About the Companion CD-ROMs

Red Hat Linux 9 Professional Secrets addresses the needs of new users who want to put Red Hat Linux to some productive use on their home or office PC. To ensure that readers have everything they need to start using Red Hat Linux, this book includes a copy of Red Hat Linux 9 (with Linux kernel 2.4.20) on the companion CD-ROMs. Red Hat Linux is easy to install and is well supported by Red Hat (http://www.redhat.com).

See Appendix H for a summary description of the contents of the companion CD-ROMs. As you browse the contents of the CD-ROMs, you'11 notice that there is a huge amount of software included in Red Hat Linux. The long list of software shouldn't overwhelm you. You only have to learn to use what you need. Besides, this book will show you how to install Red Hat Linux and use most of this software.

If you have enough space (at least 4GB) available on your PC's hard disk (or, better yet, a spare second hard disk) and your PC can boot from the CD-ROM drive, Red Hat Linux installation can be as simple as plopping the first CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, booting the PC, and filling up information in a series of dialog boxes. You don't have to take my word for it-you can see for yourself.

It's time to get started on your Linux adventure. Take out the companion CD-ROM, turn to Chapter 1, and let the fun begin. Before you know it, you'll be a Linux expert!

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!