Getting Started Eduboss
Getting Started Eduboss
Contents
Welcome to EduBOSS .........................................................................................................................3
A brief history of EduBOSS............................................................................................................3
1 Installation.........................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Start Install.................................................................................................................................4
1.2 Before You Begin.......................................................................................................................4
1.3 Overview of the Installation Process.........................................................................................5
1.4 Back Up Your Existing Data!....................................................................................................6
1.5 Begin the Installation.................................................................................................................6
1.6 Create User Account..................................................................................................................9
1.7 Disk Partitioning Setup............................................................................................................11
Welcome to EduBOSS
Welcome to Getting Started with EduBOSS, an introductory guide written to help new users
get started with EduBOSS.
Our goal is to cover the basics of EduBOSS (such as installation and working with the
desktop and educational applications) as well as hardware and software management. We
designed this guide to be simple to follow, with step-by-step instructions and plenty of
screenshots, allowing you to use your new EduBOSS system.
1 Installation
This guide helps you to install EduBOSS GNU/Linux on desktops and laptops. The
installation system is flexible enough to use even if you have no previous knowledge of Linux
or computer networks. If you select default options, EduBOSS GNU/Linux provides a
complete desktop operating system, including productivity applications, Internet utilities, and
desktop tools.
This document does not detail all of the features of the installation system. If you want the
complete details of the features during installation please check our EduBOSS website at
http://www.bosslinux.in
System Requirements
EduBOSS GNU/Linux does not impose hardware requirements beyond the requirements of
the Linux kernel and the GNU tool-sets. Therefore, any architecture or platform to which the
Linux kernel, libc, gcc, etc. have been ported, can run EduBOSS GNU/Linux. To install
EduBOSS GNU/Linux you need very minimum system configurations. The hardware
requirement details are as follows:
Hard Disk – 10.0 GB (unpartitioned space)
RAM – 512 MB
DVD-ROM drive
To install EduBOSS GNU/Linux from disc, you need the installation DVD, currently,
EduBOSS GNU/Linux supports the i386 and x86_64 architectures. These architectures are
described below:
i386
Intel x86-compatible processors, including Intel Pentium and Pentium-MMX, Pentium Pro,
Pentium-II, Pentium-III, Celeron, Pentium 4, and Xeon; VIAC3/C3-m and Eden/Eden-N; and
AMD Athlon, AthlonXP, Duron, AthlonMP, and Sempron
x86_64
64-bit AMD processors such as Athlon64, Turion64, Opteron; and Intel 64-bit processors
such as EM64T
1.3 Overview of the Installation Process
First, just a note about re-installations. With EduBOSS GNU/Linux, a circumstance that will
require a complete re-installation of your system is very rare; perhaps mechanical failure of
the hard disk would be the most common case. Many common operating systems may
require a complete installation to be performed when critical failures take place or for
upgrades to new OS versions. Even if a completely new installation isn't required, often the
programs you use must be re-installed to operate properly in the new OS. Under EduBOSS
GNU/Linux, it is much more likely that your OS can be repaired rather than replaced if things
go wrong. Upgrades never require a wholesale installation; you can always upgrade in-place.
And the programs are almost always compatible with successive OS releases. If a new
program version requires newer supporting software, the EduBOSS packaging system
ensures that all the necessary software is automatically identified and installed. The point is,
much effort has been put into avoiding the need for re-installation, so think of it as your very
last option. The installer is not designed to re-install over an existing system. Here's a road
map for the steps you will take during the installation process.
Back up any existing data or documents on the hard disk where you plan to install.
Gather information about your computer and any needed documentation, before starting the
installation.
Create partition-table space for EduBOSS on your hard disk.
Set up the first boot drive to DVD drive (through CMOS setup) and restart your system.
Insert the EduBOSS GNU/Linux DVD into the drive
Boot the installation system.
Select installation language.
Activate the ethernet network connection, if available.
Create and mount the partitions on which EduBOSS GNU/Linux will be installed.
Watch the automatic install/setup of the base system.
Installs additional software (tasks and/or packages), at your discretion.
Installs a boot loader which can start up EduBOSS GNU/Linux on your existing system.
Load the newly installed system for the first time, and make some initial system settings.
If you have problems during the installation, it helps to know which packages are involved in
which steps.
Introducing the leading software actors in this installation drama: The installer software,
debian-installer, is the primary concern of this manual. It detects hardware and loads
appropriate drivers and runs debootstrap to install the base system packages. Many more
actors play smaller parts in this process, but debian-installer has completed its task when
you load the new system for the first time. Upon loading the new base system, base-config
supervises adding users and setting up the package installation system (using apt-setup). It
then launches tasksel which can be used to select large groups of related programs, and in
turn can run aptitude which allows you to choose individual software packages.
1.4 Back Up Your Existing Data!
Before you start, make sure to back up every file that is now on your system. If this is the first
time a non-native operating system has been installed on your computer, it's quite likely you
will need to re-partition your disk to make room for EduBOSS GNU/Linux. Anytime you
partition your disk, you should count on losing everything on the disk, no matter what
program you use to do it. The programs used in installation are quite reliable and most have
seen years of use; but they are also quite powerful and a false move can cost you.
Even after backing up be careful and think about your answers and actions. Two minutes of
thinking can save hours of unnecessary work. If you are creating a multi-boot system, make
sure that you have the distribution media of any other present operating systems on hand.
Especially if you repartition your boot drive, you might find that you have to reinstall your
operating system's boot loader, or in many cases the whole operating system itself and all
files on the affected partitions.
Language Selection
The installation program displays a list of languages which are supported by EduBOSS
GNU/Linux. Select the Language as “English” / “Tamil” / “Hindi” (or any other). Click
“Continue” to proceed.
Figure 2. Language Selection Screen
Country Selection
Next the country selection screen appears. Select the appropriate country from the list. Click
“Continue” and proceed further
Keyboard Configuration
The installation program displays a list of the keyboard layouts supported by EduBOSS
GNU/Linux. Highlight the correct layout on the list, and select “Next”.
Figure 4. Keyboard Configuration Screen
Hostname
a) Automatic Partitioning
By selecting automatic partitioning, you will not have to use partitioning tools to assign mount
points, create partitions or allocate space for your installation.
You will be provided with two options in automatic partition -
Format entire Hard Disk
Use Existing Hard disk Space
Figure 7.1 Format Entire Hard Disk
b) LVM partitioning
LVM is a tool for logical volume management which includes allocating disks, resizing logical
volumes. The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) enables flexible distribution of hard disk space
over several file systems. As it is difficult to modify partitions on a running system, LVM was
developed. It provides a virtual pool (Volume Group — VG for short) of memory space from
which logical volumes (LV) can be generated if needed. The operating system accesses
these instead of the physical partitions.
The screen shots are as follows:
After clicking “Manual” a screen will be displayed which contains overview of your currently
configured partitions. Click on free space and then click “Continue”.
Create new partition for EduBOSS GNU/Linux by double clicking “Create a new partition”
A screen appears showing the maximum size that can be assigned for this partition.
In this screen change the size to your required size. The minimum should be 6.0 GB. Then
click “Continue”.
Select the type for the new partition.
Specify whether the partition should be at the beginning or at the End.
Change default file system ext3 to swap by double clicking “Ext3 journaling file system” in the
screen shown below.
Double click “swap area”.
Creation of swap area is completed. Click “Done setting up the partition” and then click
“Continue”
Finish the partitioning process.
To partition manually , the following screen shots will help you setting up the partitioning
separately for “/” and “swap”.A screen with name “Partition disks” will be displayed. In that
click on “Manual” and then click on “Continue.”
After clicking “Manual” a screen will be displayed which contains overview of your currently
configured partitions and mount points.
Then click on partition which you want to delete and then click “Continue”.
Click on “Delete the partition” and then click “Continue”.
Once that partition is deleted you will get some free space.
To create a new partition using that free space double-click on “Create a new partition”.
In the next screen specify the new partition size. The minimum size should be 8.0GB.
After all the partitions are allocated, you need to write the changes to disk. For this select
“Yes” in in the following screen and then click “Continue”.
Resizing the Hard disk Partition
To resize hard disk partition at the time of installing EduBOSS GNU/Linux, follow these
steps:
A screen with name “Partition disks” will be displayed. In that click “Manual” and then click
“Continue.”
After clicking “Manual” a screen will be displayed which contains overview of your currently
configured partitions and mount points. Then click on the partition which you want to resize
and then click “Continue”.
This screen will show by default maximum size as a new partition size which you can change
as per requirement. You can give new partition size more than whatever required to that
particular file system then click “Continue”.
Now you have done resizing. You will get some free space to install EduBOSS GNU/Linux.
Click on free space.
Create new partition for EduBOSS GNU/Linux by clicking “Create a new partition”.
Give partition size for installing EduBOSS GNU/Linux. It should be minimum 8.0 GB.
Select the type of partition.
Partition setting is covered. Click “Done setting up the partition” and click “Continue”.
After selecting the partition for the “/”, you need to select a partition for the “swap” space. If
you are already having Linux installed on your system then you will be having a swap space
in your system. If so no need of another swap space. The swap should be double the RAM
size. If there is no swap then create a new swap space by following the steps 8 to 15 in
“Creating a new partition” section.
Finish the partitioning process.
After all the partitions are allocated, you need to write the changes to disk. For this select
“Yes” in in the following screen and then click “Continue”.
EduBOSS GNU/Linux is ready to install the packages into your system now.
2 The EduBOSS Desktop
Note :
Each user has their separate home directory. Hence, by default, no user can access each
other's home directory.
The Trash icon : When you, simply delete a file, it is not permanently removed from
your system. Instead, it is sent to the trash folder, which you can access from this icon.
Note :
1. If you want to permanently remove a file after normal delete, you must empty the trash. To
empty the trash, right-click the icon and select Empty Trash.
2. The shortcut to delete a file permanently, bypassing the trash is :
Shift + Del
Step 2 :
Then, a folder named “Untitled Folder” appears on the desktop.
You can rename the folder.
Fig.
Screenshot of newly created folder
Step 1 :
Right-click on an empty space on the desktop.
From the pop-up menu, choose “Create New Document”.
From the sub-menu choose “Empty Document”.
Fig.
Step 2 :
After selecting the “Add to Panel...” , you will get a pop-up menu.
Step 3 :
Here, as an example you will add a “Sticky Notes” on the Top Panel.
Then, Scroll down and look for “Sticky Notes”.
Fig. Screenshot
of step to select Sticky Notes
Step 4 :
After selecting “Sticky Notes”, you will, see it added either to the Top Left
Panel or the Top Right Panel.
Step 2 :
Now drag the pointer to your desired place on the Top Panel. Here, you will see that
the icon has been moved at the Top Left Panel beside Places menu.
→ You can move the element only to the left (or) center (or) right of the Panel.
→ You can also make changes to the orientation of the panel, change the color of the
panel, etc through “ Panel Properties”. Hold Alt + Right-click on the panel and select
“Properties”.
→ Hold Alt + Right-click on the panel to add the New Panel.
→ These above statements applies for the Bottom Panel too ( Even to the New Panel
added by you ).
Right-click on an
empty space on
the desktop and X X
select “Change
Desktop
Background”.
In the Top
Right Panel,
X Session X
Indicator →
Fig. Step to open Gnome Control Center
System
Settings
Step 1 :
In Personal –----------->
section, select
“Background”
X –- do –-
Gnome Sushi a file previewer for the Gnome Desktop Environment. To preview a file,
just select it with your mouse or keyboard, then tap the space key once, to look inside. In
addition to media formats (like images, videos, audios) Sushi supports the previewing of
most plain-text documents, including scripts (with syntax highlighting), as well as HTML
documents, PDF files, and SVG files.
Gnome Tweak Tool ( ) gives access to following gnome desktop environment settings :
→ Desktop
→ Files
→ Fonts
→ Shell
→ Theme
→ Windows
Steps to open Gnome Tweak Tool :
1. Applications → System Tools → Preferences → Advanced Settings
2. The following picture shows the Gnome Tweak Tool :
Fig.
Options
to tweak
files
settings
Gnome
Tweak
Tool –
Fonts
Fig.
Options
to tweak
windows settings