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+<tr>
+<th colspan="3" align="center">Slackware Linux Essentials</th>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td width="10%" align="left" valign="bottom"><a href="index.html"
+accesskey="P">Prev</a></td>
+<td width="80%" align="center" valign="bottom"></td>
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+accesskey="N">Next</a></td>
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+
+<div class="PREFACE">
+<h1><a id="BOOK-PREFACE" name="BOOK-PREFACE"></a>Preface</h1>
+
+<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-AUDIENCE" name="PREFACE-AUDIENCE"></a>Intended
+Audience</h1>
+
+<p>The Slackware Linux operating system is a powerful platform for Intel-based computers.
+It is designed to be stable, secure, and functional as both a high-end server and
+powerful workstation.</p>
+
+<p>This book is designed to get you started with the Slackware Linux operating system.
+It's not meant to cover every single aspect of the distribution, but rather to show what
+it is capable of and give you a basic working knowledge of the system.</p>
+
+<p>As you gain experience with Slackware Linux, we hope you find this book to be a handy
+reference. We also hope you'll lend it to all of your friends when they come asking about
+that cool Slackware Linux operating system you're running.</p>
+
+<p>While this book may not an edge-of-your-seat novel, we certainly tried to make it as
+entertaining as possible. With any luck, we'll get a movie deal. Of course, we also hope
+you are able to learn from it and find it useful.</p>
+
+<p>And now, on with the show.</p>
+
+<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CHANGES" name="PREFACE-CHANGES"></a>Changes from
+the First Edition</h1>
+
+<p>This second edition is the culmination of years of hard work by the dedicated members
+of the Slackware Documentation Project. The following are the major changes in this new
+edition:</p>
+
+<ul>
+<li>
+<p><a href="installation.html">Chapter 3</a>, Installation, has been modified with new
+screenshots of the installer, and reflects changes in disk-sets, and CD installation.</p>
+</li>
+
+<li>
+<p><a href="system-configuration.html">Chapter 4</a>, System Configuration, has been
+updated with new information about Linux 2.6.x kernels.</p>
+</li>
+
+<li>
+<p><a href="network-configuration.html">Chapter 5</a>, Network Configuration, has been
+expanded with further explanation of Samba, NFS, and DHCP. A section on wireless
+networking has also been added. This chapter now reflects major changes in how Slackware
+handles network setup.</p>
+</li>
+
+<li>
+<p><a href="x-window-system.html">Chapter 6</a>, X Window System, has been substantially
+rewritten for Xorg based systems. This chapter now also covers the xdm graphical login
+manager.</p>
+</li>
+
+<li>
+<p><a href="basic-network-commands.html">Chapter 13</a>, Basic Network Commands, has been
+enhanced with information about additional network utilities.</p>
+</li>
+
+<li>
+<p><a href="security.html">Chapter 14</a>, Security, is a new chapter with this edition.
+It explains how to keep a Slackware Linux system secure.</p>
+</li>
+
+<li>
+<p><a href="emacs.html">Chapter 17</a>, Emacs, is a new chapter with this edition. It
+describes how to use Emacs, a powerful editor for Unix.</p>
+</li>
+
+<li>
+<p><a href="package-management.html">Chapter 18</a>, Package Management, has been updated
+with information about SlackBuild scripts.</p>
+</li>
+
+<li>
+<p>There are many other changes, both minor and major, to reflect changes in Slackware as
+it has matured.</p>
+</li>
+</ul>
+
+<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-ORGANIZATION"
+name="PREFACE-ORGANIZATION"></a>Organization of this Book</h1>
+
+<div class="VARIABLELIST">
+<dl>
+<dt><a href="introduction.html">Chapter 1</a>, Introduction</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Provides introductory material on Linux, Slackware, and the Open Source and Free
+Software Movements.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="help.html">Chapter 2</a>, Help</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the help resources available on a Slackware Linux system and online.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="installation.html">Chapter 3</a>, Installation</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the installation process step-by-step with screenshots to provide an
+illustrative walk-through.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="system-configuration.html">Chapter 4</a>, System Configuration</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the important configuration files and covers kernel recompilation.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="network-configuration.html">Chapter 5</a>, Network Configuration</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes how to connect a Slackware Linux machine to a network. Covers TCP/IP,
+PPP/dial-up, wireless networking, and more.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="x-window-system.html">Chapter 6</a>, The X Window System</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes how to setup and use the graphical X Window System in Slackware.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="booting.html">Chapter 7</a>, Booting</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the process by which a computer boots into Slackware Linux. Also covers
+dual-booting with Microsoft Windows operating systems.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="shell.html">Chapter 8</a>, The Shell</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the powerful command line interface for Linux.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="filesystem-structure.html">Chapter 9</a>, Filesystem Structure</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the filesystem structure, including file ownership, permission, and
+linking.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="file-commands.html">Chapter 10</a>, Handling Files and Directories</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the commands used to manipulate files and directories from the command line
+interface.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="process-control.html">Chapter 11</a>, Process Control</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the powerful Linux process management commands used to manage multiple
+running applications.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="essential-sysadmin.html">Chapter 12</a>, Essential System
+Administration</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes basic system administration tasks such as adding and removing users,
+shutting down the system properly, and more.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="basic-network-commands.html">Chapter 13</a>, Basic Network Commands</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the collection of network clients included with Slackware.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="security.html">Chapter 14</a>, Security</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes many different tools available to help keep your Slackware system secure,
+including <tt class="COMMAND">iptables</tt> and <tt class="COMMAND">tcpwrappers</tt>.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="archive-files.html">Chapter 15</a>, Archive Files</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the different compression and archive utilities available for Linux.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="vi.html">Chapter 16</a>, vi</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the powerful <tt class="COMMAND">vi</tt> text editor.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="emacs.html">Chapter 17</a>, Emacs</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the powerful <tt class="COMMAND">Emacs</tt> text editor.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="package-management.html">Chapter 18</a>, Slackware Package Management</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the Slackware package utilities and the process used to create custom
+packages and tagfiles.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="zipslack.html">Chapter 19</a>, ZipSlack</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the ZipSlack version of Linux that can be used from Windows without
+requiring an installation.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><a href="gpl.html">Appendix A</a>, The GNU General Public License</dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>Describes the license terms under which Slackware Linux and this book can be copied
+and distributed.</p>
+</dd>
+</dl>
+</div>
+
+<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV" name="PREFACE-CONV"></a>Conventions used in
+this book</h1>
+
+<p>To provide a consistent and easy to read text, several conventions are followed
+throughout the book.</p>
+
+<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-TYPOGRAPHIC"
+name="PREFACE-CONV-TYPOGRAPHIC"></a>Typographic Conventions</h2>
+
+<div class="VARIABLELIST">
+<dl>
+<dt><span class="emphasis"><i class="EMPHASIS">Italic</i></span></dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>An <span class="emphasis"><i class="EMPHASIS">italic</i></span> font is used for
+commands, emphasized text, and the first usage of technical terms.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><var class="VARNAME">Monospace</var></dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>A <var class="VARNAME">monospaced</var> font is used for error messages, commands,
+environment variables, names of ports, hostnames, user names, group names, device names,
+variables, and code fragments.</p>
+</dd>
+
+<dt><b class="APPLICATION">Bold</b></dt>
+
+<dd>
+<p>A <b class="APPLICATION">bold</b> font is used for user input in examples.</p>
+</dd>
+</dl>
+</div>
+
+<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-COMMANDS"
+name="PREFACE-CONV-COMMANDS"></a>User Input</h2>
+
+<p>Keys are shown in <b class="KEYCAP">bold</b> to stand out from other text. Key
+combinations that are meant to be typed simultaneously are shown with `<var
+class="LITERAL">+</var>' between the keys, such as:</p>
+
+<p><b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">Alt</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">Del</b></p>
+
+<p>Meaning the user should type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>, <b
+class="KEYCAP">Alt</b>, and <b class="KEYCAP">Del</b> keys at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>Keys that are meant to be typed in sequence will be separated with commas, for
+example:</p>
+
+<p><b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b class="KEYCAP">X</b>, <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>+<b
+class="KEYCAP">S</b></p>
+
+<p>Would mean that the user is expected to type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b> and <b
+class="KEYCAP">X</b> keys simultaneously and then to type the <b class="KEYCAP">Ctrl</b>
+and <b class="KEYCAP">S</b> keys simultaneously.</p>
+
+<h2 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-CONV-EXAMPLES"
+name="PREFACE-CONV-EXAMPLES"></a>Examples</h2>
+
+<p>Examples starting with <tt class="DEVICENAME">E:\&gt;</tt> indicate a <span
+class="TRADEMARK">MS-DOS</span>&reg; command. Unless otherwise noted, these commands may
+be executed from a &#8220;Command Prompt&#8221; window in a modern <span
+class="TRADEMARK">Microsoft</span>&reg;&nbsp;<span class="TRADEMARK">Windows</span>&reg;
+environment.</p>
+
+<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
+<tr>
+<td>
+<pre class="SCREEN">
+<samp class="PROMPT">D:\&gt;</samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">rawrite a: bare.i</kbd>
+</pre>
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p>Examples starting with <samp class="PROMPT">#</samp> indicate a command that must be
+invoked as the superuser in Slackware. You can login as <tt class="USERNAME">root</tt> to
+type the command, or login as your normal account and use <span
+class="CITEREFENTRY"><span class="REFENTRYTITLE">su</span>(1)</span> to gain superuser
+privileges.</p>
+
+<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
+<tr>
+<td>
+<pre class="SCREEN">
+<samp class="PROMPT">#</samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">dd if=bare.i of=/dev/fd0</kbd>
+</pre>
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p>Examples starting with <samp class="PROMPT">%</samp> indicate a command that should be
+invoked from a normal user account. Unless otherwise noted, C-shell syntax is used for
+setting environment variables and other shell commands.</p>
+
+<table border="0" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" width="100%">
+<tr>
+<td>
+<pre class="SCREEN">
+<samp class="PROMPT">%</samp> <kbd class="USERINPUT">top</kbd>
+</pre>
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<h1 class="BRIDGEHEAD"><a id="PREFACE-ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
+name="PREFACE-ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"></a>Acknowledgments</h1>
+
+<p>This project is the accumulation of months of work by many dedicated individuals. It
+would not have been possible for me to produce this work in a vacuum. Many people deserve
+our thanks for their selfless acts: Keith Keller for his work on wireless networking,
+Joost Kremers for his great work in single-handedly writing the emacs section, Simon
+Williams for the security chapter, Jurgen Phillippaerts for basic networking commands,
+Cibao Cu Ali G Colibri for the inspiration and a good kick in the pants. Countless others
+have sent in suggestions and fixes. An incomplete list includes: Jacob Anhoej, John Yast,
+Sally Welch, Morgan Landry, and Charlie Law. I'd also like to thank Keith Keller for
+hosting the mailing list for this project, as well as Carl Inglis for the initial web
+hosting. Last but not least, I'd like to thank Patrick J. Volkerding for Slackware Linux,
+and David Cantrell, Logan Johnson, and Chris Lumens for Slackware Linux Essentials 1st
+Edition. Without their initial framework, none of this would have ever happened. Many
+others have contributed in small and large ways to this project and have not been listed.
+I hope they will forgive me for a poor memory.</p>
+
+<p>Alan Hicks, May 2005</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="NAVFOOTER">
+<hr align="LEFT" width="100%" />
+<table summary="Footer navigation table" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0"
+cellspacing="0">
+<tr>
+<td width="33%" align="left" valign="top"><a href="index.html"
+accesskey="P">Prev</a></td>
+<td width="34%" align="center" valign="top"><a href="index.html"
+accesskey="H">Home</a></td>
+<td width="33%" align="right" valign="top"><a href="introduction.html"
+accesskey="N">Next</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td width="33%" align="left" valign="top">Slackware Linux Essentials</td>
+<td width="34%" align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</td>
+<td width="33%" align="right" valign="top">An Introduction to Slackware Linux</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+