Beginning Ubuntu Linux (eBook)

Keir Thomas is an award-winning author who has written several best-selling beginning-level Linux titles for Apress. A former computer magazine editor, he has been writing about computers, operating systems, and software for a decade. He has also edited many computing titles and works as a full-time author. He lives on the side of a mountain in England, and his hobbies include hiking and playing musical instruments.

Copyright Page 3
Table of Contents 4
About the Author 22
About the Technical Reviewer 23
Acknowledgments 24
Introduction 25
Part I Introducing the World of Linux 29
CHAPTER 1 Welcome! 30
What Is Linux? 30
The Age of Linux 32
The Problems with Windows 33
The Benefits of Linux 35
Crash-Free 35
Security 35
Free and Shareable 35
Compatible with Older Hardware 35
The Linux Community 36
Summary 37
CHAPTER 2 A History and Politics Lesson 38
In the Beginning 38
The GNU Project 40
Proprietary Software and the GPL 41
GNU and Linux Together 42
Different Flavors of Linux 43
Linux Today 44
Modern Linux Development 44
Summary 45
CHAPTER 3 The Realities of Running Linux 46
Learning to Use Linux 46
Who Uses Linux? 47
Getting Hold of Linux 48
Using Ubuntu 49
Summary 49
Part II Installing Ubuntu 46
CHAPTER 4 Preinstallation Steps 51
Understanding Partitioning 51
Freeing Up Space 53
Reclaiming Space 54
Removing Windows 54
Using Another Hard Disk 54
Backing Up Your Data 55
Backing Up E-mail Files 56
Making Notes 57
Summary 58
CHAPTER 5 Installing Ubuntu 59
An Overview of the Installation Process 59
Step-by-Step Guide 60
Step 1: Boot from the CD-ROM 60
Step 2: Select Your Language 62
Step 3: Confirm Your Keyboard Layout 62
Step 4: Wait During Hardware and Networking Autodiscovery 63
Step 5: Set a Hostname 63
Step 6: Partition the Disk 64
Step 7: Wait During Automated Package Copying 66
Step 8: Set the Time Zone 67
Step 9: Set Your Real Name, Username, and Password 67
Step 10: Install the GRUB Boot Loader 68
Step 11: Reboot for the Second Installation Phase 69
Step 12: Wait During Package Installation 70
Step 13: Configure Your Monitor 70
Step 14: Boot for the First Time 71
Summary 72
CHAPTER 6 Solving Installation Problems 73
Preinstallation Problems 73
Installation Problems 75
Postinstallation Problems 77
Graphical Problems 79
Graphics Card Configuration 80
Keyboard and Mouse Configuration 81
Monitor Configuration 83
Summary 85
Part III The No-Nonsense Getting Started Guide 86
CHAPTER 7 Booting Ubuntu for the First Time 87
Starting Up 87
Logging In 88
Exploring the Desktop 90
First Impressions 90
Desktop Elements 92
Quick Desktop Guides 93
Running Programs 95
Working with Virtual Desktops 96
Using the Mouse 97
Cutting and Pasting Text 98
Summary 99
CHAPTER 8 Getting Everything Up and Running 100
Ubuntu Hardware Support 100
Proprietary vs. Open Source Drivers 101
Viewing Your Hardware 102
Getting Online 104
Using an Ethernet Card 104
Joining a Wireless Network 107
Configuring Dial-Up Internet Access 113
Using a USB-Based DSL Modem 115
Working with a Proxy Server 121
Setting Up Online Software Repositories 122
Configuring E-Mail and Instant Messaging 126
Configuring E-Mail Access 126
Setting Up Instant Messaging 128
Adding a Printer 130
Configuring a Local Printer 130
Configuring a Network Printer 131
Configuring a Windows/SMB Shared Printer 132
Setting Up Digital Imaging Devices 134
Transferring Photos from a Digital Camera 134
Configuring a Scanner 137
Using a USB Memory Stick 139
Installing 3D Graphics Card Drivers 139
Installing an ATI Driver 140
Installing a Nvidia Driver 140
Testing 3D Capabilities 141
Configuring Bluetooth 141
Pairing Bluetooth Devices 142
Transferring Files Between Bluetooth Devices 143
Using a Bluetooth Keyboard or Mouse 145
Configuring Sound Cards 146
Summary 147
CHAPTER 9 How to Secure Your Computer 148
Windows Security vs. Linux Security 148
Root and Ordinary Users 149
Common-Sense Security 151
Online Updates 153
The Ubuntu Firewall 154
Installing Firestarter 154
Configuring Firestarter 155
Summary 160
CHAPTER 10 Personalizing Ubuntu: Getting Everything Just Right 161
Changing the Look and Feel 161
Altering the Theme 161
Changing the Wallpaper 165
Setting Font Preferences 166
Configuring Input Devices 168
Creating Keyboard Shortcuts 170
Personalizing Login Options 171
Changing Your Login Picture 173
Adding and Removing Desktop Items 174
Adding a Shortcut 174
Adding and Removing Menus 176
Personalizing the Panels 178
Working with Applets 178
Setting Power-Saving Features 179
Controlling the Monitor Shutoff 179
Spinning Down the Hard Disk 180
Summary 181
CHAPTER 11 Ubuntu Replacements for Windows Programs 182
Available Software 182
A Quick Start with Common Linux Programs 184
Word Processing: OpenOffice.org Writer 184
Spreadsheet: OpenOffice.org Calc 186
Presentations: OpenOffice.org Impress 187
Database: OpenOffice.org Base 188
E-Mail/Personal Information Manager: Evolution 189
Web Browser: Firefox 190
Audio Playback: Rhythmbox and CD Player 192
Movie Playback: Totem Movie Player 193
CD/DVD Burning: Nautilus and Serpentine 194
Photo Editing: The GIMP 195
Other Handy Applications 196
Summary 202
CHAPTER 12 Managing Your Files 203
Understanding File System Concepts 203
Drive References 203
Case Sensitivity 204
File Access and Storage 204
Using Nautilus 206
File and Folder Icons 208
Special Nautilus Windows 209
Launching Files and Running Programs 210
Accessing Windows Files 212
Working with Files in Windows Partitions 212
Accessing Networked Files 215
Accessing Removable Storage Devices 216
Ejecting Media from Drives 217
Formatting Floppies 218
Summary 219
Part IV The Shell and Beyond 220
CHAPTER 13 Introducing the BASH Shell 221
What Is the BASH Shell? 221
Why Bother with the Shell? 223
When Should You Use the Shell? 224
Getting Started with the Shell 225
Running Programs 226
Getting Help 227
Running the Shell via a Virtual Console 228
Working with Files 229
Listing Files 231
Copying Files 232
Moving Files 233
Deleting Files 234
Changing and Creating Directories 235
Summary 235
CHAPTER 14 Understanding Linux Files and Users 236
Real Files and Virtual Files 236
Users and File Permissions 238
Viewing Permissions 240
Altering Permissions 244
The File System Explained 245
Mounting 249
Using the mount Command 249
Mounting a Drive Manually 250
Removing a Mounted System 251
File Searches 252
Using the find Command 252
Using the locate Command 253
Using the whereis Command 254
File Size and Free Space 254
Viewing File Sizes 254
Finding Out the Amount of Free Space 255
Summary 256
CHAPTER 15 Working with Text Files 257
Viewing Text Files 257
Using the cat Command 257
Using the less Command 257
Using the head and tail Commands 258
Using a Command-Line Text Editor 260
Understanding vi Modes 260
Using vi to Edit a File 264
Creating a New Text File Using vi 266
Searching Through Files 267
Using grep to Find Text 267
Using Regular Expressions 268
Comparing Text Files 270
Summary 271
CHAPTER 16 Taking Control of the System 272
Viewing Processes 272
Controlling Processes 275
Killing Processes 275
Controlling Zombie Processes 277
Using Other Commands to Control Processes 278
Controlling Jobs 279
Summary 280
CHAPTER 17 Cool Shell Tricks 281
Using Autocompletion 281
Autocompletion with Files and Paths 282
Viewing Available Options 282
Using Keyboard Shortcuts 283
Shortcuts for Working in BASH 283
Shortcuts for System Control 284
Using the Command History 285
Piping and Directing Output 286
Piping the Output of Commands 286
Redirecting Output 288
Summary 290
Part V Multimedia 291
CHAPTER 18 Digital Music 292
Understanding the Legalities of Playback 292
Playing Music Files 293
Installing Codecs 293
Using Rhythmbox 295
Listening to Audio CDs 296
Tuning in to Online Radio Stations 297
Configuring XMMS 297
Using Streamtuner 297
Ripping Music from CDs 298
Choosing a Format 298
Adding MP3 Support to Sound Juicer 299
Ripping Tracks 300
Creating Your Own CDs 301
Summary 302
CHAPTER 19 Movies and Multimedia 303
Watching Videos 303
Installing Codecs 304
Installing RealPlayer 305
Playing Back Video 305
Watching DVDs 308
Playing Flash Animations 309
Watching TV 311
Checking for Video Input 311
Installing Tvtime 312
Summary 312
CHAPTER 20 Image Editing 313
Getting Pictures onto Your PC 313
Introducing The GIMP 314
Editing Images with The GIMP 318
Making Color Corrections 320
Cropping and Cloning 321
Sharpening 322
Applying Filters 323
Summary 327
Part VI Office Tasks 328
CHAPTER 21 Making the Move to OpenOffice.org 329
Office Similarities 329
OpenOffice.Org Key Features 330
File Compatibility 331
The Right Fonts 333
Copying Windows Fonts 333
Installing TrueType Core Fonts 334
Summary 337
CHAPTER 22 OpenOffice.org Overview 338
Introducing the Interface 338
Customizing the Interface 339
Adding Functions to Toolbars 339
Adding a New Toolbar 342
Customizing Menus 342
Configuring OpenOffice.org Options 343
Using OpenOffice.org Core Functions 348
Using Wizards 348
Getting Help 348
Inserting Objects with Object Linking and Embedding 348
Creating Macros 349
Saving Files 350
Summary 351
CHAP TER 23 In Depth: Writer 352
Formatting Text 352
The Formatting Toolbar 352
Context Menu 353
The Style and Formatting Palette 354
Spell-Checking 354
Inserting Pictures 355
Working with Tables 356
Mail Merging 358
Adding Headers and Footers 361
Summary 362
CHAPTER 24 In Depth: Calc 363
Entering and Formatting Data 363
Deleting and Inserting Data and Cells 364
Working with Formulas 364
Using the Function Wizard 365
Summing Figures 366
Sorting Data 367
Creating Charts 367
Using Filters 369
Summary 370
CHAPTER 25 In Depth: Impress 371
Creating a Quick Presentation 371
Working in Impress 373
Animating Slides 374
Applying Fontwork 375
Using 3D Effects 377
Exporting a Presentation As a Flash File 378
Summary 379
CHAPTER 26 In Depth: Base 380
Getting Started with Base 380
Creating a Database 382
Adding a Table 382
Creating a Form 384
Adding Controls to the Form Manually 385
Editing the Database Table 386
Using the Database 387
Summary 388
CHAPTER 27 In Depth: Evolution 389
Evolution Modes 389
Basic E-Mail Tasks 391
Sending and Receiving E-Mail 391
Reading E-Mail 392
Deleting Messages 392
Flagging Messages 393
Composing a Message 394
Creating an E-Mail Signature 395
Advanced E-Mail Tasks 396
Creating New Folders 396
Dealing with Junk E-Mail 397
Sorting and Filtering Messages 398
Creating Search Folders 400
Contacts 400
Adding or Editing Contact Information 401
Creating a Contact List 402
Calendars 402
Specifying Appointment Types 402
Adding or Editing a Diary Entry 403
Tasks 404
Summary 405
CHAPTER 28 Running Microsoft Office Under Ubuntu 406
Installing and Configuring Wine 406
Downloading Wine 406
Configuring Wine 408
Showing Hidden Files on CDs 411
Installing Microsoft Office 411
Running Office Components 412
Installing Other Windows Programs 414
Summary 415
Part VII Keeping Your System Running 416
CHAPTER 29 Installing Software 417
Software Installation Basics 417
Formats of Linux Installation Files 418
Packages Explained 419
Dependency Management 420
APT and Package Repositories 421
The Synaptic Package Manager in Depth 424
Searching for Software 424
Installing Software 426
Removing Software 428
Package Management from the Command Prompt 428
Using dpkg 428
Using the APT Tools 430
Installing from Source 434
Installing the Compiler Tools 434
Unpacking the Tarball and Solving Dependencies 435
Compiling 436
Summary 438
CHAPTER 30 Managing Users 439
Understanding User and Group Accounts 439
Users and Groups 439
Root User 440
UIDs and GIDs 441
Adding and Deleting Users and Groups 441
Adding and Deleting Users via the GUI 441
Creating and Deleting Groups via the GUI 443
Adding and Deleting Users and Groups at the Command Line 443
Adding and Changing Passwords 445
Summary 446
CHAPTER 31 Optimizing Your System 447
Speeding Up Booting 447
Understanding Bootup 447
Reducing the Boot Menu Delay 449
Optimizing Initialization and Run-Level Services 450
Optimizing Hard Disk Settings 456
Benchmarking Your Hard Disk 456
Changing Hard Disk Settings 457
Making Disk Optimizations Permanent 459
Prelinking 460
Configuring Prelinking 461
Deactivating Prelinking 461
Freeing Disk Space 462
Emptying the /tmp Folder 462
Emptying the Cache of Package Files 463
Removing Unused Software 464
Adding Another Disk Drive 464
Partitioning the Disk 464
Configuring Ubuntu to Use the Drive 465
Summary 465
CHAPTER 32 Backing Up Data 466
What Data Should You Back Up? 466
Using SBackup 467
Backing Up Data via SBackup 468
Restoring Data via SBackup 471
Making Backups from the Command Line 471
Creating tar Files 472
Compressing tar Archives 472
Extracting Files from a tar Archive 473
Viewing tar Archive Information 473
Saving the File to a CD-R/RW 474
Summary 474
CHAPTER 33 Scheduling Tasks 475
Scheduling with crontab 475
Creating a Scheduled Task 476
Editing crontab with the GUI 477
Scheduling with anacron 478
Using at to Schedule One-Off Tasks 479
Summary 480
CHAPTER 34 Accessing Computers Remotely 481
Using Secure Shell 481
Logging In to a Remote Computer 482
Transferring Files Between Remote Computers 485
Accessing GUI Applications Remotely 487
Running X Applications on a Remote Computer 487
Running the GNOME Desktop Across a Remote Connection 488
Accessing Ubuntu via Remote Desktop 490
Connecting to Remote Windows Computers 491
Connecting to Windows XP Professional, 2000, and NT 491
Connecting to Other Windows Computers 493
Summary 494
APPENDIX A Glossary of Linux Terms 495
APPENDIX B BASH Command Index 517
APPENDIX C Getting Further Help 530
Read the Manual! 530
Man Pages 530
Info Pages 533
README Files and Other Documentation 534
Getting Help Online 534
Forums 534
Mailing Lists 535
Other Official Sites 536
Third-Party Sites 536
APPENDIX D Other Versions of Ubuntu 537
Kubuntu 537
Edubuntu 538
Ubuntu Server 538
Xubuntu 539
Other Ubuntu Projects 540
Index 541