OpenSUSE Linux Rants

This manual provided by the good folks at Novell goes over many things you’ll want to know when learning to use openSUSE Linux 10.2. The table of contents reveals the main topics of this book:

1. Installation with YAST
2. Setting Up Hardware Components with YAST
3. Installing or Removing Hardware
4. Accessing the Internet
5. Managing Users with YAST
6. Changing the System Language with YAST
7. Basic Concepts
8. Shell Basics
9. Mobile Computing with Linux
10. Managing Network Connections with NetworkManager
11. Copying and Sharing Files
12. Help and Documentation
13. Common Problems and Their Solutions
14. GNU Licenses
15. Index

Sometimes, you need to gather information about your Linux system. This can be so that you know what is happening on your system, or so that you can install hardware, or so that you can better describe details to other people who are trying to help you resolve an issue.

As I was writing this e-book, I found that there are quite a number of ways to gather some very useful information about your computer.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. YAST Knows Hardware
3. Sysinfo – A Linux Box System Information Retriever
4. System Commands / Command-line Tools
5. w
6. who
7. lastlog
8. last
9. netstat
10. ps
11. top
12. tail
13. lsof
14. lspci
15. lsusb
16. mount
17. fstab
18. fdisk
19. system log
20. dmesg
21. free
22. whowatch
23. Other Helpful Resources
24. Conclusion

One of the very first things that users need to know is how to install software in Linux. This book is a no-nonsense introduction to mastering the basics of using YAST to manage your system software. It also provides a few tips on how to get all the latest software from all the great servers.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Open YAST
3. Installation Sources
4. Finding YAST Installation Sources
5. Registering Installation Sources in YAST
6. Installing Software in YAST
7. Uninstalling Software in YAST
8. Conclusion

Last year I published this book for SUSE 10.1, though almost all of it is relevant to openSUSE 10.2. It was mainly written for people who are competent with using Windows, who have never attempted to use Linux but are interested in giving it a try.

When I was first learning Linux, I got so lost so fast in so many areas, it was hugely overwhelming for me. I was impressed that I was able to download Linux, burn it onto CDs, and get it installed. But once I got that far, I was excited, but my excitement was short-lived. I had no idea what to do next, how to install software, or what software even to install for what I needed. I didn’t understand the concept of Open Source software. I didn’t know where to go for help. I most assuredly did not know a thing about the command line. 10 years of using Windows was of very little help. I felt that though I was a fairly able computer user, I had stepped into a situation where such experience did me little good.

In the book, I try to explain some concepts of how Linux is similar to Windows, helping people become familiar with it very quickly. I also explain some of the most important differences, many of which are improvements from the environment to which they have become accustomed. The book also dispels many myths that may serve to hamper the adoption of Linux more fully. The overall purpose is to give people a bridge from what they already know to the powerful, fascinating world that is the Linux operating system. Because that world can be a little daunting at first, it’s nice to have a little help getting used to things. This is what the “Easiest Linux Guide You’ll Ever Read” is designed to do.

Table of Contents:

1. Who should read this book
2. An introduction before we start
3. More familiar than you think
4. Common Myths
5. Things to know about Linux
6. Getting Help and Learning More
7. General reading material
8. Forums
9. Mailing Lists
10. Other Resources
11. How do I get Linux?
12. Download Linux and put it onto CDs
13. Purchasing Linux Installation CDs
14. Installing SUSE Linux
15. Installation Options
16. Linux-only Installation
17. Sharing the computer between Linux and Windows
18. Introduction to Users and Groups
19. Get to Know Your Desktop
20. What is KDE?
21. The K Menu
22. The Kicker Panel
23. The KDE Control Center
24. Changing Mouse Behavior
25. Changing Time and Date Display Format
26. Window Themes
27. Desktop Preferences
28. Konqueror: filesystem and web browser
29. Browsing through your files
30. As a web browser
31. Kicker Panel
32. Installing Applications
33. Applications
34. OpenOffice
35. OpenOffice Writer
36. OpenOffice Calc
37. Thunderbird
38. Setting up your email account
39. Sending and receiving email
40. Firefox
41. So you want to use the command line?
42. View directory contents with ‘ls’
43. Make a directory with ‘mkdir’
44. Remove a directory with ‘rmdir’
45. Change to a directory with ‘cd’
46. What directory am I in? Using ‘pwd’
47. Copying files with ‘cp’
48. Moving files with ‘mv’
49. Deleting files with ‘rm’
50. Viewing text files with ‘cat’
51. Viewing text files with ‘less’
52. What time is it? What is the date? Using ‘date’
53. Using ‘man’ to find help
54. Conclusion