AIX Version 4.3 Quick Beginnings

About This Book: AIX Version 4.3 Quick Beginnings

This book contains information for first-time users who have little or no experience with the AIX operating system. Topics covered include basic system commands for tasks such as starting and stopping the system; using a keyboard or mouse; logging in and out; identifying and using the various user interfaces (web-based, AIX Common Desktop Environment, AIXwindows, command line, shell); and running basic file commands. In addition, it covers different strategies for obtaining online help and how to use a web browser to view the online documentation.

Users interested in learning more about AIX base commands should read the AIX Version 4.3 System User's Guide: Operating System and Devices, SC23-4121. Users in a networked environment who are interested in learning more about AIX communications commands should read the AIX Version 4.3 System User's Guide: Communications and Networks, SC23-4122.

Note: You can find the online version of this book, which has been designed for viewing with a Version 3.2 HTML-compatible web browser, on the AIX Version 4.3 Base Documentation CD.

Who Should Use This Book

This book is for all system users.

How to Use This Book

The following information is an overview of the book's contents and an explanation of the highlighting conventions used to identify certain types of items.

Overview of Contents

This book contains the following chapters:

Chapter 1, "Computer Systems Fundamentals," provides an overview on the different system setups, hardware components (specifically terminals, keyboards, and mouse) and software components. This chapter also introduces the various user interfaces.
Chapter 2, "System Startup, Logging In, Shutting Down, and Rebooting," contains procedures for starting the system, logging in and out of the system, running a few simple commands, as well as stopping and rebooting your system.
Chapter 3, "Using the AIX Common Desktop Environment," introduces the AIX Common Desktop Environment, a graphical user interface.
Chapter 4, "Using the AIXwindows Interface," describes how to open and handle windows with AIXwindows Window Manager and how to get help from windows.
Chapter 5, "Using the Command line Interface," describes the command line (shell) interface. An overview and examples are provided on entering commands, performing basic command line tasks, and accessing help from the command line.
Chapter 6, "Using Web-based System Manager" introduces Web-based System Manager, a web-based graphical interface that enables users to perform system management tasks through point-and-click control of objects (icons).
Chapter 7, "Accessing Online Information" introduces first-time users to the basics of accessing information in a variety of ways, including how to view the online information with a web browser.
Chapter 8, "System Problems and Error Messages," provides an overview of how to respond to system problems and error messages.
Chapter 9, "Available Hardcopy Documentation," provides a list of other available documentation, with order numbers.

Highlighting

The following highlighting conventions are used in this book:

Bold	Identifies commands, subroutines, keywords, files, structures, directories, and other items whose names are predefined by the system. Also identifies graphical objects such as buttons, labels, and icons that the user selects.
Italics	Identifies parameters whose actual names or values are to be supplied by the user.
`Monospace`	Identifies examples of specific data values, examples of text similar to what you might see displayed, examples of portions of program code similar to what you might write as a programmer, messages from the system, or information you should actually type.

ISO 9000

ISO 9000 registered quality systems were used in the development and manufacturing of this product.

Related Publications

See "Available Hardcopy Documentation" for information about other available books related to using AIX products.

The following books contain information about or related to using AIX products:

Product Library

Order Number	Bibliography
SC23-2456	AIX and Related Products Documentation Overview
SC23-2529	AIX Version 4.3 Quick Reference
SC23-4112	AIX Version 4.3 Installation Guide
SC23-4121	AIX Version 4.3 System User's Guide: Operating System and Devices
SC23-4122	AIX Version 4.3 System User's Guide: Communications and Networks
SC23-4126	AIX Version 4.3 System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices
SBOF-1877	AIX Version 4.3 Commands Reference
SC23-4168	AIX Version 4.3 Files Reference

Industry Documentation

Order Number	Bibliography
NA	Quercia, Valerie, and Tim O'Reilly. The Definitive Guides to the X Window System: Volume 3, X Window System User's Guide, Motif Edition. O'Reilly & Associates, 1993.
SR23-7481	Todino, Grace, and John Strang. Learning the UNIX Operating System. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 1993.
SR23-7636	Gilly, Daniel. UNIX in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference for System V and Solaris 2.0. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 1992.

Ordering Publications

You can order IBM publications from your IBM sales representative or from your point of sale. To order additional copies of this book, use order number SC23-4114.

See AIX and Related Products Documentation Overview for information on related publications and how to obtain them.