Trying Linux (ubuntu) for the first time.

[Maximilian]

Okay ive tried Linux before but booting it up visiting google and proclaiming it to work "fine" probably dosent count for much.

Im gonna move my home server/HTPC from windows 8.1 to ubuntu 13.10. The hardware is in my sig, its duties will be file sharing and playing stuff with XBMC. Any gotchas I should be aware of? Issues im likely to encounter?

Kinda doing this for fun, just to see if it works, probably a bit masochistic but hey ho.

 

[Jodell88]

Should be plain sailing.

 

[Savatar]

Linux Mint, which is based on Ubuntu, is more traditional and familiar from a desktop environment/GUI perspective, in my opinion. If you don't like Ubuntu's out-of-the-box UI, maybe give Mint with the MATE UI a shot! (Pretty much any software that runs on Ubuntu will run on Mint as well.)

Some background: In Windows you really only have one desktop environment to choose from... (well, except Windows 8 that introduced Modern UI as well) whereas in Linux there are a variety. GNOME and KDE which were/are two of the most popular heavyweight desktop environments, though people have tended to migrate away from those two recently when they released new versions which forced some major changes on users that they didn't like. MINT - a fork of GNOME 2 to keep it a live, and Cinnamon - a fork of GNOME 3 to make it more user-friendly. And finally, Xfce and Lxde are two more basic and lightweight alternatives that are pretty popular. However, when using Linux the command-line (terminal) is much more popular than Windows - so if you're a power-user or learning things you'll be spending a lot of time there too.

Here's a rundown of the desktop environments with some screenshots of the more popular ones: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/30/how-to-pick-a-desktop-environment-in-linux/

 

[Maximilian]

Linux Mint, which is based on Ubuntu, is more traditional and familiar from a desktop environment/GUI perspective, in my opinion. If you don't like Ubuntu's out-of-the-box UI, maybe give Mint with the MATE UI a shot! (Pretty much any software that runs on Ubuntu will run on Mint as well.)

Some background: In Windows you really only have one desktop environment to choose from... (well, except Windows 8 that introduced Modern UI as well) whereas in Linux there are a variety. GNOME and KDE which were/are two of the most popular heavyweight desktop environments, though people have tended to migrate away from those two recently when they released new versions which forced some major changes on users that they didn't like. MINT - a fork of GNOME 2 to keep it a live, and Cinnamon - a fork of GNOME 3 to make it more user-friendly. And finally, Xfce and Lxde are two more basic and lightweight alternatives that are pretty popular. However, when using Linux the command-line (terminal) is much more popular than Windows - so if you're a power-user or learning things you'll be spending a lot of time there too.

Here's a rundown of the desktop environments with some screenshots of the more popular ones: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/30/how-to-pick-a-desktop-environment-in-linux/

Thanks man. Yeah im beginning to see the linux crew really love their command line. Cant say im fond of that but so far I havent had to touch it except for hdparm to make the drives spin down.

 

[Maximilian]

My god this is an exercise in frustration, what people mean when they say linux isnt windows is linux isnt easy. Im using mint btw, mint 16.

Not letting this POS beat me though! Im making progress. Have to say a large part of the problem is the hugely overly complex roundabout solutions people post to problems... Takes effort to find the easy (least likely to ah heck things up) method!

Finally got my drives to automount, and in the correct directory. Samba is working well. Managed to get Samba to start on boot, now I just need to get it to start as root so I don't have to type the friggin password in every time for it. Although linux never seems to need to restart so might be less of an issue than I think.

Once ive nailed that... setting up XBMC will be next!

 

[Maximilian]

Should be plain sailing.

Thats funny :thumbsup:

 

[lxskllr]

You shouldn't run as root. If there was a single worst idea for using an operating system, that would be it.

 

[Maximilian]

You shouldn't run as root. If there was a single worst idea for using an operating system, that would be it.

Im not root I just wanted that one app to run as root.

But in the past half hour ive realized samba actually starts on boot anyways, I thought the samba GUI configurator thing was samba, apparently not. So no need for it to start at all. Its some kind of background service or something? I dunno.

 

[Charlie98]

Every time I think I want to build a Ubuntu box, I read posts like this and it chases me back into the vile brothel of Windows... *sigh*

 

[lxskllr]

Every time I think I want to build a Ubuntu box, I read posts like this and it chases me back into the vile brothel of Windows... *sigh*

It's just a matter of doing it. A second box that you kind of need, but isn't essential would be ideal. That would force you to learn since you need it, but isn't a tragedy if it goes down for a little while. As long as you don't get unlucky with hardware, things usually Just Work®. It''s then a matter of getting used to the difference between GNU/Linux and Windows.

 

[Maximilian]

Every time I think I want to build a Ubuntu box, I read posts like this and it chases me back into the vile brothel of Windows... *sigh*

Ach its not too bad... well now its all working the way I want it to anyways :sneaky: Bit of an adventure!

Its just learning the absolute basics that really threw me, there dosent seem to be a website around that covers things like:

- Where the hell are the .exe's?
- Where is the program files equivalent? Is there one??
- Whats the home folder all about, is it like my documents?
- Is "file system" like drive C: where the OS is?
- Why are there no drive letters, how does that work?
- How do I do some common semi-technical thing I did in windows?

The one friend I have that uses Linux is a condescending jerk (arch Linux user) who uses the most complex way of doing anything. Having him tell me how to find out the hard drive temperature was a freaking 10 step process with a few "guides" involved... I found out myself that the pre installed "disks" app tells me the temps. Freaking 2 clicks to start "disks" app and hes got me doing all this extra BS to install something called conky and its repositories and some extra themes. Ugh.

Morale of the story? Never listen to anyone

 

[lxskllr]

Its just learning the absolute basics that really threw me, there dosent seem to be a website around that covers things like:

- Where the hell are the .exe's?
- Where is the program files equivalent? Is there one??
- Whats the home folder all about, is it like my documents?
- Is "file system" like drive C: where the OS is?
- Why are there no drive letters, how does that work?
- How do I do some common semi-technical thing I did in windows?

This should be a helpful book(free download)...

http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html

It's based on Ubuntu 10.04, so some of the particulars aren't relevant anymore, but core operation should still be pertinent. It's easy to read and understand.

Also, remember when getting help online, the command line instructions are generally given because they're easier to communicate in text. Otherwise, it would take numerous pictures, and guiding the mouse via words. It isn't as terminal based as online guides would lead you to believe, though it can be done that way if it's your preference.

 

[Maximilian]

This should be a helpful book(free download)...

http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html

It's based on Ubuntu 10.04, so some of the particulars aren't relevant anymore, but core operation should still be pertinent. It's easy to read and understand.

Also, remember when getting help online, the command line instructions are generally given because they're easier to communicate in text. Otherwise, it would take numerous pictures, and guiding the mouse via words. It isn't as terminal based as online guides would lead you to believe, though it can be done that way if it's your preference.

Thanks, ill have a flick through that!

Yeah I guess that makes sense, its just majorly offputting using terminal commands that im unfamiliar with, I mean if it dosent work but it did do something... ill have to undo whatever it did somehow or I could end up with other issues, sort of a snowball effect.

 

[Maximilian]

Got a little problem, maybe someone can help with?

If the server boots up and the TV its attached to by HDMI cable is turned off, I get no sound when i turn the TV on again. Video over HDMI is fine, but no sound.

If the server boots up and the TV is on I get sound. I can switch the TV on and off as many times as I like and sound isn't a problem in this scenario, it always works.

Any way to fix this? Its lucky Linux rarely need to reboot!

 

[Jodell88]

Got a little problem, maybe someone can help with?

If the server boots up and the TV its attached to by HDMI cable is turned off, I get no sound when i turn the TV on again. Video over HDMI is fine, but no sound.

If the server boots up and the TV is on I get sound. I can switch the TV on and off as many times as I like and sound isn't a problem in this scenario, it always works.

Any way to fix this? Its lucky Linux rarely need to reboot!

Go to sound settings and click on the output tab. You'll see a couple of devices listed, choose the one you want.

 

[Maximilian]

Go to sound settings and click on the output tab. You'll see a couple of devices listed, choose the one you want.

Yeah its HDMI that's selected but sound dosent work unless the TV is switched on at boot. Its there, its selected but no sound plays. Only get video.

 

[Jodell88]

Yeah its HDMI that's selected but sound dosent work unless the TV is switched on at boot. Its there, its selected but no sound plays. Only get video.

Does it say that it is unplugged?

 

[Maximilian]

Does it say that it is unplugged?

Nope looks like this when it works, looks the exact same when it dosent work:

Tried reloading alsa, seen that suggested somewhere, had no effect.

 

[Jodell88]

Ahh right, Cinnamon has a different layout.

Try this. https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PulseAudio#No_HDMI_sound_output_after_some_time_with_the_monitor_turned_off

If it works, that's one of the stupidest things I've seen.

To switch to a TTY it's ctrl + alt + and F1 to F6. ctrl + alt + F7 should get you back to your graphical desktop.

 

[Maximilian]

Didnt work

The pactl list sinks command shows this when the sound is in a non working state:

It says "suspended" at the top it is listed as available though. Ill see what it says when the sound is working.

 

[Maximilian]

This is the output when the sound works:

Still suspended so I guess its not that.

 

[Jodell88]

Looking at the Arch Linux forums, it seems that kernel 3.12 fixes this, but you're on 3.11. Not sure if Mint updates to completely new kernels. :/

 

[Robot231]

I think it is quite decent, I am talking about Ubuntu

 

[lxskllr]

I'm not familiar with hdmi, but between your screenshots, the ports being used are different. It's output-0 working vs output-2 non-working. I wonder if you forcing output-0 would get it going?

 

[Jodell88]

I'm not familiar with hdmi, but between your screenshots, the ports being used are different. It's output-0 working vs output-2 non-working. I wonder if you forcing output-0 would get it going?

Good catch.