Course Self-Study Manual

Course 3056 Self-Study Manual

The manual listed in the table below for Make the Switch: Novell's Guide to the Novell Linux Desktop course (3056) manual includes both content and exercises, and is designed to help you decide for yourself if Linux is a valid alternative for you:

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10. Novell Linux Desktop is a first-generation Linux desktop offered by Novell. The latest desktop software from Novell is SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 (SLED 10). While most of the skills you learn in Course 3056 can be applied to SLED 10 (or any other Linux desktop distribution), if you would like to learn more about SLED 10, check out the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 web site for documentation, SLED 10 evaluation software, and a SLED 10 demonstration.

Downloading the Course Files

For you to complete the exercises in the Make the Switch: Novell's Guide to the NOvell Linux Desktop manual, you will need to download the Novell Linux Desktop installation CDs from the Novell Downloads web site:

1. Start from the Novell Downloads web page. To navigate to the downloadable files, you need to start from the Novell Downloads web page.
2. Select the correct files to download. From the Novell Downloads web page, select Novell Linux Desktop 9 SP1, then select -> search. A list of possible Novell Linux Desktop downloads appears.
   
   Select Novell Linux Desktop 9 w/SP3 Evaluation. A Novell Linux Desktop 9 w/SP3 Evaluation page appears.
3. Log in to the download page. From the top of the list of files, select the -> proceed to download button. A Novell Login page appears.
   
   A Novell Login Account gives you the ability to access all of the secure Novell web sites to which you have rights (including downloadable files) with a single user ID and password. It can also save you time by simply accessing your login account information to fill in several fields on a required survey form.
   
   Create a Novell Login account, or, if you already have an account, log in with your Username and Password; then select Login. A list of available files to download appears.
4. Download the Novell Linux Desktop installation CD files. From the list of downloadable files, select the -> download button for the file you want to download. There several sets of installation CDs for various types of computers. If you do not know which type of computer you have, download the 2 installation files that include "SP3-i386" in the filename (such as NLD9-SP3-i386-CD1.iso)

Because the files average about 650 MB in size, downloading each file can take up to 20 minutes or more (depending on your available Internect connection). Once you download the .iso files, you'll need a CD-RW drive and a blank CD disk to create each installation CD (see Creating a DVD or CD from a .iso File).

Creating a DVD or CD from a .iso File

Many Novell training courses require that you have a course DVD or set of CDs to set up and complete the available exercises. For example, Course 3056 requires that you have a set of Novell Linux Desktop Installation CDs to set up the practice environment.

When you download the DVDs or CDs, you normally download the DVD or CD as a .iso file. An .iso file is an exact image of the original DVD or CD that you can use with a DVD or CD drive that burns (writes) to a blank DVD or CD disk. However, burning the .iso file directly to a blank disk does not create a duplicate of the DVD or CD image. You need to have software installed on your computer that can take the .iso file, interpret the contents, and then burn the image on a blank disk.

For example, Windows XP includes software that can take a .iso file and burn a CD or DVD for you. The software usually launches automatically when you insert a blank DVD or CD disk. You can also right-click the .iso file and select Open to access the correct software for burning the .iso file on a DVD or CD disk.