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# Organization

This book contains the following chapters.

Chapter 1, Introduction to Linux, gives a general introduction to what Linux is, what it can do for you, and what is required to run it on your system. It also provides helpful hints for getting help and reducing overall stress.

Chapter 2, Obtaining and Installing Linux, explains how to obtain the Linux software, as well as how to install it---from repartitioning your drive, creating filesystems, and loading the software on the system. It contains instructions meant to be general for any distribution of Linux, and relies on the documentation provided for your particular release to fill in any gaps.

Chapter 3, Linux Tutorial, is a complete introduction to using the Linux system for UNIX novices. If you have previous UNIX experience, most of this material should be familiar.

Chapter 4, System Administration, introduces many of the important concepts of system administration under Linux. This will also be of interest to UNIX system administrators who want to know about the Linux-specific issues of running a system.

Chapter 5, Advanced Features, introduces the reader to a number of advanced features supported by Linux, such as the X Window System and TCP/IP networking. A complete guide to configuring XFree86-3.1 is included.

Appendix A, Sources of Linux Information, is a listing of other sources of information about Linux, including newsgroups, mailing lists, online documents, and books.

Appendix B, Linux Vendor List, provides a short list of software vendors offering Linux software and services.

Appendix C, FTP Tutorial and Site List, is a tutorial for downloading files from the Internet with FTP. This appendix also includes a listing of FTP archive sites which carry Linux software.

Appendix D, Linux BBS List, is a listing of bulletin board systems worldwide which carry Linux software. Because most Linux users are do not have access to the Internet, it is important that information on BBS systems becomes available.

Appendix E, The GNU General Public License, contains a copy of the GNU GPL, the license agreement under which Linux is distributed. It is very important that Linux users understand the GPL; many disagreements over the terms of the GPL have been raised in recent months.

Next: Acknowledgments Up: Preface Previous: Audience