Starter Guide

Mandrakelinux 10.1

http://www.mandrakesoft.com

by Camille Bégnis, Christian Roy, Fabian Mandelbaum, Roberto Rosselli del Turco, Marco De Vitis, Alice Lafox, John Rye, Wolfgang Bornath, Funda Wang, Patricia Pichardo Bégnis, Debora Rejnharc Mandelbaum, Mickael Scherer, Jean-Michel Dault, Lunas Moon, Céline Harrand, Fred Lepied, Pascal Rigaux, Thierry Vignaud, Giuseppe Ghibò, Stew Benedict, Francine Suzon, Indrek Madedog Triipus, Nicolas Berdugo, Thorsten Kamp, Fabrice Facorat, Xiao Ming, Snature .

Legal Notice

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  • That the “front cover texts” below, the section called “About Mandrakelinux”, and the section stating the names of authors and contributors are attached to the reproduced, duplicated or distributed version and remain unchanged.

  • That this manual, specifically for the printed format, is reproduced and/or distributed for noncommercial use only.

The express authorization of Mandrakesoft SA must be obtained prior to any other use of any manual or part thereof.

Mandrake”, “Mandrakesoft”, “DrakX” and “Linux-Mandrake” are registered Trademarks in the US and/or other countries. The related “Star logo” is also registered. All rights reserved. All other copyrights embodied in this document remain the property of their respective owners.

Front-cover texts
Mandrakesoft September 2004
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/
Copyright © 1999-2004 by Mandrakesoft S.A. and Mandrakesoft Inc.

Tools Used in The Making of This Manual

This manual was written in XML DocBook. The set of files involved were managed using Borges. The XML source files were processed by xsltproc, openjade and jadetex using a customized version of Norman Walsh's stylesheets. Screen shots were taken using xwd or GIMP and converted with convert (from the ImageMagick package). All these programs are free software and are available in your Mandrakelinux distribution.

September 2004


Table of Contents

Preface
About Mandrakelinux
Contacting the Mandrakelinux Community
Join the Club
Subscribe to Mandrakeonline
Purchasing Mandrakesoft Products
Contribute to Mandrakelinux
About this User Guide
Note from the Editor
Conventions Used in this Book
Typing Conventions
General Conventions
I. Installing Mandrakelinux
1. Installation Warning
2. Before Installation
Configuring your BIOS
Creating a Floppy Boot Disk
Creating a Boot Disk With Windows
Creating a Floppy Boot Disk From GNU/Linux
Supported Hardware
Notes About Winmodems
3. Installation with DrakX
The Mandrakelinux Installer
Choosing your Language
License Terms of the Distribution
Installation Class
Configuring the Keyboard
Security Level
Partitioning Your Disk
Choose Packages to Install
Choose Package Groups to Install
Choosing Individual Packages to Install
Multiple CD-ROM Installation
Root Password
Adding a User
Installing a Bootloader
Checking Miscellaneous Parameters
Summary
Time Zone Options
Configuring X, the Graphical Server
Selecting Available Services at Boot Time
Installing Updates from the Internet
It's Over!
Advanced Options
How to Uninstall Linux
II. Discover
4. Migrating to Linux from Windows® and Mac OS® X
Where's my...?
Start Menu
Applications
Control Panel/System Preferences
DOS Shell
Network Neighborhood
C: Drive
CD-ROM Drives
Floppy Disk Drives
My Documents
The Applications Needed to Open Some Kinds of Document
A Brave New World!
A Multi-User Environment
Multiple Tasking
Multiple Desktops
Full Desktop Customization
Thousands of Free Applications
No More Reboots!
5. Linux for Beginners
Introduction
The Boot-Loader Menu
Getting Ready for your Session
Beginning your Session
The Mandrakefirsttime Wizard
Identifying Yourself
Using your Graphical Environment
The Mandrakelinux Desktop
Accessing Applications
Opening a Window on the Desktop
Managing Desktops
Logging Out of your Session
6. Where to Get Documentation
Mandrakelinux-Specific Documentation
Mandrakesoft's Own Documentation
Internet Resources
GNU/Linux Useful Resources
The /usr/share/doc Directory
The Man Pages
7. Using KDE
Discovering the K Desktop Environment
The Desktop
The Panel
Virtual Desktops
Personalizing your Desktop
Changing your Desktop's Appearance
Managing Desktop Icons
Changing Screen Resolution
KDE Sessions
III. Using the Internet
8. Surfing with Mozilla
Mozilla Interface
Surfing the Web
Using the Sidebar
Managing Bookmarks
Tabbed Browsing
Installing Plugins
Javatm
Flash®
Real
9. Sending E-mail with Mozilla
Launching Mozilla Messenger
Configuring Mozilla Messenger
Account Type
Account Identity
Mail Servers
Account User Name
Identifying the Account
Account Summary
Mozilla Messenger Interface
Composing a Message
Organizing Your Mail Messages
Folders and Filters
Dealing With Spam
Secure Message Transmission
IV. Use
10. Office Work
Word Processor
OpenOffice.org Writer
Using the Word Processor
Going Further
Conclusion
Spreadsheet
What's a Spreadsheet?
Using the Spreadsheet
Going Further
Conclusion
Managing your Files
Main Window
Sidebar
Copying, Moving, Linking and Deleting Files
Browsing Web Pages
File Sharing
Printing and Faxing from Applications
Accessing KPrinter
KPrinter's Interface
Building PDF Files
Sending Faxes
Handling Print Jobs
Multi-Function Printers
11. Audio, Movie and Video Applications
Audio Applications
Using XMMS
Using Aumix
Movie Applications
Introduction
Xine
MPlayer
Other Movie Applications for Linux
CD Burning
Getting Started
Burning Data CDs (CD-ROMs)
Burning Audio CDs (CDDA)
Duplicating a CD
Audio CD Extraction (Ripping)
Erasing CD-RW media
Going Further
V. Advanced Uses
12. Introduction to the Mandrakelinux Control Center
MCC's Components
Managing Configuration Profiles
Profiles handling
The Drakbug Reporting Tool
13. Boot Device Configuration
Configuring the Login Mode
Changing your Boot-Up Configuration with DrakBoot
Configuring the Bootloader
Managing Boot Entries
Customizing your Boot Theme
14. Hardware Setup
Configuring your Hardware
Introduction
Problems/Troubleshooting
Other Information
Controlling the Graphical Configuration
Changing your Keyboard Layout
Changing your Mouse
Configuring Printers with PrinterDrake
Initial Configuration
The Printers Management Interface
The Printer Configuration Wizard
Reconfiguring an Existing Printer
Expert Mode
15. Parameterizing your Mount Points
Managing your Hard Drive Partitions through DiskDrake
The Interface
DiskDrake's action buttons
Resizing an Old Partition and Creating a New One
Managing Removable Devices
Importing Remote SMB Directories
Importing Remote NFS Directories
Allowing Users to Share Folders
Setting up WebDAV Mount Points
16. Setting up your Network and Accessing the Web
Network and Internet Connection Management
New Connection
Internet Access
Manage Connections
Monitor Connections
Remove a Connection
Proxy Settings
Internet Connection Sharing
17. Securing your Linux Box
Securing your Machine through DrakSec
Setting your Security Level
Customizing a Security Level
Controlling File Permissions with DrakPerm
Securing your Internet Access via DrakFirewall
18. Personalizing your System
Customizing your Menus with MenuDrake
Adding a New Menu Entry
Advanced Features
Configuring Start-Up Services through DrakXServices
Managing Available Fonts on your System through DrakFont
Setting your Machine's Date and Time
Monitoring System Activity and Status through LogDrake
Browsing system logs
Managing Users and Groups with UserDrake
The Interface
Adding a New User
Backing Up and Restoring your Files with DrakBackup
A Practical Example Using the Wizard
Restoring Backups
Automating Periodic Backups
Other DrakBackup Options
19. Package Management through Rpmdrake
Install Software
Selecting Packages to Install
Searching Packages
Updating Media
Remove Software
Mandrakelinux Update
The Software Media Manager
Package Management through the Command Line
Installing and Removing Packages
Media Management
Tricks and Recipes
20. Mandrakeonline Services
Initial Configuration
The Web Management Interface
Subscribing New Machines
Hosts Management
Scheduling Updates
Mandrakeonline Applet
21. Troubleshooting
Introduction
A Boot Disk
Creating a Boot Floppy from the Console
Testing the Boot Disk
Backup
Why Backup?
Preparing your System
What to Backup?
Where to Back Up?
When to Back Up?
Backup Example Using tar
Restore
Restore Example Using tar
Making a Recovery CD-ROM
Problems Arising at Boot Time
System Hanging during Boot
File-System Check on Boot Fails
X Doesn't Start
Bootloader Issues
Bootloader Reinstall
Backing Up and Restoring the MBR
File System Issues
Repairing a Damaged Super-Block
Recovering Deleted Files
Recovering from a System Freeze
Killing Misbehaving Apps
From the Console
Using Graphical Monitoring Tools
Miscellaneous
Mandrakelinux's Specific Troubleshooting Tools
General Guidelines for Solving a Problem under Mandrakelinux
Search the Internet
Mailing Lists and Newsgroups Archives
Directly Contacting the Person in Charge
Mandrakesoft Business Services
Final Thoughts
A. The GNU General Public License
Preamble
Terms and conditions for copying,  distribution  and  modification
Index

List of Figures

2.1. The Rawwrite Program
3.1. Very First Installation Welcome Screen
3.2. Available Installation Options
3.3. Choosing the Default Language
5.1. The Mandrakefirsttime Wizard
5.2. The Login Window
5.3. The KDE Desktop
5.4. KDE File Manager
5.5. KDE's Virtual Desktop Buttons
7.1. The KDE Desktop
7.2. The KDE Panel
7.3. Changing KDE's Color Scheme
7.4. Changing KDE's Background Wallpaper
7.5. Available Screen Resolutions List
7.6. Accept New Resolution Settings?
8.1. Mozilla Browser Interface
8.2. Search Tab
8.3. Bookmarks and History Tabs
8.4. Bookmarks Manager Dialog
8.5. Mozilla's Browser Tabs
9.1. Launching Mozilla Messenger from the Left-Bottom Toolbar
9.2. Creating an E-Mail Account
9.3. Giving Some Information About Yourself
9.4. Which are your Mail Servers?
9.5. What is your User Name?
9.6. Giving the Account a Name
9.7. Mail Account Configuration Summary
9.8. Mail Client Interface
9.9. The Message-Compose Window
9.10. The Filter Creation Window
9.11. Junk-Mail Control Options
9.12. GPG Key Generation Options
10.1. OpenOffice.org Writer's Main Window
10.2. Rows, Columns and Cells
10.3. Simplifying Data Entry Using Auto-Completion
10.4. Using a Function in a Formula
10.5. Choosing the Chart Type
10.6. A 3D Chart Inside the Spreadsheet
10.7. Konqueror
10.8. KPrinter Window
10.9. Printer Properties Window
10.10. Changing Printer Resolution
10.11. More Printing Settings
10.12. Generating a PDF File
10.13. Faxing Main Window
10.14. Fax Settings
10.15. Print Queue
11.1. XMMS Main Window
11.2. Loading Files into XMMS
11.3. Chaos Skin
11.4. Aumix Application
11.5. Xine's Control Window
11.6. MPlayer's Control Window
11.7. K3b's Interface
11.8. Burn CD Image Options
11.9. Selecting Files/Directories to Include on the CD
11.10. Setting Writing Parameters
11.11. Selecting Audio Tracks to Include on the CD
11.12. Setting Copy CD Options
11.13. CD Ripping Options
11.14. Setting CD-RW Blanking Options
12.1. The Control Center's Main Window
12.2. The Control Center Profiles Menu
12.3. Reporting a Bug with Drakbug
13.1. Choosing the Login Mode
13.2. Choosing the Boot Mode
13.3. DrakBoot Theme Window
14.1. Selected Device
14.2. XFdrake's Main Window
14.3. Choosing a New Monitor
14.4. Changing your Screen's Resolution
14.5. Choosing a Different Keyboard Layout
14.6. Choosing a Different Mouse
14.7. Activate Printing
14.8. Activating Network Printers
14.9. A New Printer is Detected
14.10. Managing Printers
14.11. Auto-Detecting Printers
14.12. The Printer Port
14.13. Multi-Function Device
14.14. Choosing the Printer Model
14.15. Configuring the Printer's Options
14.16. Choosing a Name for your Printer
14.17. Test the Printer
14.18. Modifying an Existing Printer
14.19. Configuring a Remote Printer
15.1. DiskDrake's Main Window
15.2. The /home Partition Before Resizing
15.3. Choosing a New Size
15.4. Defining the New Partition
15.5. The New Partition Table
15.6. Confirming the Writing of the Partition Table
15.7. Changing a Parameter
15.8. Scanning the Whole Network
15.9. Authenticating on a Remote Samba Server
15.10. Choosing the Remote Directory to Import
15.11. Controlling Exports
15.12. Choosing the Export Protocol
15.13. Managing WebDAV Mounts Points
15.14. WebDAV Menu
16.1. DrakConnect Tools
16.2. Choosing the Type of Network Connection to Configure
16.3. Setting Dialup Connection Parameters
16.4. Configuring the Internet Access
16.5. Manage network connections
16.6. Configuring a Client to Use DHCP
17.1. Choosing the Security Level of your System
17.2. Modifying Standard MSEC Options
17.3. Configuring File-Permission Checks
17.4. Adding a File-Permissions Rule
17.5. The DrakFirewall Window
17.6. The Internet Interface
18.1. Launching MenuDrake in System or User Mode
18.2. MenuDrake's Main Window
18.3. Adding a New Menu Entry
18.4. A New Menu Entry with MenuDrake
18.5. Choosing a Menu Style
18.6. Choosing the Services Available at Boot Time
18.7. DrakFont's Main Window
18.8. Changing Date and Time
18.9. Browsing and Searching through System Logs
18.10. The Users List in UserDrake
18.11. Adding a New User in the System
18.12. Adding Users to a Group
18.13. Main DrakBackup Window
18.14. Selecting What to Backup
18.15. Selecting Where to Store the Backup
18.16. Setting Optical Media Parameters
18.17. Review Configuration Parameters
18.18. Backup Progress Dialog
18.19. Choosing the Restore Type to Perform
18.20. Daemon Options Window
18.21. Miscellaneous Options Window
19.1. Software Management in the Mandrakelinux Control Center
19.2. The Software Packages Installation interface
19.3. Rpmdrake — dependency alert box
19.4. Rpmdrake — package alternatives
19.5. The Software Media Manager
19.6. Rpmdrake — adding a Media
19.7. Rpmdrake — managing keys
19.8. Rpmdrake — configuring a proxy
20.1. Creating a new Mandrakeonline account
20.2. Authentify on Mandrakeonline
20.3. Setup Automatic Updates
20.4. Mandrakeonline hosts list
20.5. Up To Date Mandrakeonline Host
20.6. Outdated Mandrakeonline Host
20.7. Select Packages to be Updated
20.8. Mandrakeonline Applet

List of Tables

8.1. Mozilla's Web Browser Toolbar Buttons
9.1. Mozilla Messenger's Toolbar Buttons
9.2. Toolbar Buttons of the Message-Compose Window
9.3. Enigmail Toolbar Buttons
10.1. Suggested Styles
10.2. Konqueror Sidebar Icons
10.3. Jobs Queue Control Buttons
11.1. K3b's Toolbar Buttons
12.1. Overview of Graphical Tools