The free Ubuntu operating system has won the hearts and minds of millions of users worldwide. It combines a strong technical platform, impressive quality, and an enthusiastic global community of users who relentlessly support, document, and test it.
The Official Ubuntu Book, Ninth Edition, has been extensively updated with a single goal: to make running today's Ubuntu even more pleasant and productive for you. It's the ideal one-stop knowledge source for Ubuntu novices, those upgrading from older versions or other Linux distributions, and anyone moving toward power-user status.
Its expert authors focus on what you need to know most about installation, applications, media, administration, software applications, and much more. You'll discover powerful Unity desktop improvements that make Ubuntu even friendlier and more convenient. You'll also connect with the amazing Ubuntu community and the incredible resources it offers you.
Learn how to
Reliably install, customize, and update Ubuntu for any home, business, school, or government environment
Get up and running quickly, and then explore Ubuntu and download powerful free software
Customize Ubuntu for performance, accessibility, and fun
Get comfortable with the highly efficient Ubuntu command line
Install, administer, and secure Ubuntu Server, including advanced features such as LVM and RAID
Get involved with related Ubuntu projects
Help build, promote, distribute, support, document, or translate Ubuntu
Get up-to-the-minute help and troubleshooting advice from Ubuntu users worldwide
Foreword to the Sixth Edition xix
Foreword to the First Edition xxi
Preface xxvii
Acknowledgments xxxi
About the Authors xxxiii
Introduction xxxv
Chapter 1: The Ubuntu Story 1
The Vision 2
Free Software, Open Source, and GNU/Linux 3
How the Vision Became Ubuntu 7
What Is Ubuntu? 12
Ubuntu Promises and Goals 17
Sustaining the Vision: Canonical and the Ubuntu Foundation 26
Beyond the Vision: Ubuntu Subprojects, Flavors, and Spin-Offs 30
Summary 32
Chapter 2: Installing Ubuntu 33
Choosing Your Ubuntu Version 34
Getting Ubuntu 36
Booting and Installing 39
Installing from the Minimal CD 52
Summary 58
Chapter 3: Getting Started with Ubuntu 59
Getting Acquainted with Unity 61
Using Applications 72
Using Ubuntu in Your Language 80
Configuring a Printer 81
Keeping Your Computer Updated 85
Adding and Removing Programs and Packages 87
Upgrading to the Next Ubuntu Release 90
Ubuntu and Multimedia 91
Backing Up 96
Customizing Ubuntu's Look and Feel 98
Unity in Other Devices 99
Summary 99
Chapter 4: Finding and Installing Ubuntu Applications 101
Using the GNOME Software Center 102
Learning Terminology and Foundations 106
Using Synaptic 106
Useful Software Packages to Explore 110
Playing to Learn with Educational Programs 128
Summary 132
Chapter 5: Customizing Ubuntu for Performance, Accessibility, and Fun 135
Unity Terminology 136
Appearance Tool 141
Unity Tweak Tool 143
Compiz Config Settings Manager 147
Unity Lenses and Scopes 153
Additional Resources 154
Summary 154
Chapter 6: Becoming an Ubuntu Power User 155
Administering System and User Settings 156
Understanding How Linux Stores and Organizes Files 160
Learning Unity Keyboard Shortcuts 164
Using the Terminal 167
Working with Windows Programs 168
Installing Software from PPAs 169
Compiling Software from Source 171
Summary 172
Chapter 7: Welcome to the Command Line 173
Starting Up the Terminal 174
Getting Started 175
Building Pipelines 176
Running Commands as Superuser 177
Finding Help 178
Moving around the Filesystem 179
Manipulating Files and Folders 180
System Information Commands 181
Searching and Editing Text Files 182
Dealing with Users and Groups 183
Getting Help on the Command Line 184
Searching for Man Files 185
Using Wildcards 185
Executing Multiple Commands 186
Moving to More Advanced Uses of the Command Line 188
Summary 189
Chapter 8: The Ubuntu Server 191
What Is Ubuntu Server? 192
Installing Ubuntu Server 194
Ubuntu Package Management 206
Ubuntu Server Security 217
Advanced Topics 224
Summary 231
Chapter 9: Ubuntu-Related Projects and Derivatives 233
Recognized Flavors 234
Editions 246
Other Distributions 249
Launchpad 250
Bazaar 258
Ubuntu One 260
Summary 260
Chapter 10: Ubuntu, Convergence, and Devices of the Future 261
The Convergence Vision 262
Unity 263
Ubuntu Devices 264
The Internet of Things and Beyond 268
The Future of the Ubuntu Desktop 272
Summary 273
Chapter 11: The Ubuntu Community 275
Venues and Events 277
Teams, Processes, and Community Governance 291
Getting Involved 301
Summary 304
Index 305
