Red Hat LINUX 7.2 Reference Manual page 11

Section 0.1:Finding Appropriate Documentation
approach to doing things, you may find yourself intimidated by the sheer number of commands
available on your Red Hat Linux system.
Keep in mind that you do not have to memorize all of the available Linux commands. Different
techniques exist to help you find the specific command you need to accomplish a task. You need
only know the general way in which Linux functions, what you need to accomplish, and how to
access the tool that will give you the exact instructions you need to execute the command.
The Official Red Hat Linux Installation Guide is a excellent reference for helping you get your Red
Hat Linux system successfully installed and initially configured. The Official Red Hat Linux Getting
Started Guide covers the history of Linux, basic system commands, GNOME, KDE, RPM, and many
other fundamental concepts. You should start with these two books and use them to build the base of
your Red Hat Linux knowledge. Before long, more complicated concepts will begin to make sense
because you already grasp the general ideas.
Beyond reading Red Hat Linux manuals, several other excellent documentation resources are available
for little or no cost:
Introduction to Linux Websites
• http://www.redhat.com — On the Red Hat website, you will find links to the Linux Documen-
tation Project (LDP), online versions of the Red Hat Linux manuals, FAQs (Frequently Asked
Questions), a database which can help you find a Linux Users Group near you, technical informa-
tion in the Red Hat Support Knowledge Base, and more.
• http://www.linuxheadquarters.com — The Linux Headquarters website features easy to follow,
step-by-step guides for a variety of Linux tasks.
Introduction to Linux Newsgroups
You can participate in newsgroups by watching the discussions of others attempting to solve problems,
or by actively asking or answering questions. Experienced Linux users are known to be extremely
helpful when trying to assist new users with various Linux issues — especially if you are posing your
questions in the right venue. If you do not have access to a news reader application, you can access
this information via the web at http://www.deja.com. Dozens of Linux-related newsgroups exist,
including the following:
• linux.help — A great place to get help from fellow Linux users.
• linux.redhat — This newsgroup primarily covers Red Hat Linux-specific issues.
• linux.redhat.install — Pose installation questions to this newsgroup or search it to see how others
solved similar problems.
• linux.redhat.misc — Questions or requests for help that do not really fit into traditional categories
go here.
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