Home > Store

Official Ubuntu Book, The, 8th Edition

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

Official Ubuntu Book, The, 8th Edition

Book

  • Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
Not for Sale

About

Features

  • Everything Ubuntu users need to know to make the most of the brand-new version of Ubuntu - from installation through desktop and server capabilities
  • Complete coverage of Unity, the default desktop for LTS Ubuntu 14.04
  • Co-marketed by Canonical with the official Ubuntu logo and an updated Foreword by Ubuntu project founder Mark Shuttleworth
  • Power users will quickly feel confident in their abilities to use, help and contribute to Ubuntu

Description

  • Copyright 2015
  • Dimensions: 7" x 9-1/8"
  • Edition: 8th
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-13-390539-X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-390539-7

The free Ubuntu operating system has won the hearts and minds of millions of users worldwide. It combines a strong technical platform, impressive quality, and an enthusiastic global community of users who relentlessly support, document, and test it.

The Official Ubuntu Book, Eighth Edition, has been extensively updated with a single goal: to make running today’s Ubuntu even more pleasant and productive for you. It’s the ideal one-stop knowledge source for Ubuntu novices, those upgrading from older versions or other Linux distributions, and anyone moving toward power-user status.

Its expert authors focus on what you need to know most about installation, applications, media, administration, software applications, and much more. You’ll discover powerful Unity desktop improvements that make Ubuntu even friendlier and more convenient. You’ll also connect with the amazing Ubuntu community and the incredible resources it offers you.

Learn how to

  • Reliably install, customize, and update Ubuntu for any home, business, school, or government environment
  • Get up and running quickly, and then explore Ubuntu and download powerful free software
  • Customize Ubuntu for performance, accessibility, and fun
  • Get comfortable with the highly efficient Ubuntu command line
  • Install, administer, and secure Ubuntu Server, including advanced features such as LVM and RAID
  • Get involved with related Ubuntu projects
  • Help build, promote, distribute, support, document, or translate Ubuntu
  • Get up-to-the-minute help and troubleshooting advice from Ubuntu users worldwide

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapters

Preface to "The Official Ubuntu Book, 8th Edition"

The Official Ubuntu Book, 8th Edition: Getting Started with Ubuntu

Table of Contents

Foreword to the Sixth Edition         xix

Foreword to the First Edition          xxi

Preface         xxvii

Acknowledgments         xxxi

About the Authors         xxxiii

Introduction         xxxv

Chapter 1: The Ubuntu Story          1

The Vision  2

Free Software, Open Source, and GNU/Linux  3

How the Vision Became Ubuntu  7

What Is Ubuntu?  12

Ubuntu Promises and Goals 17

Sustaining the Vision: Canonical and the Ubuntu Foundation 26

Beyond the Vision: Ubuntu Subprojects, Flavors, and Spin-Offs 31

Summary 33

Chapter 2: Installing Ubuntu          35

Choosing Your Ubuntu Version  36

Getting Ubuntu  38

Booting and Installing  42

Installing from the Minimal CD  54

Summary  61

Chapter 3: Getting Started with Ubuntu         63

Getting Acquainted with Unity  65

Using Applications  76

Using Ubuntu in Your Language  85

Configuring a Printer  86

Keeping Your Computer Updated  90

Adding and Removing Programs and Packages  92

Upgrading to the Next Ubuntu Release  95

Ubuntu and Multimedia  96

Backing Up  102

Customizing Ubuntu’s Look and Feel  104

Unity in Other Devices  105

Summary  105

Chapter 4: Finding and Installing Ubuntu Applications         107

Using the Ubuntu Software Center  108

Using Synaptic  115

Useful Software Packages to Explore  118

Summary  145

Chapter 5: Customizing Ubuntu for Performance, Accessibility, and Fun         147

Unity Terminology  148

Appearance Tool  153

Unity Tweak Tool  155

Compiz Config Settings Manager  159

Unity Lenses and Scopes  165

Additional Resources  166

Summary  166

Chapter 6: Becoming an Ubuntu Power User          167

Administering System and User Settings  168

Understanding How Linux Stores and Organizes Files  172

Learning Unity Keyboard Shortcuts  175

Using the Terminal  179

Working with Windows Programs  180

Installing Software from PPAs  181

Compiling Software from Source  183

Summary  184

Chapter 7: Welcome to the Command Line          185

Starting Up the Terminal  186

Getting Started  187

Building Pipelines  188

Running Commands as Superuser  189

Finding Help  190

Moving around the Filesystem  191

Manipulating Files and Folders  192

System Information Commands  193

Searching and Editing Text Files  194

Dealing with Users and Groups  195

Getting Help on the Command Line  196

Searching for Man Files  197

Using Wildcards  197

Executing Multiple Commands  198

Moving to More Advanced Uses of the Command Line  200

Summary  201

Chapter 8: The Ubuntu Server           203

What Is Ubuntu Server?  204

Installing Ubuntu Server  206

Ubuntu Package Management  218

Ubuntu Server Security  229

Advanced Topics  236

Summary  243

Chapter 9: Ubuntu-Related Projects and Derivatives          245

Recognized Flavors  246

Editions  256

Other Distributions  259

Launchpad  261

Bazaar  270

Ubuntu One  272

Summary  272

Chapter 10: The Ubuntu Community           273

Venues  275

Teams, Processes, and Community Governance  289

Getting Involved  299

Summary  302

Index           305

Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020