Linux Annoyances for Geeks: Getting the Most Flexible System in the World Just the Way You Want It (Annoyances)

GNU/Linux is an immensely popular operating system that is both extremely stable and reliable. But it can also induce minor headaches at the most inopportune times, if you're not fully up to speed with its capabilities. In keeping with the spirit of the Annoyances series, the book adopts a sympathetic tone that will quickly win you over. Rather than blaming you for possessing limited Linux savvy, Linux Annoyances for Geeks takes you along for a fun-filled ride as you master the system together. Read more... Abstract: GNU/Linux is an immensely popular operating system that is both extremely stable and reliable. But it can also induce minor headaches at the most inopportune times, if you're not fully up to speed with its capabilities. In keeping with the spirit of the Annoyances series, the book adopts a sympathetic tone that will quickly win you over. Rather than blaming you for possessing limited Linux savvy, Linux Annoyances for Geeks takes you along for a fun-filled ride as you master the system together GNU/Linux is an immensely popular operating system that is both extremely stable and reliable. But it can also induce minor headaches at the most inopportune times, if you're not fully up to speed with its capabilities. A unique approach to running and administering Linux systems, Linux Annoyances for Geeks addresses the many poorly documented and under-appreciated topics that make the difference between a system you struggle with and a system you really enjoy. This book is for power users and system administrators who want to clear away barriers to using Linux for themselves and for less-trained users in their organizations. This book meticulously tells you how to get a stubborn wireless card to work under Linux, and reveals little-known sources for wireless driversand information. It tells you how to add extra security to your systems, such as boot passwords, and how to use tools such as rescue disks to overcome overly zealous security measures in a pinch. In everyarea of desktop and server use, the book is chock full of advice based on hard-earned experience. Author Michael Jang has spent many hours trying out software in a wide range of environments and carefully documenting solutions for the most popular Linux distributions. (The book focuses on Red Hat/Fedora, SUSE, and Debian.) Many of the topics presented here are previously undocumented or are discussed only in obscure email archives. One of the valuable features of this book for system administrators and Linux proponents in general is the organization of step-by-step procedures that they can customize for naive end-users at their sites. Jang has taken into account not only the needs of a sophisticated readership, but the needs of other people those readers may serve. Sometimes, a small thing for a user (such as being able to play a CD) or for an administrator (such as updating an organizations' systems from a central server) can make or break the adoption of Linux. This book helps you overcome the most common annoyances in deploying Linux, and trains you in the techniques that will help you overcome other problems you find along the way. In keeping with the spirit of the Annoyances series, the book adopts a sympathetic tone that will quickly win you over. Rather than blaming you for possessing limited Linux savvy, Linux Annoyances for Geeks takes you along for a fun-filled ride as you master the system together. Overcome the most common annoyances in deploying Linux using the tips, tools, and tricks of Linux Annoyances for Geeks. As you know, Linux is an immensely popular operating system that is both extremely stable and reliable. But it can also induce minor headaches at the most inopportune times, if you're not fully up to speed with its capabilities. Sometimes, a small thing for a user-such as being able to play a CD or DVD-or for an administrator-such as updating an organization's systems from a central server-can make or break the adoption of Linux. This book will train you in the techniques that will allow you to overcome the problems you find along the way.Using a unique approach to running and administering Linux systems, Linux Annoyances for Geeks addresses the many poorly documented and underappreciated topics that separate a system you struggle with from a system you really enjoy. This book is great for power users and system administrators who want to clear away barriers to using Linux for themselves and for less trained users in their organizations.Linux Annoyances for Geeks shows you, step by step, how to get a stubborn wireless card to work under Linux, and reveals little-known sources for wireless drivers and information. It tells you how to add extra security to your systems, such as boot passwords; how to use tools such as rescue disks to overcome overly zealous security measures in a pinch; and much more. In every area of desktop and server use, the book is chock-full of advice based on hard-earned experience.Author Michael Jang has spent many hours trying out software in a wide range of environments and carefully documenting solutions for the most popular Linux distributions-Red Hat/Fedora, SUSE, and Debian/Ubuntu. Many of the topics presented here were previously undocumented or discussed only in obscure email archives. In Linux Annoyances for Geeks, Michael takes you along for a fun-filled ride as you master the system together. Content: Linux Annoyances for Geeks Conventions Used in This Book Organization of This Book Using Code Examples Safari® Enabled How to Contact Us Acknowledgments 1. Configuring a Desktop Environment 1.1.2. Basics of KDE 1.1.3. Configuring KDE Applications on a GNOME Menu 1.1.3.2. Sharing the custom GNOME menu 1.1.4. Configuring GNOME Applications on a KDE Menu 1.1.4.2. Sharing the custom KDE menu 1.2. I Need a Custom Login Menu 1.2.2. Customizing the GNOME Login Menu 1.2.2.2. Standard greeter 1.2.2.3. Graphical greeter 1.2.2.4. Security 1.2.2.5. Accessibility 1.2.2.6. XDMCP. 1.2.2.7. Replicating login configuration to multiple systems1.2.3. Customizing the KDE Login Manager 1.2.3.2. Font 1.2.3.3. Background 1.2.3.4. Shutdown 1.2.3.5. Users 1.2.3.6. Convenience 1.3. I Can & t Configure a Standard Background 1.3.1.2. GNOME backgrounds 1.3.2. A Secure Screensaver 1.3.2.2. KDE screensavers 1.3.3. Going Further 1.4. I & d Like Desktop Icons for My Applications 1.4.2. GNOME Desktop Icons 1.4.3. Special.