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Thread ID: 48706	2004-08-30 05:41:00	FAQ #80 - How to... in Linux	-FAQ- (807)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
266961	2004-08-30 05:41:00	FAQ #80 - How to . . . in Linux Originally written by Graham L with contributions from others RTFM :D Unlike another OS, Linux is well documented . The documents which come on the distribution disks will get you through most things . For most things you want to do there is a HOWTO file . For just about any major package there is a web site run by the developers . E . g . www . gimp . org, www . apt . org, www . linmodems . org . . . The LDP (Linux Documentation Project) is based at www . ibiblio . org . . . but there are local mirrors . Try the Dunedin LUG ( . lug . net . nz/docs/ldp/" target="_blank">dunedin . lug . net . nz) . Among the Guides, The Linux Cookbook, The Linux User's Guide, Installation and Getting Started, Securing and Optimising Linux Red Hat Edition . . . are all worth reading . There's a couple of online magazines mirrored at the Dunedin LUG, too . Public Libraries have books!!! . All the Linux ones I have seen have been good . . . Any book published by O'Reilly is good . Some are excellent . Good Documents: The onepage Linux manual ( . powerup . com . au/~squadron/linuxmanual . pdf" target="_blank">homepage . powerup . com . au) is a list of where config files are, how to do things . Red Hat help for applications ( . redhat . com/apps/support/apps/resources/" target="_blank">www . redhat . com) looks good . . . (includes setting up Samba) . Samba Linux Network Guide ( . sssup . it/pibizza/index . html" target="_blank">camelot . sssup . it) (The alpha release, but well recommended . . . ) Lots of Linux Links ( . fsu . edu/~cpse/linux/" target="_blank">www . fsu . edu) which will keep you reading for a while . A good site . Tricks/problems with PPP: try an faq[/b]</font>/faqlist . html]FAQ list ( . winlinux . net/2001/%3Cfont%20style='background-color:#ffff00'>Good" target="_blank">www . winlinux . net Links • Eric Richard's Linux Pages ( . paradise . net . nz/erichard/linux . html" target="_blank">homepages . paradise . net . nz) Note: included as a placeholder - page not found, need to check • Some good links to Linux drivers on the Conexant web site . Got a hsf pci modem going with Mandrake 9 real easy!! . mbsi . ca/cnxtlindrv/" target="_blank">www . mbsi . ca from rmcb • The Simply Linux Book:- http://jetblackz . cjb . net/ One of the best HowTos I've come across for those new to Linux . from mark . p • Jen C's nVidia Drivers for Linux HowTo ( . pcworld . co . nz/thread . jsp?forum=1&thread=42891#231073" target="_blank">pressf1 . pcworld . co . nz) . Note that where teleinit is, should just be init . Tips and Tricks loser:- Another tip: the most useful things I have found are the man command and the --help switch . . . . To find out about xxx try "man xxx" in a terminal, or "xxx --help" again in a terminal . Graham L:- and of course . . . "apropos whatever" . This searches a database for any "help" type file containing the word(s) . Remember that if you don't get an answer, there isn't one . . . *nix is economical with typing, and it isn't classed as an error to find nothing . A useful command when something hasn't appeared to work is "tail -20 /var/log/messages" . Chris Wilson:- Most linux distributions will install in a familiar point and click the icon format . Don't be scared off by the text commands, they can be typed in by first clicking on the shell icon seen at the bottom of the desktop, this will open a wee box, not unlike DOS, where the commands can be typed . This will seem obvious to those experienced with Linux, but had me confused for a wee while at first . Also some things will only work if logged in as user "root", which is the ultimate unrestricted pass to the system . As "root" you have no restrictions, and therefore you can do more damage than any other user! Chilling_Silence:- Vi . . . I can get into it and edit it, but how do I quit? Graham L:- vi . . . or elvis . . . or vim . . . Not the nicest editor in the world . Still it's simpler than Emacs (or TECO) . To get out of vi, Esc, Esc, then ":qq" if you don't want to save the work file, or ":wq" to write and exit . pico and joe are much nicer . I like joe because it's like the WordStar based editor in the Borland Turbo Pascal IDE . The internal editor in mc is a good simple one too . Everyone should use mc . Original FAQ available here ( . pcworld . co . nz/thread . jsp?forum=1&thread=25672&message=90545&q=faq+%2380#90545" target="_blank">pressf1 . pcworld . co . nz) .	-FAQ- (807)
266962	2004-08-30 06:32:00	> Tricks/problems with PPP: try an > faq[/b]</font>/faqlist.html]F > Q list (www.winlinux.net > ground-color:#ffff00'>[b) ;-) www.winlinux.net :( Not Found The requested URL /2001/<font style='background-color: was not found on this server.	stu120404 (268)
266963	2004-08-30 06:53:00	I would like this on line manual\downlaodable book to be considered RUTE You may need a Mozilla based browser for this format to be reconised	beama (111)
266964	2004-08-30 07:34:00	In my opinion I think the Linux FAQ need redoing with a couple of individual FAQ's for questions/problems which frequently pop up, rather than just having one covers-all FAQ considering how many Linux users there are now on this board since the original FAQ by Graham was made . A suggestion for some individual Linux FAQ's: Networking - covering Samba and NFS . Can also cover modems and ethernet configuration and troubleshooting perhaps . No need to write a book on it, but to perhaps have some key suggestions and commands to troubleshoot or dig out information prior to posting on PF1 about it . Also some links to help websites on these topics . Basic commands - sort of says it all . Can also cover CLI basic text editing like vi or nano . Be good to cover package handling from the CLI for the most common package formats eg RPM, deb, . tgz etc . What is Linux and where can I get it from - basic info including links to popular Distro's . Where to find help and reference material - sort of how the original FAQ started off . Just some ideas to start with and I have mentioned this to Chill a while ago as well . I am sure others might have some suggestions . My nVidia driver how-to you provided a link to needs redoing . I don't like the fact that I have a persistant typo in it (although you have mentioned that) and also nVidia now provide a lovely settings configuration utillity that is worth mentioning . It is probably worth me completely re-writing that again and this could go in a FAQ on video drivers (to include ATI drivers possibly as well) . What do you think? Leave as is or expand it into a small selection of Linux FAQ's?	Jen C (20)
266965	2004-08-30 07:45:00	I agree - Perhaps from #80 to #90 be made into Linux FAQ's. One for Networking One for Samba One for System Upgrades (Rpm, Deb's and Slack-Pak's). One for Basic Command-Line Usage One for Advanced Bash Usage (Such as writing basic bash script, re-binding mounts, fstab editing) One for File-System Layout One for Compiling Applications One for nVidia / Ati Proprietry Driver Installation (Who's got an Ati card and runs Linux?) One for What Linux is, About F/OSS and Where can I get it? Last one I havent thought of yet... :-P Perhaps "Linux Alternatives for Windows Appz and Using WINE"?! Im keen to contribute to them..... Things like Compiling applications, Bash stuff etc... A lot has already been written and just needs a little editing / updating. Thoughts?! Chill.	Chilling_Silence (9)
266966	2004-08-30 10:22:00	Stu: Thanks for that one, I don't know how the heck that link got like that . It worked fine when I tested it yesterday . Beama: I forgot about RUTE - that's a good one to include . Thanks . Jen: Good idea regarding the individual Linux FAQs . If you know of any good sites for information on the topics you have listed it you could just post links to them if you feel they are easy enough to understand and provide enough information . Otherwise it would be great if we could have FAQs on those topics . I was hoping you would offer to rewrite your nVidia instructions for a separate FAQ - it would be much appreciated . Feel free to tackle anything else that you think needs doing as well and this FAQ can be redone when everything is all finished . Chill: > I agree - Perhaps from #80 to #90 be made into Linux FAQ's . I had exactly that in mind . If you are keen they would be most welcome .	-FAQ- (807)
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