Basic UNIX 4:
More on the GUI

How X works

Window and desktop managers

File managers

Common tasks

System administration tools

Iowa State University Information Technology Services

Last update 9/20/05 by jbalvanz

How X works

X server (X)

Provides tools for drawing graphics on a display

X applications send commands to the X server via TCP/IP

X client

Machine running the software that wants to draw graphics

Usually the machine running the server, but doesn't have to be!

How this looks

Application package

TCP/IP Stack

TCP/IP Stack

X

Server

Network

Client

Server

Why is this good?

Applications are independent of graphics hardware, window manager and even hardware platform

Server and client do not have to be on the same machine; applications can be run remotely

Licensing considerations

Horsepower restrictions

Running X applications remotely

Connect to a remote machine using ssh with the -X option (not -x)
ssh -X netid@sas.iastate.edu

Start the application
sas

Window managers

Manages positioning of windows on the screen, virtual desktops, running applications; may include menus

AfterStep

Blackbox

Enlightenment

FVWM

IceWM

WindowMaker

etc., etc., etc., etc.

TCP/IP Stack

X Server

Window Manager

Display Driver

Desktop Environments

Window management + system utilities + standard applications + games + menuing system + ????????

K	Desktop Environment (KDE)

GNOME Desktop

Microsoft Windows

What you'll have to get used to...

Users have a choice of window/desktop manager (even in the stock RedHat install)

Many desktop managers are themeable, i.e., FVWM may look completely different from FVWM on another machine depending on the choice of theme

Why choice is good...

The window manager can be selected based on the horsepower of the machine

Gnome, KDE run well on big, modern hardware

Blackbox, FVWM, IceWM, SWM, etc. run better on older machines

Choice is good II

International users can customize their WM with non-English languages

A choice of window manager/theme gives users something harmless to customize their environment with

Windows users can have a Windows-like DM (FVWM with RedmondXP or Redmond98)

Choosing a Window Manger

On startup – choose from the “Session” menu in the login screen

Set a user default – insert
PREFERRED=”windowmanagerapp”
into ~/.Xclients

Setting system default – put
DESKTOP=”KDE”
DESKTOP=”GNOME”
DESKTOP=”windowmanagerapp”
into /etc/sysconfig/desktop

Why KDE?

Most popular desktop manager for “large” systems

One of the two desktop environments installed by Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Has most complete set of applets and management tools

Default file manager (Konqueror) works better with AFS volumes than Nautilus (Gnome)

Switching Between Windows

Varies; most modern WM accept the Windows <Alt/Tab> and clicking on the window

Some window managers (like Blackbox and TWM) insist that you click on the window titlebar or use arrows on the manager bar

Capturing the Screen

Used to be an application in the menu, left out in new version

Graphics > GIMP Image Editor

Choose File > Acquire > Screen Shot

Click OK

Save the file as an appropriate graphics type

Setting the Time

Select System Settings -> Date and Time

Enter the root password

Make sure that the time zone is set correctly for your location

If not Internet connected, turn off “Enable Network Time Protocol” and set time and date; otherwise, just select a time server (time.iastate.edu works fine)

Moving the KDE Panel

Choose Preferences -> More Preferences -> Configure Panel

Click “Arrangement”

Under Position, click where you'd like the panel to appear.

Under Size, choose the icon size you'd like to use.

Click Apply, then OK.

Editing the K Menu

Right-click on the Start Applications icon

Select “Menu Editor”

You can:

Add entries

Remove entries

Rearrange entries

Adding a Menu Entry

Highlight the folder you want the item to appear in

Click “New Item”

Enter the values for the program:

Name

Comment

Command (with options if necessary)

Select File > Save

Moving a Menu Entry

Right-click on the item to be moved

Select “Cut”

Right-click on the folder you want it to appear in

Select “Paste”

Select File > Save

Starting Apps Automatically

KDE-aware apps left open at logout will automatically reopen at your next login. For others:

In Konqueror, open ~/.kde/AutoStart

In another Konqueror window, browse to the application you want to run at startup

Drag the icon of the app to the AutoStart window

Choose “Link Here”

KDE Control Center

Used to make a wide variety of system settings in KDE

Select “Control Center” from the Start Applications Menu

Appearance and Themes

Background

Screen Savers

Styles

Theme Manager

Desktop

Behavior

What mouse clicks do

What devices appear on the desktop

Show previews for files

Multiple Desktops

Size & Orientation

Screen resolution

Rotation where available

Mousing Without a Mouse

Must turn on in Control Center under Mouse

Press <Shift/NumLock>

Move mouse pointer with the numbers around the numeric keypad

Click mouse button with keypad 5

/ for left, * for middle, - for right, then 5

Click-and-hold with keypad 0

Press <Shift/NumLock> again to turn off

System Administration

To actually make changes here, you'll need the root password.

Font Installer

Login Manager

Customize the login screen

Sessions – control who can shut down machine from the console or remotely

Preferences

About Myself – stores personal information (real name, phone number, default shell, etc.)

Password – sets new password (including the Kerberos password, if Kerberos is used for authentication)

System Settings

Server Settings -> Services
Used to start, stop and control system services

See info about a service: highlight the service name

Start/stop a service: highlight the name, click the start or stop buttons

Schedule a service to start at machine startup: turn on the check box to the left of the service name

Actually runs system-config-services

System Settings -> Add/Remove Applications

Used to install and remove programs from the Red Hat CDs

To install a package, click details, the check box next to the package name, click Close, then click Update.

To remove a package, click Details, clear the check box next to the package name, click Close, then click Update.

Gnome Desktop Prefs

Many Linux systems have both KDE and Gnome installed, and KDE utilities can be run from the Gnome Desktop (they usually show up under “More Preferences”)

Most Gnome preferences are user-oriented and don't require root access

Assistive Technology

Gnome comes with assistive technology built in

Preferences > Accessibility > Accessibility – enables special keyboard features (slow/sticky/mouse keys)

Preferences > Accessibility > Assistive Technology Support – activate screen magnifier, on-screen keyboard and audio screenreader (Gnopernicus)

Screenshots with Gnome

Easy to take shot of whole screen, but can't select a window like GIMP can

Choose Actions > Take Screenshot

Enter and/or browse a filename

Click Save

WindowMaker

Window manager (not a desktop environment)

Lower overhead, good choice for smaller machines

No applets to clutter screen, take up CPU time

Part of GNUStep project, derived from OpenStep, derived from NeXTStep (which also was the origin of Mac OS X)

Where's the Start Menu?

Everywhere! Just right-click on the Desktop.

Move the menu to make it stick

Sub-menus can be dragged off the menu to stick independently

The Dock

Double-click on icon to launch app (if 3 dots appear)

To add icons, open an app and drag its icon to the Dock, then enter the command to start it

Drag icon out of Dock to remove

“Screwdriver” icon starts the WindowMaker Preferences tool

Many dockapps are available

Handling Windows

Left title-bar button minimizes (double-click icon below to restore)

Right title-bar button closes

Double-click title bar to windowshade

Right-click-and-hold title bar to get window menu

Workspaces in WindowMaker

Only two workspaces at startup, create new workspaces as necessary

From Application menu, choose Workspaces -> New

Use the Application menu or arrows on the Clip to switch workspaces

To remove a workspace, empty it, leave it and choose Workspaces > Destroy Last

The Failsafe WM

Failsafe is an extremely primitive window manager

You may find yourself in Failsafe when KDE and/or Gnome get corrupted somehow

To exit Failsafe, press <Ctrl/D> in the terminal window.

Jeff Balvanz

2005-02-05T08:16:49