Hardy Heron moves into the Black Tower
Last updated Apr 28, 2008 — 20698 views
Last time I wrote about the “Black Tower,” I had just installed Vista and Kubuntu 7.10 in a dual-boot setup. When version 8.04 of Kubuntu (“Hardy Heron”) hit the Web last week, I wasted no time upgrading to it.
Having been burned numerous times by premature upgrades to half-baked Linux updates, I downloaded the Kubuntu 8.04 Live CD iso and tested it on the Black Tower before launching into an install. All key functions — video, audio, disk access, Internet access, etc — seemed to work as desired, so I proceeded with preparations to build a nest for the Hardy Heron on the Black Tower.
Upgrade preps
I’ve performed a great many upgrades and switches between Linux distros over the years. To ward off disasters from intentional changes to my OS — as well as from dumb mistakes or system failures during normal operation — I’ve developed a few habits that have often saved me from lost-data-disaster.
I always create separate root (/) and home (/home) partitions. For one thing, that makes it easy to frequently backup the home partition, in order protect personal settings and data. It also makes it easy to perform periodic “fresh installs” when major OS updates show up (such as Hardy Heron) or on occasions when I’m moved to switch to another distribution.
In this case my plan was to perform a “fresh install” of Kubuntu 8.04, wiping away the entire previous OS (Kubuntu 7.10) while preserving my personal data and preference settings. To prepare for this, I began by performing a full system backup, which backs up my /home partition to the fileserver on my home LAN.
Next, I logged out of KDE (Menu > Log Out) and at KDM’s login prompt used Ctl-Alt-F2 to open up a console shell. Once there, I logged in as root (most Kubuntu users would do this by typing “sudo bash” to get a root shell, or by prepending “sudo” to subsequent console commands).
Then, I went into /home and renamed my personal home directory from “rick” to “rick-old.” The purpose of this was to keep all my personal settings and data (which were previously located in /home/rick/) in a separate directory so that Kubuntu 8.04 could create a fresh “rick” directory with the new OS version’s default settings, unencumbered by any of my own customizations and without trouncing on any of my precious data — always a good idea with a major new OS release.
One last — and very important — step of preparation was to carefully record the system’s current hard drive setup (see table below). To gather data, I used both “df” and “fdisk.” In fdisk, I used its menu’s “p” function to display the primary hard drive’s current partitioning information. The drive was partitioned as follows:
| Partition | Size | Type | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| /dev/sda1 | 369 GB | NTFS – type 7 | unassigned |
| /dev/sda2 | 2 GB | SWAP – type 82 | swap |
| /dev/sda3 | 9.2 GB | EXT3 – type 83 | / |
| /dev/sda4 | 86 GB | EXT3 – type 83 | /home |
Now it was time to proceed with the installation process. While still in the root shell, I inserted the Kubuntu 8.04 Live CD into the Black Tower’s optical drive and rebooted by typing “reboot” on the command line.
Installing Kubuntu 8.04
After a couple of minutes the Live CD finished loading and the system booted up into a nearly empty KDE desktop, as pictured below.
Kubuntu 8.04 Live CD desktop with “install” icon
(Click image to enlarge)
An icon on the desktop invites users to install the OS permanently on their system’s hard drive. I clicked it to begin the process. After responding to a few simple prompts (timezone, language, keyboard), I came to the most critical step: partitioning the system’s primary hard drive.
Here, I selected the “manual” option rather than the “guided” alternative, since my plan was to do a fresh install but preserve my /home partition. Accordingly, I used the “edit” options provided in the subsequent prompts and screens to designate…
- /dev/sda1 — no changes: unallocated; no, don’t format it!
- /dev/sda2 — edited to: type ext3; labeled /; yes, please format it
- /dev/sda3 — no changes: swap; mounted at swap; yes, please format it
- /defv/sda4 — edited to: type ext3; mounted at /home; no, don’t format it!
Once the above were set, I clicked the button to continue with the installation and, following a request for my user name, login password, and a name for the computer, the system began the disk partitioning and software installation process. This took about 20-30 minutes. When the software installation process was complete, the system prompted me to remove the CD and hit the Enter key to reboot.
On reboot, the Black Tower booted up its fresh, new, Hardy Heron OS without any hitches. Its KDE desktop looked like this — before (upper screenshot), and after (lower screenshot) my post-installation makeover:
The Black Tower’s desktop following the install (upper image), and following my full configuration (lower image)
(Click each image to enlarge)
The lower image above shows the Black Tower’s desktop following the couple of hours I spent setting KDE the way I like it and adding all my favorite software. Kubuntu’s Adept software installation tool (Menu > Add/Remove Programs) provides the easiest way to get most of the software needed.
Here are a few points of interest:
- My favorite apps that aren’t installed by default in Kubuntu 8.04 include: firefox, thunderbird, gaim (pidgin), gimp, kscd, bluefish, dillo, kaudiocreator, xine-ui, msttcorefonts, adobereader-enu, and flashplugin-nonfree.
- Sadly, Automatix2, which I’ve raved about in the past, is no longer available. This didn’t cause much of a problem, as most of my favorite applications are now available from the Ubuntu Hardy repositories. Programs that I had to (or chose to) download and install “manually” included: Skype’s VoIP/IM tool; Sun’s Java plugin; Adobe’s flash browser plugin; Opera’s version 9.50-beta browser (see comment below), and Real’s RealPlayer.
- The latest version of Firefox currently available from Kubuntu 8.04 repositories is beta version 3.0b5. It has a number of nice enhancements that can be noticed in its preferences screens and dialogs, as well as a few improvements to its overall UI (user interface). One problem I noticed is that when multiple tabs are in use, the currently selected tab’s “x” (used for closing a tab) does not show up in red as it does on Firefox 2. Version 3 provides a nice. One particularly welcome enhancement is that the first time you use File > Send Link, to email a Web page’s URL, the Firefox prompts you to tell it what email program you want it to use to send the link; in my case, that’s /usr/bin/thunderbird.
- The latest released version of Opera as of this writing (version 9.27) seems incapable of playing YouTube videos. To remedy this, I instead downloaded and installed a preview of version 9.50 (9.50 Beta 2) from Opera’s download area. That one works great!
First impressions
Overall, I’ve found Kubuntu 8.04 to be a solid, lean Linux desktop with a polished look and feel, backed by well-stocked, reliable software repositories (stocked with around 25,000 packages). All the basics are present, including a KDE 3.5.9 desktop, graphics and multimedia utilities and support, a browsers, email, and messaging clients, games, and the incomparable OpenOffice office software suite. Additionally, the OS features easy software installation and updates thanks to its debian apt-get package architecture and graphical Adept package management front end.
On the other hand, I’m sad to witness the disappearance of Automatix. This free, user-friendly download service provided an optional software installation tool that I think the Ubuntu community — and Linux newcomers in general — could really benefit from. Automatix, as its name implies, automated the downloading and installation of a cleverly-selected assortment of highly useful software packages (multimedia codecs, browser plugins, VoIP messaging, etc.), taking care of various illusive and often frustrating post-download system configuration steps.
Throughout my eight years of experience with Linux, I’ve consistently found the final 10 percent of the installation process — bits like getting fonts, browser plugins, and multimedia applications installed and configured as desired — to account for 90 percent of the headaches. What I like most about Ubuntu is that it has eliminated most of those post-install headaches. Prior to its demise, Automatix helped fill in the gaps naturally left by Ubuntu; hopefully something similar will come along to pick up the pieces from Automatix, and perhaps take the process even further.
In summary, the Ubuntu-family distributions — including my favorite, Kubuntu — have already become the most popular Linuxes among desktop PC users who are inclined to run Linux. With Hardy Heron’s evolutionary enhancements and polish, the continuing march of the Penguins onto the world’s desktops will be unstoppable!
[Note: Some of the screenshots above are courtesy of thecodingstudio.com. A full Kubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) Live CD screenshot tour is available here.]
To replace automatix why not just use the Medibuntu repositories? You should pretty much find all you want. And if you want automatic ATI or Nvidia proprietary video driver installation you can use Envy.
I’ve found that just installing the package ‘ubuntu-restricted-extras’, which pulls in Flash support for Firefox, a Java runtime (from OpenJDK I believe), MS core fonts, MP3 support, etc. does a lot of what Automatix used to do.
Dafydd and cabreh…. thanks for those comments. Good suggestions. And good point about the available ATI/Nvidia proprietary video drivers. Thanks!
Cool. How are you getting those nice MS Office icons? Cross-over office?
Hardy noted that I had an Nvidia card and asked if I wanted the proprietary drivers… I downloaded the Ubuntu-restricted package (noted by Dafydd Walters, above)… all-in-all probably the most painless install of any operating system I’ve ever done.
I use the Opera 9.5 beta, too. Works just fine.
I don’t know if you read these comments, but I wanted to mention something. I noticed that you stated that you were having trouble with Vista’s sleep and suspend. I found that with ASUS motherboards, there are jumpers that are set to +5V by default, which should be set to +5VSB for them to work correctly with Vista.
to Henry… yes, I use CrossOver Office and like it a lot. I’ve used it since “day one”
to Jon… yeah, I read the comments 😉 thanks for the suggestion, I’ll check it out.
firefox2 can be installed from the repositories as well. I was having a fair amount of CPU utilization with beta 3 and found firefox-2 in an apt-cache search.
Great Write Up
I have always enjoyed your various articles and found them very insightful & informative.
But. I would like to comment on your desktop arrangement, here and in the other articles.that I’ve seen.
I realize it is a personal choice for you & your workflow and many others may prefer something similar……And this is in no way intended as a Flame or personal attack.
But to me it seems very cluttered, even if well organized, and reminds me of my Windows desktops more than 10 years ago.
I wonder if you are familiar with things like;
KDesktop > Control/configure > Behavior > Mouse Button Actions
Where you can set.. say… the mouse wheel click .. to Application menu to bring up your main kicker menu or custom menus. any time you click that on a free portion of your desktop.
Or Creating Custom menus as part of the Kicker icons.
I find it makes it easier for Multiple monitors , or desktops (viewports) or even switching resolutions on the fly.
But to each their own…. and thanks again….
Great article, thanks; it gives a really quick insight into how installing kubuntu compares with others, e.g. Fedora and friends.
I would like a little more on how you go about configuring repositories and get the system updated to the latest versions of everything.
Also, did all the 8.04 versions just work, or did you need to get later versions from repositories to get everything working.
Sorry to be a trouble maker, but Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron is, to my point of view, a sitting duck. If the installation seems to be easy, you need to know what you’re doing. A beginner in Linux will fail, it’s not that clear. The painful GRUB, yes the painful and I stop right there. The Nvidia driver… the worst: how come a graphic card that is a 8600 gt with 256ram ddr3 and a monitor that can do 1200 by 1024 just can do, after reboot, 640 by 480.? That was the last straw at my experience with 8.04, and I am a fan of Ubuntu Linux since 5.10. This is not a good upgrade somebody is having a ridiculous laugh at us.
For the next version, 8.10, better correct the bugs than trying to get Microsofted and dying doing it.
This version is a joke… A VISTA JOKE!
PS: sorry for the yelling
Wow Sylvian, you had some problem. My 7300GT card with 256 Ram did just fine in being recognized and setting the correct resolution. It has stayed correct boot after boot. I found the installation to work very smooth and I have easily added the “extras” that make it work for me.
My GRUB configured just right and with not problem. I currently am dual booting 32-bit Ubuntu and 64-bit Ubuntu. I am trying to see what the actual visual differences are. As of yet I have not seen any. So later one may go away.
I believe that 8.04LTS is the best Ubuntu yet.
I also found the “Hardy” upgrade to be really bad. It broke my sound, wireless and touchpad. For about a split second I considered going back to XP. Got everything working now but, it was a pain in the ass.
To David…
> I would like a little more on how you go about configuring repositories and get the system updated to the latest versions of everything.
The installation process configures the repositories automatically. I enabled some optional repositories that are by default disabled in the standard sources.list file that Kubuntu installs. Use Adept Manager: Menu > System > Adept Manager > Adept > Manage Repositories > Third-Party Software.
One thing you might want to add is Medibuntu; go to http://www.medibuntu.org and you’ll find instructions and details.
> Also, did all the 8.04 versions just work, or did you need to get later versions from repositories to get everything working.
I installed from the final release of the 8.04 Live CD and performed an apt-get update; apt-get -u upgrade immediately after the system was finished installing (always a good practice). It worked fine as described in my post.
Enjoy!
It stinks that Kubuntu doesn’t have a good set of default apps, you aren’t alone in that opinion, someone in ubuntu brainstorm is with you.
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/2940/
to fire_phantom…
Yes, I agree with that post at brainstorm, especially with regard to the dynamic duo (firefox/thunderbird). For most desktop users, Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice, an IM client (gaim/pidgin works for me), and a media player (Amarok etc.) are the main applications needed.
“The Nvidia driver… the worst: how come a graphic card that is a 8600 gt with 256ram ddr3 and a monitor that can do 1200 by 1024 just can do, after reboot, 640 by 480.?”
Any time I’ve come across this issue with a direct connection (versus over a KVM network), it’s been a bad cable or missing pin from the connector. It resulted in Xorg not able to read the monitor’s EDID to tell what it can support.
Without much information, there’s little else the community can do but watch you retch. 😉
Nice pointers for a safe upgrade. I’d mention that Linux Mint offers a more completely configured system, much like Automatix offered.
I’d also comment that I have always found the Ubuntu implementation of gparted to be confusing. I always partition first with Partition Magic, then do a manual install on the already created partitions.
The Nvidia 8600 is affected by a bug in the 169.12 driver which is the latest release from Nvidia and packs with *buntu 8.04. Download and compile the latest beta (173.08) – the problem has been solved there.
For anyone having trouble with java in opera (change to 9.5 B2 recommended) – change java path in opera’s “preferences–> Advanced –> Content –> Java options to: /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.06/jre/lib/i386
Anyone struggling with java in FF 2.00.14 or 3.0 b5 could use this guide which works fine:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4716149
Scroll down to post # 9 in the thread
If installing FF 2.0.0.14 some trouble with FF 3.0 b5 interoperability may be experienced. I suggest the following:
-back up the home/.mozilla catalogue (hidden) and delete it
-remove FF 3.0 b5 (including Gnome support if applicable) COMPLETELY (adept/synaptic or terminal)
-remove the home/.mozilla catalogue
-install FF 2.0.0.14
– put back whatever you need from the .mozilla backup
Whoopz:
Sorry about the error above:
Wrong: – back up the home/.mozilla catalogue (hidden) and delete it
Ok: – back up the home/.mozilla catalogue (hidden)
I installed Kubuntu 8.04, both KDE 3 en KDE 4 versions AND Ubuntu 8.04 the last days and was disappointed.
I have an RT2500 wireless chipset and wireless is unbelievably slow on all 3…. I took more than 6 hours to just update my repositories!!!! Let alone actually installing extra software.
In KDE3 compiz wouldn’t install using the regular built in desktop effects menu option. It complained about files it couldn’t find…..
Installing kubuntu-restricted-extras was easy, but the wireless issue is a major pain in the ….
I found it to be a known issue. Though it worked Ok in 7.10 for me. I am back on PCLinuxOS cause wireless is flying there.
This problem is not present for Mandriva, Sabayon also.
I sorry for Ubuntu/Kubuntu but if other distro’s can get this right why can’t (k)ubuntu?
Hey The Cat:
Was having the same problem with my RT2500.
This worked great for me: sudo iwconfig wlan0 rate 54M
for whatever reason it is connecting at 1M by default…weird
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4798839#post4798839
It is very good your method of RENAME the personal home directory from “rick” TO “rick-old”.
@Dave & fire_phantom……
I do not want to sound like I am disagreeing too much…. As I am primarily a Debian & KDE user.
But I think one of the better qualities of Kubuntu is that it focuses on KDE and is somewhat minimal to start.
Then ad or subtract your choice of tools & apps.
There are tools such as MKDistro to replicate and repeat your particular wants/needs etc.
Although I can see why having FireFox & OpenOffice would/might be a good idea.
Separately Downloading the newest FF or Opera has its advantages. Like only installing as a user.
Personally KOffice works rather well, and supports ODF & other formats. I Do have the latest OO for those occasional MSOffice docs.
Generally I would just rather use Kate, Abiword or Gnumeric. (and Scribus etc).. Konqueror, Krita, Konsole, Kget, etc are also great tools.
Maybe Kubuntu is more particular in their chosen focus & more configurable (for those who want that)
Ubuntu & Gnome is fine/better for a more general audience maybe?
Still I prefer Debian, but think “the Ubuntu’s” are great. (or a good thing in general)
For those interrested there is a milestone for a 8.04.1 release.
As usual with Ubuntu there was quite a bunch of bugs included in the release. This time those bugs have got a new milestone – the 8.04.1 release. It was scheduled for 01. July but appears to be pushed back for a week. That will problably be a release that actually could be good.
Another interesting subject is that when publishing the releaseschedule for 8.10 they seems to have taken som precautionary steps as regards releasedate. It may very well be a 8.11 instead of a 8.10.
I seriously believe this is a good thing if that means that they will actually sort out some of the rather unneccesary yet annoying bugs that always ships with Ubuntu. Hopefully they will launch a X.XX.1 of all future releases.
I tried Kubuntu 8.04 on my Toshiba X205-9800 laptop. I had been running Linux Mint 4.0 – crippled. The NVidia drivers caused problems with the 8700 video card, and the audio (Intel HDA) was not working properly. Tried the Kubuntu 8.04 live CD and was VERY pleasantly surprised. Audio worked normally, and video looked good. Installed it, along with all the restricted drivers/decoders/etc. Now everything works as expected. Too bad I have to live outside the USA to get drivers that work, thanks to DRM and greedy big business!!!!!
Let’s get three things right:
1) ‘Ubuntu’ distributions are just noise that should go away. Look at the latency of their own security updates compared to debian. They focus only on the high priority ones, which for them, means: “the packages most users use”. This alone, is enough for any sane person to dismiss Ubuntu as a primary distribution.
2) ‘Ubuntu’ distributions have a problem with trying to look like Windows. There is no point in all of this. Think about it. People who want an “easy” *nix, should just go Apple. People who want a *nix, should stick to the plain good old BSD family or pick up a real distribution. Anything else but ‘ubuntu’.
3) Drivers that work in ‘Ubuntu’, are not manufactured by ubuntu. They work everywhere and “ubuntu” has little to do with that. Go and check the kernel contributions by Canonical. Writing nonsensical comments about “my hardware works with Ubuntu” means that you are actually do not know what you are doing. Enjoy your immense ignorance on the subject.
And I will not reply to idiots, so do not bother.
Response to bob’s: Let’s get three things right:
Obviously you regard your OPINION as the absolute truth. Anyone deviant to your OPINION are idiots.
1: You confuse nonfreak linuxusers with those (idiots) who don’t understand politics.
2: Intelligence belongs to those who understand there’s more to learn.
3: Apparently you have something to share with the rest of us – sheer stupidity masked as arrogance won’t bring your message across.
4: Reverting to the term “IDIOT” – Linux politics appears to be something you really do not undestand thus the term kind of bounces back into your very own backyard.
5: If you don’t like *buntu don’t use it – It’s not my problem.
6: If your preferred distro or LFS suffers from ‘buntu popularity – put your grunts and efforts into that – don’t bother anyone else with it. Your comment doesn’t prove knowledge – only infantility.
DeviceGuru, great review. I liked the prep depth you went into regarding your install of kubuntu.
I have ordered both CD’s, ubuntu and kbuntu and have downloaded ubuntu 8.04, and installed it.
I keep reading all the negatives regarding ubuntu. With all that propaganda against it, my thinking is it must be good! And right I was. The install went without a hitch. It’s been a couple of years since I installed 7.04, and a lot has changed since then. This has been one of the best distros I’ve installed. Everything works. I keep waitting for the other shoe to drop….it hasn’t.
Fonts are a big complaint I have against Linux. ubuntu 8.04 is the best so far. I guess I’m so use to Windows fonts. I need to research more to find out if TT fonts can or will work in Linux.
Also, I just like KDE better than gnome. The board games on gnome just look like some cheap toy or evern worse, like Windows 3.1. KDE has much better displays. I’m excited about installing kubuntu.
Thanks again for this positive article.
Linux is all about choice. And my choices or preferences will probably not match anyone else’s choices. All distributions are built to what the developers, the people who put their time and effort into building the distribution, want to see. It is their right to do so.
I prefer KDE to GNOME but both are good desktops, as are IceWM, Fluxbox, etc. With Linux, you can choose what you prefer. If you like Opera, use it. If you like Firefox, use that. Use whichever application meets your desires the best. If you don’t like the way a distribution works, either change it yourself or feed back POLITELY to the developers what your preferences would be. But don’t just take free stuff and then gripe that it does not meet your needs – you have no property rights in the distribution unless you coded and built it. If I do not have the skills or time to change what I don’t like, then I will adjust myself to whatever is offered or look for other alternatives.
Finally, being nasty is childish. The greatest and most useful advice I have ever heard was the old saying “Do to others as you would have others do to you.” For the naysayers in the above posts, consider that the problem may be with your equipment, the downloading of the file (did you check the MD5SUM of the download and the burn?), or simply another problem, possibly PEBKAC? The Linux community knows well that some hardware, such as Broadcom wireless, frequently has driver problems. There are many potential points of failure that have nothing to do with the distribution.
As for the article, Well Done, DeviceGuru. I will be installing the 64-bit version of Kubuntu shortly and keeping my fingers crossed that it works as I wish. [Yes, I did check the MD5SUM before and after the download and the burn.]
Found it slow and tedious to set up,,Mint and especially Sidux much faster,”Sidux with smxi” makes Nvidia,flash,opera,google earth,compiz-fusion etc etc a breeze,Kubuntu is getting worse not better.
> I installed from the final release of the 8.04 Live CD and performed an
> apt-get update; apt-get -u upgrade immediately after the system was finished installing
> (always a good practice). It worked fine as described in my post.
Thanks.
If kubuntu only had yum, I would be very tempted to move from Fedora …
Nice review but I did find the Kubuntu 64 bit distro to be difficult to install:
1. It takes quite a long time, over 1/2 hour, apparently because it first downloads a long list of languages and then removes them at the end of the install. Compared to around 10 minutes installations with Suse 11 and Linux Mint. Then once installed more time is demanded while one tries to find Macromedia flashplayer and the Kubunti restricted drivers. Then one has to down load the restricted video driver. I would suggest that Kubuntu follow the excellent installation style provided by Suse 11 and add to it options to cover the above mentioned restricted items. Also Skype could not be found in the repositories and the version on Skypes web page will not download to 64 bit Kubuntu. I was able to install it by using “getlibs skype-static -2.0.0.72/skype.”
Once the slowness of the installation was overcome I found Kubuntu to be a fine distrubution.
Sorry for a typo:
“getlibs skype_static-2.0.0.72/skype”
Well written, Device Guru. Thank you.
Your articles provide, I think, the right mix of assumption and detail for folks like me who have no intention of becoming “gurus” ourselves, but would like to nevertheless tinker and tweak and generally take advantage of Linux’s freedom of choice.
My comment here may seem a bit on the late side, seeing as Ubuntu 8.10 is out, but today is the day I happened to follow a link from another one of your articles to this one, and I have a question because I’m thinking of doing this very thing for my daughter, replacing her old distro with Ubuntu 8.10 and moving her current /home directory to it’s own partition.
My question is if it’s a typo that, In your two partition lists, /dev/sda2 and /dev/sda3 have been transposed? What keeps me from simply saying “Hey, lookee, a typo,” is that, from all I can see, everyone that’s commented here seems to know WAY more about Linux than I do … so I harbor a suspicion that it’s not a typo on your part but naivite on mine.
I enjoy your writings. You’re one of only a few reviewers I read from distrowatch. Keep up the good work.
@Peter: Regarding the specific assignments of swap and root (/) partition on the Black Tower’s hard drive, they’re located as listed in the table in the article. However, you’re correct in noting that it’s more “normal” to put the swap partition at sda2 in a system with root at sda1 and home at sda3. The system will work either way, but from a performance perspective you’re theoretically better off positioning the swap partition between the root and home partitions on the drive. This should minimize the seek time required for the disk drive’s heads to move to the swap partition from programs (in root) or data (in home). Thanks for the comment, and also for the kind words 😉