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

Basic management

Maintenance and administration can take place at various levels in your system. Most Linux installations have with them a copy of the linuxconf tool, which is a sophisticated administration system for Linux. This is a versatile tool with which a number of administrative tasks can be performed, including setting the system time, changing the network settings, performing user administration and setting up file systems etc.

Maintenance can also be coordinated through tools supplied by the Linux desktop environment. These tools differ according to the Linux distribution you are running. KDE, for example, comes with a built-in Control Center (which can be reached through the K menu). The KDE Control Center is similar to the Settings menu that is found in the Windows operating system. It therefore provides a convenient interface with which to manage processor and memory configuration, device information, the windows environment, the configuration of the file manager, and so on.

A number of maintenance tasks can also be performed using the YaST set-up tool which was introduced in the section on YaST.

It is worth noting that some of these tools will look different (that is, they will provide you with different options and capabilities) under different user logins. You can expect to be provided with the full capabilities of the tools if, and only if, you are logged in as the root user.

The following subsections provide a useful summary of basic management tasks, which should probably form part of your administrative routine. Beyond this, the following web sites are recommended sources of information for more detailed Linux management and administration issues:

www.tldp.org

This is the home of the Linux documentation project, including online guides, HOWTO pages, frequently asked questions and manuals for a number of Linux activities;
www.linuxnewbie.org

Contains news and articles including help for new and more advanced users;
freshmeat.net

Reportedly contains the largest index of UNIX software and applications on the Web. This is a good source of free Linux software and will probably contain all the applications that you, or the users of your system, will require.