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Mon Apr 25 13:37:00 UTC 2011 Slackware 13.37 x86_64 stable is released! Thanks to everyone who pitched in on this release: the Slackware team, the folks producing upstream code, and linuxquestions.org for providing a great forum for collaboration and testing. The ISOs are off to be replicated, a 6 CD-ROM 32-bit set and a dual-sided 32-bit/64-bit x86/x86_64 DVD. Please consider supporting the Slackware project by picking up a copy from store.slackware.com. We're taking pre-orders now, and offer a discount if you sign up for a subscription. As always, thanks to the Slackware community for testing, suggestions, and feedback. :-) Have fun!
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<table summary="Header navigation table" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0"
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<tr>
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<th colspan="3" align="center">Slackware Linux Essentials</th>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td width="10%" align="left" valign="bottom"><a href="index.html"
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<div class="PREFACE">
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<h1><a id="BOOK-PREFACE" name="BOOK-PREFACE"></a>Preface</h1>
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<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-AUDIENCE" name="PREFACE-AUDIENCE"></a>Intended
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Audience</h1>
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<p>The Slackware Linux operating system is a powerful platform for Intel-based computers.
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It is designed to be stable, secure, and functional as both a high-end server and
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powerful workstation.</p>
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<p>This book is designed to get you started with the Slackware Linux operating system.
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It's not meant to cover every single aspect of the distribution, but rather to show what
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it is capable of and give you a basic working knowledge of the system.</p>
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<p>As you gain experience with Slackware Linux, we hope you find this book to be a handy
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reference. We also hope you'll lend it to all of your friends when they come asking about
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that cool Slackware Linux operating system you're running.</p>
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<p>While this book may not an edge-of-your-seat novel, we certainly tried to make it as
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entertaining as possible. With any luck, we'll get a movie deal. Of course, we also hope
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you are able to learn from it and find it useful.</p>
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<p>And now, on with the show.</p>
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<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CHANGES" name="PREFACE-CHANGES"></a>Changes from
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the First Edition</h1>
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<p>This second edition is the culmination of years of hard work by the dedicated members
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of the Slackware Documentation Project. The following are the major changes in this new
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edition:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<p><a href="installation.html">Chapter 3</a>, Installation, has been modified with new
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screenshots of the installer, and reflects changes in disk-sets, and CD installation.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><a href="system-configuration.html">Chapter 4</a>, System Configuration, has been
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updated with new information about Linux 2.6.x kernels.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><a href="network-configuration.html">Chapter 5</a>, Network Configuration, has been
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expanded with further explanation of Samba, NFS, and DHCP. A section on wireless
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networking has also been added. This chapter now reflects major changes in how Slackware
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handles network setup.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><a href="x-window-system.html">Chapter 6</a>, X Window System, has been substantially
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rewritten for Xorg based systems. This chapter now also covers the xdm graphical login
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manager.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><a href="basic-network-commands.html">Chapter 13</a>, Basic Network Commands, has been
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enhanced with information about additional network utilities.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><a href="security.html">Chapter 14</a>, Security, is a new chapter with this edition.
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It explains how to keep a Slackware Linux system secure.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><a href="emacs.html">Chapter 17</a>, Emacs, is a new chapter with this edition. It
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describes how to use Emacs, a powerful editor for Unix.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p><a href="package-management.html">Chapter 18</a>, Package Management, has been updated
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with information about SlackBuild scripts.</p>
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</li>
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<li>
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<p>There are many other changes, both minor and major, to reflect changes in Slackware as
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it has matured.</p>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-ORGANIZATION"
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name="PREFACE-ORGANIZATION"></a>Organization of this Book</h1>
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<div class="VARIABLELIST">
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<dl>
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<dt><a href="introduction.html">Chapter 1</a>, Introduction</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Provides introductory material on Linux, Slackware, and the Open Source and Free
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Software Movements.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="help.html">Chapter 2</a>, Help</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the help resources available on a Slackware Linux system and online.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="installation.html">Chapter 3</a>, Installation</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the installation process step-by-step with screenshots to provide an
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illustrative walk-through.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="system-configuration.html">Chapter 4</a>, System Configuration</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the important configuration files and covers kernel recompilation.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="network-configuration.html">Chapter 5</a>, Network Configuration</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes how to connect a Slackware Linux machine to a network. Covers TCP/IP,
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PPP/dial-up, wireless networking, and more.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="x-window-system.html">Chapter 6</a>, The X Window System</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes how to setup and use the graphical X Window System in Slackware.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="booting.html">Chapter 7</a>, Booting</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the process by which a computer boots into Slackware Linux. Also covers
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dual-booting with Microsoft Windows operating systems.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="shell.html">Chapter 8</a>, The Shell</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the powerful command line interface for Linux.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="filesystem-structure.html">Chapter 9</a>, Filesystem Structure</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the filesystem structure, including file ownership, permission, and
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linking.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="file-commands.html">Chapter 10</a>, Handling Files and Directories</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the commands used to manipulate files and directories from the command line
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interface.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="process-control.html">Chapter 11</a>, Process Control</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the powerful Linux process management commands used to manage multiple
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running applications.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="essential-sysadmin.html">Chapter 12</a>, Essential System
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Administration</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes basic system administration tasks such as adding and removing users,
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shutting down the system properly, and more.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="basic-network-commands.html">Chapter 13</a>, Basic Network Commands</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the collection of network clients included with Slackware.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="security.html">Chapter 14</a>, Security</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes many different tools available to help keep your Slackware system secure,
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including <tt class="COMMAND">iptables</tt> and <tt class="COMMAND">tcpwrappers</tt>.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="archive-files.html">Chapter 15</a>, Archive Files</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the different compression and archive utilities available for Linux.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="vi.html">Chapter 16</a>, vi</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the powerful <tt class="COMMAND">vi</tt> text editor.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="emacs.html">Chapter 17</a>, Emacs</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the powerful <tt class="COMMAND">Emacs</tt> text editor.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="package-management.html">Chapter 18</a>, Slackware Package Management</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the Slackware package utilities and the process used to create custom
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packages and tagfiles.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="zipslack.html">Chapter 19</a>, ZipSlack</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the ZipSlack version of Linux that can be used from Windows without
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requiring an installation.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><a href="gpl.html">Appendix A</a>, The GNU General Public License</dt>
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<dd>
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<p>Describes the license terms under which Slackware Linux and this book can be copied
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and distributed.</p>
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</dd>
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</dl>
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</div>
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<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV" name="PREFACE-CONV"></a>Conventions used in
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this book</h1>
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<p>To provide a consistent and easy to read text, several conventions are followed
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throughout the book.</p>
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<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-TYPOGRAPHIC"
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name="PREFACE-CONV-TYPOGRAPHIC"></a>Typographic Conventions</h2>
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<div class="VARIABLELIST">
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<dl>
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<dt><span class="emphasis"><i class="EMPHASIS">Italic</i></span></dt>
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<dd>
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<p>An <span class="emphasis"><i class="EMPHASIS">italic</i></span> font is used for
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commands, emphasized text, and the first usage of technical terms.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><var class="VARNAME">Monospace</var></dt>
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<dd>
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<p>A <var class="VARNAME">monospaced</var> font is used for error messages, commands,
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environment variables, names of ports, hostnames, user names, group names, device names,
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variables, and code fragments.</p>
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</dd>
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<dt><b class="APPLICATION">Bold</b></dt>
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<dd>
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<p>A <b class="APPLICATION">bold</b> font is used for user input in examples.</p>
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</dd>
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</dl>
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</div>
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<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-COMMANDS"
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name="PREFACE-CONV-COMMANDS"></a>User Input</h2>
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<p>Keys are shown in <b class="KEYCAP">bold</b> to stand out from other text. Key
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combinations that are meant to be typed simultaneously are shown with `<var
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class="LITERAL">+</var>' between the keys, such as:</p>
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<p><b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">Alt</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">Del</b></p>
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<p>Meaning the user should type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>, <b
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class="KEYCAP">Alt</b>, and <b class="KEYCAP">Del</b> keys at the same time.</p>
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<p>Keys that are meant to be typed in sequence will be separated with commas, for
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example:</p>
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<p><b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">X</b>, <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b
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class="KEYCAP">S</b></p>
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<p>Would mean that the user is expected to type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b> and <b
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class="KEYCAP">X</b> keys simultaneously and then to type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>
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and <b class="KEYCAP">S</b> keys simultaneously.</p>
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<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-EXAMPLES"
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name="PREFACE-CONV-EXAMPLES"></a>Examples</h2>
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<p>Examples starting with <tt class="DEVICENAME">E:\></tt> indicate a <span
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class="TRADEMARK">MS-DOS</span>® command. Unless otherwise noted, these commands may
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be executed from a “Command Prompt” window in a modern <span
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class="TRADEMARK">Microsoft</span>® <span class="TRADEMARK">Windows</span>®
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environment.</p>
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<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
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<tr>
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<td>
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<pre class="SCREEN">
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<samp class="PROMPT">D:\></samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">rawrite a: bare.i</kbd>
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</pre>
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</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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<p>Examples starting with <samp class="PROMPT">#</samp> indicate a command that must be
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invoked as the superuser in Slackware. You can login as <tt class="USERNAME">root</tt> to
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type the command, or login as your normal account and use <span
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class="CITEREFENTRY"><span class="REFENTRYTITLE">su</span>(1)</span> to gain superuser
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privileges.</p>
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<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
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<tr>
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<td>
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<pre class="SCREEN">
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<samp class="PROMPT">#</samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">dd if=bare.i of=/dev/fd0</kbd>
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</pre>
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</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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<p>Examples starting with <samp class="PROMPT">%</samp> indicate a command that should be
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invoked from a normal user account. Unless otherwise noted, C-shell syntax is used for
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setting environment variables and other shell commands.</p>
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<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
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<tr>
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<td>
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<pre class="SCREEN">
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<samp class="PROMPT">%</samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">top</kbd>
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</pre>
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</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
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name="PREFACE-ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"></a>Acknowledgments</h1>
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<p>This project is the accumulation of months of work by many dedicated individuals. It
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would not have been possible for me to produce this work in a vacuum. Many people deserve
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our thanks for their selfless acts: Keith Keller for his work on wireless networking,
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Joost Kremers for his great work in single-handedly writing the emacs section, Simon
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Williams for the security chapter, Jurgen Phillippaerts for basic networking commands,
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Cibao Cu Ali G Colibri for the inspiration and a good kick in the pants. Countless others
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have sent in suggestions and fixes. An incomplete list includes: Jacob Anhoej, John Yast,
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Sally Welch, Morgan Landry, and Charlie Law. I'd also like to thank Keith Keller for
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hosting the mailing list for this project, as well as Carl Inglis for the initial web
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hosting. Last but not least, I'd like to thank Patrick J. Volkerding for Slackware Linux,
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and David Cantrell, Logan Johnson, and Chris Lumens for Slackware Linux Essentials 1st
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Edition. Without their initial framework, none of this would have ever happened. Many
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others have contributed in small and large ways to this project and have not been listed.
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I hope they will forgive me for a poor memory.</p>
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<p>Alan Hicks, May 2005</p>
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</div>
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<div class="NAVFOOTER">
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<hr align="LEFT" width="100%" />
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<table summary="Footer navigation table" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0"
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<td width="33%" align="left" valign="top"><a href="index.html"
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accesskey="P">Prev</a></td>
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<td width="34%" align="center" valign="top"><a href="index.html"
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accesskey="H">Home</a></td>
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<td width="33%" align="right" valign="top"><a href="introduction.html"
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accesskey="N">Next</a></td>
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<tr>
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<td width="33%" align="left" valign="top">Slackware Linux Essentials</td>
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<td width="34%" align="center" valign="top"> </td>
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<td width="33%" align="right" valign="top">An Introduction to Slackware Linux</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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</div>
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</body>
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</html>
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