I've just started experimenting with Ubuntu on a reconstructed PC - its slow but good enough for experimenting to see if I'll join the "dark side!!!". I'm teaching myself using Beginning Ubuntu Linux by Keir Thomas as a reference. I don't know any Linux users. I've installed Ubuntu Version 7.10 so far I've been able to install Firewall Firestarter. I see I don't need antivirus so I won't worry about that. I'm sorting out updating Nvidia drivers from the vendors site.

My query is will the harddrive need periodic defragmenting as I do now with my XP pro and Vista PC's? I clean out temp files occasionally on those machines are there Linux "temp" files which need cleaning out from time to time.

This fills my retirement hours.

Regards from Downunder


I'm trying not to think about or use Ubuntu in Windows terms.

No the hard drive does not need defragmenting. More info about this is available here.

ext3 does not suffer from the file fragmentation that FAT and NTFS do.

You don't need to defag your hard disk - performance losses due to fragmentation are minimal. This is one of the up-sides of some filesystem design decisions. There are of course down sides as well. For example searching through the names of all the files on the system (aka walking the directory tree) takes longer on unix-like systems.

Ubuntu, and most other main stream Linux distributions come pre-configured with recurring tasks which clean up the temporary directories. FYI these directories are /tmp and /var/tmp. They have slightly different uses - for example, /tmp is cleaned every reboot, and /var/tmp is not. The details aren't so important for most people, so if you don't care about it, no worries.

If you're looking for some fellow Linux users to chat with, search for a local Linux User Group (LUG). There are LUGs all over the place, and they often hold regular meetings, talks and social events as well ask communicating via mailing lists and so on. Looks like this is the closest thing to you: http://www.humbug.org.au/

Oh, one more thing before I stop my incessant babble... You might want to have a listen to some of the Linux podcasts out there. There are quite a variety. I'm a total sucker for listening to people waffle on endless about Linux, so I listen to most of em

Here's a list of some of the ones which release episodes semi-regularly, in them in no particular order:

• Linux Action Show (US-based) - news, features, laughs, some interviews.
• Linux Reality (US-based) - topic-based, suggested for new users as it provides lots of tutorials on different subjects.
• TLLTS: The Linux Link Tech Show (US-based) - podcast of live radio show. News, lots of interviews, laughs, freedom hating
• Linux Outlaws (UK/Germany) - news, features, laughs, quite a new show.
• Ludradio (UK-based) - news, Ubuntu promotion, sarcasm, taking the mickey out of people's names, (despite the name very little about LUGs).
• LottaLinuxLinks podcast (US based) - one man's commute used constructively. Stream of consciousness. Recently some interviews too.
• LQ Radio (US-based) - the linuxquestions.org podcast
• Open News (US-based) - news round up.
• Sourcetrunk (Belgium-based, in English) - focus on open source applications.

There are many more... google about and see what you can find.

Thank you for your replies just a couple of comments Reddazz I read your link it is two and a half years old. I read it anyway thanks.

Matthewg42 I did look for User Groups and found the one you refer to on the net I hesitate to drive to the University of Queensland it is on the other side of Brisbane from where I live the road I would have to use is the most chaotic in Brisbane no level of Government can decide how to solve the problem !!! Chaos theory has been alive and well on that road for years !!!

I actually do intend to visit one meeting in the new year.

Meanwhile I am making some progress all be it slowly and the good old trial and error method.

Thanks again

Regards from Down Under

Brisbane seems to have an inordinate number of contributors here on LQ for such a small city.
Not sure what the user group community is like - haven't bothered attending any.