Introduction
Welcome to the Official Red Hat Linux Customization Guide.
The Official Red Hat Linux Customization Guide contains information on how to customize your Red Hat Linux system to fit your needs. If you are looking for a step-by-step, task-oriented guide for configuring and customizing your system, this is the manual for you. This manual discusses many intermediate topics such as the following:
Setting up a network interface card (NIC)
Performing a Kickstart installation
Configuring Samba shares
Managing your software with RPM
Determining information about your system
Upgrading your kernel
This manual is divided into the following main categories:
Installation-Related Reference
Network-Related Reference
System Configuration
Package Management
This guide assumes you have a basic understanding of your Red Hat Linux system. If you need reference material which covers more basic issues such as configuring your desktop or playing audio CD-RPMs, please refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide. If you need more advanced documentation such as an overview of the Red Hat Linux filesystem, please refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide.
HTML and PDF versions of the Official Red Hat Linux manuals are available on the Documentation CD and online at http://www.redhat.com/docs/.
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Although this manual reflects the most current information possible, you should read the Red Hat Linux Release Notes for information that may not have been available prior to our documentation being finalized. They can be found on the Red Hat Linux CD #1 and online at:
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Changes to This Manual
This manual has been expanded to include new features in Red Hat Linux 7.3 as well as topics requested by our readers. Changes to this manual include:
- Kickstart Options
The kickstart options have been updated to include the new options in Red Hat Linux 7.3.
- Network Configuration
This chapter has been written to discussed the revised Red Hat Network Administration Tool. It is now more task-oriented.
- Samba
This chapter now includes how to use pam_smbpass to sync users' Samba passwords with their system passwords when the passwd command is used.
- Squid Configuration
This new chapter discusses the Red Hat Squid Configurator, a graphical tool for configuring the Squid Web Proxy Cache server.
- Mail Transport Agent (MTA) Configuration
This new chapter discusses the Red Hat Mail Transport Agent Switcher application, which allows users to select either sendmail or postfix as the default MTA for the system.
- Monitoring Filesystems
The Gathering System Information chapter has been expanded to include a Monitoring Filesystems section, which covers the diskcheck utility.
- Printer Configuration
This chapter has been expanded to include information on the alternative printing system called CUPS.
- Automated Tasks
The at and batch commands have been added to this chapter.
- Upgrading the Kernel
The Upgrading the Kernel chapter has been expanded to include information on Red Hat Linux kernels built for different x86-architecture chips such as the AMD Athlon™ and the IntelŪ PentiumŪ 4.
- Building a Custom Kernel
The Building a Custom Kernel chapter included instructions for using the Red Hat .config files to recompile the kernel with the existing configuration options.
- Kerberos
All the Kerberos information has been merged into one location in the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide.