book

Ubuntu: Up and Running

by Robin Nixon

April 2010

Beginner

464 pages

12h 7m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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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

Upgrading to New Releases

Ubuntu 9.10 was the most current release when this book went to print, but due to the six-month upgrade cycle, Ubuntu 10.04 was already on the horizon and 10.10 was being planned. With such a release cycle, it’s important that you know how you can upgrade Ubuntu to take advantage of new and better features, and to keep your computer secure.

Before upgrading, though, it is always a good idea to acquaint yourself with everything that’s new in the upgrade by visiting the following URL:

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes

Click the More » link next to the release for full details. That way there shouldn’t be any major surprises.

Note

By participating in the Alpha and Beta tests, I was able to include in this book the new features and improvements the Ubuntu 10.04 release offers. In fact, the Beta is so good that we considered putting a copy on the companion DVD. However, in the end we agreed that beta tests are just that: tests, and unforeseen bugs might show up that this book couldn’t help you with—so we dropped that idea. Therefore this section shows you how to upgrade over the Internet to the fully tested, final release of Ubuntu 10.04. The same procedure will let you upgrade to all other future versions, too.

Installing from CD

There are two ways that you can upgrade your installation of Ubuntu. First, you can download the latest ISO file, burn it to CD, and perform a fresh installation. The download locations you need are listed in the section Downloading ...