CentOS Desktop 5.

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click2try™ Tutorial
 click2trytm CentOS Desktop 5.1 Tutorial

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 CentOS Desktop 5.1 Tutorial click2trytm

Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 5
Signing In to CentOS ............................................................................................................................... 6
Getting Around in the CentOS Desktop .................................................................................................. 6
Using Multiple Workspaces .................................................................................................................... 8
Opening Applications in CentOS ............................................................................................................. 9
Running UNIX Commands ..................................................................................................................... 11
Resources ............................................................................................................................................. 12

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Introduction
Community Enterprise Operating System (CentOS) is an enhanced redistribution of a popular
Enterprise Open Source Linux OS. CentOS includes the user-friendly GNOME graphical desktop,
many Open Source applications, full documentation and more.
Just what does this mean for you?
• Full desktop operating system capabilities, to match and sometimes exceed the features
provided by other commercial operating systems
• Stable software, developed and enhanced by a dedicated team
• Built-in Open Source applications like OpenOffice, Firefox, The GIMP, RhythmBox Music
Player, and many more.
• Secure and reliable networking and file management
Entire books can and have been written on how to use operating systems like CentOS. But right
now, our goal is just to get you up and running.

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 click2trytm CentOS Desktop 5.1 Tutorial

Signing In to CentOS
Once you sign in, you’ll find a familiar and comfortable desktop environment. As with all secure
operating systems, you’ll need to sign in using your own username and password—in this case,
the click2try™ username and password you registered on the click2try™ site.
To sign in:
1. Click the Try button to start the appliance.

2. When the CentOS Desktop appears, enter your click2try™ username, and then press Enter.
3. Enter your click2try™ password, and then press Enter. If you entered valid credentials, the
CentOS Desktop will appear.
That’s it! You’re signed in.

Getting Around in the CentOS Desktop

Like any other popular operating system desktop, CentOS Desktop gives you a lot of power, if
you know where to find the right commands.
To set system preferences:
The CentOS Desktop offers many system preferences to help you streamline your day-to-day
working environment. Let’s change a couple of visual preferences, just to get started. After that,

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you should be able to find your way around the other system preferences.
1. Select System > Preferences from the main menu.
2. Select Theme.
3. In the Theme Preferences dialog, click on each theme to see how it changes the look and
feel of the CentOS Desktop elements.
4. When you find one you like, click Close.

5. Select System > Preferences again.

6. Select Desktop Background.
7. In the Desktop Background Preferences dialog, choose each of the backgrounds until you
find one that you like.

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8. Click Close.
Changing preferences is pretty simple in CentOS. In some cases, you might need more
information about printer, file, or network locations.

Using Multiple Workspaces

CentOS gives you the capability to use up to four different workspaces, all accessible from a
quick change toggle control at the lower-right corner of the screen. This feature lets you open
different applications in each of the four workspaces, so you can easily switch back and forth,
without having several applications crowding one desktop.
For example, if you run a finance application or web-based CRM application, you might want to
keep that open in one workspace at all times. In another workspace, you might run your
spreadsheet or other office applications, while running your email client in yet another workspace.
This separation of applications allows you to focus more closely on any given application, and
helps you eliminate mistakes, such as accidentally closing a critical document while trying to
unclutter your desktop.
To set up multiple workspaces:
1. Find the four small squares in the lower-right corner of your screen. By default, CentOS
opens in the left-most workspace.
2. Click one of the other three workspaces.

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3. On the main menu, click the Web Browser icon, right next to the System menu.
4. Once the browser appears, click one of the other small squares at the lower-right of the
screen.
5. Click the Spreadsheet icon, which is the last icon in the row of five icons on the main menu.

Now that you’ve opened a couple of applications in different workspaces, you can toggle between
them by clicking on the small squares in the lower-right corner of the screen.

Opening Applications in CentOS

CentOS comes pre-installed with applications that let you:
• Create office documents
• Create and modify graphics and photographs
• Browse the Web and use Web applications
• Manage email, contacts, and calendars
• Manage projects
• Listen to music and watch videos
• Make phone calls on your computer
There are many other applications included with CentOS Desktop, and you can add your own.

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To run an included application:

1. Select Applications from the main menu.
2. Select the application type you want to run—for example, Office.
3. Select the application—for example, Calendar. This opens the Calendar application where
you can begin to add events and tasks.
Note: You may be prompted to configure Evolution, which is an application suite of integrated
mail, address book and calendar functionality for the GNOME desktop. If you are just giving
CentOS a test drive, you can choose the default values we’ve added, or just create sample data
for your email account. You’ll need to choose an email server type (IMAP, POP, or one of the
other listed types) and you’ll need to add server names. Usually, you’ll be safe using something
like mail.mymail.com for both incoming and outgoing servers. If you want true email access in the
appliance, you’ll need to add your own valid email credentials, servers, and server types.

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Running UNIX Commands

You may be a system administrator, or a savvy UNIX user. You can run UNIX utilities and
commands from the terminal command line interface.
To run UNIX commands:
1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop. This displays a pop-up menu.
2. Select Open Terminal.
3. Enter the UNIX command at the Terminal window prompt.
4. Press Enter to execute the command.

That’s all there is to it!

By now you should be comfortable enough with CentOS Desktop to continue exploring on your
own.

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Resources
For more information about CentOS and its included applications, see the following resources:
CentOS.org – The Community ENTerprise Operating System home page, where you’ll find
background information and links to many other relevant sites.
Wiki.CentOS.org – The community Wiki where you can find all sorts of tips and tricks about
installing, configuring, and using CentOS.
CentOS Wikipedia – Wikipedia entry for CentOS.
OpenOffice.org – Main site for the OpenOffice suite of office productivity applications.
GNOME.org – Home of the GNOME user interface community.
GNOME Documentation – Home of the GNOME documentation.
Evolution – Home of the Evolution email, calendar, and address book transport.

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