81Chapter 3Getting into the DesktopBoot to a (Web hosting billing) Text
81Chapter 3Getting into the DesktopBoot to a Text PromptInstead of a nice graphical screen with pictures and colors, you might see a loginprompt that looks like this: Welcome to XYZ Linuxyourcomputer login: This is the way all UNIX and older Linux systems used to appear on the screenwhen they booted up. Now this is the login prompt that is typical for a systemthatis installed as a server or, for some reason, was configured not to start anXdisplay manager for you to log in. Run level 3 boots to a plain-text login promptinmultiuser mode. Just because you have a text prompt doesn t necessarily mean you can start a desk- top environment. Many Linux experts boot to a text prompt because they only wantto use the GUI on occasion. However, if X and the necessary other desktop compo- nents are installed on your computer, you can typically start the desktop after youlog in by typing the following command: $ startxThe default desktop environment starts up, and you should be ready to go. Whatyou do next depends on whether you have a KDE, GNOME, or some sort of home- spun desktop environment. In most cases, the GUI configuration you do during installation for your video cardand monitor gets you to a working desktop environment. If, for some reason, thescreen is unusable when you start the desktop, you need to do some additionalconfiguration. The Configuring Your Own Desktop section later in this chapterdescribes some tools you can use to get your desktop working. K Desktop Environment (KDE) The KDE was created to bring a high-quality desktop environment to UNIX (andnow Linux) workstations. Integrated within KDE are tools for managing files, win- dows, multiple desktops, and applications. If you can work a mouse, you can learnto navigate the KDE desktop. The lack of an integrated, standardized desktop environment once held back Linuxand other UNIX systems from acceptance on the desktop. While individual appli- cations ran well, you mostly could not drag-and-drop files or other items betweenapplications. Likewise, you couldn t open a file and expect the machine to launchthe correct application to deal with it or save your windows from one login sessionNote08_