Chapter 2:

Exploring the Desktop

The Complete Guide to Linux System

Administration
 Objectives

• Understand the graphical system used by Linux

• Configure basic features of the GNOME and
KDE desktop interfaces
• Use graphical utilities such as editors, terminals,
and browsers
• Use productivity applications such as e-mail,
calendar, and word processing

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 2

 Linux Graphical Desktops

• Graphical display
– Optional
– Most users choose to use GUI
• X window system
– Foundation of graphical display

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 3

 Understanding the
X Window System
• Project Athena
– Graphical environment for UNIX
– Make UNIX easier to use
– Eventually called X Window System
– Released as public domain software in 1985
• The XFree86 project
– Dedicated to creating version of X for Intel-based
versions of UNIX

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 How the X Window
System Functions
• Macintosh and Windows graphical environments
– Successful because they run on widely available
computer hardware
• Developers of X took a different approach
– Difficult to install
• Xfree86 project
– Virtually all video cards are now automatically
configured by the Linux installation program

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 Components of the
X Window System
• X server
• X client
• Window manager
• Graphical libraries
• Graphical application
– Provides a comprehensive user interface

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 Components of the
X Window System (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 7

 Components of the
X Window System (continued)
• During Linux installation process
– Xfree86 X server program installed
• Use different components at any “level” in
graphical system
• twm (tab window manager)
– Basic window manager
– Available on most Linux distributions
– Does not include desktop interface
– Used to launch other graphical applications
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 Components of the
X Window System (continued)
• Window managers available for Linux
– twm
– fvwm (feeble virtual window manager)
– wm2
– Window Maker and Afterstep
– mwm (motif window manager)
– olwm (openlook window manager)
– kwm

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 Components of the
X Window System (continued)
• Graphical library
– Installed on Linux system like any other
application
– Provides tools for other applications
– KDE
• Qt
– GNOME
• Gtk+
• Default desktop in Red Hat Linux

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 Starting X

• startx
– Standard command to start Xwindow system

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 Desktop Interfaces

• Graphical environment
– Provides collection of functions and utilities
– Makes using computer easier for those who do not
have many commands memorized
• KDE interface
– Most widely used desktop environment on Linux
systems
– Installed by default for most distributions, except
Red Hat

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 Desktop Interfaces (continued)

• KDE interface includes suite of applications

– Internet access
– System maintenance
– Personal productivity
– Other basic tasks
• Panel
– Set of icons at bottom of screen

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 Desktop Interfaces (continued)

• GNOME desktop
– Stands for GNU object model environment
– Very similar to KDE
– Includes panel with integrated taskbar
– Applications included similar to those with KDE
– Installed by default for Red Hat

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 The Graphical Login Screen

• Provided X display manager

– xdm
– Display manager selects which programs to start
based on session chosen by user
• Session
– Defines set of graphical programs to run when
user logs in

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 Working with Graphical Windows

• Use mouse and keyboard to manipulate

graphical windows open on graphical desktop
• Can perform actions using mouse
– Maximize and minimize windows
– Close windows
– Resize and move windows
• Has internal “clipboard”

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 Working with Graphical
Windows (continued)
• Common to have multiple windows open at same
time on desktop
• Workspace
– Empty background
– Can open application windows
– Typically have four
– Sometimes called virtual desktops
• Can use keyboard shortcuts

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 Working with Graphical
Windows (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 18

 Configuring GNOME and KDE

• GNOME and KDE

– Both highly configurable

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 Switching Between Desktop
Interfaces
• switchdesk
– Followed by name of desktop to switch to
• Desktop switcher
– Graphical version
• Must exit X Window System and log in again for
change to take effect

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 Saving Your Configuration
Between Logins
• On logout
– GNOME can note which application windows were
open
– Same applications are opened automatically at
next login
• Can also save configuration between logins

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 Configuring the Graphical
Login Screen
• Before you are permitted to configure most parts
of graphical login screen
– Must be logged in as root or enter root password
• Select system settings, then Login Screen on
GNOME main menu
– Or runrun gdmsetup command
• Configure login options

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 Configuring the Graphical Login
Screen (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 23

 Configuring the Graphical Login
Screen (continued)
• Theme
– Collection of colors, fonts, and images that give
display certain look and feel
• Face browser
– Feature of graphical login screen
– Causes it to display small graphic image for each
user

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 The Panel

• Bar across bottom of GNOME desktop interface

– KDE includes similar bar
• Displays:
– Main menu of desktop interface
– Icons of programs you use frequently
– Workspace switcher
– Labeled button for each open window
– Date and time indicator
– Other informational items
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 The Panel (continued)

• Right-click any icon to:

– Move
– Remove
– View/edit properties
• Can have multiple panels on desktop at same
time

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 Configuring Other GNOME
Features
• Configure many additional features of desktop
interface, including:
– Background
– Keyboard shortcuts
– Menus and toolbars
– Preferred applications
– Windows
– Theme

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 Configuring Other GNOME
Features (continued)

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 Core Graphical Utilities

• Three key types of applications

– File manager
– Text editor
– Web browser

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 Configuring the Nautilus File
Manager
• Nautilus file manager
– Provided with GNOME
• Can configure how Nautilus operates
– Using Preferences

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 Configuring the Nautilus File
Manager (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 31

 Configuring the Nautilus File
Manager (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 32

 Configuring the Use
of Other Utilities
• gedit
– Default text editor
– Used to open text files in GNOME
• Choose web browser that GNOME opens
whenever Web page selected

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 Popular Graphical Programs

• Graphical personal productivity applications for

Linux

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 OpenOffice.org

• Office suite similar to Microsoft Office

• Includes:
– Writer
– Calc
– Impress
– Draw
– Database integration

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 OpenOffice.org (continued)

• Application features
– Available for several operating systems
– Microsoft office file formats supported
– Export in Adobe PDF and Macromedia Flash
formats
– Macro recorder
– Development tool
– Available in over 30 languages

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 OpenOffice.org (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 37

 OpenOffice.org (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 38

 Using E-mail Clients

• Default Linux installation provides several

powerful graphical e-mail clients
• Evolution
– Similar to Microsoft Outlook
– Start first time
• Presents user several setup windows
• Must set up your e-mail account information

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 Using E-mail Clients (continued)

• Mozilla
– Web browser
– Includes full-featured e-mail client similar to
Evolution

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 Using E-mail Clients (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 41

 Using E-mail Clients (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 42

 Using E-mail Clients (continued)

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 Summary
• X Window System
– Powerful and flexible graphical environment
– Components include:
• X server that interacts with video card
• X client graphical application
• Window manager or desktop interface provides
user interface to X
• Graphical libraries make it easier to create new
graphical applications

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 Summary (continued)

• KDE and GNOME

– Provide convenient desktop interface with:
• Icons
• Menus
• Taskbars
– Graphical windows can be manipulated using
mouse actions
– Ability to use multiple workspaces
– Can save current state of desktop interface

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 Summary (continued)

• KDE and GNOME include graphical utilities used

for common system administration and
management tasks
• OpenOffice.org
– Full-featured office suite similar to Microsoft office
• Linux provides several e-mail readers
– Evolution
– Mozilla

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