1. Home
  2. Linux systems
  3. Red Hat

Chapter 4. How Linux Works

Before you can effectively use a desktop environment, you need to know some Linux fundamentals. This chapter explains basic Linux concepts that underlie graphical and nongraphical system use. It describes Linux user accounts and how Linux organizes data as filesystems, directories, and files. This chapter also explains how to use the X Window System (often known simply as X). Because both GNOME and KDE are built on top of X, an understanding of X is central to using either desktop environment. Even though you're probably eager to get working with your new system, I suggest you at least skim this chapter. I also predict that you'll come back to it when you have some more experience and run into something confusing.



    		Preface
    		Chapter 1. Why Run Linux?
    		Chapter 2. Preparing to Install Red Hat Linux
    		Chapter 3. Installing Red Hat Linux
    		Chapter 4. How Linux Works
    		4.1 User Accounts
    		4.2 How Linux Organizes Data
    		4.3 Using X
    		Chapter 5. Using the GNOME and KDE Desktops
    		Chapter 6. Using Linux Applications
    		Chapter 7. Conquering the bash Shell
    		Chapter 8. Installing Software Using the RPM Package Manager
    		Chapter 9. Configuring and Administering Linux
    		Chapter 10. Connecting to the Internet
    		Chapter 11. Setting Up a Networked Workstation
    		Chapter 12. Setting Up Internet Services
    		Chapter 13. Advanced Shell Usage and Shell Scripts
    		Appendix A. Linux Directory Tree
    		Appendix B. Principal Linux Files
    		Appendix C. Managing the Boot Process
    		Appendix D. Linux Command Quick Reference
    		Colophon