director%+ we would t%*e in)
user@linux:~> cd myfiles
user@linux:~/myfiles>
4ow do we &et $ac( out of the director%E Instead of *rovidin& a director% na'e+
we Cust *ut in two dots for the na'e" This Cust 'eans+ SI want to leave the director%
that I a' currentl% in"S This is what usin& the co''and loo(s li(e)
user@linux:~/myfiles> cd ..
user@linux:~>
You can see that when %ou run that co''and+ it ta(es %ou ri&ht $ac( out of the
''%files' director%"
$hat directory am in' .sing ,pwd,
4ow do we (now what director% we are inE There is a ver% si'*le co''and for
this" It is called '*wd'" That Cust 'eans S*Sresent SwSor(in& SdSirector%" You use it
li(e this)
>G
pwd
And it tells %ou what director% %ou are in" Usin& this co''and will hel* %ou
(now if %ou are in the ri&ht *lace" Exa'*le out*ut)
user@linux:~> pwd
/home/user
user@linux:~>
Copying files with ,cp,
3ow that we (now so'e co''ands for wor(in& with directories+ let's loo( at
so'e wa%s to wor( with files" To $e&in with+ we will loo( at co*%in& a file" The
co''and 'c*' will do this for us" Its usa&e is thus)
cp [source file] [destination file]
You Cust re*lace SUsource fileVS with the file %ou want to co*%" You re*lace the
SUdestination fileVS with the *lace %ou want that file co*ied to" .or exa'*le+ if I had
a file called ''%$oo(s"txt' and I wanted to 'a(e a co*% of it called 'so'e$oo(s"txt'+ I
could run this co''and)
user@linux:~> cp mybooks.txt somebooks.txt
user@linux:~>
3ow+ there will $e two co*ies of the file" The ori&inal+ called ''%$oo(s"txt'+ and
the new one+ called 'so'e$oo(s"txt'" To see these files+ run the 'ls' co''and+ Cust as
we have done $efore"
Mo-ing files with ,m-,
If %ou want to 'ove a file instead of co*% it+ %ou can use ''v'" The s%ntax of
how to use this co''and is ver% si'ilar to the 'c*' co''and)
>A
mv [source file] [destination file]
Re*lace SUsource fileVS with the na'e of the file %ou want 'oved" Re*lace
SUdestination fileVS with the filena'e %ou want it 'oved to" You 'a% notice that %ou
can also use this co''and to rena'e a file+ S'ovin&S it fro' one filena'e to
another" Exa'*le)
user@linux:~> mv myfile.txt yourfile.txt
user@linux:~>
Deleting files with ,rm,
What a$out if we want to delete a fileE This is the *ur*ose of 'r''" This
co''and will *er'anentl% re'ove a file+ so $e careful with it" The wa% %ou use
this is as follows)
rm [file to delete]
A&ain+ use caution with this co''and" Its effects are *er'anent" 4ere is an
exa'*le)
user@linux:~> rm myfile.txt
user@linux:~>
+iewing text files with ,cat,
Man% files in Linux are text files" 4ow do we view the contents of such text
filesE If the file is relativel% s'all Iits contents won't fill u* 'ore than one screenJ+
we can use the 'cat' co''and" This co''and will Cust out*ut the contents of the file
strai&ht to the screen" Its usa&e is as follows)
cat [filename to display]
>@
/ust *ut in the na'e of the file %ou want to view" Exa'*le)
user@linux:~> cat myfile.txt
Here are the contents of a very short file.
It is only two lines long.
user@linux:~>
+iewing text files with ,less,
What if the file is too lon& to fit on one *a&eE If it is a reall% $i& file+ it 'a% Cust
du'* lar&e a'ounts of text to %our screen" This will 'a(e it scroll u* wa% faster
than %ou can read it" Is there a solution to this *ro$le'E You $et" It is the 'less'
co''and" This is how %ou use it)
less [filename to display]
This will o*en the file+ and onl% dis*la% one full *a&e of the contents at a ti'e"
You Cust use the u* and down arrows on %our (e%$oard to scroll throu&h the file"
When %ou want to exit out of the file+ *ress SFS" The 'less' co''and is a &ood
'ethod of viewin& lar&e files"
$hat time is it' $hat is the date' .sing ,date,
0ne ver% eas% co''and is called 'date'" This dis*la%s the current date and ti'e"
Use this co''and as follows)
date
It will then out*ut the current date and ti'e" 7er% si'*le+ $ut it can $e useful"
Exa'*le)
user@linux:~> date
Thu May 18 13:27:09 MDT 2006
user@linux:~>
=!
.sing ,man, to find help
In addition to these co''ands+ I would li(e to share another wa% to learn a$out
the'" There is one last co''and I want to share with %ou" So'eti'es+ %ou will run
into a situation where %ou 'a% need so'e hel* learnin& how to use a *articular
co''and" .ortunatel%+ there is a hel* s%ste' $uilt into Linux which can assist %ou
with this" It is the ''an' co''and+ which dis*la%s hel* on usin& other co''ands"
To use ''an'+ the followin& is the s%ntax)
man [command]
If I wanted hel* with the 'date' co''and+ I 'i&ht run)
man date
A $unch of infor'ation then a**ears on the screen" Li(e the 'less' co''and+ %ou
can use the u* and down arrows on %our (e%$oard to scroll throu&h the *a&e" #ress
'F' when %ou want to Fuit"
The ''an' co''and can $e used to dis*la% hel* on al'ost all co''ands that %ou
will ever use" As a side?note+ when %ou as( other+ 'ore seasoned Linux users for
hel*+ the% will al'ost alwa%s as( %ou if %ou read the S'an *a&e"S This is the ''an'
co''and that I have Cust shown %ou" It is a &ood idea to 'a(e a ha$it of usin& ''an'
to learn a$out new co''ands" In the $e&innin&+ the% will feel a little cr%*tic to %ou"
-on't let that deter %ou" You will &et 'ore used to the' as ti'e &oes on"
The co''and line can $e a ver% *owerful tool" There are thousands of
incredi$le co''ands availa$le for use in the ter'inal window" As %ou &et 'ore
fa'iliar with Linux+ %ou 'a% wish to learn 'ore a$out this a'aHin& tool" If not+
don't worr%" Master% of the co''and line is no lon&er a reFuire'ent for usin&
Linux" Learn it at %our leisure"
=
Conclusion
There is Fuite a new world availa$le to %ou when %ou decide to tr% out Linux"
Gone are the da%s where %ou have to o$sess a$out viruses+ s*%ware+ and all the
definition u*dates that &o with the'" It will reFuire a $it of ti'e and a little *atience"
With a little effort+ %ou will $e cruisin& throu&h %our new o*eratin& s%ste' with
ease" You should now $e fa'iliar with how to &et Linux+ how to install it+ how to
install software+ and what software to use for %our $asic needs"
The *ur*ose of this $oo( has $een to introduce a so'ewhat ade*t Windows user
into the world of Linux" Man% of the conce*ts of how to use an o*eratin& s%ste'
carr% over to Linux"
If %ou have found this $oo( to $e hel*ful+ co'e $% and visit" If there's so'ethin&
that I can i'*rove+ *lease *rovide feed$ac( so that I can 'a(e it $etter" M% Linux
$lo&+ also the ho'e of this $oo(+ is located at) htt*),,www"suse$lo&"co', "
2o'e on $%+ visit 'e+ leave co''ents or fla'e 'e" I'd li(e to have %our
feed$ac(+ which %ou can leave at htt*),,www"suse$lo&"co',*hDDd$9c("*h* " As
alwa%s+ &ood luc( with %our Linux endeavors"
=<

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