====== Useful packages and tips for Ubuntu ======

===== Tips and notes =====

  - Ubuntu doesn't have a root password by default; it prefers to let the account you made do stuff via sudo.  If you want a root account, log in with the sudo-capable account, and do "''sudo passwd root''" to set the password.
  - Start by using the GUI updater, synaptic, or apt-get to do a full update.

===== Packages =====
Install these with synaptic or apt-get.

==== Essentials ====
  * openssh-server: SSH server
  * build-essential: Everything needed to compile C/C++ programs
  * manpages-dev: Manpages for system calls (open,close,mmap,etc.)
  * cvs: Basic source control and versioning package
  * vlc: A video player that plays virtually anything
  * sshfs: Mount a remote file system via ssh - compatible with any SSH-able machine
  * sun-java6-plugin: Install the Sun Java plugin without using their crappy installer
  * mozilla-thunderbird: An email client to match the firefox browser
  * wine: Run windows apps (sometimes)
  * xmms: Winamp for Linux
  * msttcorefonts: Core Microsoft fonts, so you can have true Times New Roman, Arial, Tahoma, etc.

==== Optional ====
  * subversion: Better source control and versioning package
  * sysstat: The "iostat" and related tools
  * kdiff3: A graphical diff tool
  * sun-java6-jdk: Install the Sun JDK 6.0 without using their crappy installer
  * celestia: Fly around an accurate 3D simulation of the universe as we know it.



==== For special purposes ====
=== KDE ===
  * kubuntu-desktop: turns Ubuntu into hybrid Ubuntu+Kubuntu (installs KDE and friends)
To make KDE your windowing system, choose "Options | Sessions | KDE" from the login screen, and "Make Default" when prompted.

=== NIS (also known as YP) ===
  * nis
To set up NIS:
  - Set up YP by editing ''/etc/yp.conf'' and adding the appropriate line, e.g. "''domain <YOUR_DOMAIN> server <YOUR_NIS_SERVER>''".
  - Enable the NIS service by running the "Services" configurator under "Settings", and turning on "Account information resolver (nis)".
  - Some versions of Ubuntu (including 6.06.1 LTS) aren't configured to use NIS out-of-box.  Modify ''/etc/nsswitch.conf'' so that the "passwd", "group", and "shadow" lines have the word "nis" at the end of the line.  For example: "''passwd: compat''" becomes "''passwd: compat nis''".

=== NFS client ===
  * nfs-common (if not already installed - without it, NFS will work, but with long timeouts due to locks not working)
To set up a boot-time mount:
  # mkdir /mymount
  # TextEditorOfYourChoice /etc/fstab       (insert the following line)
      nfs-server.site.com:/remotemount   /mymount    nfs     defaults        0 0
  # mount /mymount
  # ls /mymount

=== FORTRAN ===
  * g77: The Fortran-77 compiler based on gcc 3
  * gfortran: The Fortran-95 compiler based on gcc 4

=== Latex editing ===
  * kile: A latex code editor
  * lyx: A latex WYSIWYG editor

===== Dual boot with Windows =====

If you're dual-booting with Windows for some reason, your best bet is to find a dual-boot guide online.  Here's the short short version:

  - Boot into Windows installer
  - Clear all partitions, make a partition > 4GB for Windows, leave the rest unused.
  - Install Windows to the partition.
  - Boot into Linux installer
  - Claim rest of disk for Linux partitions
  - Tell Linux's grub to include an option to boot Windows (may be done automatically)