Download Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification

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Objectives
Understand the purpose of the superuser
account
Outline the key features of the Linux
desktops
Navigate through the menus
Getting help
Using Virtual Consoles
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Two different types of programs are
executed on a computer:
◦ Applications
◦ Operating system (OS) software
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User Interface: An application program that
allows the user to interact with the OS and
other application programs
◦ GUI
◦ Terminal
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Figure 1-1: The role of operating system software
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Graphical user interface (GUI): Component
of an OS that provides a user-friendly
interface
System services: Applications that handle
system-related tasks
◦ Printing
◦ Scheduling programs
◦ Network access
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A Linux graphical user interface
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OS used to run a variety of applications on a
variety of different hardware
Has the ability to manage thousands of tasks
at the same time
Allows multiple users to access the system
simultaneously
◦ Multiuser and multitasking OS
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There is one administrative account that has “all power”. It
is called root
This account can make changes to the operating system file
system, install and upgrade software
This account can also delete and change critical system files
which can potentially disable the system
Linux is literal, and usually results are immediate
Use the root account with care!
You can access root privileges without being logged in a
sthe root account by running the command at a terminal
prompt
su
If you attempt to make changes to system services and
configuration when using the Graphical User Interface, you
will be challenged for the password for the user root.
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We will rarely be looking at the Linux desktop
during this course
The textbook examples use the Desktop
manager KDE, so I will use the GNOME
desktop in my examples.
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Click the link below for a short tutorial on the
GNOME desktop
Desktop Tour Tutorial
This will open a web browser and begin a
demonstration.
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Linux documentation can be found on the
Internet
◦ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
◦ HOWTO documents
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Linux Newsgroups
Linux User Group (LUG): Open forum of Linux
users who discuss and assist each other in
using and modifying the Linux OS
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Using Info
Using man
Using --?
◦ Both of these are described in the tutorial at
◦ http://faculty.skagit.edu/imageuploads/repository161.mov
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Workstation services: Replacing the Windows
and Mac computer with the FREE operating
system.
Server services: Linux can be found hosting
many web servers, DNS servers and other
server functions. Google using Linux to run
their search engine.
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