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More Linux questions
I have Slackware Linux installed, only I have a few questions:
What is the command to shut down the system (from text mode)? How do I load KDE or GNOME or another desktop environment from text mode (commands, permissions necessary, ...)? How do I make it so the system will boot automatically into KDE or GNOME? Can I make an interface that would allow the user to chose a desktop environment at startup? I'm thinking at something like a default setting and a few seconds to make a change (something similar to a boot loader). Where is the LILO configuration file and how do I change the boot labels? How do I make the text mode use frame buffering (increased resolution, more rows and collumns)? Can I playback mp3s or mpeg clips from text mode? What do I use for that? Are there programs that use only the X Window System, without the desktop environment? How do I use the Internet from text mode (browsing, e-mail, chat), if I can do that, and how do I set it up (assigning IP adresses, subnet mask et al...). Is Linux compatible with the Microsoft network protocols? Will Linux machines show up when a Windows system queries the "My Network Places" or "Network neighbourhoor"? What is the Linux variant for "Network Neighbourhood"? Can complex Windows programs (like games) be run from Linux? I'm thinking of my old Starcraft and Age of Empires or perhaps something like Counter-Strike... Point me towards a couple of good Linux peer-to-peer utilities (like DC++ or E-mule). Please be as explicit as possible because I'm still learning the ropes and pulleys of this creature :) |
What is the command to shut down the system (from text mode)?
- "halt" How do I load KDE or GNOME or another desktop environment from text mode (commands, permissions necessary, ...)? - "startx" after modifying .xinitrc appropriately How do I make it so the system will boot automatically into KDE or GNOME? - Look up "runlevels" Can I make an interface that would allow the user to chose a desktop environment at startup? I'm thinking at something like a default setting and a few seconds to make a change (something similar to a boot loader). - Yes, with GDM or KDM. The default XDM doesn't allow this. Where is the LILO configuration file and how do I change the boot labels? - /etc/lilo.conf - edit this file, then re-run lilo to install the changes How do I make the text mode use frame buffering (increased resolution, more rows and collumns)? - enable support for it in the kernel, and tell your bootloader to use it. I use Grub, so can't remember the lilo command - "vga=791" or some such Can I playback mp3s or mpeg clips from text mode? What do I use for that? - yes, with 123mpg or mpg123 or other apps. Are there programs that use only the X Window System, without the desktop environment? - What do you mean? Very few applications need a particular desktop environment to work How do I use the Internet from text mode (browsing, e-mail, chat), if I can do that, and how do I set it up (assigning IP adresses, subnet mask et al...). - "links" for a text-only web browser, "pine" or "elm" are widely-used email clients. Chat is more tricky. . . Is Linux compatible with the Microsoft network protocols? Will Linux machines show up when a Windows system queries the "My Network Places" or "Network neighbourhoor"? What is the Linux variant for "Network Neighbourhood"? - You need Samba for this Can complex Windows programs (like games) be run from Linux? I'm thinking of my old Starcraft and Age of Empires or perhaps something like Counter-Strike... - Often, if you install Wine and have some patience :) Point me towards a couple of good Linux peer-to-peer utilities (like DC++ or E-mule). - Bittorrent |
Hi Aphex_Twin. As you know, I'm not a "slacker", but Linux is Linux, and I can help with some of these. :)
Shut down: "shutdown now" from the command line should work for you. Do a "man shutdown" for all the possible options. <stuff here that I know can be done, but I don't have the commands off the top of my head> Choosing desktop environment: WHen installing KDE/Gnome, make sure you also install the login managers (kdm/gdm). The graphical login manager should give you the option to choose what DE/WM you run. LILO: /etc/lilo.conf. Edit this file to change your LILO. Run "lilo -v" as root to install your changes. <more stuff here that I know can be done, but I don't have the commands off the top of my head> Internet from text mode: try the command "lynx http://www.linuxquestions.org" <more stuff here that I know can be done, but I don't have the commands off the top of my head> Games: *some* Windows games are available as native Linux ports. Others can be run using "wine", or "Cedega". Check up in the Linux-Software/Games forum for a lot of info. |
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.xinitrc = A file in your home directory. You won't see it unless you specifically look for hidden files - that's what the period at the front does.
"ls -a" will show hidden files from the command line, or edit the settings of your GUI file manager to see them |
I was interested in how I could set up the desktop environment from text mode. My Linux currently boots into what I understand is "runlevel 3". What configuration files will I have to modify to assign something like KDE to "runlevel 5" and to boot into that if possible.
And please explain what kind of changes will I have to make to .xinitrc |
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Can I suggest you either read the Slackware Book on the Slackware website, or get yourself a good basic Linux book from a bookstore or library - these are extremely basic questions that could have been answered with a quick Google, a search or by reading a book. |
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To change permenantly to runlevel 4, edit the file /etc/inittab and change the initdefault number from 2 to 4. |
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But I can access KDE from runlevel 3. The kdm command loads an interface choser but some of the choices (more obscure desktop environments) crash the system. I have a few additional questions: How do I "kill" the desktop environment and/or X (to get back control if they crash)? How can I make it so the system will be able to share the sound output among processes? I cannot seem to be able to use two media players at the same time. At times there is another process that has gained access to the sound (I have no idea how) and XMMS simply refuses to play. A quirk I encountered is that XMMS will only play if I in advance start Kmix (from KDE). How do I set XMMS as the default audio player for X? How would I set mplayer as the default video player? How do I gain root privileges if I am loaded into a desktop environment as a user? How do I maintain the desktop icon pictures (the pictures, not the icons) if I switch desktop environments? For instance, if I created an icon in KDE with Tux the penguin as the picture, how do I get Tux from GNOME (Do I have to set it up manually?) And a few general issues: In MS-DOS Batch you could use the ren command the following way: "ren *.abc *.xyz", changing the extension of the ".abc" files into ".xyz". How do I do that with Linux bash (mv *.abc *.xyz does not work)? What is the name of the Linux command interpreter and where does it reside? When I type "\" the system prompts me with a ">" character. What does the "\" do? Does the system load up a bash script on start-up? If so, what is it called and where is it located? Where do I find a relatively comprehensive and quick-to-learn bash tutorial? As I'm getting round the Linux system I'm starting to realize it's not the lack of features that plague it, rather the overwhelming abundance of them. Too many things to chose from... But I'm developing a fondness for KDevelop :) |
And what do I use for the following purposes (from KDE):
- CD burning - creating iso images - ripping audio CDs Is KDevelop exclusively for writing free software, or is there room for commercial apps too (legally, that is, and what are the limitations, if any). |
Aphex_Twin2 - I think you would be better served by looking up your local LUG and attending a few sessions. You are asking a huge number of unrelated questions and they could all be answered by searching LQ, searching via Google and reading some books and the Man pages. As it goes, if you are asking this many questions then you really need to do some research.
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How do I "kill" the desktop environment and/or X (to get back control if they crash)?
- Ctrl-Alt-F1 takes you to a terminal How can I make it so the system will be able to share the sound output among processes? I cannot seem to be able to use two media players at the same time. At times there is another process that has gained access to the sound (I have no idea how) and XMMS simply refuses to play. - configure alsa to share, and tell all aps to use alsa How do I set XMMS as the default audio player for X? - You don't, that's a KDE setting How do I gain root privileges if I am loaded into a desktop environment as a user? - Open a terminal and type "su -" How do I maintain the desktop icon pictures (the pictures, not the icons) if I switch desktop environments? For instance, if I created an icon in KDE with Tux the penguin as the picture, how do I get Tux from GNOME (Do I have to set it up manually?) - You have to do it manually Does the system load up a bash script on start-up? If so, what is it called and where is it located? .bashrc and .bash_profile (and possibly .login, I forget) Where do I find a relatively comprehensive and quick-to-learn bash tutorial? And what do I use for the following purposes (from KDE): - CD burning - creating iso images - ripping audio CDs - Grip and Cdrecord |
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I want to terminate the X and KDE sessions and possibly start new ones. The Ctrl-Alt-Fs merely sweep the problem under a rug.
- Yes, but from the terminal you change to runlevel 3, thus killing X and any processes it's running Do you know how to make it default for KDE? - No, don't use it. Far too bloated. I want to for instance use XMMS to modify an mp3 file - XMMS isn't an editor. But you can run KDE apps from the terminal as root |
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What is the command? I've been using runlevels through the /etc/bintab Do you know how to make it default for KDE? Quote:
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