Beginning Ubuntu Linux, Fourth Edition

Beginning Ubuntu Linux......Page 3
Contents at a Glance......Page 5
Contents......Page 9
About the Authors......Page 27
About the Technical Reviewer......Page 29
Acknowledgments......Page 31
Introduction......Page 33
What You’ll Find in This Book......Page 34
About the DVD-ROM Supplied with This Book......Page 35
Conventions Used in This Book......Page 36
Introducing the World of Linux......Page 37
What Is Linux?......Page 39
The Age of Linux......Page 41
The Problems with Windows......Page 42
Free and Shareable......Page 45
The Linux Community......Page 46
Summary......Page 47
In the Beginning......Page 49
The GNU Project......Page 52
Proprietary Software and the GPL......Page 54
GNU and Linux Together......Page 55
Linux Today......Page 56
Ubuntu: African Philosophy......Page 57
Summary......Page 59
Learning to Use Linux......Page 61
Who Uses Linux?......Page 62
Getting Hold of Linux......Page 63
Software Installation......Page 64
Using Ubuntu......Page 65
Summary......Page 66
Installing Ubuntu......Page 67
Understanding Partitioning......Page 69
Freeing Up Space......Page 71
Reclaiming Space......Page 72
Using Another Hard Disk......Page 73
Backing Up Your Data......Page 75
Making Notes......Page 77
Summary......Page 79
An Overview of the Installation Process......Page 81
Stage 1: Prepare the Windows Partition for Resizing......Page 84
Stage 2: Boot from the DVD-ROM......Page 86
Stage 4: Select from the Boot Menu......Page 87
Stage 5: Choose a Language for Ubuntu......Page 89
Stage 6: Select Your Country and Time Zone......Page 90
Stage 7: Confirm Your Keyboard Layout......Page 91
Stage 8: Repartition Your Hard Disk......Page 92
Stage 9: Enter a Username......Page 103
Stage 11: Confirm Installation Choices......Page 105
Stage 12: Perform Installation......Page 106
Stage 13: Reboot and Enjoy Ubuntu!......Page 107
Summary......Page 110
Preinstallation Problems......Page 111
Installation Problems......Page 117
Postinstallation Problems......Page 119
Graphical Problems......Page 122
Summary......Page 127
The No-Nonsense Getting Started Guide......Page 129
Starting Up......Page 131
Logging In......Page 133
First Impressions......Page 135
Shutting Down or Restarting Ubuntu......Page 137
Desktop Elements......Page 140
Quick Desktop Guides......Page 142
Running Programs......Page 146
Working with Virtual Desktops......Page 147
Using the Mouse......Page 149
Cutting and Pasting Text......Page 150
Summary......Page 151
Ensuring Ubuntu Hardware Support......Page 153
Using Proprietary vs. Open Source Drivers......Page 155
Installing Device Manager......Page 156
Configuring Ubuntu......Page 158
Installing Software......Page 159
Using NetworkManager......Page 162
Configuring an Ethernet Network Device......Page 164
Connecting to a Wireless Network......Page 166
Installing Windows Wireless Network Device Drivers......Page 170
Using Dial-Up Telephone Modems......Page 180
Working with a Proxy Server......Page 183
Configuring Power-Saving Features......Page 185
Configuring a Local Printer......Page 186
Configuring a Network Printer......Page 189
Configuring a Windows/SMB Shared Printer......Page 190
Using Digital Cameras, MP3 Players, and USB Memory Sticks......Page 193
Configuring a Scanner......Page 195
Installing 3D Drivers and Activating Desktop Visual Effects......Page 198
Pairing Bluetooth Devices......Page 201
Transferring Files Between Bluetooth Devices......Page 203
Using a Bluetooth Keyboard or Mouse......Page 205
Configuring Sound Cards......Page 207
Configuring E-Mail and Instant Messaging......Page 208
Configuring E-Mail Access......Page 209
Setting Up Instant Messaging......Page 211
Using Power-Management Preferences......Page 213
Spinning Down the Hard Disk......Page 217
Summary......Page 218
How to Secure Your Computer......Page 219
Windows Security vs. Linux Security......Page 220
Root and Ordinary Users......Page 221
Encryption......Page 223
Setting Up for Encryption......Page 224
Encrypting and Decrypting Files......Page 236
Signing and Encrypting E-Mail......Page 239
Commonsense Security......Page 240
Online Updates......Page 242
Configuring the Ubuntu Firewall......Page 244
Installing Firestarter......Page 245
Configuring Firestarter......Page 247
Adding Virus Scanning to Ubuntu......Page 252
Updating the ClamAV Database......Page 253
Scanning for Viruses......Page 254
Dealing with Infections......Page 255
Summary......Page 258
Changing the Look and Feel......Page 259
Altering the Theme......Page 260
Changing the Desktop Background......Page 265
Setting Font Preferences......Page 268
Configuring General Interface Options......Page 270
Using Desktop Visual Effects......Page 271
Configuring Input Devices......Page 281
Configuring Mouse Options......Page 282
Changing Keyboard Settings......Page 286
Personalizing Login Options......Page 289
Changing Your Login Picture......Page 294
Adding and Removing Desktop Items......Page 295
Adding a Shortcut......Page 296
Personalizing the Panels......Page 299
Adding and Removing Menus......Page 300
Working with Applets......Page 302
Summary......Page 305
Available Software......Page 307
A Quick Start with Common Ubuntu Programs......Page 309
Word Processing: OpenOffice.org Writer......Page 310
Spreadsheet: OpenOffice.org Calc......Page 311
Presentations: OpenOffice.org Impress......Page 312
Database: OpenOffice.org Base......Page 314
E-Mail/Personal Information Manager: Evolution......Page 315
Web Browser: Firefox......Page 316
Audio Playback: Rhythmbox......Page 318
Movie Playback: Totem Movie Player......Page 319
CD/DVD Burning: Brasero/Nautilus CD/DVD Creator......Page 321
Photo Editing: GIMP......Page 322
Other Handy Applications......Page 323
Windows Applications......Page 329
Summary......Page 330
Drive References......Page 331
Names of Files......Page 332
File Access and Storage......Page 333
Using Nautilus......Page 335
Searching for Files......Page 339
Working with File and Folder Icons......Page 341
Special Nautilus Windows......Page 342
Tips and Tricks for Nautilus......Page 343
Launching Files and Running Programs......Page 345
Working with Files in Windows Partitions......Page 347
Accessing Networked Files......Page 348
Sharing a Folder from Within Ubuntu......Page 350
Working in the Computer Window......Page 352
Ejecting Media......Page 353
Summary......Page 354
The Shell and Beyond......Page 355
What Is the BASH Shell?......Page 357
Why Bother with the Shell?......Page 359
When Should You Use the Shell?......Page 361
Getting Started with the Shell......Page 362
Running Programs......Page 363
Getting Help......Page 365
Running the Shell via a Virtual Console......Page 366
Working with Files......Page 368
Listing Files......Page 370
Copying Files and Directories......Page 372
Moving Files and Directories......Page 373
Deleting Files and Directories......Page 374
Changing and Creating Directories......Page 376
Summary......Page 378
Real Files and Virtual Files......Page 379
Users and File Permissions......Page 382
Understanding Root vs. Sudo......Page 383
Viewing Permissions......Page 384
Altering Permissions......Page 389
Changing the Ownership of a File......Page 392
The File System Explained......Page 393
Using the mount Command......Page 398
Mounting a Drive Manually......Page 400
Removing a Mounted System......Page 402
Using the find Command......Page 403
Using the locate Command......Page 404
Viewing File Sizes......Page 405
Finding Out the Amount of Free Space......Page 406
Summary......Page 408
Using the cat Command......Page 409
Using the less Command......Page 410
Using the head and tail Commands......Page 411
Using a Command-Line Text Editor......Page 413
Understanding vim Modes......Page 414
Using vim to Edit a File......Page 419
Using vim to Create a New Text File......Page 420
Searching Through Files......Page 421
Using grep to Find Text......Page 422
Using Regular Expressions......Page 423
Comparing Text Files......Page 426
Exploring More Text Tools......Page 427
Summary......Page 429
Viewing Processes......Page 431
Killing Processes......Page 435
Controlling Zombie Processes......Page 437
Using Other Commands to Control Processes......Page 438
Controlling Jobs......Page 439
Summary......Page 442
Using Autocompletion......Page 443
Viewing Available Options......Page 444
Other Autocompletion Examples......Page 445
Shortcuts for Working in BASH......Page 446
Shortcuts for System Control......Page 447
Using the Command History......Page 448
Piping and Directing Output......Page 449
Piping the Output of Commands......Page 450
Redirecting Output......Page 452
Using Brace Expansion......Page 454
Summary......Page 455
Multimedia......Page 457
Issues Surrounding Multimedia Playback......Page 459
Playing Audio Files......Page 461
Installing Codecs......Page 462
Using Rhythmbox......Page 465
Purchasing from Online Music Stores......Page 468
Using the Jamendo Store......Page 469
Tuning In to Online Radio Stations......Page 470
Listening to Podcasts......Page 471
Listening to Audio CDs and Ripping Tracks......Page 472
Choosing a Format......Page 474
Adding MP3-Ripping Support to Sound Juicer......Page 475
Ripping Tracks......Page 476
Creating Your Own CDs......Page 477
Installing Skype......Page 479
Summary......Page 482
Installing Playback Software......Page 483
Installing Codecs......Page 484
Installing RealPlayer 11......Page 486
Adding Flash Support......Page 487
Watching Movies......Page 489
Watching DVDs......Page 492
Watching TV......Page 495
Installing tvtime......Page 496
Summary......Page 497
Connecting Your Camera......Page 499
Importing Photos by Using F-Spot......Page 500
Using GIMP for Image Editing......Page 504
The Basics of GIMP......Page 510
Making Color Corrections......Page 512
Sharpening......Page 514
Applying Filters......Page 515
Summary......Page 519
Office Tasks......Page 521
Office Similarities......Page 523
File Compatibility......Page 525
The Right Fonts......Page 528
Copying Windows Fonts......Page 529
Installing TrueType Core Fonts......Page 530
Summary......Page 532
Introducing the Interface......Page 533
Adding Functions to Toolbars......Page 535
Adding a New Toolbar......Page 537
Customizing Menus......Page 538
Configuring OpenOffice.org Options......Page 539
Using Wizards......Page 544
Inserting Objects with Object Linking and Embedding......Page 545
Creating Macros......Page 546
Saving Files......Page 547
Summary......Page 548
The Formatting Toolbar......Page 549
The Context Menu......Page 551
Checking Spelling and Grammar, and Looking Up Synonyms......Page 552
Inserting Pictures......Page 554
Working with Tables......Page 556
Mail Merging......Page 558
Adding Headers and Footers......Page 561
Working Collaboratively......Page 562
Inserting a Note......Page 563
Summary......Page 564
Entering and Formatting Data......Page 565
Working with Formulas......Page 567
Using the Function Wizard......Page 568
Summing Figures......Page 569
Sorting Data......Page 570
Using Filters......Page 571
Creating Charts......Page 573
Summary......Page 574
Creating a Quick Presentation......Page 575
Working in Impress......Page 577
Animating Slides......Page 579
Applying Fontwork......Page 581
Using 3D Effects......Page 582
Exporting a Presentation As a Flash File......Page 584
Summary......Page 585
Database vs. Spreadsheet......Page 587
Getting Started with Base......Page 588
Adding a Table......Page 590
Creating a Form......Page 592
Manually Adding Controls to the Form......Page 594
Editing the Database Table......Page 595
Using the Database......Page 596
Summary......Page 597
Evolution Modes......Page 599
Sending and Receiving E-Mail......Page 602
Reading E-Mail......Page 604
Flagging Messages......Page 605
Composing a Message......Page 606
Creating an E-Mail Signature......Page 608
Advanced E-Mail Tasks......Page 609
Creating New Folders......Page 610
Sorting and Filtering Messages......Page 611
Creating Search Folders......Page 613
Adding or Editing Contact Information......Page 615
Calendars......Page 617
Adding or Editing a Diary Entry......Page 618
Additional Calendars......Page 620
Memos and Tasks......Page 621
Keeping Your System Running......Page 625
Software Installation Basics......Page 627
Formats of Linux Installation Files......Page 628
Package Management......Page 629
Dependency Management......Page 630
Software Repositories......Page 632
Searching for Software......Page 637
Installing Software......Page 639
Removing Software......Page 641
Manually Installing Using Gdebi......Page 642
Using the APT Tools......Page 643
Using dpkg......Page 648
Using Software Sources......Page 651
Adding/Removing a Repository at the Command Line......Page 654
Unpacking the Source Tarball and Solving Dependencies......Page 655
Compiling......Page 657
Summary......Page 660
Users and Groups......Page 661
Root User......Page 662
UIDs and GIDs......Page 664
Adding and Deleting Users via the GUI......Page 665
Adding and Deleting Users and Groups at the Command Line......Page 667
Adding and Changing Passwords......Page 670
Summary......Page 671
Speeding Up Booting......Page 673
Reducing the Boot Menu Delay......Page 674
Managing GNOME Sessions......Page 675
Prelinking......Page 680
Deactivating Prelinking......Page 681
Emptying the /tmp Folder......Page 683
Removing Unused Software......Page 684
Summary......Page 686
What Data Should You Back Up?......Page 687
Backing Up Data via Simple Backup......Page 689
Restoring Data via Simple Backup......Page 693
Creating tar Files......Page 694
Compressing tar Archives......Page 695
Viewing tar Archive Information......Page 696
Saving the File to a CD-R/RW......Page 697
Saving the File to a DVD......Page 698
Summary......Page 699
Creating a Scheduled Task......Page 701
Scheduling with anacron......Page 704
Using at to Schedule One-Off Tasks......Page 706
Summary......Page 707
Using Secure Shell......Page 709
Logging In to a Remote Computer......Page 710
Transferring Files Between Remote Computers......Page 713
Running X Applications on a Remote Computer......Page 716
Accessing Ubuntu via Remote Desktop......Page 717
Connecting to Windows Vista......Page 719
Connecting to Windows XP Professional, 2000, and NT......Page 720
Connecting to Other Computers......Page 721
Summary......Page 723
Appendixes......Page 725
Symbols......Page 727
A......Page 728
B......Page 729
C......Page 730
D......Page 732
F......Page 733
G......Page 734
H......Page 736
I......Page 737
L......Page 738
M......Page 739
N......Page 740
P......Page 741
R......Page 742
S......Page 743
T......Page 746
U......Page 747
X......Page 748
BASH Command Index......Page 751
Man Pages......Page 761
Info Pages......Page 764
README Files and Other Documentation......Page 765
Forums......Page 766
Third-Party Sites......Page 768
Version Numbers, Code Names, and Support......Page 771
Other Versions of Ubuntu......Page 773
Installation of Other Versions......Page 775
Kubuntu......Page 776
Edubuntu......Page 777
Xubuntu......Page 779
Creating Bootable CDs from ISO Images......Page 781
Burning CDs Using Ubuntu......Page 782
Burning CDs Using Mac OS X......Page 783
Index......Page 785
DISCLAIMER OF WARRA......Page 802