Summary

Once you have installed Red Hat Linux on your PC, you can begin learning how to use and operate a Red Hat Linux system. Some of the basic steps are to log in, log out, and shut down the system. You also need to learn how to navigate the file system. At heart, Linux is still UNIX, and you have to learn to use a shell-a command interpreter-to perform many common tasks. Even when you use a graphical interface, you sometimes have to open a terminal window and type commands at the shell prompt. This chapter has gotten you started with Red Hat Linux operations and Bash-the Bourne Again shell-and some Linux commands for navigating the file system. You also have learned to use the Nautilus shell to explore the file system.

By reading this chapter, you learned the following:

With graphical login enabled, you can log in, log out, and shut down a Red Hat Linux system from the graphical screen. You can also use /sbin/shutdown to shut down the system from the shell prompt.
Online documentation is available to help with many aspects of the Linux operating system. You can also read online HOWTO documents that describe how to perform specific tasks or use specific software in Linux.
The Linux directory structure is organized logically as a single tree, regardless of the physical location of subdirectories. Linux includes many commands for navigating directories and manipulating files.
GNOME includes the Nautilus graphical shell, which you can use to work with files and directories.
Even when you stay in the graphical environment of the X Window System and GNOME (or KDE), you may have to type Linux commands in a terminal window to perform many routine tasks. This especially is true when you log in using Telnet or when you have problems with X.
A shell is a program that runs commands for you. Bash is the default shell in Linux. Bash is compatible with the Bourne shell that comes with all other UNIX systems.