Ramblings about Debian GNU/Linux
Grokking Debian GNU/Linux
Before asking here or on the <debian-user> mailing list, you should read the Installation Guide,
or if you already have Debian installed, the Debian Reference.
Also take the time to read:
Linux is NOT Windows : http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
What we expect you have already Done. : http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=47078
Please read "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way" - http://catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html before posting any questions.The more you know the better you can explain your problem(s), which in turn makes it easier for everyone to help you.
The Debian Installation Guide for Squeeze 6.0 can be found at:
Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide : http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/
Can also be installed, the package name uses the architecture, i.e. installation-guide-i386, installation-guide-amd64 , etc
Before installing you will also want to read the Release Notes:
Debian 6.0 -- Release Notes : http://www.debian.org/releases/squeeze/releasenotes
You'll get more out of Debian and *nix if you learn some of the fundamentals.
Read the "Unix and Internet Fundamentals" HOWTO at http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Unix-and-Inter...mentals-HOWTO/
Then, read the Debian Reference at http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/reference/ Or install it.
Newbiedoc is Debian documentation FOR newbies BY newbies (and not-so-newbies). Can be found online at http://newbiedoc.berlios.de/ -- newbies check it out! Veterans too, so you can contribute!
The Debian Wiki covers many questions. It can be found at http://wiki.debian.org/
The Debian reference card is a cheat sheet of Debian commands - quite useful for someone new to Debian - can be found at
http://www.debian.org/doc/user-manuals#refcard and packaged for Debian as debian-refcard.
Frequently Asked Questions. The #debian FAQ is at http://wiki.debian.org/DebianIRC .
The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ is at http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ . Can also be install.
Basics of the Debian package management system
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/de...basics.en.html
The Debian package management tools
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/de...gtools.en.html
Debian package management
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/re...ent_operations
Debian survival commands
http://qref.sourceforge.net/Debian/r...tml#s-survival
Aptitude is the recommended package management tool in Debian.
Documentation for aptitude can be found in the aptitude-doc package (to see the languages in which it is available, apt-cache showpkg aptitude-doc) or at http://people.debian.org/~dburrows/a.../en/index.html
The Aptitude On-Line Help is in /usr/share/aptitude/help.txt
The APT, Dpkg Quick Reference sheet has a list of APT and dpkg commands. It can be installed, also online at http://www.cyberciti.biz/ref/apt-dpkg-ref.html
See Aptitude - Debian Wiki http://wiki.debian.org/Aptitude for a comparison between aptitude and apt-get commands. As well as http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/re...ent_operations
Synaptic - Graphical package manager - http://wiki.debian.org/Synaptic
gdebi is tool to install manually downloaded .deb packages. It is useful as it automatically resolves dependencies for you.
https://launchpad.net/gdebi
If you are running KDE
for the command-line utility
More general Linux information:
The Linux Documentation Project: Guides http://www.tldp.org/guides.html
The Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition. A fantastic book that is available at http://rute.2038bug.com/, or install the rutebook package from <non-free>. It covers Linux in a very non-distribution specific method.
The start of the book is "Binary and Octal" and ends with "Security Auditing".
General Command Line info:
http://linuxcommand.org
http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/
http://tldp.org/LDP/GNU-Linux-Tools-...tml/index.html
Debian packages that will help you learn how to use bash:
bash-doc - Documentation and examples for the The GNU Bourne Again SHell
abs-guide - The Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
Linux lessons:
(1) Don't change the permissions
(2) back up your data
(3) KISS - keep it simple, stupid
(4) read the fscking manual
(5) don't fsck with package management
(6) don't type anything you don't understand
(7) always have a boot floppy or CD
(8) read your log files
(9) the FIRST error is the one that counts
(10) don't leave your root shell until you TEST your changes
(11) don't be root when you don't have to be
last but not least this comes up often " How do I install packages on a system that isn't connected to the internet?".
There are a few ways to install packages on a computer that isn't connected to the internet.
Keryx Project « Updates for offline Linux users
apt-zip
Description: Update a non-networked computer using apt and removable media
These scripts simplify the process of using dselect and apt on a
non-networked Debian box, using removable media like ZIP floppies and
USB keys.
One generates a `fetch' script (supporting backends such as wget and
lftp, in a modular, extensible way) to be run on a host with better
connectivity, check space constraints of your removable media, and
then install the package on your Debian box.
Homepage: http://alioth.debian.org/projects/apt-zip
APT HOWTO Basic Configuration
Always check the Debian BTS when you find a app not working the way it should.
Also make sure you have reportbug or reportbug-ng so you can report any bugs with packages. Bugs only get fixed if the Debian Devs know about them.
"Debian has a bug tracking system (BTS) in which we file details of bugs reported by users and developers. Each bug is given a number, and is kept on file until it is marked as having been dealt with."
Debian -- Debian BTS - reporting bugs
Check out http://www.debian.org/support for more in-depth support, including forums, mailing-lists, documentation, Usenet groups, IRC.
Other useful links:
# Apt-Pinning for Beginners - http://jaqque.sbih.org/kplug/apt-pinning.html
# Search Debian -- Packages - http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages
# Debian Sources List Generator - http://debgen.simplylinux.ch/
# smxi - unofficial Debian maintenance script http://smxi.org/site/install.htm
or if you already have Debian installed, the Debian Reference.
Also take the time to read:
Linux is NOT Windows : http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
What we expect you have already Done. : http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=47078
Please read "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way" - http://catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html before posting any questions.The more you know the better you can explain your problem(s), which in turn makes it easier for everyone to help you.
The Debian Installation Guide for Squeeze 6.0 can be found at:
Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide : http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/
Can also be installed, the package name uses the architecture, i.e. installation-guide-i386, installation-guide-amd64 , etc
Code:
aptitude install installation-guide-i386
Debian 6.0 -- Release Notes : http://www.debian.org/releases/squeeze/releasenotes
You'll get more out of Debian and *nix if you learn some of the fundamentals.
Read the "Unix and Internet Fundamentals" HOWTO at http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Unix-and-Inter...mentals-HOWTO/
Then, read the Debian Reference at http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/reference/ Or install it.
Code:
aptitude install debian-reference-en
Code:
aptitude install newbiedoc
The Debian reference card is a cheat sheet of Debian commands - quite useful for someone new to Debian - can be found at
http://www.debian.org/doc/user-manuals#refcard and packaged for Debian as debian-refcard.
Code:
aptitude install debian-refcard
The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ is at http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ . Can also be install.
Code:
aptitude install debian-faq
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/de...basics.en.html
The Debian package management tools
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/de...gtools.en.html
Debian package management
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/re...ent_operations
Debian survival commands
http://qref.sourceforge.net/Debian/r...tml#s-survival
Aptitude is the recommended package management tool in Debian.
Documentation for aptitude can be found in the aptitude-doc package (to see the languages in which it is available, apt-cache showpkg aptitude-doc) or at http://people.debian.org/~dburrows/a.../en/index.html
Code:
aptitude install aptitude-doc-en
The APT, Dpkg Quick Reference sheet has a list of APT and dpkg commands. It can be installed, also online at http://www.cyberciti.biz/ref/apt-dpkg-ref.html
Code:
aptitude install apt-dpkg-ref
See Aptitude - Debian Wiki http://wiki.debian.org/Aptitude for a comparison between aptitude and apt-get commands. As well as http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/re...ent_operations
Synaptic - Graphical package manager - http://wiki.debian.org/Synaptic
Code:
aptitude install synaptic
https://launchpad.net/gdebi
Code:
aptitude install gdebi
Code:
aptitude install gdebi-kde
Code:
aptitude install gdebi-core
The Linux Documentation Project: Guides http://www.tldp.org/guides.html
The Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition. A fantastic book that is available at http://rute.2038bug.com/, or install the rutebook package from <non-free>. It covers Linux in a very non-distribution specific method.
The start of the book is "Binary and Octal" and ends with "Security Auditing".
Code:
aptitude install rutebook
http://linuxcommand.org
http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/
http://tldp.org/LDP/GNU-Linux-Tools-...tml/index.html
Debian packages that will help you learn how to use bash:
bash-doc - Documentation and examples for the The GNU Bourne Again SHell
abs-guide - The Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
Linux lessons:
(1) Don't change the permissions
(2) back up your data
(3) KISS - keep it simple, stupid
(4) read the fscking manual
(5) don't fsck with package management
(6) don't type anything you don't understand
(7) always have a boot floppy or CD
(8) read your log files
(9) the FIRST error is the one that counts
(10) don't leave your root shell until you TEST your changes
(11) don't be root when you don't have to be
last but not least this comes up often " How do I install packages on a system that isn't connected to the internet?".
There are a few ways to install packages on a computer that isn't connected to the internet.
Keryx Project « Updates for offline Linux users
Quote:
Keryx is a portable, cross-platform package manager for APT-based (Ubuntu, Debian) systems. It provides a graphical interface for gathering updates, packages, and dependencies for offline computers. Keryx is free and open source.
Description: Update a non-networked computer using apt and removable media
These scripts simplify the process of using dselect and apt on a
non-networked Debian box, using removable media like ZIP floppies and
USB keys.
One generates a `fetch' script (supporting backends such as wget and
lftp, in a modular, extensible way) to be run on a host with better
connectivity, check space constraints of your removable media, and
then install the package on your Debian box.
Homepage: http://alioth.debian.org/projects/apt-zip
APT HOWTO Basic Configuration
Quote:
Adding a CD-ROM to the sources.list file
If you'd rather use your CD-ROM for installing packages or updating your system automatically with APT, you can put it in your sources.list. To do so, you can use the apt-cdrom program like this:
# apt-cdrom add
with the Debian CD-ROM in the drive. It will mount the CD-ROM, and if it's a valid Debian CD it will look for package information on the disk. If your CD-ROM configuration is a little unusual, you can also use the following options:
-h - program help
-d directory - CD-ROM mount point
-r - Rename a recognized CD-ROM
-m - No mounting
-f - Fast mode, don't check package files
-a - Thorough scan mode
For example:
# apt-cdrom -d /home/kov/mycdrom add
You can also identify a CD-ROM, without adding it to your list:
# apt-cdrom ident
If you'd rather use your CD-ROM for installing packages or updating your system automatically with APT, you can put it in your sources.list. To do so, you can use the apt-cdrom program like this:
# apt-cdrom add
with the Debian CD-ROM in the drive. It will mount the CD-ROM, and if it's a valid Debian CD it will look for package information on the disk. If your CD-ROM configuration is a little unusual, you can also use the following options:
-h - program help
-d directory - CD-ROM mount point
-r - Rename a recognized CD-ROM
-m - No mounting
-f - Fast mode, don't check package files
-a - Thorough scan mode
For example:
# apt-cdrom -d /home/kov/mycdrom add
You can also identify a CD-ROM, without adding it to your list:
# apt-cdrom ident
Also make sure you have reportbug or reportbug-ng so you can report any bugs with packages. Bugs only get fixed if the Debian Devs know about them.
"Debian has a bug tracking system (BTS) in which we file details of bugs reported by users and developers. Each bug is given a number, and is kept on file until it is marked as having been dealt with."
Debian -- Debian BTS - reporting bugs
Quote:
How to report a bug in Debian using reportbug
We strongly recommend that you report bugs in Debian using the reportbug program. To install and start it, simply run:
aptitude install reportbug; reportbug
It will guide you through the bug reporting process step by step.
We strongly recommend that you report bugs in Debian using the reportbug program. To install and start it, simply run:
aptitude install reportbug; reportbug
It will guide you through the bug reporting process step by step.
Other useful links:
# Apt-Pinning for Beginners - http://jaqque.sbih.org/kplug/apt-pinning.html
# Search Debian -- Packages - http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages
# Debian Sources List Generator - http://debgen.simplylinux.ch/
# smxi - unofficial Debian maintenance script http://smxi.org/site/install.htm
Total Comments 21
Comments
-
Thanks! A pretty useful resource!
Posted 08-06-2010 at 04:53 AM by rich_c -
Good work Craig.
This might be better served as a 'sticky' in the Debian forum here.Posted 08-07-2010 at 04:42 PM by the trooper -
Posted 08-07-2010 at 05:08 PM by craigevil -
Thanks for this compilation of resource links!
Posted 08-12-2010 at 07:07 PM by the dsc -
Update for Squeeze, also added some useful links.
Posted 04-05-2011 at 11:29 AM by craigevil -
I see I'm not the only documentation junkie :P
Nice work bringing it all together. I haven't used Debian proper for some years now, but I'm certain new users would appreciate this article.Posted 05-25-2011 at 01:19 AM by Telengard -
These sort of things have a tendency to keep growing, see Slackware Links, put together by onebuck.
Posted 05-25-2011 at 06:47 AM by brianL -
Some more useful info:
Newer versions of Iceweasel Debian Mozilla team APT archive - http://mozilla.debian.net/
Java - Debian Wiki - http://wiki.debian.org/Java
FlashPlayer - Debian Wiki - http://wiki.debian.org/FlashPlayerPosted 05-25-2011 at 01:05 PM by craigevil -
Howto: Set up and Maintain a Mixed Testing/Unstable System - http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.p...=15612&p=76067
HowTo Build a Package from Source the Smart Way - http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=38976
NvidiaGraphicsDrivers - Debian Wiki - http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDriversPosted 07-02-2011 at 03:32 PM by craigevil -
Debian Community Guidelines - http://people.debian.org/~enrico/dcg/
How can you help Debian? - http://www.debian.org/intro/help
Social Contract - http://www.debian.org/social_contract
Free Software - http://www.debian.org/intro/freePosted 07-02-2011 at 03:56 PM by craigevil -
Tech Patterns :: Switching from Debian Iceweasel to Firefox, permanently : http://techpatterns.com/forums/about1435.html
Posted 07-27-2011 at 05:36 PM by craigevil -
iw - Linux Wireless - http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/...ulatory_domain
Quote:Updating your regulatory domain
The command line is:
iw reg set alpha2
Where "alpha2" is the ISO/IEC 3166 alpha2 country code. The information used and set comes from our regulatory infrastructure.
You can also use the latest wpa_supplicant (as of 0.6.7) now to change your regulatory domain, to do so just add a "COUNTRY=US" entry into your configuration for example.Posted 07-30-2011 at 10:25 AM by craigevil -
Setting Default browser - MozillaZine Knowledge Base : http://kb.mozillazine.org/Default_browser#Debian
Setting Default Applications Using the Debian alternatives system : http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/91Posted 02-19-2012 at 01:12 PM by craigevil -
Ways to backup your Debian install:
FSArchiver - http://www.fsarchiver.org/Main_Page
Clonezilla - http://clonezilla.org/
BackupAndRecovery - http://wiki.debian.org/BackupAndRecoveryPosted 03-25-2012 at 09:27 AM by craigevil -
UFW - Uncomplicated Firewall https://launchpad.net/ufw
Quote:Description-en: program for managing a Netfilter firewall
The Uncomplicated FireWall is a front-end for iptables, to make managing a Netfilter firewall easier. It provides a command line interface with syntax similar to OpenBSD's Packet Filter. It is particularly well-suited as a host-based firewall.
gufw. For those that run KDE like myself there isn't a package in the Debian repos.
But we can use , UFW KControl Module KDE-Apps.org
http://kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=137789
it has to be compiled, for the last step in place of make install, I used checkinstall which builds a .deb package.
Once installed it shows up in KDE's System Settings under Network, you will see a shield with the word Firewall under it.
Documentation for UFW:
UFW - https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UFW
UncomplicatedFirewall https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UncomplicatedFirewallPosted 04-09-2012 at 02:06 AM by craigevil -
Howto get newer package versions for Debian Stable - https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...-stable-34611/
HowTo Build a Package from Source the Smart Way : http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=38976Posted 04-18-2012 at 01:53 PM by craigevil -
The Debian Administration Handbook
You can order it in book form or download in various electronic form. You can find the news here:
http://debian-handbook.info/2012/the...-is-available/
The download is a bit hard to find at first glance. You can find it here:
http://debian-handbook.info/get/now/
Also available as a html webpage:
http://static.debian-handbook.info/browse/stable/
And at least on sid as a Debian package:
$ apt-cache search debian-handbook
debian-handbook - reference book for Debian users and system administrators
Code:# apt-get install debian-handbook Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following NEW packages will be installed: debian-handbook 0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 19 not upgraded. Need to get 22.0 MB of archives. After this operation, 23.9 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Posted 05-11-2012 at 06:31 AM by craigevil -
How To Make Chromium Use Flash Player `Pepper` From Google Chrome ~ http://www.webupd8.org/2012/09/how-t...sh-player.html
Very cool especially for those that do not want to use Google Chrome.Posted 09-06-2012 at 11:50 PM by craigevil -
Debian unlike other distros like Ubuntu does not come with sudo enabled by default. That said it is easy enough to set it up.
How to setup sudo:
1) Use visudo to edit your sudoers file
2) Add your user to the sudo group
Code:adduser foo sudo
Visudo Manual - http://www.gratisoft.us/sudo/visudo.man.html
Add a User To Group - http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/ubuntu-add-user-to-group/
Proper way to open apps as root in X - http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=53366
sudo - Debian Wiki - http://wiki.debian.org/sudo
HOWTO - get kdesu back to normal in KDE4 - http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=40158
This one is actually pretty easy. In a terminal here is what you do:
Anywhere you see ## just after that is instructions you do NOT have to type the text directly AFTER the ## signs,
what you have to type will either be BEFORE the ## on a line or the line will have NO ## signs.
Code:##first type in: su ##after you hit enter you will see Password: ##<----------- type in your root password here. ##Now you will see your prompt change from a $ to a # sign ##Don't worry, almost done now... ##type: ln -s /usr/lib/kde4/libexec/kdesu /usr/bin/kdesu ##hit enter, then type: exit ##You are now back to your regular user in your terminal. Lets test that puppy out! kdesu dolphin ##The normal kdesu dialog should pop up asking for roots password with the explanation that the program ##dolphin needs root permissions. You can just cancel the dialog box since it was only a test to see if the link ##worked.
Posted 09-18-2012 at 03:19 PM by craigevil
Updated 09-18-2012 at 03:27 PM by craigevil