configure Kanotix

Kanotix 2005-04 Manual

4 Configuration

4.1 Network and Printer

When you start Kanotix as hard drive installation for the first time all your network and printer settings of the "Live mode" will be gone and need to be set from scratch. For the network this can be done from the Kanotix submenu "Network/Internet". If you use, for example, a DSL Router to receive a network address automatically (DHCP), you must activate "Network card configuration". Again, for security reasons it's intentional that the DHCP discover does not run automatically. You must confirm with root privileges that you want access to the Internet.

Printers can be configured from "Kanotix Configuration Printer configuration, or much better from a browser via the page http://localhost:631/ and choosing the menu entry "printer administration" and then "Add Printer". In the array "Printer name" enter the name of your printer (without spaces!). The arrays "Description" and "Location" can be left blank. In the following you need to select the port ( "Device"), e. g. "USB Printer #1" or "Parallelport #1", manufacturer and printer type. Finished!

And here again the advice: If you have trouble first have a look in the Kanotix Wiki and for the case in which this is to no avail, search or post a question in the Kanotix forum or IRC!

4.2 Monitor Settings

The resolution of your monitor is set from a script which is specific to Kanotix. For example if you desire a resolution of 1280 x 1024 open the console and enter:

fixres.sh 1280x1024

fix-dpi-kdm.bash

Next push "ctrl + alt + backspace" to restart the xserver.

The settingof the display refresh rate needs some more "code". To increase the display refresh rate to 85 Hz enter:

perl -pi -e's/^(\s*VertRefresh).*/\1 50-85/'/etc/X11/xorg.conf

Finally push "ctrl + alt + backspace" to restart the xserver. To get another display refresh rate just change the value "85" to the desired value. For the case it doesn't work:

At boot time enter in the GRUB dialogue in the line on the bottom:

noml vysnc=85

This deactivates the so called modelines in the xorg.conf.

Please make sure that your graphic card and the monitor support the choosen resolution and display refresh rate!

4.3 Graphic Cards Driver Installation

If you have a laptop make sure that you are plugged in. Running off battery will result in a faulty installation!

If you have an ATI or Nvidia graphics card perform the the following steps to get 3D support and high video performance. Due to the fact that those drives are proprietary it's important to know that Kanotix has no influence on the performance. So if you observe a difference between your Windows and Linux box write a letter to the corresponding vendor. Moreover those drives are regularly (~monthly) updated. Therefore try to perform the following steps from time to time. But it's best to read the release notes and forum comments about new driver releases before doing anything.

From now on all is done from console in "init 3 runlevel" otherwise you will harm your graphical interface to an unrepairable extend.

Basically "just" some clever scripts are running in the background. You as user have nothing else to do but to type in a few commands and to wait. While these scripts are performed don't press any key. When the installation is finished your system will automatically switch back to init 5, and thus in graphical mode to the login prompt of your KDE session.

ATI graphic cards driver installation

init 3

update-scripts-kanotix.sh

install-radeon-debian.sh

Nvidia graphic cards driver installation

init 3

update-scripts-kanotix.sh

install-nvidia-debian.sh

A reboot is compulsory. But your system will also run if you do not.

If the KDE login takes longer than before, start "fix-fonts" from the console or from the KDE menu (KANOTIX/Utilities/register fonts).

To test your new drives start "glxgears" from console. Detailed information can be obtained also from console with "glxinfo".

4.4 Sound configuration

If you observe trouble with your sound you can reconfigure your sound card/chip with alsaconf. To do so, enter in a console:

alsaconf

Then leave the welcome screen by pushing the enter key (Ok). The sound configuration will be started and you will be asked to choose your sound card. If more than one entry is offered, choose the correct with the arrow keys. Confirm the next inquiry "Configuring ... Do you want to modify ...?" with "Yes" and the next inquiry, too. For the "fine tuning" of the loudness start the program alsamixer (alt + F2 . alsa-mixer-gui) and tweak around until you achieve a satisfying result. To save your settings for the next start of your system enter in the console:

alsactl store

For a fast and temporary adjustment of the loudness (Master) you can use KMix which can be started either by clicking the speaker symbol in the Kcontrol bar or via "alt + F2 + kmix".

4.5 Security

4.5.1 Introduction

In contrast to Windows, Linux - in particular KANOTIX - distinguishes between root (administrator) and user! Everything that has nothing to do with system administration should be done as normal user! So never login as root if you just want to surf in the web, for example. Most system administration can be done from the command line. To login as root type:

password

command

Moreover you can switch from the user account to root while you run a user KDE session. For this, click on the Kmenu button "K-menu" - "Change user". If you keep this in mind you will have a robust and safe (at least somehwhat safer) system.

4.5.2 Firewalls

If you need a firewall in live CD mode than you can find one in the Kanotix menu. But this firewall is not intended to be used later on and is thus removed. For an HD installation you can install guarddog. This tool closes all ports at the beginning. Therefore read the guarddog manual how to fire it up. Another tool for example is kmyfirewall. You can install both programs with aptget or Synaptic and test it.

4.5.3 Antivirus tools

Though Linux is known to have almost no serious viruses - most of them are proof of concept - it's clever to have an antivirus tool. "f-prot" is a good one, or "bitdefender". But both are command line driven. There is also "Antivir" which is quite popular under Windows and "ClamAV" with the GUI "KlamAV". You can install f-prot, ClamAV/KlamAV via apt-get or Synaptic.

Rootkit

"chkrootkit" is aslo command line driven. This tool is useful tho check if your system is affected by a rootkit. Read the man page for further information.

console > "man chkrootkit"

Kanotix 2005-04 Manual