This is a walk through for installing Ubuntu with all the customisations I use.
Update the proxy server
sudo vi /etc/environment
...
http_proxy="http://proxy:3128/"
ftp_proxy="ftp://proxy:3128/"
https_proxy="https://proxy:3128/"
Include Canonical’s partners
Uncomment the following lines
sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list
...
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner
...
Install the NVidia drivers
System ~ Administration ~ Hardware Drivers
or
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-source linux-headers-`uname -r`
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings
sudo /sbin/lsmod | grep nvidia
sudo depmod -a
sudo modprobe nvidia_current
sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm restart
Packages
sudo apt-get install -y ntp
sudo apt-get install -y smartmontools
sudo apt-get install -y vlc mozilla-plugin-vlc vdpau-va-driver
sudo apt-get install -y mythtv-frontend mythtv-doc
sudo apt-get install -y mythtv-status mythgallery mythweather mythnews
sudo apt-get install -y mythvideo mythmusic projectm-pulseaudio libvisual-projectm
sudo apt-get install -y mythbuntu-lirc-generator
sudo apt-get install -y mythtv-theme-mythbuntu mythbuntu-apple-trailers
sudo apt-get install -y nfs-kernel-server
sudo apt-get install -y ssh
sudo apt-get install -y iotop
sudo apt-get install -y hplip-gui
sudo apt-get install -y k9copy
sudo apt-get install -y default-jre default-jdk default-jdk-doc libmysql-java
sudo apt-get install -y unrar rar
sudo apt-get install -y unison unison-gtk
sudo apt-get install -y flashplugin-installer
sudo apt-get install -y devede
sudo apt-get install -y mplayer
sudo apt-get install -y ubuntu-restricted-extras
sudo apt-get install -y ffmpeg
sudo apt-get install -y lirc
sudo apt-get install -y eyed3
sudo apt-get install -y kid3-qt
sudo apt-get install -y mkvtoolnix
#sudo apt-get install -y picard
sudo apt-get install -y traceroute
sudo apt-get install -y gnome-do
sudo apt-get install -y compizconfig-settings-manager
# Not sure if these are necessary
# sudo apt-get install -y gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3 gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad
Server only
sudo apt-get install -y mythtv-backend mythweb
sudo apt-get install -y samba samba-tools
sudo apt-get install -y mdadm
Desktop only
sudo apt-get install -y netbeans maven2
sudo apt-get install -y tomcat6 tomcat6-admin tomcat6-docs tomcat6-examples
sudo apt-get install -y glassfish-javaee
sudo apt-get install -y mysql-admin
sudo apt-get install -y skype
sudo apt-get install -y blueman
sudo apt-get install -y wally
sudo apt-get install -y xsane
sudo apt-get install -y xbindkeys xautomation
Chrome
wget -q -O - dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -
sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google.list'
sudo apt-get -q update
sudo apt-get install -y google-chrome-stable
Grub-customizer
This can configure grub, and is useful for adding custom resolutions for monitors that are TVs
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install grub-customizer
Medibuntu
From Medibuntu
Ubuntu Geek – Installing multimedia Codecs
sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list
sudo apt-get -q update
sudo apt-get --yes -q --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring
sudo apt-get -q update
# For i386 Users install Codecs using the following command
sudo apt-get install w32codecs libdvdcss2
# For amd64 Users install Codecs using the following command
sudo apt-get install w64codecs libdvdcss2
XMBC
From XMBC wiki
sudo apt-get install -y python-software-properties pkg-config
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y xbmc xbmc-standalone
sudo apt-get update
Kid3 ID3 tag editor
Download from Kid3 as Ubuntu 10.04 shows 1.3 rather than the latest 1.5.
There is a requirement to update the qt libraries when using 1.5 rather than the Ubuntu inbuilt 1.3
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:msb/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y kid3-qt
sudo apt-get update
Flash 64bit
Taken from Help4Linux
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sevenmachines/flash
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install flashplugin64-installer
Handbrake
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stebbins/handbrake-releases
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install handbrake-gtk handbrake-cli
Can try ppa:stebbins/handbrake-snapshots if things are not working.
Banshee daily builds
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:banshee-team/banshee-daily
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get -y upgrade
Firefox
Install the plugins
- Scribefire Blog Editor
- Blog url: http://lazygeek.co.uk/
- Use Metaweblog API
- Path http://lazygeek.co.uk/roller/roller-services/xmlrpc
- Adblock Plus
- Download Statusbar
- Fission
- GBookmarks
Panel Customisation (10.10)
- Add to Panel… ~ Remote Desktop Viewer
- Add to Panel… ~ System Monitor
Panel Customisation (11.04)
Weather
sudo apt-get install -y indicator-weather
System monitor
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:indicator-multiload/stable-daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y indicator-multiload
Key Indicator
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tsbarnes/indicator-keylock
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install indicator-keylock
Turn off update notifier
gconftool-2 --set /apps/update-notifier/auto_launch --type bool 0
Turn off Screen Lock
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-screensaver/lock_enabled --type bool 0
Note this you seem to have to go into gconf-editor to disable screen lock for hibernate/sleep, the command line does not work!
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-power-manager/lock/hibernate --type bool 0
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-power-manager/lock/suspend --type bool 0
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/suspend --type string "nothing"
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power button-suspend "nothing"
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power button-sleep "nothing"
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power button-hibernate "nothing"
Power Management settings
Enable the disks to spin down if required
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-power-manager/disks/spindown_enable_battery --type bool 1
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-power-manager/disks/spindown_enable_ac --type bool 1
Network mounts
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/apps /mnt/backup /mnt/films /mnt/home /mnt/inbox /mnt/library /mnt/mirrors /mnt/tv /mnt/music /mnt/software /mnt/vmachines /mnt/myth
sudo vi /etc/fstab
# NFS Volumes
homer:/media/apps /mnt/apps nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/backup /mnt/backup nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/films /mnt/films nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/home /mnt/home nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/inbox /mnt/inbox nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/library /mnt/library nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/mirrors /mnt/mirrors nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/tv /mnt/tv nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/music /mnt/music nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/software /mnt/software nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
homer:/media/vmachines /mnt/vmachines nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
myth:/media/myth /mnt/myth nfs rw,hard,intr 0 0
sudo mountall
Setup symbolic links
cd /mnt
sudo ln -s /mnt/library/music
sudo ln -s /mnt/store/apps
sudo ln -s /mnt/store/backup
sudo ln -s /mnt/store/software
sudo ln -s /mnt/store/home/rob robs
cd ~
ln -s /mnt/apps/bin
rmdir Videos; ln -s /mnt/films Videos
rmdir Pictures; ln -s /mnt/home/rob/My\ Pictures Pictures
rmdir Music; ln -s /mnt/music Music
rmdir Documents; ln -s /mnt/home/rob Documents
rmdir Downloads; ln -s /mnt/inbox Downloads
HP Photosmart C7280
- System ~ Administration ~ Printing
The printer should appear after a delay within the network section, make sure the HP hplip drivers are selected.
Configure the Remote Desktop
gconftool-2 --set /desktop/gnome/remote_access/enabled --type bool 1
gconftool-2 --set /desktop/gnome/remote_access/prompt_enabled --type bool 0
gconftool-2 --set /desktop/gnome/remote_access/vnc_password --type string $(echo -n 'mypassword'|base64)
Configure Terminal
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/use_system_font --type bool 0
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/font --type string "Monospace 8"
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/default_show_menubar --type bool 0
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/scrollback_unlimited --type bool 1
Configure Nautilus
gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/default_folder_viewer --type string "list_view"
gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_directory_item_counts --type string "always"
gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_image_thumbnails --type string "always"
# Not sure how to set -1 (which the GUI does for no limit)
# gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/thumbnail_limit --type int "-1"
gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/thumbnail_limit --type int 301989888
gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/list_view/default_zoom_level --type string "smallest"
Configure the appearance
gconftool-2 --set /desktop/gnome/interface/font_name --type string "Ubuntu 9"
gconftool-2 --set /desktop/gnome/interface/document_font_name --type string "Sans 9"
gconftool-2 --set /desktop/gnome/interface/monospace_font_name --type string "Monospace 9"
gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/general/titlebar_font --type string "Ubuntu Bold 9"
gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/desktop_font --type string "Ubuntu 9"
Configure Evolution
Setup Mail, Calendar and Contacts to sync with google
Configure NTP System
sudo vi /etc/ntp.conf
...
server time
Configure MythTV
sudo dpkg-reconfigure mythtv-common
Edit Password stored in /etc/mythtv/mysql.txt
Configure Rhythmbox
Set the default library location
gconftool-2 --set /apps/rhythmbox/library_locations --type string "[file:///home/rob/Music/library]"
Configure bluetooth
The default PIN for a mouse is 0000 \\
Add the hid_apple module to be loaded at boot time (will allow the keyboard to work). make sure you repeat the PIN on the actual keyboard as well as the input box.
sudo vi /etc/modules
...
hid_apple
The bluez package that comes with Ubuntu 10.10 doesn’t seem to like the apple keyboard and mouse. Use a later ppa instead. See the bug here
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:brian-rogers/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install bluez
Fix Grub autobooting on bluetooth keyboards
If booting fails for some reason grub will set the recordfail flag so you can choose another kernel if required. The problem is that it sets the timeout to -1 so if you are using a bluetooth keyboard you cannot press enter. Fix this by changing the timeout from -1 to a sensible value:
sudo vi /etc/grub.d/00_header
...
make_timeout ()
{
cat << EOF
if [ "\${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
# Updated from -1 to 10 to still allow auto-booting
#set timeout=-1
set timeout=10
else
set timeout=${2}
fi
EOF
}
...
Now update grub
sudo update-grub