Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Essentials

We are currently writing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Essentials. It is scheduled for completion in January 2011. New chapters are added frequently so check back regularly for updates.

1. A Brief History of Red Hat Linux
   
   
2. Installing RHEL 6 on a Clean Disk Drive
   • Obtaining the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Installation Media
   • Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
   • Timezone and the Root Password
   • Partitioning a Disk for RHEL 6
   • Package Selection
   • The Physical Installation
   • Final Configuration Steps
     
     
3. Using the Bash Shell on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
   • What is a Shell?
   • Gaining Access to the Shell
   • Entering Commands at the Prompt
   • Getting Information about a Command
   • Bash Command-line Editing
   • Working with the Shell History
   • Filename Shorthand
   • File Name and Path Completion
   • Input and Output Redirection
   • Working with Pipes in the Bash Shell
   • Configuring Aliases
   • Environment Variables
   • Writing Shell Scripts
     
     
4. Performing an RHEL 6 Network Installation
   • RHEL 6 Network Installation Requirements
   • Obtaining a Network Boot Image
   • Writing the Boot Image to a USB Flash Drive
   • Configuring the Network Installation
   • Starting the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Network Installation
     
     
5. Installing RHEL 6 with Windows in Dual Boot Environment
   • Partition Resizing
   • Shrinking the Windows Partition from within Linux
   • Choosing an Operating System at Boot Time
   • Editing the RHEL 6 Boot Menu
   • Accessing the Windows Partition from RHEL 6
     
     
6. Allocating a Windows Disk Partition to RHEL 6
   • Deleting the Windows Partition from the Disk
   • Formatting the Unallocated Disk Partition
   • Editing the Boot Menu
   • Mounting the New Partition
     
     
7. Logging into the RHEL 6 GNOME Desktop
   
   
8. Configuring RHEL 6 GNOME Screen Resolution and Multiple Monitors
   • Configuring the RHEL Display Resolution
   • Changing Display Orientation
   • Configuring Multiple Monitors
     
     
9. A Guided Tour of the RHEL 6 GNOME Desktop
   • The RHEL 6 GNOME Desktop
   • The Desktop Background
   • The Desktop Panels
     
     
10. Configuring the RHEL 6 GNOME Desktop Background
    • The RHEL 6 GNOME Slideshow Background
    • Changing the RHEL 6 GNOME Desktop Background
    • Selecting a Background from the Wallpaper List
    • Creating a Solid or Graded Background
    • Specifying a Background Image
      
      
11. Installing and Customizing RHEL 6 Desktop Themes
    • What is a Desktop Theme?
    • Changing the RHEL 6 Desktop Theme
    • Downloading and Installing a Theme
    • Creating a Custom RHEL Theme Package
      
      
12. Configuring RHEL 6 Desktop Fonts
    • Font Options on RHEL 6
    • Changing Font Settings
    • Font Rendering Settings
    • RHEL 6 Advanced Font Rendering
      
      
13. Configuring the RHEL 6 GNOME 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 RHEL 6 GNOME Desktop Panel
    • Adding Menus to a Panel
    • Changing the Number of RHEL Desktop Workspaces
      
      
14. Configuring the RHEL 6 Desktop Menu System
    • Installing the alacarte Package
    • Customizing an RHEL 6 Desktop Menu
    • Moving Menu Items
    • Adding and Deleting a Menu Item
      
      
15. Browsing the System, Files and Folders on the RHEL 6 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
      
      
16. Configuring the RHEL 6 Nautilus File Manager
    • Displaying Icons or Lists
    • Configuring the List View
    • Configuring the Icon View
    • Configuring Media Settings
      
      
17. RHEL 6 Desktop - Starting Applications on Login
    • Session Managed and Non-Session Managed Programs
    • Configuring Desktop Startup Programs
    • Saving the Current Session
      
      
18. Configuring RHEL 6 Desktop Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Viewing Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Changing a Shortcut
    • Disabling a Keyboard Shortcut
    • Adding a Custom Shortcut
      
      
19. Configuring RHEL 6 Runlevels and Services
    • Understanding RHEL 6 Runlevels
    • Understanding RHEL 6 Services
    • RHEL Runlevels Descriptions
    • Configuring the Default RHEL 6 Runlevel
    • Changing the Current Runlevel from within a Running RHEL 6 System
    • Identifying Services that Start at Each Runlevel
    • Changing the Services for a Runlevel
      
      
20. Managing RHEL 6 Users and Groups
    • Adding a New User to an RHEL 6 System
    • Editing the Properties of a User
    • Deleting a User from an RHEL System
    • Adding a New Group to an RHEL 6 System
    • Modifying an RHEL 6 Group
    • Deleting a Group from an RHEL System
      
      
21. Basic RHEL 6 Firewall Configuration
    • Configuring a Basic RHEL 6 Firewall
    • Configuring Firewall Settings using the Wizard
    • Configuring Firewall Port Settings
    • Configuring Other Ports
    • Configuring Trusted Interfaces
    • Masquerading
    • Port Forwarding
    • ICMP Filtering
    • Custom Rules
    • Configuring the Firewall from a Terminal using iptables