By David Bouley

So, now that you've got your Kanotix system installed onto your hard drive, let's take the next steps and get a few administration-type tasks out of the way.

First thing we're going to need to do is get your network card going so we can access the Internet. You'll only have to do this the one time after initial installation.

So, if you haven't already, log into to your Kanotix system using your regular user account you set up during install (not as Super User).

For DSL, cable or LAN users, click on the KDE menu icon and from the table select KANOTIX -> TOOLS -> Network Card Configuration. This will configure your network card. Follow the prompts to activate your network card.

For ADSL, go through the menus KANOTIX-> DSL-> My PPPoE Conf and go through the set up prompts.

Now that you've got your Internet connection going, it's probably a good idea to download the latest patches and upgrades to the files you've just installed onto your hard drive. There are a few ways to do this, but since Synaptic will be something you'll make use of in the future, we'll use it for upgrades as well.

To launch Synaptic, click on the KDE menu icon and select SYSTEM -> PACKAGE MANAGER (SYNAPTIC). You'll be asked to enter your Super User password. Do this and click OK.When Synaptic first starts up, you may experience errors. This okay. Click through them until the Synaptic GUI interface is loaded. Once it's loaded, click on these three icons (located in the top window boarder of the Synaptic window frame) in order: UPDATE then UPGRADE then APPLY. After you click each one, allow the functions that they invoke to complete before clicking on the next.

This is going to:

1.Update the list of packages available to your system from the Internet.
2.Mark the packages on your existing system that have updates available for downloading.
3.Download and install the latest packages that have been marked in step 2.

During the install process, you may be asked to confirm certain installation processes. It is most likely to assume the default response (pressing ENTER) is the safest for you to use.

The process will take some time, depending on the speed of your PC and its connection to the Internet. In fact, it will probably take more time than the actual installation took.

When it's complete, you can then close the Synaptic package manager. You now have all of the latest patches and upgrades running on your new Linux system.

But don't stop here. Be sure to return to Synaptic a couple times a week and do the same process over again. You'll get the best security, stability, and use out of your Kanotix desktop if you keep your system files and applications up to date.

Visit the Debian home page, at: www.debian.org and sign up to the Security Mailing List for up-to-date notifications of security related issues.