CentOS Essentials

This book is currently under development and is scheduled for completion in June 2010.

1. About CentOS Essentials
   
   
2. Performing a Clean Disk CentOS Installation
   • Trying CentOS without Installing
   • Obtaining the CentOS Installation Media
   • Installing CentOS
   • Partitioning a Disk for CentOS
   • Configuring Networking Settings
   • Timezone and the Root Password
   • Package Selection
   • The Physical Installation
   • Final Configuration Steps
     
     
3. Installing CentOS with Windows in Dual Boot Environment
   • Partition Resizing
   • Shrinking a Windows XP Partition
   • Choosing an Operating System at Boot Time
   • Editing the CentOS Boot Menu
   • Accessing the Windows Partition from Linux
     
     
4. Allocating a Windows Disk Partition to CentOS
   • Deleting the Windows Partition from the Disk
   • Formatting the Unallocated Disk Partition
   • Editing the Boot Menu
   • Mounting the New Partition
     
     
5. Logging into the CentOS GNOME Desktop
   
   
6. Configuring CentOS GNOME Screen Resolution and Multiple Monitors
   • Configuring the Display Resolution
   • Configuring Multiple Monitors
     
     
7. A Guided Tour of the CentOS GNOME Desktop
   • The CentOS GNOME Desktop
   • The Desktop Background
   • The Desktop Panels
     
     
8. Changing the CentOS GNOME Desktop Background
   • Changing the CentOS GNOME Desktop Background
   • Selecting a Background from the Wallpaper List
   • Creating a Solid or Graded Background
   • Specifying a Background Image
     
     
9. Installing and Customizing CentOS Desktop Themes
   • What is a Desktop Theme?
   • Changing the CentOS Desktop Theme
   • Downloading and Installing a Theme
   • Creating a Custom Theme Package
     
     
10. Configuring CentOS Desktop Fonts
    • Font Options on CentOS
    • Changing Font Settings
    • Font Rendering Settings
    • Advanced Font Rendering
    • Accessing the System Font Folder
      
      
11. Configuring the CentOS Desktop Panels
    • What are Desktop Panels
    • Changing the Position of a Panel
    • Adding and Deleting Desktop Panels
    • Changing the Appearance of a Desktop Panel
    • Adding Items to a GNOME Desktop Panel
    • Adding Menus to a Panel
    • Changing the Number of CentOS Desktop Workspaces
      
      
12. Configuring the CentOS Desktop Menu System
    • Customizing a CentOS Desktop Menu
    • Moving Menu Items
    • Adding and Deleting a Menu Item
      
      
13. Browsing My Computer, Files and Folders on the CentOS Desktop
    • Accessing Nautilus
    • Nautilus and the Computer Icon
    • Adding Emblems to Files and Folders
    • Changing File and Folder Permissions
    • Renaming and Deleting Files and Folders
      
      
14. Configuring the CentOS GNOME File Manager
    • Displaying Icons or Lists
    • Configuring the List View
    • Configuring the Icon View
      
      
15. CentOS Startup Programs and Session Configuration
    • Session Managed and Non-Session Managed Programs
    • Understanding Sessions
    • Creating a New Session
    • Configuring Session Preferences
    • Configuring the Current Session
    • Configuring Startup Programs
      
      
16. CentOS Desktop Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Viewing Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Changing a Shortcut
    • Disabling a Keyboard Shortcut
      
      
17. Managing CentOS Users and Groups
    • Adding a New User to a CentOS System
    • Editing the Properties of a User
    • Deleting a User from a CentOS System
    • Adding a New Group to a CentOS System
    • Modifying a CentOS Group
    • Deleting a Group from a CentOS System
      
      
18. Basic CentOS Firewall Configuration
    • Configuring a Basic CentOS Firewall
    • Enabling and Disabling the Firewall
    • Configuring Firewall Port Settings
    • Configuring Other Ports
    • Firewall Configuration from a Terminal using lokkit
    • Trusted Interfaces
    • Masquerading
      
      
19. Remote Access to the CentOS Desktop
    • Installing Remote Desktop Support
    • Activating Remote Desktop Access
    • Secure and Insecure Remote Desktop Access
    • Firewall Configuration
    • Accessing a Remote CentOS Desktop using vncviewer
    • Accessing a Remote CentOS Desktop from a Windows System
    • Establishing a Secure Remote Desktop Session
    • Establishing a Secure Remote Desktop Session from a Windows System
    • Creating Additional Desktops
    • Shutting Down a Desktop Session
    • Configuring the Remote Desktop Environment
      
      
20. Configuring CentOS Remote Access using SSH
    • Installing SSH on an CentOS System
    • Configuring the CentOS Firewall to Allow SSH Connections
    • Using SSH on CentOS
    • Copying files using SSH
    • Disabling the SSH Server
      
      
21. Displaying CentOS Applications Remotely (X11 Forwarding)
    • Requirements for Remotely Displaying Applications
    • Remotely Displaying a CentOS Application
    • Trusted X11 Forwarding
    • Compressed X11 Forwarding
      
      
22. Using NFS to Share CentOS Folders with Remote Linux and UNIX Systems