The directions below will produce the RedHat (currently version 6.2 is used, 7.0 is in development) Linux system that boots into the bare (=no window manager, like gnome, kde or fvwm2) X server and starts Netscape Navigator (not Communicator, which includes Main and News clients). Upon exiting the browser the X server is restarted and the new Netscape process is launched as needed. The system is intended for Internet Kiosks and similar applications. Security is emphasized at all the stages of the setup. This HOWTO will be updated (maybe significantly) as long as more reports about the deployment of such boxes will arrive.

The basic idea here is to give web access to people who wander by, while limiting their ability to mess anything up. This setup was originally intended for trade shows, but it might be applicable other places you want to have a web browser going without having to babysit a computer. Following these instructions does not make your system bulletproof or idiot?proof.

You need a graphical browser
This document assumes that you already have a running graphical web browser, such as Netscape Navigator, on your system. You should have permission to use your graphical web browser. If you want to use Netscape Navigator in a commercial setting, you can buy a copy with appropriate license through Caldera.

You need to be able to add an account
If you don’t have the right to be root, get the system administrator to add the “guest” account and give you ownership of guest’s home directory. Skip to the “Create or edit the following files” step ( Create or edit the following files in /home/guest) when he or she is done.

Download pdf The Linux Public Web Browser mini?HOWTO