Ubuntu

Simon · Jan 21, 2008, 19:12:01

Ubuntu has quickly become the number one Linux distro for the desktop. Not only is it free, but it has also made Linux easier to use than ever. Now, Wubi enables Windows users to install Ubuntu just like any other application, so you no longer have to mess around with partitions, burning CDs, etc.

http://wubi-installer.org/

Rik · Jan 21, 2008, 19:14:21

Useful tip, thanks, Simon. Danni will be interested...

Sebby · Jan 21, 2008, 19:34:25

That's interesting; thanks, Simon.

When I have given Linux a go, it's been with Ubuntu, and it's certainly not really any more complicated to install than Windows. I just found day-to-day use a bit of a pain.

Still, it's useful for others who have always wanted to give Linux a go, but have been uncertain about the installation process.

D-Dan · Jan 21, 2008, 19:40:42

Of course Virtualbox has let you do that for ages - and let's you install Windows inside Windows so that you can test new software in a sandbox environment.

Not to mention allowing you to install other OS's, such as AROS that you wouldn't otherwise want to install for real in their infant state.

And it's free

Rik · Jan 22, 2008, 09:55:05

Linky?

Broadback · Jan 22, 2008, 10:38:12

Linux has long interested me, but to be honest, I am rather frightened by it. Now I have a PC with 2 internal fixed drives and a removable one. Can I install Linux as well as windows, and decide on switch on which to load? Also, of course, experiment with Linux without compromising Windows? If so can some kind person point me in the right direction, also tell me how much disk space I will need.

Rik · Jan 22, 2008, 10:47:53

Looking at the FAQs at Simon's link:

What are the system requirements?

256 MB RAM and an 1 GHz or faster Intel/AMD processor is recommended for optimal performance, though Xubuntu might work on less. As for disk space, the installation requires a minimum of 4GB. This space is mostly used by the virtual hard disk file. Most computers purchased within the last 3 years should be able to run Ubuntu fine, and Xubuntu is suitable for older computers.

It appears that it adds Ubuntu to the Windows boot menu, so yes you can choose at startup.

Broadback · Jan 22, 2008, 11:35:17

OK, I will give it a go, so I may be some time!

Rik · Jan 22, 2008, 11:37:29

Exit, stage left, singing "Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye".

somanyholes · Jan 22, 2008, 12:08:00

These may also be of interest

They are live cd's, meaning you do not need to install anything at all, they run from the cd and use your ram for temporary storage. There is no risk whatsoever using these discs, if things go wrong just take the cd out and reboot and you will be back to normal windows again

These are very very useful for fixing a broken windows OS data recovery etc.

http://www.knoppix.org/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

Rik · Jan 22, 2008, 12:20:10

Thanks, useful links.

somanyholes · Jan 22, 2008, 12:32:25

cheers rik

now for the over the top list http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

nicely categorised,

Rik · Jan 22, 2008, 12:33:56

Well, that should cover most eventualities.

Broadback · Jan 22, 2008, 12:44:18

Hey I made it! So I have loaded Ubutu, chose it on rebooting the system, it took quite a while, then when it had finished I seemed to be back in Windows. True or false?

Rik · Jan 22, 2008, 12:46:44

It doesn't sound right, but I haven't tried it to know what should happen.

Broadback · Jan 22, 2008, 13:02:12

Ah, the answer was to do another rebbot. I am now groping my way with Ubuntu, and in fact am posting this while using it.

Rik · Jan 22, 2008, 13:44:30

That's pretty good progress, congratulations.

mrapoc · Jan 22, 2008, 13:58:03

I had ubuntu as my main os for a while but i missed my games and having to keep choosing os on boot was annoying

Will deffo give this a try especially for browsing + cool compiz effects :p

colirv · Jan 22, 2008, 15:01:10

I tried an Ubuntu live disk - booted up perfectly. Then I realised it had no drivers for my wireless keyboard and mouse. I really couldn't be bothered to sort that out and gave up!

D-Dan · Jan 22, 2008, 19:49:21

Sorry - for not including a link in my post - but here it is Virtualbox

Also a free download - does the job that VMWare does - but cheaper (and IMO more reliably)

john · Jan 23, 2008, 00:27:30

Hi D-Dan, do you know how virtualbox compares with MS Virtual PC ?

See link here Virtual PC

The company I work for are using Virtual PC and I have used it briefly myself at work. I understand it's also free to download.

Ted · Jan 23, 2008, 12:54:42

I use Mandriva Linux-One 2008(CD) Link contains all drivers and common plugins). Works great on wireless laptops or desktops. i use it when i'm away and use other peoples machines, no hard drive needed. Save any data to a memory stick.

psp83 · Jan 23, 2008, 13:44:57

I use Ubuntu on several boxes. Works fine with my wireless keyboard+mouse. Infact, everything works, printer, external drives etc etc.

Its easy to use and good at running a home/work server with.

We actually test websites throu browsers at work aswell to see if anything breaks.

ducky22 · Jan 23, 2008, 17:48:07

I've always liked SUSE... I find it the most comfortable to use a workstation. As a server its terrible!

We've found CentOS to be the most powerful of linux server distros. We use it on almost all servers we have - Red Hat Enterprise on a few which is basically the same thing anyway.

D-Dan · Jan 23, 2008, 20:45:54

Quote from: john on Jan 23, 2008, 00:27:30
Hi D-Dan, do you know how virtualbox compares with MS Virtual PC ?

See link here Virtual PC

The company I work for are using Virtual PC and I have used it briefly myself at work. I understand it's also free to download.

TBH - I never got on with Virtual PC from MS. I tried it two or three times and always hit glitches - either the virtualisation just didn't feel complete - or devices weren't properly detected, or the network failed etc. etc. VirtualBox just seems to work - and is cross platform (I use it on Ubuntu, XP and Vista - real Ubuntu Install - not virtual).

The only problem I had was getting the CD drived recognised on the Ubuntu version - but that was an Ubuntu config issue - not a Virtualbox issue.

IIRC - Virtualbox is a whole lot lighter than both VMWare and MS Virtual PC, too.

Steve

Danni · Jan 24, 2008, 17:48:37

I use VirtualBox from within Kubuntu (Ubuntu with the KDE desktop- I prefer it) to run Windows XP

I've had no problems with it at all, and it quite happily sits on one monitor in full screen so it looks like I'm running two computers (I have a dual monitor setup). It doesn't have 3D graphics support, but nor do any of the other virtualisation programs I know of.

I think if you've got a decent processor, a largish harddrive and plenty of ram virtualisation is possibly better than a live CD for testing out things like Linux, but otherwise I like the Live CD route.

Colin and I run CentOS on our webservers- I would prefer a Debian-based OS but the software we run doesn't support it

john · Jan 25, 2008, 12:32:18

Quote from: D-Dan on Jan 23, 2008, 20:45:54
TBH - I never got on with Virtual PC from MS. I tried it two or three times and always hit glitches - either the virtualisation just didn't feel complete - or devices weren't properly detected, or the network failed etc. etc. VirtualBox just seems to work - and is cross platform (I use it on Ubuntu, XP and Vista - real Ubuntu Install - not virtual).

The only problem I had was getting the CD drived recognised on the Ubuntu version - but that was an Ubuntu config issue - not a Virtualbox issue.

IIRC - Virtualbox is a whole lot lighter than both VMWare and MS Virtual PC, too.

Steve

Thanks for the reply Steve, I forgot to mention that at work we're using it on 64 bit machines to enable both 64 and 32 bit versions of XP to be run on the same machine. Possibly Virtual PC doesn't suffer the glitches you got if both the OS's are from Microsoft.

D-Dan · Jan 25, 2008, 21:28:47

Maybe not John, but then MS being MS would tend to veer towards their own. Virtualbox does as good a job with any OS (I even managed to get Vista going on it)

Steve

pup · Jan 31, 2008, 18:50:20

just trying to down load the live cd v6.06 as i fancy trying it but its painful @ 57kbps roll on monday when i go live at idnet!!

Rik · Jan 31, 2008, 19:05:18

Amen to that.

JB · Jan 31, 2008, 20:50:01

Quote from: pup on Jan 31, 2008, 18:50:20
just trying to down load the live cd v6.06 as i fancy trying it

Pup,

I you haven't downloaded 6.06 yet , can I suggest that you try 7.10? It has later and more plentiful drivers. I'm running it here on two machines with no problems.

I realise that 6.06 is LTS (Long Term Support), so if this is of more importance to you please disregard my ramblings.

Regards,

JB.

MoHux · Jan 31, 2008, 21:01:22

Quote from: pup on Jan 31, 2008, 18:50:20
just trying to down load the live cd v6.06 as i fancy trying it but its painful @ 57kbps roll on monday when i go live at idnet!!

Hope it finishes by then ..............

pup · Jan 31, 2008, 21:28:16

Quote from: 6jb on Jan 31, 2008, 20:50:01
Pup,

I you haven't downloaded 6.06 yet , can I suggest that you try 7.10? It has later and more plentiful drivers. I'm running it here on two machines with no problems.

I realise that 6.06 is LTS (Long Term Support), so if this is of more importance to you please disregard my ramblings.

Regards,

JB.

Bu**er down load at 80% when i saw that post.

i thought 6.06 was the latest one.

how big is 7.10?

pup · Jan 31, 2008, 21:34:10

Quote from: pup on Jan 31, 2008, 21:28:16

how big is 7.10?

dont worry just found it

Sebby · Jan 31, 2008, 21:36:30

I downloaded the 7.10 using the torrent link on the Ubuntu site in no time at all. You might want to wait until you're with IDNet.

pup · Jan 31, 2008, 21:48:58

I think i will, itll only cost me a quid (im on payg untill i work out my average usage) $:-\$

Rik · Feb 01, 2008, 00:55:56

Bear in mind that you don't get web space, blog space or the Album with PAYG.

pup · Feb 01, 2008, 16:08:16

Quote from: Rik on Feb 01, 2008, 00:55:56
Bear in mind that you don't get web space, blog space or the Album with PAYG.

Thats fine i dont use any of that, just email and browsing mainly

Rik · Feb 01, 2008, 16:10:52

You'll be fine, then. Unless you go above 4GB regularly, it should be a good package for you.

Broadback · Feb 01, 2008, 17:11:02

I've recently updated mine, what I do not understand is the update took a lot longer to process than the original one did!

Rik · Feb 01, 2008, 17:12:50

Odd, did you phone them or email? It's usually pretty much instantaneous (unless you move to SuperMax).

Broadback · Feb 01, 2008, 17:30:20

Perhaps I should point out that it was a new version rather than an update.

Rik · Feb 01, 2008, 17:33:33

Ah, crossed wires - my brain was still on IDNet packages.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 11:38:02

I've decided to try and get Ubuntu running on my RAID 0 system today. Wish me luck.

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 11:53:36

If you're a bit quiet, we'll understand.

Broadback · Feb 03, 2008, 12:01:12

As I wrote elsewhere, on loding the new version I could not access the internet, and am not yet adept enough to set it up.

However I have now deleted it, done back to the original one, added the many updates available and all seems well. Still a long long way to go though.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 12:03:09

Quote from: Rik on Feb 03, 2008, 11:53:36
If you're a bit quiet, we'll understand.

I'm just doing a backup in case things go horribly wrong.

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 12:08:04

In case??!!?

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 14:58:00

Well, I've been trying for a few hours now and I think I'm going to have to give up.

Before I do, does anyone know how to format partitions (that I've already created, but are unformatted) without using gparted? I'm such a notive when it comes to Linux, and I can't work out how to use fdisk.

For example, one of my partitions is /dev/mapper/nvidia_dcahccdf3 and I want to format it ext3. How do I do this?

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 15:03:17

Does this help?

Broadback · Feb 03, 2008, 15:06:39

I found there was no need to do anything, I simply went to the web page, as on the first message in this thread, and followed instructions. It was just the same as loading any program in Windows XP. The only odd thing was after the first time loading Ubuntu it reverted to Windows, however the next and subsequent loads worked fine.
Doing anything in it apart from mail and browsing is a different matter. I tried following the instructions to install Java on:

https://jdk-distros.dev.java.net/ubuntu.html

I'm afraid that the instructions given were not correct (not the same responses to actions as predicted), however I bumbled through,guessing, and guess what, it did not work. I've spent hours at it and am shattered. I'll try again, maybe tomorrow, also I will try to get my Canon S900 printer to work (some hope!)

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 15:15:32

No can do. I'm following a "special" guide as I have a RAID 0 array. The array is now recognised and I have created the necessary partitions in gparted, but I have to format using something else, which I don't know how to do.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 15:16:17

Quote from: Rik on Feb 03, 2008, 15:03:17
Does this help?

Thanks, Rik, I'll give it a go now.

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 15:18:32

Good luck.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 15:27:52

I've given up, back in Windows now.

I think when the time comes to reinstall Vista, I'm going to get rid of the RAID 0 array as it's just making life difficult!

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 15:30:47

I've never been a great fan of RAID0 myself, too risky.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 15:34:31

I only went with it for performance, though I'm not convinced it's helping as Vista is still pretty sluggish. I can see myself going back to XP...

What would you recommend in terms of RAID, Rik?

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 15:40:06

I'd go with RAID1+0 or RAID5.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 15:49:05

I take it I need more than 2 discs, though?

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 15:50:24

Four for 1+0, three for 5.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 15:54:43

Ta, I'll look into it.