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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  - Reference: AMD64/FirefoxAndPlugins (A bit out-of-date for Ubuntu 8.10 (amd64), which seems to have easier setup, at the time of this writing)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.