Table of Contents
ii
3.1.3 Creating Linux Partitions .................................................................................... 58
3.1.4 Creating Swap Space........................................................................................... 62
3.1.5 Creating the Filesystems ..................................................................................... 63
3.1.6 Installing the Software ........................................................................................ 63
3.1.7 Creating the Boot Floppy or Installing LILO...................................................... 65
3.1.8 Additional Installation Procedures ...................................................................... 66
3.2 Post-Installation Procedures....................................................................................... 66
3.2.1 Creating a User Account ..................................................................................... 66
3.2.2 Getting Online Help ............................................................................................ 67
3.2.3 Editing /etc/fstab ................................................................................................. 68
3.2.4 Shutting Down the System.................................................................................. 69
3.3 Running into Trouble ................................................................................................. 70
3.3.1 Problems with Booting the Installation Medium ................................................ 71
3.3.2 Hardware Problems ............................................................................................. 72
3.3.3 Problems Installing the Software ........................................................................ 77
3.3.4 Problems after Installing Linux........................................................................... 78
Chapter 4. Basic Unix Commands and Concepts............................................................ 82
4.1 Logging In .................................................................................................................. 83
4.2 Setting a Password ..................................................................................................... 84
4.3 Virtual Consoles......................................................................................................... 84
4.4 Popular Commands .................................................................................................... 85
4.4.1 Directories ........................................................................................................... 85
4.4.2 Listing Files......................................................................................................... 86
4.4.3 Viewing Files, More or Less ............................................................................... 87
4.4.4 Symbolic Links ................................................................................................... 88
4.5 Shells .......................................................................................................................... 88
4.6 Useful Keys and How to Get Them to Work ............................................................. 90
4.7 Typing Shortcuts ........................................................................................................ 91
4.7.1 Word Completion................................................................................................ 91
4.7.2 Moving Around Among Commands................................................................... 92
4.8 Filename Expansion ................................................................................................... 92
4.9 Saving Your Output ................................................................................................... 93
4.10 What Is a Command? ............................................................................................... 96
4.11 Putting a Command in the Background ................................................................... 97
4.12 Manual Pages ........................................................................................................... 98
4.13 File Ownership and Permissions............................................................................ 100
4.13.1 What Permissions Mean.................................................................................. 100
4.13.2 Owners and Groups......................................................................................... 101
4.14 Changing the Owner, Group,and Permissions ....................................................... 103
4.15 Startup Files............................................................................................................ 105
4.16 Important Directories ............................................................................................. 107
4.17 Programs That Serve You ...................................................................................... 109
4.18 Processes ................................................................................................................ 110
Chapter 5. Essential System Management..................................................................... 114
5.1 Maintaining the System............................................................................................ 115
5.2 Booting the System .................................................................................................. 118
5.2.1 Using a Boot Floppy ......................................................................................... 118
5.2.2 Using LILO ....................................................................................................... 120
5.3 System Startup and Initialization ............................................................................. 126
5.3.1 Kernel Boot Messages....................................................................................... 126
