HUNGER If Debian GNU/Linux can do it, you can do it too . . . Whether you’re a Linux newcomer looking for foolproof installation tips or a Debian GNU/ veteran who wants the scoop on the latest security enhancements, this authoritative guide delivers all the information you need to make the most of the Debian GNU/ “potato” release. From customizing a desktop system to troubleshooting a network or setting up an e-commerce server, it’s the only reference you’ll ever need to become a Debian GNU/Linux pro. Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Debian GNU/Linux • Get crystal-clear instructions for fast, painless installation • Learn your way around the Linux shell, file system, and X Window System • Discover how easy it is to set up a LAN in Debian and connect to the Internet • Make the most of Linux desktop applications, games, and multimedia features • Master Linux administration, from automating system tasks to locking in security • Find guidance on how to keep Debian current and bug-free • Get the scoop on configuring servers, from Apache and FTP to NIS and Sendmail Shelving Category: Linux Reader Level: Beginning to Advanced System Requirements: Intel 386 or better; 150MB+ hard drive space; 16MB+ RAM; CD-ROM drive ISBN 0-7645-4710-0 $49.99 USA $74.99 Canada £39.99 UK incl. VAT Debian GNU/Linux Master Linux system administration Discover the power of Debian’s package management system Build a network and set up Linux servers Steve Hunger Foreword by Ian Murdock, Founder of Debian and now Cofounder of Progeny Linux Systems “Steve Hunger’s book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to Debian GNU/Linux in print.” —Branden Robinson, Debian Developer ,!7IA7G4-fehbac!:p;o;t;T;T *85555-ACJDHi Debian GNU/ Linux 2.2r2 on CD-ROM BONUS CD-ROM Debian GNU/Linux 2.2r2 100% COMPREHENSIVE www.hungryminds.com 100% ONE HUNDRED PERCENT COMPREHENSIVE AUTHORITATIVE WHAT YOU NEED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT D ebian GNU/Linux Bible Configure the Debian interface for your special requirements ▲ ▲ Monitor your Web server with Debian packages ▲ Combine the simplicity of a window manager with up-to-date graphic controls D ebian GNU/Linux Debian GNU/Linux ® ® ® ® Debian GNU/Linux 2.2r2 inside ® ® ® ® 4710-0 Cover 3/30/01 11:56 AM Page 1 HUNGER If Debian GNU/Linux can do it, you can do it too . . . Whether you’re a Linux newcomer looking for foolproof installation tips or a Debian GNU/ veteran who wants the scoop on the latest security enhancements, this authoritative guide delivers all the information you need to make the most of the Debian GNU/ “potato” release. From customizing a desktop system to troubleshooting a network or setting up an e-commerce server, it’s the only reference you’ll ever need to become a Debian GNU/ Linux pro. Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Debian GNU/Linux • Get crystal-clear instructions for fast, painless installation • Learn your way around the Linux shell, file system, and X Window System • Discover how easy it is to set up a LAN in Debian and connect to the Internet • Make the most of Linux desktop applications, games, and multimedia features • Master Linux administration, from automating system tasks to locking in security • Find guidance on how to keep Debian current and bug-free • Get the scoop on configuring servers, from Apache and FTP to NIS and Sendmail Master Linux system administration Discover the power of Debian’s package management system Build a network and set up Linux servers Steve Hunger Foreword by Ian Murdock, Founder of Debian and now Cofounder of Progeny Linux Systems 100% www.hungryminds.com 100% COMPREHENSIVE AUTHORITATIVE WHAT YOU NEED Bible ▲ ▲ ▲ Debian GNU/Linux ® ® D ebian GNU/Linux ® ® “Steve Hunger’s book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to Debian GNU/Linux in print.” —Branden Robinson, Debian Developer 4710-0 Cover 3/30/01 11:57 AM Page 2 Debian GNU/Linux ® Bible 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page i Debian GNU/Linux ® Bible Steve Hunger Hungry Minds, Inc. Indianapolis, IN ✦ Cleveland, OH ✦ New York, NY 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page iii Debian GNU/Linux ® Bible Published by Hungry Minds, Inc. 909 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 www.hungryminds.com Copyright  2001 Hungry Minds, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book, including interior design, cover design, and icons, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 2001089113 ISBN: 0-7645-4710-0 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1B/SW/QU/QR/IN Distributed in the United States by Hungry Minds, Inc. Distributed by CDG Books Canada Inc. for Canada; by Transworld Publishers Limited in the United Kingdom; by IDG Norge Books for Norway; by IDG Sweden Books for Sweden; by IDG Books Australia Publishing Corporation Pty. 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For press review copies, author interviews, or other publicity information, please contact our Public Relations department at 650-653-7000 or fax 650-653-7500. For authorization to photocopy items for corporate, personal, or educational use, please contact Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, or fax 978-750-4470. LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF W ARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR HAVE USED THEIR BEST EFFORTS IN PREPARING THIS BOOK. THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS PARAGRAPH. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES REPRESENTATIVES OR WRITTEN SALES MATERIALS. THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN AND THE OPINIONS STATED HEREIN ARE NOT GUARANTEED OR WARRANTED TO PRODUCE ANY PARTICULAR RESULTS, AND THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGES. Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Hungry Minds, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. is a trademark of Hungry Minds, Inc. 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page iv About the Author Steve Hunger has spent the last 10 years in the computer industry, the last four supporting and integrating multiple platforms for a Fortune 500 Company. Having been introduced to UNIX while attending Purdue University, he quickly latched onto Linux as the primary platform for his startup Web hosting and development busi- ness in 1996. He continues operating his Web business, consulting with local busi- nesses, and freelance writing. When not conquering the world with Linux, he has co-written and contributed to several books for Macmillan USA and Brady Games, including work on the line of Mandrake Linux products. His latest work has been for AOL Press called Powering Up the Internet. In his spare time he enjoys relaxing with his wife, riding bicycles, and tinkering with an R/C model that is evolving into something that looks amazing like a plane. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Central Indiana Linux Users Group ( www.cinlug.org). Steve can be reached at steve@rhinoworld.com. 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page v Credits Acquisitions Editor Terri Varveris Project Editor Gus A. Miklos Technical Editor Steve Schafer Copy Editors Victoria Lee O’Malley Luann Rouff Project Coordinator Dale White Graphics and Production Specialists Amy Adrian Sean Decker Gabriele McCann Kendra Span Quality Control Technicians David Faust Susan Moritz Marianne Santy Charles Spencer Permissions Editor Laura Moss Media Development Specialist Travis Silvers Media Development Coordinator Marisa Pearman Proofreading and Indexing York Production Services, Inc. 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page vi This book is dedicated to my beloved wife, Sandy. Without her love, support, and encouragement to carry me on days I needed it, this book would not have been possible. And to my father, who also saw me through this book. 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page vii Foreword I n January 1993, while browsing USENET news one evening after work, I ran across a thread with a subject line that read, simply, “LINUX.” I’m not sure what it was about the word “LINUX” that made me hit Enter, but I did, and within a few minutes, it was clear to me that I had to have it. Unfortunately, that’s about where I hit a brick wall. I had just enough information about Linux to whet my appetite, but there was precious little more of it to be found. Over the course of the next few weeks, I hunted down and pieced together the rest of what I needed to know: where to find it, how to download it, how to install it, and what I could do with it once I had installed it. It was a tedious process, because only scraps of information were available, and those scraps were scattered about all over the place — a bit on a USENET group here, a bit more on an FTP site there. And even when found and pieced together, the scraps did not form a complete picture— I had to fill in large gaps for myself. All in all, it was a tremendous learning experience, but it was also a tremendously frus- trating and time-consuming experience, and if presented with the same obstacles today, I likely would not have had the time or the inclination to overcome them. Fortunately, becoming a Linux user is much easier today than it was in 1993. The software itself has come a long way, and a wide range of books on the subject are available, from installation and use to programming to administration and manage- ment. These days, the local bookstore has all the information you need to get started and become productive as a Linux user. One subject that has not been covered as extensively as others, a subject near and dear to my heart, is Debian, a project I founded not long after discovering Linux. Debian has much to offer the Linux user — a huge selection of software, an open development process that leads to rapid bug fixes and improvements, an unparal- leled software management facility that allows software to be installed easily and systems to be upgraded non-disruptively, and much more — but it has long remained a daunting prospect to piece together the information you need to get there. 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page ix x Debian GNU/Linux Bible And, so, I am extremely pleased to see books such as my friend Steve Hunger’s Debian GNU/Linux Bible. Debian GNU/Linux Bible contains all the information you need to know to get the most out of Debian, from installing it to using its powerful package management system to install software and upgrade your system to setting up a Web server and other advanced topics. With Debian GNU/Linux Bible by your side, you will be well prepared to join the large and growing group of users that call Debian home. I hope this book serves you well. Ian Murdock Founder of Debian and Co-founder of Progeny Linux Systems, Inc. 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page x [...]... to read about the origins of this great operating system, I open with a definition of the operating system This helps to define how you look at the accomplishments described later Understanding the Role of the Operating System The operating system controls the interaction between hardware and the software applications The hardware consists of the processor, hard drives, video cards, sound cards, and. .. 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page xi Preface A s Linux becomes more and more popular, resources to learn and use Linux become more important These resources help to guide, direct, and inform an individual to make the best use of the tools available, just as a stack of boards, nails, and a hammer don’t make a house — it takes the skilled craftsmanship of a carpenter to turn the parts into a whole house Debian GNU/Linux... operating system and make it functional for someone to use ✦ The user interface makes it possible for the individual to interact with the computer to issue commands, launch programs, and generally control the computer This usually starts as a command-line interface and later becomes some kind of graphical interface One example of the interface is the shell which allows commands to be typed in and the output... displayed to the screen in text form Chapters 4 and 14 cover the graphical interface and shell interface respectively ✦ The device drivers allow the kernel to talk to the various devices, such as hard drives and modems, which are connected to the computer Each hardware device speaks its own language, and the operating system must be capable of interacting with it In order for a specific piece of hardware... essential base set of commands used to navigate through the newly installed system; cover the differences between desktop managers, desktop environments, and window managers; explain the requirements and configuration of setting up a network and describe tools used to test, diagnose, and evaluate the network once installed; and help you connect your system to the Internet and explain some of the applications... as e-mail, news, and Web browsing Part II: Working with Debian Chapters in Part II explain how to install additional applications on the system, cover the features and functions of the popular Office-like application suites available to Linux, describe the intermediate commands found on the system (useful to those interested in going on to the next step), provide examples of applications that appeal... a Caution, make sure that you take special care to read it This information is vital I always uses the Caution to designate information that will help you to avoid damage to your application, data, machine, or self Never skip the Cautions in a chapter and always follow their advice 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page xv Preface Tip CrossReference All of us like to know special bits of information that... Tk/Tcl, and C), explain the most amazing environment that makes Linux so powerful and how to mix the environment with the programming of scripts, detail the core part of the Linux system — the kernel, and explain how to modify and create new versions of the kernel specifically designed for your needs 4710-0 FM.F 4/10/01 3:38 PM Page xiii Preface Part IV: Maintenance and Upgrade Chapters in this part direct... and more Each processor has built into it a language that only it understands, plus each manufacturer creates a different language for its processor For instance, an Intel x86 processor uses a different internal language than, say, a Motorola 68000 processor Therefore, any software must be complied (converted into the Understanding the role of the operating system Understanding the history of Linux... is the use of icons to emphasize special information ✦ There are some situations when I’ll ask you to type something This information always appears in bold type like this: Type Hello World ✦ Code normally appears on separate lines from the rest of the text However, there are some special situations when small amounts of code appear right in the paragraph for explanation purposes This code will appear . THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN AND THE OPINIONS STATED HEREIN ARE NOT GUARANTEED OR WARRANTED TO PRODUCE ANY PARTICULAR RESULTS, AND THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED. on the subject are available, from installation and use to programming to administration and manage- ment. These days, the local bookstore has all the information you need to get started and. important. These resources help to guide, direct, and inform an individual to make the best use of the tools available, just as a stack of boards, nails, and a hammer don’t make a house — it takes