Howtos

v1.0 (en), xiando

Solutions to and help with common problems

Bash Prompt HOWTO Creating and controlling terminal and xterm prompts is discussed, including incorporating standard escape sequences to give username, current working directory, time, etc. Further suggestions are made on how to modify xterm title bars, use external functions to provide prompt information, and how to use ANSI colours. more >>>	Kernel Rebuild Guide This is a guide to building the 2.4.x and 2.6.x Linux kernels. It is intended for moderately experienced Linux users who are interested in learning more about the kernel and the rebuild process. more >>>
Scanner HOWTO This document was written to document the steps necessary for access and use of a photographic scanner device on a system running Linux. more >>>	How to get web pages serviced in your native language Common web servers are able to serve different pages depending on what languages the visitor understands. You can easily configure what languages you understand in your browser to get web pages default you your native tung when available. more >>>
CD ripping and burning from the command prompt Howto How to rip and burn data, audio and special (like Playstation PSX) CDs using the standard command line tools. more >>>	Optimized gcc compiling (cflags/cxxflags, distcc, ccache) How to make your programs compile and run faster by doing some small adjustments more >>>
djbdns Guide - Setup your own nameserver There are a number of reasons someone might want to run a local DNS server/cache. Maybe your ISP's DNS servers are wonky, maybe your on dialup and just wanna get things a bit faster, or maybe something completely different. more >>>	GnuPG Privacy Howtos The Gnu Privacy Guard allows you to protect your privacy and verify who and where information you recieve comes from. Start by reading the Mini Howto, then read the Keysigning Party and have some fun with your friends. more >>>
How to become l33t How to become a l33t person, a status that will bring you friends, glory, money and most importantly the funding to buy lots and lots of boxen and give you access to what you want whenever you want more >>>	Logical Volume Management Howto (en) Logical Volume Management Howto more >>>
Mail Howtos How to send e-mail using Linux more >>>	Networking Networking HOWTOs and Protocols HOWTOs more >>>
ntp - makes the clock show the correct time How to get started with ntpdate, the tool for constantly adjusting the system clock to the internet more >>>	How to make a paper Linux pengiun It is not enough to be a real Linux Geek, if you really want to impress then you must have a Linux mascot in your apparment. Making one yourself is quite easy! more >>>
Setting up spam scanning under postfix/Debian Setting up spamassassin (SA) and razor to be called site-wide from postfix while also running RAVantivirus more >>>	Power management for laptops and desktops How to mange your computers power saving features. more >>>
Security Howtos - File system encryption Security Howtos - How to encrypt your files thereby making sure only you can open them, and how to encrypt communications thereby making sure only the intended receiver can access information you send. more >>>	Sound - Remote Sound with EsounD Or how I got my windows box to listen. By Jeff -Kuja- Katz more >>>
Supermount - automatic mouting How to automatically mount and unmount removable media more >>>	How to build a Linux cluster using the Linux virtual server kernel modules The Internet is growing very fast, and if you are lucky, your server load grows with it. Serving huge numbers of people simultaneously presents many challenges. You can make a load-balanced cluster for all kinds of services using any Linux box and a LAN of mixed boxes very easily using the LVS kernel modules. more >>>
XFree configuration How to configure and tune your XFree server more >>>	Xvnc Terminal Server How to turn your box into a Xvnc Terminal Server using tightvnc more >>>

General on solving problems

Just about every Linux problem has a documented solution. The hard part is to find it.

A good tip is to first try the simple

man program

info program

view online manual pages

You can access this information in the Web Browsers Galeon and Konqueror by entering the adresses man:program or info:program .

Many programs install documentation in /usr/doc or /usr/local/doc.

KDE has it's own khelpcenter. It does not only supply much KDE documentation, but also lets you browse manpages, infopages and other locally stored documentation.

If you have a problem, try searching the web, looking in man pages and looking in /usr/doc or /usr/share/doc. Linux requires some effort to solve a few problems, but you will find that there is a documented solution for almost any problem. It might be hidden away in a cellar, with no stairs and a lift that's out of order, locked in a fileing cabinet that's guarded by a horrible beast. Nevertheless, there is a documented solution for 99% of all problems.

If you can't find a solution, please try to solve the problem yourself, write a How-To and share it!

Very good sources of Linux documentation:

New or recently updated documentation