1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
|
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="HTML Tidy, see www.w3.org" />
<title>Preface</title>
<meta name="GENERATOR" content="Modular DocBook HTML Stylesheet Version 1.7" />
<link rel="HOME" title="Slackware Linux Essentials" href="index.html" />
<link rel="PREVIOUS" title="Slackware Linux Essentials" href="index.html" />
<link rel="NEXT" title="An Introduction to Slackware Linux" href="introduction.html" />
<link rel="STYLESHEET" type="text/css" href="docbook.css" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
</head>
<body class="PREFACE" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084"
alink="#0000FF">
<div class="NAVHEADER">
<table summary="Header navigation table" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<th colspan="3" align="center">Slackware Linux Essentials</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="10%" align="left" valign="bottom"><a href="index.html"
accesskey="P">Prev</a></td>
<td width="80%" align="center" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="10%" align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="introduction.html"
accesskey="N">Next</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr align="LEFT" width="100%" />
</div>
<div class="PREFACE">
<h1><a id="BOOK-PREFACE" name="BOOK-PREFACE"></a>Preface</h1>
<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-AUDIENCE" name="PREFACE-AUDIENCE"></a>Intended
Audience</h1>
<p>The Slackware Linux operating system is a powerful platform for Intel-based computers.
It is designed to be stable, secure, and functional as both a high-end server and
powerful workstation.</p>
<p>This book is designed to get you started with the Slackware Linux operating system.
It's not meant to cover every single aspect of the distribution, but rather to show what
it is capable of and give you a basic working knowledge of the system.</p>
<p>As you gain experience with Slackware Linux, we hope you find this book to be a handy
reference. We also hope you'll lend it to all of your friends when they come asking about
that cool Slackware Linux operating system you're running.</p>
<p>While this book may not an edge-of-your-seat novel, we certainly tried to make it as
entertaining as possible. With any luck, we'll get a movie deal. Of course, we also hope
you are able to learn from it and find it useful.</p>
<p>And now, on with the show.</p>
<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CHANGES" name="PREFACE-CHANGES"></a>Changes from
the First Edition</h1>
<p>This second edition is the culmination of years of hard work by the dedicated members
of the Slackware Documentation Project. The following are the major changes in this new
edition:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><a href="installation.html">Chapter 3</a>, Installation, has been modified with new
screenshots of the installer, and reflects changes in disk-sets, and CD installation.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="system-configuration.html">Chapter 4</a>, System Configuration, has been
updated with new information about Linux 2.6.x kernels.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="network-configuration.html">Chapter 5</a>, Network Configuration, has been
expanded with further explanation of Samba, NFS, and DHCP. A section on wireless
networking has also been added. This chapter now reflects major changes in how Slackware
handles network setup.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="x-window-system.html">Chapter 6</a>, X Window System, has been substantially
rewritten for Xorg based systems. This chapter now also covers the xdm graphical login
manager.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="basic-network-commands.html">Chapter 13</a>, Basic Network Commands, has been
enhanced with information about additional network utilities.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="security.html">Chapter 14</a>, Security, is a new chapter with this edition.
It explains how to keep a Slackware Linux system secure.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="emacs.html">Chapter 17</a>, Emacs, is a new chapter with this edition. It
describes how to use Emacs, a powerful editor for Unix.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="package-management.html">Chapter 18</a>, Package Management, has been updated
with information about SlackBuild scripts.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>There are many other changes, both minor and major, to reflect changes in Slackware as
it has matured.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-ORGANIZATION"
name="PREFACE-ORGANIZATION"></a>Organization of this Book</h1>
<div class="VARIABLELIST">
<dl>
<dt><a href="introduction.html">Chapter 1</a>, Introduction</dt>
<dd>
<p>Provides introductory material on Linux, Slackware, and the Open Source and Free
Software Movements.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="help.html">Chapter 2</a>, Help</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the help resources available on a Slackware Linux system and online.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="installation.html">Chapter 3</a>, Installation</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the installation process step-by-step with screenshots to provide an
illustrative walk-through.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="system-configuration.html">Chapter 4</a>, System Configuration</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the important configuration files and covers kernel recompilation.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="network-configuration.html">Chapter 5</a>, Network Configuration</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes how to connect a Slackware Linux machine to a network. Covers TCP/IP,
PPP/dial-up, wireless networking, and more.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="x-window-system.html">Chapter 6</a>, The X Window System</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes how to setup and use the graphical X Window System in Slackware.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="booting.html">Chapter 7</a>, Booting</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the process by which a computer boots into Slackware Linux. Also covers
dual-booting with Microsoft Windows operating systems.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="shell.html">Chapter 8</a>, The Shell</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the powerful command line interface for Linux.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="filesystem-structure.html">Chapter 9</a>, Filesystem Structure</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the filesystem structure, including file ownership, permission, and
linking.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="file-commands.html">Chapter 10</a>, Handling Files and Directories</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the commands used to manipulate files and directories from the command line
interface.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="process-control.html">Chapter 11</a>, Process Control</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the powerful Linux process management commands used to manage multiple
running applications.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="essential-sysadmin.html">Chapter 12</a>, Essential System
Administration</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes basic system administration tasks such as adding and removing users,
shutting down the system properly, and more.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="basic-network-commands.html">Chapter 13</a>, Basic Network Commands</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the collection of network clients included with Slackware.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="security.html">Chapter 14</a>, Security</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes many different tools available to help keep your Slackware system secure,
including <tt class="COMMAND">iptables</tt> and <tt class="COMMAND">tcpwrappers</tt>.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="archive-files.html">Chapter 15</a>, Archive Files</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the different compression and archive utilities available for Linux.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="vi.html">Chapter 16</a>, vi</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the powerful <tt class="COMMAND">vi</tt> text editor.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="emacs.html">Chapter 17</a>, Emacs</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the powerful <tt class="COMMAND">Emacs</tt> text editor.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="package-management.html">Chapter 18</a>, Slackware Package Management</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the Slackware package utilities and the process used to create custom
packages and tagfiles.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="zipslack.html">Chapter 19</a>, ZipSlack</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the ZipSlack version of Linux that can be used from Windows without
requiring an installation.</p>
</dd>
<dt><a href="gpl.html">Appendix A</a>, The GNU General Public License</dt>
<dd>
<p>Describes the license terms under which Slackware Linux and this book can be copied
and distributed.</p>
</dd>
</dl>
</div>
<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV" name="PREFACE-CONV"></a>Conventions used in
this book</h1>
<p>To provide a consistent and easy to read text, several conventions are followed
throughout the book.</p>
<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-TYPOGRAPHIC"
name="PREFACE-CONV-TYPOGRAPHIC"></a>Typographic Conventions</h2>
<div class="VARIABLELIST">
<dl>
<dt><span class="emphasis"><i class="EMPHASIS">Italic</i></span></dt>
<dd>
<p>An <span class="emphasis"><i class="EMPHASIS">italic</i></span> font is used for
commands, emphasized text, and the first usage of technical terms.</p>
</dd>
<dt><var class="VARNAME">Monospace</var></dt>
<dd>
<p>A <var class="VARNAME">monospaced</var> font is used for error messages, commands,
environment variables, names of ports, hostnames, user names, group names, device names,
variables, and code fragments.</p>
</dd>
<dt><b class="APPLICATION">Bold</b></dt>
<dd>
<p>A <b class="APPLICATION">bold</b> font is used for user input in examples.</p>
</dd>
</dl>
</div>
<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-COMMANDS"
name="PREFACE-CONV-COMMANDS"></a>User Input</h2>
<p>Keys are shown in <b class="KEYCAP">bold</b> to stand out from other text. Key
combinations that are meant to be typed simultaneously are shown with `<var
class="LITERAL">+</var>' between the keys, such as:</p>
<p><b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">Alt</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">Del</b></p>
<p>Meaning the user should type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>, <b
class="KEYCAP">Alt</b>, and <b class="KEYCAP">Del</b> keys at the same time.</p>
<p>Keys that are meant to be typed in sequence will be separated with commas, for
example:</p>
<p><b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">X</b>, <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b
class="KEYCAP">S</b></p>
<p>Would mean that the user is expected to type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b> and <b
class="KEYCAP">X</b> keys simultaneously and then to type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>
and <b class="KEYCAP">S</b> keys simultaneously.</p>
<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-EXAMPLES"
name="PREFACE-CONV-EXAMPLES"></a>Examples</h2>
<p>Examples starting with <tt class="DEVICENAME">E:\></tt> indicate a <span
class="TRADEMARK">MS-DOS</span>® command. Unless otherwise noted, these commands may
be executed from a “Command Prompt” window in a modern <span
class="TRADEMARK">Microsoft</span>® <span class="TRADEMARK">Windows</span>®
environment.</p>
<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
<pre class="SCREEN">
<samp class="PROMPT">D:\></samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">rawrite a: bare.i</kbd>
</pre>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>Examples starting with <samp class="PROMPT">#</samp> indicate a command that must be
invoked as the superuser in Slackware. You can login as <tt class="USERNAME">root</tt> to
type the command, or login as your normal account and use <span
class="CITEREFENTRY"><span class="REFENTRYTITLE">su</span>(1)</span> to gain superuser
privileges.</p>
<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
<pre class="SCREEN">
<samp class="PROMPT">#</samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">dd if=bare.i of=/dev/fd0</kbd>
</pre>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>Examples starting with <samp class="PROMPT">%</samp> indicate a command that should be
invoked from a normal user account. Unless otherwise noted, C-shell syntax is used for
setting environment variables and other shell commands.</p>
<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
<pre class="SCREEN">
<samp class="PROMPT">%</samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">top</kbd>
</pre>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
name="PREFACE-ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"></a>Acknowledgments</h1>
<p>This project is the accumulation of months of work by many dedicated individuals. It
would not have been possible for me to produce this work in a vacuum. Many people deserve
our thanks for their selfless acts: Keith Keller for his work on wireless networking,
Joost Kremers for his great work in single-handedly writing the emacs section, Simon
Williams for the security chapter, Jurgen Phillippaerts for basic networking commands,
Cibao Cu Ali G Colibri for the inspiration and a good kick in the pants. Countless others
have sent in suggestions and fixes. An incomplete list includes: Jacob Anhoej, John Yast,
Sally Welch, Morgan Landry, and Charlie Law. I'd also like to thank Keith Keller for
hosting the mailing list for this project, as well as Carl Inglis for the initial web
hosting. Last but not least, I'd like to thank Patrick J. Volkerding for Slackware Linux,
and David Cantrell, Logan Johnson, and Chris Lumens for Slackware Linux Essentials 1st
Edition. Without their initial framework, none of this would have ever happened. Many
others have contributed in small and large ways to this project and have not been listed.
I hope they will forgive me for a poor memory.</p>
<p>Alan Hicks, May 2005</p>
</div>
<div class="NAVFOOTER">
<hr align="LEFT" width="100%" />
<table summary="Footer navigation table" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td width="33%" align="left" valign="top"><a href="index.html"
accesskey="P">Prev</a></td>
<td width="34%" align="center" valign="top"><a href="index.html"
accesskey="H">Home</a></td>
<td width="33%" align="right" valign="top"><a href="introduction.html"
accesskey="N">Next</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="33%" align="left" valign="top">Slackware Linux Essentials</td>
<td width="34%" align="center" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="33%" align="right" valign="top">An Introduction to Slackware Linux</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</body>
</html>
|
