Getting started with Ubuntu

Jun. 21, 2006

The title says it all.

But, let me make it perfectly clear. This is for new Ubuntu users, not new Linux users.

That said, I found it useful myself. For example, after I recently installed Dapper Dan, the newest Ubuntu, I forgot entirely about updating the kernel. Ubuntu, like most Linuxes, defaults to using the lowest common denominator kernel.

So, on an x86 system, the default Linux kernel will work with any x386 or higher system. Of course, by doing this, it also won't take any advantage of the newer chips' speed-enhancing features.

Once reminded of this, I went out and grabbed a copy of the latest 686 kernel, and now Ubuntu is running much faster on my Pentium IV Ubuntu desktop system.

Who says you can't re-teach an old dog an old trick?


-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols