Introduction xi Chapter 1 Selecting an Operating System 1 What Is an OS? 1 Investigating User Interfaces 4 Where Does Linux Fit in the OS World? 8 What Is a Distribution? 13 Chapter 2 Understanding Software Licensing 21 Investigating Software Licenses 21 Looking at the Free Software Foundation 24 Looking at the Open Source Initiative 26 Looking at the Creative Commons 29 Using Open Source Licenses 30 Chapter 3 Investigating Linux's Principles and Philosophy 35 Exploring Linux through the Ages 35 Using Open Source Software 38 Understanding OS Roles 41 Chapter 4 Using Common Linux Programs 47 Using a Linux Desktop Environment 47 Working with Productivity Software 55 Using Server Programs 62 Managing Programming Languages 68 Handling Software Packages 71 Chapter 5 Managing Hardware 75 Learning about Your CPU 75 Identifying Motherboard Capabilities 78 Sizing Your Power Supply 80 Understanding Disk Issues 81 Managing Displays 89 Handling USB Devices 93 Managing Drivers 94 Chapter 6 Getting to Know the Command Line 99 Starting a Command Line 99 Running Programs 104 Using Shell Features 107 Getting Help Using man Pages 110 Getting Help Using info Pages 117 Finding Additional Documentation 120 Chapter 7 Managing Files 127 Understanding Where Things Go 127 Navigating Files and Directories 133 Manipulating Files 137 Manipulating Directories 145 Chapter 8 Searching, Extracting, and Archiving Data 151 Using Regular Expressions 151 Searching for and Extracting Data 153 Redirecting Input and Output 161 Archiving Data 166 Chapter 9 Exploring Processes and Process Data 175 Understanding Package Management 175 Understanding the Process Hierarchy 181 Identifying Running Processes 182 Using Log Files 187 Chapter 10 Editing Files 193 Understanding the Role of Text Files 193 Choosing an Editor 195 Launching an Editor 196 Editing Files with pico or nano 198 Editing Files with vi 202 Chapter 11 Creating Scripts 211 Beginning a Shell Script 212 Using Commands 212 Using Arguments 215 Using Variables 216 Using Conditional Expressions 219 Using Loops 220 Using Functions 221 Setting the Script's Exit Value 223 Chapter 12 Understanding Basic Security 227 Understanding Accounts 227 Using Account Tools 234 Working as root 237 Chapter 13 Creating Users and Groups 245 Creating New Accounts 245 Modifying Accounts 253 Deleting Accounts 259 Managing Groups 262 Chapter 14 Setting Ownership and Permissions 267 Setting Ownership 267 Setting Permissions 271 Using Special Permission Bits and File Features 278 Chapter 15 Managing Network Connections 285 Understanding Network Features 285 Configuring a Network Connection 287 Testing Your Network Connection 299 Protecting Your System from the Bad Guys 303 Appendix A Answers to Review Questions 307 Appendix B LPI 's Certification Program 327 Index 331.