Chapter 5. First Steps with Fedora

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Working with the Linux File System

• Logging In to and Working with Linux

• Changing Your User Information

• Reading Documentation

• Using the Shell

• Using the Text Editors

• Working with Permissions

• Working As Root

• Reference

Fedora offers a rich graphical interface for the desktop (see Chapter 6, "The X Window System"), complete with graphical administration tools that will help you look after your system. Sometimes, though, things can go wrong and you might not have the luxury of nice looking interfaces with which to fix things. At times like these a little knowledge of the shell can come in handy, especially when you need to edit and make changes to important files to bring your system back online. In this chapter, you will learn a lot about how to use Linux via the command line, including some sometimes life-saving tools that will help you should you ever get stuck at a login prompt. We will also look at some basic user administration, along with some functions such as moving and copying files, getting directory listings, managing file permissions, and correctly rebooting or shutting down (halting) a Linux system.

Some of the basic command-line skills covered in this chapter include

• Performing routine tasks Logging in and out, using the text console, changing passwords, and listing and navigating directories

• Basic file management Creating, renaming, and deleting files and directories

• Basic user management Creating and deleting users from the command line

• Basic system management Shutting down and rebooting, reading man pages and other documentation, and using text-based tools to edit system configuration files

Read this chapter if you are migrating to Linux from another platform; the information here is valuable for individual users or system administrators who are new to Linux and are learning to use the command line for the first time.

Tip

For those of you who have used MS-DOS in the past, delving into the command line does not seem as scary as for those who, when faced with a black screen, automatically press the speeddial button allocated for their neighborhood geek. Regardless of which user you are, knowledge of the command line serves you well. Because Linux is a UNIX-style operating system, if you learn the command line functions on Linux, it will be easier for you to use other UNIX-like operating systems, such as the BSD's and even Max OS X.

Note

On the whole, there are two types of users that access a Linux system: normal day-to-day users and the root user or super user. At large organizations, a few people might be granted access rights to the root or super-user account in order to complete necessary system administration tasks. Normal users do not normally need to have root access.

However, if you have Linux installed on your machine as a standalone PC, you automatically have access to the root account. This is so that you can complete necessary configuration and other tasks that require interacting with the system.

This particular aspect of Linux is the victim of a lot of bad press because new users can see it as a significant obstacle to them getting their work done. This is not the case: The root account, as mentioned earlier, is fundamental to a successful Linux system. A lot of work has gone into creating easy-to-use administration tools that take away a lot of the difficulty in maintaining your system. It is still the case that a bit of command-line knowledge serves you well, especially in an emergency.