Red Hat Linux 8.0: The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide
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# Start Here

Figure 2-7. The Start Here Window

Start Here was designed to hold all of the tools and applications you need to access when using your system. From your favorite applications to system and configuration tools, the Start Here window provides a central location for using and customizing your system.

You may access Start Here at any time by double-clicking on the desktop icon labeled Start Here.

The Start Here screen includes icons that allow you to access your favorite applications, desktop preferences, Main Menu items, server configuration tools, and system settings.

| Tip
| You can add your favorite locations to the Bookmarks. Navigate to the location you want to bookmark, and then select Bookmarks => Add Bookmark.

## Customizing the Desktop

From the Start Here screen you can select the Preferences icon to configure your desktop, which presents you with a wide selection of configuration options. Below you will find a list of a few of the options and tools in each area.

Background

  You can configure your background with new colors or a new image.

Sound

  In this section you can configure the system sounds associated with various functions. For example, if you would like to have a sound play when you log in to your desktop, you can configure that here.

Keyboard Shortcuts

  You can configure shortcuts — pressing a combination of keystrokes on the keyboard — to perform actions within an application or on your desktop. For example, you can configure a shortcut to move from your current Workspace to Workspace 2 by pressing [Ctrl]-[F2].

## Customizing your System

The Start Here screen in Nautilus contains additional configuration tools that help you with your new Red Hat Linux system and the server applications included.

The System Settings icon includes tools that help you set up your system for personal everyday use. Below you will find a list of some of the tools included in System Settings and what you can do with them.

Date & Time

  This tool allows you to set the date and time of your machine. You will be able to set your time zone information as well. Refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Customization Guide for more details on using this tool.

Soundcard Detection

  The Soundcard Detection tool probes your machine for available sound devices. Refer to the Section called Troubleshooting Your Sound Card in Chapter 9 for more details on configuring your sound hardware.

Users & Groups

  The Users & Groups tool allows you to add and remove users from your system. Refer to the Section called Creating a User Account in Chapter 1 for details.

Printing

  The Printer Configuration Tool allows you to add a new printer to your system. The printer may be connected to your machine or available on a network. Refer to Chapter 7 and the Official Red Hat Linux Customization Guide for details.

As mentioned before, you will also find server configuration tools in the Start Here area. These tools help you configure services and applications you are using on the local machine to serve other machines. The server configuration tools are found by clicking on the Server Settings icon. A couple of examples of the tools found in this area are the tools for the Apache Web Server and a DNS/Bind tool. You must have those server applications installed before these tools appear in this section. Refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Customization Guide for details.

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