Installing Ubuntu on a new machine?

cadge · 10-02-2009, 10:58 AM

Hi, for years I've been talking about moving from Windows to Ubuntu, and now that I've ordered a new machine I was thinking this would be the perfect time to install Ubuntu.

This is the machine that I've ordered; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...-180-OK&tool=5

I did a quick Google search on the motherboard and graphics card to check that they're both compatible with Ubuntu, and they seem fine, however, one thing I'm a little bit confused about is drivers.

As the machine doesn't come with an OS installed, and when I've bought such machines in the past, they've usually came with a CD from the motherboard manufacturer containing drivers and utilities as well a similar CD for the graphics card, however to the best of my knowledge these are only for Windows.

After doing some reading, it says that Ubuntu installs most of the necessary drivers during installation, so does that mean that my hardware will work fine once Ubuntu is installed?

Secondly, although I'm not a gamer as such, I would like to run games like Football Manager, FIFA, and Madden NFL on the computer, how best would I do that? Via wine or VMWare (which I will be using anyway to run OPNet)?

Finally, I've been reading a few guides on Ubuntu security, including this one on (what I presume is) the official website https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ma...ringNewInstall and most of them seem to be contradictory - some saying Ubuntu doesn't really need any additional security, some recommending fixes and software - so I was wondering if someone could point me in the direction of a good guide, or list of security software?

Thanks, and sorry if it seems like I'm cramming too many questions into the one thread, but I was wary of cluttering up the forum with more than one thread.

**wmorri** · 10-02-2009, 12:34 PM

Hi,

Welcome to the wonderful world of linux. I have to tell you that you are getting a great machine there, and to use it for linux is great!

I will start with your first question about the drivers. What you read about the drivers being installed on install of the OS is correct. Some of the things that you will need to enable are the drivers for your graphics card.

Gaming while it isn't what a lot of people to on linux many converts such as yourself are wanting to play them, I would go with wine if you can over a vm. I would check the Apps database to make sure that you can run the software that you want.

Security. Well this is a topic that comes up a lot. Here is what I recommend to people. If you are new to linux as you are there are a few things to think about. While you are able to use the internet there aren't a lot of people that are looking for your personal info. There aren't that many people that have written spyware, malware, etc, for linux. If you want a to know about the firewall have a look at IPTables How To and a great and easy front end for it is Firestarter.

Hopefully this is something like what you are looking for to get you started. If you need more information just let us know.

Cheers!

cadge · 10-03-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmorri

Hi,

Welcome to the wonderful world of linux. I have to tell you that you are getting a great machine there, and to use it for linux is great!

I will start with your first question about the drivers. What you read about the drivers being installed on install of the OS is correct. Some of the things that you will need to enable are the drivers for your graphics card.

Gaming while it isn't what a lot of people to on linux many converts such as yourself are wanting to play them, I would go with wine if you can over a vm. I would check the Apps database to make sure that you can run the software that you want.

Security. Well this is a topic that comes up a lot. Here is what I recommend to people. If you are new to linux as you are there are a few things to think about. While you are able to use the internet there aren't a lot of people that are looking for your personal info. There aren't that many people that have written spyware, malware, etc, for linux. If you want a to know about the firewall have a look at IPTables How To and a great and easy front end for it is Firestarter.

Hopefully this is something like what you are looking for to get you started. If you need more information just let us know.

Cheers!

Thanks for the fast and informative reply - this was exactly what I was looking for!

I was just wondering if you could clarify a couple of things, though; when you say that some of the things I will need to enable are the drivers do you mean during installation or after Ubuntu is on my system?

Regarding security, after doing a bit of reading the Firestarter app you mentioned sounds essential, so I'll make sure to install that. As I'm coming from Windows I'll still be a bit paranoid about security, so I'll probably put something like ClamAV on the system, but just to make sure I've got the right idea; Ubuntu/Linux should be pretty safe as long as I browse the internet sensibly, only install apps I trust, and regularly update Ubuntu?

Also, if I have a virtual machine running Windows, should I install security software on that as if I was running Windows natively, or maybe even deny the virtual machine access to the internet altogether?

Thanks again for your helpful post, I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in when my machine arrives on Monday

**wmorri** · 10-03-2009, 09:00 AM

Hi,

Fast and reliable is what I am about. There are a lot of us here on the staff and we like to try and get to the new post ASAP.

ClamAV is a good program to install, the rest you are correct on about sensible usage. If you are going and doing dangerous things then bad things can happen to you, but if as you say if you are smart then you should be ok.

With running VM's if you run a program like IE that is prone to issues then there is the possibility that you can have some issues, but other than that the aware person should be all right.

Cheers!

Horusrogue · 10-07-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmorri

Hi,

Fast and reliable is what I am about. There are a lot of us here on the staff and we like to try and get to the new post ASAP.

ClamAV is a good program to install, the rest you are correct on about sensible usage. If you are going and doing dangerous things then bad things can happen to you, but if as you say if you are smart then you should be ok.

With running VM's if you run a program like IE that is prone to issues then there is the possibility that you can have some issues, but other than that the aware person should be all right.

Cheers!

Good lord. If you are experiencing the raw uncontrolled power of linux...why in the blazing legions of h*** would you spend time running a vm for the most horrific part of MS OS's? :P
For compatibility with IE only websites, firefox has a plugin called IEview.

xGethsemanex · 10-08-2009, 01:41 AM

I would say VM is definitely the answer you're looking for. I've heard that Windows does run quite faster and stable through VM on Linux so you could just go that route if you're a gamer. I personally use Windows 7 and Virtualbox Ubuntu on it. But you can go either way. Welcome to Linux :-) You won't look back once you get your feet wet. There's so many things you can do with it. Besides Running Windows on Linux or Linux on Windows is pretty ironic lol.

cadge · 10-08-2009, 11:51 AM

Hey, my machine finally came through today, installed Ubuntu, no problems, it's so smoth and fast

Only problem is, having used a laptop en lieu of a desktop for so long, I forgot how rubbish my monitor was and will now have to buy a new one, not Ubuntu's fault, though!

Installed Firestarter and ClamAV, just to sate my post-Windows paranoia, lol.

Btw, when I mentioned running IE in VMWare it was only intended as an example, even on Windows I avoided IE when I could, instead going with Opera or Chrome most of the time.

Thanks for the help everyone!

10-02-2009, 10:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
cadge Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 151 OS: Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope)	Installing Ubuntu on a new machine? Hi, for years I've been talking about moving from Windows to Ubuntu, and now that I've ordered a new machine I was thinking this would be the perfect time to install Ubuntu. This is the machine that I've ordered; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...-180-OK&tool=5 I did a quick Google search on the motherboard and graphics card to check that they're both compatible with Ubuntu, and they seem fine, however, one thing I'm a little bit confused about is drivers. As the machine doesn't come with an OS installed, and when I've bought such machines in the past, they've usually came with a CD from the motherboard manufacturer containing drivers and utilities as well a similar CD for the graphics card, however to the best of my knowledge these are only for Windows. After doing some reading, it says that Ubuntu installs most of the necessary drivers during installation, so does that mean that my hardware will work fine once Ubuntu is installed? Secondly, although I'm not a gamer as such, I would like to run games like Football Manager, FIFA, and Madden NFL on the computer, how best would I do that? Via wine or VMWare (which I will be using anyway to run OPNet)? Finally, I've been reading a few guides on Ubuntu security, including this one on (what I presume is) the official website https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ma...ringNewInstall and most of them seem to be contradictory - some saying Ubuntu doesn't really need any additional security, some recommending fixes and software - so I was wondering if someone could point me in the direction of a good guide, or list of security software? Thanks, and sorry if it seems like I'm cramming too many questions into the one thread, but I was wary of cluttering up the forum with more than one thread.

10-02-2009, 12:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,825 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Installing Ubuntu on a new machine? Hi, Welcome to the wonderful world of linux. I have to tell you that you are getting a great machine there, and to use it for linux is great! I will start with your first question about the drivers. What you read about the drivers being installed on install of the OS is correct. Some of the things that you will need to enable are the drivers for your graphics card. Gaming while it isn't what a lot of people to on linux many converts such as yourself are wanting to play them, I would go with wine if you can over a vm. I would check the Apps database to make sure that you can run the software that you want. Security. Well this is a topic that comes up a lot. Here is what I recommend to people. If you are new to linux as you are there are a few things to think about. While you are able to use the internet there aren't a lot of people that are looking for your personal info. There aren't that many people that have written spyware, malware, etc, for linux. If you want a to know about the firewall have a look at IPTables How To and a great and easy front end for it is Firestarter. Hopefully this is something like what you are looking for to get you started. If you need more information just let us know. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

10-03-2009, 09:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,825 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Installing Ubuntu on a new machine? Hi, Fast and reliable is what I am about. There are a lot of us here on the staff and we like to try and get to the new post ASAP. ClamAV is a good program to install, the rest you are correct on about sensible usage. If you are going and doing dangerous things then bad things can happen to you, but if as you say if you are smart then you should be ok. With running VM's if you run a program like IE that is prone to issues then there is the possibility that you can have some issues, but other than that the aware person should be all right. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

10-08-2009, 01:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
xGethsemanex Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 16 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 RTM	Re: Installing Ubuntu on a new machine? I would say VM is definitely the answer you're looking for. I've heard that Windows does run quite faster and stable through VM on Linux so you could just go that route if you're a gamer. I personally use Windows 7 and Virtualbox Ubuntu on it. But you can go either way. Welcome to Linux :-) You won't look back once you get your feet wet. There's so many things you can do with it. Besides Running Windows on Linux or Linux on Windows is pretty ironic lol.

10-08-2009, 11:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
cadge Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 151 OS: Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope)	Re: Installing Ubuntu on a new machine? Hey, my machine finally came through today, installed Ubuntu, no problems, it's so smoth and fast Only problem is, having used a laptop en lieu of a desktop for so long, I forgot how rubbish my monitor was and will now have to buy a new one, not Ubuntu's fault, though! Installed Firestarter and ClamAV, just to sate my post-Windows paranoia, lol. Btw, when I mentioned running IE in VMWare it was only intended as an example, even on Windows I avoided IE when I could, instead going with Opera or Chrome most of the time. Thanks for the help everyone!