2012 Santa Fe College CTS2355 Network Admin. Daniel Eakins

Transcription

1 2012 Santa Fe College CTS2355 Network Admin. Daniel Eakins This is an overview of the Ubuntu operating system brought to you by the open source community for Linux. All views, opinions, and insights that are expressed in this document are for the means and benefit to those who are thinking of taking the steps of installing this particular operating system.

2 Brief History of Ubuntu Ubuntu is an operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution software. Ubuntu is free and open source software which is designed for personal and professional use. Ubuntu was first launched in October 2004 and since that time new versions of Ubuntu are being released every six months with a commitment from Canonical (a UK based company) to support each release for over eighteen months by providing security fixes, patches, and minor updates to programs. Ubuntu packages are based on packages from Debian's distributions. Debian and Ubuntu packages are not necessarily compatible with each other, and may need to be rebuilt from source code to be used in Ubuntu. The latest release of Ubuntu is version which was launched on the 13 th of October of Eighteen days later Mark Shuttleworth announced that by version 14.04, Ubuntu will support smartphones, tablets, TVs and smart screens. 2

3 Ubuntu System Requirements & Installation The Ubuntu Desktop version currently supports the 32bit and 64bit computer architectures. A supported GPU is required to enable the visual effects as seen on your display, including the Unity shell. If a GPU is not available the GUI will set itself to the 2D version of Unity. Current Minimum Desktop Edition Server Edition Requirement CPU (x86) 700 MHz 300 MHz RAM 256 MB 128 MB HDD (free space) 5 GB 1 GB The installation of Ubuntu is usually performed through a Live CD or USB flash drive. CD images of all current and past versions are available to download at the Ubuntu web site. Installing from a CD requires a minimum of 256MB of RAM. According to the Ubuntu documentation to obtain the best results for the Desktop Edition of Ubuntu they recommended this setup: CPU RAM Hard Drive 1 GHz 1GB 15GB Users can download a.iso image of the CD, which can in turn be written to a physical medium (CD or DVD), or optionally run directly from a hard drive. A Windows migration tool called Migration Assistant can be used to import bookmarks, desktop background, and various other settings from an existing Windows installation into a new Ubuntu installation. When the user installs from a Live CD there is an option included called Wubi. Wubi allows Ubuntu to be installed and ran from within a virtual Windows loop device, which is a large file image that is managed like any other Windows program via the Windows Control Panel. With 3

4 this method selected the windows user will not have to partition his or her hard drive, but on the downside Wubi incurs a slight performance loss. Applications, Packages, and Utilities There are many useful software packages and applications that are installed during the installation process. One easy way after you have installed Ubuntu is to go to the command line in the Terminal and type dpkg -get-selections. This command will give you a list of all the currently installed packages. A full list can be very lengthy. Ubuntu comes pre-installed with an assortment of software. This includes Open Office, Firefox, Mozilla, Empathy, and several games. Software that is not pre-installed can be downloaded using the Ubuntu Software Center, Package Manager Synaptic, or using the command line in the Terminal. Desktop Comparison of Ubuntu If you thought that there was just only one version of Ubuntu you would find yourself sadly mistaken. Among Ubuntu there are four other versions out there. You have Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Edubuntu and the Ubuntu Server Edition. So what is the difference you may ask? Let s compare and see what we find out. Ubuntu uses a user interface (or desktop environment) called Gnome. Gnome is focused on simplicity and usability. Ubuntu includes a bunch of Gnome-native applications such as Banshee (music player), Evolution ( client and calendar), and Gedit (text editor). Kubuntu uses the K Desktop Environment (also known as KDE). KDE is focused on including a lot of point-and-click configuration options immediately available to end 4

5 users. Kubuntu includes a bunch of KDE-native applications such as Amarok (music player), K3B (CD burning), and rekonq (web browser). Xubuntu uses the Xfce desktop environment, which is a lighter one than Gnome or KDE. In terms of its design principles, it has a bit of a balance; presenting in some ways more point-and-click configuration options than Gnome but also retaining some of the simplicity of Gnome. Its main appeal is its speed, though, and it's ideal for systems with 256 MB to 512 MB of RAM. Both Ubuntu and Kubuntu can run on 256 MB of RAM, but they're more ideal for 512 MB of RAM or more. Xfce includes Thunar (file manager), Thunderbird ( client), and Mousepad (text editor). Edubuntu uses the Gnome desktop environment but has a different set of default applications from Ubuntu. Its focus is on educational tools. It includes Kolourpaint (an easy to use paint program), Atomix (a puzzle game for building molecules out of isolated atoms), and Xaos (a real-time interactive fractal zoomer). Lubuntu uses LXDE, which is an extremely light desktop environment (even lighter than Xubuntu's Xfce) and is ideal for very low-memory systems (128 MB of RAM). Ubuntu Server Edition is a command-line interface that is designed for people running Linux servers. Mixing and matching versions is possible and often encouraged by the community. If you choose one version of Ubuntu and you like the educations related programs from another version of Ubuntu (for example kubuntu) you can install those programs to any desktop environment. One note to point out is that all versions of Ubuntu share the same software repositories and available applications. You are not stuck into using just one version. 5

6 Pros & Cons Ubuntu offers a variety of abilities to the end user to enjoy and take advantage of, but will all good things there are some drawbacks. In this section we will discuss a few Pros and Cons of Linux Ubuntu. PROS of Ubuntu: 1. Cost: The most obvious advantage of using Ubuntu is the fact that it is free. Microsoft licenses are typically only allowed to be installed on a single computer, whereas with Linux it can be installed multiple computers, without paying a single cent. 2. Security: The security of Linux is stronger than Windows. Linux has been around since the early nineties and has managed to stay secure in the realm of widespread viruses, spyware and malware for years. The Linux operating system is an open source software and if there was an extensive Linux virus released, there would be hundreds of patches release, either by ordinary people or by the distributors. 3. Freedom: The power of choice is a great Linux advantage. With Linux, you have the power to control just about every aspect of the operating system. Two major features you have control of are your desktops look and feel by way of numerous Window Managers, and the kernel. In Windows, your either stuck using the boring default desktop theme, or risking corruption or failure by installing a third-party shell. 4. Software: There are many software choices when it comes to doing any task. Regular users and programmers contribute applications all the time. Sometimes it s a simple adjustment or attribute improvement of an already existing software, sometimes it s a brand new application. The immense bulk of Linux software is free and open source. Not 6

7 only are you getting the software for no charge, but you have the option to modify the source code and add more features. 5. Hardware: Linux is perfect for older computers. Install Linux on an old dust machine and use it as a web server, a file server, or a backup server. There are endless possibilities that you can create. Old 386 or 486 computers with barely any RAM run Linux without any issue. CONS of Ubuntu: 1. Perceptive: Becoming familiar with the way Linux operates requires some patience. One must have the aspiration to read and figure things out on their own. 2. Compatibility: Since Linux is an open source software it is sometimes behind the curve when it comes to brand new hardware compatibility. Linux does not possess much of the commercial assistance as other operating systems do. 3. Alternative Programs: Though Linux developers have done a great job at creating alternatives to popular Windows applications, there are still some applications that exist on Windows that have no equivalent Linux application. Now that we are enlightened by a few advantages versus the disadvantages it is up to the end user to figure out which is best for them. 7

8 Research Conclusion Ubuntu is delivered in many forms and many variations. The open source software is open to anyone who is willing and able to modify this operating system to meet the needs they desire most. The best advantage of Linux Ubuntu and Linux in general is the ability to meet the demands of the end user(s). Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols said it best in his closing arguments, Put it all together and what do you get? I think you get the first great, unique Linux desktop...it is great for Linux newcomers. And, unlike GNOME or KDE, which at times have followed Mac OS X or Windows desktop models, Unity brings a new take on how to use a desktop and, the more I use it, the more I think it s a winner 8

9 Product Site References: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2012, February 3). Ubuntu (operating system). Retrieved on February 4, 2012, from Wikipedia: Psychocats. (2011, October 13). Ubuntu Linux Resources. Retrieved on February 4, 2012, from psychocats.net: Ubuntu Help. (2011, October 13). Installation System Requirements. Retrieved on February 4, 2012, from help.ubuntu.com: Yahoo. (2008). Ubuntu pros and cons? Retrieved on February 4, 2012, from answers.yahoo.com: Dominic. (2011). The Pros And Cons Of Changing To Ubuntu (Linux). Retrieved on February 4, 2012, from computertooslow.com: Bruce Hoard. (2009, June 9). Disadvantages of Linux. Retrieved on February 4, 2012, from windows2linux.tech-no-media.com: 9

10 Professional Review Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols. (2011, October 13). Ubuntu Linux 11.10: Unity comes of age (Review). Retrieved on February 4, 2012, from zdnet.com: 10