This book covers: Preparing to install the system, Using shells and online documentation, The XWindows graphical interface, Networking and Internet, Administration, A guide to availablesoftware and tools. Users who have been wanting to get started, but not sure how to go about it, orthose who have not made deep inroads into their installed system, will benefit most from the book.This books step-by-step guide to standard Linux tasks satisfies the users' need to utilize thesystem's capabilities, especially its Internet functions.

This book describes why the user is doing the tasks in order to convey Linux's logic and conventions. It also provides a guide to popular Linux software

Provides a beginning-level installation and using guide to Caldera OpenLinux 1.3 and KDE, as well as a copy of the operating system and StarOffice 4.0 on CD. This is $50 worth of software - a terrific draw for users who haven't yet installed Linux.

Table of Contents

• 1, 2, 3 Go!
  • How to Use This Book
  • Why Linux?
  • Conventions
  • Acknowledgments

Part 1: Working with Linux in a Graphical Environment--The KDE Desktop

• Chapter 1 - The First Login on the KDE Desktop
  • Logging In
  • The KDE Desktop
  • Applications
  • Using the Mouse
  • Buttons, Menus, and Text Fields
  • Manipulating Controls with the Keyboard
  • Ending the Work Session
    
    
• Chapter 2 - Working with Windows
  • Windows and Panels
  • Window Controls
  • The Active Window
  • Accessing Windows that Overlap
  • Scrollbars
  • Resizing Windows
  • Moving a Window
  • Closing a Window
    
    
• Chapter 3 - Navigating through the File System
  • The File System Through KFM
  • The KFM Navigation Toolbar
  • Opening a Folder
  • Opening a File
  • A Tree View
  • A File List
  • Bookmarks
  • Selecting Files and Folders
    
    
• Chapter 4 - Working with Applications
  • Manually Starting an Application
  • Working with Multiple Applications
  • Starting Applications Automatically
  • The KDE Workspace Auto-restore Feature
  • KDE Application Help: kdehelp
  • Exiting Applications
    
    
• Chapter 5 - Creating, Editing, and Saving Files
  • Creating and Saving Files
  • Text Editing Basics
    
    
• Chapter 6 - Organizing Your Files
  • Getting Organized: Creating a Folder
  • Copying Files and Folders
  • Moving Files and Folders
  • Linking Files and Folders
  • Replacing a File or a Folder
  • Deleting a File or Folder
  • Moving a File or Folder to the Trash
  • Retrieving a File or Folder from the Trash
  • Emptying the Trash
  • File Properties
  • Renaming a File or Folder
  • Setting File and Folder Permissions
  • Changing the Group of a File or Folder
  • KDE Templates
    
    
• Chapter 7 - Working with Disks
  • Configuring the System to Allow Users to Access the CD-ROM and the Floppy
  • Copying Files to or from a Floppy
  • Opening and Saving Files to a Floppy Disk
  • Accessing the CD-ROM
  • Preparing a New Floppy Disk
    
    
• Chapter 8 - Accessing the Network
  • Connecting to the Network Using a Dialup (PPP) Connection
  • Connecting via Your Local Network
    
    
• Chapter 9 - Communication: Web, FTP, Email, and News
  • Accessing the Web
  • FTP
  • Email
  • News
  • Telnet
    
    
• Chapter 10 - Customizing KDE
  • Adding an Application to the Panel or Application Launcher
  • Creating a Kdelnk File that Represents an Application
  • Other KDE Options
  • The KDE Control Center

Part 2: Working on the Command Line

• Chapter 11 - Shells and Consoles
  • The UNIX Command Prompt
  • Shell Flavors
  • Graphic Consoles
  • Logging in Through a Console
  • What Shell Are You Running?
  • Command Line Program Syntax
  • Navigating the File System
  • Filename Expansion: Tab
  • Exiting the Console
    
    
• Chapter 12 - Working with Files on the Shell
  • Working with Files and Folders
  • Moving Files and Directories: mv
  • Reading Files
    
    
• Chapter 13 - Text Editing Under a Shell
  • An Improved Visual Editor: Vim
  • XEmacs
  • Checking Your Spelling: Ispell
    
    
• Chapter 14 - Putting the Shell to Work
  • Using More Than One Command at a Time
  • Redirection
  • Pipes: One Program's Output Is Another's Input
  • Regular Expressions
  • Command History
  • Jobs: Working on Multiple Things Using a Shell
    
    
• Chapter 15 - Help Please
  • UNIX Manual Pages
  • Searching for a Tool: apropos
  • Getting a Brief Command Description: whatis
  • Searching Standard Locations: whereis
  • Built-in Command Information
  • Online Help via /usr/doc
  • Info Pages
  • Usenet: Internet Newsgroups
  • Useful Books
    
    
• Chapter 16 - Permissions: Protecting and Sharing Your Work
  • How Does Permissions Work?
  • Substitute User: su
  • Changing Groups: newgrp
  • Special Users
  • Home Directories
  • Changing File Permissions
  • The Default File Mode: umask
  • Group Ownership and User Private Groups
    
    
• Chapter 17 - Command Toolbox: Useful Shell Commands and Shortcuts
  • User Utilities
  • Finding Files
  • Text and File Utilities
  • Splitting Files into Smaller Files: split
  • Accessing a Computer Through the Network: telnet
  • Working on the Console: setfont
  • UNIX Printing Primer
  • UNIX Text Processing

Part 3: Essential System Tasks Under Linux

• Chapter 18 - Users, Groups, and Passwords
  • Adding Users
  • Modifying Users: usermod
  • Deleting Users: userdel
  • Adding, Modifying, and Removing Groups
  • Users and Passwords
  • Linux and Shadow Passwords
    
    
• Chapter 19 - Backups: Safeguarding Your Work
  • Media Are Just Devices
  • What to Back Up
  • Simple Backups
  • Tape Archive: tar
  • A Backup Strategy
  • Graphical Backup Programs
    
    
• Chapter 20 - Installing Programs and Applications
  • RPM: The Red Hat Package Manager
  • Installing, Upgrading, Downgrading, and Removing Software
  • A Database of Installed Software
  • Verifying Your System
  • Graphical Front Ends to RPM
  • Non-RPM Packages
    
    
• Chapter 21 - LISA: Linux Installation and System Administration Utility
  • Basic Functions of LISA
  • Verbose System Analysis
  • Software Package Administration
  • System Configuration
  • Network Configuration Area
    
    
• Chapter 22 - System Monitoring: Keeping an Eye on Your System
  • Monitoring Memory
  • Monitoring Processes
  • Monitoring Your Disk
  • Log Files
    
    
• Chapter 23 - Sharing Files over the Network
  • NFS
  • Exporting an NFS Volume
  • FTP
  • HTTP
  • SMB: Sharing Disks and Printers to PCs
    
    
• Chapter 24 - Customizing Your Linux Kernel
  • Customizing Your Linux Kernel with LISA
  • Customizing Your Linux Kernel by Recompiling
  • Configuring the New Kernel
  • Compiling the Kernel and Necessary Modules
  • Installing the New Kernel
  • Installing the New Modules
  • Configuring LILO
  • Configuring the New Modules and Rebooting

Part 4: Appendixes

• Linux Installation
  • Getting to Know Your Hardware
  • Basic Requirements for Installing Caldera OpenLinux
  • The Multiboot System
  • Installing Linux
  • Starting the Install
  • Configuring X Windows
    
    
• OpenLinux Compatibility Guide
  • CD-ROM Drives
  • Network Cards
  • Floppy Drives
  • IDE Drives
  • Mouse Pointing Devices
  • PC Card Support (PCMCIA)
  • SCSI Adapters
  • Serial Boards
  • Tape Drives
  • Video Cards Supported by XFree86 v3.3.2
  • Compatible XT Hard Drives
  • Sound Cards
    
    

Description is from the publisher's web site.