Day 24: Ubuntu Sevrer

   I was thinking about making a Ubuntu server out of Ubuntu Desktop.  It's fairly easy and good for slow PCs.  I might still do it but it's hard to get an old computer.  All mine are being used by other people.  So in the future I might make a tutorial on that but for today I had kind of a busy day so I can't really do much so bye.

Day 23: Today Ubuntu for Android

Though I don't have an android I have looked at the Ubuntu website and seen the Android version.  It sounds very well designed so far.  It is a great idea! I love how you can plug it into a monitor and use it like a PC. It's the future of tech.  I think if you have an Android it's a great thing to do and also I apologize for not being able to try it out.  It's not much of a post but if anyone's reading this I just wanted to say that I'm very interested in it and leave a comment about it if you've tried it out.   Lately I've been trying to jailbreak my iPod for that android type freedom.  So if anyone who reads this knows what I should do for IOS 6.1.3 I'd appreciate some feedback. 

Day 22: Arch Linux Part 4 (Sorry I Didn't Post Yesterday I Forgot What Day It Was, Oh These Crazy Summer Days)

Today I'm just telling you what you might want to put on to your Arch and teaching you how to add an important mirror (a mirror is what you download stuff from).
First of all, you might want to install Firefox or Google Chrome so you can browse the web.  You might already have one of these depending on what your desktop came with.  To install Firefox type
sudo pacman -S firefox to install chrome type sudo pacman -S chromium.
Second you might want to install Yaourt to install Yaourt you have to add a mirror, to do this type nano /etc/pacman.conf.  Then when your in pacman.conf go down to the bottom and copy and paste

[archlinuxfr]
 SigLevel = Never
 Server = http://repo.archlinux.fr/$arch 

into the document.  You've added the Arch User Repository to your mirrors.  Then install Yaourt with sudo pacman -S yaourt.  To use Yaourt type yaourt (the package you want to find).  Then it will search for that package.
You also might want to install Minecraft to do that type sudo pacman -S minecraft.  That's it for today folks see you tomorrow.

Day 22: Arch Linux Install Part 3

Step 18: Type pacman -S xorg-server xorg-server-utils xorg-xinit.  Then
pacman -S xorg-twn xorg-xclock xorg-xterm.  Then startx you after that there should be lines of code running down the screen.  Next you will be at a graphical interface with three terminals.  Exit by pressing the top left one and typing exit.
Step 19: When you're out of there type EDITOR=nano visudo.  You will be at a text document scroll down to the part that says %wheel%    ALL=ALL    (ALL) and uncomment (delete the # sign in front of it) it.  Then useradd -m -g user -G storage,power,wheel -s /bin/bash (username) and 
passwd (username).
Step 20: Now is the time to pick your desktop environment.  To see desktop environment reviews view my previous posts and at this link.
Step 21: If you chose Xfce4 then you can just type startxfce4 to run it, but if you chose something else then you'll have to edit .xinitrc to do this type nano .xinitrc and uncomment your desktop.  Then to start that desktop type startx.

Day 21: Arch Linux Install Part 2

Step 12: You will have to set up internet now.  It can be different for different computers so look on the Arch Wiki for that.
Step 13: Type systemctl enable dhcpcd.  Then shutdown -p -h now.
Step 14: Type nano /etc/pacman.conf and uncomment (delete the # symbol) multilib and the include under it.  Only do this if you have 64 bit.  Then update server list with pacman -Syy then you should see mulilib at the end.
Step 15: Type pacman -S also-utils.  Then type alsamixer and you will be at a key interface controlling your sound.
Step 16: Go to your master sound and press m to unmute and then turn up all the way.  Then go to your PCM and press m to umute and turn it up all the way.  Then press Esc to exit.
Step 17: Type speaker-test -c2 you should here some noise it's not a nice noise but kind of a mmmmmrmmmrmmrmr.  Press Crtl+C to exit.

Day 20: Arch Linux Install Part 1

Step 1: Boot from the Arch Linux installation media (it's really standard Linux stuff so if you don't know just look up installation media. A lot of people just use CDs for installation media).
Step 2: It will load a bunch of files, just sit there and let it do it's thing.  After it's done loading you will be at a command prompt.
Step 3: You will need to test internet, to do that type ping google.com.  If you have internet it should send you back information about Google's signal.  If you don't have internet it should say
ping: unknown host. This will also happen if you type Google wrong.
Step 4: You will need to make partitions.  First type cfdisk.  It will send you to a key interface to partition.  Create 3 partitions: one swap (optional if you have a lot of  RAM), one for storing files and one for installing.  Make the swap and the installation bootable by pressing the bootable button.
Step 5: Exit and save cfdisk.  Then type mkfs.ext4 (partition your install files on it will start with /dev/sd). Do the same for your storage partition.  Type mkswap (on the partition you swap on if you have one).  Then swapon (on your swap partition).
Step 6: Type mount (installation partition)/mnt.  Then mkdir /mnt/home.  Then finally
mount (storage partition) /mnt/home.
Step 7: Type pacstrap /mnt base base-devel.  You have installed the base system.
Step 8: Type genfstab /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab.
Step 9: To get into your install type arch-chroot /mnt.  Then passwd and it will ask you for your root password.
Step 10: Type pacman -S grub-bios.  Then grub-install /dev/sd(hard disk will be no number after).  Then grub-mkconfig /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
Step 11: Type umount /mnt/home and umount /mnt

Day 19

Gone fishin'... two posts tomorrow

Day 18: Conclusion

      Today we're going to go over the desktop environments I've written about and sum the series up. 

First Off Gnome

I'd say Gnome is for the productive user.  A user who needs to easily be able to do stuff but also wants beauty.  It's for the type of people who love beauty but still want to get the job done.

Xfce4

  For the user who doesn't want to go through editing .xinitrc.  This is the only desktop where you don't have to go through and make .xinitrc work with it.  You can start it with the command startxfce4.

KDE 

For the ease of the user.  With KDE you can make everything easy.  You can make it so there's a widget where you write your notes or where you put your important files or just to do anything.  KDE is to do anything with a click.

Unity

Unity is for the ease, the beauty and one of the stereo type desktops (because Ubuntu's is so popular).  Unity makes it easy to find anything you want.  What's not on your favorites bar is in dash home and can be found just with an easy click and a search.  Dash home can also be used to search music, movies and even more on the internet.

LXDE

For the slow PC.  LXDE is really just for the PC that runs really slow, there's nothing special about it.  But it's also good for the speedy user, the one that wants his computer as fast as can be.

Day 17: LXDE

     LXDE is a very fast lightweight desktop so much so they actually call it light weight desktop.  There isn't much beauty or complexity to it but if you have an old PC it zooms.  I haven't had much experience with LXDE but I've heard about it (and used it but not very often).  It's kind of an easy transition for Windows users because it has sort of an XP look to it.  I don't have much experience with this one but in my opinion I'd like something with more beauty but for old PCs it's a good choice.

Day 17: Unity

     Unity is the desktop environment that comes with Ubuntu.  It is a very nice looking desktop and very fast.  Though there is a bit of lag.  The only problem is that it doesn't load well on other distros than Ubuntu at the time being.  So this one might not be the best for your Arch install.

Day 17: KDE

    KDE is a desktop environment that is very, very nice.  It's not so much that it's pretty than that it has such a customizable look.  There are tons of widgets that you can get.  You can put panels anywhere.  KDE brings out some of the best in a distro.  Aside from the widgets it comes with a whole lot of programs, educational programs, games, and a whole lot more.  It's also very fast (at least in my experience).  The only thing is after KDE starts up you have to give it a few seconds until you click anything or it will freeze.

Day 16: Xfce4

      Xfce4 is a desktop environment that is very, very, very fast and lightweight.  It's not very pretty or flashy but it gets the job done.  Though it is not beautiful like Gnome you can download many things to make it look like what you want.  If your computer is very slow get Xfce4.  There's a Ubuntu with Xfce4 on it. It's called Xubuntu and to get it for Arch Linux type sudo pacman -S Xfce4.  That's about it for today, signing off -Sam.

Day 15: Desktop Environments

     Over the next few days I'm going to compare desktop environments to help you decide which one you want.

Gnome

Gnome is a pretty cozy desktop environment that has the nicest menu ever!  It is one of the best desktop environments there are for beauty and coziness but it seriously is logy.  It is the heaviest desktop.  If you're using it in Arch Linux inside VM ware then it's really, really slow.  It's beautiful, awesome and really just a great desktop but not the best for slow computers.  Tune in next time to hear about Xfce. 

Day 14: What To Do If You Forgot Your Ubuntu Password

      Today again we're not trying out a distro.  I'm just giving advice on how to recover your password.   

What To Do If You Forgot Your Ubuntu Password

        First, if you have a Grub menu you just select Recovery Mode, but if you do not have a Grub menu press shift or escape right before Ubuntu boots.  After you click on Recovery Mode you will see lines of code going down your screen, don't panic, just let it do it's thing.  Then when everything is loaded there should be a menu.  Select Root on the menu and click enter.  A command line should appear at the bottom of the screen.  Type mount -o rw,remount /.  After that if you don't know the user your changing, type ls -home then type passwd (user), then it will ask you for your new password.  After that is done type: exit.  You will be at the Recovery Mode menu again.  Select Resume Normal Boot.  Even though it has done a normal boot, it is not a clean boot, some things don't work right, so you should probably reboot after that.              

Day 13: Just A Talk

     Today was one of those days that I'm not going to write a whole lot of Linux stuff.  Since it's a holiday and I have been doing holiday things and just taking a break and playing some games.  On holidays I might or might not post.  I hope you don't mind but if you do leave a comment about how often I should blog, sorry it's not Linux.  Happy Fourth of July!

                                                                            Signing Off,
                                                                             Sam



              

Day 12: Just A Tip

    Today I thought instead of showing off a new distro I would give you some tips about Linux in general.

First We Have Commonly Used Commands

Arch Linux and Pacman based distros 

sudo pacman -S (package) 

Installs a package.

sudo pacman -Rs

Removes a package.

sudo pacman -Syy

Upgrades mirrors and recognizes new ones.

sudo pacman -Syu

Upgrades a package.

Universal Commands

cd

Change Directory

useradd -m -g (group) -G (additional group) -s (login shell) (username)

This is to add a user.  You may have to change it slightly for the distro you're using but often it's pretty similar to this.

More Linux tips tomorrow. . .

Day 11: Sabayon

      Sabayon is a nice looking traditionally KDE distro.  It has Chromium as a web browser which is kind of strange because most Linux distros have Firefox.  The thing that makes this distro stand out is it's Gentoo based.  If you don't know what Gentoo is it's one of the most complicated distros ever.  Gentoo is designed so that it perfectly fits the hardware of the installer by how they configure the install.  It's cool that someone took Gentoo and made it easier to install but that kind of defeats the purpose.  The purpose of Gentoo is to make something that fits perfectly to your hardware, something that's perfectly tuned to your system.  Sabayon is nice and all but I don't know if I'd really like it to be my one OS.

Day 10: Xubuntu

      Xubuntu is a distro made by Canonical (the makers of Ubuntu).  The first thing you might notice about Xubuntu is it's very similar to Ubuntu except it has the Xfce desktop.  If you look a little closer you might see there's a little bit of a difference.  Ubuntu comes with Libre Office, Xubuntu comes with Abiword.  Ubuntu comes with Rhythmbox, Xubuntu comes with Gmusicbrowser.  There are not very many more differences though.  But if your bored with Ubuntu's user interface then come try out Xubuntu.  As always it's a Canonical size download, a tiny 700MB live CD.