Starter Guide

Limited Edition 2005

http://www.mandrakesoft.com

NeoDoc

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 , Guylhem Aznar, Pavel Maryanov, Annie Tétrault.

Legal Notice

This manual is protected under Mandrakesoft intellectual property rights. By reproducing, duplicating or distributing this manual in whole or in part, you explicitly agree to conform to the terms and conditions of this license agreement.

This manual may be freely reproduced, duplicated and distributed either as such or as part of a bundled package in electronic and/or printed format, provided however that the following conditions are fulfilled:

  • That this copyright notice appears clearly and distinctively on all reproduced, duplicated and distributed copies.

  • That the “front cover texts” below, Section 1, “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 April 2005
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/
Copyright © 1999-2005 by Mandrakesoft S.A. and Mandrakesoft Inc.

Tools Used in the Making of this Manual

This manual was written in DocBook XML. The set of files involved were managed using the Borges Collaborative Content Creation System (C3S). The XML source files were processed by xsltproc, 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 most of them are available in your Mandrakelinux distribution.

April 2005


Table of Contents

Preface
1. About Mandrakelinux
1.1. Contacting the Mandrakelinux Community
1.2. Join the Club
1.3. Subscribe to Mandrakeonline
1.4. Purchasing Mandrakesoft Products
1.5. Contribute to Mandrakelinux
2. About this User Guide
3. Note from the Editor
4. Conventions Used in this Book
4.1. Typing Conventions
4.2. General Conventions
I. Installing Mandrakelinux
1. Installation Warning
2. Before Installation
1. Configuring your BIOS
2. Creating a Floppy Boot Disk
2.1. Creating a Boot Disk With Windows
2.2. Creating a Floppy Boot Disk From GNU/Linux
3. Supported Hardware
3.1. Notes About Winmodems
3. Installation with DrakX
1. The Mandrakelinux Installer
1.1. The Installation Process
1.2. Installation Options
2. Choosing your Language
3. License Terms of the Distribution
4. Installation Class
5. Configuring the Keyboard
6. Security Level
7. Partitioning your Disk
8. Choose Packages to Install
8.1. Choose Package Groups to Install
8.2. Choosing Individual Packages to Install
9. Multiple CD-ROM Installation
10. Root Password
11. Adding a User
12. Installing a Bootloader
13. Checking Miscellaneous Parameters
13.1. Summary
13.2. Time Zone Options
13.3. Configuring X, the Graphical Server
13.4. Selecting Available Services at Boot Time
14. Installing Updates from the Internet
15. It's Done!
15.1. Advanced Options
16. How to Uninstall Linux
II. Discover
4. Migrating to Linux from Windows® and Mac OS® X
1. Where's my...?
1.1. Start Menu
1.2. Applications
1.3. Control Panel/System Preferences
1.4. DOS Shell
1.5. Network Neighborhood
1.6. C: Drive
1.7. CD-ROM Drives
1.8. Floppy Disk Drives
1.9. My Documents
1.10. The Applications Needed to Open Some Kinds of Document
2. A Brave New World!
2.1. A Multi-User Environment
2.2. Multiple Tasking
2.3. Multiple Desktops
2.4. Full Desktop Customization
2.5. Thousands of Free Applications
2.6. No More Reboots!
5. Linux for Beginners
1. Introduction
2. The Bootloader Menu
3. Getting Ready for your Session
4. Beginning your Session
4.1. Identifying Yourself
5. Using your Graphical Environment
5.1. The Mandrakelinux Desktop
5.2. Accessing Applications
5.3. Opening a Window on the Desktop
5.4. Managing Desktops
6. Logging Out of your Session
6. Accessing Documentation
1. Mandrakelinux-Specific Documentation
1.1. Mandrakesoft's Own Documentation
1.2. Internet Resources
2. GNU/Linux Useful Resources
2.1. The /usr/share/doc Directory
2.2. The Man Pages
7. Using KDE
1. Discovering the K Desktop Environment
1.1. The Desktop
1.2. The Panel
1.3. Virtual Desktops
2. Personalizing your Desktop
2.1. Changing your Desktop's Appearance
2.2. Managing Desktop Icons
2.3. Changing Screen Resolution
3. KDE Sessions
III. Using the Internet
8. Writing E-mails with KMail
1. Configuring KMail
2. KMail's Interface
3. Composing a Message
4. Cryptography
4.1. Using a PGP Key
9. Surfing the Web with Firefox
1. A First Glance at Firefox
2. Surfing the Web
3. Using the Sidebar
4. Managing Bookmarks
5. Tabbed Browsing
6. Extensions
7. Themes
8. Installing Plugins
8.1. Javatm
8.2. Flash®
8.3. Real
IV. Use
10. Office Work
1. Word Processor
1.1. OpenOffice.org Writer
1.2. Using the Word Processor
1.3. Going Further
1.4. Conclusion
2. Spreadsheet
2.1. What's a Spreadsheet?
2.2. Using the Spreadsheet
2.3. Going Further
2.4. Conclusion
3. Konqueror File Manager
3.1. Main Window
3.2. Sidebar
3.3. Copying, Moving, Linking and Deleting Files
3.4. Browsing Web Pages
3.5. File Sharing
4. Printing and Faxing from Applications
4.1. Accessing KPrinter
4.2. KPrinter's Interface
4.3. Building PDF Files
4.4. Sending Faxes
4.5. Handling Print Jobs
11. Audio, Movie and Video Applications
1. Audio Applications
1.1. amaroK Audio Player
1.2. Using the KMix Mixer
2. Movie Applications
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Totem
2.3. Other Movie Applications for Linux
3. CD Burning
3.1. Getting Started
3.2. Burning Data CDs
3.3. Burning Audio CDs (CDDA)
3.4. Duplicating a CD
3.5. Audio CD Extraction (Ripping)
3.6. Erasing CD-RW media
3.7. Going Further
V. Advanced Uses
12. Introduction to the Mandrakelinux Control Center
1. MCC's Components
2. Managing Configuration Profiles
2.1. Profiles Handling
3. The Drakbug Reporting Tool
13. Package Management through Rpmdrake
1. Install Software
1.1. Selecting Packages to Install
1.2. Searching Packages
1.3. Updating Media
2. Remove Software
3. Mandrakelinux Update
4. The Software Media Manager
5. Package Management through the Command Line
5.1. Installing and Removing Packages
5.2. Media Management
5.3. Tricks and Recipes
14. Hardware Setup
1. Configuring your Hardware
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Problems/Troubleshooting
1.3. Other Information
2. Controlling the Graphical Configuration
2.1. Changing the Monitor
2.2. Changing Resolution
2.3. Controlling All Video Parameters
3. Changing your Keyboard Layout
4. Changing your Mouse
5. Configuring Printers with PrinterDrake
5.1. Initial Configuration
5.2. The Printer Management Interface
5.3. CUPS General Configuration
5.4. The Printer Configuration Wizard
5.5. Reconfiguring an Existing Printer
5.6. Expert Mode
6. Installing and Using Scanners
6.1. Configuring your Scanner
6.2. Using Image Acquisition Software
6.3. Advanced Configuration
6.4. Other Scanner Interface Software
7. Setting up your UPS
15. Setting up your Network and Accessing the Web
1. Network and Internet Connection Management
1.1. New Connection
1.2. Internet Access
1.3. Managing Connections
1.4. Monitoring Connections
1.5. Removing a Connection
1.6. Proxy Settings
2. Internet Connection Sharing
16. Personalizing your System
1. Customizing your Menus with MenuDrake
1.1. Adding a New Menu Entry
1.2. Advanced Features
2. Configuring Start-Up Services
3. Managing Available Fonts on your System with DrakFont
4. Setting your Machine's Date and Time
5. Monitoring System Activity and Status
5.1. Browsing System Logs
6. Managing Users and Groups
6.1. The Interface
6.2. Adding a New User
7. Backing Up and Restoring your Files
7.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard
7.2. Restoring Backups
7.3. Automating Periodic Backups
7.4. Other Drakbackup Options
17. Parameterizing your Mount Points
1. Managing your Hard Drive Partitions with DiskDrake
1.1. The Interface
1.2. DiskDrake's action buttons
1.3. Resizing an Old Partition and Creating a New One
2. Managing Removable Devices
3. Importing Remote SMB Directories
4. Importing Remote NFS Directories
5. Allowing Users to Share Folders
6. Setting up WebDAV Mount Points
18. Securing your Linux Box
1. Securing your Machine through DrakSec
1.1. Setting your Security Level
1.2. Customizing a Security Level
2. Controlling File Permissions with DrakPerm
3. Securing your Internet Access via DrakFirewall
19. Boot Device Configuration
1. Configuring the Login Mode
2. Changing your Boot-Up Configuration
2.1. Configuring the Bootloader
2.2. Managing Boot Entries
3. Customizing your Boot Theme
20. Mandrakeonline Services
1. Initial Configuration
2. The Web Management Interface
2.1. Subscribing New Machines
2.2. Hosts Management
2.3. Scheduling Updates
3. Mandrakeonline Applet
21. Troubleshooting
1. Introduction
2. A Boot Disk
2.1. Creating a Boot Floppy from the Console
2.2. Testing the Boot Disk
3. Backup
3.1. Why Backup?
3.2. Preparing your System
3.3. What to Backup?
3.4. Where to Back Up?
3.5. When to Back Up?
3.6. Backup Example Using tar
4. Restore
4.1. Restore Example Using tar
4.2. Making a Recovery CD-ROM
5. Problems Arising at Boot Time
5.1. System Hanging during Boot
5.2. File-System Check on Boot Fails
5.3. X Doesn't Start
6. Bootloader Issues
6.1. Bootloader Reinstall
6.2. Backing Up and Restoring the MBR
7. File System Issues
7.1. Repairing a Damaged Super-Block
7.2. Recovering Deleted Files
8. Recovering from a System Freeze
9. Killing Misbehaving Apps
9.1. From the Console
9.2. Using Graphical Monitoring Tools
10. Miscellaneous
11. Mandrakelinux's Specific Troubleshooting Tools
12. General Guidelines for Solving a Problem under Mandrakelinux
12.1. Search the Internet
12.2. Mailing Lists and Newsgroups Archives
12.3. Directly Contacting the Person in Charge
12.4. Mandrakesoft Business Services
13. Final Thoughts
A. The GNU General Public License
1. Preamble
2. 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 Login Window
5.2. The KDE Desktop
5.3. KDE File Manager
5.4. 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. Setting General User Parameters
8.2. Setting the Outgoing Mail Server
8.3. Configuring a POP3 Mail Account
8.4. KMail Client Interface
8.5. The Message-Compose Window
8.6. Using OpenPGP within KMail
8.7. Encryption Key Approval Dialog
8.8. Passphrase Dialog
9.1. Firefox Interface
9.2. Bookmarks and History in the Sidebar
9.3. Search Fields Using the Bookmarks Sidebar
9.4. Bookmarks Manager Dialog
9.5. Firefox Tabs
9.6. Firefox Extension Page
9.7. ChatZilla Options
9.8. Firefox Themes Page
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
11.1. amaroK's First-Run Wizard
11.2. amaroK's Main Window
11.3. Music Collection
11.4. Using Context Information
11.5. amaroK Cover Manager
11.6. KMix Main Window
11.7. Totem's Interface
11.8. K3b's Interface
11.9. Burn CD Image Options
11.10. Selecting Files/Directories to Include on the CD
11.11. Setting Writing Parameters
11.12. Selecting Audio Tracks to Include on the CD
11.13. Setting Copy CD Options
11.14. CD Ripping Options
11.15. 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
13.1. Software Management in the Mandrakelinux Control Center
13.2. The Software Packages Installation interface
13.3. Rpmdrake — dependency alert box
13.4. Rpmdrake — package alternatives
13.5. The “Software Media Manager
13.6. Rpmdrake — adding a new source
13.7. Rpmdrake — adding a Media
13.8. Rpmdrake — managing keys
13.9. Rpmdrake — configuring a proxy
14.1. Selected Device
14.2. Choosing a New Monitor
14.3. Changing the Resolution of your Screen
14.4. XFdrake Main Window
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. CUPS Printer Server Configuration
14.12. Client Mode Configuration
14.13. Auto-Detecting Printers
14.14. The Printer Port
14.15. Multi-Function Device
14.16. Choosing the Printer Model
14.17. Configuring the Printer's Options
14.18. Choosing a Name for your Printer
14.19. Testing the Printer
14.20. Modifying an Existing Printer
14.21. Configuring a Remote Printer
14.22. Install your Scanner with ScannerDrake
14.23. The Tree-list of All Known Scanner Models
14.24. Specifying the Connection Type
14.25. Acquiring Images with xscanimage
14.26. Sharing Scanners within a LAN
14.27. XSane Multiple Windows
14.28. Kooka's Main Window
14.29. Kooka's Configuration Window
14.30. DrakUPS Set Up
14.31. Successful Auto-detection
14.32. DrakUPS Manual Configuration
14.33. Selecting the Manufacturer and Model
14.34. Name, Device and Port Names
15.1. DrakConnect Tools
15.2. Entering Dial-up Connection Parameters
15.3. Configuring the Internet Access
15.4. Manage Network Connections
15.5. Real-Time Network Connection Monitoring
15.6. Configuring a Client to Use DHCP
16.1. Launching MenuDrake in System or User Mode
16.2. MenuDrake's Main Window
16.3. Adding a New Menu Entry
16.4. A New Menu Entry with MenuDrake
16.5. Choosing a Menu Style
16.6. Choosing the Services Available at Boot Time
16.7. DrakFont's Main Window
16.8. Changing Date and Time
16.9. Browsing and Searching through System Logs
16.10. The User List in UserDrake
16.11. Adding a New User in the System
16.12. Adding Users to a Group
16.13. Main Drakbackup Window
16.14. Selecting What to Backup
16.15. Selecting Where to Store the Backup
16.16. Setting Optical Media Parameters
16.17. Review Configuration Parameters
16.18. Backup Progress Dialog
16.19. Choosing the Restore Type to Perform
16.20. Daemon Options Window
16.21. Miscellaneous Options Window
17.1. DiskDrake's Main Window
17.2. The /home Partition Before Resizing
17.3. Choosing a New Size
17.4. Defining the New Partition
17.5. The New Partition Table
17.6. Confirming the Writing of the Partition Table
17.7. Changing a Parameter
17.8. Scanning the Whole Network
17.9. Authenticating on a Remote Samba Server
17.10. Choosing the Remote Directory to Import
17.11. Controlling Exports
17.12. Choosing the Export Protocol
17.13. Managing WebDAV Mounts Points
17.14. WebDAV Menu
18.1. Choosing the Security Level of your System
18.2. Modifying Standard Options
18.3. Configuring File-Permission Checks
18.4. Adding a File-Permissions Rule
18.5. The DrakFirewall Window
18.6. The Internet Interface
19.1. Choosing the Login Mode
19.2. Choosing the Boot Mode
19.3. DrakBoot Theme Window
20.1. Creating a new Mandrakeonline Account
20.2. Existing or New Mandrakeonline Account?
20.3. Authentication on Mandrakeonline
20.4. Setup Automatic Updates: Login
20.5. Setup Automatic Updates: Country
20.6. Mandrakeonline hosts list
20.7. Up To Date Mandrakeonline Host
20.8. Outdated Mandrakeonline Host
20.9. Select Packages to be Updated
20.10. Mandrakeonline Applet

List of Tables

8.1. KMail's Toolbar Buttons
8.2. Message-Composition Toolbar Buttons
9.1. Firefox's Web Browser 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