GNU/Linux Installation Notes (Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex)

Things I have done to install my GNU/Linux boxes with Ubuntu 8.10.

Last Updated: 01-Dec-2008

1. Requirements

My requirements for my GNU/Linux box:

• Do not compromise system performance for fancier graphics
• A comfortable environment for software development + entertainment!

2. Installation

• [Base Ubuntu System] Boot the Ubuntu desktop CD; Install it. (Package information will be updated if the optional Internet connection is available.)
  
  • To install from a USB stick, refer to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick
• [Xfce] Install xubuntu-desktop.
• [Development] Install build-essential manpages-dev.
• [Chinese and Input Methods] Use System -> Language Support. Enable 'Chinese' and 'Enable support to enter complex characters'.
  
  • Install 第五代简体仓颉输入法 if you need.
• [Firefox]
  
  • For Ubuntu i386 version, can enable the plugins for Adobe Flash and Java by installing flashplugin-nonfree and sun-java6-plugin respestively.
  • For Ubuntu amd64 version, the default 64-bit Firefox supports Flash (with flashplugin-nonfree) but no Java yet.
  • For Ubuntu amd64 version, can install 32-bit Firefox to make use of 32-bit plugins:
    
    • Download the installation gzip of 32-bit Firefox (current version or latest development version) and install it. Assume that it's installed under ~/firefox;
    • For Flash and Java plugins,
      
      • Install flashplugin-nonfree and ia32-sun-java6-bin;
      • Use 32-bit Flash: [~/firefox/plugins] $ ln -s /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so .
      • Use 32-bit Java: [~/firefox/plugins] $ ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/ia32-java-6-sun/jre/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so .
    • Reference: AMD64/FirefoxAndPlugins (A bit out-of-date for Ubuntu 8.10 (amd64), which seems to have easier setup, at the time of this writing)
• [Wine] Follow the instructions from the official Wine site to add the repository; Install wine.
• [NTFS-3G] Install ntfs-config for the GUI configuration tool; Configure the write support with sudo ntfs-config.
• [VirtualBox]
  
  • Decide the version you want and install it
    
    • GPLv2 version
      
      • Install packages virtualbox-ose
    • PUEL (Personal Use and Evaluation License) version
      
      • Add the repository from the official VirtualBox site
      • Install package virtualbox-2.0
  • Assign yourself to have the privilege to use VirtualBox: sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers $USER
  • Restart the computer to update your group membership and to test if the kernel module loads properly at boot time.
  • When necessary, run sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup to build the kernel module for VirtualBox.
• [Miscellaneous] Install mc k3b emacs gqview pdfjam psutils.
• [Anti-Virus; Anti-Spyware; Disk Defragmentation; System Crash Monitor/Analyzer/Recover]
  
  • What??
  • Well, It's N.A. Seriously. :)

3. Customization

• Use static IP if possible. It is faster than using DHCP especially if the DHCP server is not on.
• Configure various personal settings. (For new installation) Refer to this.
• Configure how removable media should be handled.. Settings -> Settings Manager -> Removable Drives and Media.
• Add the printer(s). Use Settings -> Printing.
  
  • Fuji Xerox WorkCentre PE220
• Configure the microphone settings. Somehow, Ubuntu does not seem to configure the microphone settings well out-of-box. Many have encountered many different problems when trying to capture the microphone input. (I've configured three machines, each with different problems) A few tips here.
  
  • Be sure that the microphone indeed functions properly, is turned on, and has been plugged properly into the correct socket. Surprisingly this can be a common mistake.
  • Make sure that you are controlling the volume for the correct sound device.
  • Configure the following options properly: Microphone, Microphone Capture, Capture, Mic Boost (+20 dB) (or Mic Auto Gain), Mic Select, Surround Jack Mode. The signal may have been detected but the sound has been muted somehow.
    
    • Some useful text-based utilities:
      
      • aplay -l shows all soundcards and digital audio devices.
      • alsamixer is an 'ultimate' ncurses mixer program for ALSA soundcard driver.
      • amixer is a command-line mixer for ALSA soundcard driver. Useful for presetting the volume settings if they do not persist after rebooting the machine. E.g., amixer get 'Capture', amixer set 'Capture' cap.
    • Can use gnome-sound-recorder to test the microphone. Try to record from 'Microphone' or 'Capture'— Some machines work for both, but some work for only one of them.