Ubuntu installation

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a popular Linux distribution, best suited for desktop computers. It is based on Debian, therefore the packaging (*.deb) works rather well.

This page so far is by no means an installation guide, but it contains some extra information. Daniel K. Schneider decided to put some of his installation notes in this wiki, so he won't loose them. Feel encouraged to add stuff :)

If you are looking for a practical, short and excellent installation guide (and that includes how to add non-free software):

• http://www.futuredesktop.org/

Displays

Most Linux distribution's installer (at least the free ones) can't handle some slightly more fancy hardware automatically

Usually you have to do two things

1. Find and install a driver for your graphics card
2. Hand edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

Example Nvidia FX + 2 digital monitors

By Daniel K. Schneider. I have a Quadro FX 3450 card, a 24 and a 20 monitors. This is an executive summary. Find better explanation on Google :)

Depending on the day (if it's rainy or sunny or the particular Ubuntu version) installing an Nvidia driver can be an absolute nightmare. If things fail, it is probably a good idea to:

• Make a copy of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file
• Remove everything that has to do with Nvidia
  • E.g. even drastic and dangerous apt-get remove nvidia*
  • it also can mean to remove manually files and other stuff (see various forums)
• Also the machine needs to completely halted at some point and be restarted in recovery mode (Hit ESC when linux starts loading)
• Make sure you can get a terminal (local or remote)
  • Make sure you have another machine nearby, e.g. Windows with a putty (ssh client) installed.
  • Hit ctrl-alt-F5 to enter a terminal mode or see above.
  • Avoid removing power (reset) ... this can damage files, try ctrl-alt-delete first (or a halt from a remote terminal)
• Log files
  • Look at the log files, in particular /var/log/Xorg.0.log and search for "(EE)".
  • It's likely that your keyboard won't work. E.g. if you use special characters in your password you must know the layout of the US keyboard. That can be fixed again in the xorg.conf file.
  • X also remembers stuff in your personal home directory and there are logs too.

Anyhow, if by miracle, things go will, here is the rough procedure:

(1) You need to download the Nvidia driver.

• Either from Nvidia. E.g. file NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run
• Or via apt (a package manager), this is the better solution if it works:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-new

.. or maybe nvidia-glx (the older version)

(2) Save the xorg.conf file

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.save1

(3 - manual install) Install the driver (in case you got it from Nvidia only !)

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run

(4) Run the X server configurator (but make sure you have a copy of your old xorg.conf file !!)

nvidia-xconfig

(5) The result won't do it, but it's a start. You have to hand-edit and merge information from the old xorg.conf.save1 file !!!

E.g. I have this (I am minimalist and hate configuration work, so I stop when it works). I.e. if you want a single display for both monitors (you can drag stuff from monitor to the other) you only need to define one screen and one monitor. So, below there may some not used or even slightly harmful stuff (e.g. I have to check refresh rates).

Section "ServerLayout"
   Identifier     "Default Layout"
   Screen         "Screen0" 0 0
   InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
   InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
   InputDevice    "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
   InputDevice    "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
   InputDevice    "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "Files"
# path to defoma fonts
   FontPath        "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
   FontPath        "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
   FontPath        "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
   FontPath        "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
   FontPath        "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
   FontPath        "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
   FontPath        "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
   FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
   FontPath        "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
   Load           "i2c"
   Load           "bitmap"
   Load           "ddc"
   Load           "extmod"
   Load           "freetype"
   Load           "glx"
   Load           "int10"
   Load           "type1"
   Load           "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
   Identifier     "Generic Keyboard"
   Driver         "kbd"
   Option         "CoreKeyboard"
   Option         "XkbRules" "xorg"
   Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"
   Option         "XkbLayout" "ch"
   Option         "XkbOptions" "lv3:ralt_switch"
   Option         "XkbVariant" "fr"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
   Identifier     "Configured Mouse"
   Driver         "mouse"
   Option         "CorePointer"
   Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
   Option         "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
   Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
   Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
                                                     # /dev/input/event
                                                     # for USB
   Identifier     "stylus"
   Driver         "wacom"
   Option         "Device" "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
   Option         "Type" "stylus"
   Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
                                                     # /dev/input/event
                                                     # for USB
   Identifier     "eraser"
   Driver         "wacom"
   Option         "Device" "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
   Option         "Type" "eraser"
   Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
                                                     # /dev/input/event
                                                     # for USB
   Identifier     "cursor"
   Driver         "wacom"
   Option         "Device" "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
   Option         "Type" "cursor"
   Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
   Identifier     "Monitor0"
   HorizSync       28.0 - 51.0
   VertRefresh     43.0 - 60.0
   Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
   Identifier     "Monitor1"
   HorizSync       28.0 - 51.0
   VertRefresh     43.0 - 60.0
   Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
   Identifier     "NVIDIA Corporation NV41 [Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI]"
   Driver         "nvidia"
   Option "DPMS"
   #DKS (5 lignes)
   Option "TwinView" "Yes"
   Option "TwinViewOrientation" "LeftOf"
   Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "56-76"
   Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "31-80"
   Option "MetaModes" "1920x1200,1600x1200; 1920x1200,NULL"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
   Identifier     "Screen0"
   Device         "NVIDIA Corporation NV41 [Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI]"
   Monitor        "Monitor0"
   DefaultDepth    24

   SubSection     "Display"
       Viewport    0 0
       Depth       24 
       Modes       "1920x1200" "1600x1200"
   EndSubSection
   # not really needed, but some games may want this
   SubSection     "Display"
       Viewport    0 0
       Depth       16
       Modes       "1920x1200" "1600x1200"
   EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
   Identifier     "Screen1"
   Device         "NVIDIA Corporation NV41 [Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI]"
   Monitor        "Monitor1"
   DefaultDepth    24
   SubSection     "Display"
       Depth       24
       Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
EndSection

Make sure that there are no syntax errors, and that you have and empty line at the end of this file.

Printers

Printers don't necessarily work automatically either:

A good bet is to use this application:

• http://localhost:631/admin

Before you do so, it is like that you need a a PPD file (a file that defines properties of your postscript printer). Get it from:

• http://openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi

Example Infotec

Example for Infotec ISC 1032 (A low end color copy and printer machine)

• Look at the entry:
  • http://openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Infotec-ISC1032
• Get the PPD file (and copy it anywhere) ** http://openprinting.org/foomatic-db/db/source/PPD/Infotec/PS/Infotec-ISC1032_PS.ppd
• Then, start http://localhost:631/admin in your browser and when asked upload the PPD file
• Finally configure the printer (e.g. define paper size, trays and stuff).
• If CUPs printing doesn't work, use "HP JeDirect" and port 9100.

X Windows

We run a few sun servers and I prefer to run emacs (gui) on a remote machine instead of mounting all these file systems. Also I prefer to have a root terminal open instead of typing 'sudo' all the time. If you want allow for this:

Reconfigure the window manager (gdm)

• Edit /etc/gdm/gdm.conf and change:

 DisallowTCP=true 

• Then, you'll need to restart your X session (Ctrl + Alt + Backspace)

Allow remote hosts to connect

• Then you can allow certain hosts to connect e.g. to allow root on your own machine type

xhost + localhost

• To allow somebody on a different machine, type:

xhost + xxx.yyy.zzz

• It's important not to to type 'xhost +'. Since anyone may then connect to your screen. However, type xhost + something is boring, so it's more practical to edit /etc/X0.hosts. Just put the names or ip numbers of authorized machines there.

If it doesn't work

You can install nmap to scan ports (X is on 6000).

• If you don't have nmap:

 sudo apt-get install nmap

• Then type (as user):

 nmap -v -A localhost

In some cases you may have to define the display of your machine on your client machine. On your client machine type something like:

export DISPLAY=xxx.yyy.zzz:0

or

setenv DISPLAY xxx.yyy.zzz:0

Java

By default Ubuntu comes with some Java 1.4 compatible version that is free. For some applications though, you need Java 5 or 6 from Sun

• Read this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Java
  • Summary: You can get Sun Java as Ubuntu package, if you have multiverse enabled.
  • You also then should consider making the Sun version the default (also explained in the above doc).

Sound

Sound may not work either.

• Install all the ALSA stuff (e.g. via the synaptic package manager)
• Then test with Menu System->Preferences-Sound
• Then set the right default volume with Menu Applications->Sound and Video->ALSA Mixer GUID (in particular PCM ! It may be as simple as that ...)

Sound trouble ?

If sound doesn't work search the Ubuntu forums: http://ubuntuforums.org/. A particular good overview posting was:

• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449&highlight=alc861vd

To list you sound hardware, type:

aplay -l

If there are none, type:

lspci -v

... and search through the list until you find something like:

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)

This means that you do have a sound card, but that the drivers or something else is missing....

Anyhow it may take some time (between a few minutes and a few days) to find a solution. Often, the only thing you'd have to do is to add a line to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base (needs root permissions). I have for my DELL/Sigmatel:

options snd-hda-intel model=ref

Then, reboot !

Non-standard software

Some organization maintain their own Debian/Ubuntu package servers.

Mediabuntu

Read this:

• http://www.futuredesktop.org/
• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

Skype

E.g. to install Skype, you could

• Add the Skype repository like this in the Synaptic Package Manager (through settings->Repositories->Third-Party Software)

deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free

• Reload or update the package information and search for "skype"
• Install the skype package.

Opinions

Add yours ...

DKS

• Daniel K. Schneider uses Ubuntu since March 2007, because he got fed up with Mandriva updates not working correctly. I hate all OS's (Unix, Mac, Win) but prefer to work on Unix because it's fairly stable and appropriate for what I do. I also do have Windows machines (a Dell XP II and Acer tablet PC) for doing stuff that needs Win. (E.g. wordprocessing with Framemaker, X3D, Games). Our servers (e.g. for this wiki) run under Solaris. More difficult to install, but reliable on the other hand.

• Indeed (it's now August 2007 and I went through a major upgrade) I find that Ubuntu and its packaging system is far more robust. Though I once failed with a non supported package, i.e. Cinelerra that I got from another site. It installed, but crashed on start. Have to try again at some point.

• Other remarks: The official Ubunto Gnu Emacs installation is the "Leim" version, i.e. it can be used to edit UTF-8 text (I am writing my wiki entries with this).

Links

(there are many others)

Official

• http://www.ubuntu.com/ (home page)
• https://help.ubuntu.com/ (help pages)
• http://ubuntuforums.org/

Other

• http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~djm/ubuntu/
• http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Edgy