Official Ubuntu Book, The

Ubuntu is a complete, free operating system that emphasizes community, support, and ease of use while refusing to compromise on speed, power, and flexibility. It's Linux for human beings--designed for everyone from computer novices to experts. Ubuntu is the most in-demand Linux distribution, and this official guide will get you up and running quickly.

Learn how to seamlessly install and customize Ubuntu for your home or small businesses. Its open source power can be used in schools, government, or by corporations, and is suitable for both desktop and server use. The Ubuntu community is built on the premise that software should be available free of charge, and that people should have the freedom to customize and alter their software in whatever way they see fit.

Written by leading Ubuntu community members, this is the only book that you need to become a savvy Ubuntu user.

• Covers the latest version of Ubuntu--Ubuntu 6.06LTS
• Covers every standard desktop application from word processing, spreadsheets, Web browsing, e-mail, instant messaging, music, video, and, of course, games, all the way to software development, databases, and other server applications
• Includes real-world troubleshooting advice contributed by Ubuntu users from around the world
• Learn about the extended Ubuntu community, which includes translators; software developers; teachers; people who love to hand out CDs and help friends try free software; artists; people who write documentation, tips, and guides; accountants; and even a lawyer or two.
• Covers both Ubuntu and Kubuntu desktop systems
• Explains Ubuntu Server installation and basic administration, complete with advanced installer features like LVM and RAID

This book comes with a version of Ubuntu that can run right off the DVD, as well as the complete set of supported packages for Ubuntu, including Kubuntu. Try out Ubuntu on the DVD. If you want to keep it, install it directly from your desktop.

Community Contributors: James Stanger, Jorge O. Castro, Matthew East, Quim Gil, Dennis Kaarsemaker, David Bain, Alan Barnard, David Clayton, Manu Cornet, Scott Dier, Oskar Jönefors, Jason LaPrade, Avinash Meetoo, Julien Rottenberg, Stephen Sandlin, David Symons, Paul van Genderen, Andrew Zajac

Foreword xix

Preface xxv

Acknowledgments xxvii

About the Authors xxix

Introduction xxxi

About This Book xxxi

Chapter 1: Introducing Ubuntu 1

A Wild Ride 2

Free Software, Open Source, and GNU/Linux 3

A Brief History of Ubuntu 7

What Is Ubuntu? 12

Ubuntu Promises and Goals 18

Canonical and the Ubuntu Foundation 24

Ubuntu Subprojects, Derivatives, and Spin offs 28

Summary 30

Chapter 2: Installing Ubuntu 31

Choosing Your Ubuntu Version 32

Getting Ubuntu 34

Installing from the Desktop CD 36

Installing Using the Alternate Install CD 45

Post-Installation 52

Summary 54

Chapter 3: Using Ubuntu on the Desktop 55

Taking Your Desktop for a Ride 57

Using Your Applications 65

The Ubuntu File Chooser and Bookmarks 99

Ubuntu in Your Language 100

Customizing Ubuntu’s Look and Feel 101

Managing Your Files 103

Ubuntu and Multimedia 109

Summary 115

Chapter 4: Advanced Usage and Managing Ubuntu 117

Adding and Removing Programs and Packages 118

Keeping Your Computer Updated 125

Moving to the Next Ubuntu Release 128

Using and Abusing Devices and Media 129

Configuring a Printer in Ubuntu 132

Graphically Access Remote Files 139

The Terminal 141

Working with Windows 145

Summary 147

Chapter 5: The Ubuntu Server 149

What Is Ubuntu Server? 150

Installing Ubuntu Server 152

Ubuntu Package Management 162

Ubuntu Server Security 173

Summary 180

Chapter 6: Support and Typical Problems 183

Your System 184

Applications 199

Multimedia 204

Networking 210

Hardware 216

System Administration 227

Other 240

Summary 246

Chapter 7: Using Kubuntu 249

Introduction to Kubuntu 250

Installing Kubuntu 255

Customizing Kubuntu 259

Systems Administration 264

Managing Files with Kubuntu 279

Common Applications 287

Finding Help and Giving Back to the Community 308

Summary 310

Chapter 8: The Ubuntu Community 311

Venues 313

Ubuntu Mailing Lists 314

IRC Channel List 318

Teams, Processes, and Community Governance 331

Getting Involved 338

Summary 341

Chapter 9: Ubuntu-Related Projects 343

Partner Projects 344

Derived Distributions 346

The Launchpad 351

Bazaar 356

Summary 356

Appendix A: Welcome to the Command Line 357

Starting Up the Terminal 357

Moving around the Filesystem 357

Manipulating Files and Folders 359

System Information Commands 360

Searching and Editing Text Files 361

Dealing with Users and Groups 362

Getting Help on the Command Line 363

Searching for Man Files 363

Using Wildcards 364

Executing Multiple Commands 364

Moving on to More Advanced Uses of the Command Line 365

Appendix B: Ubuntu Foundation Documents 367

Code of Conduct 367

Ubuntu Code of Conduct 368

Ubuntu Philosophy 370

Components 372

License Policy 374

Appendix C: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Open Publication License 379

Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 379

License 379

Appendix D: Ubuntu Equivalents to Windows Programs 387

On the Ubuntu Desktop 387

Additional Applications 389

Index 393