Ubuntu
From Linux & Open Source @ NUS
Contents |
Install Additional software
Configuring the repositories for download
Before you can download additional software, you may wish to point the software repositories to one that is nearest to your lcoation. This can be achieved by editing the file /etc/apt/sources.list.
If you are in NUS edit the file /etc/apt/sources.list as follows:
#CDrom line which is usually auto added by the synaptic package manager # deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 5.10 _Breezy Badger_ - Release i386 (20051012)]/ breezy main restricted # deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 6.06 _Dapper Drake_ - Release i386 (20060531)]/ dapper main restricted #Additional repos deb http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy main restricted multiverse universe deb http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy-updates main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy-updates main restricted multiverse universe deb http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted multiverse universe # Backports deb http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy-backports main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy-backports main restricted multiverse universe # Proposed deb http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy-proposed main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://ftp.science.nus.edu.sg/linux/ubuntu gutsy-proposed main restricted multiverse universe #Commercial repo #deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy-commercial main
If you are outside NUS then edit the file /etc/apt/sources.list as follows:
#CDrom line which is usually auto added by the synaptic package manager deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 6.06 _Dapper Drake_ - Release i386 (20060531)]/ dapper main restricted #Additional repos deb http://sg.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://sg.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted multiverse universe deb http://sg.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://sg.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted multiverse universe deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted multiverse universe # Backports deb http://sg.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-backports main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://sg.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-backports main restricted multiverse universe # Proposed deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-proposed main restricted multiverse universe deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-proposed main restricted multiverse universe #Commercial repo deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu dapper-commercial main
If you wish to download litigious packages, you can check out the information at http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/doc/plf. The repos to include in your apt source are:
## Ubuntu PLF # http 100mbit/s Dedibox deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ dapper free non-free # deb-src http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ dapper free non-free ## Ubuntu Freecontrib # http 100mbit/s Dedibox deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/freecontrib/ dapper free non-free # deb-src http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/freecontrib/ dapper free non-free
Installing a compiler
This installs gcc, make and associated packages required for compilation
sudo apt-get install build-essential
Installation guides
- Ubuntu guide: A comprehensive no brainer starter guide.
- Automatix: a graphical interface (written in python and bash) for automating the installation of the most commonly requested applications in some Debian based distributions.
- Wubi: Double-click to install. Good for trying things out! Now version 8.04.1.
- Easy Ubuntu: similar to Automatix, but with a much smaller list of applications.
Getting help
- Ubuntu forums: Forum for Ubuntu users
- Ubuntu documentation: Main website for Ubuntu documentation maintained by Ubuntu Documentation Project
- Ubuntu User Documentation: Documentation written by the community of Ubuntu users.
- Ubuntu Linux Resources: collection of tutorials and random other pages that will help Ubuntu users.
- Ubuntu Wiki
Troubleshooting
Harddrive
Some Laptop-manufacturers are delivering their laptops with faulty anti-shake protection. This may cause you harddrive lifetime to be substantially decreased. To determine if your laptop suffers, and fix the problem, go here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3675960&postcount=26
Keyboard
By default, the installation enables the keyboard to make special characters, such that some keys such as Apostrophe needs to be keyed in twice. The following is from http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=318491&highlight=keyboard+problem. Of course, one can also simply live with it by pressing the special key once and then space for the correct character to come out.
- Make a backup of the xorg.conf file:
$ sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg_conf_backup
- Open the xorg.conf file in a text editor:
$ sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
- Find the following code:
Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Generic Keyboard" Driver "kbd"
- Delete or comment off the "Xkbvariant" line:
Option "XkbVariant" "alt-intl"
- Save the file.
- Reboot the PC.
- After logging in may get a window telling you that Gnome has a different keyboard config to what X has. You need to tell it to keep the X version. The response buttons in this window are a bit confusing, make sure you read the message carefully before you choose.
Other resources
- Ubuntu Video: a video portal that takes the best Ubuntu-related videos on the Internet, from places like YouTube and Google Video, and centralizes them in one convenient spot.
- Ubuntu-Women: a team functioning under Ubuntu to provide a platform and encouragement for women to contribute to Ubuntu-Linux.
