From

Full page | eBook Version

Contents 1 General Notes 1.1 General Notes 2 Other versions 2.1 How to determine which version of Kubuntu you're using 2.2 How to find out the version of your Kernel 2.3 Newer Versions of Kubuntu 2.4 Older Versions of Kubuntu 3 Other Resources 3.1 Kubuntu Resources 3.1.1 KDE Project 3.1.2 Kubuntu Screenshots and Screencasts 3.1.3 New Applications Resources 3.2 Other *buntu guides and help manuals

General Notes

General Notes

• This is the original Kubuntuguide. You are free to copy this guide but not to sell it or any derivative of it. This Kubuntu help guide is neither sold nor distributed in any other medium. Beware of copies that are for sale or are similarly named; they are neither endorsed nor sanctioned by this guide. Kubuntuguide is not associated with Canonical Ltd. nor with any commercial enterprise.
• Kubuntu allows a user to accomplish tasks from either a menu-driven Graphical User Interface (GUI) or from a text-based command-line interface (CLI). In Kubuntu, the command-line-interface terminal is called Konsole, which is started: K menu -> System -> Konsole Terminal.

In this guide, text inside the grey dotted box like this should be put into a Konsole terminal.

• Many changes to the operating system can only be done by a User with Administrative privileges. 'sudo' elevates a User's privileges to the Administrator level temporarily (i.e. when installing programs or making changes to the system). Example:

sudo bash

• 'kdesu' can be used (but is not required) instead of 'sudo' when opening a Graphical Application (such as the graphical text-editor application kate) through the "Run Command" dialog box or when starting certain applications as a menu item. Historically kdesu was used within graphical menus (having had different permissions within the Xwindows environment) and 'sudo' was used on the command line. While this distinction is no longer required, there may still be some older programs that work better from graphical menus if 'kdesu' is used. Either command can now be used. Example:

kdesu kate /etc/apt/sources.list

• Many file management tasks can be accomplished with root Administrative privileges by starting the Dolphin file manager in a similar fashion. (Use 'kdesu' if starting Dolphin from a menu item.)

kdesu dolphin

or

sudo dolphin

• "man" command can be used to find help manual for a specific command. E.g. "man sudo" will display the manual page for the "sudo" command. Example:

man sudo

• While "apt-get" is a fast way of installing programs/packages, you can also use the Muon Package Manager (or even the Synaptic Package Manager), a GUI method for installing programs/packages. Most (but not all) programs/packages available with apt-get install will also be available from Muon Package Manager (or Synaptic Package Manager). In this guide, when you see

sudo apt-get install package

you can search for package in Muon Package Manger (or Synaptic) and install it that way.

• Many instructions use the text editor "nano" (which is universally available in Linux). However, it is often easier to use the text editor "kate" in Kubuntu instead.
• "K" or "K menu" means the bottom-left (or upper-left) button, akin to the Start button in Microsoft Windows®.
• If you are using the 64-bit version, replace any "i386" with "amd64".

Other versions

How to determine which version of Kubuntu you're using

In Konsole type:

lsb_release -a

How to find out the version of your Kernel

uname -a

Newer Versions of Kubuntu

• Kubuntu has a six month release cycle, with releases in April and October.
• Precise Pangolin (12.04 LTS) will be released in April 2012 and will be a Long Term Support version

Older Versions of Kubuntu

• Natty Narwhal (11.04) (supported until October 2012)
• Maverick Meerkat (10.10) (supported until April 2012)
• Lucid Lynx (10.04) (Long Term Support version with desktop support until April 2013 and server support until April 2015)
• Karmic Koala (9.10) (no longer supported)
• Hardy Heron (8.04 LTS) (Long Term Support Version with server support until April 2013; desktop no longer supported)
• Dapper Drake (6.06 LTS) (Long Term Support version with server support until June 2011; desktop version no longer supported)

• See this complete list of older and newer versions.

Other Resources

Kubuntu Resources

• Ubuntu Forums has a large community for online solutions (for both Ubuntu and Kubuntu).
• Kubuntu Forums has a large community for online solutions and help specific to Kubuntu.

KDE Project

Kubuntu uses the KDE user interface.

• KDE Project team site and KDE Documentation
• KDE Forums is the place to get detailed solutions for problems with the KDE desktop used in Kubuntu.

Kubuntu Screenshots and Screencasts

• Kubuntu Feature tour
• Kubuntu Videos on YouTube

New Applications Resources

• KDE Apps
• GetDeb - Features the latest versions of software available from the official repositories as well as software not available in the official repositories. Available in easy-to-install .deb files (see Apt and Package Basics).
• Linux Alternatives
• LinuxLink provides "best in category" lists for Linux apps
• Ubuntuguide's list of add-on applications.

Other *buntu guides and help manuals

• Ubuntuguide -- Ubuntu uses the Unity (or, alternatively, the Gnome) desktop.
• Lubuntu -- Lubuntu can run with as little as 256 Mb RAM. It is better for older machines with limited resources.
• Edubuntu -- Edubuntu is a collection of software bundles optimized for use in educational environments. LTSP (thin client terminal server support) and many networking tools are bundled. A version for use with KDE (Kubuntu) is available.
• SkoleLinux / DebianEdu -- a collection of (open-source) educational tools for Debian/Ubuntu Linux
• Ubuntu Doctors Guild -- a collection of tips for using (K)Ubuntu Linux in health care environments
• official Ubuntu Server Guide -- a good starting reference for server packages