Let’s start by making a file we can use.

I issued the “touch” command to make a file creatively named testfile.

Touch will just create an empty file but has all the same attributes as an actual file. You can see this by using “ls –l.”

Commands:

touch test file

mkdir workfolder

The permisions are broken into 4 sections.

chmod – adds and removes permissions

If you wanted to add or remove permissions to the user, use the command “chmod” with a “+” or “–“, along with the r (read), w (write), x (execute) attribute followed by the name of the directory or file.

chmod +rwx “name of the file”

chmod –rwx “name of the directory”

chmod +x testfile – this would allow me to execute

chmod –wx testfile – this would take out write and executable permissions

You’ll notice that this only changes the permissions for the owner of the file, in this case roman.

Changing Permissions for the Group Owners & Others

The command is similar to what we did before, but this time you add a “g” for group or “o” for users.

chmod g+w testfile

chmod g-wx testfile

chmod o+w testfile

chmod o-rwx workfolder

Lastly you can change it for everyone: “u” for users, “g” for group, & “o” for others; uog or a (for all).

chmod ugo+rwx workfolder – will give read, write, execute to everyone

chmod a=r workfolder – will give only read perission for everyone

chgrp – changing groups of files & directories

Another useful option is to change file permission to the group owning the file. Perhaps you create the files, but people on the db2 team can write/execute as well. We use chgrp for this purpose.

You can see above that testfile and the work folder belong to the users group.

By issuing the command – chgrp “name of the group” “name of the file” – you can change this.

chgrp sales testfile

chgrp sales workfolder

This give sales control of the file & then I can take away permissions for everyone else.

Note: The group must exit before you try to assign groups to files and directories.

chown – changing ownership

Another helpful command is changing ownerships of files and directories. The command is “chwon” along with “name of new owner” & “name of file.”

The files belonged to roman. To give ownership to tom, issue the command:

chown tom testfile

chown tom workfolder

We can also combine the group and ownership command by:

chown -R tom:sales /home/roman/tsfiles

The above command gives tom the ownership of the directory tsfiles, and all files and subfolders. The -R stands for recursive which is why all sub folders and files belong to tom as well.

As opposed to: chown tom workfolder

This command will give ownership to tom but all sub files and directories still belong to the original owner. The -R will transfer ownership of all sub directories to the new owner.

As you can see, you have several options when it comes to permissions. You have the capability to dictate who can do what & the flexibility to limit usability among users. It may be easier to just give all permission to everyone but this may end up biting you in the end, so choose wisely.

Permission in numeric mode

The above way of changing permissions will work fine but you may also need to know how to change permissions in numeric mode. chmod is used in much the same way, but instead of r, w, or x you will use numbers instead.

What are the numbers?
0 = No Permission
1 = Execute
2 = Write
4 = Read

You basically add up the numbers depending on the level of permission you want to give.

Examples:

chmod 777 workfolder

Will give read, write, and execute permissions for everyone.

chmod 700 workfolder

Will give read, write, and execute permission for the user, but nothing to everyone else.

chmod 327 workfolder

Will give write and execute (3) permission for the user, w (2) for the group, and read, write, and execute for other users.

Permission numbers

0 = —

1 = –x

2 = -w-

3 = -wx

4 = r—

5 = r-x

6 = rw-

7 = rwx

Either variation of changing permissions will work, just remember how to use the numeric values.

In general you may be using a GUI to do everything, but using the CLI will give you a deeper, more profound understanding of how your Linux machine works. You’ll be surprised at how much you can learn about the OS as well as where certain files are located, why, how to edit, and accessing them quickly and more efficiently.

Using ls

Using ls is useful for quickly displaying files and directories, who created them, who owns them, and whether I have permission to read, write, and execute. You can also use it to quickly display a particular file. For example:

I’ll first start in the root directory (so issue the command cd /) then type the command ls.

All “ls” does is display the files and directories that you are in. Not much info as you can see, but there are several different options you can use along with “ls” to get the info you are looking for.

Let”s change to the /etc directory and run the ls command: cd /etc

You’ll notice when you run “ls” this time you see too many options and you can’t read all of them. So what we will do is execute “ls” but we will pipe the output of ls to the less command.

Piping

Redirects the output of one program into the input of another. The symbol is |. The command to the left is sent as input to the command to the right of the pipe.

Type ls | less

The files are displayed with colons at the bottom. Use the arrow keys to scroll up and down. All you have to do is hit the “q” button to get out of less.

Less

Less is a program that allows backward and forward movement. It is similar to opening a file in an editor but it doesn’t have to load the whole file before viewing which is helpful if you are dealing with large log files.

You can also just use less to view your files. For example we want to view the passwd file so we can quickly view all of the newest users added to the system.

[The passwd file stores essential info containing system’s accounts with user and group ID's, home directory, shell, etc.]

Make sure you’re in the /etc directory and type “less passwd.”

If you scroll down to the bottom (or type “G”) you will notice the last few users added to the system. Type “q” to quit less and let’s try it with the file called group.

Type less group

Go ahead and scroll around and then type “q” to quit.

Basically, less is just an alternate way to view files and directories but it is much more convenient than viewing data then using the cat command. We will learn how to edit this data later using vi.

You can issue the commands “cat passwd” and “cat group” to see the differences.

Also, there are other keystrokes you can use with less to quickly navigate within a document. You can always issue the command “man less” for a complete breakdown of what less does, and the other options available.

Using ls with Options

So, we’ve used “ls” on its own and we’ve used it with a pipe and less. Now we’ll use ls to find specific files we are looking for, as well as displaying more information associated with said file.

Let’s go back to the root directory, cd / and then type ls

Then type in ls –l

You’ll notice everything is displayed in long format which now includes info about permissions, group, size, date, and filename.

Permissions – drwxr-xr-x
Directories – 2
User – root
Group – root
Size – 4096
Date – May 5 04:03
Directory or File – bin

The permissions break down is in a set of 3 levels. User, Group, and Other. The firsts set of rwx’s is for the user, the second if for the group, the third is for everyone else.
• Read – you can read the file
• You can write or make changes
• Execute – you can execute the file

We will get into this in more detail and change permissions levels later using the chmod script.

Directories – The amount of directories within the directory
User – The user that owns the file
Group – Group assigned to the file or directory
Size – This should be obvious
Date – Date of last modification
Directory or file – Name of the directory or file

Other options to use with “ls” are:

-a – Displays all files, even those that are hidden
-g – Same as l except the owner is not printed
-r – Reverse order of how files are displayed
-m – Output is listed across the page

There are quite a bit of options and you can also use these in combination with each other.

Such as “ls –lar.”

As well as “ls –lar | less.”

As you can see, the “ls” command is just a simple way of displaying output in the command line interface but with the many different features associated, you can display the info to how you want it presented.

Let’s finish off this lesson with the grep command.

Grep – is a command that searches for a specific string in a file and prints out matching a match to given strings or words.

You can use grep with “ls” to locate a file you need but are unsure of the exact title.

If I’m in the /etc directory and am looking for a particular host file.

I will issue the command “ls |grep host.”

Then you can use “cat”, “less”, or even an editor like vi to view or alter the specific file you are looking for.

Let’s say you want the information on the user Roman that is in the passwd file. I would issue the command “grep roman passwd.”

As you can see it will just give me the information associated with the search word “roman.”

If you’re not in the directory of the file you are looking for you can always add the directory info in front of the file you are searching.

“grep igby /etc/group” – For user igby (replace with your own)

or

“grep roman /etc/passwd”

or

“grep roman /etc/hosts”

These are just simple commands that can be used for a multitude of purposes, but if you’re new to using the CLI you can play around with them and get a little more comfortable using them in different directories and your own files that you’ve created.

Hopefully this article has been informative for you. We will advance on the commands we’ve talked about in the next lessons, as well as get into the many others that are available.

Whether you’re new to Linux or are looking into getting some type of certificate, you’ll need to have some basic knowledge of the Shell, the Kernel, the Terminal, and FHS, among others. There’s actually quite a bit of other things you’ll need to know, but let’s start with the basics.

The Kernel

The Kernel is what controls everything on a system; think of it as the heart of Linux. It performs tasks that create and maintain the Linux environment. The Kernel receives instructions from the shell and engages the appropriate hardware (processors, memory, disks, enforces security, etc.). It is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level.

The Shell

The shell is the interface between you and Linux. We issue commands through the command line interface which is interpreted and passed on to the kernel for processing. When we log onto the computer the shell will automatically start. It will then monitor the terminal for any commands.

This is the Terminal (command line interface).

There are a number of shells you can use, each differing slightly. Most Linux distros use Bourne-Again shell(bash) but support various others: Korn Shell, Bourne shell, C shell, etc. For all intensive purposes you can just stick with bash but I will show you how to change this if you want to. As you advance you can use shells to create scripts to automate tasks, making your daily routine all the more easier.

Filesystem Hierarchy Standard

Next important aspect is the FHS. Everything in Linux is either a file or a directory. The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FSH) is the way that these files and directories are structured. More importantly though is how they are structured. Looks intimidating at first glance but when you realize that there is a method to this madness, you will find it’s so much simpler because everything is organized in the proper place and you can find where you want go much easier.

/ – The root directory. This is where your directory structure starts. Everything is housed under the root directory.

/bin – Essential user command binaries used for general operations: Copy, show directory, etc. (ls, cp, and cat – we’ll get to these commands soon)

/boot – Static files of the boot loader. Files here are necessary for a Linux system to start (Kernel & GTUB information)

/dev – Where the device files are located

/etc – Configuration files for all programs. Things like an apache web server, users & groups on your system, or printer configuration. Think of this as a control panel for Windows users. We will edit these text files later (These files should remain static and text based).

/home – Home directories for all the users to store personal files (i.e. /home/roman) –Windows equivalent of Documents & Settings.

/lib – Essential shared libraries and kernel modules

/media – Mount point for removable media

/mnt – Temporary mounted file systems

/opt — Add on application software packages – (i.e. Program files for windows users)

/sbin — Essential system binaries

/tmp – Programs write their temporary files here.

/usr – Multi-user utilities & Applications. It contains application source codes, documentation, & config files they use. It’s the largest directory on the system.

/var – Variable data on a system. Data that will change as the system is running (Log files, backups, cache, etc.)

/root – Home directory for root

/proc – Virtual directory containing process information (system memory, hardware configuration, devices mounted, etc.)

The directories that I would be most concerned starting off are /etc, /home, /dev, /mnt. As your skills progress you’ll venture off into other areas, but I started out in /etc 95 percent of the time. There are directories that extend, but we’ll get those later.

Navigation & Issuing Commands

The first thing you want to do is open a terminal. Depending on the distribution you are using this may differ but you should find it in Utilities. Since you are new to Linux, I recommend downloading a distro and trying it Live without having to install. Check out the blog’s Linux section and our list of Linux distros.

Let’s start with some basic commands

pwd – Print working directory will tell you what directory you are in.

Notice that I used pwd to tell me where I am & I used cd (change directory) to move into another folder.

cd – Change Directory. Can be used with “/” & then the folder you want to go to. For example, cd /home/roman will take me to the directory that exits for user Roman.

ls – Lists files & directories that you are in.

It may help to use the ls command to list what files and directories exist in the directory you are in. It’s vital to know the difference between ls & pwd. pwd tells you where are, ls tells you what you have to work with.

whoami – Tells you which user is logged in

You’ll notice I used the su command to change from user roman, to root, then to igby, though igby does not exist. I then used “exit” to go back to user roman.

su – Substitute user. There are some rules and additional features that we’ll explore on the next lesson.

Let’s go to your home directory and finish off a few other commands. For me it will be cd /home/roman.

Let’s make a file and delete it.

touch – A command you can use to quickly create a file that you can also “touch” on existing files (We’ll dive into that later)

You’ll notice that “createfile” wasn’t there before but when I used it with the “touch” command it was created. Nothing is in createfile but it exists.

rm – Removes the file for you

clear – Clears the terminal for you

Those are some of the basic commands. There are plenty more where that came from. Hopefully this article has been informative and insightful. The next article will follow up on this one with more information on Linux as well as commands to really get you going.

But should the discussion really end there? In the Linux world, there are a myriad of alternatives that warrant further examination. As each of the most popular products had to start someplace, it is wholly possible that one of these new contenders will emerge as the next generation browser of choice.

This article will introduce you to Linux’s top 3 alternative browsers:

• Epiphany
• Midori
• Opera

Epiphany

Epiphany is a GNOME based browser for Linux. To be fair, this would be a hard sell as a primary desktop browser for most users. In fact, there isn’t even a setting to let you designate it as your default browser. But for those instance where you need to fire up a lighting-fast browser for quick surfing, Epiphany will do the trick.

While this browser can’t compete with Firefox in terms of add-ons, its does have a set of useful extensions that might be adequate for the average Internet user. It comes with the popular web development tool Greasemonkey and Ad Blocker.

Though I still use Firefox as my primary browser, lately it seems to run at a snail’s pace. So, one of the first things I noticed about Epiphany is how quickly it launches. And subsequent page loads on my system are equally as fast. I was quickly able to import my bookmarks from Firefox and was happy to see the inclusion of the mouse gestures feature.

On the downside, firebug, an extension I use for web development isn’t available.

Epiphany is available for download at their website and is also in the Linux repositories. To install from the command line, type: sudo apt-get install epiphany-browser.

Midori

Midori (Mee-Doh-Ree) is the Japanese word for green – which might explain the green icon. It uses the WebKit rendering engine – used by Chrome and Safari. This means fast page loads, but at the cost of just a few website incompatibilities.

Like Ephipany, Midori is somewhat limited in the amount of extensions it has available. But if speed is more important to you than addons, read on. This is a browser that provides a faster, more lightweight surfing experience. And it will take up less resources, something important to those on running older hardware.

Midori’s extensions include colored tabs, shortcuts, rss feed panel, form history, mouse gestures, cookie management, and more.

On my laptop, running Ubuntun Karmic Koala, with 4gb RAM, Midori still occasionally crashed on me, but others have reported flawless performance. This is a browser that I’ll continue to watch.

For Ubuntu/Debian based distributions, install via synaptic package manager or from the terminal: sudo apt-get install midori

Opera

Opera is probably the application on this list most poised to become your full time browser. I’ve tested previous versions and have always been impressed with its performance. The latest update, 10.10, was designed with speed and new features in mind. In addition, the new interface got a make-over, complete with shading.

Opera was the originator of the Speed Dial feature and continues to be an innovator. Resizable tabs show you a thumbnail image of your browser window and the turbo feature provides for faster browsing on slower networks like wi-fi. Opera Unite is a new feature, that turns the browser into server with the ability to share photos (10 GB of them), stream music, serve a chat or even an entire web site, right from the browser.

There are also a plethora of widgets. And skins allow you to change the interface look and feel. A bonus for me was how using the import function, I was able to import all my bookmarks from Firefox.

While speedy, it didn’t feel quite as fast as either Midori or Ephiphany, but also don’t claim my results are scientific. Opera also differs from the others in that it has a built-in email client. The full version of Firebug isn’t available, but a less feature-rich Firebug Lite is an option.

For Ubuntu/Debian based distributions, you can install via synaptic package manager.

Which Alternative is Right for You?

Besides stability, the biggest issue for these alternatives will likely be the number of plugins. But for many, that will be a non-issue.

My curiosity drives me to test new software, often to my detriment. But this process is an essential component to the ongoing development of new software. Give it a try, download, test and share your experiences and feedback with the developer community. This is your shot to help craft and contribute to the next generation of web browsers.

I began programming many years ago, and admittedly once I got into networking, turned away from my first love. But for those of you who would like to begin trying your hand at a new language, Python is excellent to start with. Supporters tout its low learning curve and elegant coding system.

Python Installation

Ubuntu makes starting easy, as it comes with a command line version pre-installed. In fact, the Ubuntu community develops many of its scripts and tools under Python. You can begin the process with either the command line version or the graphical Interactive Development Environment (IDLE).

Python Programming From the Command Line

Open a terminal window and type ‘python’ (without the quotes). This opens python in interactive mode.

While this mode is good for initial learning, you may prefer to use a text editor (like Gedit, Vim or Emacs) to write your code. As long as you save it with the .py extension, it can be executed in the terminal window.

Ready to write your first program? Many a road to programming excellence began with the old standby – the Hello World program. So that’s where we’ll begin.

At the prompt, type in print “Hello World!” (with the quotes) and hit enter. You’ll see the command printed on the next line.

To run a script from the command line, type: python my_script.py. To exit the command line, type exit() or hit ctrl+d

Python Programming with IDLE

Can’t imagine writing a long program from the command line? Me either. In that case, you can try IDLE. Open a terminal window and type: ‘idle’. (without the quotes). You’ll see the python graphical shell loaded.

To write a Python script, click on File > New Window. This will open a sort of Notepad type editor. Type in the following code:

#linuxversion.py

#Have user input version and print response

name = raw_input(“What Linux release do you use?”)

print “I also like”, name, ” – Linux rules!”

Couple things going on here. The first 2 lines, preceded by the # sign are just comments. One of my earliest programming lessons was to always comment your work, not only for your own sanity, but for those who may need to edit the code after you. The third statement uses the input gathered from the raw_input function and assigns it to a variable, name. Finally, the print statement will return the result.

Save the file, with a .py extension, then click on Run > Run Module from the menu to run the program.

A Word of Caution

Many programming languages typically ignore whitespace – that is the spacing in your code. But in Python, improper use of spacing can generate syntax errors. As an organization nut of sorts, I can appreciate the simplicity and readability of properly aligned code, but for some this takes a bit of getting used to.

Python Programming Resources

Now that you have Python up and running, you’ll undoubtedly want to move to on to a bit more complex programs. One of the best resources is the main Python website. Here are a few additional recommendations:

• The Python Tutorial
• The Python Wiki Beginner’s Guide
• Screencast Presentation
• Python Essential Reference on Amazon

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into Python. This is a language supported by a wide community and used by Google, NASA, Ubuntu and others. Give it a try for your next development project. Happy coding!

FTP by itself isn’t very secure. Information is transmitted in clear text, making it subject to interception and theft. Thus, we have more secure options, like the Very Secure FTP daemon (vsftpd). In this article, we’ll explore how to setup vsftpd under Linux.

What is VSFTPD?

The vsftp daemon runs in the background and allows you or users you designate, to copy files to and from your linux boxes, using username and password as login credentials. This ability is open to individuals or groups you may want to establish.

VSFTPD features include:

• Virtual IP configurations
• Virtual users
• Standalone or inetd operation
• Powerful per-user configurability
• Bandwidth throttling
• Per-source-IP configurability
• Per-source-IP limits
• IPv6
• Encryption support through SSL integration

How To Install VSFTP

The daemon is included in most versions of Linux. If you are using a Debian based distribution like Mint or Ubuntu, open a terminal window and type: sudo apt-get install vsftpd

If you are using a Red Hat based disto, open a terminal window and type: sudo yum install vsftp

How To Configure VSFTP

To configure vsftp, open the vsftpd.conf file in the /etc directory. For instance, if you were using gedit as your text editor, you would type: sudo gedit /etc/vsftpd.conf

First, for a secure setup, you’ll want to disable anonymous access to your ftp server. Change this line: anonymous_enable=YES to anonymous_enable=NO

With anonymous access disabled, you’ll want to allow local users to log in, by uncommenting the following line: #local_enable=YES to local_enable=YES (simply remove the # sign).

Allow write access by uncommenting this line: #write_enable=YES to write_enable=YES

Save and close the file.

Setup an FTP user account:

sudo mkdir -p /home/ftp/ftpuser
sudo useradd ftpuser -d /home/ftp/ftpuser -s /bin/false
sudo passwd ftpuser

Restart your ftp server:

Debian: sudo etc/init.d/vsftpd restart

Red Hat: sudo service vsftpd restart

Test:

netstat -a | grep ftp

Run at the command Line:

ftp ip address or hostname: ftp 100.00.00.00

Other VSFTP Configuration Options

There are many other options you can add to this file:

• Limiting the maximum number of client connections (max_clients)
• Limiting the number of connections by source IP address (max_per_ip)
• Setting the maximum rate of data transfer per anonymous login (anon_max_rate)
• Setting the maximum rate of data transfer per non-anonymous login (local_max_rate)

VSFTP Considerations and Resources

Potential issues are often as simple as username and password entry errors. But because firewalls are designed to limit access to certain ports, this is a good area to investigate if you experience issues with your installation. Be sure to check out the vsftpd html man page for more information.

SSH or secure shell, is a protocol that allows you to securely access one computer from another. Not only can you transfer files, but if you are concerned about public wi-fi security, SSH can help. Using the command line or a graphical interface, you can bypass potentially prying eyes and create a secure virtual private network (VPN) that tunnels your Internet traffic through your home computer’s connection.

To use SSH, you’ll need to install the SSH client on the computer you connect from, and an SSH server on the computer you connect to. Under Linux, the most popular software provider is the OpenSSH project.

How to Install OpenSSH

OpenSSH is of course, an open source product and contains both the client and server components.

The client software is part of the default Ubuntu installation. If you want to be able to accept SSH connections as well as request them, you’ll need the server software as well. Install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install openssh-server

How to Use SSH to Login to a Remote Computer

In order to access a remote computer, you’ll need to have an account on that machine. You may want to set up a guest account. Navigate to System > Administration > Users and Groups. Create a user (or group of users) and assign the permissions as needed.

When OpenSSH is installed and your user created, login to the remote computer with this command:

ssh username@hostname

Username is the name of the user you created and hostname is the name of the computer (or host) or its IP address. So if you had a computer at home with an account called janedoe, from the command line you would type:

ssh janedoe@222.222.2.22 or ssh janedoe@myhompc

Copying Files using SSH

Now that you’ve made the connection to your remote computer, you’ll probably want to transfer or copy some files. The secure copy command (scp) allows you to securely copy files to and from the remote box. The syntax is as follows:

scp filename.extension remoteuser@remotebox:/directory

Copying Directories using SSH

To copy an entire directory (and all of its contents) from the local machine to the remote server, use the recursive -r switch:

scp -r /local/directory remoteuser@remotebox:/remote/directory

/local/directory is the path to the local directory you want copied, and /remote/directory is the remote directory where you want the directory to be copied.

To reverse this and copy from the remote box to local, just switch things up accordingly:

scp -r remoteuser@remotebox:/remote/directory /local/directory

What about Windows?

If you need to remotely connect to your Ubuntu box from a Windows machine, you’ll need both PuTTY and TightVNC viewer. Follow the instructions here.

Final Thoughts

For more detailed information behind these communications protocols, visit the Ubuntu Wiki for your version. Also remember to keep permissions in mind if you choose to provide remote access to other users. Restrict access to only those files or directories that are absolutely required. I hope you’ve enjoyed our look into remote access under Ubuntu.

Those coming from the Windows world may easily confuse the DOS window with the Linux command line, but the two are worlds apart in terms of structure and power.

Using the command line, you can issue commands directly to the computer to perform tasks that you’d normally complete with a mouse. Starting a program, file management, system monitoring and more can all be performed without a single mouse click.

Some swear by the command line, while others are happy never to have to encounter that intimidating black screen. If you’re the curious type and want to explore the full power of your Linux system that your GUI conveniently hides, then read on.

The Shell

The shell is the piece of the puzzle that actually does the work. It takes the commands you type in and hands them off to the operating system for action.

Bash (which stands for Bourne Again Shell), is the default shell program for most Linux distributions. There are many others though, kshh, tcsh and zsh to name a few.

The Terminal

Under Ubuntu, you can launch the terminal through the Applications menu, under Accessories or by hitting Alt+F2 and typing “terminal”. Other distributions may have the launcher located elsewhere. It could be called terminal, konsole or Xterm, but the icon is usually a black computer screen.

When you launch a terminal window, you’ll see your name, followed by your computer name and either a $ (logged in as user) or # (logged in as root). For example:

janedoe@janespc:~$

To leave the terminal and return to the GUI, type “exit”.

Navigating the File System

Coming from the Windows world, the most difficult concept for me to grasp was the different directories and structure. Filenames are case sensitive and extensions aren’t mandatory. Root is represented by a forward slash (/) and contains system files.

Linux Command Line 101: Commands

A full list of commands is available at the Linux MAN pages. Here is a subset of commands that you’ll find yourself using most:

• pwd – prints your working (or current) directory
• cd – change directory
• ls – list the files in the working directory
• cp – copy files and directories
• mv – move or rename files and directories
• rm – remove files and directories
• mkdir – create a directory

• Viewing Text Files with cat and less

Many files in Linux can be viewed as plain text. There are several ways to edit these files, but if you’d just like to view them, here are the 2 most simple: cat and less.

To use cat, simply type cat and the file name:

janedoe@janespc:~$ cat my_file

Use less when you have a longer file that doesn’t fit onto one screen. Navigate using the up and down arrow keys.

janedoe@janespc:~$ less my_file

• Permissions

Another way that Linux differs from Windows is in its ability to have multiple users working on the same pc at once. In order to manage this tricky process seamlessly, you can use permissions.

Here are some basic permission commands:

• chmod – modify file access rights
• su – temporarily become the superuser
• chown – change file ownership
• chgrp – change a file’s group ownership

• System Information

When troubleshooting your Linux box, system information is often the first piece of information you’ll need to know. The kernel version, partitions and other hardware information can easily be obtained from the command line.

This is just a sample of commands for viewing system information:

• uname – show kernel version and system architecture. (several options available including -s – kernel, -o for operating system. -a prints all options)
• cat /proc/partitions – show all partitions registered on the system
• grep MemTotal /proc/meminfo – show RAM total seen by the system
• lspci -tv show PCI info
• lsusb -tv – show USB info
• Disk Space
• df -h – Show free space on mounted filesystems
• fdisk -l – Show disks partitions sizes and types (run as root)

Linux Command Line Resources

In terms of Linux command line functionality, we’ve barely skimmed the surface here. If you’d like to delve a little deeper, be sure to check out IBM’s introductory course on the Linux command line. Tuxfiles also has a good tutorial. Finally, the Linux Pocket Guide is a free download and an invaluable resource for beginners, one that I still reference often.

Why Learn The Linux Command Line?

For most users, the GUI will provide all the functionality and interface with the OS that they need. However, there are times where it is possible that your GUI can become inoperable. Knowing how to navigate the command line will ensure you can troubleshoot, access and possibly backup your system.

Additionally, for those inclined to truly understand the inner workings of their Linux OS, mastering the the command line is a hard-earned right of Linux passage.

In that regard, I’d say that my transition to developing under the Linux platform involved a bit of a learning curve. There have been endless debates about the merits of each tool, but at their most basic levels, they perform much of the same functions.

Things like search & replace functions, syntax highlighting, and support for multiple programming languages are standard features.

In this article, we’ll review Linux’s top open source editors.

We’ll cover some with basic functionality and those that are full fledged integrated development environments (IDE).

Ready to try your hand at developing under Linux?

Read on…

1. Gedit

I decided to include Gedit in this list because even though it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other tools, in terms of simplicity, it can’t be beat. Gedit is the official Gnome desktop editor, and is part of the default installation for any Gnome based flavors of Linux.

It supports development in many languages, with syntax highlighting. An extensive collection of plugins allows you to further expand the functionality.

This is the tool that I use for quick editing or changing of files. One of the things that keeps me from using it more is the inability to mount remote network drives.

2. Vim

Ever heard of defacto Unix text editor Vi? Vim is touted as an improved version, more feature-rich, Vi. Known as the “the programmer’s editor,” it’s obviously great for coding, but you can also edit things like config files and xml documents.

Vim is difficult to learn, and my own attempts have admittedly stalled. But proponents suggest that once you master it, the time it takes to learn will be worth it.

Vim comes standard with most every Linux distribution, but can be installed in Ubuntu with the command: sudo apt-get install vim full

Launch in console mode by typing vim in a terminal window (or gvim for graphical mode). The first thing you’ll need to learn about is the concept of modes.

• Insert (to type text)
• Command (to issue commands)
• Ex (to issue colon commands)
• Visual (to select text visually)

Tutorials and full documentation are available at the Vim website.

3. Netbeans

Free, relatively lightweight, low learning curve and a full IDE. This is just a slice of what Netbeans has to offer. I tried and liked Netbeans, and it is one of the tools that I turn to for my own needs. Netbeans is cross platform, so will run under Windows and Mac OS X as well as Linux.

There is support for Java and a slew of other languages and developers hosting their open-source projects on kenai.com have access to integrated instant messaging and issue tracking. Netbeans has fairly extensive collection of plugins in addition to documentation and support at their website.

To install Netbeans, download from their website. The package is also available under the synaptic package manager in Ubuntu Linux, though it will not be the latest release.

4. Bluefish

Bluefish is my primary editor. It’s lightweight, has support for remote file editing and is both powerful and streamlined enough to support the majority of my web development needs. Like the other editors, Bluefish supports editing multiple file types and loads in an instant. One important thing to note about Bluefish, is that it is supposed to use 30 to 45% less memory than other editors.

The winners for me were the project features, which allows you to open multiple files and keep them organized, and also remote editing. Download files and installation instructions will guide you through the setup.

5. Geany

Geany isn’t a text editor but an extremely lightweight IDE. Geany is an open source software that will run on any flavor of Linux, either under KDE or Gnome desktops (as long as you have the GTK2 runtime libraries). Included are a source code editor and compiler for those more interested in application development.

Geany is suited to multiple type of development and also includes basic project management. Download a copy here. Fellow Ubuntu users can install with: sudo apt-get install geany.

6. Aptana

Aptana was one of my early picks for a development tool. At the time, it was difficult to install in Ubuntu and had its fair share of quirks. Ultimately, I decided it was more than I needed at the time. But the latest release may have me taking another look.

Aptana Studio is a complete web development environment so it can handle everything from basic HTML, CSS to Javascript. And with plugins for Ruby on Rails, PHP, Python and also SQL Connections, this is much more than a simple text editor.

Some have lamented certain instability with some Linux distributions. Download a copy here and a large community will be able to assist you with support. Java is also required.

7. Quanta Plus

Quanta Plus is a full web development environment and runs on the KDE desktop. As I run Gnome, I haven’t had the opportunity to test this tool like some of the others.

Quanta gives you true WYSIWYG development. Those familiar with Dreamweaver will be happy to see the split view (virtual preview layout), where you can view code and then the actual page in separate windows. One of its only documented issues is the lack of SVN support for version control.

This package may be already included with the KDE desktop and you may also download or install via synaptic package manager in Ubuntu. Documentation Wiki here.

Honorable Mention

The list of editors we’ve covered is by no means exhaustive. Other contenders you may want to review include Kompozer, Eclipse, and jEdit.

Final Thoughts on Editors

Each of these tools has its advantages and disadvantages. While I’ll refrain from engaging in a debate about which is best, I will point out that variety is one of the benefits of developing under the Linux platform. To stay abreast of latest web design trends and tricks, visit Smashing Magazine.

I hope with this introduction, you have identified some tools that you’d like to try. All that’s left now is to load a few, put them through some testing and decide what works best for you. If there is another tool that wasn’t mentioned here. Feel free to chime in with a comment touting our favorite editor.

While my answer was yes (minus some web hosting costs and other misc. expenses), my research uncovered something unexpected. Linux, it seemed would provide a more secure desktop operating environment than Windows. This recurring theme was echoed on technical sites and blogs across the Internet. My decision was made.

Some accounts went so far as to suggest that no security measures needed to be taken at all. But some, though still steadfast in their support for Linux’s superiority, did encourage at least a minimalistic approach to securing your Linux desktop. I decided to err on the side of caution.

Why Linux is More Secure Than Windows?

Viruses on the Linux platform have indeed been few. Is this because the operating system is more inherently secure? Possibly. With so many developers, potential vulnerabilities can certainly be more quickly identified, and corrected.

I also believe there is something else to consider. The numbers have been debated, but at last count, Windows dominated the desktop with close to 90% of the market. It’s no surprise then that people looking to exploit vulnerabilities would direct most of their efforts toward the dominant platform, in this case Windows.

In a world where computer systems were isolated, Linux users might collectively exhale in the knowledge that they were immune. However, as most of us still interface, either on the same networks or via email, with Windows computers, the potential for virus or malware exposure exists. Opening a tainted Microsoft Word document probably won’t infect your system, but there is the possibility that you can pass it on to someone else.

The Ubuntu website maintains a list of known viruses and worms and other network threats.

Securing Linux

What all this means, is that even though your chances of infection while using Linux are slim, it makes sense to employ some type of protection from outside attack. Let’s talk about some ways in which you can secure your Linux computer.

Linux Security Tools & Techniques

• Patching

The first, and perhaps easiest thing to do is to patch and update your software. Most distributions automatically notify you when updates become available. You just need to click a button to perform the update. And if you’ve turned off this functionality, you can manually check for patches on a set schedule, say bi-monthly.

One thing to note is that if you’ve installed software via tarball, and not the repository, then the operating system won’t update it. In this case, you may have to configure software to perform these checks.

• Anti-virus

Most virus threats are Windows based, but email scams and phishing attacks are not unknown on Linux. As a first line of defense, you should only click on email links to sites that you know. And I think you should also consider installing anti-virus software.

ClamAV, AVG and Avast are all good options.

• Secure Passwords

If you’ve registered for any community websites recently, you will have noticed the increased emphasis on secure passwords. You should apply this same rule to your Linux desktop. Strong passwords are not invulnerable, but are less easy to crack.

Use a password management and automatic generation tool like KeePassX or LastPass.

• Firewall

A firewall is sometimes all that stands between your precious data and the dangers lurking about on the Internet. Firewalls can be both hardware (included as part of your wireless router) or software based.

There is a built in firewall with most Linux distributions, you just need to make sure it is enabled. You can also look at these software options: SmoothWall or IPCop.

• More Stringent Control with SELinux

SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) was created by the NSA and is a kind of security enhancement for Linux. It has stronger access controls, allowing admins greater flexibility in deciding which users have access to files and network resources.

Some don’t like the performance hit associated with its use, but for many the benefits outweigh this. You can be the judge, find out more about SELinux.

• Check Those Services!

A Linux service is an application that runs in the background waiting to be used. By default, many services are started at boot-up, some unnecessary for basic desktop operations. Things like httpd, ssh, telnet, etc. are needed for servers, but do you really need them for your desktop machine?

In order to minimize the security risks associated with these services, they should be locked down, or removed. You will need to review and edit your /etc/inetd.conf or /etc/inittab file and comment out services you don’t need.

Linuxtopia has detailed instructions on how to do this.

Final Thoughts on Linux Security

While security concerns with a Linux computer may be less of an issue than on their Windows counterparts, having a sound security plan, no matter the platform, is the best way to ensure the safety of your data.

Security implementation of some of these tools vary depending on the Linux distribution, so its always good to start with the website or wiki for your Linux distribution for specific information.

For those new users, this is a good stating point to ensuring your Linux experience is the best — and safest — it can be.

Maintaining such an aggressive six month release schedule brings about its challenges. There are often bugs, hardware conflicts and the like, that make being an early adopter a bit sketchy. I’ve taken an in depth look at the impressive list of new features and today I’ll share them with you.

What’s Different in Ubuntu 10.04?

I’d have to say that since I began using Linux, this release looks the most different. However, underneath the shiny new exterior are several worthy changes, including faster boot times and new default software.

The New Look in Ubuntu 10.04

Unlike so many others, I actually liked the brown theme, perhaps it was my love of earth tones. In any case, the trademark brown has been replaced with a sleek new theme. The look is decidedly purple, and the feature that has garnered the most negative attention is the placement of window controls. Like OS X, they are now on the left hand side.

I plan to give it a try for a least a few weeks, but if you’d like to move the controls back immediately, you can do so with Ubuntu Tweak.

New Default Applications in Ubuntu 10.04

Those of you who are used to the XSane Image Scanner will be surprised that it has been replaced by Simple Scan. This application touts an improved interface for simpler scanning. Depending on your needs, you may not find it as feature rich as Xsane, and it is still included in the repos if you’d like to reinstall it.

PiTiVi Movie Editor in Ubuntu 10.04

Many users have been waiting for a video editor to be included in Ubuntu. Now, PiTiVi Movie editor is a part of the default install. I haven’t had an opportunity to test this application yet, but I think its inclusion is a step in the right direction.

Social Networking Integration in Ubuntu 10.04

• Me Menu & Gwibber

Lucid now includes integrated tools for social networking apps like Twitter and Facebook. Gwibber is a microblogging tool that supports Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Digg and others. The beauty of a tool like this is that you don’t have to launch a web browser page for each tool, they can all be managed under one application, integrated into the desktop. In order to interact with the social networks, you have the Me Menu. You can update your status without launching a browser, chat status setting are also included. Ubuntu one is included as well.

• Empathy

During the Karmic Koala release, Pidgin was replaced by Empathy. Now that chat client has been updated, most notably including the ability to use Facebook chat. This ability joins IRC, AIM, ICQ, Yahoo and MSN. All chats can now take place in one client, without the need to launch a browser.

More New Features in Ubuntu 10.04

• iPhone and iPod Touch Support

One of the biggest issues with Linux users was the lack of support for iPhone and iPod Touch. While some were able to do so with workarounds, wine, jailbreaking, etc., it was a largely painful experience. Now, you can browse the contents of your iPhone from Nautilus file manager. And the standard music player, Rhythmbox, can now drag and drop music from your devices.

• Ubuntu One Updates

I’ll admit I wasn’t a fan of the Ubuntu One cloud storage service, but the new version has been updated, and perhaps I’ll give it another try. You can now configure preferences on the desktop, without visiting the website. You can also sync any home folder between computers, not just the Ubuntu One folder like before. File sharing,via URL, Firefox and evolution syncing have also been included. The paid service (for over 2G), you can sync mobile contacts.

• Music Store

Canonical has entered the music store business with this release. It is integrated into Rhythmbox, and a plugin for Banshee is available by typing the following command in a terminal window: sudo apt-get install banshee-extension-ubuntuonemusicstore. Music purchased from the online store is downloaded to your Ubuntu One folder and synced with your computer. Fifty percent of each purchase made will go to the SOS Lynx charity to help save the endangered Iberian Lynx.

• Updated Ubuntu Software Center

The Software Center also made its debut in Karmic Koala release. Updates include easier access to 3^rd party repositories, application categorization, and bigger application preview screenshots.

• Nautilus Changes

GNOME 2.30 has been updated to version 3.0 in this release. The most heralded feature is the ability to do a split view, to display the contents of two folders in the same window – useful when trying to compare folders.

Where to Get Your Copy of Ubuntu 10.04

If you are a current Linux user, you can either download and burn a CD for a lean install or simply launch Update Manager and click on the “Upgrade” button. Be sure to do a full backup in either case. New users have a few options:

• Download Ubuntu 10.04
• Order a CD
• Try Ubuntu using Wubi. Wubi is an officially supported Ubuntu installer for Windows users that can bring you to the Linux world with a single click. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other Windows application.

Ubuntu 10.04 Resources

In order to help ease your transition, you may want to take a look at the Ubuntu 10.04 manual by the team at OMG Ubuntu!

Finally, half of the fun of running Ubuntu is the ability to tweak the OS. Be sure to check out this article, also at OMG Ubuntu: 10 Things to Do After Installing Ubuntu 10.04.

Are you ready to make the switch?

Thankfully, telecommunications have come a long way. With an array of mobile and cordless phones, along with an even more confusing number of providers, the choices are dizzying.

The most recent telephony innovation lives on the Internet. Using desktop, laptops, and even netbooks, coupled with the right software, our computers have become an attractive alternative to traditional phone services.

In fact, a quick scan of popular news websites will confirm that many people are opting to eliminate their land lines in favor of these less costly, even free, portable options.

Skype has emerged as a leader in this area.

Skype Overview

Skype allows you to make regular audio and video calls over the Internet using your computer’s microphone and webcam. Video to other parts of the world can be spotty, based on the country’s bandwidth restrictions, but audio is more consistent. In addition, it has instant messaging, file transfer, and SMS features.

Calls to other Skype users are free. Calls to other lines are charged a per-minute or monthly rates, based on the country. Call forwarding and voicemail are available at an additional cost. You simply deposit funds into your Skype account, and call charges are deducted from there.

Pricing details are available here. Skype is also available as an application on Blackberry and Android phones. Now, you can make free calls on these cell phones without using any plan minutes.

Skype uses a decentralized peer-to-peer technology that routes calls through distributed servers and other users. Those concerned about security should note that all communications are encrypted from end to end so there is no danger of someone intercepting and listening in on your calls.

While Skype is free to download, it is proprietary software, not open to modification. And for this reason, there are some in the open source community that balk at its usage. There are open source versions of software like Ekiga (available in the repositories) that allow for audio and video calls, as well as instant messaging.

Installing Skype

There are two ways to install Skype. You can either download the Debian file (.deb), or add it to the Ubuntu software repository. The benefit of adding it to the repository, is that you will receive automatic updates via synaptic, or apt-get. If you choose to install via .deb file, you’ll need to keep abreast of any updates and manually download and install new versions from the Skype website when they become available.

Instructions on how to add to the repository are available here.

Debian file installation was tricky in previous iterations of the software. And things like hardware and Linux version still play an important part in what your particular experience will be. I’ve run Skype under both Karmic Koala (9.10) and its predecessor Jaunty Jackalope (9.04), both on HP and Toshiba hardware. In both, instances, it’s worked well calling as close as my own neighborhood, and as far away as Africa.

Here are the quick installation steps:

• First, download the appropriate version for your file system type from this link
• Make note of where you downloaded the .deb file. Double click on the file to launch the installer.
• Follow the prompts to install the software.

Using Skype

Launch Skype from the menu — Applications, Internet, Skype:

• Creating an Application Launcher

You can always launch Skype from the command line by typing: skype, in a terminal window. But if you’d like to add a desktop launcher follow these steps:

• first right click on top of the menu and click: Add to panel
• select custom application launcher
• type in a name
• type command: skype

** you may also drag the icon from the Application menu to the top panel

Skype Customization

You can customize Skype to suit your preference for things like privacy and notification settings. You’ll also be able to tweak and test your audio and video settings.

In the skype window, press ctrl+o or press the small “S” symbol at the bottom of the window.

For more information about individual customization settings, visit skype.com.

Skype Addons

As a writer, I often use Skype to make calls for interviews. There is a tool that is very useful to me in writing that others might find helpful as well — the Skype Recorder. This program, works with Skype, to allow you to record your calls.

• Record calls to MP3, Ogg Vorbis or WAV file format
• Automatic and manual recording
• Configure automatic recording on per-caller basis
• Split stereo recording
• Free, unlimited and open source, released under the GNU GPL

In addition to writers, businesses and organizations that would like to record company teleconferences would benefit most from this tool. It  should be noted that recording calls without prior knowledge and permission of all participants is illegal in some countries. So, be sure to notify you caller if you intend to record the session.

• Skype Recorder Installation

• Download the Skype Recorder
• Double click the file and follow the prompts to install
• Find Skype Recorder under Application, Accessories
• To use the software, first launch Skype, then launch Skype Recorder. An icon will appear on your panel. Start your call in Skype and then click record.

Is Skype Right for You?

Some users have experienced audio problems with Skype, while others have had a nearly flawless experience. But there are alternatives. In addition to Ekiga, check out QuteCom (formerly WengoPhone) and ooVoo.

In terms of audio recording, Audacity (available in the repos) is a popular alternative. Keep in mind also, that Skype cannot be used to call for emergency services.

My suggestion is to install and test each of these, and use what works best for you.

But one challenge that both camps share is evaluating whether or not all their software will work under the new operating system.

From my perspective, the only obstacle was being able to access and sync my iPod Touch, as Apple’s iTunes software does not run under Linux. There are several equally capable open source music library managers under Linux (I’m in the Banshee camp), but even with all the tweaks and tricks posted online, my iPod Touch remained stubbornly mute.

The Solution: Virtualization

I decided not to trash my music player, and instead researched and installed what’s called virtualization software.

This software allows a single computer, called a host, to create and run virtual environments, called guests. This allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single computer without disturbing your current setup.

Virtualization Software Options

There are a number of different virtualization tools available for Linux. Two of the most popular are VMware and Sun’s VirtualBox. The most immediate difference between the two is price — VMware is $189, while VirtualBox is free. Though I haven’t tested VMware, it seems that many also consider it more difficult to configure.

VirtualBox comes in two flavors: VirtualBox Enterprise and Virtualbox Open Source Edition (OSE).

The closed source software includes binaries and source code available from Sun’s download page. This version is free only for personal use or evaluation. In order to help generate revenue, licenses and technical support for the enterprise version of the software are available for $50 per license at Sun’s Web Store.

VirtualBox-ose is available for free in the Ubuntu repositories or from Sun’s download page. It is released under GPL and the complete source code is also available. There are just a few differences between the enterprise and ose versions. This list can change, but currently includes:

• Remote Display Protocol (RDP) Server
  • This component implements a complete RDP server on top of the virtual hardware and allows users to connect to a virtual machine remotely using any RDP compatible client.
• USB support
  • VirtualBox implements a virtual USB controller and supports passing through USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 devices to virtual machines.
• USB over RDP
  • This is a combination of the RDP server and USB support allowing users to make USB devices available to virtual machines running remotely.

VirtualBox Installation Options

Command Line:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose

Ubuntu Repositories:

System, Preferences, Synaptic Package Manager – virtualbox-ose, click apply

Sun Website:

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Installing Windows 7 in VirtualBox in 10 Easy Steps

Once you have VirtualBox installed on your system, you can install any OS inside the VM. I’m going to show you how to install Windows 7 in your VirtualBox:

Step 1: Launch Virtualbox-ose:

Applications, Accessories, Virtuabox OSE

Step 2: In the main VirtualBox window, click the New button and then click Next to start the installation wizard.

Step 3: Enter a name for your new virtual machine, for example: Windows 7. Choose Microsoft Windows in the Operating System box, and Other Windows in the Version box. Click Next.

Step 4: Next enter the amount of memory you want to give to the guest OS. My laptop has 4gb of RAM, so I allocated 2gb. The idea is to leave enough for your host machine to still function properly, but to allocate enough so that Windows will run smoothly. Click next.

Step 5: Now, to create a virtual hard drive for the new guest operating system, click the New button.

Step 6: Make sure dynamically expanding storage is selected, then click Next.

Step 7: Next, enter the size and location of your virtual hard disk and click Next.

Step 8: Click Finish. Installation is complete. You’ll see the virtual machine we just created listed on the left.

Step 9: Under settings, in the CD/DVD ROM section, you can now define where the Windows 7 install CD is located. Assuming you have a CD, insert it into your CD/DVD drive and select “Host CD/Drive”, defining the drive letter.

Step 10: Click OK to save and exit settings. Click start and the Windows 7 installer will launch. Now you can install Windows 7 like you normally would.

Running VirtualBox

Easy: highlight your Windows installation and click start.

I also installed Guest Additions. It isn’t required but it will add support for seamless mode, additional display resolutions and copy/paste from guest to host. You can do the install yourself from the Device menu.

One last tip: To run in fullscreen mode, press host key (usually right, control key) + f

VirtualBox: Not Just For Windows

At the risk of sparking a distro war in the comments section, I’ll still say that Ubuntu is probably one of the most recognizable Linux distributions. Many newcomers begin with Ubuntu or Linux Mint, but inevitably (like me) get the urge to try other distributions. Fedora, OpenSUSE, Gentoo, and Mandriva are other popular options.

Take the plunge, download an .iso file or burn a CD, and create a virtual machine to test out other Linux flavors.

Today that number has grown exponentially. According to Distrowatch, a website that tracks linux distributions, there are now well over 100 flavors of the operating system (OS).

This is one of the benefits of open source software. Need your OS to do something a little differently? Tweak it!

The current options range from super lightweight types, with minimal application suites to a full fledged version, featuring all the bells and whistles. Some support different types of hardware better than others, and some are better suited to home users versus the enterprise.

Linux Distros: How to Choose?

With so many options, its easy to get lost trying to decide which distro is best for you. I’ve combed the Internet, read countless articles and trolled the forums.

Based on my research, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 Linux distributions that should help make the choice a little easier.

1.   Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the distro that eventually won me over to Linux full-time. Apparently, its had the same effect on others — it remains the most popular distribution, a favorite of both new converts and more experienced users.

Ubuntu was originally launched in 2004 and created by Mark Shuttleworth. There is a large development and support community, and updates are released every 6 months. Other pro’s are its extensive documentation and desktop themes. Uses APT and DEB files for package management.

2.  Fedora

Fedora was the second distro I tried, and I also currently run it in a virtual machine.

Interestingly, it was originally released in 2004, under the name Red Hat Linux. Eventually, Red Hat turned into a very successful enterprise targeted OS, while Fedora continued in the vein of the original product.

Fedora is still a very popular distro, but the one knock it has is its tendency to focus more on the enterprise than the home/desktop user. Fedora uses RPM for package management, with a YUM graphical and command line interface.

3.   openSUSE

openSUSE may now be a Novell product, but it was started in 1992 by Roland Dyroff, Thomas Fehr, Hubert Mantel and Burchard Steinbild. I haven’t tested this distro, but some suggest that it is slow, and perhaps a little bloated.

Even so, this flavor consistently ranks among the top Linux products. Pro’s of openSUSE are documentation, connectivity, and support for laptop docking stations and dual monitors. openSUSE also uses YaST graphical and command line utility with RPM packages.

4. Linux Mint

Linux Mint is actually based on Ubuntu and was launched in 2006 by Clement Lefebvre. It is the third distribution I tried and liked the interface, just not so much that I felt the need to switch from Ubuntu.

Many refer to this distribution as an improved Ubuntu. It features Mint system management tools like, mintDesktop, mintMenu, mintInstall, and mintUpdate. Package management is APT with mintInstall using DEB packages.

5.   Debian Linux

Launched in 1993 by Ian Murdock, Debian can be said to be the ancestor of many of the distributions in this list.

This is perhaps, one of the most stable OS’s, and that is due in part to its development cycle. There are unstable, testing and stable versions. Since the stable version is only released every 1-3 years, those who want are expecting the latest and most updated packages, won’t get it here. Software is managed with APT using DEB packages.

6.   Mandriva Linux

Mandrake Linux was launched in 1998 by Gaël Duval. After acquiring Brazilian company in 2005, the name was changed to Mandriva.

Known as a desktop-friendly distro, Mandriva boasts a system administration suite called DrakConf. Yet, this distro still seems to lag behind the other top contenders in terms of popularity.

For software management, it uses URPMI with Rpmdrake (a graphical front-end for URPMI) using RPM packages.

7.  Red Hat Enterprise Linux

While the other distros on this list dominate the desktop space, Red Hat rules the enterprise.

Spawned from Fedora, this distro is known for its stability, support and the plethora of well versed, certified administrators.

8.   PCLinux OS

PC Linux OS was developed in 2003 by former Mandrake developer, Bill Reynolds (aka Texstar).

Based on Mandriva, PCLinux OS uses the KDE graphical environment and is know for its support of many graphics and sound cards. There is one major problem though — there is no 64bit version. This may be fine for most desktop users, but for others, this is a potential deal-breaker. Uses APT using RPM packages for package management.

9.   CentOS

Apparently this OS is also a Red Hat Linux rebranding effort. It was launched in 2003 as a community project for the server environment.

But where Red Hat comes at a price, CentOS is free and has gained a loyal following.

Major releases only happen every 3-5 years, but there are 6-9 month point releases. This is a potential drawback for those that want the latest packages. But if you want stability and commercial support, this is the server OS for you.

10.  Puppy Linux

Have an older computer, say one with 64MB RAM? Think that its time has long past? Think again.

Puppy Linux is one of the lightest distros, and has the ability to load itself entirely into RAM. So if you’re running it from a live CD, you won’t notice any churn from applications having to constantly access the CD.

Of course you can install to your hard disk, and also a USB Flash drive.

More Linux Distros Information

Installing a new operating system is just the beginning. If you need community support, and help with tips & tricks, start with the main website or wiki for your distribution.

For more general Linux news and information, check out these websites:

• Linux.com
• Linux Magazine
• Linux Questions
• Linux Today
• HowtoForge

So … Which Linux Distro is Right for You?

In addition to the Linux distros mentioned above, there are several other popular flavors, including Slackware and Gentoo.

The best way to select a distribution is to try them out and decide for yourself. There are two ways to do this: a clean install every time, or you might want to try virtualization software like Virtualbox or VMware. You can install your test distros in virtual machines. Once you’ve decided, you can then install as your primary OS.

In order to assist those new to Ubuntu I’ve compiled a list of tools that will enhance your productivity:

  •   Application/Task Launchers
  •   Keyboard Shortcuts
  •   Clipboard Management
  •   and much more!

Check them out and let me know what your best tip for Linux productivity is.

1. Save Time With Aliases

One of the most powerful features of Bash (the free shell written for the GNU Project) is the use of aliases. Think of aliases as shortcuts — they use shorter commands to execute a longer or series of longer commands. And anything that saves typing time, is always welcome.

For example, if you prefer to use the command line to update and upgrade Ubuntu versus synaptic, you would open a terminal window and type: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade. That’s quite a bit of typing. Say you only wanted to type the word update to perform the same function. You would edit your ~/.bashrc file and add this line:

alias update=’sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade’

Are there other repetitive tasks that your perform daily, weekly? Give aliases a try. As always, I recommend you make a backup of your .bashrc file before editing.

2. Use Application/Task Launchers

• GNOME Do

To call GNOME Do (also known as Do) a launcher does not fully explain the capabilities of this tool. Through the use of keyboard shortcuts, it can help you perform many common tasks. Do can help you launch an application, search for a file, manage your music player and a host of other things.

Want to open firefox? Simply type “f”. Want to send an email to your favorite editor? Type editor, hit tab, then type email.

Install via synaptic package manager or from the command line:
sudo apt-get install gnome-do

• Launchy

Do isn’t the only tool in the launcher space. Launchy is another option, initially a Windows product, it now has a Linux version.

Launchy, like Do, wants to make your application menu obsolete. It launches apps, documents and bookmarks using keyboard combinations. Start Launchy by holding the alt key and hitting the space bar, then typing a few keystrokes.

3. Take Advantage of Docking Systems

• Cairo-Dock

Are you a fan of the Mac Operating system dock? Then you’ll be happy to know that Linux has their own versions. Cairo-Dock is a Mac-like application launcher for the Linux desktop. Populate the launch bar with your favorite apps and applets, then launch them with one mouse-click.

Cairo-dock is available in the Ubuntu repositories.

• Awn

Avant Window Navigator (AWN) is another option, and the one that I use. Like Cairo, it sits at the bottom of your screen and can be used to lauch applications and applets and has extensive plugins to enhance functionality.

Awn is also available in the repositories, just be sure to install all three of these packages:

• avant-window-navigator-trunk
• awn-manager-trunk
• awn-extras-applets-trunk

4. Do More with Clipboard Management

• Klipper

GNOME is the default graphical environment for Ubuntu Linux, but there are other options like KDE. Klipper (hence the K) is an advanced clipboard utility that runs under KDE. It turns basic clipboard functionality on its ear, storing clipboard history, and allowing you to link clipboard contents to application actions.

5. Save Time with On-The-Fly Encryption

TrueCrypt is an open source disk encryption software. Here’s a feature snapshot:

• Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
• Real-time Encryption of entire hard disk partition or storage device like USB flash drive.
• SHA-512 hash algorithm (replacing SHA-1, which is no longer available when creating new volumes)

TrueCrypt is not available in the repositories. You can download it here.

6. Top Linux Keyboad Shortcuts

• Switch to the Next/Previous Workspace

If you’re like me and use workspaces to segment your wok — 1 for writing, 1 for web work, yet another for email and social networking — listen up. You can easily switch between workspaces by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Left/Right Arrow keys. As you may have guessed, the Left key takes you to the previous workspace while the Right key brings you to the next adjacent.

• Show the Desktop

Ctrl + Alt + D allows you to quickly minimize all windows and bring focus back to your desktop. When all windows are minimized, it works in the reverse, maximizing all windows to their previous state.

• Show Hidden Files

By default, system or hidden files in your home folder aren’t visible, probably to protect us from accidentally deleting them. But occasionally we need to access these files and you can do so by pressing Ctrl + H in the Nautilus file manager.

• Application Specific Shortcuts

A real time saver for me, application shortcuts are plainly visible in the pull-down menus at the top of the application’s screen. For example in Open Office Writer, click on File, and you’ll see that next to Open, the shortcut combination, Ctrl + O

• Launch an Application

Alt + F2 will launch a box where you can type in an application name to launch it.

• Access the Applications Menu

Alt + F1

Check out this page for additional keyboard shortcuts.

7. Switch to the Desktop Post-it Note

• Tomboy Notes

I’m trying to shed the habit of having physical sticky notes plastered on my desk. To help wean me off those addictive yellow pads, I’ve adopted Tomboy. This is a desktop version of the Post-it Note, albeit on steroids. Tomboy allows for highlighting, spell checking, linking, font styles and lists. It comes as a part of the default Ubuntu install.

• Scribes

I have yet to try Scribes, but have read many reviews touting its benefits over Tomboy. Its actually a full text editor, that works with Gnome and offers templates, tabbed input and numbered lines.

8. Resize and Rotate Images in Nautilus

For those that spend quite a bit of time working with images and needing to make quick edits without firing up Gimp or Photoshop, this tool is a must-have. After installation, and rebooting, you will be able to right-click on an image and you’ll see two new image items: resize and rotate.

Install from the command line:

sudo aptitude install nautilus-image-converter

9. Increase Productivity with Project Tracking

Not your typical project management application, Freemind is more of a productivity tool that can help you track projects. Where this tool shines is in its ability to map Internet search links for easy reference. Its also an excellent brainstorming tool.

Other Tips and Tricks

This is just a snapshot of the available tips and tricks. A quick Google search will probably yield even more information. The Ubuntu support website is an excellent resource.

If you are a fan of any of these tools or tricks, chime in. If there are others you’d like to share with the community, I invite you to do so in the comments.

What’s Your Linux Productivity Tip?

Leave a comment with your favorite tip for Linux productivity. What helps you get more done? What’s a great tool that you wouldn’t want to be without?

Over time, new competition entered the browser wars including: Mozilla’s Firefox, Opera, Apple’s Safari.

Now, there’s a new kid in town. Google, the company that brought us Gmail, Google Earth and Google Apps, has introduced their browser, called Chrome. Chrome first appeared on the Windows platform, but has expanded into the Linux space.

Google Chrome is based on open source project, Chromium.

Google Chrome vs. Chromium — Aren’t They the Same Thing?

Since Chrome is based on the Chromium code, they are indeed exceptionally similar. Yet, there are a few differences.

There are the little things, like the icon color (you’ll notice Chromium’s is blue and Chrome is multi-colored), file/profile locations and plugin compatibility.

However, I’d argue that the difference that may matter most to general users is stability. Chrome is the stable product, while Chromium, well, isn’t.

Let’s take a closer look at these.

• Google Chrome (Stable)

If you download and install Chrome from Google’s website, you have the stable version. The stable version is funneled fixes and updates, based on the work done in the Beta channel. If you want the version that just works, without annoying crashes or other unknown snafu’s, choose this option.

• Google Chrome beta

The technical community will be familiar with the concept of Beta testers. Essentially, these are folks who boldly volunteer their time, and systems, to test new software.

Google’s beta version is updated monthly, with new features from the development channel. It is a solid version, but still not so much as the stable software.

• Chromium

Chromium is the open source project that is the basis of the Google Chromes browser. It’s experimental software, and you’ll open yourself up to the headaches that go along with that if you choose this option.

The benefit is that you’ll be able to see and test features that will (assuming they pass through testing rigors) eventually end up in the stable version of Chrome. You’ll need to be committed to documenting and reporting bugs if you’d like to aid in the development process.

Installing Google Chrome & Chromium in Ubuntu

Initially, Chrome wasn’t available under the Linux platform, but is now an easy 32 or 64 bit download from Google’s website.

Some Linux users prefer to use the command line in lieu of the graphical interface. If you’re in that came, fire up a terminal window and type: sudo apt-get install google-chrome

If you’re like me though, and occasionally like to skirt technology’s bleeding edge, follow these command line steps to install Chromium (chromium is also available via synaptic):

1. Open the terminal and execute the command given below to edit the source.list file. I use gedit, but you may use any editor, just be sure to substitute your application name where you see “gedit” below:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

2. Add the two lines below to source.list. Save the file and exit.

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu karmic main

3. Next, we’ll need to add the GPG key:

sudo apt-key adv –recv-keys –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 0xfbef0d696de1c72ba5a835fe5a9bf3bb4e5e17b5

4. Update the source list so that the system recognizes the new software sources:

sudo apt-get update

5. Finally, install Chromium:

sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

To start Chromium, you will find it under Applications -> Internet -> Chromium Web Browser.

Create an Application Launcher

You can always launch Chromium from the command line by typing: chromium-browser. But if you’d like to add a desktop launcher, follow these steps:

1. Right click on top of the menu and click: Add to panel
2. Select custom application launcher
3. Type in a name
4. Type command: chromium-browser

Chrome Productivity Tips & Fun

Chrome Extensions

Extensions, alternately called plugins, allow you to customize your browser, improving productivity and functionality. Firefox is known for its plethora of addons. Most Chrome extensions will work with Chromium, but again, as this is experimental software, results may vary.

Extensions may be downloaded through Google.

To install, click on the customize icon in the top right corner and select Extensions, then Get more extensions at the bottom of the screen. Click on the extension you want, then click on install.

Here are a few, must have’s:

Hate those annoying pop-up ads? Install AdBlock Plus.

To display the number of unread Google emails in the browser address bar, try this Gmail extension.

Backup and sync your bookmarks across computers and browsers with Xmarks Bookmarks Sync.

Follow and post to your twitter account with Chrome Bird.

Web Developers migrating from Firefox will be happy to see Firebug Lite. Firebug allows you to edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live in any web page.

Chrome Themes

Themes can be used to change the window colors and background image on the new page tab. You can add themes to your Chromium installation by clicking on the customization icon, select options, then under personal stuff tab, select appearance and get themes. You can test and apply the themes with one click.

Final Thoughts on The Browser Wars

My experience with Chromium has been mixed. It is the fastest browser I’ve used, but there are still difficulties with rendering certain pages. And plugins/extensions have a long way to go before they match the wide range of options available with Firefox.

Still, I see Chrome and Chromium as more than worthy entrants into the browser wars. With its current cycle of development, it will be interesting to see where it ranks between Explorer and Firefox at the end of the year.

PHP has become a popular language for web developers. It’s powerful and easy to learn.

If you would like to set up a web development environment on your computer away from the prying eyes lurking on the Internet, in just a few steps, you can have PHP installed on your Ubuntu system.

What is LAMP?

LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP) is an open source Web development platform.

Linux is the operating system, Apache is the web server, MySQL is the database management system and PHP is the language.

PHP vs. Python

PHP was designed primarily as a language for web design. Some of the benefits are its easy integration with HTML, the tons of free scripts available for reuse, and its low learning curve.

And then there are the new frameworks like, CakePHP and CodeIgniter that are designed to aid in rapid development. Opponents though, will point out its inconsistent naming conventions, excessive built-in functions and lazy syntax.

Enter Python. The new kid on the block is rapidly gaining popularity. It is a bit more difficult to setup, but proponents rave about its clean, elegant syntax and large standard library. Its a more general programming language, not specially for web design and uses the Django framework.

LAMP Installation

As is often the case, there are a couple ways to install the LAMP environment.

Command Line:

sudo apt-get install php5 mysql-server apache2

or

sudo tasksel

Press the space bar to select LAMP server. As a lesson from a rather painful personal experience, I implore you to make sure none of the other options are accidentally selected before you proceed.

During the installation, you’ll be asked to enter your MySQL root password. Ensure you use a secure password, including numbers and letters, special characters and remember it — recovery of a lost password is no picnic.

LAMP Installation Checks and Balances

Next, let’s make sure everything is installed properly.

• Apache

In your browser’s address bar, enter this address: http://localhost. You should see the words, “It Works!” in your browser window:

• PHP

Apache is up and running, so we’ll check PHP next. You’ll need to create a file in /var/www called testing.php. Open a terminal and enter:

sudo /var/www/testing.php
restart apache – sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

Now go back to your web browser and enter this address http://localhost/testing.php/. You should see a page displaying version information for your php installation.

Configuring MySQL

In order to use MySQL under the LAMP environment, we need to bind the MySQL database to the localhost IP address – 127.0.0.1. You can verify it with this terminal command:

cat /etc/hosts | grep localhost
cat /etc/mysql/my.cnf | grep bind-address

You should see 127.0.0.1

Optional Install – PHP MyAdmin

If you feel comfortable administering a MySQL database directly, you won’t need to install phpMyAdmin, but I think it makes things easier. You can install phpMyAdmin from the command line. Fire up a terminal windows and type:

sudo apt-get install libapache2-mod-auth-mysql phpmyadmin
select apache2, hit enter, enter MySQL root password from earlier step, create phpMyAdmin password – you can use the same as your MySQL root password

Open your web browser and enter the address http://localhost/phpmyadmin/. You should see a page like this:

PHP Editors

Developers often feel as strong about their editors as they do about the languages they favor. The best way to decide on an editor is to install a few, try them and pick which works best for you. Here are some of the top contenders:

• PHPEdit

PHPEdit is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for PHP. It has advanced PHP tools, a powerful debugger and real-time syntax checking.

You can check out PHPEdit here.

• Bluefish

Bluefish is my one of the editors I use most. It is used not only for PHP, but a number of other languages. It’s open source, has SFTP support and code highlighting among other benefits.

You can check out Bluefish here.

• GNU Emacs

GNU Emacs is also an editor for a variety of file types. It has a large extension library including a project planner, mail and news reader, debugger and calendar.

You can check out GNU Emacs here.

• jEdit

jEdit is one that I tried and set aside quickly, but your experience may be different. It has hundreds of plugins that help extend the editor’s functionality and is a very mature product.

You can check out jEdit here.

• Netbeans

NetBeans is an open source IDE built in Java. It supports several languages in addition to PHP, including C, C++ and JavaScript.

You can check out NetBeans here.

• Vim

Vim is an advanced text editor, based on the still widely used Vi Unix editor, along with a more complete feature set. Check it out here.

You can check out Vim here.

Programming in Ubuntu

For those new to PHP, there are a plenty of resources online to help you get up to speed. I recommend you start at the PHP main website, then move on to Sitepoint’s PHP Forum and w3 Schools PHP tutorial.

Happy coding.

It’s happened to us all at some point. We’ve tinkered ourselves into a technical abyss rife with grub errors, system freezes, or black screens of death-our systems fried. When all attempts at recovery fail, we sigh, break out our LiveCD and reinstall. While devastating, the pain can become compounded if you have not properly backed up the data residing in your /home directory.

Advantages of a Separate Home Partition

The general consensus among Linux enthusiasts is that the /home directory should be placed on its own partition. There have even been proposals that this be made a part of the default installation process.

The separation accomplishes two things: facilitates cleaner, simpler Linux upgrades and provides a safe haven for your data in the event of a problem with your primary Linux partition. As a side benefit, if you run multiple Linux flavors (i.e. Fedora, openSUSE, Mint, etc.), you’ll be able to use the same /home partition for each of these.

Ubuntu Linux operates on a 6 month release cycle. Clicking the upgrade button in the synaptic package manager will upgrade your distribution – albeit, with varied results. Some upgrades work flawlessly, while others are plagued with problems. Consequently, many agree that a clean install is the preferred option.

A clean install does exactly what the name implies, wiping the hard drive during the installation process. One can easily back up their data and then restore it, but this step can be eliminated if /home is on a separate partition.

Creating a Separate Home Partition in Ubuntu

Convinced? Wondering how to make the change on your existing Ubuntu installation? Great! Without further ado, we’ll walk through the simple steps to repartition your drive, moving your /home directory to its own partition.

It is important to note, that while these steps (or the many variations on them) have been successfully performed many times over, the potential for data loss exists.

It is imperative that you backup your data before you begin. You can use an external drive, online storage systems like Ubuntu One or Dropbox or whatever solution you choose. But I can’t stress the importance of this step enough.

1. Assuming you’ve backed up your data, you’ll need to boot from your LiveCD. Why? Basically, because you can’t alter a partition if it’s mounted. So, after booting, select your language, and then select: try Ubuntu without installing.
2. There are several partition managers available, but for this tutorial, we’re going to be using the Gparted partition manager. From the application menu, click on:
   
   System > Administration > Gparted

    
   
   

3. When Gparted loads, you’ll see a graphical depiction of all the partitions on your hard drive. You’ll need to decide which partition you want to resize to create space for /home.

    
   
   

4. Right click the partition you choose and click, Resize/Move

    
   
   

5. As most important data is stored at the beginning, or the left side of the partition, I suggest you resize from the right side. In terms of size, needs vary depending on the user, but allocate as much room as you can for /home.
   
   Use your mouse and drag left, to resize the partition and then click, Resize/Move.

    
   
   

6. You should now have a space called unallocated. This will be the home of your new partition. Select this space with your mouse and click on Partition > New from the menu.
   
   Now select the filesystem you want, ideally, this should match your existing file system , ext3 or ext4.
   
   *make note of your partition names, we’ll need these later.

    
   
   

7. Click Apply twice.
8. Click Close, then Quit.
9. Now we’ll need to tell Ubuntu how to use the new partition. Open up a terminal and type the following commands:
   
   To mount the new partition, (for this example, assuming partitions sda1 and sda2 and file system ext3, yours may be different):

   sudo mkdir /old
   sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /old
   sudo mkdir /new
   sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda2 /new

   Now backup the old /home and move to the new partition:

   cd /old/home
   find . -depth -print0 | cpio –null –sparse -pvd /new/
   sudo mv /old/home /old/home_backup
   sudo mkdir /old/home

   Tell Ubuntu to use the new partition as /home:

   sudo cp /old/etc/fstab /old/etc/fstab_backup
   gksudo gedit /old/etc/fstab

   This will open fstab in Gedit, now type the following:

   /dev/sda2 /home ext3 nodev,nosuid 0 2

10. Save the Gedit file, exit and reboot. Viola, you should now be using your new separate /home partition!

When Things Go Wrong …

Inevitably, things go wrong. What should you do, you ask?

The Ubuntu forums and IRC channel are an excellent resource. However if you’d like to skip the troubleshooting and start over, type these commands to restore things to their previous configuration:

sudo mkdir /recovery
sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /recovery
sudo cp -R /recovery/home_backup /recovery/home
sudo cp /recovery/etc/fstab_backup /recovery/etc/fstab

Creating a separate /home partition may seem like more trouble than it is worth, but in the end, can save you countless hours of exasperated troubleshooting on Ubuntu’s next update.

This isn’t an exercise you should undertake lightly. However, knowing your data is safe and sound is a powerful incentive. Still, as hardware failure looms ever possible, it is best to develop and stick to a consistent backup schedule.

The first thing you need to ask yourself is which Linux distro do you want? I recently read an article on Digg about the top 35 Linux ditros out there.

Don’t worry, I won’t bombard you with all the different choices you have, but the three that you should consider are Ubuntu, Mandriva, and OpenSuse.

I like OpenSuse and Mandriva because of the interface, usability, and because it just looks really cool right off the bat. Ubunto is also a great option and the ease of installation makes it a great choice for any Windows user to try out.

There are a few things that I am going to address in this article:

• I’ll talk about how to use the Live CD so that you can try out Linux without actually installing it
• I’ll also discuss how to do a complete install for those of you who have given up on Windows completely … hey, I don’t blame you, I sympathize
• I will also address another option for those of you who still want to be able to use Windows every now and again while also having Linux

Downloading Ubuntu Linux

The first thing you want to do is go to www.Ubuntu.com and determine how you want to receive your free copy of Ubuntu.

Your options are to either download directly or request a copy through mail. Both options are free but remember, a copy through the mail can take up to 10 weeks. The quick option is to just download it.

You have a few options with the download. The default is the one you will probably want to stick with but you have choices like a 32 bit version of Ubuntu or a 64 bit. Unless you know your graphics card can handle 64 bit graphics I wouldn’t change/or worry about this selection and just stick to 32 bit.

Next you’ll have to select your location. I would just pick whichever location is closest to you and click download. The download will vary depending on your Internet speed but 30-45 min is a good estimate.

Getting Your ISO onto a CD

You’ve downloaded Ubuntu … Now what?

Well what you’ve downloaded was an ISO image. An ISO image is an image of a CD/DVD, so what you need to do is get that ISO image onto a CD. There are a few ways to go about this.

If you have a CD burner on your computer then you probably have software as well. Something like Nero or Toast Titanium will work.

If you don’t have burning software then what you can do is go to CDBurnerXP and download burning software on XP. Follow the steps (each software will be a little different) and ultimately you should see an ISO/burn image option.

Once you have your copy of Ubuntu on a disk it’s time to get the party started!

Try Out The Live CD

With your computer running, go ahead and throw in you copy of Ubunto. A menu will automatically appear with all the options you need — the first being Demo and Full Install.

If you want to demo Ububtu, you will have to restart your computer with the CD in the tray. This is also the best way to install Ubuntu because you have that option in the Demo as well. When your computer reboots it should automatically come up with the Ubuntu menu (pictured below). From there you can go and try Ubuntu without any changes.

Ubuntu will come up and from here you can go ahead and start surfing around.

Do you see the Install icon your desktop? Good! Go ahead and click on that — it’s time to start the install.

Installing Linux Ubuntu

The next question you have to ask yourself is: In or out?

You’ve probably determined by now whether you want to install Ubuntu exclusively on your computer or if you want to install it while keeping Windows. If you haven’t you don’t have much time — make your snap decision now!

The first thing that will come up will be Language preference. Make your selection and click forward.

Next you will have Time Zone selection followed by your keyboard selection.

Pretty simple so far, right?

Your next option will be about Partitioning and there are two options you want to worry about.

Basically, do you want to do a full install of Ubuntu (Guided – use entire disk) or if you have a spare hard drive you will have that option under Guided (just make sure you select the right drive!)

You also have the option to partition your single drive and Ubuntu makes it really easy to use. There is an arrow tool in the middle that you can click and drag and decide for yourself. Just make sure Ubuntu gets at least 10 GB of space; I selected 50/50. Windows will have 50% of the drive and so will Ubuntu.

Once you decide click on the forward button and continue.

Next you will need to enter a name and password for the computer. Almost done!

You also have the option to import some of the documents and settings from your Windows accounts.

The last step is just a review of the installation. If everything looks kosher you can go ahead and click forward.

Note that the installation process will start after this. Go ahead and take a break as the install will take about 30 minutes.

All Done!

Now that wasn’t so bad was it? The install will include everything you need to start using Ubuntu right away (internet, Openoffice.org, etc.).

If you did a complete install your computer will go right into Ubuntu once it reboots. If you installed it alongside Windows, you will be prompted to a selection menu every time your computer starts — you will have to select Windows or Ubuntu.

Don’t Forget To Update

If you have a wired connection then you are good to go and you can start surfing away.

One thing you will want to do is to get some updates. There is a button on the top right corner that will update everything for you. It’s quick and painless and will benefit you for obvious reasons.

That’s all folks and remember there is a ton of Linux distros out there. Not all installs are the same but some are similar in installation, so check them out and make sure you find the right one for you.

Good Luck & Godspeed!

Some of you may have some old computers lying around that just can’t run Vista or XP anymore. Or maybe you’re just like me and want to spice things up with a kinky new operating system. Why not try Linux?

Don’t get me wrong. There are reasons to stick with Windows or Macs. Especially if there is a certain program you just can’t live without or if you’re living through your World of Warcraft account (you gamers know what I’m talking about!).

But if you want an operating system that is reliable, efficient, virus free then continue reading my friend.

How Much Does Linux Cost?

That’s the best part about Linux. It’s free!

You heard me right. While distributors are charging you hundreds of dollars for the newest version of Windows there are numerous distributors out there that are offering Linux free of charge. Seriously! With a few clicks you can have Linux downloaded and installed within the hour.

How about that old computer you have lying around that is too slow to run on some of the newer operating systems out there. You all know I’m talking about. You buy a new computer that’s fresh off the market and a few years down the line you find yourself getting a cup of coffee while you wait for that internet explorer to load.

As newer operating systems are released so does the need for hardware requirements such as RAM, Processor Speed, etc. Linux will run on older computers that XP would probably refuse to install. While some people need the speed that comes with newer computers for work, hobby, and what have you, there are many people who just surf the internet, write papers, and email.

These are things that Linux will do very well on an old machine because the operating system won’t be sucking up all the resources.

But I Don’t Want To Learn A New OS!

Don’t think you can use it? Think again. The interface and usability is very easy to use.

If you’re familiar with Windows or a Mac then you are not far off. It’s like anything that is new. You just need a few runs to get warmed up.

Also, once you install Linux it comes with a bunch of great programs that you will use right off the bat such as OpenOffice. It’s a great application that is equivalent to Microsoft Office which costs over $150 dollars, yet OpenOffice is free. And you can interchange MS Office documents with OpenOffice.

There are other free programs like Gimp which is used to process digital graphics and photographs similar to Photoshop.

Maybe you’re a little more tech savvy? Well you’ll find an excess of open source development tools, compilers, interpreters, editors and even versioning tools. Imagine how much money you will save!

Sick Of Problems With Spyware, Malware, Viruses And The Like?

Spyware and Viruses are another reason why switching to Linux will benefit most people.

How many times has your Windows machine been affected by these things? While Linux is not 100% immune it is almost entirely unaffected by these things.

One reason is 90% of the market is dominated by Windows users followed by Mac users, and Linux finishes far behind. The people making the viruses are targeting the largest market trying to infect as many people as they can.

Another reason is anytime you or anyone (or anything) else tries to do something that affects the operating system, a password is required unlike in Windows which will allow almost anything done to the system.

Lastly, is the availability to the source code. Basically any programmer can go in and look inside the operating system and look for security flaws. Linux is a community based operating system, any problems or security holes are fixed quickly because people care about Linux, unlike Windows where your relying on a team of engineers to fix problems with the system and it takes months.

Anyway most Linux distros have Antivirus software included but you can still download ClamAV for free.

Hate having to defrag your machine? Ask anybody new to computers and they will look at you like you just stole their cupcake. It’s a pain to have to remember doing this every so often and the way the Linux operating system is built it makes it unnecessary to have to defrag.

Linux has a journaled file system meaning fragmentation does not occur and as a result the system is much more stable.

Yeah, But It’s Just Too Much Work!

Is installation a problem for you? Well, unlike the Windows OS which can take hours to install (not to mention all of the applications you need to add in like Office), Linux takes about a half hour to install with all the apps that you need.

Also there are no serial numbers to remember, no activation codes, and most of all no cd’s that you have to store and keep around just in case your operating system crashes. Which by the way, it never will!

The updates are a lot easier as well. First off you won’t get that annoying windows update icon that seems to pop up every 10 minutes and just won’t go away. In Ubuntu for example with one button you can update everything on your computer at once.

Sold?

Well alright then! There are a number of Linux Distributors out there and even though they all differ slightly they’re all free, reliable, and efficient.

The three that come to mind are Mandriva, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu.

Ubuntu is a great starting point for you Windows users because it’s especially easy to install and like I said before, it comes prepackaged with everything ready to go. As stated above it’s a free download and comes as an ISO image so all you have to do is burn and install.

If you’re hesitant to convert you may want to consider creating a dual boot system so that you can switch back and forth between Windows and Linux until you are comfortable making the switch.

Either way you have options when it comes to choosing an Operating System that is right for you so don’t feel like all you have is Windows or Macs to choose from .

Good Luck & Godspeed!