Useful Ubuntu Linux Tweaks

My interest in linux first sprouted  when I was a junior student. I used to play with RedHat 7 then, mostly CLI. After a few years of professional experience in different windows, I resumed my journey in linux during my master’s program in 2009, in fact, after my xp box got infected by virus. Since then, I have been using Ubuntu 8, 9  and 10 (Lucid Lynx, aka L ubuntu ). When I was using windows before, I would always like to have my own customized theme and settings which constantly drove me to follow even after using linux. So, in the course of customizing Ubuntu theme (especially X system) to my taste, i have done and learnt some tweaks which I have shared with you guys below.

Please, forgive me for not being clear on all tips since, most of the time, I would just jot down consicely and  have put them here intact. You may need to read mindfully to understand these tips or must have come through similar situation/problem. Please, ignore the numbering order.

Minor:

2. gnome-app-install opens up add/remove program.
3. sudo apt-get update (gets alll updates)
6. sudo dpkg -i package_name.deb (install)
7. /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk //java path
/usr/bin/java
10. synaptic & (open synaptic pkg mgr)
sudo apt-get remove [--purge] firebird… [complete removal]
11. ps aux | grep fire*
13. sudo apt-get clean (cleans from /var/cache/apt/archives)
15. despite asking to reboot, sometimes restarting inetd may suffice:
kill -1 pid
18. nautilus & ———– open file browser
19. to install bin file:
chmod a+x file.bin
sudo ./file.bin
21. to display size in mb
sfdisk -luM
22. /dev/sda2 /media/C: ntfs defaults 0 0
/dev/sda3 /media/D: ntfs defaults 0 0
now to remount all in fstab:
mount -a
23. /boot/grub/menu.lst
24. to open Run : alt F2
25. gnome-sound-properties
28. gconf-editor (like regedit)
29. gnome-control-center
30. icons of installed apps in /usr/share/pixmaps
/usr/share/app-install/icons
31. check listening ports:
netstat -antlp
32. change default editor to scite
sudo mv /etc/alternatives/gnome-text-editor /etc/alternatives/gnome-text-editor.old
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/scite /etc/alternatives/gnome-text-editor
33. -Djava.library.path= 34. updatedb to update file system in linux
35. show/hide hidden files/folders ctrl H
38. to start x
startx
41. if persisting dependency problem, run
dpkg-reconfigure –all (it takes > half hr, and asks for a lot of conf params, so careful)
43. to know usage of disks;
df -h
44. set beeps
xset b on/off
xset b 30 60 30
47. to use sun’s (openjdk) java in eclipse (default GNU’s );
update-java-alternatives -s java-6-sun
48. env vars in /etc/environment
49. to find linked file
ls -l /usr/bin/java
now keep following the new link.
52. view log while something going;
tail -f /var/log/syslog
54. change user of a file /folder:
chown root myfolder // new user root
chmod +s myfolder
6. right list – win + s
left list – alt + f1
run – alt + f2
terminal – ctrl alt t
desktop – ctrl alt d
lock screen – ctrl alt l
7. enable ctrl alt bkspc
system – preference – keyboard-layout-options-key sequence to kill x server
8. rmmod b43
depmod -a
modprobe b43 // loads
insmod b43
echo modeprobe b43 >> /etc/rc.local //load as boot process
10. apt-cache search libssl

11. install gyachi

add-apt-repository ppa:loell/ppa\
12. sudo getlibs /usr/bin/gyachi //may need to install getblibs first
12. set default apps:
~/.local/share/applications/defalult.list
or for console
update-alternatives –config editor
14. install dependencies
apt-get -f install

Below are some major tasks I did detail of which will be posted later when I have spare time.

Major:

10. I have made linux shell available remotely using ftpd, ssh, 
    apache http etc.

1. Change of root’s user id.

2. Hide a user in login box.

3. To disable/enable graphical login (ie to have console for login in lieu of gui login box).

4. Recover deleted text using strings utility of linux.

5. After installing adobe air, synaptics pkg mgr may not work. I have fixed it.

6. I have Ubuntu LL with MAC theme, especial animation effects of my taste using compiz and AWN.

7. To configure startup menu on windows:

    bcdedit /default {id}
    bcdedit /timeout n
    bcdedit /displayorder {id1} {id2}

8. ssh configuratioin

apt-get install openssh-server
cp /etc/ssh/sshd_config ~
gedit /etc/ssh/sshd_config
	Port 11
	PermitRootLogin no
	AllowUsers non-root
/etc/init.d/ssh restart
telnet localhost 11
ssh non-root@silver-box -p 11

9.ftpd configuration
install proftpd
in /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf
	defaultroot  /home/shared
	allowuser	non-root
	denyall //other users
/etc/init.d/proftpd force-stop

I hope you found this blog useful. More later.

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