Wiley ubuntu linux for dummies apr 2007 ISBN 0470125055

UbuntuLinux®ForDummies®
byPaulG.Sery
Publisher:JohnWiley&Sons
PubDate:April30,2007
PrintISBN-10:0-470-12505-5
PrintISBN-13:978-0-470-12505-2
Pages:384
TableofContents|Index

Overview
WhathasmadeUbuntuthemostpopularLinuxdistributionin
recentyears?It'stheemphasisoneaseofinstallationanduse.
Itgetseveneasierwhenpairedwith
UbuntuLinuxForDummies.
ThisfriendlyreferenceshowsyouhowtorunUbuntudirectly
fromCD-ROMandinstallitonaPCasapersonalworkstation
andnetworkserver.You'llfindouthowtodownloadUbuntuand
startusingitrightaway.You'llalsodiscoverhowto:
ConnecttoaLANviaawirelessandEthernet
UseOpenOffice.organdMozillaFirefoxdrawingandediting
Tapintomultimedia,graphicsandotherapplicationsusing
Ubuntu
Createservicesforahomeorsmallbusinessnetwork
Generateandmanagewebpages,printservices,andmore
FindhelpfulinformationaboutUbuntuandLinux
Troubleshootandfixproblems
"Ubuntu"means"humanitytowardothers."Operatingsystem


guidebooksdon'tgetanymorehumanethanUbuntuLinuxFor
Dummies.

UbuntuLinux®ForDummies®
byPaulG.Sery
Publisher:JohnWiley&Sons
PubDate:April30,2007
PrintISBN-10:0-470-12505-5
PrintISBN-13:978-0-470-12505-2
Pages:384
TableofContents|Index

Copyright
AbouttheAuthors
Dedications
Authors'Acknowledgments
Introduction
AboutThisBook
What'sinThisBook
FoolishAssumptions
ConventionUsedinThisBook
IconsUsedinThisBook
PartI:StartingFast
Inthispart...
Chapter1.UbuntuandU
IntroducingUbuntuLinux
ChoosingaVersionoftheOperatingSystem
TheCanonicalSource
GettingStarted
Chapter2.LiveUbuntu
MakingSureYouCanUseUbuntuonYourComputer

RunningLiveUbuntu
TheGraphicalEnvironment
Chapter3.PreparingtoInstallUbuntu


PreparingtoMakeRoomforUbuntu
BackingUpYourData
PreppingyourHardDrive
RepartitioningWindows:ScootchOverandLetUbuntuSit
Here!
Chapter4.InstallingUbuntuLinux
Stage1:GatheringYourResources
Stage2:StartingtheInstall
Stage3:SelectingYourTimeZone
Stage4:SettingUpYourLoginAccount
Stage5:SelectingaFileSystem
Stage6:InstallingUbuntuLinux
Stage7:FinishingtheInstallation
Chapter5.Ubuntu101
UnderstandingtheLinuxisms
StartingandStoppingUbuntu
PartII:NetworkingandtheInternet
Inthispart...
Chapter6.ZenandtheArtofUbuntuNetworking
ConnectingtoaWiredNetwork
UsingtheNetworkConfigurationTool
Chapter7.CuttheCord:UsingWirelessNetworking
PreparingforWirelessNetworking
ConnectingtoAccessPoints
UsingaWindowsDeviceDriver

Chapter8.BroadeningYourHorizonswithBroadband
ChoosingbetweenDSLandCable
UsingCableModems
UsingDSLModems
Chapter9.InternetOldSchool:UsingDialupModems
ChoosingaModem
ConfiguringYourModem


FiringUpYourModem
Chapter10.ProtectingYourselfwithaFirewall
ProtectingYourComputerwithFirewalls
QuestforFirestarter:InstallingaFirewallConfiguration
Tool
UsingtheFirestarterConfigurationWizard
Fine-TuningYourFirewall
TestingYourFirewall
PartIII:WorkingwithUbuntuWorkstation
Inthispart...
Chapter11.IntroducingGNOME
GettingtoKnowtheGNOMEDesktop
NavigatingtheGNOMEDesktop
AlteringGNOME'sAppearance
Chapter12.GNOME'sGoingPlaces
IntroducingtheNautilusFileManager
IntroducingGNOMEApplications
Chapter13.PrintingwithGNOME
ConnectingPrinters
UsingYourPrinter
Chapter14.FiringupFirefox

IntroducingtheFirefoxBrowser
UsingFirefox
ConfiguringFirefox
Chapter15.EvolutionE-Mail,Calendars,andAddresses
IntroducingEvolution
ConfiguringEvolutionforE-Mail
UsingEvolution
Chapter16.OpeningYourUbuntuOfficewithOpenOffice.org
GettingtoKnowOpenOffice.org
PopularFunctionsandTools
PartIV:Multimedia


Inthispart...
Chapter17.TelephonicUbuntu
ConfiguringEkiga
CallingOtherEkigaUsers
CallingRealTelephones
Chapter18.InstantMessaging
ConfiguringGaim
CommunicatingthroughGaim
Chapter19.ConnectingtotheDarkSide:WorkingRemotely
onWindows
IntroducingtheRemoteDesktopProtocol
ConfiguringYourWindowsRemoteDesktopServer
UsingTerminalServerClient
Chapter20.LyricalUbuntu:UsingMultimediaApplications
PlayingCDs
PlayingMP3swithXMMS
PlayingOggFileswithRhythmbox

RippingMusicwithSoundJuicerCDExtractor
BurningAudioCDs
Chapter21.GraphicalUbuntu
TransferringPhotosfromyourDigitalCameratoYour
UbuntuComputer
ViewingYourPictures
ImprovingYourImageswithTheGIMP
PartV:ThePartofTens
Inthispart...
Chapter22.AlmostTenUbuntuResources
AccessingLocalDocumentation
FindingOnlineDocumentation
Chapter23.AlmostTenSystem-AdministrationFunctions
UpdatingDebianSoftwarePackages
InstallingNewSoftwarePackages


ReadingSystemLogs
WorkingwithUserAccounts
ChangingFilePermissions
ChangingtheTimeandDate
MonitoringYourSystem
StartingandStoppingSystemServices
ManagingYourComputer'sPowerUse
PartVI:Appendixes
Inthispart...
ChapterA.Tutti-FrutiUbuntu
TryingaDifferentLook:Kubuntu
AnOperatingSystemforKids:Edubuntu
ChapterB.StupendousOpenSSHTricks

InteractivelyConnectingtoanSSHServer
UsingtheOpenSSHServer
ExecutingaRemoteCommand
UsingOpenSSHPortForwarding
UsingPublic-PrivateKeyAuthentication
Usingssh-agenttoStorePrivateKeys
CreatinganEncryptedWirelessNetworkUsingOpenSSH
ChapterC.AbouttheCD
SystemRequirements
WhatYouFind
IfYouHaveProblemswithYourCD
Index


Copyright

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Copyright©2006byWileyPublishing,Inc.,Indianapolis,India
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10987654321
1O/RX/QV/QW/IN

AbouttheAuthors
PaulSeryisasystemsadministratoremployedbySandia
NationalLaboratoriesinAlbuquerque,NewMexico.He's
currentlyworkingoncreatingacentralizedlogeventcollection
andanalysissystemandusingopensourcepublickey
encryptiontobuildinexpensivetwo-factorauthentication
systems.
Inhissparetime,heandhiswifeLidiaenjoyridingtheir
tandemthroughtheRioGrandevalley.Theyalsoenjoy
travelingthroughoutMexico.PaulistheauthorofLinux
NetworkToolkit,KnoppixForDummies(boththroughWiley
Publishing),andseveralotherLinuxbooks.Hehasabachelor's
degreeinelectricalengineeringfromtheUniversityofNew
Mexico.


Dedications
Tomywife,Lidia.


Authors'Acknowledgments
MarkRichardShuttleworthcreatedUbuntu,withoutwhichthis
bookwouldbeimpossible.Ubuntuhasaddedtotheproductivity
andcreativityoftheworld,andIthankhimforhiscreation.
IwanttoespeciallythankKyleLooperandPatO'Brien,who
gavemesomuchhelpwiththisproject.I'dalsoliketothank
thestaffatWileyPublishing—theycontinuetogivemegreat
assistance.
Ialsowanttothankmywife,Lidia,forhergoodadvice,
support,andencouragement.Withouther,Iwouldstillbethe

pocket-protector-wearing,busted-eyeglasses-fixed-with-tape,
StarTrek-costume-wearing,Saturday-night-hacking,sorry
sortaguy.Well,IwasneverintoStarTrek,butIamageekand
I'mluckytohavemether.


Introduction
UbuntuLinuxForDummiestellsyouhowyoucanusethe
fastestgrowingLinuxdistributionontheplanet.UbuntuLinuxis
veryeasytouse(evenifyou'veonlyusedWindowsbefore)and
providesapowerfulplatformonwhichtogetyourworkdone.
Ubuntuisalsofuntouse!
YoucanuseUbuntuLinuxasfastasyoucanripthecompanion
CDoutofitsplasticsleeveinthebackofthebook,popitinto
yourCD-ROMdrive,andrebootyourcomputer.UbuntuLinuxis
availableasaliveLinuxdistribution,whichmeansitboots
directlyfromtheCD-ROMincludedwiththisbook,andyoucan
startusingitrightaway.
WhenyougetthefeelforUbuntuLinux,youcaninstalliton
yourcomputerfromtheUbuntuLinuxForDummiesCD-ROM.
OneofUbuntu'sstrengthsis—inmyopinion—itseasy-to-use
installationsystem.Answerahandfulofquestions,andyou've
gotyourselfafull-blownLinuxcomputer.Easy.
You'llalsofindthatUbuntuLinuxworksgreatasyoureveryday
computerworkstation.Ubuntuisdesignedtohelpyouperform
allofyourprimarytasks,suchaswordprocessingandWeb
browsing—andmostoftheotherthingsyoumightwanttodo,
suchasinstantmessaging.Ifyou'vegotajobforaPC,Ubuntu
candoitforyou.

AboutThisBook
IwroteUbuntuLinuxForDummiestohelpyougetstarted
usingUbuntuLinuxandhavesomefunalongtheway.First,the
bookhelpsyougetstartedusingUbuntubycoveringthe
essentials,suchasbootingUbuntuliveandtheninstallingiton
yourcomputer.Aftergettingstarted,Iexplainhowyoucanuse
Ubuntu'smajorcomponents,suchasnetworking,office
productivitytools,andsuch.Iuseextensiveexamplestoshow
exactlyhowtoinstall,configure,andusetheincludedsoftware.


Introduction
UbuntuLinuxForDummiestellsyouhowyoucanusethe
fastestgrowingLinuxdistributionontheplanet.UbuntuLinuxis
veryeasytouse(evenifyou'veonlyusedWindowsbefore)and
providesapowerfulplatformonwhichtogetyourworkdone.
Ubuntuisalsofuntouse!
YoucanuseUbuntuLinuxasfastasyoucanripthecompanion
CDoutofitsplasticsleeveinthebackofthebook,popitinto
yourCD-ROMdrive,andrebootyourcomputer.UbuntuLinuxis
availableasaliveLinuxdistribution,whichmeansitboots
directlyfromtheCD-ROMincludedwiththisbook,andyoucan
startusingitrightaway.
WhenyougetthefeelforUbuntuLinux,youcaninstalliton
yourcomputerfromtheUbuntuLinuxForDummiesCD-ROM.
OneofUbuntu'sstrengthsis—inmyopinion—itseasy-to-use
installationsystem.Answerahandfulofquestions,andyou've
gotyourselfafull-blownLinuxcomputer.Easy.
You'llalsofindthatUbuntuLinuxworksgreatasyoureveryday
computerworkstation.Ubuntuisdesignedtohelpyouperform

allofyourprimarytasks,suchaswordprocessingandWeb
browsing—andmostoftheotherthingsyoumightwanttodo,
suchasinstantmessaging.Ifyou'vegotajobforaPC,Ubuntu
candoitforyou.

AboutThisBook
IwroteUbuntuLinuxForDummiestohelpyougetstarted
usingUbuntuLinuxandhavesomefunalongtheway.First,the
bookhelpsyougetstartedusingUbuntubycoveringthe
essentials,suchasbootingUbuntuliveandtheninstallingiton
yourcomputer.Aftergettingstarted,Iexplainhowyoucanuse
Ubuntu'smajorcomponents,suchasnetworking,office
productivitytools,andsuch.Iuseextensiveexamplestoshow
exactlyhowtoinstall,configure,andusetheincludedsoftware.


What'sinThisBook
ForDummiesseriesbooksareorganizedintoindependent
parts,andthisoneisnoexception.Youcanreadthechapters
ofUbuntuLinuxForDummiesinanyorder.Youcanevenread
theparagraphsbackwards,ifyou'resoinclined—althoughthat
mightnotbethebestwaytogo.Whateveryourinclination,I
intendthistobeeasytoreadinanydirection.
IfyouwantacompletecourseinusingUbuntuLinux,you
canreadthewholebookfrombeginningtoendandfollow
alongwithyourcomputer.Thebookshowsyouhowto
StartUbuntudirectlyfromtheCD.
PermanentlyinstallUbuntuonyourcomputer.
ConnecttotheInternet.
Usethebasicoperatingsystemfeatures.

Performcool,specializedUbuntutasks.
Ifyoujustneedananswertoaspecificquestionor
instructionsforperformingaspecifictask,youcanlookit
upandfollowtheinstructionswithoutreadingthewhole
book.Forexample,youmightbeaLinuxveteranwhojust
needstofindinformationonperformingaspecialUbuntu
task.Findthetopicyou'reinterestedin,intheTableof
ContentsorIndex,andflipdirectlytothatportionofthe
book.
Thefollowingsectionstellyouhowyoucannavigateeachpart
ofUbuntuLinuxForDummies.

PartI:StartingFast
PartIdescribeswhatUbuntuLinuxisandhowyoucanget
startedusingit.Chapter1describesUbuntu'sphilosophyand
architecture.Chapter2introducesthelivenatureofUbuntuand


tellsyouhowyoucanuseitwithouttouchingyourexisting
operatingsystem.Chapters3and4coverpreparingacomputer
foranew(oradditional)operatingsystemandpermanently
installingUbuntu.Finally,Chapter5providessomeofthe
simpleessentialsyouneedtostartusingUbuntuasyour
workstation.

PartII:NetworkingandtheInternet
PartIIfocusesonconnectingyourUbuntuworkstationto
networksandtheInternet.There'saspecialchapterforeach
kindofnetworkorInternetconnectionyoumighthave.Chapter
6describesconnectingtoaprivatenetworkviaEthernet.

Chapter8movesontousinghigh-speedbroadbandInternet
connections.Chapter9revertstousingold-schooldialup
modems,andChapter10providestheessentialnetwork
securityingredient,thefirewall.

PartIII:WorkingwithUbuntuWorkstation
PartIIIgetstoworkbyacquaintingyouwiththeprimary
Ubuntudesktopapplications,suchaswordprocessing,Internet
browsers,ande-mailclients.Chapters11and12lookatthe
GNOMEgraphicaldesktopenvironmentanditsfeatures.
Chapter14coversusingtheground-breakingMozillaFirefox
Webbrowser.InChapter15,ItellyouaboutusingtheEvolution
e-mailclient.Chapter16isclosetomyheart,asitdescribes
usingtheMicrosoftWord–compatibleOpenOffice.orgWriter,as
wellasotherprogramsthatcomewithUbuntu.

PartIV:MultimediaUbuntu
PartIVgetsbacktohavingsomefunbydescribinghowtouse
Ubuntu'scommunicationandmultimediaapplications.Youlearn
howtomakephonecallstoothercomputersandtelephones
usingUbuntu.Ialsoshowhowtoremotelyworkonand
remotelymanageMicrosoftWindowsservers.Theremaining
chaptersdescribehowtouseUbuntuasamultimedia
entertainmentcentertoplaymusic,makeaudioCDs,edit


photographs,andmore.

PartV:ThePartofTens
ForDummiesbookslovetogivetoptenlists.Thisbookincludes

chaptersshowinghowandwheretofindinformationaboutand
helpforusingUbuntu.Youalsolearnhowtofixcommon
UbuntuproblemsandkeepyourUbuntucomputersecure.

PartVI:Appendixes
TheappendixesintroduceotherUbuntuflavors:Kubuntu,
Edubuntu,andXubuntu.KubuntuisnearlythesameasUbuntu
butisbasedontheKDEdesktopmanager.(Ubuntuusesthe
GNOMEdesktopmanager.)Edubuntuisnearlythesameas
Ubuntubutprovidesadditionaleducationalapplicationsand
usesafun,colorful,customizedGNOMEdesktop.Xubuntuuses
alightweightdesktopmanager—Xfce—thatusesfewer
computerresourcesandcanbeusedonolder,slower
computers.YoucandownloadanduseanyoftheseUbuntu
variationsfromwww.ubuntu.com.You'llalsofindguidanceon
SSH,andabriefsummaryoftheUbuntuLinuxForDummies
CD-ROM.


FoolishAssumptions
MyjobinwritingthisbookistomakeusingUbuntuLinuxas
easyaspossible.Tothatend,it'sagoodideatoconveysome
ofmyassumptionsaboutmyreaders.Iassumethatyou
ArecuriousaboutLinuxingeneralandwanttosee
whatit'sabout.
Great!That'swhatthisbookisallabout.Sure,it'soriented
aroundlearningtheUbuntuLinuxdistribution,butmostof
whatyoureadhereisapplicabletoanyversionofLinux.
Wantanalternativetocommercialsoftware.
That'swhatLinux,opensourcesoftware,andUbuntuareall

about.Linux(andUbuntuLinux,whichcombinesthe
variousaspectsandcomponentsoftheLinuxworldtogether
initsown,uniqueway)providesagreatalternativeto
huge,monolithicoperatingsystems.
Opensourcesoftwareiscopyrightedlikeproprietary
software.However,opensourcesoftwareislicensedina
waythatpermitsyoutofreelyuse,modify,anddistribute
thesoftwareaslongasyoudon'tpreventanyoneelsefrom
doingthesame.Opensourcesoftwarecanbesoldorgiven
away.
Haveacomputer.
Unfortunately,UbuntuLinuxdoesn'trunonanabacus,TV,
orcoffeemaker.However,itrunsonmosthomecomputers,
includingPCsandMacintoshes.
TheUbuntuLinuxForDummiesCD-ROMrunson32-bitPCs
(mostPCsmadeinthelast20years).Ifyouhaveahot
new64-bitPCoraPowerPC-basedMac,youcandownload
Ubuntuandusethisbooktorunit.
YoumightnotwanttoreadUbuntuLinuxForDummiesifyou're


lookingforthefollowing:
Abookaboutwinetasting.
Inthatcase,readWineTastingForDummiesorrentthe
movieSideways.
UbuntuLinuxreferencematerial.
Thisbookconcentratesonthemorebasicaspectsofthe
systemanddoesn'tdelveintothemorecomplex.
InformationonbuildinganUbuntuLinuxserver.
UbuntuLinuxcomesintwoflavors:DesktopandServer.

Ratherthantryingtobecomethejack-of-all-trades—but
anaceofnone—Ubuntudecidedtodedicateseparate
editionstotheLinuxdesktopandLinuxserver.Thisbook
usestheDesktopversionofUbuntuLinux—surprise,
surprise—andconcentratesonhelpingyouuseit.
Detailsonbecomingaprofessionalsystem
administrator.
Beingasystemadministratormyself,Iwouldlovetowrite
moreaboutthejob.Icouldfillbooksaboutit—actually,I
have.Systemadministratorsaresuave,sophisticated,
talented,extremelywell-paidprofessionalswhoarealways
goodlookingandhavegoodpeopleskills.Oristhatthe
otherwayaround?Ialwaysforget.Anyway,aswonderfulas
theprofessionis,thereisn'tenoughroomtodoitjustice
here.Sothisbookprovidesjustenoughsystem
administrationmaterialtoefficientlyrunyourUbuntuLinux
computer.


ConventionUsedinThisBook
Iconfess,Iloveconventions.Ilovegoingtothemandlearning
moreaboutcomputers.Ievenlovethesocialaspectsof
computerconventions:Borg-likekidsencrustedwithwearable
computers;pale,computer-room-generatedskin,andsoon.
Totalnerd-dom.Iliketofitin.
Ontheotherhand,Idon'tlikebookconventionsofthenitpickingkind.However,conventionsarenecessarywhetherthey
havesomethingtodowithStarTrekorhowinstructionsare
writteninabook.
ThefollowingsectionsdescribethemethodsIuseinthetextto
getyouthroughthebookquicklyandeasilysothatyoucan

spendmoretimewithyournewoperatingsystem.

Italics
Termsthatmightbeunfamiliartoyouoftenappearinitalics
andarefollowedbyahelpfuldefinitionorexplanationofthe
term.Also,you'llfindplaceholdertextinitalics.

Specialfont
You'llseesomewordsinthisbookinaspecialfontthatlooks
likethis:
monofont
Herearethetypesofthingsthatyouwillfindinthisspecial
font:
Webaddresseslooklikethis:www.dummies.com.
WhenIaskyoutotypesomething,itappearsinmonofont.
Filenames,directorynames,andfilepathsappearin
monofont.


CertaintermsthatarespecifictoLinuxappearinmonofont.
(Ifyou'renewtoLinux,don'tworry.Iexplaineverything
alongtheway.)

Commandpaths
Throughoutthetextyouseecommandpaths,whichare
instructionsfornavigatingmenuswithinmenuswithinmenus.A
commandpathcanlooksomethinglikethis:
ChooseApplications Accessories Terminalfromthe
GNOMEmenubar.
WhatthatmeansisthatwhenyouclicktheApplicationsmenu

thatappearsintheGNOMEmenubaralongthetopofyour
computermonitor,amenuappears,fromwhichyoushould
choosetheAccessoriesoption,andanothermenuappears,from
whichyoushouldchoosetheTerminaloption.
Ubuntuprovidesshortcutsforseveralmenuselections.For
instance,clickingtheblueglobeiconintheGNOMEmenubar
nearthetop,centerofthescreenopenstheFirefoxWeb
browser.ClickingtheFirefoxiconisashortcutforchoosing
Applications Internet FirefoxWebBrowserfromtheGNOME
menubar.

Whattouse,click,orrun
Throughoutthebook,I'mspecificaboutwhatobjectsare
importantwhenspecifyinginstructions.Instructionstellyou
exactly—stepbystep—whatyouneedtodotoaccomplisha
task.Ioftenprovideapicturetobetterillustratethetaskat
hand.

UnderstandingURLs
URLs(UniformResourceLocators)areWebaddresses.They're
whatyouuseinWebbrowsersandfilemanagerstolocateWeb
pagesontheInternetorfilesanddirectoriesonyourcomputer.


URLsusetheformofprotocol://addressandappearin
monofontformat,likethis:www.wiley.comorwww.google.com.

UbuntuLinuxIsUbuntu
UbuntuLinuxisaLinuxdistribution.It'scommonpracticein
technologytoshortenphrases,andthisisnoexception.Rather

thanwritingUbuntuLinuxwhendescribingtheUbuntuLinux
distribution,IjustsayUbuntu.Eitherway—UbuntuorUbuntu
Linux—itmeansthesamething.


IconsUsedinThisBook
Imakeextensiveuseoficonsinthisbook.Usingiconshelpsto
identifyusefulinformation.
Somesagewordscansaveyoutime,trouble,ormoney.This
iconisahandyhighlighter.
UsingUbuntuLinuxisalmostalwaysafunandcarefree
process.However,therearetimeswhenperformingafunction
cancauseunwantedresultsthatyoucan'teasilyfix.Thisicon
warnsyouwhenthere'sapossibilityofanegativeoutcomeif
youdon'tfollowtheinstructionsprecisely.
IfyouhaveUbuntuLinuxForDummies,youdon'tneedto
memorizethebook.Butsomeconceptsareusedsofrequently
thatthey'reworththetrouble.Thisiconmarksthemforyou.
IusetheTechnicalStufficontoidentifyextrainformationthat
mightbeinterestingbutmightnotbeabsolutelynecessary.


PartI:StartingFast

Inthispart...
Chapter1describesthephilosophybehindUbuntuandwhat
Ubuntuis.Inthispart,IdescribehowtostartusingUbuntuout
ofthebox.
Chapter2showshowtobootyourcomputer—orany
computer!—directlyfromthecompanionUbuntuCD-ROM.