Ubuntu 9.10 post install guide. "Ubuntu 9.10 as it should be" Ubuntu is a great operating system if you think about it. You can download it for free and it comes bundled with a whole lot of applications out of the box. Adding software is easy and the operating system is extremely versatile when it comes down to using it. You can run it on older hardware, use it a server or a workstation .. and stuff like that. The one downside that there is to installing Ubuntu Linux from the CD is that it does not come with a LOT of software. Sure its very easy to point and click and get all of the stuff you need via the software center. However : Installing non-free software like MP3 and DVD playback ability, Some applications like for example Google Chrome and Skype is not always possible using this method. So we've pointed you to the right places to go in this manual. But then you are still stuck with a "classic Ubuntu Interface" that does not really look all that sexy. Well , let's take care of that too then. We are going to take a "plain vanilla" installation of Ubuntu 9.10 and add all the extra software you require PLUS show you some tips and tweaks how to make it look ... Sexy. So if you want to take your installation of Ubuntu to the next level .. Follow along !

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Basic installation of the OS.

Basic installation. Install a basic version of Ubuntu 9.10 using the livecd or the alternate installation method. Write down your username and password since you will require it later since the password you used during installation is your ROOT or SUDO password.

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Enable the universal repositories

Enabling Partner repositories. Enable additional software sources. Click : SYSTEM - ADMINISTRATION - SOFTWARE SOURCES. Enter your root password.

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Enable the universal repositories

Enabling Partner repositories. Click the tab "OTHER SOFTWARE". Select the 'partner repositories'. Click on CLOSE. The system will ask you to reload the information about the software that you can download. Click RELOAD.

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Add the Medibuntu Repositories.

To add the Medibuntu repositories. Open a terminal via APPLICATIONS - ACCESORIES - TERMINAL Copy and paste the following lines into the terminal to add the Medibuntu repositories. sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list && sudo apt-get -q update && sudo apt-get --yes -q --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get -q update Next hit ENTER. and enter your SUDO password.

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Upgrade your Ubuntu Install.

Update and upgrade your system. After the repositories have been updated type sudo apt-get upgrade hit ENTER, and enter your sudo password next type Y and hit ENTER. After the upgrade is complete REBOOT your system.

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Add restricted extra's like Flash, Dvd Playback, MP3 support and extra themes.

Add MP3, Flash and DVD Playback options. Log in, re-open a terminal ( APPLICATIONS - ACCESORIES - TERMINAL) and copy and paste the following lines. sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras community-themes non-free-codecs libdvdcss2 Next hit ENTER. type Y , ENTER and enter your SUDO password. This will install the restricted extra's (mp3 playback , flash etc.) The community themes (extra themes) and DVD playback.

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Install extra applications.

Install extra applications. In the terminal ( APPLICATIONS - ACCESORIES - TERMINAL) copy and paste the following lines. sudo apt-get install vlc miro audacity cheese filezilla terminator yakuake centerim alpine irssi newsbeuter vuze gpodder screen googleearth compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra emerald librsvg2-common fusion-icon Multimedia. Vlc : VLC, The best media player ever. Miro : A great video aggregator. Also a very good media player when having to play video files over a network. Audacity : An audio recording and editing tool. Cheeze : A webcam tool for taking pictures and recording small video's. Google Earth: Google Earth as you know it.

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System Tools. Filezilla : An ftp and secure ftp client. Ideal for moving files across an ssh connection. Terminator : A terminal program that u can split horizontally and vertically so you have several terminal windows open in one terminator window. Yakuake : Hit F12 to open up a terminal that slides in from the top of your screen , just like in Quake. Command line tools. centerim : A command line based IM program for MSN, AOL, ICQ, Googlechat and more. Alpine : A command line based email application. irssi : probably the best command line based irc client out there. newsbeuter : a command line based RSS newsreader. screen : keep multiple terminals running in the background. Download tools. vuze : A bittorent client. Gpodder : A graphical podcatcher. Compiz Tools All the tools to enable and configure the cool 3D effects. Next hit ENTER. type Y , ENTER and enter your SUDO password.

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Second wave of applications.

Some more applications. Depending on what you would like to use, here are some addtional applications you can install via the command line by copy and pasting them into the terminal. Games. Bzflag : Cross platform Multiplayer tank game. Openarena : Good old Quake3 fun. sudo apt-get install bzflag openarena Networking. Wireshark : Formally Ethereal : A network Sniffer. Packeth : A network packet generator. Wifi-Radar : A Wireless hotspot detector. sudo apt-get install wireshark packeth wifi-radar

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Ebooks. Calibre : An ebook management tool. sudo apt-get install calibre Backups. Backintime : A Linux alternative to Time machine. sudo apt-get install backintime-gnome Next hit ENTER. type Y , ENTER and enter your SUDO password.

Install Adobe air.

Installing Adobe Air. Copy and paste the following line into your terminal wget http://airdownload.adobe.com/air/lin/download/latest/AdobeAIRInstaller.bin chmod +x AdobeAIRInstaller.bin sudo ./AdobeAIRInstaller.bin Ubuntu 9.10 post install guide. "Ubuntu 9.10 as it should be" - 11

Hit ENTER. Next run through the Graphical installer to configure adobe air.

Download and install Cairo Dock.

Install Cairo-Dock. To have a cool OSX like Dock looking interface paste the following line into the terminal. sudo apt-get install cairo-dock Next hit ENTER. type Y , ENTER and enter your SUDO password. To make Cairo Dock start at bootup go to SYSTEM - PREFERENCES - STARTUP APPLICATIONS. Click on ADD and enter the following lines.

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name cairo-dock command cairo-dock -o comment cairo dock next click ADD Then click CLOSE * if you also want to launch YAKUAKE at boot, Repeat the steps above but enter : name yakuake command yakuake comment yakuake

Download and install Picasa.

Install Picasa. Open Firefox and surf to. Ubuntu 9.10 post install guide. "Ubuntu 9.10 as it should be" - 13

http://picasa.google.com/linux/thanks-deb.html Save the File. Doubleclick on the downloaded .deb file. The package installer will start op. Click "INSTALL PACKAGE" to install Picasa. Enter your SUDO password.

Download and install Google Chrome.

Install Google Chrome. Open Firefox and surf to: http://www.google.com/chrome Click on the 'Get Chrome (beta) button'.

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Choose the 32 bit version for Ubuntu (choose only the 64 bit version if you have installed a 64-bit Ubuntu). Agree to the terms of service by clicking on 'accept and install" Save the File Doubleclick on the downloaded .deb file. The package installer will start op. Click "INSTALL PACKAGE" to install Google Chrome Enter your SUDO password.

Install dropbox.

Install Dropbox. Open Firefox and surf to: http://www.getdropbox.com Click on the linux link Select the Ubuntu 9.10 X86 version (again, only choose the 64 bit version if you have installed 64-bit Ubuntu) Save the File Doubleclick on the downloaded .deb file. The package installer will start op. Click "INSTALL PACKAGE" to install DROPBOX Enter your SUDO password. Ubuntu 9.10 post install guide. "Ubuntu 9.10 as it should be" - 15

Next click APPLICATIONS - INTERNET- DROPBOX to run the Dropbox application for the frist time.

Download Skype.

Open Firefox and surf to : http://www.skype.com Click on the DOWNLOAD SKYPE button. Choose the Ubuntu 8.10 32 Bit version. Save the File Doubleclick on the downloaden .deb file. The package installer will start op. Click "INSTALL PACKAGE" to install Enter your SUDO password.

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Change the menu layout.

Tweaking the user interface. 1 Go to the lower toolbar, right click and choose DELETE THIS PANEL. 2 Go to the UPPER toolbar , Right click on 'PLACES' and choose REMOVE FROM PANEL. 3-4 Do the same thing for the Firefox Icon and the Help Icon (right click and choose REMOVE FROM PANEL) 5 Right click on the icon with your username (Far Right of the toolbar) and also choose REMOVE FROM PANEL.

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Add icons to the menubar.

Add new items to the menu bar. Right click somewhere in the top menu bar and choose : ADD TO PANEL. Add the folowing items to the panel by selecting them and clicking ADD. MAIN MENU SHOW DESKTOP SHUTDOWN

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WINDOW LIST WORKSPACE SWITCHER

Arrange the Icons on the top bar.

Tweaking the user interface. Move the icons around to their new positions in the following order. Right click on the item on the top bar and select MOVE. 1 Move the menu item (ubuntu logo) to the far left 2 Move the Show Desktop item next to it. 3 Move the Shutdown item to the far right 4 Move the Workspaces icon also to the far right , next to the Shutdown icon. 5 Drag the seperator line (window list item) to the far left , right next to the Show desktop icon.

When finished it should look something like this.

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Alter the General appearance of your Desktop.

Go to the APPEARANCE MENU.

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Alter the General appearance of your Desktop.

On the THEME tab, select a theme to your liking.

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Choose an appropriate Background.

Download a background of the internet that you like. Save it in the PICTURES folder in your home folder. Go to the BACKGROUND tab, Click ADD. Select the picture that you like. Doubleclick on the image.

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Adjust the size of your screenfonts.

If you want more screen real estate you can shrink down the size of your screen-fonts. Go to the FONTS tab and adjust to leisure.

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Add some Desktop effects.

Go to the VISUAL EFFECTS TAB and Choose the effects settings that your graphics card can handle. Click on close when you are done.

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Adjust your Icon size.

You might notice that any icons you put on the desktop are fairly HUGE. You can adhyst this by opening up NAUTILUS ( The equivalent of Windows Explorer) In the Applications menu go to PLACES-COMPUTER.

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Adjust your icon size.

From the edit menu , choose EDIT - PREFERENCES.

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Adjust your icon Size

Adjust the screen accordingly and click CLOSE. Close and re-open Nautilus to apply the changes.

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Setting up the Cairo-Dock.

Reboot your system and wait for the Cairo Dock to automaticaly launch. Close any dialog boxes Cairodock might pop up regarding configuration of themes etc. Close any Gadgets that are on the desktop. Re-arrange the Dock to your liking. 1. Right click any Icon to remove it from the Dock 2. Drag any icon left and right to re-arrange the order.

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Setting up the Cairo Dock.

Add icons to the dock by dragging them FROM the application menu ONTO the Cairo-Dock.

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Finetune the Cairo-Dock.

To completely configure the Cairo dock , RIGHT click on an empty area of the grey bar and choose CAIRO-DOCK - CONFIGURE.

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The end result.

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