Book Image

Linux Utilities Cookbook

By : James Kent Lewis
Book Image

Linux Utilities Cookbook

By: James Kent Lewis

Overview of this book

<p>Linux is a stable, reliable and extremely powerful operating system. It has been around for many years, however, most people still don't know what it can do and the ways it is superior to other operating systems. Many people want to get started with Linux for greater control and security, but getting started can be time consuming and complicated. <br /><br />A practical, hands-on guide that provides you with a number of clear step-by-step examples to help you solve many of the questions that crop up when using an operating system you may not be familiar with.</p> <p>Presenting solutions to the most common Linux problems in a clear and concise way, this helpful guide starts with spicing up the terminal sessions by command retrieval and line editing, and shell prompt variables. We will then get to know the different desktops (GUIs) available for Linux systems and which is the best fit for you. We will then explore the world of managing files and directories, connectivity, and what to do when it goes wrong. We will also learn a range of skills, from creating and managing user accounts to securing your system, managing and limiting processes, and letting information flow from one process to another using pipes. Later, we will master disk management, working with scripts and automating tasks quickly, and finally, understand the need for a custom kernel and tips on how to build one.</p> <p><br />Based on the author's extensive experience, there is a section on best practices that every Linux user should be familiar with.</p>
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Linux Utilities Cookbook
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Using xconfig to modify the configuration


As was mentioned in the previous section, the .config file is what controls everything that goes into the kernel files. This includes both the vmlinuz and initramfs files, and the device driver modules. The .config is a text file but is not meant to be edited directly, instead one of several different programs can be used. In this chapter we show you how to use the xconfig program to make changes to the .config file.

Getting ready

Please see the previous section on what is needed to prepare before performing these steps.

How to do it...

Here we will use xconfig to modify the configuration:

  1. Change to the kernel build directory and run the following command:

    make xconfig
    
  2. That cool-looking screen should come up again. This program takes a few minutes to get used to, so we will go through it step-by-step.

  3. First, locate the string Processor type and features and click on it. You will see the screen change.

  4. Now in the panel on the right-hand side under Processor...