Ubuntu Linux® For Dummies®

Ubuntu Linux® For Dummies®

Released April 2007
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470125052

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Book description

What has made Ubuntu the most popular Linux distribution in recent years? It's the emphasis on ease of installation and use. It gets even easier when paired with

Ubuntu Linux For Dummies.

This friendly reference shows you how to run Ubuntu directly from CD-ROM and install it on a PC as a personal workstation and network server. You’ll find out how to download Ubuntu and start using it right away. You'll also discover how to:

  • Connect to a LAN via a wireless and Ethernet

  • Use OpenOffice.org and Mozilla Firefox drawing and editing

  • Tap into multimedia, graphics and other applications using Ubuntu

  • Create services for a home or small business network

  • Generate and manage web pages, print services, and more

  • Find helpful information about Ubuntu and Linux

  • Troubleshoot and fix problems

"Ubuntu" means "humanity toward others." Operating system guidebooks don’t get any more humane than Ubuntu Linux For Dummies.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Authors
  3. Dedications
  4. Authors' Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. What's in This Book
      1. Part I: Starting Fast
      2. Part II: Networking and the Internet
      3. Part III: Working with Ubuntu Workstation
      4. Part IV: Multimedia Ubuntu
      5. Part V: The Part of Tens
      6. Part VI: Appendixes
    3. Foolish Assumptions
    4. Convention Used in This Book
      1. Italics
      2. Special font
      3. Command paths
      4. What to use, click, or run
      5. Understanding URLs
      6. Ubuntu Linux Is Ubuntu
    5. Icons Used in This Book
  6. I. Starting Fast
    1. In this part . . .
    2. 1. Ubuntu and U
      1. Introducing Ubuntu Linux
      2. Choosing a Version of the Operating System
        1. Ubuntu Desktop
        2. Ubuntu Server
      3. The Canonical Source
      4. Getting Started
    3. 2. Live Ubuntu
      1. Making Sure You Can Use Ubuntu on Your Computer
      2. Running Live Ubuntu
      3. The Graphical Environment
    4. 3. Preparing to Install Ubuntu
      1. Preparing to Make Room for Ubuntu
      2. Backing Up Your Data
        1. Creating your backup plan
        2. Considering storage devices
        3. Backing up Windows XP with a wizard
        4. Backing up Windows Vista
      3. Prepping your Hard Drive
        1. Removing unnecessary files
        2. Organizing your files with Disk Defragmenter
      4. Repartitioning Windows: Scootch Over and Let Ubuntu Sit Here!
        1. Resizing your Windows partition
        2. Formatting the new partition
    5. 4. Installing Ubuntu Linux
      1. Stage 1: Gathering Your Resources
      2. Stage 2: Starting the Install
      3. Stage 3: Selecting Your Time Zone
      4. Stage 4: Setting Up Your Login Account
      5. Stage 5: Selecting a File System
        1. Selecting an unused partition
        2. Erasing an entire disk
      6. Stage 6: Installing Ubuntu Linux
      7. Stage 7: Finishing the Installation
    6. 5. Ubuntu 101
      1. Understanding the Linuxisms
        1. Thinking about processes and programs
        2. Getting to know the Linux file system
          1. Directory rules
          2. Common directories
          3. Differences between Linux and Windows
        3. Using the shell
        4. Linux user accounts
        5. Log in, log out
        6. sudo
      2. Starting and Stopping Ubuntu
        1. Booting
        2. Choosing from the options that stop your computer
  7. II. Networking and the Internet
    1. In this part . . .
    2. 6. Zen and the Art of Ubuntu Networking
      1. Connecting to a Wired Network
      2. Using the Network Configuration Tool
        1. Choosing network connections
        2. Configuring a dynamic connection
        3. Configuring a static connection
          1. Finding network information
            1. Someone else's network
            2. Your own network
          2. Configuring Ubuntu
            1. IP address
            2. Host and domain names
            3. DNS
          3. Finishing up: Activating the new settings
    3. 7. Cut the Cord: Using Wireless Networking
      1. Preparing for Wireless Networking
        1. Quick start: Getting connected fast
        2. Wireless networking basics
        3. Security standards
          1. High‐security options
            1. WPA2 encryption
            2. WPA encryption
            3. VPN (virtual private network) encryption
          2. Low security
          3. No security
        4. Wireless standards
        5. Network scenarios
          1. Using an existing wireless network interface
          2. Obtaining a wireless network interface
      2. Connecting to Access Points
        1. Unencrypted APs
        2. WEP‐encrypted APs
        3. WPA‐encrypted APs
          1. Installing the NetworkManager
          2. Disabling network interfaces to enable NetworkManager
          3. Configuring your wireless network interface using NetworkManager
      3. Using a Windows Device Driver
        1. Discovering your Windows wireless network interface driver
        2. Copying the Windows driver files to Ubuntu
        3. Installing the ndiswrapper utility
        4. Loading the Windows driver
    4. 8. Broadening Your Horizons with Broadband
      1. Choosing between DSL and Cable
      2. Using Cable Modems
        1. Subscribing and getting your cable modem
        2. Connecting your computer and cable modem
        3. Configuring your Ubuntu computer to work with your cable modem
      3. Using DSL Modems
        1. Selecting your DSL provider
        2. Connecting to your DSL modem
        3. Configuring your Ubuntu computer to work with the DSL modem
        4. Configuring the DSL modem to connect and authenticate with your DSL provider
    5. 9. Internet Old School: Using Dialup Modems
      1. Choosing a Modem
      2. Configuring Your Modem
      3. Firing Up Your Modem
    6. 10. Protecting Yourself with a Firewall
      1. Protecting Your Computer with Firewalls
      2. Quest for Firestarter: Installing a Firewall Configuration Tool
      3. Using the Firestarter Configuration Wizard
      4. Fine‐Tuning Your Firewall
        1. Configuring Firestarter to allow incoming connections
        2. Allowing incoming SSH connections
      5. Testing Your Firewall
  8. III. Working with Ubuntu Workstation
    1. In this part . . .
    2. 11. Introducing GNOME
      1. Getting to Know the GNOME Desktop
        1. Looking at the default desktop
        2. Taking a closer look at the GNOME panels
          1. Top panel
          2. Bottom panel
        3. Introducing GNOME icons
        4. Managing files and folders with Nautilus
      2. Navigating the GNOME Desktop
        1. Using panel menus
          1. The Applications menu
          2. The Places menu
          3. The System menu
        2. Manipulating GNOME windows
        3. Exiting from or locking GNOME
      3. Altering GNOME's Appearance
        1. Creating and modifying folders
        2. Changing themes and backgrounds
        3. Creating desktop shortcuts
    3. 12. GNOME's Going Places
      1. Introducing the Nautilus File Manager
        1. Finding out what you can do in Nautilus
        2. Working with files and folders
          1. Creating new folders
          2. Creating new files
          3. Managing existing files and folders
        3. Starting applications
        4. Finding and using network shares
      2. Introducing GNOME Applications
        1. Accessories
        2. Games
        3. Graphics
        4. Internet
        5. Office
        6. Sound & Video
        7. Add/Remove
        8. Preferences
        9. Administration
    4. 13. Printing with GNOME
      1. Connecting Printers
        1. Setting up local printers
          1. Cables
            1. Parallel
            2. USB
          2. Setup
        2. Setting up network printers
          1. LPD
            1. Information
            2. Configuration
          2. CUPS
            1. Information
            2. Configuration
          3. SMB (Windows and Samba)
            1. Information
            2. Configuration
          4. HP JetDirect
            1. Information
            2. Configuration
      2. Using Your Printer
    5. 14. Firing up Firefox
      1. Introducing the Firefox Browser
      2. Using Firefox
      3. Configuring Firefox
        1. Selecting a home page
        2. Blocking pop‐ups
        3. Encrypting passwords
        4. Clearing private data
        5. Adding multimedia plug‐ins
          1. Installing the Flash Player plug‐in
          2. Installing the Java plug‐in
          3. Installing the RealPlayer plug‐in
        6. Adding Themes to Firefox
    6. 15. Evolution E‐Mail, Calendars, and Addresses
      1. Introducing Evolution
      2. Configuring Evolution for E‐Mail
        1. Opening the configuration wizard and setting up your e‐mail account identity
        2. Setting your incoming e‐mail server
        3. Selecting optional e‐mail receiving options
        4. Setting your e‐mail sending options
        5. Choosing your time zone
        6. Entering your e‐mail account password
      3. Using Evolution
        1. E‐mail messaging with Evolution
        2. Keeping track of contact information
        3. Calendaring with Evolution
          1. Adding events
          2. Deleting events
        4. Setting up Meetings using Evolution Calendars
    7. 16. Opening Your Ubuntu Office with OpenOffice.org
      1. Getting to Know OpenOffice.org
        1. Writer the word processor
        2. Calc the spreadsheet
        3. Impress slide presentation editor
      2. Popular Functions and Tools
        1. Managing files
          1. Opening files
          2. Saving files
        2. Setting properties
        3. Using macros
          1. Creating macros
          2. Executing macros
        4. Change tracking
        5. Seeking help
        6. Printing
  9. IV. Multimedia
    1. In this part . . .
    2. 17. Telephonic Ubuntu
      1. Configuring Ekiga
        1. Registering your Ekiga.net account
        2. Configuring the Ekiga client
      2. Calling Other Ekiga Users
        1. Finding other users
          1. Using the address book
          2. Finding online users
        2. PC‐to‐PC calling
          1. Calling other Ekiga users
          2. Receiving Ekiga calls
          3. Viewing your call history
        3. Text messaging
          1. Opening a chat window
          2. Accepting an invitation
          3. Sending and receiving messages
      3. Calling Real Telephones
        1. Creating a PC‐to‐phone account
          1. Registration
          2. Verification
        2. Placing calls to telephones
    3. 18. Instant Messaging
      1. Configuring Gaim
        1. Registering with Instant Message services
        2. Adding other IM services
      2. Communicating through Gaim
        1. Sending messages
        2. Adding buddies
    4. 19. Connecting to the Dark Side: Working Remotely on Windows
      1. Introducing the Remote Desktop Protocol
      2. Configuring Your Windows Remote Desktop Server
      3. Using Terminal Server Client
    5. 20. Lyrical Ubuntu: Using Multimedia Applications
      1. Playing CDs
      2. Playing MP3s with XMMS
        1. Installing XMMS
        2. Playing audio files with XMMS
        3. Playing Internet radio streams
          1. Recording a stream
          2. Playing a stream
      3. Playing Ogg Files with Rhythmbox
      4. Ripping Music with Sound Juicer CD Extractor
      5. Burning Audio CDs
        1. Converting MP3‐formatted files to WAV format
        2. Installing the Audacity sound editor
          1. Configuring Audacity
          2. Converting from one format to another
        3. Burning an audio CD with Serpentine
    6. 21. Graphical Ubuntu
      1. Transferring Photos from your Digital Camera to Your Ubuntu Computer
      2. Viewing Your Pictures
        1. Displaying thumbnails with gThumb
        2. Displaying images
      3. Improving Your Images with The GIMP
  10. V. The Part of Tens
    1. In this part . . .
    2. 22. Almost Ten Ubuntu Resources
      1. Accessing Local Documentation
        1. Looking at man pages: Read the manual
        2. Pulling up the info documents
        3. Finding Debian package–based documentation
        4. Asking for Ubuntu help
        5. Opening application‐based help
      2. Finding Online Documentation
        1. Reading Ubuntu documentation
        2. Talking to other Ubuntu users: Community support
        3. Hiring commercial support
        4. Google, google!
    3. 23. Almost Ten System‐Administration Functions
      1. Updating Debian Software Packages
      2. Installing New Software Packages
      3. Reading System Logs
        1. Using System Log Viewer
        2. Using Logcheck
          1. Installing the Logcheck utility
          2. Using the Logcheck utility
      4. Working with User Accounts
      5. Changing File Permissions
      6. Changing the Time and Date
      7. Monitoring Your System
      8. Starting and Stopping System Services
      9. Managing Your Computer's Power Use
  11. VI. Appendixes
    1. In this part . . .
    2. A. Tutti‐Fruti Ubuntu
      1. Trying a Different Look: Kubuntu
      2. An Operating System for Kids: Edubuntu
        1. Downloading Edubuntu
        2. Burning the CD
        3. Running Edubuntu
    3. B. Stupendous OpenSSH Tricks
      1. Interactively Connecting to an SSH Server
      2. Using the OpenSSH Server
        1. Installing the OpenSSH server
        2. Testing your OpenSSH server
      3. Executing a Remote Command
      4. Using OpenSSH Port Forwarding
      5. Using Public‐Private Key Authentication
        1. How public‐key authentication works
        2. Creating a OpenSSH public‐ and private‐key pair
        3. Configuring your remote account with your public key
        4. Using public‐key authentication to log in to your remote account
      6. Using ssh‐agent to Store Private Keys
      7. Creating an Encrypted Wireless Network Using OpenSSH
        1. Configuring your second AP
        2. Configuring your VPN server user account
        3. Configuring Firefox and Thunderbird to use OpenSSH port forwarding
          1. Configuring Firefox
          2. Configuring the Thunderbird e‐mail client
    4. C. About the CD
      1. System Requirements
      2. What You Find
      3. If You Have Problems with Your CD

Product information

  • Title: Ubuntu Linux® For Dummies®
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: April 2007
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470125052