Ubuntu Linux - LQWiki

From LQWiki

Ubuntu Linux is a free, Debian-based, GNOME oriented distribution, on a 6-month release cycle.

Initial release : Ubuntu 4.10 "The Warty Warthog", released October 2004.

1 Replacing the CD as a source
2 Replace the GNOME foot
3 Compiling packages from source
4 Derivates
5 External links
- 5.1 Forums,Mailing lists
- 5.2 Documentation

Replacing the CD as a source

If you have the Warty ISO already then you can loop mount it and add it as a repository. Enable the loop devices by running:

sudo modprobe loop

To enable loop devices automatically on startup edit the file /etc/modules and add the line:

loop

Now add to /etc/fstab the line:

/path/to/ISO/image/warty.iso /mnt/ubuntu iso9660 ro,loop,auto 0 0

Mount the ISO image with:

sudo mount /mnt/ubuntu

Start Synaptic, disable the CD entry and add a new repository with the following details:

Type: Binary
URI: file::///mnt/ubuntu
Distro: unstable
Sections: main restricted

Replace the GNOME foot

Ubuntu comes with the Gnome foot on the Applications menu. If you want to change it, chose an image from your harddisk. Now all you have to do is to replace

/usr/share/pixmaps/gnome-logo-icon-transparent.png

You need to restart Gnome, logout then hit Ctrl+Alt+Backspace. Login and you will now see the Ubuntu logo instead of the Gnome foot.

Compiling packages from source

To compile (or build) programs from source code you'll need a set of tools that isn't installed by default on Ubuntu, these include make and gcc. To install them just follow this procedure: In Synaptic (or any package manager) find and install the package called "build-essential", or from the command line type:

sudo apt-get install build-essential

The "build-essential" package is a meta-package, which means that it depends on the tools needed to compile the source code but doesn't contain them itself. You can, if you wish, remove the package after you have installed it.