Overview

Secrets in This Chapter

• Controlling Linux with Boot Parameters

• Configuring for the First Time with Firstboot

• Logging in at Graphical Login Screen

• Shutting Down Linux

• Using Directory Navigation Commands

• Showing the Current Directory in the Shell Prompt

• Interpreting Directory Listings and Permissions

• Understanding Environment Variables

• Viewing Process Information

• Editing Recalled Commands

• Using Aliases

Now that you have installed Red Hat Linux from this book’s companion CD-ROMs, you are ready to explore and learn the basics of Red Hat Linux. This chapter shows you how to log in, log out, and shut down your Linux system. Then, you power up again and learn about Linux commands.

Although Red Hat Linux comes with the GNOME and KDE graphical user interfaces (GUIs), you can’t do everything from the graphical environment. It’s not impossible to design a graphical interface that enables you to perform most chores, but sometimes you may have to perform system-administration tasks when the graphical environment is not available. You may be logged in through a terminal session, or you may have problems with X. In such cases, you have to use Linux commands to accomplish specific tasks.

This chapter also shows you how to work with files and directories in Red Hat Linux. To use files and directories, you need to understand the concept of a hierarchical file system. The chapter provides a quick introduction to the Linux file system. Then, you learn to explore the file system with the Nautilus graphical shell. Finally, you learn several Linux commands that you can use to work with files and directories.