newbie here - system administration question

[Per olof Ljungmark <peo@intersonic.se>]

Hi debianites,

I am a complete beginner with Debian and need a little help to get 
going. Specifically, I wonder how you configure the system (not 
installed software), things like the network, users, logging etc.

Coming from BSD where a lot of things are in .conf files under /etc I 
have a problem understanding where Linux puts stuff.

For instance: When I installed the system the installer choose DHCP 
configuration without asking - I need a fixed IP. Looking in /etc, I see 
/etc/network/iface, is it here I fix that? Or is there some central 
utility that writes out conf files? What is the syntax for this file?
man iface
man network
gives me nothing.

This is Linux debian 2.6.18-4-686 #1 SMP, command line only (server 
enviroment).

Thanks a lot!

Per olof