How-to site Tech-Recipes.com offers up a simple but helpful tip for changing a computer name after a Linux system is already installed. To make the change, open up a terminal and punch in the following: gksudo gedit /etc/hostname
Type in your administrator password and you should get a file that contains the computer name. Change it, save it, done. I had to search this out myself when I organised my home network with a naming scheme, and some people may need to make the change if an office network requires certain names to log in. Note that while the article claims it’s an “Ubuntu” tip, most Linux systems store the computer name in the same file.
Ubuntu: How to Change the Computer Name [Tech-Recipes.com]While Linux is pretty efficient with a computer’s resources out of the box, there are still ways you can make it run leaner and meaner on your desktop. Using a little bit of know-how, a willingness to run a few terminal commands and a mind for efficiency, you can get every last bit of power from your Linux box, or get more life from an older system. Read on for a roundup of ways to slim down and speed up Linux that any level of user can implement.
If you’ve ever wanted a handy guide of Linux commands, look no further than the One Page Linux Manual. Learn the commands to move files, mount filesystems, change permissions, and print items (among other things) with this short guide that explains each command and describes what it does. Since the guide is about 8 years old, a small handful of the listed commands may not apply to your Linux distribution, but even so, it’s a handy reference for the common commands that don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
The One Page Linux Manual (PDF Link)Open source blog FOSSwire points to a keyboard shortcut that’s dead simple, but might not be apparent to even long-time users of GNOME-based systems like Ubuntu or Debian. With the desktop focused, hit the / (forward slash) key to bring up an auto-completing prompt that opens up a Nautilus file browser window on whichever folder you end up on. Hitting Ctrl+L does much the same, but starts with your home directory pre-written in the prompt. For accessing your documents and media, it’s at least faster than mousing to the “Places” menu.
Open Any Folder from Your GNOME Desktop [FOSSwire]Swap space, the hard drive portion used as temporary memory by Linux systems, is often one of the first stumbling blocks for anyone trying out their first installation. Luckily, Linux.com has posted a helpful guide to how swap space works, how to tweak it, and how much to set aside. The writer’s basic advice is that modern desktop systems should have double their physical memory available (although commenters don’t recommend going beyond 2 GB), servers should use about half their memory, and older desktops should use as much as they can spare. Linux users, how much have you set aside for swap space, and why? Share your setup methods in the comments.
All about Linux swap space [Linux.com]For new Linux users, places like the Ubuntu Forums can be a great way to track down problem fixes and get tips from experienced users. Recently, however, a few really evil jerks have been preying on inexperienced users by suggesting they run terminal commands that delete crucial files, crash systems, and fill hard drives. Luckily, a forum administrator has put together a handy list of commands to watch out for, and this list applies to any Linux system, as well as OS X terminal users. The best defense, of course, is to familiarize yourself with the command line.
Attention All Users: Malicious Commands [via Tombuntu]Add-ons like Tracker, Beagle, and Google Desktop can give Linux users powerful search-and-launch capabilities, but knowing a little command line kung-fu can be a faster path to your files and programs. Linux blog Debian/Ubuntu Tips & Tricks offers a stellar introduction to “find,” a built-in command that Linux (and Mac) users can use to launch intensely specific searches. Follow along and you’ll be able to locate that MP3 you downloaded last Tuesday with the word “house” in the title in seconds flat. Feel like broadening your bash skills a bit further? Check out a more full-fledged introduction to Unix commands or print out a handy guide to the command line.
How-To: Find files on your computer with find [Debian/Ubuntu Tips & Tricks]The Linux community is known for its do-it-yourself ethic and extensive support forums, but sometimes a single voice with solid advice fits the bill. Over at homelinux.org, one kind soul has posted an extensive collection of free Linux-related PDF ebooks, covering topics ranging from installation and dual-booting to specific distribution tweaks and programming guides. The owner has instituted a 10-downloads-per-day quota, but the books are meaty enough to make that a non-problem. You could also consider donating a few dollars to the site if you find yourself downloading, say, the 1,400+ page Linux Bible and coming back for more.
Free Linux eBooks [via The Linux Tutorial]
