The GNOME Desktop ............................................................................................103
Using the Metacity Window Manager ......................................................................105
Using the GNOME Panels........................................................................................107
Using the Applications, Places, and System Menus ........................................108
Adding an Applet ..........................................................................................109
Adding Another Panel....................................................................................109
Adding an Application Launcher ..................................................................110
Adding a Drawer............................................................................................111
Changing Panel Properties ............................................................................111
Using the Nautilus File Manager..............................................................................112
3D Effects with AIGLX ............................................................................................114
Changing GNOME Preferences................................................................................116
Exiting GNOME ......................................................................................................117
Configuring a GNOME Online Desktop ..................................................................118
Configuring Your Own Desktop ..............................................................................120
Configuring X..........................................................................................................120
Creating a Working X Configuration File ......................................................121
Getting New X Drivers ..................................................................................122
Tuning Up Your X Configuration File ............................................................122
Choosing a Window Manager..................................................................................124
Choosing Your Personal Window Manager ..............................................................126
Getting More Information ......................................................................................126
Summary ................................................................................................................127
Part II: Running the Show
Chapter 4: Learning Basic Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Graphical Administration Tools ..............................................................................132
Using Web-Based Administration ............................................................................132
Open Source Projects Offering Web Administration ......................................132
The Webmin Administration Tool ..................................................................133
Graphical Administration with Different Distributions ............................................133
Red Hat Config Tools ....................................................................................134
SUSE YaST Tools............................................................................................136
Using the root Login ..............................................................................................137
Becoming Root from the Shell (su Command) ........................................................138
Allowing Limited Administrative Access ..................................................................139
Exploring Administrative Commands, Configuration Files, and Log Files ................140
Administrative Commands ......................................................................................140
Administrative Configuration Files ..........................................................................141
Administrative Log Files ..........................................................................................145
Using sudo and Other Administrative Logins ........................................................146
Administering Your Linux System ............................................................................148
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