Conventions Used in This Book

A lot of documentation is included with every Linux distribution, and Fedora Core is certainly no exception. Although the intent of Red Hat Fedora 4 Unleashed is to be as complete as possible, it is impossible to cover every option of every command included in the distribution. However, this book offers numerous tables of various options, commands, or keystrokes to help condense, organize, and present information about a variety of subjects.

This edition is also packed full of screenshots to illustrate nearly all Fedora-specific graphical utilities especially those related to system administration or the configuration and administration of various system and network services.

To help you better understand code listing examples and sample command lines, several formatting techniques are used to show input and ownership. For example, if the command or code listing example shows typed input, the input is formatted in boldface like this:

 $ ls 

If typed input is required, as in response to a prompt, the example typed input also is in boldface, like so:

 Delete files? [Y/n] y 

All statements, variables, and text that should appear on your display use the same boldface formatting. Additionally, command lines that require root or superuser access are prefaced with a pound sign like this:

 # printtool & 

Command-line examples that can be run by any user are prefaced with a dollar sign ($), like so:

 $ ls 

The following elements provide you with useful tidbits of information that relate to the discussion of the text:

NOTE

Notes provide additional information you might want to make note of as you are working; augment a discussion with ancillary details; or point you to an article, a whitepaper, or another online reference for more information about a specific topic.

TIP

A tip can contain special insight or a timesaving technique, as well as information about items of particular interest to you that you might not find elsewhere.

CAUTION

A caution warns you about pitfalls or problems before you run a command, edit a configuration file, or choose a setting when administering your system.

Sidebars Can Be Goldmines

Just because it is in a sidebar doesn't mean that you won't find something new here. Be sure to watch for these elements that bring in outside content that is an aside to the discussion in the text. You will read about other technologies, Linux-based hardware, or special procedures to make your system more robust and efficient.

Other formatting techniques used to increase readability include the use of italics for placeholders in computer command syntax. Computer terms or concepts also are italicized upon first introduction in text.

Finally, you should know that all text, sample code, and screenshots in Red Hat Fedora 4 Unleashed were developed using Fedora and open-source tools.

Read on to start learning about and using the latest version of Fedora Core. Experienced users will want to consider the new information presented in this edition when planning or considering upgrades. New users, or users new to Fedora, will benefit from the details presented in this book.