Linux Tutorial

Introduction

One of the strengths of Linux Mint Debian is that it is a rolling distribution. Users enjoy a steady stream of updates from the repository, which keeps the system updated without the need to transition to new versions or reinstalling the operating system.

When the updates are important and affect the sensitive part of the system, some experience is required by the user. New updates may ask for something with which you are not familiar, like some post-configuration actions and if you make a mistake or do not have the knowledge to fix things, you could end up with a system partially or completely damaged.

Debian Linux Mint is snappy, fast, elegant and rolling his appearance makes him a brilliant operating system for those savvy enough that they can get around with APT occasional problems. And ‘know what’s prompted the making. [...]
Debian Linux Mint is great but not for everyone. Today we are making it easier and easier to use.

The current situation

Package upgrades are available in Debian Testing almost every day. Depending on how users update their system, they can be faced with different problems and different versions of packages that make it difficult for them to seek help and find solutions. Very few people are selective in nature, and upgrades of rolling LMDE, however, pushes people to complete updates. The consequence is that after a regression, people are rarely aware of what package caused the problem. And even if they were, the same version of the package may cause the same problem for other users depending on the version that have updated.

Because things are constantly changing and that people do not update at the same time, or so often, it is difficult to find people with the same problem and it is difficult to talk about alternatives or solutions.

Currently, users rely LMDE forum. They are using this huge mega-thread in a chaotic attempt to get organized: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=67502
And ‘less than ideal, but better than nothing. And thanks to some very dedicated people, they do so to find alternative solutions, users LMDE have a place to look.

Improvements

What we’re doing today is to address this problem with the following changes:

• A repository that reflects the new Debian Testing on a monthly basis and gives the state a number of packages frozen “package up”.
• A fork of the Linux Mint Update Manager Update, specifically designed for LMDE.
• Channels for communication between the teams and the most active users LMDE to gather feedback and disseminate information efficiently.

Repository “Latest Linux Mint Debian”

By changing APT sources and replacing with the Debian Testing repository of Debian Linux Mint, basically bet on a Debian Testing frozen in time and updated once a month. By the time the next batch of updates will become available, the Linux Mint team has had time to tweak the packages in the repository of Linux Mint and document the information necessary to complete an upgrade easy and secure.

As an example, Gnome 3 is going to be included in a Debian Testing repository. Pointing to the Linux Mint Debian repository Latest insurance for you to update, after the Linux Mint team has tested the upgrade and collected valuable information on it.
Sometimes, things go wrong in Debian Testing and are corrected a couple of days later. When this happens, the Linux Mint repositories Latest Debian simply is not updated. We wait until the testing branch of Debian is stable again and only then you will get updates.
This is a compromise between a system and a stable rolling. We will launch the project on a monthly basis and we will know what you are preparing for you.

The repository “Linux Mint Debian Incoming”

Obviously we will need some help and now more than ever we rely on the community and users to help each other. To facilitate this process, we are opening another file called “Incoming”, which is downstream from upstream Debian Testing the “Latest”. In other words, first update the repository “Incoming”. We test things and collect information from people using the repository “Incoming”. And when we are satisfied with the situation, we aim to archive “Latest” on the “Incoming”.

Each time we update Debian testing we increase the number of what is called “Update Pack”, the set of all package updates available. Thus, each packet is updated first made available on the repository “Incoming” for testers and power users that can give us feedback on the repository and then “Latest” for all other users.

The new Update Manager LMDE

The first thing you notice is a new button called “Info Pack Update.” Please click this button for more information about updates that are available to you.

You’ll also notice that the level of filtering is no more. This feature is much more sensible for a distro like Ubuntu, but as a distribution LMDE rolling, it is best to keep up with all packages.
Of course, all the traditional features of MintUpdate there are still between them and the ability to block and ignore the updates of the package.
When you click on the “Updated Information on Package”, a new screen appears:

At the top you can see the configuration of the system. If you are missing a repository or if you are aiming for one too, you will be notified of a mistake.
As a user is supposed LMDE bets at 2 separate repositories;

• The Linux Mint repositories (deb debian http://packages.linuxmint.com/ main upstream import)
• A Debian Testing repository … Here you can choose and then with 1 indicating one of the following repositories:
• You can bet on the repository “Latest” (deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest testing main contrib non-free)
• It can act as a guinea pig for others and help the team with the testing repo pointing to the “Incoming” (deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/incoming testing main contrib non-free)
• You can point directly to the Debian Testing repositories and to get rid of it (deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian testing main contrib non-free)

Under the system configuration, you can view the number of updated packages currently available, and the last update package from which is extracted an update.
And finally, beneath all this, is what matters most: The information you are looking for an upgrade in security guaranteed.
Attention is brand new

Before you go ahead and say how to update the system … I would like to warn everyone that it is a brand new way! It ‘a new concept, it is a new Update Manager and a new server. Like everything is new in the IT industry makes big promises, and although it is well designed, has never been used before on a large scale before and has not yet faced the test of the community.
For this reason, if you are not interested in helping the team and the project LMDE, I suggest you wait for the rejected LMDE of which will arrive this summer and that this allocation will be fully integrated.

Getting Started
As a user

Wait for a few days until we start to receive some feedback on this new technology. We will then fix any bugs and when everything is ready, it will be easier to replace your version of MintUpdate.

As a tester

Install the package “debian-MintUpdate”, which will replace “MintUpdate”, “mint-meta-common” and “mint-meta-debian”. In your / etc / apt / sources.list, replace “deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian testing main contrib non-free” with “testing main contrib deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/incoming non-free ”
Enjoy the new debian-MintUpdate and reported bugs and feedback as comments here on the blog.
Every time there is a rupture of the package of a regression or updated, please notify the team using the following forum thread: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=187&p=444219 # p444219

Questions and comments

Let us know what you think and what is your experience with this new server, with the new Update Manager and Update Packs. Update Manager is a fork of the existing one so it should be fairly stable. The server is located in Denver, United States, and provides 1 Gbps of bandwidth, unlimited and so it should be efficient. The principle of updating packages should make things clearer and easier to document for users. In the future we will improve the process of communication between the testers and the team and provide a mirror of this repository in different places in the world.

It ‘important that information on this new project, to improve it. It ‘a really exciting development for LMDE and should make life much easier for many users.

If the latest edition of Ubuntu will have disappointed or you do not completely convinced, Linux Mint “Debian Edition” is a candidate to become a practical alternative. Increased speed, lightness in startup and in memory, compatibility with packages. Deb and GNOME are just some of the strengths of this distribution.

Installed the system and presented some of its aspects, we pass to the initial configuration needed to get the most out of Debian Mint.

Updates

Once installed you should immediately update the distribution to get the latest versions of programs and receive the improvements made to system files.

Just click on the icon shaped like a shield present in the system tray.

We will ask the system password. We type and click OK or press Enter.

After entering the password, the operator will connect to the server Mint to check for updates.

Click Select All at the top, followed by Install updates.

The first update can be quite long, because of the numerous packages available for download.

After downloading the necessary packages must close the log window to start the update

During the upgrade confirmation window may appear or configuration, in particular if the update is GRUB or other vital components for the system.

Simply respond yes to every request, for example, clicking on Replace.

When upgrading the GRUB window looks like this.

Simply select the first item (in my case /dev/sda) to install GRUB to the MBR of the new hard drive.

The first update may take away over half an hour, but subsequent updates are much lighter and faster.

Language and Translation System programs

Unfortunately, the distribution is not equipped with a graphical tool to change the system language or to “translate” the programs of the distribution.

The only way to change the system language is to act as terminal.

Open a terminal window and type sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales and insert the system password.

The configuration window will allow us to choose the desired language.

For the Italian language select en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8, using the scroll keys on your keyboard and pressing Enter to continue.

The next window will let us choose which language to use package.

Choose your language Italian en_US.UTF-8 with the keyboard and press Enter.

The translation of the warning messages and certain components of the system is not complete: you can get a full translation by activating only the repository of Mint Debian unstable (Romeo), shown later in the article.

Translation Programs

The packages to translate the individual programs are installed from package manager.

Just look for the string l10n followed by the name of the program that interests us.

To translate Firefox for example, type firefox l10n

Scroll down the list and install the package selected in the figure.

Just give to translate OpenOffice openoffice l10n

Install the package highlighted.

To update and install Thunderbird Thunderbird l10n insert its package for the language

Selected packages of interest to us, we click on Apply at the top to make the changes effective.

Other programs are looking for translatable language pack.

Video driver installation and activation 3D Acceleration

Let’s see how you can install the appropriate video driver for the type of video card and how to activate 3D acceleration.

Open source video drivers

The driver works with pre-installed in the system and used upon any VGA: ATI/AMD, NVIDIA and Intel.

It is recommended if you do not want to install proprietary drivers, or if they are not compatible.

If you have a model AMD / ATI does not fall into the category “HD series” or an Intel graphics card can only use this driver and if you use a model AMD / ATI HD series or NVIDIA can use the proprietary driver, usually much more powerful and stable than Open.

Open the driver should not be installed, but is disabled by default.

To activate open the package manager and look for the package libgl1-mesa-dri

Install the package by double-clicking, then click on Apply.

After installation, reboot the system.

Now to test the graphics acceleration drivers and launch a terminal glxinfo | grep render

If the output is similar to that of the image, the driver is up and running.

NVIDIA Video Driver Owner

If we want the most out of our card we have to install the NVIDIA proprietary driver.

To do this open the terminal and type

displays in pure Text printed copy of notes?

    at -> enter password
    apt-get install module-assistant
    apt-get install nvidia-kernel-common
    apt-get install nvidia-glx
    apt-get install kernel-source-NVIDIA
    apt-get install nvidia-xconfig

Installed packages activate the driver by running from the same terminal

    m-to prepare
    m-a a-i nvidia
    modprobe nvidia
    nvidia-xconfig

Reboot the PC.

Test the driver by running the command from terminal glxinfo | grep render

Proprietary Video Drivers ATI / AMD

Proprietary drivers are available only for newer models, those identified by the initials “HD series.”

All previous models can only use the open drivers.

Here’s how:

• We download the correct driver from here

• The downloaded file is moved to the Home of your system

• Rename the file driver.run

• Open a terminal and type cd/home username (insert our user name)

• We make the file executable by typing chmod a + rwx driver.run

• Execute the file by typing sudo /driver.run

• We follow the prompts until installation is complete.

• To activate the driver by typing sudo always aticonfig - initial-f

• Reboot and check the operation of the driver with the command glxinfo | grep render

See the next :

- Guide to Linux Mint “Debian Edition” : Presentation distribution
- Guide to Linux Mint “Debian Edition” : Initial Configurations

If the latest edition of Ubuntu will have disappointed or you do not completely convinced, Linux Mint “Debian Edition” is a candidate to become a practical alternative.

Increased speed, lightness in startup and in memory, compatibility with packages. Deb and GNOME are just some of the strengths of this distribution.

If previously you’ve seen Guide to Linux Mint “Debian Edition” so this time we will show some applications that in Debian Mint.

Welcome us to reboot the login screen.

Click on our user name and enter the password.

We welcome your desktop Mint Debian.

The GNOME desktop environment is used, then those who have already used Ubuntu will not feel completely lost.

Menu Bar located at the bottom and compact Windows-style.

The first news are visible by opening the menu, clicking on the homonymous button at the bottom left.

The menu is divided into sections and allows you to control every aspect of the OS:

The Resources section (1) allows:

• access to PC peripherals (Computer icon)
• to open the user folder (Home Folder Icon)
• access to shared folders on your PC or network (Network icon)
• shows the desktop and the Recycle Bin

The System section (2) allows:

• install / uninstall programs (Icon Management Software)
• install / uninstall system packages (Package Manager icon)
• to manage and administer the operating system (Control Center icon)
• to open a command shell (Terminal icon)
• to lock the screen from prying eyes (Lock screen icon)
• Terminates the current user’s session (Icon End Session)
• to turn off / reboot / suspend / hibernate the system (Exit icon)

The Favorites section (3) lays down a list of programs for quick access, the section is fully customizable, we can add or remove programs according to our needs.

Clicking on the All Applications (4) we have access to all applications in the operating system, including tools and programs management system.

All programs are divided into categories for simplicity and order.

The search bar (5) allows you to search for a specific program or tool, without going crazy between the various categories.

Activating the team repository Mint (more information later in the article) the bar then capture new and interesting functions: allows you to search for the software you want on Google, Wikipedia, among the files on your PC, or seeking the meaning of a word entered Dictionary . If the server software is available in Mint just click on “Install Package” to install.

A Search Bar “Intelligent”.

Presentation Programs

Like all GNU / Linux, Debian Mint has a broad range of software preinstalled, can meet all the needs in the home.

Here is an overview of the various categories:
Accessories

On the menu are various tools like the calculator, the manager of the archives, the viewer virtual post-it notes and a text editor.

Audio and Video

In this menu there is everything you need for multimedia: Burn program, many audio / video players (including VLC) and a number of programs to manage the audio system.

The distribution is already equipped with all the necessary codecs, do not install anything else.

Graphics

The menu for those who love the graphics: there is GIMP, a Photoshop substitute, F-Spot to organize your photos; Draw to draw and a valuable tool to capture images from the scanner.

Internet

The menu dedicated to programs to access the network: a web browser (Firefox), a messaging client (Pidgin), an email client (Thunderbird), a BitTorrent client (Transmission), an IRC chat client (Xchat) a client for microblogging and Facebook (Gwibber) and a client for sharing files (Giver).

System Tools

A menu of “administrative” allows you to manage disks and get more information on performance, you can open the system monitor (task manager Mint) interesting and other administrative functions.

Office

This menu is available in the OpenOffice.org suite of programs, there is also a multilingual dictionary.

You need not install anything else: the distribution has all the tools to create and edit documents, presentations, spreadsheets and databases.

Administration

The second tab “administration” offers advanced configuration of the system.

Among the most interesting: the tools to block certain domain names, the tool to install the Windows driver for the wireless card and the update manager.

Many of these features are available on one screen by clicking on Control Panel in the Start menu.

Preferences

In this menu, highlight: Application startup, to manage the autostart programs; Appearance (to customize the interface and menu system), Keyboard Shortcuts and other useful administrative tools.

The ability to customize the distribution are indeed numerous.

See the next :

- Guide to Linux Mint “Debian Edition” : Presentation distribution
- Guide to Linux Mint “Debian Edition” : Initial Configurations

In late May, came the popular user-friendly distribution of Linux Mint 11, code-named Katya. His foundation has served Ubuntu 11.04. In the latter as a working medium Unity, although Gnome 2.32, you can choose in registration window. I wonder what twisted developers Linux Mint?

Sam Linux Mint uses a number of additional applications that simplify the work, especially for beginners. For additional information, is painted in the review of Linux Mint 9. Interestingly, the Ubuntu itself to some extent should the ideas incorporated in Linux Mint. For example, a user-friendly Ubuntu Software Center allows you to install applications with just one click, even though the version offered by Linux Mint is more convenient.
Linux Mint version 11 is still the one shell and the developers did not take risks and go to Unity left the good old Gnome. Variants with KDE, LXDE is not available. Available in 32 and 64 versions on CD and DVD. CD version contains no proprietary software such as Adobe Flash and Java and codecs, and is focused on countries like the U.S. and Japan, where he fought in all of non-infringement.

While almost all can be set by selecting items «Menu – Administration – Upgrade to the DVD Edition» and «Menu – Sound and Video – Install Multimedia Codecs«. It is also proposed and signed by both the OEM version, designed for computer vendors.
The key is the kernel 2.6.38, Gnome 2.32, Xorg 7.6. As in the list supplied by Ubuntu changed the default programs. From the basic kit is excluded Gwibber, instead of F-Spot photo viewer using gThumb, instead of Rhythmbox music player comes Banshee, OpenOffice.org office suite instead of using LibreOffice. From the supply removed padevchooser, paman, paprefs, pavumeter and pavucontrol.
By the way since the previous draft article got another version of the distribution based on Debian. Given that it’s rolling release that makes it interesting.
In Ubuntu, the system can be installed immediately at the time of loading in Live mode, Linux Mint is loaded directly into the shell and to install, choose the label “Install Linux Mint “.

The process itself can not be called sophisticated. In the course should select the language of the system (will be automatically downloaded language packs), partition the drive and set the user credentials.

All this is shown in the video.

Significant changes in not observed. Designers use several redesigned in the style of Windows – GNOME, when the bottom is familiar to many users panel.

This simplifies the adaptation of newcomers, as it costs no culture shock, which may be different. New wallpaper and slightly changed the desktop theme. The slider bar appears when you hover the mouse, this will have to get used to. All dialogs are straining less hiding automatically shut down. Many operations are performed in the background. If, for example installation of the application will not fail, the user is not even displayed a message.
Program Manager has large icons, added a new category of fonts. Adapted and contents of the screen with information about the selected application. Increased screen, the user has the ability to assess the function and place that would require the program to disk and the amount of downloaded data. Search now takes into account not only the program name and description.

In the press release says the best treatment for dependencies in the Update Manager, the eye is to evaluate seriously, although in comparison with other than Linux Mint 9 software updates get faster. mintDesktop now adapted not only for GNOME, and is used with other media.

Well, Linux Mint is still pleased with the convenience and stability

This article on what’s new in LM9 LXDE is 90% identical to the latest edition of the “Main”. So I have translated the parties specific LM9 LXDE.

Enjoy!

Based on Lubuntu 10.04, Linux 2.6.32, Openbox 3.4.10, LXSession 0.4.3, and Xorg 1.7.5, Linux Mint 9 LXDE brings the experience of a computer graphic environment while providing full system resources, which makes it particularly suitable for older configurations and situations where speed is critical.

Linux Mint 9 LXDE

Improvements included in this version: LXDM, file manager PCManFM2 improved VLC installed by default, 30,000 applications cataloged and evaluate both online and in the new Software Manager, brand new backup tool for data and software installed, 3 years of support.

LXDM Display Manager

Linux Mint 9 LXDE is the first version to use LXDM as display manager. It is more compact and faster than many other comparable display managers and offers an excellent consideration of the location. He can also apply themes and it is easy to configure for automatic logon.

LM9 LXDE

PCManFM2 File Manager

File Manager for LXDE has been completely rewritten to ensure better consideration of assembly and disassembly of file systems, taking into account native baskets, and run automatically when certain types of media are inserted.

LM9 LXDE