Beginning Ubuntu Linux : from novice to professional ; [the complete guide to Ubuntu - includes everything you need to take advantage of the world's favorite Linux operating system ; full revised and updated for Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) and above!

Beginning Ubuntu Linux, Fourth Edition is the update to the bestselling book on Ubuntu, today’s hottest Linux distribution. Targeting newcomers to Linux and to the Ubuntu distribution alike, readers are presented with an introduction to the world of Linux and open source community, followed by a detailed overview of Ubuntu’s installation and configuration process. From there readers learn how to wield total control over their newly installed operating system, and are guided through common tasks such as writing documents, listening to audio CDs and MP3s, watching movies, using VoIP and chat, and of course general system maintenance matters. Additionally, there’s a series of comprehensive tutorials on Linux internals and the command–line prompt—essential for any Linux user—and the book includes special sections on optimization, security, and system maintenance. The book comes with a DVD containing the complete Ubuntu Linux distribution. All you need to do is insert the DVD and follow the instructions in the book to install this distribution. The ultimate guide to Ubuntu, the hottest Linux distribution on the planet. Forgoes introductions to esoteric Linux topics so commonly found in other books and instead focuses on everyday tasks for everyday users: printer and file sharing configuration, office document management, and listening to MP3s and watching movies among them. 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 This is the first book of its kind to cover the hottest new Linux distribution, and will teach you how to make the most of your Ubuntu desktop. First, the book introduces you to the world of Linux and the open source community, and then outlines Ubuntu installation and configuration in detail. You’ll learn how to wield control over your newly installed operating system. Then you’ll learn about system customization opportunities and fun tasks like listening to audio CDs and MP3s, viewing movies, performing office and Internet-related tasks, and maintaining your Ubuntu system in general.

The book comes with a CD containing the complete Ubuntu distribution. You are encouraged to take full advantage of this powerful operating system by inserting the disk into the drive, and then following closely along with the supplementary material.

Author Information

Keir Thomas Keir Thomas has been writing about computers, operating systems and software for a decade. He has edited several best-selling computer magazines, among them LinuxUser & Developer, PC Utilities and PC Extreme, and worked as part of the editorial staff on a range of other titles. He was formerly Technical Group Editor at Live Publishing. Throughout his career, his aim has been to explain advanced and confusing technology in ways that the average person can understand.

Thomas currently works as a freelance writer and editor. He is the author of three books by Apress. Thomas lives on the side of a mountain in England and his hobbies include hiking and playing musical instruments.