Linux Basics

Linux is inspired by the Unix operating system which first appeared in 1969, and has been in continous use and development ever since. Many of the design conventions behind Unix also exist in Linux and are central to understanding the basics of the system.
Unix was primarily oriented towards the command line interface, and that legacy is carried on in Linux. Thus, the graphical user interface with its windows, icons and menus are built on top of a basic command line interface. Furthermore, this means that the Linux file system is structured to be easily manageable and accessible from the command line.

Directories and File Systems

Linux and Unix file systems are organised in a hierarchical, tree-like structure. The highest level of the file system is the / or root directory. In the Unix and Linux design philosophy, everything is considered a file - including hard disks, partitions and removable media. This means that all other files and directories (including other disks and partitions) exist under the root directory.
For example, /home/jebediah/cheeses.odt shows the correct full path to the cheeses.odt file that exists in the jebediah directory which is under the home directory, which in turn, is under the root (/) directory.
Underneath the root (/) directory, there is a set of important system directories that are common across most Linux distributions that are used. The following is a listing of common directories that are directly under the root (/) directory:

• /bin - important binary applications
  
• /boot - boot configuration files
  
• /dev - the device files
  
• /etc - configuration files, startup scripts, etc...
  
• /home - local users' home directories
  
• /lib - system libraries
  
• /lost+found - provides a lost+found system for files that exist under the root (/) directory
  
• /media - mounted (loaded) removable media such as CDs, digital cameras, etc...
  
• /mnt - mounted filesystems
  
• /opt - provides a location for optional applications to be installed
  
• /proc - special dynamic directory that maintains information about the state of the system, including currently running processes
  
• /root - root user home directory, pronounced 'slash-root'
  
• /sbin - important system binaries
  
• /sys - system files
  
• /tmp - temporary files
  
• /usr - applications and files that are mostly available for all users to access
  
• /var - variable files such as logs and databases 

Credit to https://help.ubuntu.com/6.06/ubuntu/desktopguide/C/linux-basics.html

Get Ubuntu Netbook Edition

Download Ubuntu Netbook Edition

Click the big orange button to download the latest version of Ubuntu. You will need to use a USB stick to install Ubuntu.

 

Create a USB drive

Once you've finished downloading your file, you'll need to create a USB drive.

Why do I need a USB drive?

Using a USB stick means that you can trial Ubuntu without affecting your current system. And you can install it alongside or instead of your system whenever you're ready.

To create the USB drive, I will be using:

Windows Mac Ubuntu

Windows

1. Insert a USB stick with at least 2GB of free space
2. Download the Universal USB Installer
3. Click 'Run' when prompted

4. If the security dialog appears, confirm by clicking 'Run'

5. Read the licence agreement and choose 'I Agree' to continue

6. Select Ubuntu Netbook Edition from the dropdown list

7. Click 'Browse' and open the downloaded ISO file

8. Choose the USB drive and click 'Create'

Mac

We would encourage Mac users to download Ubuntu Netbook Edition by creating a CD for the time being. But if you would prefer to use a USB, please follow the instructions below.
Note: this procedure requires an .img file that you will be required to create from the .iso file you download.
TIP: Drag and Drop a file from Finder to Terminal to 'paste' the full path without typing and risking type errors.

• Download the desired file
  
• Open the Terminal (in /Applications/Utilities/ or query Terminal in Spotlight)
  
• Convert the .iso file to .img using the convert option of hdiutil (e.g., hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o ~/path/to/target.img ~/path/to/ubuntu.iso)
  
• Note: OS X tends to put the .dmg ending on the output file automatically.
  
• Run diskutil list to get the current list of devices
  
• Insert your flash media
  
• Run diskutil list again and determine the device node assigned to your flash media (e.g. /dev/disk2)
  
• Run diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN (replace N with the disk number from the last command; in the previous example, N would be 2)
  
• Execute sudo dd if=/path/to/downloaded.img of=/dev/rdiskN bs=1m (replace /path/to/downloaded.img with the path where the image file is located; for example, ./ubuntu.img or ./ubuntu.dmg).
  
  • Using /dev/rdisk instead of /dev/disk may be faster.
    
  • If you see the error dd: Invalid number '1m', you are using GNU dd. Use the same command but replace bs=1m with bs=1M.
    
  • If you see the error dd:/dev/diskN: Resource busy, make sure the disk is not in use. Start the 'Disk Utility.app' and unmount (don't eject) the drive.
    
• Run diskutil eject /dev/diskN and remove your flash media when the command completes
  
• Restart your Mac and press alt while the Mac is restarting to choose the USB-Stick
  

 

Ubuntu

1. Insert a USB stick with at least 2GB of free space
2. In the main menu, go to System > Administration and open 'Startup Disk Creator'

3. Click 'Other' to choose the downloaded ISO file

4. Select the file and click 'Open'

. Select the USB stick in the bottom box and click 'Make Startup Disk'

That's it! When the process completes, you'll be ready to restart your computer and begin installing Ubuntu.

 

Try it!

You can try out Ubuntu before you install it. When your USB stick is ready, you can run Ubuntu directly from your USB without affecting your current system.

Trial Ubuntu before you install it.

1. You should see a welcome screen prompting you to choose your language and giving you the option to install Ubuntu or try it from the CD/USB.
If your computer does not automatically do so, you might need to edit the BIOS settings.
Restart your computer, and watch for a message telling you which key to press to enter the BIOS setup. It will usually be one of F1, F2, DEL, ESC or F10. Press this key while your computer is booting to edit your BIOS settings.
You need to edit the Boot Order. Depending on your computer, and how your USB key was formatted, you should see an entry for 'removable drive' or 'USB media'. Move this to the top of the list to force the computer to attempt to boot from USB before booting from the hard disk. Save your changes and continue.
2. Choose your preferred language and click on 'Try Ubuntu 10.10'

Your live CD/USB desktop should appear. Have a look around!

When you are ready to install Ubuntu click on the icon on your desktop: 'Install Ubuntu 10.10'

 

Install it!

When the USB drive is ready, simply restart your computer and follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Install Ubuntu

1. If you're using a CD: Put the Ubuntu CD into the CD/DVD-drive and restart your computer. You should see a welcome screen prompting you to choose your language and giving you the option to install Ubuntu or try it from the CD.

If you don't get this menu, read the booting From the CD guide for more information.

2. If you're using a USB drive: Most newer computers can boot from USB. You should see a welcome screen prompting you to choose your language and giving you the option to install Ubuntu or try it from the CD.

If your computer does not automatically do so, you might need to edit the BIOS settings. Restart your computer, and watch for a message telling you which key to press to enter the BIOS setup. It will usually be one of F1, F2, DEL, ESC or F10. Press this key while your computer is booting to edit your BIOS settings.

You need to edit the Boot Order. Depending on your computer, and how your USB key was formatted, you should see an entry for 'removable drive' or 'USB media'. Move this to the top of the list to force the computer to attempt to boot from USB before booting from the hard disk. Save your changes and continue.

3. Prepare to install Ubuntu: We recommend you plug your computer into a power source for this stage. You should also make sure you have enough space on your computer to install Ubuntu. We advise you to stay connected to the Internet so you can get the latest updates while you install Ubuntu. If you're having problems connecting to the Internet, use the menu in the top-right hand corner to select a network.

4. Allocate drive space: Use the checkboxes to choose whether you'd like to Install Ubuntu alongside another operating system, delete your existing operating system and replace it with Ubuntu, or – if you're an advanced user – choose the amount of space you would like to allocate to Ubuntu.

5. Begin the installation: Depending on your previous selections, you can now verify that you have chosen the way in which you would like to install Ubuntu. The installation process will begin when you click the 'Install Now' button.

6.Select your location and click 'Forward' to proceed. If you're unsure of your time zone, type the name of the town you're in and we'll help you find it.

7. Select your preferred keyboard layout.

8.Enter your login and password details.

9. Learn more about Ubuntu while the system installs... Or make a cup of tea!

10. Restart and enjoy Ubuntu!

Credit to  http://www.ubuntu.com/