book

Ubuntu: Up and Running

by Robin Nixon

April 2010

Beginner

464 pages

12h 7m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Audience

Why Ubuntu?
DebianGNUThe Linux KernelTuxLinux DistributionsUbuntu VersionsX Window SystemLinux Desktop EnvironmentsGNOMEKDEXfceLinux PackagesThe Ubuntu CommunityUbuntu VersionsThings You SeeThings You Don’t See
The Live DVDThe Main MenuThe Function Key Options
About the MD5 HashesDownloading a Distribution
Using Active ISO Burner for WindowsBurning an ISO Image Using OS XBurning an ISO Image Using UbuntuBurning to a Thumb Drive
Microsoft Virtual PCVMwareSun VirtualBoxGetting startedCreating a virtual machineRunning a virtual machineOther Virtualizers
Installing Ubuntu Under WindowsPerforming the installationImportant considerationsInstalling Ubuntu As a Standalone OSSharing the hard diskUsing the entire hard diskEntering your user detailsAfter rebootingDual- and multi-boot setupsRecovery modeMemory testingWhat’s New in 10.04
Installing from CDUpgrading an Existing InstallationUpgrade availabilitySkipping versionsWhat’s New in 10.04
KeyboardGeneralLayoutsAccessibilityMouse KeysTyping BreakKeyboard Shortcuts
GeneralAccessibility
Display PreferencesSun VirtualBox
Sound EffectsHardwareInputOutputApplications
Wired ConnectionsInstalling suitable driversWireless ConnectionsUsing an Ethernet Bridge
Finding Unreported PrintersOther Printers
Restarting and SetupCapture CardsVideo SourcesInput ConnectionsRunning MythTV
What’s New in 10.04
Logging InLanguageKeyboardSessionsAccessibility
The Applications MenuThe Places MenuThe Home Folder groupThe Storage Devices groupThe Network groupThe Search for Files… and Recent Documents groupsThe System MenuPreferencesAdministrationThe bottom three menu entriesThe Top-Left IconsThe Quit ButtonSet StatusLock ScreenGuest SessionSwitch User…Log Out…SuspendHibernateRestartShutdownWhat’s new in 10.04The Remaining Top-Right IconsThe date and timeNew mailSound volumeBluetoothNetwork connectionThe Bottom-Right IconsThe TrashThe workspace switcherThe Bottom PanelShow desktop
AppearanceThemeBackgroundFontsInterfaceWhat’s new in 10.04Visual effectsManaging PanelsAdding an item to a panelRemoving an item from a panelMoving an item within a panelChanging a launcher’s iconAdding a drawerChanging a drawer’s iconAdding a menu to a panelHiding a panelOther panel propertiesEditing MenusChanging menu entry iconsMoving and deleting entriesAdding new menus and items
Creating Folders, Launchers, and FilesManaging Desktop Icons
The Directory Tree
Drive MountingMounting ISO FilesMounting Network FoldersUnmounting
Managing UsersManaging Groups
Opening Files and Folders
Copying with External Media
Lassoing ItemsIndividually Selecting ItemsSelecting Items in SequenceSelecting All ItemsMoving or Deleting with SelectionsOpening Multiple ItemsOpening multiple foldersUsing TabsDeselecting
File MenuEdit MenuBackgrounds and Emblems…
Edit → Preferences → ViewsEdit → Preferences → BehaviorEdit → Preferences → DisplayEdit → Preferences → List ColumnsEdit → Preferences → PreviewEdit → Preferences → MediaMedia HandlingOther Media
The Main ToolbarThe Location Bar
The Terminal
The cd, pwd, and ls CommandsThe cp and mkdir CommandsThe mv CommandRenaming itemsMoving itemsThe diff CommandThe find CommandWhat’s new in 10.04The cat and more CommandsThe grep CommandThe rm and rmdir CommandsThe wc Command
Using the . Operator
Redirecting OutputRedirecting InputThe Difference Between Pipes and RedirectionsAppending to Files
Streams and HandlesRedirecting One Stream to AnotherThe tee Command
Using Sets and RangesUsing Brace Expansion
Extracting Files
The Owner, Group, and World AttributesUsing chmodUsing chownUsing chgrp
Logging in As root
Killing and Restarting Processes from the Command Line
The Ubuntu Software CenterInstalling a ProgramRemoving a ProgramAdvanced FeaturesThe Ubuntu Software TabCanonical-supported and community-maintained softwareProprietary driversSoftware restricted by copyrightSource codeDownload fromThe Other Software TabThe Updates TabUbuntu updatesAutomatic updatesRelease upgradeThe Authentication TabThe Statistics TabThe View MenuThe Remaining Menus
Installing a ProgramMarking a program for installationActivating the installation processUsing Search to Install a ProgramRemoving a ProgramOther Synaptic Options
The File MenuThe Edit MenuThe Package MenuThe Settings MenuThe Help Menu
Updating the package indexUpgrading packagesSearching for packagesInstalling a packageRemoving a packageGetting help
System MaintenancePreferencesPower ManagementThe On AC Power tabThe On Battery Power tabThe General tabPreferred ApplicationsThe Internet tabThe Multimedia tabThe System tabThe Accessibility tabStartup ApplicationsRemember current applicationsWindowsWindow SelectionTitlebar ActionMovement KeyAdministrationComputer JanitorLogin ScreenCreating a password-free systemSystem MonitorThe System tabThe Processes tabThe Resources tabThe File Systems tabThe menusSystem Testing
PasswordsRoot AccessPhysical AccessFirewallUse Reliable SourcesDon’t Use Untrusted CommandsUpdatingViruses and MalwareBrowsers and Email ClientsWine
Remote DesktopEnabling the VNC ServerThe remaining optionsConnecting to the VNC ServerUsing UbuntuThe View menuFullscreen modeUsing WindowsUsing Mac OS XVNC Desktop ResolutionsUsing VNC over the Internet
Sharing Your FoldersSharing folders on other operating systems
Managing Your Keyring
Web BrowsingThe MenusThe Bookmarks ToolbarTabs and WindowsSearchingOther Browsers
Using PidginAdding buddies
Joining and Logging InUsing Ubuntu One
Preparing the Example Files
The Standard ToolbarThe Formatting ToolbarUsing StylesAbout Word Completion
The Standard ToolbarThe Formatting ToolbarViewing and setting data types
The Standard ToolbarThe Line and Filling ToolbarThe Slides FrameThe Workspace FrameThe Tasks FrameThe Drawing ToolbarThe Master Slide
Built-in Games
The Ubuntu Fish
Movie PlayerAdding Plug-ins
Importing TracksPlaying MusicLast.fmWhat’s New in 10.04
Learning How to Use ItWhat’s New in 10.04?
What’s New in 10.04?
InstallationInstalling Distributions Alongside UbuntuAdding KubuntuAdding XubuntuAdding MythbuntuAdding EdubuntuAdding Ubuntu StudioAdding Ubuntu
What’s New in 10.04
What Is Wine?

Content preview from Ubuntu: Up and Running

Chapter 2. Installing and Upgrading Ubuntu

In this chapter, we’ll take a look at the companion DVD for this book, which is attached to the inside back cover, and I’ll also show readers without access to the DVD how to get the same software by downloading and burning ISO disc images.

Unlike most program discs you may have used, this DVD is unusual in that you don’t actually have to install anything if you don’t wish to, because it’s been set up as a Live DVD.

This means that the DVD itself is a fully working installation of Ubuntu 9.10 that will run from the disc without the need to install anything. Therefore you can test Ubuntu to ensure it will work properly on your computer before installing it. It achieves this trick by creating a RAM disc out of system memory, which it then treats as if it were the hard disk.

The disc also contains the installer for Ubuntu 9.10 desktop edition and a set of ISO files for several of the other popular editions of Ubuntu, such as Kubuntu and Xubuntu. This chapter shows you how to use and install these files.

Note

To access the disc, you must have a DVD-compatible optical drive. If you don’t, you cannot use the disc and should refer to the section Downloading a Distribution.

The Live DVD

The great thing about the Live DVD system is that you can insert the disc into most PCs and run Ubuntu without installing anything. Once you’ve verified that all is in order, you can then choose to install Ubuntu, either as the only operating system or as an additional ...