Ubuntu 11.04 Essentials

This Ubuntu eBook is currently under development and is scheduled for completion in June 2011. Chapters are added regularly, so please check back for updates.

Table of Contents

1. How to Download and Try Ubuntu 11.04
   • Ubuntu 11 Download Options
   • Writing the Ubuntu Image to a USB Flash Drive
   • Trying Ubuntu without Installing it
   • Installing Ubuntu on a Disk Drive Containing Microsoft Windows
   • Installing Ubuntu Inside a Windows Installation
   • Running Ubuntu in a Virtual Machine
   • Performing a Clean Ubuntu Installation
     
     
2. Performing a Clean Ubuntu 11.04 Installation
   • Beginning the Ubuntu Installation
   • Booting Ubuntu for the First Time
   • Testing Hardware for Unity Compatibility
   • Installing Unity 2D
   • Running Unity within a VirtualBox Virtual Machine
   • Installing Updates
     
     
3. Installing Ubuntu 11.04 on a Windows System (Dual booting)
   • Beginning the Ubuntu Installation
   • Configuring Time Zone, User and Keyboard Information
   • Booting Ubuntu for the First Time
   • Accessing the Windows Partition from Ubuntu
     
     
4. Installing Ubuntu 11.04 on a Windows Disk with Wubi
   • What is Wubi?
   • Downloading Wubi
   • Starting the Wubi Installer
   • Completing the Ubuntu Installation
   • Starting the Ubuntu System
   • Removing Ubuntu
     
     
5. Allocating an Existing Windows Partition to Ubuntu 11.04
   • Deleting the Windows Partition from the Disk
   • Formatting the Unallocated Disk Partition
   • Updating the Boot Menu
   • Mounting the New Partition
     
     
6. Configuring Ubuntu 11.04 Wireless Networking
   • Installing the Wireless Card
   • Configuring an Ubuntu Wireless Connection
   • Configuring Wireless Network Access using NetworkManager
   • Connecting to a Hidden Network
   • Disabling a Wireless Connection
   • Getting Information about a Wireless Connection
   • Editing Wireless Connection Settings
   • Troubleshooting an Ubuntu Wireless Connection
     
     
7. An Overview of the Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Desktop
   • What is Unity?
   • Unity vs. GNOME 3.0
   • Unity 3D vs. Unity 2D
   • The Unity Desktop
   • The Unity Launcher
   • Launcher Item Quick Lists
   • Workspace Switcher
   • The Home Button
   • The Application Menu
   • The Notification Area
   • The MeMenu
   • The Power Button
   • Applications Lens
   • File & Folders Lens
   • Window Controls
   • The Desktop
     
     
8. Configuring the Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Launcher and Workspaces
   • Adding and Removing Unity Launcher Items
   • Changing the Location of a Launcher Item
   • Changing the Size and Appearance of the Unity Launcher
   • Revealing a Hidden Launcher
   • Changing the Number of Workspaces
   • Enabling Workspace Edge Flipping
     
     
9. Changing the Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Desktop Background
   • Changing the Ubuntu Unity Desktop Background
   • Selecting a Background from the Wallpaper List
   • Creating a Solid or Graded Background
   • Specifying a Background Image
     
     
10. Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Screensaver, Desktop Lock and Power Management Configuration
    • The Desktop Screensaver
    • The Desktop Screen Lock
    • Ubuntu Power Management on Desktop Systems
    • Ubuntu Power Management on Laptop and Netbook Systems
      
      
11. Installing and Customizing Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Desktop Themes
    • What is a Desktop Theme?
    • Changing the Unity Desktop Theme
    • Customizing a Desktop Theme
    • Downloading and Installing a Theme
    • Creating a Custom Theme Package
      
      
12. Configuring Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Desktop Fonts
    • Font Options on Ubuntu 11.04
    • Changing Font Settings
    • Font Rendering Settings
    • Advanced Font Rendering
      
      
13. Browsing Computer, Files and Folders on the Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Desktop
    • Accessing Nautilus
    • Nautilus and the Computer Icon
    • Adding Emblems to Files and Folders
    • Changing File and Folder Permissions
    • Renaming and Deleting Files and Folders
    • Adding a Location to the Places Menu
      
      
14. Configuring the Ubuntu 11.04 Unity File Manager
    • Changing the File Manager Background Pattern and Color
    • Displaying Icons or Lists
    • Configuring the List View
    • Configuring the Icon View
    • Configuring Media Settings
      
      
15. Using the Bash Shell on Ubuntu 11.04
    • What is a Shell?
    • Gaining Access to the Shell
    • Entering Commands at the Prompt
    • Using the sudo Command
    • Getting Information about a Command
    • Bash Command-line Editing
    • Working with the Shell History
    • Filename Shorthand
    • File Name and Path Completion
    • Input and Output Redirection
    • Working with Pipes in the Bash Shell
    • Configuring Aliases
    • Environment Variables
    • Writing Shell Scripts
      
      
16. Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Desktop - Starting Applications on Login
    • Understanding Sessions
    • Configuring Desktop Startup Programs
    • Saving the Current Session
      
      
17. Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Desktop Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Viewing Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Changing a Shortcut
    • Disabling a Keyboard Shortcut
    • Adding a Custom Shortcut
      
      
18. Configuring Ubuntu 11.04 Printers
    • Installing a Directly Connected Printer
    • Manually Installing a New Locally Connected Printer and Printer Driver
    • Adding a Network Printer
    • Configuring a Printer Connected to a Windows System
    • Configuring a Printer Connected to a Remote Linux System
      
      
19. Ubuntu 11.04 Firewall Basics
    • Understanding Ports and Services
    • Securing Ports and Services
    • Ubuntu Services and iptables Rules
    • Well Known Ports and Services
      
      
20. Using gufw and ufw to Configure an Ubuntu 11.04 Firewall
    • An Overview of gufw and ufw
    • Installing gufw on Ubuntu
    • Running, Unlocking and Enabling gufw
    • The gufw Default Policy
    • Adding Preconfigured Firewall Rules
    • Adding Simple Firewall Rules
    • Adding Advanced Rules
    • Enabling Logging
    • Configuring the Firewall from the Command Line using ufw
      
      
21. Managing Ubuntu 11.04 Users and Groups
    • Adding a User to an Ubuntu System
    • Adding a New User from the Command-line
    • Modifying User Account Settings
    • Deleting a User from an Ubuntu System
    • Adding a New Group to an Ubuntu System
    • Modifying an Ubuntu Group
    • Deleting a Group from an Ubuntu System
      
      
22. Configuring Ubuntu 11.04 Remote Access using SSH
    • Installing SSH on an Ubuntu System
    • Configuring the Ubuntu Firewall to Allow SSH Connections
    • Using SSH on Ubuntu 11.04
    • Copying files using SSH
    • Disabling the SSH Server
      
      
23. Remote Access to the Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Desktop
    • Activating Unity Remote Desktop Access
    • Secure and Insecure Remote Desktop Access
    • Accessing a Remote Ubuntu Desktop using Vinagre
    • Attaching to a Remote Unity Desktop using vncviewer
    • Accessing a Remote Ubuntu Desktop from a Windows System
    • Establishing a Secure Remote Desktop Session
    • Establishing a Secure Remote Desktop Session from a Windows System
    • Creating Additional Desktops
      
      
24. Displaying Ubuntu 11.04 Applications Remotely (X11 Forwarding)
    • Requirements for Remotely Displaying Applications
    • Remotely Displaying an Ubuntu Application
    • Trusted X11 Forwarding
    • Compressed X11 Forwarding
      
      
25. Configuring an Ubuntu 11.04 Based Web Server
    • Requirements for Configuring a Web Server
    • Installing the Apache Web Server on Ubuntu 11.04
    • Testing the Web Server
    • Configuring the Apache Web Server for Your Domain
    • Web Server and Firewall Issues
      
      
26. Sharing Ubuntu 11.04 Folders with Remote Linux and UNIX Systems
    • Installing NFS Services on Ubuntu 11.04
    • Sharing Folders
    • Configuring the Firewall
    • Mounting a Remote Ubuntu NFS Folder
    • Mounting an NFS File System on System Startup
    • Unmounting an NFS Mount Point
      
      
27. Sharing Ubuntu 11.04 Files and Folders with Windows Systems
    • Samba and Samba Client
    • Installing Samba Server on an Ubuntu System
    • Sharing Ubuntu Folders
    • Making Ubuntu based Printers Available to Windows Systems
    • Accessing Windows Shares from Ubuntu 11.04
      
      
28. Configuring an Ubuntu 11.04 Mail Client (Evolution)
    • An Overview
    • Configuring Evolution to Receive Mail from a Local Postfix Server
    • Configuring Evolution to Receive Mail from a Remote Server
    • Configuring Evolution to Send Mail
      
      
29. Adding a New Disk Drive to an Ubuntu 11.04 System
    • Getting Started
    • Finding the New Hard Drive in Ubuntu
    • Creating Linux Partitions
    • Creating a Filesystem on an Ubuntu 11.04 Disk Partition
    • Mounting a File System
    • Configuring Ubuntu to Automatically Mount a Filesystem
      
      
30. Adding and Managing Ubuntu 11.04 Swap Space
    • What is Swap Space?
    • Identifying Current Swap Space Usage
    • Adding a Swap File to an Ubuntu 11.04 System
      
      
31. Installing and Configuring Ubuntu 11.04 KVM Virtualization
    • Full Virtualization vs. Para-Virtualization
    • KVM Hardware Requirements
    • Preparing Ubuntu 11.04 for KVM Virtualization
    • Verifying the KVM Installation
    • Building an Ubuntu KVM Virtual System
    • Configuring the KVM Virtual System
    • Starting the KVM Virtual System
      
      
32. Creating an Ubuntu 11.04 KVM Networked Bridge Interface
    • Ubuntu Virtual Networks and Network Bridges
    • Installing the Network Bridge Package Requirements
    • Configuring Network Administration Capabilities
    • Identifying Physical Network Connections
    • Configuring the Network Bridge
    • Checking for the Presence of the Bridge
    • Configuring the Ubuntu Firewall for a Network Bridge
    • Configuring a Virtual Machine to use the Network Bridge