Constant width bold
Shows commands or other text that should be typed literally by the user. Also used to highlight key portions of code or files.
Shows text that should be replaced with user-supplied values.
$
This is the shell prompt for a regular user, which indicates that the command interpreter is ready to accept a new command. The normal Fedora shell prompt includes additional information before the dollar sign, including the username, hostname, and current directory; I've left those out to reduce clutter in the examples.
#
This is the shell prompt for the system administrator, known as
Using Code Examples
This book is here to help you get your job done. In general, you may use the code in this book in your programs and documentation. You do not need to contact O'Reilly for permission unless you're reproducing a significant portion of the code. For example, writing a program that uses several chunks of code from this book does not require permission. Selling or distributing a CD-ROM of examples from O'Reilly books
We appreciate, but do not require, attribution. An attribution usually includes the title, author, publisher, and ISBN. For example: '
Safari® Enabled
When you see a Safari® Enabled icon on the cover of your favorite technology book, that means the book is available online through the O'Reilly Network Safari Bookshelf.
Safari offers a solution that's better than e-books. It's a virtual library that lets you easily search thousands of top tech books, cut and paste code samples, download chapters, and find quick answers when you need the most accurate, current information. Try it for free at http://safari.oreilly.com .
How to Contact Us
Please address comments and questions concerning this book to the publisher:
O'Reilly Media, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
800-998-9938 (in the United States or Canada)
707-829-0515 (international or local)
707-829-0104 (fax)
There is a web page for this book, which lists errata, examples, and any additional information. You can access this page at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/fedoralinux
To comment on or ask technical questions about this book, send email to:
bookquestions@oreilly.com
For more information about books, conferences, software, Resource Centers, and the O'Reilly Network, see the O'Reilly web site at:
http://www.oreilly.com
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the open source community and to Red Hat and the Fedora community in particular for developing, integrating, and supporting such a powerful collection of software.
I'd like to thank my editor, Brian Jepson, for his patient and skillful work and many suggestions; to David Brickner for getting me started on this project; and to Behdad Esfahbod for his thoughtful and detailed technical review.
My deep gratitude to my loving wife Diane and my girls Saralyn and Laura, who have patiently kept the family going without me for the past eight months. And above all, my humble thanks to God for the skills and understanding he has given memay they be used to His glory.
Chapter 1. Quick Start: Installing Fedora
Fedora is a powerful, fast-changing, freely available operating system. It can be used as a productive desktop or server environment, or it can be used to learn about Linux and experiment with new technologies.
1.1. Choosing Fedora: Is It Right for You?
There are many different Linux distributions, each with a different set of features, aimed at a different type of user. Before you invest time and effort in Linux, you need to decide if Fedora is the right distribution for you.
1.1.1. How Do I Do That?
