-More and more people, and corporations, are beginning to choose Linux for its performance, endurance and stability.

-This complete reference will show the reader how to install, manage and use their Linux system productively.

-Linux is a "free" Unix-like operating system whose user base has grown 6,000% over the past four years.

Author Comment
Using Linux, from Macmillan's Que Publishing, is a 730-page book designed to help Linux users quickly find technical answers to complex problems. This is the first Linux book to use Que's newest design format, in which the reader is given step-by-step information on how to configure software, administer Linux, and run programs. The book is loaded with more than 200 screen shots showing desktops, windows, and dialogs. I tried very hard to ensure the accuracy of each step-by-step section, and made sure to carefully cross-reference each subject - the book includes a 30-page index and a 14-page appendix containing a list of current HOWTOs and mini-HOWTOs with subject lines. I sincerely hope my efforts help other Linux users more easily install, configure, manage and use Linux. I welcome comments, critiques, criticisms and suggestions (however, flames will be sent to the 'ol bit bucket, /dev/null!).

Table of Contents

• Introduction

Part I - Linux Basics

• Chapter 1 - Introducing the Shell
  • Welcome to Linux
  • What Is a Shell?
  • Logging On to Linux
  • Logging Out of Linux
  • Getting Help

• Chapter 2 - Entering Commands
  • Entering Commands at the Shell Command Line
  • Creating Shell Commands
  • Controlling Programs
  • Using Wildcards
  • Selecting a Shell

• Chapter 3 - Navigating the Linux File System
  • Changing Directories -
  • Listing Directories
  • Viewing Text Files
  • Creating Files and Directories
  • Copying Files and Directories
  • Moving and Renaming Files and Directories
  • Creating Symbolic Links
  • Deleting Files and Directories
  • Finding Files and Directories
  • Searching Text Files

• Chapter 4 - Using Text Editors
  • Selecting an Editor
  • Using Linux Dictionaries
  • Saving Paper with the mpage Command -
  • Creating Formatted Documents

• Chapter 5 - Printing Files 73
  • Adding Printers
  • Spooling Files to Your Printer
  • Controlling Printers and Print Jobs

Part II - Configuring Your System

• Chapter 6 - Configuring Your Environment
  • Setting Environment Variables
  • Customizing Your Logon
  • Creating Aliases

• Chapter 7 - Working with Hard Drives
  • Determining the Volume Device and Partition
  • Choosing a File System
  • Formatting a Hard Drive
  • Partitioning a Hard Drive with the fdisk Command
  • Mounting a Hard Drive or Other Device

• Chapter 8 - Adding Tape and Zip Drives
  • Adding a Tape Drive
  • Adding a Zip Drive

• Chapter 9 - Enabling a PC Card Device
  • Enabling PCMCIA Services
  • Using the cardmgr Command
  • Using the cardctl Command

• Chapter 10 - Adding a Pointing Device
  • Adding a Mouse
  • Installing a Joystick

• Chapter 11 - Configuring a Modem and Fax Service
  • Selecting a Modem for Linux
  • Creating the /dev/modem Device
  • Enabling Dial-In Service
  • Configuring Fax Service

Part III - Connecting to Your Internet Service Provider

• Chapter 12 - Connecting to Your Internet Service Provider
  • Configuring a PPP Connection
  • Configuring PPP for Your ISP
  • Configuring Your PPP Connection Scripts
  • Starting a PPP Connection
  • Checking Your PPP Connection

• Chapter 13 - Using Electronic Mail
  • Retrieving Electronic Mail
  • Selecting a Mail Program
  • Managing Electronic Mail

• Chapter 14 - Using FTP
  • Using the ftp Command
  • Using the ncftp Command
  • Using Netscape to Download Files

• Chapter 15 - Using Web Browsers
  • Using the lynx Browser
  • Using Netscape Communicator

• Chapter 16 - Reading Usenet News
  • Specifying NNTP Service
  • Selecting a Newsreader
  • Configuring Newsreaders

• Chapter 17 - Using telnet and Internet Relay Chat
  • Using the telnet Command
  • Chatting with Internet Relay Chat

Part IV - The X Window System

• Chapter 18 - Running and Configuring X11
  • Starting X11
  • Customizing the .xinitrc Startup Script
  • Stopping X11
  • Customizing Your Workspace
  • Using X11 Resources

• Chapter 19 - Using a Window Manager
  • Selecting an X11 Window Manager
  • Starting a Window Manager
  • Configuring Window Managers

• Chapter 20 - Performing Common X11 Operations
  • Using X11 Toolkit Command-Line Options
  • Moving, Resizing, and Managing Windows
  • Viewing X11 Fonts
  • Using the xfd Client to View Font Character Maps
  • Using the Keyboard to Control and Navigate Windows
  • Copying and Pasting Text
  • Capturing Windows and the Desktop

• Chapter 21 - Using Graphics and Multimedia Tools
  • Selecting a Graphics Program
  • Translating or Converting Graphics
  • Previewing Graphics and PostScript Documents
  • Playing Music CDs
  • Watching and Listening to Internet TV and Radio
  • Playing Animations and Movies with the xanim Client

Part V - System Administration

• Chapter 22 - Basic Shell Programming
  • What Shell Scripts Are Used For
  • Writing Shell Programs
  • Using Shell Variables
  • Using Shell Constructs
  • Writing Shell Functions

• Chapter 23 - Using Basic Programming Tools
  • Building Programs with the make Command
  • Getting Started Quickly with New Programs
  • Specifying Different Makefiles
  • Building X11 Makefiles with the xmkmf Script
  • Compiling Programs with gcc -
  • Linking Programs with the ld Linker

• 
  Chapter 24 - Using LILO and LOADLIN
  • Configuring LILO
  • Using LOADLIN

• 
  Chapter 25 - Managing Users and Groups
  • Users, Groups, and Their Relation to the System
  • Using the usercfg Tool
  • Adding, Editing, and Deleting Users Using the Command Line
  • Adding, Editing, and Deleting Groups
  • Changing User and Group Ownership
  • Changing File Ownership and Permissions
  • Advanced Concepts: Password Authentication Module

• Chapter 26 - Managing Scheduling Services
  • Configuring inittab and rc Files
  • Configuring crontab Scheduling Service
  • Configuring the at Command Service

• Chapter 27 - Managing Network Connections
  • Configuring Network Connections
  • Adding a SLIP Interface
  • Adding a PLIP Interface
  • Adding an Ethernet Interface
  • Enabling the Network File System Service
  • Enabling Dial-In Service

• Chapter 28 - Managing Daemons
  • Editing and Creating Run Levels
  • Editing inittab
  • Using chkconfig
  • Editing Startup and Shutdown Scripts
  • Customizing the Logon Greeting
  • Enabling and Customizing the MOTD
  • Using the tksysv Tool
  • Using the ntsysv Tool
  • Enabling FTP Access -
  • Enabling a Web Server

• Chapter 29 - Managing the Filesystem
  • Mounting and Unmounting Filesystems -
  • Setting Up New Filesystems
  • Creating New Filesystems Manually
  • Repairing Filesystems -
  • Disaster Recovery

• Chapter 30 - Managing Applications
  • Package Management with rpm

• Chapter 31 - System Maintenance
  • Performing System Backups
  • Performing File System Maintenance
  • Maximizing Disk Space

• Chapter 32 - Managing the Kernel
  • Using the Red Hat kernelcfg Tool
  • Editing the Linux Kernel Configuration Files
  • Managing Modules
  • Managing Processes
  • Recompiling the Kernel

Part VI - Appendixes

• Appendix A - Installation of Red Hat Linux
  • Finding and Getting Red Hat Linux
  • Considering Hardware Requirements
  • The Installation Program's Interface
  • Creating Installation Diskettes
  • Making Room for Linux
  • Beginning the Linux Installation
  • The First Installation Stage
  • The Second Installation Stage
  • Configuring Your Hardware
  • Selecting Boot Options
  • Booting Linux

• Appendix B - Resources
  • Usenet Resources
  • WWW Resources

• Appendix C - Using Linux HOWTO Documents

• Appendix D - Top 50 Linux Commands and Utilities
  • General Guidelines
  • The List
  • Summary

• Appendix E - Glossary

Description is from the publisher's website.