Welcome to the community documentation for Ubuntu - created by users just like you! Note that this is not the official documentation.

• See also: Official Ubuntu Documentation

• See also: Release Notes - Information on new features and help specific to each Ubuntu release.

• See also: Manual Pages - Full archive of man pages for all of the commands and programs available in Ubuntu.

Finding your way in Ubuntu

You may want to browse this wiki by category.

Ubuntu is a big place. Follow these directions to find where you want to go.

Getting Started with Ubuntu

Terminology

If you are new to Linux or Ubuntu, some of the terms that are used throughout these documents might seem like a foreign language to you. Don't worry -- we have you covered. You can learn commonly-used terms from our Glossary. To learn about Ubuntu (like anything else), you must first understand the terminology.

Switching From Another Operating System

Are you thinking about switching to Ubuntu, or have you already made the switch? Then the following articles might be of interest to you:

• Switching from Windows

• Switching from Mac OS X

• Switching from another Linux distribution

The Terminal is Your Friend

Perhaps the most powerful tool in Linux is the command-line interface (CLI) (also known as the Terminal Program). Before you jump in, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the command-line interface. However, don't panic! There are many comfortable GUIs available for nearly all everyday tasks.

FAQs

Still have questions? Stop by the most common questions that new Ubuntu users frequently ask.

Installation

• See Installation for both basic and advanced methods of installing Ubuntu, as well as information about supported hardware.

• Read the Upgrade Notes to find out how to upgrade your system from older versions of Ubuntu.

• For an example video tutorial on the full installation process of Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) from Windows (using a LiveCD), watch this YouTube video.

Getting to know and work with your system

Hardware

The main hardware support page can be found at: Ubuntu Hardware Support.

Among the items covered include:

• Laptops - Reports on using Ubuntu on a portable computer.

• Drives and Partitions - Adding storage, partitioning, accessing your Windows files, and more.

• Input Devices - Setting up your keyboard, mouse, and other input devices.

• Sound - Setting up and using sound cards, speakers, and musical instruments.

• Video - Setting up your graphics card and external hardware such as video cameras.

• Printers - Setting up and using your printer.

• Scanners - Setting up and using your scanner.

• Network, wireless, and internet devices - Setting up networking and internet devices.

• Portable Gadgets - Syncing and transferring files from PDAs, audio players, mobile phones, GPS units and cameras.

Software

• Internet and Networking - information about the software side of connecting to the Internet and working with networks.

  • For information about the hardware side of networking, see Network, wireless, and internet devices (above).

  • For information about applications which use the Internet, see Internet Applications (part of Applications below)

• Applications - lists of software available for Ubuntu (including recommended software and equivalents to commonly-used Windows-based and Apple-based programs).

• Building Software - howtos for building Ubuntu software packages that are not yet in an Ubuntu repository.

Customizing and Maintaining Ubuntu

• Accessibility - Making Ubuntu easier to use for those with physical or visual challenges.

• Eye Candy - Making your computer look and work cooler.

• Servers - Setting up web servers, file servers, and more.

• Thin Clients - Setting up and using thin clients.

• Security - Keeping your computer safe.

• System Administration - Maintaining your computer.

• Troubleshooting guides - Solving troubles with configurations and software.

• Business Environment - Suggestions for configuring Ubuntu for use in business environments.

See also

• Index of all available pages - List of all community documentation pages.

• Ubuntuguide - Comprehensive guide for Ubuntu, since 2005.

• Kubuntuguide - Comprehensive guide for Kubuntu, since 2007.

• Other Guides - A list of other independently maintained guides.