HOWTO Ubuntu Lite

[christooss]

How to install Ubuntu Lite on your computer

1. What is UbuntuLite?

Ubuntu Lite is an unofficial project of few guys. We tend to build Ubuntu installation which would siut LOW RAM and Low Mhz computer. You can find our page on ubuntulite.org

2. Do I need UbuntuLite? You have so many lite Linux distributions?

Yes you do.

2.1 OK. But why?

Beacause Ubuntu Lite is Ubuntu based. Whit that you get apt-get functions any many packages you want to install after. ANd you get security and version fixes.

3. OK I know what it is, but how can I install it?

At this point I want to thank Blackpaw for providing us repositories.
First you have to install Ubutnu on your computer. At begining choose SERVER installation. And when you get in to Terminal you have to edit your sources.list. Write

sudo vim /etc/apt/sources.list

Uncoment all official repositories with removin # at the beggining of the line. Than add following line in sources.list

deb http://blueeyedcreature.net/ubuntu ./

Save and close

When you get back in terminal write

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-lite-desktop

And after you are done restart your machine and you will find your self in WDM login manager. Its extension of XDM another login manager.

Login as user and there you have working Ubuntu Lite system with IceWM as windows manager installed. You have plenty other useful applications installed. Check for whole list at Our WIKI

4. OK Thanks man!! But Im having problems. What can I do

First think that you can do is to look at Oour Mailing list if the problem has been solved. If you don't get your anwser there please send us mail and we hope we could help you. You can find us on IRC to. Chanell is #ubuntu-lite on Freenode. Ofcourse you can post your question here but mailing list is prefered mode

5. Hey nice project but how can I help

Again Sign on our mailing list and anwser questions if someone gets in to trouble. And go to our IRC chanell and help there to.

6. Hey hasn't there been a iso?

Iso still exist but its in a real testing mode. Many users get lots of errors. So prefered mode is apt-get install soulution. But there is a good news im trying to to bulid next version of CD. If there is someone who has expiriences with building ubuntu based install CDs. PLEASE Mail on mailing lits.

7. Who are you christooss?

Im that guy who provided you a helpful HOWTO Ubuntu mini ram

8. Round up!!

8.1 Ubuntu server installation
8.2 Edit your sources.list
8.3 apt-get install ubuntu-lite-desktop
8.4 If problems check http://ubuntulite.org/ Mailing List and IRC #ubuntu-lite at Freenode

Here I want to thank all you guy who started UbuntuLIte project.

If you find any tiping mistakess please notify me.

[az]

1. Would you post the dependancies of ubuntu-lite-desktop?

2. It is GPL? Is the .dsc .orig.tar.gz available? (probably a dumb question, but the maker of Automatix (ubuntu helper script) unfortunately recently made his thing proprietary)

3. Would you make this a project on launchpad.net to integrate with Ubuntu proper (and upload to universe?)

[christooss]

This is the current version.

abiword, acpi, acpi-support, acpid, anacron, apmd, bc, beep-media-player, bittornado, bittornado-gui, bogofilter, cdparanoia, cdrecord, cupsys, cupsys-bsd, cupsys-client, cupsys-driver-gimpprint, dbus-1-utils, dillo, dc, doc-debian, dvd+rw-tools, esound, emelfm, fetchmail, mozilla-firefox, mozilla-browser, foomatic-db, foomatic-db-engine, foomatic-db-gimp-print, foomatic-db-hpijs, foomatic-filters, foomatic-filters-ppds, gaim, gnome-sudo, gnumeric, gqview, graveman, gs-esp, hal, hotkey-setup, hplip, hplip-ppds, irssi-text, icewm, icewm-themes, icewm-common, icewm-gnome-support, icepref, iceme, ivman, lftp, libesd-alsa0, libgl1-mesa, libglib2.0-data, libglut3, libsasl2-modules, libxp6, links2, lynx, mc, menu, mgp, mkisofs, mousepad, numlockx, pnm2ppa, powermanagement-interface, powernowd, procmail, readahead, rox-filer, screen, scrollkeeper, slocate, smbclient, sylpheed, synaptic, ttf-arabeyes, ttf-arphic-bkai00mp, ttf-arphic-bsmi00lp, ttf-arphic-gbsn00lp, ttf-arphic-gkai00mp, ttf-baekmuk, ttf-bitstream-vera, ttf-freefont, ttf-indic-fonts, x-ttcidfont-conf, ttf-kochi-gothic, ttf-kochi-mincho, ttf-malayalam-fonts, xfonts-scalable, xfonts-100dpi, xfonts-75dpi, ttf-mgopen, ubuntu-docs, unzip, wdm, x-ttcidfont-conf, x-window-system-core, xchat, xkeyboard-config, xorg-driver-synaptics, xpdf, xterm, xzgv, zip, xine-ui, xmms

Hm I don't know how to make dsc or tar.gz file. i made this meta package with equivs. But I would be happy to give this files to Community

I will look in to lunchpad. And than hopefully include it universe. But that would mean no media files

[kultex]

Hi Christoss,

I want to thank you for your work and want to give some informations for not so advanced linux users:

short introduction to icewm: http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=7774
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Infos about vim:

to scroll down and delete the # is easy, but to get into writing mode you have to type i - than you can write the extra repository - to get out of the writing mode you type Esc - to save the document and exit vim you typ ZZ
to exit without saving you type :q (more easy: sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SHUTDOWN: after login you will have problems to turn off your computer, because the halt of the shutdown menu is not working.

open xterm

$ sudo /sbin/shutdown -h now

it will shut down - with sudo /sbin/shutdown -r now it will reboot

to make it more easy for the next sessions:

you open xterm:

$ sudo visudo

you add the following line:
your_username ALL=(root) NOPASSWD: /sbin/shutdown

to save press F2 to exit F10

$ sudo mousepad /etc/X11/icewm/preferences

you insert the following lines to the 6.th line of the document

ShutdownCommand="/sbin/shutdown -h now"
RebootCommand="/sbin/shutdown -r now"

you save the document, restart iceWM.
Shutdown and reboot from strg+alt+del - menu are now working
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOOLBAR: to open common programs more easy:

you open xterm:

$ sudo mousepad /etc/X11/icewm/toolbar

you put a # at the beginning of every line and ad the following lines:

prog Xterm xterm xterm
prog Firefox firefox firefox
prog Mozilla mozilla mozilla
prog Abiword /usr/share/AbiSuite-2.4/icons/abiword_16 abiword
prog Mousepad mousepad mousepad
prog Sylpheed sylpheed-debian sylpheed
prog Xine xine xine
prog Xmms xmms xmms
prog EmelFM /usr/share/pixmaps/icon_dirparent.xpm /bin/sh -c "/usr/X11R6/bin/emelfm"
prog Gaim /usr/share/pixmaps/gaim-menu.xpm /bin/sh -c "/usr/bin/gaim"
prog Gqview gqview gqview
prog Synaptic /usr/share/synaptic/pixmaps/synaptic_32x32.xpm /bin/sh -c "/usr/bin/gksudo /usr/sbin/synaptic"
prog xpdf xpdf xpdf
prog rox rox /bin/sh -c "/usr/bin/rox"

for rox there is no xpm available in the installation

those programs, you do not want to have in your toolbar put # at the beginning of the line
save the document, restart IceWM and you will have easy acess to xterm, firefox, mozilla and abiword.......
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MENU: you can do the same with $ sudo mousepad /etc/X11/icewm/menu to get the programs you want in the root/start menu

SECURITY: Copy the files /etc/X11/icewm/menu+toolbar+preferences with emelfm or rox to $HOME/.icewm since modifications to this file will be discarded when you (re)install icewm.

ICONS: You can download more icons from http://themes.freshmeat.net/projects/iceicons/ extract them to $ HOME/.icewm/icons and edit the included winoptions file - for details see http://bbs.cvut.cz/~covex/icewm/iceicons/ - alternativ you can copy all icons to /usr/share/pixmaps (I prefer this)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMOUNT with ivman: To get the automount function working, create with mousepad a file named startup in $HOME/.icewm:

#!/bin/sh
exec /usr/bin/ivman

then you have to make startup executable:

$ chmod +x /.icewm/startup

in rox it works perfect - in emelfm you can not unmount the devices
--------------------------------------------------------------------
MULTIPLE KEYBOARDS:
You can use setxkbmap to do it. For example, to load 3 keyboards - english, german and italian (us, de, it) and to switch between them using BOTH SHIFTS, run this:

setxkbmap -option grp:switch,grp:shift_toggle us,de,it

Alternatively, you can edit your xorg.conf ($: sudo mousepad /etc/X11/xorg.config) and restart X server, but any subsequent setxkbmap will overwrite those settings. Here is quote from my xorg.conf

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "de,lt"
Option "XkbOptions" "grp:shift_toggle"
EndSection

more details:
for your keyboards: in /etc/X11/xkb/symbols all the keyboard shortcuts are listened and in every is detailed information
http://pascal.tsu.ru/en/xkb/
http://www.linux-es.org/docs/HOWTO/mini/Intkeyb

[christooss]

Thanks for the sgutdown thing. This has been known problem. Currentlly solved with wdm conf file editing

http://www.opensubscriber.com/messag...m/2579245.html

[LostinLinux]

Hi, first of all please bear with me. I am from a very orthodox Windows background and i program in C++ but i dont have a clue where to start in Linux.

Anyway, my problem. I have a really cool old notebook, AMD K6 2 500Mhz, 64MB RAM etc etc, you know the sort.

Anyway, i wanted to install ubuntu (i have used knoppix before) but its a pretty hefty OS so this Lite edition is great. So i downloaded and recorded the ISO etc etc installed it all perfectly, logged in with "me" and "none" but i only get to the terminal prompt. I assumed that just installing the ISO image would give me a graphical user interface of some kind??? Or do i need to install the server part first as in the manual HOW TO?

I would appreciate any help in getting my laptop running ubuntu

Regards

[LostinLinux]

Sorry, typical noob error...posting without fully reading

I forgot:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

God, how i love linux

[wfx]

Hi,
i post only what i use maybe you found something usefull.
Display Manager: bash (i use .bash_profile to automatic log into X)
Window Manager: Openbox
Backgroundimage setting: feh
Set some applicationwindow to a predefined size: devilspie
System information: torsmo
I use a vaio c1ve so for her extra jog wheel: sjog (not relay happy with it)
Development (python): pida
Office: Abiword (none gnome version) and gnumeric
For gtk settings: gtk-theme-switch
Filemanager: mc (thunar would be nice)
Fun: scummvm and dosbox
Video: mplayer-nogui
Music: mpd with ncmpc


my~/.bash_profile:

# Stealing form the web :-)
# Start X only if im local and the server is not running.
ps -axc | grep -w xinit
if [ $? = 1 ] &&  [ ! `who loves me | cut -s -f 2 -d "("` ]
then
  startx
fi

my~/.xinitrc:

feh --bg-scale /usr/share/backgrounds/Serbian_Frost.jpg
xset -b
exec devilspie&
exec torsmo&
exec sjog -ns&
exec openbox

my~/.torsmorc:

...
TEXT
$nodename - $sysname $kernel on $machine
${color grey}Uptime$color $uptime
${color grey}Time$color $time
${color grey}RAM Usage:$color $mem/$memmax - $memperc% ${membar 6}
${color grey}Swap Usage:$color $swap/$swapmax - $swapperc% ${swapbar 6}
${color grey}CPU Usage:$color $cpu% ${cpubar 6}
${color grey}Processes:$color $processes  ${color grey}Running:$color $running_processes
${color grey}Battery: ${battery BAT1}
${color grey}Networking:
Up:$color ${upspeed eth0} k/s${color grey} - Down:$color ${downspeed eth0} k/s
${color grey}File systems:
/ $color${fs_free /}/${fs_size /} ${fs_bar 6 /}
${color grey}Temperatures:
CPU:$color ${i2c temp 1}\uffffC${color grey} - MB:$color ${i2c temp 2}\uffffC

for mpd

cd
mkdir -p .mpd/playlists

my~/.mpdconf (Change the music_directory /TO/YOUR/DIRECTORY)

# MPD CONFIG FILE
# For a full description of all config parameters,
# Check the mpd man page, "man mpd".

##################### REQUIRED ###########################
port                    "6600"
music_directory         "~/Music"
playlist_directory      "~/.mpd/playlists"
log_file                "~/.mpd/mpd.log"
error_file              "~/.mpd/mpd.error"
##########################################################

##########################################################
# EVERYTHING ELSE IS OPTIONAL
##########################################################

################# FILESYSTEM SETTINGS ####################
#
# If the names of files or directories are
# not correctly displayed then set the
# following to the filesystem coding.
#
#       Usually this is either:
#       ISO-8859-1 or UTF-8
#
# After changing the filesystem_charset
# you will need to recreate the db:
#       mpd --create-db
#
#filesystem_charset "ISO-8859-1"
#
##########################################################

#################### OPTIONAL FILES ######################
#
# Location of DB file
#
db_file         "~/.mpd/mpd.db"
#
# The state file (if set) will be a file
# for storing all current information
# (playlist, playing/paused, etc...) from
# the last MPD session. This will be used
# to recreate your last MPD session after
# restart.
#
state_file              "~/.mpd/mpdstate"
#
##########################################################

################### VOLUME MIXER #########################
#
# Examples:
# ALSA Mixer
mixer_type              "alsa"
mixer_device            "default"
mixer_control           "PCM"
#
# OSS Mixer
#mixer_type             "oss"
#mixer_device           "/dev/mixer"
#mixer_control          "PCM"
#
# Software Mixer
#mixer_type             "software"
#
##########################################################


################## AUDIO OUTPUT ##########################
#
# OSS Audio Output
#ao_driver              "oss"
#ao_driver_options      "dsp=/dev/dsp"
#
# ALSA Audio Output
ao_driver               "alsa09"
ao_driver_options       "dev=hw:0,0"
#
# Set this if you have problems
# playing audio files.
# This will resample your music so
# that it comes out at the set rate.
#
#audio_output_format    "44100:16:2"
#
# You should not need mess with
# this value unless you know
# what you're doing.
#
#audio_write_size       "1024"
#
##########################################################

################# REPLAYGAIN #############################
#
# Use Replay Gain (album or title)
#       http://www.replaygain.org
#
#replaygain             "album"
#
# Sets the pre-amp used for files that have replaygain
# info.  Valid values are between -15 to 15 (in dB).
#
#replaygain_preamp      "0"
#
##########################################################


################ OUTPUT BUFFER SETTINGS ##################
#
# You should not need to mess with this
# unless you know what you're doing.
#
#audio_buffer_size      "2048"
#
# This means exactly what it says, it will
# buffer your file up to the percentage of
# the buffer before it begins playing.
#
#buffer_before_play     "25%"
#
##########################################################


################### HTTP PROXY ###########################
#
# http_proxy_host       "proxy.isp.com"
# http_proxy_port       "8080"
# http_proxy_user       "user"
# http_proxy_password   "password"
#
##########################################################

################# SECURITY SETTINGS ######################
#
# It is encouraged to run MPD as
# non-superuser.  If you start mpd as root
# (for example, in an init script), set
# this value, then  mpd will drop root priveleges
# and runs as the user specified.
#
#user           "nobody"
#
# Set this value if you only have one
# address you want to allow connection to.
#
#bind_to_address        "localhost"
#
# If you want to setup MPD to use
# passwords set them here
#
#password               "password1@read,add,control,admin"
#password               "password2@read"
#
# Specify permissions used by default when no password is
# given by for a connection/client.
#
#default_permissions    "read,add,control,admin"
#
##########################################
################ MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS ###################
#
# This setting exists as precaution against attacks.
#
#max_playlist_length    "16384"
#
# Valid options are "default", "secure" or "verbose".
#log_level              "default"
#
#connection_timeout     "60"
#
# This should be fine for 2-3 people using clients
# at the same time.
#
#max_connections        "5"
#
# No need to change these unless you know better.
#
#max_command_list_size  "2048"
#max_output_buffer_size "2048"
#
# This will make playlists compatible with normal music
# players.
#
#save_absolute_paths_in_playlists "no"
#
##########################################################

Changes: add mpd fun.

[jbaloul]

Hey guys,
First off i think that this project was called for....bless ya'll !!!

If it meens anything, i have been customizing and working with a trimed ubuntu for quite a while that is based on fluxbox, i experimented with damn small linux for quite a while to acheive my goal which was EXACTLY THIS:
To build an UbuntuLite System which can be installed on any machine whether a secure trimmed server or a low cost work station

In my case i have installed and tested different types of packages on almost all types of machines from IBM & Dell rack servers, AMD64s, Dual Cpu's to Pentium 2 garbage machines....I personally administer Trimmed servers of this kind which host other Virtual Servers (Linux, BSD, & windows) using VMWare...I think my expierience from those nail biting sleepless nights can contribute to this type of project...

Anyhow, for the newbies out there, i think it is very important to have them understand that running a LITE desktop does not mean that they cannot enjoy applications that are based on other window managers...

EXAMPLE:
For instance if users wanted to install TSclient (a Gnome Based Remote Desktop & VNC front end application) they would have to understand a few things:
1. All is possible if you install (apt-get install) the correct package with the correct dependancies.
2. To control the look & feel of the application (fonts, colors, skin, etc...) your best bet would be to install something like " gnome-control-center " (and it's dependancies ofcource) because in this case the Gnome application's look and feel is controled by Gnome. If it was a package like Kopete (KDE messenger), or Ksysguard (KDE version of the windows Task Manager) for example i would reccomend installing a package like Kcontrol which provides the features in gnome-control-center but for KDE applications.
3. a lite weight desktop is based on a skeleton system built from minimum packages which provides server like (command line) functionality, whith a Window Manager on top (Window Manager - the Gui or in other terms X-windows manager, or the Graphical Desktop itself)
4. The Window Manager is a seperate part from the Server itself (windows users will have a difficult time understanding this at first). The Window Manager can be changed, configured or disabled if needed. If disabled it will not effect server applications which run as a daemon (service) like Postifx (a mail server).
5. If you accidently made a mistake and broke your X-Window-Manager from starting up....PLEASE don't panic, give up, and reinstall Windows. Your system is stil functioning....just the Graphical part of it is not.

I personally would reccomend sticking Synaptic - The Graphical package manager - somewhere visible (Desktop or first in the Menu) as one of the first things a New user will stumble on when he first logs in. (I saw that the package was included)
Many users who come to the Linux World to experiment are confused from all the new package names and have no idea were to start or what to use.



Hope i provided some useful info,
Jacob

P.S keep up the good work!!! & Happy 2006 !!!

[christooss]

For all of you who are listening

Is there any chance that Rox-filer could be installed without XFCE dependencies. They are quite large and there are many people who has Dial-up connection.

Fortunatly this will be solved with Ubuntu-Lite Install/LiveCD. I hope this *thing* will be avalible in few weeks. I just have to find a spare disc and than configure everything. If you guys have any idea for Ubuntu-lite i.e. How to configure IceWM and other applications.

If you think that IceWM should be replaced please report.
If you think of and other solution that will bring Ubuntu-lite to a HIGHER level please you are welcome to speak out loud.

Thanks for your post jbaloul and thank you wfx for you configuration suggestions

Again you are welcome to our IRC chanell #ubunut-lite at Freenode

Bye