Ubuntu Installation Guide

This manual is free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License. Please refer to the license in Section C.4, “GNU General Public License”.

Abstract

This document contains installation instructions for the Ubuntu 4.10 “Warty Warthog” system, for the AMD64 (“amd64”) architecture. It also contains pointers to more information and information on how to make the most of your new Ubuntu system.


Table of Contents

Installing Ubuntu 4.10 Warty Warthog For amd64
1. Welcome to Ubuntu
1.1. What is Ubuntu?
1.1.1. Sponsorship by Canonical
1.2. What is Debian?
1.2.1. Ubuntu and Debian
1.3. What is GNU/Linux?
1.4. Getting Ubuntu
1.5. Getting the Newest Version of This Document
1.6. Organization of This Document
1.7. About Copyrights and Software Licenses
2. System Requirements
2.1. Supported Hardware
2.1.1. Supported Architectures
2.1.2. Graphics Card
2.1.3. Multiple Processors
2.2. Installation Media
2.2.1. CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
2.2.2. Hard Disk
2.2.3. Network
2.2.4. Un*x or GNU system
2.2.5. Supported Storage Systems
2.3. Peripherals and Other Hardware
2.4. Purchasing Hardware Specifically for GNU/Linux
2.4.1. Avoid Proprietary or Closed Hardware
2.4.2. Fake or Virtual Parity RAM
2.5. Memory and Disk Space Requirements
2.6. Network Connectivity Hardware
3. Before Installing Ubuntu
3.1. Overview of the Installation Process
3.2. Back Up Your Existing Data!
3.3. Information You Will Need
3.3.1. Documentation
3.3.2. Finding Sources of Hardware Information
3.3.3. Hardware Compatibility
3.3.4. Network Settings
3.4. Meeting Minimum Hardware Requirements
3.5. Pre-Partitioning for Multi-Boot Systems
3.6. Pre-Installation Hardware and Operating System Setup
3.6.1. Hardware Issues to Watch Out For
4. Obtaining System Installation Media
4.1. Official Ubuntu CD-ROMs
4.2. Downloading Files from Ubuntu Mirrors
4.2.1. Where to Find Installation Images
4.3. Preparing Files for Hard Disk Booting
4.4. Preparing Files for TFTP Net Booting
4.4.1. Setting up BOOTP server
4.4.2. Setting up a DHCP server
4.4.3. Enabling the TFTP Server
4.4.4. Move TFTP Images Into Place
5. Booting the Installation System
5.1. Booting the Installer on AMD64
5.2. Boot Parameters
5.2.1. Ubuntu Installer Parameters
5.3. Troubleshooting the Install Process
5.3.1. Boot Configuration
5.3.2. Interpreting the Kernel Startup Messages
5.3.3. Bug Reporter
5.3.4. Submitting Installation Reports
6. Using the Ubuntu Installer
6.1. How the Installer Works
6.2. Components Introduction
6.3. Using Individual Components
6.3.1. Setting up Ubuntu Installer and Hardware Configuration
6.3.2. Partitioning and Mount Point Selection
6.3.3. Installing the Base System
6.3.4. Making Your System Bootable
6.3.5. Finishing the First Stage
6.3.6. Miscellaneous
7. Booting Into Your New Ubuntu System
7.1. The Moment of Truth
7.2. Ubuntu Post-Boot (Base) Configuration
7.2.1. Configuring Your Time Zone
7.2.2. Setting Up Users And Passwords
7.2.3. Configuring APT
7.2.4. Package Installation
7.2.5. Prompts During Software Installation
7.3. Log In
8. Next Steps and Where to Go From Here
8.1. If You Are New to Unix
8.2. Orienting Yourself to Ubuntu
8.2.1. Ubuntu Packaging System
8.2.2. Application Version Management
8.2.3. Cron Job Management
8.3. Further Reading and Information
8.4. Compiling a New Kernel
8.4.1. Kernel Image Management
A. Partitioning for Ubuntu
A.1. Deciding on Ubuntu Partitions and Sizes
A.2. The Directory Tree
A.3. Recommended Partitioning Scheme
A.4. Device Names in Linux
A.5. Ubuntu Partitioning Programs
B. Installation Howto
C. Random Bits
C.1. Linux Devices
C.1.1. Setting Up Your Mouse
C.2. Disk Space Needed
C.3. Installing Ubuntu from a Unix/Linux System
C.3.1. Getting Started
C.3.2. Install debootstrap
C.3.3. Run debootstrap
C.3.4. Configure The Base System
C.3.5. Install a Kernel
C.3.6. Set up the Boot Loader
C.3.7. Install the Ubuntu Desktop
C.4. GNU General Public License
C.4.1. Preamble
C.4.2. GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
C.4.3. How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs
D. Administrivia
D.1. About This Document
D.2. Contributing to This Document
D.3. Acknowledgements and Thanks
D.4. Major Contributions
D.5. Trademark Acknowledgement

List of Tables

3.1. Hardware Information Needed for an Install
3.2. Recommended Minimum System Requirements
D.1. Debian-installer Documentation
D.2. Boot-floppies Documentation
D.3. Progeny Documentation
D.4. Modifications for Ubuntu
D.5. Translators