Configuration HOWTO


Gilbert_O'Sullivan

v1.99.8 2006-05-10
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This HOWTO would be the main doc from which every others can refer to configure
most common hardware and services.
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1. Introduction

This document is one of the most important for LDP, because by configuring
hardware and software you can get your own Linux box. This HOWTO was born in
the Golden Age of developers, mainly for the command line. As it became too big
and old for the current distros, I rewrote it more simple as I could.
Fundamentally, to configure the system, Linux users have to write some
configuration files. To do it easyer, today programs and wizards are avaliable
to manage them. This programs may be quite different for the various
distributions.
In this HOWTO, I will speak about Mandrake-Linux and about Red Hat.

1.1 Copyright

This document is Copyright © 2006-03-16 Gilbert O'Sullivan. Permission is
granted to copy and distribute this document under the terms of the GNU Lesser
General Public License. This license is available from http://www.gnu.org/
licenses/lgpl.html. Please note that the LGPL terms don't allow any
modifications except for the translations.

1.2 Disclaimer

This document is provided "as is". I put great effort into writing it
accurately, but you use contained informations at your own risk. In no event
shall I be liable for any damages resulting from the use of this work.

1.3 Credits

Many thanks to all other HOWTO authors and man pages writers, from which I have
got my knowledge, and to all people who provided me with feedback.

1.4 Description

Even if the earlier versions of this document discussed about several
distributions, I chose Mandrake-Linux and Red Hat, because they are the most
representative, with kernels range from 2.4.3 to 2.6.11, of wich last release
you can easily purchase. For more informations, or if you don't understand
anything, you can refer to other HOWTOs, among which is available the source
code of this document, at Linux_Documentation_Project site. The hardware we
shall go to configure is for x86 architectures: modem, printer, scanner. A
tablet is very common also.

2. Configuration tools

Fundamentally, this document is made in two sections: the first, for the
machines with a big hard disk and a working graphical interface, the second,
for other which are in low resources, forced to work by typing from the command
line.

2.1 Control Center

Of course, if you have a working graphical interface, to configure everything
is very easy. As a matter of fact, starting from release 8.0, each Mandrake-
Linux release comes with drakconf package. Other disrtibutions have their own
control-center. This wizard allows to change the settings of

* Users
* Bootloader
* Disk management
* Display
* Firewall
* Network
* Keyboard
* Mouse
* Printer
* Services


2.2 Display

Now let me explain how you can change X server configuration through the
following two steps.

Step 1

Linux operating system uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI) called XFree, just
because it is a free version of X windows system, wich was developed by X.org
website members, also getting some IBM contyibutions. Today, X server
configuration is totally automatic, so in the end of your new Linux system
installation, if you are lucky, you can reboot, without having anything to do.
Nevertheless, often it happens that, in spite of an installation of a lot of
packages, it display a message saying that you are not able to start X server.
The reason why this happens is that your monitor, or your graphic card, is not
rightly detected. So you have only to update the whole installation, until to
the Summary. Here, you can change your graphical interface settings, but, be
very careful, when the opportunity knocks: when ask, disable the automatic
starting Option for X server after the reboot. This allows to use your PC in
text mode, so if you want to start X server, you have manually to run "startx"
command.

Step 2

If X server doesn't work yet, try with
# XFdrake
It allows to change current settings with minimal ones:


       Monitor:                SVGA (not interlaced) 1024 x 768
       Frequency:              60 Hz
       Graphic card:           VGA standard
       Resolution:             640 x 480
       Colours dept.:          8 bpp


You can increase these values, by degrees, but without overclocking frequency
speed. It may damages your monitor! When you are ready, run XFdrake again and
select to start Xfree, upon booting. This has always worked for me, so I
suggest you to write down these values, before.

2.3 Keyboard

First of some old raw applications, upon which was built current control-
center. Of course if you work by typing from command line, it is very important
to set your keyboard accordingly. For many countries and keyboard types
appropriate keymaps are available already. So you can give "loadkeys" command
followed by the two last letters of any your country URLs.

2.4 Users

Expecially if you want autologin, you have to add an user. Type "adduser"
command, then set up his password whith "passwd -n", followed by the user name.

2.5 Mouse

If you chose to work by typing from command line only, you have no need to
configure your mouse. Nevertheless, whith a working graphical interface you
cannot use itself to change wrong settings. Open a console as a root user and
type "mousedrake".

2.6 Printer

Lastly, if you want to set up your printer, you have to install CUPS driver.
Type "printerdrake".

2.7 Bootloader

The program which loads the kernel into the memory at the boot time is called
bootloader. The bootloaders that come with Linux distributions are LILO and
GRUB. If you want change LILO configuration, you have to open the file /etc/
lilo.conf. using your favorite editor. In this file each line has its meaning.


       boot=/dev/hda              Install LILO in the MBR
       prompt                     If you want select another section
       timeout=50                 Wait five seconds before booting
       default=linux              The section to boot after the timeout

       image=/boot/vmlinuz-x.x.x
         label=Linux              Name we give to this section
         read-only                Start with a read-only root
         root=/dev/hda3           Location of the root filesystem

       other=/dev/hdaX            The host where Windows is installed
         label=windows


Typical is how GRUB refers to hard drives and partitions.

2.8 Firewall

If your system is attached directly to Internet, or is on a large public
network, enable it to help prevent unauthorized access.

3. Others

These have their own websites, where you can find everything you need.

3.1 Scanner

SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) package, offers the suppport for scanners. It
can be downloaded from ftp://ftp.mostang.com/pub/sane. Documentation are
avaliable at SANE webpage, where you can also find several frontends and
backends.

3.2 Tablet

Today at The_Linux_Wacom_Project website there are useful tools to manage a
Wacom pen tablet: drivers, libraries, documentation for configuring and getting
it running. Not only but also diagnostic applications and of course mailing
lists and FAQ. This website is maintained by John E. Joganic <jej@j-
arkadia.com>