Introducing UNIX and Linux

Maintaining your Linux OS

Overview
Basic management
      Passwords
      Checking storage space
      Checking processes
      Managing users
      Shutting down and restarting your computer
      Automating tasks
Linux file management
      File compression and archiving tools
      File managers
      File splitters
Linux networking
      Getting started
      MAC and IP addresses
      Domain names
      Adding a Linux host to an existing network
      Building a private network
      Configuring the network interface
Security
Uninstalling Linux
Summary

Overview

This chapter

documents key features of Linux system maintenance;
presents a number of alternative tools for Linux file management;
provides an introduction to Linux networking;
introduces guidelines on Linux security; and
shows you how to uninstall Linux.

UNIX is a very stable operating system and all of the well-known distributions of Linux also provide very reliable day-to-day computing environments. This said, you will have to maintain your system both routinely - monitoring disk usage, changing user passwords, etc. - and also on a more occasional basis - configuring network usage, installing new software, and so on. The Web is a very good source of information on Linux administration and maintenance; this chapter is intended only to provide you with a basic toolkit, the key components of which will be sufficient for the day-to-day management of your Linux system. It may well be the case that you want to do more with Linux; this chapter also provides a basis from which you can begin to explore the exciting world of Linux networking. With the introduction of networking comes the responsibility of security; if so this is also covered towards the end of the chapter. Finally, if you are not happy with your Linux installation then you will want to uninstall the operating system and details of how to do so are provided at the end of the chapter.