Linux for Small Business Owners: Using Free and Open Source Software to Power Your Dreams
- Length: 406 pages
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- Publisher: Apress
- Publication Date: 2022-09-05
- ISBN-10: 1484282639
- ISBN-13: 9781484282632
- Sales Rank: #0 (See Top 100 Books)
Learn how you can take complete control and run your small business with powerful, free open source software (FOSS). This book introduces small business owners to the power and security of Linux and other FOSS tools to manage any small business as well as the many advantages it has over expensive, proprietary software. While exploring the reasons for using Free Open Source Software, you’ll investigate the assertion that, “The value of any software lies in its usefulness not in its price,” set forth by Linux Torvalds, the creator of Linux.
This book examines the use of Linux and also the other Free Open Source Software you need to meet your business challenges including the usual accounting, Email, web browsing, word-processing tasks. You will be introduced to advanced tools such as those that enable you to create audio and video clips you can use to promote your business or that can even be your primary product, such as how-to instruction.
Most small business owners perform many tasks including that of administering their computers. This book shows you how to find and install new software you need to run your business and keep it up to date using the tools already provided by Linux and the secure, trusted repositories available online. It also explores how to decide which tasks to do in-house and which you might want to sub out to external resources such as advertising and contact services to attract and keep customers.
Linux for Small Business Owners provides some logic, reason, and explanation for each of the steps that are needed and the tools used to implement Linux in your small business. It is a detailed guide to removing Windows from your computers and installing Linux and some commonly used open source software like the LibreOffice suite of programs, accounting, and other software useful to many small businesses. It also provides the information and tools necessary to manage and maintain Linux and applications up-to-date and secure.
What You’ll Learn
- Understand what the term free/open source means and how you can apply it to your business.
- Look at the operational and financial advantages of using Free Open Source Software instead of expensive, proprietary software.
- See why you will never need to pay for anti-virus and anti-malware software again.
- Replace expensive software like Microsoft Office with open source tools such as LibreOffice
- Review the factors required to make an informed decision about switching to Linux.
- Install new applications, updates to Linux, and the application software.
- Explore why backups are critical, how to create them, and how to use them to restore lost data.
Who This Book Is For
Ideal for small business owners and owner-operated small businesses looking to streamline operations, save money, time and energy managing the common problems associated with using more popular operating systems.
Table of Contents About the Authors About the Technical Reviewer Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Using Linux – The Personal Case Objectives Introduction Who We Are Cyndi David Why I Use Linux Linux Is Free (as in Beer) Linux Is Free (as in Speech) Linux Is Safe Linux Is Reliable Linux Is Powerful Linux Gives You Complete Control Linux Extends the Life of Your Hardware Linux Is Easy Lots of Software Linux Is Fun Chapter Summary Exercises Chapter 2: A Bit of History – Becoming Linux Objectives Introduction Windows Origins Unix The Birth of Linux The Linux Truth What It Means to Small Business Owners Chapter Summary Chapter 3: Using Linux – The Business Case Objectives Introduction The Usual Reasons for Using Linux Reliability Extensive Software Choices Security Free as in Beer Free as in Speech Cyndi David SELinux Support Proprietary Software and Maintainability FOSS and Maintainability Stability Why You Should Use Linux The Points of Pain Chapter Summary Chapter 4: Choosing Hardware Objectives Introduction Bottom Line Compatibility Viewing Information Using BIOS or UEFI Accessing BIOS/UEFI System Information Rescuing Older Computers Guidelines for Older Computers General Considerations for Used Computers Purchasing a New Computer Guidelines for New Computers Processor Details Intel AMD Processor Comparison List Standardization What We Have Laptops Where to Buy Choosing a Computer Store Big-Box Stores Linux User Groups Online Computer Stores System76 Emperor Linux Our Test Computer Entering BIOS Mode Chapter Summary Chapter 5: Take Linux for a Test Drive Objectives Introduction Terms Storage Device Live (ISO) Image Spin Install the Linux Live Image on a USB Thumb Drive Using Your Windows Computer Download and Install the Fedora Media Writer Testing Your Own Computers Boot the Live USB Device The Good News Xfce Upper Panel Applications Menu Window Buttons Network Status Volume Control In-Store Testing Chapter Summary Chapter 6: Finding Software Objectives Introduction About Microsoft Programs Create an Inventory Select New Software Office Suite – LibreOffice Accounting – GnuCash Email Client – Thunderbird Web Browser – Firefox or Chrome File Manager – Thunar Screen Capture – Spectacle Image Editor – GIMP Audio Editor – Audacity Audio Playback – Audacious, Juk Video Recording and Streaming – OBS Studio Video Editing – OpenShot, Shotcut Video/Media Playback – VLC Media Player Multimedia Conversion – ffmpeg, Handbrake Animation – Blender, Opentoonz Desktop About Choice Cyndi David Flexibility Resources Chapter Summary Chapter 7: Making the Decision Objectives Introduction Cyndi David Closed Box Open Book Finally – Reasons Others You Chapter Summary Chapter 8: Preparing for the Switch Objectives Introduction Finding Your Data How Much Data Do I have? Another USB Device Back Up Your Data Chapter Summary Chapter 9: Installing Linux Objectives Introduction Boot the Fedora Live Image Installing Fedora Start the Installation Set the Host Name Set the Root Password Create Your User Account Hard Drive Partitioning Begin the Installation Exit the Installer Shut Down the Live System Chapter Summary Chapter 10: Getting Started Objectives Introduction Terms Account Dialog Menu Context Menu Why Xfce? Getting Started Login The Xfce Desktop The File Manager Stability Configurability Exploring the Xfce Desktop Settings Manager Changing the Wallpaper Screensaver Power Manager Adding Launchers to Panel 2 Default Applications Desktop Appearance Appearance Multiple Desktops When You Are Done with the Computer What I Do When I Am Done with My Own Computer The Light Bulb Thermal Stress The Energy Cost of Manufacturing So What Breaks? What Should You Do? What I Do Chapter Summary Chapter 11: Easy File Management Objectives Introduction Create Some Test Files Introducing the Thunar File Manager Launching Thunar The Thunar Interface Thunar Configuration Location Selector File View File Manager Preferences Dialog Display Tab Side Pane Tab Behavior Tab Advanced Tab File Management with Thunar Basic Navigation Selecting Files Deselecting Files Using the Context Menu Archiving Files File Properties Using External Storage Devices The Trash Bin Your Storage Drive Storage Space Storage Device Failures Cleanup Chapter Summary Chapter 12: Restoring Your Data Objectives Introduction Restoring Your Files Organizing Your Files A Strategy Doing It Cleanup – Empty the Trash Organization Chapter Summary Chapter 13: Software Management Objectives Introduction DNFDragora DNFDragora Issues Deactivating DNFDragora RPMs Repositories The fedora Repository The updates Repository How It Works DNF Updates Update Philosophy – Windows vs. Linux Force The Update Stream Checking for Updates Installing Updates Rebooting After Updates Installing New Software GnuCash Searching for Software Program and Package Names About Groups Installing LibreOffice Fonts Font Compatibility Listing Fonts Viewing Fonts Installing New Fonts Removing Software Adding Repositories Other Software Chapter Summary Chapter 14: Backups Objectives Introduction The Dangers Actual Events Choosing What to Back Up Backup Requirements Backup Medium Typical Backup Solutions My Backup Solution rsync as a Backup Tool The rsbu Backup Script Installing rsbu Download the RPM Package Install the RPM Package The rsbu-setup Program What You Will Need Run the rsbu-setup Program Test the Encrypted Connection Configuration Getting Started with rsbu Make Your First Backup Results Recovery Testing Preparing Additional Backup Devices Automating Your Backups The Last Step Chapter Summary Untitled Chapter 15: Upgrades Objectives Introduction Fedora Upgrades First Things First Six Easy Steps Backups Install Updates Install the Plug-in Download the Files Reboot and Do the Upgrade Optional Post-Upgrade Tasks Chapter Summary Chapter 16: Printing Objectives Introduction Choosing a Printer Determine Your Needs Printers That Meet Your Requirements Find Compatible Printers How to Install a Printer Plug and Play Guided Complex Alternatives Chapter Summary Chapter 17: Security Objectives Introduction Security by Obscurity What Is Security? Data Protection Attack Vectors Self-Inflicted Problems System Problems Physical Attacks Network Attacks Example: Scareware Software Vulnerabilities Linux and Security Login Security Password Security Password Encryption Generating Good Passwords Keeping Track of All Those Passwords KeePassXC Installing KeePassXC Firewalls Dynamic Firewall Public Wi-Fi The Cloud Steps to Improve Your Security Chapter Summary Chapter 18: Automation Objectives Introduction What Is Automation? Anything Can Be Automated Should I Automate Things Myself? Chapter Summary Chapter 19: Finding Help Objectives Introduction Getting Help Built-In Help Command Help Online Help Books User Groups Consultants Chapter Summary Chapter 20: Where Do I Go From Here? Cyndi Appendix 1: About Files Objectives Introduction User Accounts and Security File Attributes File Ownership Directory Permissions Filesystems Filesystem Functions The Linux Filesystem Hierarchical Standard The Linux Filesystem Hierarchical Standard (FHS) Appendix 2: Introduction to the Command Line Objectives Introduction CLI vs. GUI Defining the Command Line Command Prompt Command Line Command Line Interface (CLI) Command Terminal KVM Console Virtual Console Terminal Emulator Session Shell Data Streams STDIO Getting Help – The Man(ual) Pages Some Important Linux Commands The PWD Using Directories and Paths Create Some Test Files Pipes less Is More Redirection Time and Date Tab Completion Facility Command Recall Summary Bibliography Books Web sites Glossary Numeric Naming and Prefixes Index
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