Communicate with my Windows

1. Remote Desktop

I have a old PC running Windows 2000. Currently I only have one monitor. (No budget for another monitor now. :P) So I download and install tightVNC for my old PC. OK, problem now. What program should I use in Ubuntu? (I am still a noob in Ubuntu)... Luckily a friend told me that the Remote Desktop Viewer in Ubuntu is VNC. It is located at Applications->Internet. OOO yes it works!

2. File Sharing

Now I need to do file sharing between these two PCs. First I need samba. Samba can be install using the Applications->Add/Remove. Beware there are few samba applications. Don't install all. It will crash and you will confuse yourself. I only installed the most common one called "Samba"... After installed, it will appear at System->Administration. It looks like this:-

I had create a share foders with read/write permission for everyone.

Then I test to copy file from my Win2k to this Ubuntu share, it works!

So far so good. :D

Partition scheme

I believe most of the Windows users like to partition their hard drive. The reason of doing partition is very simple,

• hard disk size too big. Defragmentation will take long time if the size is too big.
• easy to manage. Normally we keep our data files in different partition. When reformat and reinstall Windows, we won't waste too much time to backup/transfer our data files.
  

A frequently asked question when installing Ubuntu, "How should we partition for Ubuntu?"

Ubuntu is a Linux operating system which using Ext3 (Third Extended) file system. Unlike Windows file system (NTFS/FAT), there is no such "Drive C", "Drive D" in Ubuntu. Linux file systems just like Unix, is organized in a hierarchical, tree-like structure. The highest level of the file system is the / or root directory. The common directories are:-

• / - Root file system. Should just contain /bin, /sbin, /dev, /root, /lib, and /etc.
• /boot - files that are required to boot; boot kernels.
  
• /usr - applications and files including source code that are mostly available for all users to access.
• /var - Variable data such as spools, logs, news and mail queues, database data.
• /home - local users' home directories (like My Documents in Windows)
• /tmp - temporary files

If you want to know more about directory structure of Ubuntu(Linux), you can go to: http://www.ubuntugeek.com/linux-or-ubuntu-directory-structure.html

Another question is "Is it necessary to do partition for Ubuntu?". Well, if you want to do a dual-boot (Windows and Ubuntu) in a single hard drive, definitely YES. How about if no dual-boot? Well, I had done some researches about the fragmentation issue. The result I get is "Unix/Linux file system don't become fragmented the way FAT/NTFS file systems do. Most of the modern Unix/Linux file systems attempt to fragmentation at a minimum, thought they do this in various ways. The Ext3 file systems keep all blocks in a file close together by preallocating the disk data blocks to regular files before they are actually used. When a file increases in size, several adjacent blocks are already reserved, reducing the file fragmentation." Sound cool!

So, whether to partition or not is not a big deal at all if the Ubuntu is just for personal used. But I decided to do partition for one main reason. Separate my data files from the system/program files partition just like the way I did for my Windows. After some researches and studies, I found out that planning the partition is really interesting. First of all, you should think about what you are going to use your Ubuntu for. For me, I am a programmer, I need to use Apache, MySQL, php. I also play games, downloading and sometimes photo editing. So, I do my partition like this:-
First of all, the system and program files partition (/). I allocated around 40GB for it. Then the database and log files (/var) will be in another partition. It wont consume too much space for myself used, around 20GB will be enough. Linux need a swap partition. Swap is equal to Windows virtual memory. Normally 512MB~2GB is good enough. The rest will be my home directories (/home) that keeps my downloaded stuff, picture video... etc will be another partition (around 90GB). Have you notice there are few more standard directories such as /boot /usr? Well, don't worry, there all will be automatic place in the first primary partition (/).

Actually this is not a perfect partition scheme. It is just a basic guide. I will keep research and testing now. When version 8.10 released, I will reformat my PC. :P

ADDITIONAL(16 Aug 2008):
I found guide saying that swap partition is better place it in the middle. So that the heads have less far to travel to swap out data when system gets loaded. Good idea! I will do it that way next time.

NVidia 8500GT not support!

I successfully installed my Ubuntu but NVidia 8500GT display driver not support! ARH~~~
To check the drivers, go to System->Administration->Hardware Drivers. It will shows something like this:-
My NVidia accelerated graphics driver is "Not in use". When i clicked the "Enabled" check box, it shows this:-
The message showing that accelerated graphics driver is required for fully utilize the 3D potential of the NVidia graphics card. When i enable it, it will do an online update and ... it seen like successfully but after i restart my PC, my screen turn up in low-resolution mode, a maximum of 640 x 480!!! Before update the driver my resolution is 1280x800.

I had tried the automatic update, manual install the driver downloaded from NVidia website or even Envy, but all fail!

I tried to check from the website, many people having this problem. Then I tried to search for the list of the graphic cards that support for Ubuntu 8.04. Seen like it only support up to NVidia 8400GS or ATI x1300. So, before you buy your hardware, make sure to check the hardware support list first. The list can be found in here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/ And, before install the Ubuntu, you can always do a "Hardware Test" first. I failed the video test when doing the hardware test, but I still installed it hopefully the auto update can solve this problem, but it failed too. :(

Other than the display driver, the rest is working fine. But without the correct display driver, I can't play 3D, no game, no compiz (3D effect desktop) .... There are few solutions for me right now,

1. change my display card
2. wait for new driver/solution/patch
3. wait for Ubuntu 8.10 (will be release on October)

Finally, I decided to wait for 8.10. Meanwhile, I will download the 8.10 Alpha 4 and try it first. The alpha 4 can be downloaded from here: http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/intrepid/alpha-4/

Hopefully the newer version solved this problem.......

Installing Ubuntu...

The version I am using is 8.04 (Hardy Heron). It can be downloaded from the Ubuntu website. Before you start install Ubuntu, please take note of its code name. My first experience with Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn), when I try to search the packages from the website, I was confusing with the code name because Ubuntu package website using code name, such as:-

>> Ubuntu >> Packages >> feisty >> Index

But when you get use to it, it's quite simple. First, go to the main page: http://packages.ubuntu.com/ it will shows the code name and the version.
Here is list of the version and code name of the newer release (from 2007):
7.04 - Feisty Fawn
7.10 - Gutsy Gibbon
8.04 - Hardy Heron
8.10 - Intrepid Ibex (currently is alpha version, will be release on October 2008)

You can also check the code name from here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DevelopmentCodeNames for further updates.
Ubuntu has desktop and server edition. The different is server edition is without GUI (X server)
Well, just download and iso file (x86 or 64bit AMD architecture depending on your hardware)
and make a Ubuntu CD.

Installing Ubuntu Hardy is much more easier than the previous version. First choose the language, and then a menu will appear. You can either select "Try Ubuntu without any change to you computer" or "Install Ubuntu". I prefer the first option because I can test my hardware first before install.

Once inside Ubuntu, launch the Partition Editor located at System->Administrator. After the scanning process it will shows all the harddisk in your system. If nothing appear, meaning your harddisk is not support or maybe spoil. But there is another special case. The SATAII harddisk! SATAII harddisk normally not detect by Ubuntu! My friend first time install the Ubuntu got this problem. The way he solved this is very weird. He formatted the SATAII harddisk with NTFS, then it was detected by Ubuntu. I also got this problem too. I tried his method, not working. Then I search from the website, wow!... So many people facing this problem. Amazing... none of the expert can give a good answer! Finally I found 1... a guy said set the SATA mode to AHCI in CMOS. OMG~ It works!! As I know, not all the BIOS has this setting. I read my motherboard manual, AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) mode is an interface specification that allows the storage driver to enable advanced Serial ATA features such as Native Command Queuing and hot plug. Well, I not really understand what it meant. Whatever, as long as my harddisk can be detected by Ubuntu.

If harddisk done, now try to test your network. This is important! A lot of thing you can't do without the networking. Network settings can be found in System->Administration->Networking. I am using a wired connection with static IP.

Select the Wired connection and click Properties.

Un-tick the "Enable roaming mode", then select Static IP address.
Fill in the IP address then click OK

Next, click on the DNS tab, and add the DNS IP address.

After setting all the IPs, just close it. Then launch the Terminal located at Applications->Accessories and try to ping the gateway IP or any valid URL such as google.com. It works, meaning my network card is OK. So simple just like Windows. :D (I believe everyone know how to do a ping, just type ping google.com then press enter)

Now I do the Hardware Test (System->Administration->Hardware Testing).


Everything passed, except the video... I see nothing... Never mind, I will try to solve this after the installation as long as my network is working. To install just simply double-click the Install icon on the top-left side.The installation is pretty simple, only 6 steps. First select the language.

Then select the time zone. You can direct point at map, it can be zone in and out, move left or right.

Then the Keyboard layout.

After that is partitioning time. The simplest way is just use the default setting "Guided - use Entire disk". Linux file system unlike NTFS or FAT, you will never see Drive A:\ C:\ D:\ ... and no need to do defragmentation. But if you want to do dual boot with Windows or partitioning the Linux directories, then you must select "Manual". I do it manually but I will write it in another topic called "Partition scheme".


Who are you? Type your name (for display) , the log-in name and password. And the name of your computer.
Ready to install. Is everything Ok, then just click Install.When finishing installed, a pop-up window will appear, saying that the "Installation is complete. You need to restart the computer in order to use the new installation.". Just click Restart now.

DONE! ~ yea ~ Ubuntu~

Got new PC!!

Yes~ I got a new PC today . The processor is Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40Ghz with 2GB DDR2 800 RAM, 160GB Seagate SATA hard disk, 512MB Chaintech GF8500GT PCI-E and Gigabyte 460W Power Supply. Before I order this PC, I had done some research on the hardware specification, especially the processor. There is a technology called Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT and AMD-V™). According to Intel website, it said that "Intel VT improves traditional software-based virtualization. Taking advantage of offloading workloads to system hardware, these integrated features enable virtualization software to provide more streamlined software stacks and "near native" performance characteristics.". In short... it can boost the virtualization performance. Especially with the Direct I/O architecture.

Then I did some research on VMware and VirtualBox. VMware seen like fully support the CPU-VT, but VirtualBox is not. According to VirtualBox website, it said that their x86 virtualization engine in most cases provides significantly better performance than CPU-VT. However, they still provide full support for Intel-VT and experimental support for AMD-V. It is depending on yourself whether to use it or not (there is an option for you to turn on and off). From the forum of VirtualBox, some people said in some cases, CPU-VT is better, but for startup, without the CPU-VT is faster. Well, I don't know, have to test it out first.

Anyway, in order to test this VT, i decided to get a VT support processor. To know which processor is supporting VT, you have to go to the Intel website -> Product -> Processor. Choose the processor family then see their specification.

I will start install my Ubuntu tomorrow. Before that I need to research on 1 more thing - "Partitioning Linux file system". Hopefully all the hardware fully support for Ubuntu 8.04.

Hello world!

Hello to everybody and thank you for visiting my blog. This is my first blog. I am not good in writing and my English is not so good also. My mother tongue is Chinese (Mandarin), but my Chinese writing is worst then my English, hahaha... I am a programmer, maybe I communicate too much with Computer. So please don't complain about my bad English in future. :D

Anyway, this is a blog of how i going to migrate my Windows to Ubuntu step by step. I use to be a Windows user like many others. In fact I don't really like Windows, but I have to use it because of my work. I am a Windows and Web application programmer. BUT... it's time now! Linux now a day is getting better and better. The installation and configuration is much more easier, user friendly. And with the virtualization technology now a day, I can simply run multiple OS in one OS. And i believe the Wine and Cedega is more stable now, so my Windows game can play in Linux platform (hopefully). And the most important think is I AM NOT GOING TO USE VISTA in future. So Windows XP will be my last Windows (Hopefully).

I decided to use Ubuntu. I am not expert in Ubuntu but I have some experience with Ubuntu 7.04 Desktop and Server version before. Some of my friends try to install the Ubuntu 8.04. Surprisingly, and installation step is so easy and the startup is so fast! So, let's Ubuntu~~ yea~~~

Anyone who dislike Windows and want to switch to Ubuntu, welcome to join me. This blog will record the step I done, the thing I learned, the process of how I throwing my Windows away.