A brief introduction
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce you to the Ubuntu operating system, and the philosophy that underpins it. The fact you’re reading this book might mean you already know about Ubuntu, but one or two readers might have bought the Print Edition of this book (or downloaded the PDF) on a whim to see what the fuss is all about. These people might lack specifics, and remain unconvinced of the benefits of Ubuntu. So, I’m going to burn through some precious pages of this slim volume to evangelize and explain just a little.

What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a version of the Linux operating system. An operating system
is the software that “runs your computer”. Microsoft Windows is the
world’s most popular operating system, at least for desktop computers,
but Linux is a completely separate endeavor.

GNU
The ball started rolling back in the 1980s, when a hugely talented computer scientist called Richard Stallman decided to create a clone of a venerable operating system called Unix. At the time, Unix ran many of the world’s industrial and academic computer systems. Stallman did this because Unix was becoming increasingly proprietary—it was no longer permitted to share its source code (the listings created by programmers), as had happened since the inception of Unix in 1969.
This was anathema to Stallman, who believed sharing software was natural and healthy. He decided his version of Unix would always be freely available, and invented the legal and ethical concept of Free Software to ensure this happened. Put simply, Free Software says users should always have the freedom to share software, without restrictions. On a technical level, Free Software guarantees the right to view and also modify source code, or even use it as a basis to make a new program. However, any additions or changes must be released as Free Software too, so others can continue to benefit. NOTE The Free Software ideal is enshrined in a software license applied to all Free Software projects. It’s called the GNU Public License, or GPL. This is like Microsoft’s End User License Agreement that comes with Windows (and you see whenever you install Windows from scratch), except whereas the Microsoft EULA prohibits sharing Windows under any circumstances, the GPL says exactly the opposite—that you can always share the software! Stallman called his version of Unix “GNU” (pronounced G-noo). This is a recursive acronym, standing for GNU’s Not Unix. In other words, the acronym refers to itself—a joke of a type favored by programmers.

Course: Ubuntu Certification
Author: Michael Jang

Linux is the most important operating system on the Internet. It’s recognized everywhere as the cost-effective way to operate all kinds of servers. With the support of powerhouses like IBM, Dell, HP, and Sun, demand for Linux servers is growing. Ubuntu has quickly become one of the most popular distribution among Linux users, and the Ubuntu Certified Professional is the credential for administrators who want to prove their skills with this distribution. This “how to” course by VTC author Mike Jang, uses practical examples to demonstrate the skills tested by the UCP exam. To begin learning, simply click the links.

Welcome (02:24) T
Ubuntu Certified Professional Curriculum (03:52) T
System Requirements (03:47) T
Ubuntu Community
Ubuntu Releases & Derivatives (04:01) T
The Ubuntu Support Infrastructure (02:34) T
The Structure of Ubuntu Repositories (04:39) T
Seeds & Architectures (04:55) T
The Launchpad Platform (03:19) T
Ubuntu Community Support (03:14) T
Bugs & Solutions (03:39) T
Review of Terms (04:21) T
Installing Ubuntu Linux
Prepare to Install (04:24) T
The Graphical Installer (04:22) T
The Text Installer (03:13) T
Text Installation Partitioning (04:43) T
Additional Installation Highlights (04:03) T
Server Installation Highlights (03:12) T
Hardware & Power Management
Hardware Detection (04:59)
SATA Disk Management (06:48)
USB & Other Devices (02:40)
Wireless Management (04:58)
Modern Power Management (03:17)
ACPI Files in the /proc/acpi Directory (04:19)
More on ACPI Configuration (04:31)
udev & Driver Manager (04:57)
Package & Repository Management
The Repository Configuration File (06:53)
Use the dpkg & alien Commands (05:32)
Understand the apt- Commands (06:09)
More on the apt- Commands (07:00)
When to Use Security Updates (03:00)
Update with Graphical Tools (05:24)
Manage with Synaptic & More (06:24)
The GNOME Application Manager (02:41)
Create a Local Repository Mirror (04:30)
Printer Management
Install CUPS - Add a Printer (06:44)
Printer Management & Administrators (05:34)
Printer Management Commands (04:57)
An Overview of CUPS Configuration Files (07:04)
Accepting & Rejecting Jobs (02:23)
Manage Print Queues (05:13)
Printer Logs (02:35)
Localization & User Privileges
Set Up a Locale (05:02)
Add Language Packs (03:44)
The Administrative Sudo (03:49)
Custom /etc/sudoers (05:21)
Add More Users from the Command Line (04:14)
Add More Users with users-admin (05:41)
Upstart & Landscape Management
The Upstart Configuration Files pt. 1 (05:06)
The Upstart Configuration Files pt. 2 (07:04)
Upstart Control with initctl (03:54)
Configure & Register on Landscape (05:53)
What Landscape Sees (02:50)
Network Interfaces
Current Network Interface Config pt. 1 (03:16)
Current Network Interface Config pt. 2 (05:13)
Configure a DHCP Client (03:35)
Network Configuration Files (04:41)
Network Management from the Command Line (06:10)
Network Shares & File Systems
The NFS Kernel Server (02:57)
Make Sure the NFS Server Works (04:03)
Mount an NFS Share (02:54)
Basic Samba Shares (07:44)
The shares-admin Tool & NFS (04:40)
The shares-admin Tool & Samba (04:36)
The GNOME Desktop Environment
The GNOME gconf Configuration Tool (03:52)
GNOME Configuration Files (03:08)
GNOME Configuration Commands (04:49)
Custom Panels/Menus/Icons & More (07:13)
X Server Concepts & Configuration Files (05:00)
X Server Configuration Commands (04:11)
Manage Screen Resolution & Refresh Rates (05:47)
Font Configuration Files & Commands (05:06)
The GNOME Display Manager (02:48)
Custom GNOME Login Options (03:06)
Evolution & Desktop Searches
Review Email Protocols (03:50)
Configure an Evolution Account (05:53)
Integrate Evolution Exchange (02:49)
Set Up an Evolution Email Filter (03:25)
Configure the Tracker for Searches (05:24)
More on the Tracker (03:38)

Ubuntu Linux is a free, general-purpose operating system for the PC desktop that often rivals Microsoft Windows and Macintosh OS for ease of use, security, and freedom from restrictions. Since its founding a few years ago, Ubuntu Linux has become extremely popular and has helped popularize free and open source software. This step-by-step beginner’s course to Ubuntu Linux is designed to guide a user with no previous linux experience. This course, presented by VTC author Chess Griffin, also the host of “Linux Reality,” a popular podcast for new Linux users, starts at the absolute beginning. Including an explanation of what Linux is, how to obtain a free copy of Ubuntu Linux, and how to boot the “live” CD to test Ubuntu Linux. You will learn configuration, customization, adding software to the system, working with the desktop environment, as well as the many included programs and features of Ubuntu Linux.

CONTENTS:

Introduction
About this course (04:16)
About Linux & Free software (05:02)
About Ubuntu Linux (03:51)
Where to Go for Help (05:53)

Ubuntu Linux
How to Obtain Ubuntu Linux (05:38)
Downloading Ubuntu Linux Live CD (03:03)
Checking MD5 Sum & Burning to CDRom (05:05)

Booting LiveCD
Initial Boot Menu (03:12)
Default Desktop Environment - GNOME (02:50)
Examples Folder (03:58)
Preinstallation Steps (04:22)
Install LiveCD Pt.1 (04:47)
Install LiveCD Pt.2 (02:00)

Booting Ubuntu Linux & The GNOME Desktop
Initial Boot & Login Screen (03:38)
Exploring the GNOME Desktop (05:58)
Virtual Desktops (03:29)

Nautilus File Manager
File Manager Basics (04:11)
The Home Directory (06:14)
Emblems, Right Click Menus, Drag & Drop (03:57)
Nautilus Special Locations (04:59)
Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Pt.1 (05:03)
Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Pt.2 (04:47)
Drives, Case Sensitivity, & Permissions (07:11)

Customization
Changing the Background (06:21)
Changing Themes, Adding New Elements (06:15)
Creating Your Own Theme Pt.1 (04:47)
Creating Your Own Theme Pt.2 (04:14)
Customizing Panels & Applets (03:30)
Changing Font Preferences (04:18)

Menu Detail
Applications Menu (07:23)
Places Menu Pt.1 (04:03)
Places Menu Pt.2 (03:58)
System Menu (06:15)

Configuration Tools
System/Preferences Menu Pt.1 (06:03)
System/Preferences Menu Pt.2 (03:05)
System/Preferences Menu Pt.3 (03:05)
System/Preferences Menu Pt.4 (04:34)
System/Administration Menu Pt.1 (04:34)
System/Administration Menu Pt.2 (04:34)

Mutimedia Applications
Legal Issues (05:24)
Audio Applications (06:45)
Video, Photo, & Image Editing Applications (06:05)

Productivity Applications
OpenOffice.org Overview (05:12)
OpenOffice.org Writer & Calc Pt.1 (04:13)
OpenOffice.org Writer & Calc Pt.2 (04:22)
OpenOffice.org Base & Impress (06:13)
Evolution (06:21)

Adding New Software
Add/Remove Software Application (05:47)
Software Sources (06:02)
Synaptic Package Manager (06:17)
Easy Ubuntu & Automatix (07:27)

Introduction to the Terminal
Gnome Terminal Application (05:05)
Basic Commands Pt.1 (05:54)
Basic Commands Pt.2 (05:30)
Applications, System Logs & Apt-Get Pt.1 (04:03)
Applications, System Logs & Apt-Get Pt.2 (06:20)
Using Text Editors Pt.1 (05:13)
Using Text Editors Pt.2 (02:56)

Windows Applications in Linux
WINE Project (07:23)
Crossover Office & Cedega (05:09)

Conclusion
Concluding Thoughts (01:49)