Sams.Fedora.7.Unleashed.2007.pdf

Welcome to Fedora 7 Unleashed! This book covers the free Linux distribution named Fedora and includes a fully functional and complete operating system produced by the　Fedora Project, sponsored by Red Hat. Fedora is directly descended from one of the most popular Linux distributions ever: Red　Hat Linux. Those of you who know nothing about Linux might have heard of Red Hat; it　is enough to know that it is the largest Linux vendor in North America. Fedora benefits　directly from many Red Hat engineers as well as the wider contributions from free software developers across the world. If you are new to Linux, you have made a great decision by choosing this book. Sams　Publishing’s Unleashed books offer an in-depth look at their subjects, taking in both beginner　and advanced users and moving them to a new level in knowledge and expertise. Fedora is a fast-changing distribution that can be updated at least twice a year. We have　tracked the development of Fedora from very early on to make sure that the information　contained in this book mirrors closely the development of the distribution. A full copy　of Fedora is included on the DVD, making it ossible for you to install Linux in less than an hour! This book provides all the information that you need to get up and running with Fedora. It even tells you how to keep Fedora running in top shape, as well as adapt Fedora to　changes in your needs and requirements. Fedora can be used at home, in the workplace,　or, with permission, at your school and college. In fact, you might want to poke around　your school’s computer rooms: You will probably find that someone has already beaten　you to the punch—Linux is commonly found in academic institutions. Feel free to make as many copies of the software as you want. No copyright lawyers are going to pound on　your door because Fedora is freely distributable all over the world. After this brief introduction you will get straight into the distribution, learning how to　install and configure Fedora and find your way around the Gnome graphical interface, as　well as learning about the command line. We will also take you through installing software,　managing users, and other common administrative tasks. For the more 　technically　minded, we cover some starting steps in programming across several languages—why not　pick one and give it a go? Through the book you will also find information on multimedia　applications, digital graphics, and even gaming for after hours when you are finished tinkering. After you make it through the book, you will be well equipped with　the knowledge needed to use Linux successfully. We do assume that you are at least familiar　with an operating system already (even if it is not with Linux), and have some basic computer knowledge. We round off the book by giving you some reference points for you　to access via the web, and also explore the origins of Fedora and Linux.