Fedora™ Unleashed, 2008 edition

> Performance tuning

> Command-line master class

> Advanced yum

> Kernel and module management and compilation

> Managing the file system

There is also an extensive reference in Part VII, 'The Appendices,' which gives you an opportunity to explore in even more depth some of the topics covered in this book. It also gives you some history on Fedora and Linux and an installation checklist.

Conventions Used in This Book

A lot of documentation is included with every Linux distribution, and Fedora is certainly no exception. Although the intent of Fedora Unleashed is to be as complete as possible, it is impossible to cover every option of every command included in the distribution. However, this book offers numerous tables of various options, commands, or keystrokes to help condense, organize, and present information about a variety of subjects.

This edition is also packed full of screenshots to illustrate nearly all Fedora-specific graphical utilities — especially those related to system administration or the configuration and administration of various system and network services.

To help you better understand code listing examples and sample command lines, several formatting techniques are used to show input and ownership. For example, if the command or code listing example shows typed input, the input is formatted in boldface like this:

$ ls

If typed input is required, as in response to a prompt, the sample typed input also is in boldface, like so:

Delete files? [Y/n] y

All statements, variables, and text that should appear on your display use the same bold face formatting. In addition, command lines that require root or super-user access are prefaced with a pound sign like this:

# printtool &

Command-line examples that can be run by any user are prefaced with a dollar sign ($), like so:

$ ls

The following elements provide you with useful tidbits of information that relate to the discussion of the text:

NOTE

A note provides additional information you might want to make note of as you are working, augment a discussion with ancillary details, or point you to an article, a whitepaper, or another online reference for more information about a specific topic.

TIP

A tip can contain special insight or a timesaving technique, as well as information about items of particular interest to you that you might not find elsewhere.

CAUTION

A caution warns you about pitfalls or problems before you run a command, edit a configuration file, or choose a setting when administering your system.

Sidebars Can Be Goldmines

Just because it is in a sidebar does not mean that you will not find something new here. Be sure to watch for these elements that bring in outside content that is an aside to the discussion in the text. You will read about other technologies, Linux-based hardware, or special procedures to make your system more robust and efficient.

Other formatting techniques used to increase readability include the use of italics for placeholders in computer command syntax. Computer terms or concepts also are italicized upon first introduction in text.

Finally, you should know that all text, sample code, and screenshots in Fedora Unleashed were developed using Fedora and open source tools.

Read on to start learning about and using the latest version of Fedora. Experienced users will want to consider the new information presented in this edition when planning or considering upgrades. New users, or users new to Fedora, will benefit from the details presented in this book.

PART I Installation and Configuration

CHAPTER 1 Installing Fedora

This chapter shows you how to get a basic installation of Fedora up and running. You will learn how to start installation and how specify certain configuration options during the install. Before you even insert the disc, you'll have a chance to consider choices that will affect how you install Fedora. It is impossible to take you through every single variation of the install, but you will get a step-by-step guide of a typical installation, including how to log in to your new system and shut down or reboot the system.

Before You Begin the Installation

It can be a big step to wipe off whatever was on your hard drive and replace it with Fedora. Before you even go near the CD/DVD drive, prepare for the installation by researching some basic information about your hardware. In Appendix B, 'Installation Resources,' you'll find a useful section on hardware specifications, with a list of hardware devices that you'll probably want. Fortunately, you can now take a test drive with Fedora without ever having to install it to your hard drive, as Fedora has created Live CD spins of the distribution.

Live CDs

If you've not come across Live CDs, you might be a bit unsure as to what they are. Basically, a Live CD is a single CD that enables you to boot into a fully functional operating system, in this case Fedora. The Live CD stores all the system files on the CD in a compressed format, uncompressing parts of the operating system as needed. The upshot of this is that you can give Fedora a try without having to repartition or otherwise modify your hard drive.

More important, however, the Live CD enables you to test your hardware to make sure that it is compatible with Fedora. When you are happy, you can use the Live CD to give you a base Fedora installation. Just double-click the Install icon on the desktop and follow the installation instructions found later in this chapter. For