Have you ever messed around with your Ubuntu Gnome settings only to find out you broke something? Here is a quick write up on how to reset your gnome settings in Ubuntu.
In short, you basically need to delete these from your home directory: ~/.gnome ~/.gnome2 ~/.gconf ~/.gconfd ~/.metacity
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If you don’t already know, a runlevel is what Linux uses as a mode of operation. A ‘runlevel’ defines the state of the operating system after power on.
Typically, Linux runlevels look like the following:
On most Linux servers, the default runlevel will be set to runlevel 3. Multi-user mode and console logins only. Whereas, most Linux desktops, the default runlevel will be set to runlevel 5.
If you want to boot into a specific runlevel every time your computer turns on, all you need to do is edit the /etc/inittab. For this example, we will change the runlevel from 3 to 5.
# vi /etc/inittab
Modify the line that looks like this:
id:3:initdefault:
And change the number 3, to 5.
id:5:initdefault:
Save the file. Next time you reboot Linux will boot directly into your desktop window manager.
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Jack Wallen has a great Linux how-to on using the Linux backup software, Lucky Backup, to backup and store your data.
I’ve used Lucky Backup in the past and can attest that it is very easy to use, and has all the features you need for a good backup system.
Some of the features include:
Head over and read Jack’s how to. He does a great job showing just how easy it is to use.
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Today Google announced GoogleCL which is a tool designed to bring some of the Google services to the command line.
For most people using Ubuntu Karmic (9.10) or newer, installation should be very simple:
Here are some example scripts:
The possibilities of GoogleCL are definitely going to expand, and I can already think of some useful ways to incorporate these into some scripts of mine.
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Yesterday, as first reported by The VAR Guy, if you would have went to Dell.com/Ubuntu, you would have seen a “top 10″ list of “things you should know about Ubuntu.” The best one on the list at the time was number 6, which stated:
6) Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft Windows The vast majority of viruses and spyware written by hackers are not designed to target and attack Linux.
Today, if you visit the same Dell.com/Ubuntu, you’ll see the following change:
6) Ubuntu is secure According to industry reports, Ubuntu is unaffected by the vast majority of viruses and spyware.
Pretty comical huh? Many of us in the Linux industry are claiming that this is probably an evil doing of Microsoft pressuring Dell to ‘correct’ the statement. Which, really, would not surprise me the least bit.
I suppose I understand why Dell changed their tune, but in actuality, the first statement was nothing but a simple true fact.
What do you guys think? Should Dell have kept their ground?
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Chances are if you’re a new reader, you haven’t read a lot of the stuff here that seems to get buried in the archives. Here are some of our most popular articles for your enjoyment:
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A lot of people are probably not aware of the command script. Script is a quick and easy way to record everything you do in a terminal session. I use script to record sessions of me fixing a server, or troubleshooting Linux issues, and save it for future needs, or to pass on to others as training material. Here is what the Linux man page says:
Script makes a typescript of everything printed on your terminal. It is useful for students who need a hardcopy record of an interactive session as proof of an assignment, as the typescript file can be printed out later with lpr(1).
It’s really quite simple to record your bash session. All you need to do is type script -a filename to start recording your session:
Now that the recording has started, everything you type, as well as everything that returns as output, will be saved into the filename you chose to output to.
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I’ve gotten this question a whole bunch of times in the past. You’ve got a Linux username that you want to rename, rather than recreate, so you don’t lose any significate data or permission settings. How do you rename a Linux user?
To rename a Linux user (rename user name), you want to use the Linux command usermod. From the man page:
The usermod command modifies the system account files to reflect the changes that are specified on the command line.
In short, here is the command to rename the Linux user:
usermod -d "/home/current_user-name" -m -l current_user_name new_user-name
And now an explanation of what each option means:
That’s it. Now you’ve renamed a Linux user.
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I’ve been thinking lately that there are actually certain types of people out there that should be using Linux instead of Windows.
Geeks and people who enjoy tinkering with computers
If you enjoy psychically building computers, chances are you’ll like tinkering with the operating system once your machine is running. There is no better operating system to tinker with than Linux.
People who want easy security
Linux is much more secure than windows ‘out of the box’. If you don’t want to bother with security, you should be using Linux.
People who want a unique look and feel
With Linux desktop environments, you can customize anything and everything you see on your screen with the right amount of knowledge. You really can’t do that in Windows.
People who like the idea of open source software
If you support the principles of open source technology and wish to practice them to the fullest, you’ll definitely want to be running Linux.
Programmers who enjoy contributing to free open source software
This title should really be for all programmers. If you’re a code nut, you should be running Linux.
People who only use the computer for basic needs and don’t want to be bothered by viruses and spyware.
I recently moved some of my family to a basic Ubuntu desktop. The majority of their computer use consists of browsing, email, pictures, and instant messaging. No reason for them to be running Windows if that is all they do. Linux can not only do it faster, but better, and much more safely.
People who don’t want to have to reboot because there computer starts “running slow” due to adware, spyware, bloatware, etc.
This goes right along the lines with the last one. Most non-techie computer users think that their computer is always “running so slow” because it’s ‘old’. Chances are the computer is running slow from having so many adware applications running in the background. I’ve yet to see a Linux install on any of my family machines, receive, much less slow down from adware, spyware, etc.
Do you use Linux? What type of person are you?
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