debian gnu-linux bible 2001

Master Linux system administration Discover the power of Debian’s package management system Build a network and set up Linux servers Steve Hunger Foreword by Ian Murdock, Founder of Debian and now Cofounder of Progeny Linux Systems “Steve Hunger’s book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to Debian GNU/Linux in print.” —Branden Robinson, Debian Developer BONUS CD-ROM Debian GNU/Linux 2.2r2 % 100% ONE HUNDRED PERCENT COMPREHENSIVE AUTHORITATIVE WHAT YOU NEED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT D ebian GNU/Linux le D ebian GNU/Linux ® ® ® ® HUNGER If Debian GNU/Linux can do it, you can do it too . . . Whether you’re a Linux newcomer looking for foolproof installation tips or a Debian GNU/ veteran who wants the scoop on the latest security enhancements, this authoritative guide delivers all the information you need to make the most of the Debian GNU/ “potato” release. From customizing a desktop system to troubleshooting a network or setting up an e-commerce server, it’s the only reference you’ll ever need to become a Debian GNU/ Linux pro. Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Debian GNU/Linux • Get crystal-clear instructions for fast, painless installation • Learn your way around the Linux shell, file system, and X Window System • Discover how easy it is to set up a LAN in Debian and connect to the Internet • Make the most of Linux desktop applications, games, and multimedia features • Master Linux administration, from automating system tasks to locking in security • Find guidance on how to keep Debian current and bug-free • Get the scoop on configuring servers, from Apache and FTP to NIS and Sendmail Master Linux system administration Discover the power of Debian’s package management system Build a network and set up Linux servers Steve Hunger Foreword by Ian Murdock, Founder of Debian and now Cofounder of Progeny Linux Systems 100% www.hungryminds.com 100% COMPREHENSIVE AUTHORITATIVE WHAT YOU NEED Bible ▲ ▲ ▲ Debian GNU/Linux ® ® D ebian GNU/Linux ® ® “Steve Hunger’s book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to Debian GNU/Linux in print.” —Branden Robinson, Debian Developer 4710-0 Cover 3/30/01 11:57 AM Page 2 Debian GNU/Linux ® Bible Debian GNU/Linux ® Bible Steve Hunger Hungry Minds, Inc. Indianapolis, IN ✦ Cleveland, OH ✦ New York, NY Debian GNU/Linux ® Bible Published by Hungry Minds, Inc. 909 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 www.hungryminds.com Copyright  2001 Hungry Minds, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book, including interior design, cover design, and icons, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 2001089113 ISBN: 0-7645-4710-0 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1B/SW/QU/QR/IN Distributed in the United States by Hungry Minds, Inc. Distributed by CDG Books Canada Inc. for Canada; by Transworld Publishers Limited in the United Kingdom; by IDG Norge Books for Norway; by IDG Sweden Books for Sweden; by IDG Books Australia Publishing Corporation Pty. 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For press review copies, author interviews, or other publicity information, please contact our Public Relations department at 650-653-7000 or fax 650-653-7500. For authorization to photocopy items for corporate, personal, or educational use, please contact Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, or fax 978-750-4470. LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF W ARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR HAVE USED THEIR BEST EFFORTS IN PREPARING THIS BOOK. THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS PARAGRAPH. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES REPRESENTATIVES OR WRITTEN SALES MATERIALS. THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN AND THE OPINIONS STATED HEREIN ARE NOT GUARANTEED OR WARRANTED TO PRODUCE ANY PARTICULAR RESULTS, AND THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGES. Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Hungry Minds, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. is a trademark of Hungry Minds, Inc. About the Author Steve Hunger has spent the last 10 years in the computer industry, the last four supporting and integrating multiple platforms for a Fortune 500 Company. Having been introduced to UNIX while attending Purdue University, he quickly latched onto Linux as the primary platform for his startup Web hosting and development busi- ness in 1996. He continues operating his Web business, consulting with local busi- nesses, and freelance writing. When not conquering the world with Linux, he has co-written and contributed to several books for Macmillan USA and Brady Games, including work on the line of Mandrake Linux products. His latest work has been for AOL Press called Powering Up the Internet. In his spare time he enjoys relaxing with his wife, riding bicycles, and tinkering with an R/C model that is evolving into something that looks amazing like a plane. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Central Indiana Linux Users Group ( www.cinlug.org). Steve can be reached at steve@rhinoworld.com. Credits Acquisitions Editor Terri Varveris Project Editor Gus A. Miklos Technical Editor Steve Schafer Copy Editors Victoria Lee O’Malley Luann Rouff Project Coordinator Dale White Graphics and Production Specialists Amy Adrian Sean Decker Gabriele McCann Kendra Span Quality Control Technicians David Faust Susan Moritz Marianne Santy Charles Spencer Permissions Editor Laura Moss Media Development Specialist Travis Silvers Media Development Coordinator Marisa Pearman Proofreading and Indexing York Production Services, Inc. This book is dedicated to my beloved wife, Sandy. Without her love, support, and encouragement to carry me on days I needed it, this book would not have been possible. And to my father, who also saw me through this book. Foreword I n January 1993, while browsing USENET news one evening after work, I ran across a thread with a subject line that read, simply, “LINUX.” I’m not sure what it was about the word “LINUX” that made me hit Enter, but I did, and within a few minutes, it was clear to me that I had to have it. Unfortunately, that’s about where I hit a brick wall. I had just enough information about Linux to whet my appetite, but there was precious little more of it to be found. Over the course of the next few weeks, I hunted down and pieced together the rest of what I needed to know: where to find it, how to download it, how to install it, and what I could do with it once I had installed it. It was a tedious process, because only scraps of information were available, and those scraps were scattered about all over the place — a bit on a USENET group here, a bit more on an FTP site there. And even when found and pieced together, the scraps did not form a complete picture — I had to fill in large gaps for myself. All in all, it was a tremendous learning experience, but it was also a tremendously frus- trating and time-consuming experience, and if presented with the same obstacles today, I likely would not have had the time or the inclination to overcome them. Fortunately, becoming a Linux user is much easier today than it was in 1993. The software itself has come a long way, and a wide range of books on the subject are available, from installation and use to programming to administration and manage- ment. These days, the local bookstore has all the information you need to get started and become productive as a Linux user. One subject that has not been covered as extensively as others, a subject near and dear to my heart, is Debian, a project I founded not long after discovering Linux. Debian has much to offer the Linux user — a huge selection of software, an open development process that leads to rapid bug fixes and improvements, an unparal- leled software management facility that allows software to be installed easily and systems to be upgraded non-disruptively, and much more — but it has long remained a daunting prospect to piece together the information you need to get there. x Debian GNU/Linux Bible And, so, I am extremely pleased to see books such as my friend Steve Hunger’s Debian GNU/Linux Bible. Debian GNU/Linux Bible contains all the information you need to know to get the most out of Debian, from installing it to using its powerful package management system to install software and upgrade your system to setting up a Web server and other advanced topics. With Debian GNU/Linux Bible by your side, you will be well prepared to join the large and growing group of users that call Debian home. I hope this book serves you well. Ian Murdock Founder of Debian and Co-founder of Progeny Linux Systems, Inc. [...]... 13 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 24 25 xx Debian GNU/Linux Bible Configuring the Debian system Apt configuration Using the Debian Package-Management System What are deb packages? Adding deb packages Changing the package archive source Gnome-apt Installing Non -Debian Software RPM packages tar... commands found in the common areas on the Linux filesystem ✦ Appendix C, Debian Packages,” presents a list of commonly used Debian packages with a short description of each System Requirements Nearly all software has some level of requirements when referring to hardware that it is run on Debian GNU/Linux is no different Even though Debian is available for different platforms, the one used in this book... contents of the book in slightly more detail Part I: Getting Started Part I provides the basic introduction to Debian GNU/Linux The chapters in this part start with background on Linux in general and the beginnings of the Debian distribution; walk you through the important steps on getting Debian GNU/Linux installed on your system; cover the essential base set of commands used to navigate through the... a hammer don’t make a house — it takes the skilled craftsmanship of a carpenter to turn the parts into a whole house Debian GNU/Linux Bible gives you the skilled guidance to help you turn the individual parts into a system Whom This Book Is For This book covers the many aspects of the Debian GNU/Linux system, from the initial install of this reputable operating system to the more advanced functions... Free Software and Open Source 8 What’s So Special about GNU/Linux? 8 Understanding the Debian Distribution 10 Chapter 2: Installing Debian 13 Preparing Your System Basic Debian Installation Booting off the CD The main menu Configuring... help them get their feet wet Some of the basic concepts, commands and tools are explained in the beginning chapters of this book As you become more experienced with Linux and specifically xii Debian GNU/Linux Bible Debian GNU/Linux, you move into the intermediate areas of the book, namely the middle sections Lastly, the experienced administrator who will from time to time need instruction on specific... 203 206 207 209 210 212 214 215 215 216 xxiii xxiv Debian GNU/Linux Bible Chapter 11: Games 217 System Considerations for Gaming Graphical interfaces Sound system requirements Other system demands Playing Debian- Packaged Games Adventure games Arcade games Board games Card games ... Getting Started ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ In This Part Chapter 1 Introduction to Linux Chapter 2 Installing Debian Chapter 3 First Steps as a Linux User Chapter 4 Choosing a GUI Chapter 5 Networking Chapter 6 Setting Up for the Internet ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ 1 C H A P T E R Introduction to Linux ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ In This Chapter W elcome to the Debian GNU/Linux Bible where you can find hints, tips, and helpful instructions on most areas of this... the other “Intel clone” processors Other processor platforms will operate similarly, so this book can still operate as a reference even though they may not be specifically referred to xiii xiv Debian GNU/Linux Bible Beyond the core processor, the other components will be supported to varying levels For each of those, I will redirect you back to the manufacturers or to one of the many Web site where... thank the Debian development community Without their hard work, high standards, and volunteer efforts, this Linux distribution would not have the reputation it does today So these thanks goes out to the hundreds of those volunteers I would also like to thanks the two contributors to this book, John Goerzen and Shawn Voss John wrote the chapter on the available programming environments in Debian Shawn . and up-to-date guide to Debian GNU/Linux in print.” —Branden Robinson, Debian Developer 4710-0 Cover 3/30/01 11:57 AM Page 2 Debian GNU/Linux ® Bible Debian GNU/Linux ® Bible Steve Hunger Hungry. you need to get there. x Debian GNU/Linux Bible And, so, I am extremely pleased to see books such as my friend Steve Hunger’s Debian GNU/Linux Bible. Debian GNU/Linux Bible contains all the information. Hunger’s book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to Debian GNU/Linux in print.” —Branden Robinson, Debian Developer BONUS CD-ROM Debian GNU/Linux 2.2r2 % 100% ONE HUNDRED PERCENT COMPREHENSIVE AUTHORITATIVE WHAT