The Official Ubuntu Book

The free Ubuntu operating system has won the hearts and minds of millions of users worldwide. It combines a strong technical platform, impressive quality, and an enthusiastic global community of users who relentlessly support, document, and test it.

The Official Ubuntu Book, Ninth Edition, has been extensively updated with a single goal: to make running today’s Ubuntu even more pleasant and productive for you. It’s the ideal one-stop knowledge source for Ubuntu novices, those upgrading from older versions or other Linux distributions, and anyone moving toward power-user status.

Its expert authors focus on what you need to know most about installation, applications, media, administration, software applications, and much more. You’ll discover powerful Unity desktop improvements that make Ubuntu even friendlier and more convenient. You’ll also connect with the amazing Ubuntu community and the incredible resources it offers you.

Learn how to

• Reliably install, customize, and update Ubuntu for any home, business, school, or government environment
• Get up and running quickly, and then explore Ubuntu and download powerful free software
• Customize Ubuntu for performance, accessibility, and fun
• Get comfortable with the highly efficient Ubuntu command line
• Install, administer, and secure Ubuntu Server, including advanced features such as LVM and RAID
• Get involved with related Ubuntu projects
• Help build, promote, distribute, support, document, or translate Ubuntu
• Get up-to-the-minute help and troubleshooting advice from Ubuntu users worldwide

Foreword to the Sixth Edition xix

Foreword to the First Edition xxi

Preface xxvii

Acknowledgments xxxi

About the Authors xxxiii

Introduction xxxv

Chapter 1: The Ubuntu Story 1

The Vision 2

Free Software, Open Source, and GNU/Linux 3

How the Vision Became Ubuntu 7

What Is Ubuntu? 12

Ubuntu Promises and Goals 17

Sustaining the Vision: Canonical and the Ubuntu Foundation 26

Beyond the Vision: Ubuntu Subprojects, Flavors, and Spin-Offs 30

Summary 32

Chapter 2: Installing Ubuntu 33

Choosing Your Ubuntu Version 34

Getting Ubuntu 36

Booting and Installing 39

Installing from the Minimal CD 52

Summary 58

Chapter 3: Getting Started with Ubuntu 59

Getting Acquainted with Unity 61

Using Applications 72

Using Ubuntu in Your Language 80

Configuring a Printer 81

Keeping Your Computer Updated 85

Adding and Removing Programs and Packages 87

Upgrading to the Next Ubuntu Release 90

Ubuntu and Multimedia 91

Backing Up 96

Customizing Ubuntu’s Look and Feel 98

Unity in Other Devices 99

Summary 99

Chapter 4: Finding and Installing Ubuntu Applications 101

Using the GNOME Software Center 102

Learning Terminology and Foundations 106

Using Synaptic 106

Useful Software Packages to Explore 110

Playing to Learn with Educational Programs 128

Summary 132

Chapter 5: Customizing Ubuntu for Performance, Accessibility, and Fun 135

Unity Terminology 136

Appearance Tool 141

Unity Tweak Tool 143

Compiz Config Settings Manager 147

Unity Lenses and Scopes 153

Additional Resources 154

Summary 154

Chapter 6: Becoming an Ubuntu Power User 155

Administering System and User Settings 156

Understanding How Linux Stores and Organizes Files 160

Learning Unity Keyboard Shortcuts 164

Using the Terminal 167

Working with Windows Programs 168

Installing Software from PPAs 169

Compiling Software from Source 171

Summary 172

Chapter 7: Welcome to the Command Line 173

Starting Up the Terminal 174

Getting Started 175

Building Pipelines 176

Running Commands as Superuser 177

Finding Help 178

Moving around the Filesystem 179

Manipulating Files and Folders 180

System Information Commands 181

Searching and Editing Text Files 182

Dealing with Users and Groups 183

Getting Help on the Command Line 184

Searching for Man Files 185

Using Wildcards 185

Executing Multiple Commands 186

Moving to More Advanced Uses of the Command Line 188

Summary 189

Chapter 8: The Ubuntu Server 191

What Is Ubuntu Server? 192

Installing Ubuntu Server 194

Ubuntu Package Management 206

Ubuntu Server Security 217

Advanced Topics 224

Summary 231

Chapter 9: Ubuntu-Related Projects and Derivatives 233

Recognized Flavors 234

Editions 246

Other Distributions 249

Launchpad 250

Bazaar 258

Ubuntu One 260

Summary 260

Chapter 10: Ubuntu, Convergence, and Devices of the Future 261

The Convergence Vision 262

Unity 263

Ubuntu Devices 264

The Internet of Things and Beyond 268

The Future of the Ubuntu Desktop 272

Summary 273

Chapter 11: The Ubuntu Community 275

Venues and Events 277

Teams, Processes, and Community Governance 291

Getting Involved 301

Summary 304

Index 305