Linux Tutorial

Installing Mandriva

Yesterday I had to install Mandriva on my PC. My preferred medium is the DVD, in fact, downloading the free version (iso 4.3GB) you get a complete picture with a lot of software available, you get cleaner installation and you have the choice of either desktop environment, both programs to be installed (also classified by category).

The problem is that the DVD should have a DVD and a DVD player on your PC when you install the operating system, for the second there are no problems, but I was lacking the first or last, and I did not want to go out and buy one.

Searching Google I found that you can install Mandriva leaving just downloaded the iso of the DVD to hard disk. To start the PC is still a cd or usb memory that allows the installer to start. This can be found in any Mandriva mirror in the path “official/2010.0/x86_64/install/images/“, adapted of course to the version and architecture used.

In this route there are several files, two are those that serve: all.img can be copied to the USB memory with the command

dd if=all.img of=/dev/sdb

(sdb is the USB meoria) boot. ISO is an ISO image to burn to a CD.

When booting the PC with one of the pictures above, a menu that asks which installation method you want to use. You can choose to do the network installation, hard drive or if you choose the path you will be asked where is the iso image, after these steps, the installation proceeds in the traditional way and very quickly.

For the record, this time I wanted to change the desktop and choose GNOME, you can still install KDE in the future, choosing the package manager “task-kde4” or “task-kde4-minimal” if you want to do a minimal installation.

The new Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric brings with it many new features including the final changeover to Gnome 3 which carries with it significant improvements and changes in the management of our distribution.

In fact, the new Gnome 3 will change the management of such settings are no longer present no default handler of themes and icons, just go to System Settings to note that we can just change the background in the same window and change the theme but for example if we want to change the favorite icons or font this is not possible.

At the request of some readers in this article, we’ll customize your new doors Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric changing the theme and the set of icons is all we have Unity, Gnome or Gnome Classic Shell. Here’s how.

On the net we find many themes and icons to be included in our distribution pass, however, by Gnome 3 Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric leads to some things before adding a new theme in our distribution. In fact the theme to work on Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric will be compatible with the new GTK3 otherwise we can not install it. For the set of icons instead we will have no problem.

In order to manage and change the theme and the set of icons on Gnome Ubuntu Tweak 11.10 Oneiric Tools we will install an application which allows us to add new features to customize the desktop environment that is our new Unity Shell to install Gnome or simply look on Ubuntu Software Centre or alternatively just start the terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool

and confirm

At this point we can download to add the theme and set of icons you want, I advise you to find the 2 most famous sites like deviantart and gnome-look.

After downloading the theme or set of icons are usually also present the information as an alternative to install just download the folder and copy the theme folder. Themes present in our home (to view just click Ctrl + H if c’is enough to create it) and copy the folder icons always in the folder. icons present in our home (to view just click Ctrl + H if there is not enough to create it)

Once copied the theme folder to the folder icons or just start Gnome Tweak Tools and go to the section called Theme and choose the new theme or set of icons that we will find the right theme for GTK+ theme and icons.

Now we will have our new theme or set of icons in our Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric.

In case of problems or more information, please report it by simply commenting on this simple guide.

Unity, the default shell in Ubuntu 11.04 and later will enjoy or not but it is undeniable to say that the developers have done a great job last year even considering that rely on graphics drivers on Linux often involves the appearance of bug directly attributable to the program that uses it.

A few days ago he attempted to Reddit question and answer session with the participation of the leading developers of Unity, which have declined to say as an introduction to their almost total alienation from the process design of Unity. So many questions, and especially so many interesting answers …

Apparently for Ubuntu 12.04 will undergo other interesting changes Unity (now private) that should not affect the stability of a suitable LTS. Among these, however, may not be able to change the location of the launcher and its much-desired thermization.

Ubuntu 12.04 should also be solved the bug that causes a crash if you want to enable/disable a plugin by Compiz Config Settings Manager.

Also interesting is the question “Why develop Gnome Shell Unity if we already have?”. Recalling that when the development of Unity has begun Gnome Shell proceeded rather slowly, Jason Smith (aka the creator of Docky BOD) pointed out that the latter did not like what they really were the technologies on which it was based. Sam Spillaz noted also that this would be like asking the question why there are competing projects such as Gnome, KDE and XFCE. Free competition in free markets in short.

P.S. major improvements are on the way to reduce the startup time to login.

The terminal is the key instrument in each of its various Linux distributions available today. It is therefore very important to use it as convenient as possible.

Guake is a new way to bring up the terminal, allowing not only a convenient use of the same, even integration within a more pleasant workspace.

Once started, Guake can recall the terminal keyboard – using the F12 key by default – which is presented differently from how we used to. It is not the classic open window, but sort of semi-transparent layer that is placed on top of all windows that are open on the workspace, which is instantiated inside the terminal. In short, it is a sort of drop-down terminal that plugs from the top of the screen. In addition to providing support for tabs, Guake also has a series of pre-configured keyboard shortcuts that allow you to use it.

The application is widely configurable. First, you can choose the shell interpreter that you prefer to take lending itself well to different uses. In addition, you can manage other parameters like autoscroll, hotkeys and appearances including fonts used in graphics, color and background. Guake is available for several Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Gentoo. To install under Ubuntu Guake the following command:

     sudo apt-get install Guake

For the uninitiated the GNOME Shell Extensions is an official project of the Gnome team which allow you to add new features to Gnome Shell.

We could for example add the permanent dock on the right side of the desktop, add the POWER button on a permanent basis, add new themes in a simple and fast and much more.

As mentioned in previous articles the GNOME Shell Extensions are already present in the official repositories for Ubuntu and Fedora 15 (today) are not yet present.

For this reason we decided to start in GNOME PPP LffL Shell Extensions with which we can install our extensions with ease and keep up to date.

Here’s how to install GNOME from Gnome Shell Extensions PPAsu Ubuntu.

To install GNOME on Ubuntu Shell Extensions 11:10 to 11:04 just start the terminal and type:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa ferramroberto/gnome3
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extensions-common

At this point we can install our extensions, we will find in the Ubuntu Software Center or by typing in a terminal:

1. gnome shell extensions-alternate-tab: Use Alt + Tab classic based on the windows instead of applications in GNOME Shell.

To install it just type in terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extensions-alternate-tab

2. gnome shell extensions-status-menu-options: add the button turns off permanently without any time by pressing Alt to make it appear.

To install it just type in terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extensions-status-options-menu

3. gnome shell extensions-auto-move-windows: Allows you to manage the work areas more easily, the assignment of a working space for each application, as soon as you start a dialog.

To install it just type in terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extensions-windows-auto-move

4. gnome shell extensions-dock: It does nothing but add a permanent dock on the right side of the desktop. This is the same dock that appears when you access ACTIVITY ‘

To install it just type in terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extensions-dock

5. gnome shell extensions-Gajim: Adds integration with Gnome on our Shell Gajim

To install it just type in terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extensions-Gajim

6. gnome-user-shell-extensions-theme: to choose new themes in a simple and fast!

To install it just type in terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-user-shell-extensions-theme

7. gnome-shell-extensions-windows-navigator: allows the selection with the keyboard in windows in the areas of work in overlay mode

To install it just type in terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extensions-windows-navigator

8. gnome-shell-extensions-xrandr-indicator: it replaces the indicator based on GTK + gnome-settings-daemon with a native Allows the user to rotate the monitor of the laptop

To install it just type in terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-extensions-xrandr-indicator

Once installed you must reboot to activate the extension Gnome Shell to do this press ALT + F2 and give the command r

Now we have started our extension on our Gnome 3

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