Red Hat Linux Fedora 3 Unleashed

Introduction.

What Is Linux?

What Is Fedora Core?

Roots of Red Hat and Fedora

Licensing

Why Use Linux?

Who This Book Is For

What This Book Contains

Conventions Used in This Book

I. INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION.

1. Introducing Fedora.

What Is Fedora Core?

Inside Fedora Core

Features of the Fedora Install

Fedora File System Features

Fedora for Business

Fedora in Your Home

Getting the Most from Fedora and Linux Documentation

Fedora Developers and Documentation

Reference

2. Preparing to Install Fedora.

Planning Your Fedora Deployment

Business Considerations

System Considerations

User Considerations

A Predeployment Planning Checklist

Planning the Installation

Hardware Requirements

Meeting the Minimum Fedora Core Hardware Requirements

Using Legacy Hardware

Planning for Hard Drive Storage for Your Fedora Installation Class

Checking Hardware Compatibility

Preparing for Potential Hardware Problems

Preparing and Using a Hardware Inventory

Preparing for the Install Process

Preparing to Install from a CD-ROM

Partitioning Before and During Installation

Choosing a Partitioning Scheme

Hosting Parts of the Linux Filesystem on Separate Partitions

Using Red Hat's kickstart Installation Method

Reference

3. Installing Fedora.

Before You Begin the Installation

Research Your Hardware Specifications

Choose an Installation Type

Choose Software Installation Options

Planning Partition Strategies

The Boot Loader

Choosing How to Install Fedora

Installing from CD-ROM

Installing Using a Network

Step-by-Step Installation

Starting the Install

Partitioning Your Drive

Choosing, Configuring, and Installing the Boot Loader

Network Configuration

Firewall and Security Configuration

Setting the Time Zone

Creating a Root Password and User Accounts

Software Selection and Installation

Create a Bootdisk

Finishing the Install

Login and Shutdown

Reference

4. Post-Installation Issues.

Troubleshooting Post-Installation Configuration Problems

Your Hardware and kudzu

Pointer and Keyboard Configuration

Configuring Keyboards with Linux

Configuring Pointing Devices in Fedora

Configuring Display Graphics

Configuring Sound Devices

Detecting and Configuring a Modem

Configuring a Serial-Port Modem

Configuring a Fax Modem

Configuring minicom for Modem Use

Configuring Controllerless Modems for Laptops

Configuring Power Management in Fedora

Resetting the Date and Time

Using the date Command

Using the hwclock Command

Using the system-config-date Client

Managing PCMCIA

Using PCMCIA

Controlling PCMCIA Service

Configuring and Using CD, DVD, and CD-RW Drives

Checking Drive Assignment

Initializing IEEE 1394 CD Drives

Reference

5. First Steps with Fedora.

Working with the Linux File System

Viewing the Linux File System

Use Essential Commands from the /bin and /sbin Directories

Store the Booted Kernel and View Stored Devices in the /boot and /dev Directories

Use and Edit Files in the /etc Directory

Protect the Contents of User Directories-/home

Use the Contents of the /proc Directory to Interact with the Kernel

Work with Shared Data in the /usr Directory

Temporary File Storage in the /tmp Directory

Access Variable Data Files in the /var Directory

Logging In to and Working with Linux

Text-based Console Login

Working with Virtual Consoles

Using Simple Keyboard and Mouse Techniques in a Linux Console Session

Logging Out

Logging In and Out from a Remote Computer

Changing Your User Information

Reading Documentation

Using man Pages

Finding and Reading Software Packages Documentation

Using the Shell

Using Environment Variables

Navigating and Searching with the Shell

Managing Files with the Shell

Compressing and Decompressing Files Through the Shell

Using the Text Editors

Working with vi

Working with emacs

Working with Permissions

Assigning Permissions

Directory Permissions

Understanding Set User ID (SUID) and Set Group ID (SGID) Permissions

Working As root

Creating Users

Deleting Users

Shutting Down the System

Rebooting the System

Reference

6. The X Window System.

Basic X Concepts

Using X11R6

Elements of the xorg.conf File

Configuring X

Starting X

Using a Display Manager

Starting X from the Console by Using startx

Selecting and Using X Window Managers

Using Red Hat's switchdesk

The Tab Window Manager

The Motif Window Manager

The sawfish Window Manager

The Metacity Window Manager (metacity)

The GNOME and KDE Desktop Environments

GNOME: The GNU Network Object Model Environment

KDE: The K Desktop Environment

Reference

II. SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGING SERVICES.

7. Managing Services.

Understanding the Fedora Core Linux Boot Process

Beginning the Boot Loading Process

Loading the Linux Kernel

System Services and Runlevels

Runlevel Definitions

Booting into the Default Runlevel

Booting to a Non-Default Runlevel with GRUB

Understanding init Scripts and the Final Stage of Initialization

Running Services Through xinetd

Controlling Services at Boot with Administrative Tools

Using the chkconfig Text-Based Command-Line Tool

Using the GUI-based Service Configuration Tool

Starting and Stopping Services Manually

Changing Runlevels

Using Service Management to Troubleshoot Problems in Fedora Core Linux

Reference

8. Managing Software and System Resources.

Using RPM for Software Management

Command-Line and Graphical RPM Clients

Using rpm on the Command Line

Package Organization with RPM

Extracting a Single File from an RPM File

Graphical Package Management

Using Red Hat Network and Alternatives for Software Management

APT

YUM

Compiling Software from Source

Building RPMS from src.rpm Files

Working with Source RPM Files

Compile from Source Tarballs

System Monitoring Tools

Console-based Monitoring

Using the kill Command to Control Processes

Using Priority Scheduling and Control

Displaying Free and Used Memory with free

Disk Quotas

Graphical Process and System Management Tools

KDE Process and System Monitoring Tools

Reference

9. Managing Users.

User Accounts

User IDs and Group IDs

File Permissions

Managing Groups

Group Management Tools

Managing Users

User Management Tools

Adding New Users

Monitoring User Activity on the System

Managing Passwords

System Password Policy

The Password File

Shadow Passwords

Managing Password Security for Users

Changing Passwords in a Batch

Granting System Administrator Privileges to Regular Users

Temporarily Changing User Identity with the su Command

Granting Root Privileges on Occasion-The sudo Command

Control Via Restricted Shells

The User Login Process

Disk Quotas

Implementing Quotas

Manually Configuring Quotas

Reference

10. Managing the File System.

The Fedora Core Linux File System Basics

Physical Structure of the File System on the Disk

File System Partitions

Network and Disk File Systems

Viewing Your System's File Systems

Working with the ext3 File System

Understanding the ext3 File System Structure

Journaling Options in ext3

Verifying File Integrity in ext3 File Systems with the fsck Utility

Other File Systems Available to Fedora Core Linux

The Reiser File System

JFS and XFS File Systems

DOS File Systems

CD-ROM File Systems

Creating a File System

The Disk As a Storage Device

Creating the Partition Table

Creating the File System on the Partitioned Disk

Creating a DOS File System with mkdosfs

Mounting File Systems

The mount Command

The umount Command

Mounting Automatically with /etc/fstab

GUI Tools to Mount File Systems

Relocating a File System

Installing the New Drive

Creating the Partition Table and Formatting the Disk

Mounting the New Partition and Populating It with the Relocated Files

Logical Volume Management

File System Manipulation

Creating a File System for Testing

Using dumpe2fs

Mounting a Partition As Read-Only on a Running System

Converting an Existing ext2 File System to ext3

Examine an initrd Image File

Examine a Floppy Image File

Disk Tuning

Using the BIOS and Kernel to Tune the Disk Drives

The hdparm Command

File System Tuning

The mke2fs Command

The tune2fs Command

The e2fsck Command

The badblocks Command

The noatime Option for the mount Command

Managing Files for Character Devices, Block Devices, and Special Devices

Naming Conventions Used for Block and Character Devices

Using mknod to Create Devices

Reference

11. Backing Up, Restoring, and Recovery.

Choosing a Backup Strategy

Why Data Loss Occurs

Assessing Your Backup Needs and Resources

Evaluating Backup Strategies

Making the Choice

Choosing Backup Hardware and Media

Removable Storage Media

Network Storage

Tape Drive Backup

Using Backup Software

tar

Backing Up Files with cpio

The GNOME File Roller

The KDE Archiving Tools (KDE ark and kdat)

Using the dd Command for Archiving

Using the Amanda Backup Application

Alternative Backup Software

Copying Files

Copying Files Using tar

Compressing, Encrypting, and Sending tar Streams

Copying Files Using cp

Copying Files Using cpio

Copying Files Using mc

Copying Files Using scp

Copying Files Using rsync

Undeleting Files

Using the ext2fs Undeletion Process

Reformatting with the -S Option When Experiencing Unrecoverable File System Errors

Undeleting Files Using mc

System Rescue

The Fedora Core Rescue Disk

Backing Up and Restoring the Master Boot Record

Manually Restoring the Partition Table

Booting the System from the Rescue CD

Booting the System from a Generic Boot Floppy

Using a GRUB Boot Floppy

Using the Recovery Facility from the Installation Disk

Reference

III. SYSTEM SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

12. Printing with Fedora.

Overview of Fedora Printing

Configuring and Managing Print Services

GUI-based Printer Configuration Quickstart

Console-based Printer Configuration Quickstart

Managing Printing Services

Creating and Configuring Local Printers

Creating the Print Queue

Editing Printer Settings

Creating Network Printers

Enabling Network Printing on a LAN

Session Message Block Printing

Network-Attached Printer Configuration and Printing

Console Print Control

Console-based Printer Configuration

Using Basic Print Commands

Manage Print Jobs

Using the Common UNIX Printing System

Creating a CUPS Printer Entry

Avoiding Printer-Support Problems

All-in-One (Print/Fax/Scan) Devices

Using USB and Legacy Printers

Reference

13. Network Connectivity.

Networking with TCP/IP

TCP/IP Addressing

Using IP Masquerading in Fedora

Ports

Network Organization

Subnetting

Subnet Masks

Broadcast, Unicast, and Multicast Addressing

Hardware Devices for Networking

Network Interface Cards

Network Cable

Hubs

Routers and Bridges

Initializing New Network Hardware

Using Network Configuration Tools

Command-Line Network Interface Configuration

Network Configuration Files

Using Graphical Configuration Tools

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

How DHCP Works

Activating DHCP at Installation and Boot Time

DHCP Software Installation and Configuration

Using DHCP to Configure Network Hosts

Other Uses for DHCP

Using the Network File System

Installing and Starting or Stopping NFS

NFS Server Configuration

NFS Client Configuration

Putting Samba to Work

Manually Configuring Samba with /etc/samba/smb.conf

Setting Global Samba Behavior with the [global] Section

Testing Samba with the testparm Command

Starting the smbd Daemon

Mounting Samba Shares

Configuring Samba Using SWAT

Wireless Networking

Support for Wireless Networking in Fedora

Cellular Networking

Advantages of Wireless Networking

Choosing from Among Available Wireless Protocols

Securing a Wireless Network

Securing Your Network

Using lokkit and system-config-securitylevel for Firewalling

Passwords and Physical Security

Securing TCP/IP

Configuring and Using Tripwire

Devices

Securing DHCP

Securing NFS

Making Samba Secure

Keeping Up-to-Date on Linux Security Issues

Using Patches/Upgrades to Keep Your Network Secure

Reference

General

DHCP

Wireless

Security

Books

14. Managing DNS.

Configuring DNS for Clients

Understanding the /etc/host.conf File

Understanding the /etc/nsswitch.conf File

Understanding the /etc/hosts File

Understanding the /etc/resolv.conf File

Understanding the Changes Made by DHCP

Essential DNS Concepts

How Nameservers Store DNS Structure Information

How DNS Provides Name Service Information to Users

Name Resolution in Practice

Reverse Resolution

What Did the Resolver Learn?

Using DNS Tools

dig

host

nslookup

whois

Configuring a Local Caching Nameserver

Your Own Domain Name and Third-Party DNS

Providing DNS for a Real Domain with BIND

rndc.conf

named.conf

Logging

Resolver Configuration

Running the named Nameserver Daemon

Providing DNS for a Real Domain

Forward Zone

Reverse Zone

Registering the Domain

Troubleshooting DNS

Delegation Problems

Reverse Lookup Problems

Maintaining Accurate Serial Numbers

Troubleshooting Problems in Zone Files

Tools for Troubleshooting

Using Fedora Core's BIND Configuration Tool

Managing DNS Security

UNIX Security Considerations

DNS Security Considerations

Using DNS Security Extensions

Using Split DNS

Reference

15. Internet Connectivity.

Common Configuration Information

Laying the Foundation: The localhost Interface

Checking for the Availability of the Loopback Interface

Configuring the Loopback Interface Manually

Configuring Dial-up Internet Access

Configuring a Dial-up Connection Manually

Using the Fedora Core Internet Configuration Wizard

Configuring Digital Subscriber Line Access

Understanding Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet

Configuring a PPPOE Connection Manually

Troubleshooting Connection Problems

Configuring a Dial-in PPP Server

Reference

16. Apache Web Server Management.

About the Apache Web Server

Installing the Apache Server

Installing from the RPM

Building the Source Yourself

Starting and Stopping Apache

Starting the Apache Server Manually

Using /etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd

Controlling Apache with Red Hat's service Command

Controlling Apache with Red Hat's chkconfig Command

Controlling Apache with Red Hat's system-config-services Client

Runtime Server Configuration Settings

Runtime Configuration Directives

Editing httpd.conf

Apache Multi-Processing Modules

Using .htaccess Configuration Files

File System Authentication and Access Control

Restricting Access with allow and deny

Authentication

Final Words on Access Control

Apache Modules

mod_access

mod_alias

mod_asis

mod_auth

mod_auth_anon

mod_auth_dbm

mod_auth_digest

mod_autoindex

mod_cgi

mod_dir and mod_env

mod_expires

mod_headers

mod_imap

mod_include

mod_info and mod_log_config

mod_mime and mod_mime_magic

mod_negotiation

mod_proxy

mod_rewrite

mod_setenvif

mod_speling

mod_status

mod_ssl

mod_unique_id

mod_userdir

mod_usertrack

mod_vhost_alias

Virtual Hosting

Address-based Virtual Hosts

Name-based Virtual Hosts

Logging

Dynamic Content

CGI

SSI

Basic SSI Directives

Flow Control

Graphic Interface Configuration of Apache

Configuring Virtual Host Properties

Configuring the Server

Configuring Apache for Peak Performance

Other Web Servers for Use with Fedora

thttpd

Sun ONE Web Server

Stronghold

Zope

Zeus Web Server

TWiki

Reference

17. Administering Database Services.

A Brief Review of Database Basics

How Relational Databases Work

Understanding SQL Basics

Creating Tables

Inserting Data into Tables

Retrieving Data from a Database

Choosing a Database: MySQL Versus PostgreSQL

Speed

Data Locking

ACID Compliance in Transaction Processing to Protect Data Integrity

SQL Subqueries

Procedural Languages and Triggers

Available Applications

Installing and Configuring MySQL

Initializing the Data Directory in MySQL

Setting a Password for the MySQL Root User

Creating a Database in MySQL

Granting and Revoking Privileges in MySQL

Installing and Configuring PostgreSQL

Initializing the Data Directory in PostgreSQL

Creating a Database in PostgreSQL

Creating Database Users in PostgreSQL

Deleting Database Users in PostgreSQL

Granting and Revoking Privileges in PostgreSQL

Database Clients

SSH Access to a Database

Local GUI Client Access to a Database

Web Access to a Database

The MySQL Command-Line Client

The PostgreSQL Command-Line Client

Graphical Clients

Reference

18. Secure File Transfer Protocol Service.

Using FTP Clients

Using sftp for Secure File Transfers

The FTP Client Interface

Using the Text-based FTP Client Interface

Using Graphical FTP Clients

FTP Servers

Choosing an Authenticated or Anonymous Server

Fedora FTP Server Packages

Other FTP Servers

Installing FTP Software

The FTP User

xinetd Configuration for wu-ftpd

Configuring xinetd for the wu-ftp Server

Starting the Very Secure FTP Server (vsftpd) Package

Configuring the Very Secure FTP Server

Controlling Anonymous Access

Other vsftpd Server Configuration Files

Configuring the Wu-FTPd Server

Using Commands in the ftpaccess File to Configure wu-ftpd

Configure Access Control

Configure User Information

Configure System Logging

Configure Permission Control

Configure Commands Directed Toward the cdpath

Structure of the shutdown File

Configure FTP Server File-Conversion Actions

Strip Prefix

Strip Postfix

Add-On Prefix

Add-On Postfix

External Command

Types

Options

Description

An Example of Conversions in Action

Using Commands in the ftphosts File to Allow or Deny FTP Server Connection

Server Administration

Display Information About Connected Users

Count the Number of Connections

Use /usr/sbin/ftpshut to Schedule FTP Server Downtime

Use /var/log/xferlog to View a Log of Server Transactions

Reference

19. Handling Electronic Mail.

How Email Is Sent and Received

The Mail Transport Agent

Choosing an MTA

The Mail Delivery Agent

The Mail User Agent

Choosing a Mail Client (MUA)

The mail Application

Mutt

Evolution

Balsa

KMail

Mozilla Mail

Other Mail Clients

Attachments-Sending Binary Files As Text

BinHex

yenc

uuencode and uudecode

Basic Sendmail Configuration and Operation

Configuring Masquerading

Using Smart Hosts

Setting Message Delivery Intervals

Building the sendmail.cf File

Mail Relaying

Forwarding Email with Aliases

Rejecting Email from Specified Sites

Using Fetchmail to Retrieve Mail

Installing Fetchmail

Configuring Fetchmail

Choosing a Mail Delivery Agent (MDA)

Procmail

Spamassassin

Squirrelmail

Virus Scanners

Special Mail Delivery Agents

Mail Daemons

Alternatives to Microsoft Exchange Server

Microsoft Exchange Server/Outlook Client

CommuniGate Pro

Samsung Contact (Formerly Known As HP OpenMail)

Bynari

SuSE OpenExchange

Kroupware

OpenGroupware (Formerly SKYRiX 4.1)

phpgroupware

PHProjekt

IMP/Horde

Conclusion

Reference

Web Resources

Books

20. News and Other Collaborative Communication.

An Overview of Network News

Newsgroups

Selecting a Newsreader

The slrn News Client

The Pan News Client

The KNode News Client

The Mozilla News Client

Collaborating with TWiki

Internet Relay Chat

Internet Messaging with GAIM

Video Conferencing with GnomeMeeting

Mail List Configuration and Management with Mailman

Configuring a Local News Server

Types of News Servers

The INN Package and Configuration Files

Installing the INN Package

Configuring the innd Package

Reference

21. C/C++ Programming Tools for Fedora.

Programming in C with Linux

Programming in C++

Getting Started with Linux C/C++ Programming

The Process of Programming

Elements of the C/C++ Language

Using the C Programming Project Management Tools Provided with Fedora Core Linux

Building Programs with make

Using the autoconf Utility to Configure Code

Managing Software Projects with RCS and CVS

Making Libraries with ar

Debugging Tools

Using the GNU C Compiler

A Simple C Program

Graphical Development Tools

Using the KDevelop Client

Trolltech's QT Designer

The Glade Client for Developing in GNOME

Additional Resources

Reference

22. Shell Scripting.

The Shells Included with This Book

The Shell Command Line

Shell Pattern-Matching Support

Redirecting Input and Output

Piping Data

Background Processing

The Basics of Writing, Creating, and Executing a Shell Script

Creating and Executing a Simple Shell Program with bash

Running the New Shell Program

Storing Shell Scripts for Systemwide Access

Interpreting Shell Scripts Through Specific Shells

Using Variables in Shell Scripts

Assigning a Value to a Variable

Accessing Variable Values

Positional Parameters

A Simple Example of a Positional Parameter

Using Positional Parameters to Access and Retrieve Variables

from the Command Line

Using a Simple Script to Automate Tasks

Built-in Variables

Special Characters

Use Double Quotes to Resolve Variables in Strings with Embedded Spaces

Using Single Quotes to Maintain Unexpanded Variables

Using the Backslash As an Escape Character

Using the Backtick to Replace a String with Output

Comparison of Expressions

Comparison of Expressions in pdksh and bash

Comparing Expressions with tcsh

Iteration Statements

The for Statement

The while Statement

The until Statement

The repeat Statement (tcsh)

The select Statement (pdksh)

The shift Statement

Conditional Statements

The if Statement

The case Statement

The break and exit Statements

Using Functions in Shell Scripts

Reference

23. Using Perl.

Using Perl with Linux

Perl Versions

A Simple Perl Program

Perl Variables and Data Structures

Perl Variable Types

Special Variables

Operators

Comparison Operators

Compound Operators

Arithmetic Operators

Other Operators

Special String Constants

Conditional Statements: if/else and unless

if

unless

Looping

for

foreach

while

until

last and next

do ... while and do ... until

Regular Expressions

Access to the Shell

Switches

Modules and CPAN

Code Examples

Sending Mail

Purging Logs

Posting to Usenet

One-Liners

Command-line Processing

Reference

Books

Usenet

WWW

Other

24. Kernel and Module Management.

The Linux Kernel

The Linux Source Tree

Types of Kernels

Managing Modules

When to Recompile

Kernel Versions

Obtaining the Kernel Sources

Patching the Kernel

Compiling the Kernel

Choosing a Configuration Interface

Using xconfig to Configure the Kernel

Creating an Initial RAM Disk Image

When Something Goes Wrong

Errors During Compile

Runtime Errors, Boot Loader Problems, and Kernel Oops

Kernel Tuning with sysctl

Reference

25. Productivity Applications.

Office Suites for Fedora Core Linux

Working with OpenOffice.org

Working with GNOME Office

Working with KOffice

PDA Connectivity

Command-Line PDA Software for Fedora Core Linux

GUI PDA Client Software

Scanner Applications for Fedora Core Linux

Web Design Tools

Fax Client Software

Other Office and Productivity Tools Included with Fedora Core Linux

Productivity Applications Written for Microsoft Windows

Reference

26. Multimedia Applications.

Burning CDs and DVDs in Fedora Core Linux

Creating CDs from the Command Line

Creating DVDs from the Command Line

Creating CDs with Fedora Core Linux Graphical Clients

Sound and Music

Sound Cards

Recording Sound

Sound Formats

Music Players

Streaming Audio

Viewing TV and Video

TV and Video Hardware

Video Formats

Viewing Video in Linux

Viewing Television with Linux

Personal Video Recorders

DVD and Video Players

Using Still Cameras with Fedora Core Linux

Webcams

Handheld Digital Cameras

Using Scanners in Fedora Core Linux

Graphics Manipulation

The GNU Image Manipulation Program

Working with Graphics Formats

Capturing Screen Images

Linux Gaming

Installing nVidia Video Drivers

Installing Unreal Tournament 2003

Installing Wolfenstein-Enemy Territory

Reference

IV. APPENDIX.

Appendix A. Fedora Internet Resources.

Web Sites and Search Engines

Web Search Tips

Google Is Your Friend

Red Hat Package Listings

Certification

Commercial Support

Documentation

Linux Guides

The Fedora Project

Red Hat Linux

Mini-CD Linux Distributions

Floppy-Based Linux Distributions

Various Intel-Based Linux Distributions

PowerPC-Based Linux Distributions

Linux on Laptops and PDAs

The X Window System

Usenet Newsgroups

Mailing Lists

Fedora Project Mailing Lists

Red Hat Mailing Lists

Internet Relay Chat

Index.