michael7 wrote:Debian Etch KDE Multimedia Installation
Purpose:
This is a "newbie" tutorial for installing Debian Etch with a KDE desktop and configurations of a printer and an nVidia video graphics card. It also covers installation of fonts, codecs to play CDs and DVDs, and a flash player and a browser plugin for viewing video content on webpages. This tutorial assumes that you have a broadband connection and will be installing from a netinstall.iso.
Preliminaries:
There are 3 preliminary steps. First, download the netinstall.iso. Second, burn the iso to a CD as an "image" and third, make sure that your computer's BIOS boot sequence looks first for the operating system on the computer's CD-ROM drive before it looks on the hard drive.
From
www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/ I downloaded the "daily built" netinst CD image for testing. The debian-testing-i386-netinst.iso is 159.7 MB in size and using my broadband connection it took 9 minutes to download. (Perhaps it goes without saying, but I already had a Debian distro (Sidux) installed on this computer and used it to download and burn the Debian Etch netinstall.iso. Of course, I could have done the same with thing with Windows.)
Using K3b (the CD and DVD Kreator for KDE), I burned the image to a CD using the DAO option at a speed of 4x. The burn took about 7 minutes.
If you're completely new to Linux and not familiar with burning an "image" to a CD or setting your BIOS to boot from the CD-ROM drive, here's a helpful article from Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols at:
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT2914026253.html
Installation:
I restarted my computer with the iso CD in the CD-ROM drive and began the installation. Having set the BIOS boot sequence properly, the computer looked for the operating system first in the CD-ROM drive and found the Etch CD that I had just created. At the Debian "boot" prompt, I entered:
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boot: installgui install tasks="kde-desktop, standard"
These two boot options caused the GUI installer to run (which is more “user friendly”) and the KDE desktop to be installed (instead of the Gnome desktop, which is the default). By the way, if this doesn’t work, my friend Kevin says to add the word “linux” after boot:
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boot: linux installgui install tasks="kde-desktop, standard"
Here is a list of the installation screens that followed:
1. Choose language
2. Choose country
3. Choose keymap
4. Detecting hardware
5. Detecting network hardware
Note: Because this is a netinstall, a connection to the Internet is essential. On a prior occasion, Debian did not recognize the network interface card of my new computer. The NIC was built into the motherboard and it was the "latest thing". The easiest fix was to buy an inexpensive card from my local computer shop, plug it into an empty slot on the motherboard and disable the on-board card in the BIOS setup. I got the idea from Martin Krafft. Here's a quote from page 81 of his great book, "The Debian System-- Concepts and Techniques": "I usually have a known-to-be-supported network interface (e.g. with an RTL8139 or EtherExpress Pro chipset) with me and use that in case of problems."
6. Configure the network
Enter the hostname-- debianBox (Just make up something.)
Domain name-- Workgroup (My wife has an XP computer and I use the M$ default to be consistent.)
7. Detect disks
8. Partition disks
Starting up the partitioner
Guided- use the largest continuous free space
Guided- use entire disk
Guided- use entire disk and set up LVM
Guided- use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM
Manual (This is what I chose.)
List of existing partitions that includes FREE SPACE
I highlighted FREE SPACE and pressed Enter
Create a new partition
10 GB
Create at the "Beginning" of the available space
Use as: Ext3 journaling file system
Mount point: /
Done setting up the partition
I highlighted FREE SPACE again and pressed Enter
Create a new partition
30 GB
Create at the "Beginning" of the available space
Use as: Ext3 journaling file system
Mount point: /home
Done setting up the partition
Finish partitioning and write changes to disk
You'll see a list of the changes which are about to take place with the question-- Write the changes to disks? Review the changes and if they are correct, select "Yes" and press Enter.
Note: I have two other versions of Debian already installed on this computer with a single /swap partition. This new installation will share the /swap partition so I don’t need another. If this were the first Linux distro I was installing, I also would create a smallish /swap partition of 512 MB or so.
Assuming the later, here is what I would have:
hda1 (10 GB) /(root)
hda2 (512 MB) /swap
hda3 (30 GB) /home
Note: There are many opinions about partitioning and many articles on the Internet about it. This setup is simple and has worked satisfactorily for me. Putting your /home directory on a separate partition will save you much grief if you accidentally break your installation.
9. Select your time zone
Is the system clock set to UTC? Yes
10. Set up users and passwords
Root password:
Re-enter password to verify:
Full name of the new user:
Username of your account:
Choose a password for the new user:
Re-enter password to verify:
11. Installation of the base system
Use a network mirror? Yes
Debian archive mirror country:
Debian archive mirror:
HTTP proxy information (blank for none): (I left it blank.)
Participate in the package usage survey? (Default is no, but I selected yes because I want to help Debian all that I can.)
12. Select and install software
13. Install the GRUB boot loader on a hard disk
Install the GRUB boot loader to the master boot record? Yes.
Note: If you have other distros installed, Debian will identify them and add them to the GRUB menu so that you can boot to those without any problem. Some distros won't do that.
Installation complete! The process took about an hour.
First Boot:
With Etch installed, I removed the CD and rebooted. When the GRUB menu appeared, the version that I had just installed was the first option. I paused the boot by touching the up-arrow key and made a note of the kernel:
Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.18-3-486
I knew that I would need this information shortly when I installed the driver for my nvidia graphics card.
I logged into my new Etch install and completed the KPersonalizer with a few clicks. The "Debian Overture" played so I knew that my sound system was configured properly.
I opened Firefox and the browser promptly took me to the Mozilla-Firefox webpage, demonstrating that my network connection was properly configured, too.
Note: Debian’s automatic hardware detection is excellent. While that hasn’t always been the case, the work of Debian developers and the inclusion of Ian Murdock’s “Discover” package have greatly improved it.
To see what software had been installed by default, I opened a Konsole terminal and entered the following command. This created a list of all installed packages and redirected the output to a new file:
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$ dpkg -l > packages_installed.txt
(That's a lower-case L, not the digit 1, by the way.)
There is no requirement that you do this, of course, but it’s useful information to have on hand. I opened the file with the editor Kate. From the View menu in Kate, I selected "Show Line Numbers". Scrolling to the bottom of the file, I saw there were 957 lines. I subtracted 5 for the header lines at the top and knew that Etch has installed 952 software packages. Using the utility KDiskFree, I saw that 2.9 GB of the /root partition has been used.
Software Sources List:
Again using the Konsole terminal, I edited the /etc/apt/sources.list using nano and commented out the line for "deb cdrom", as I'm not using the netinstall CD as a package source anymore.
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$ su
Password: <enter root password>
# nano /etc/apt/sources.list
To comment out a line, simply put a pound sign in front of it. For example:
# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux testing_Etch_ - Official Snapshot
I also added contrib and non-free to each line, so that the file read:
deb
http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ etch main contrib non-free
deb-src
http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ etch main contrib non-free
deb
http://security.debian.org/ etch/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src
http://security.debian.org/ etch/updates main contrib non-free
And I added this line to the bottom of the file:
deb
http://www.debian-multimedia.org etch main
I needed this software repository for the multimedia packages I planned to download and install later. I saved the file with Ctrl+o, pressed the Enter key, and exited with Ctrl+x.
Next, I imported the gpg key for the multimedia repository with these commands:
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# gpg --keyserver hkp://wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net --recv-keys 1F41B907
# gpg --armor --export 1F41B907 | apt-key add -
I did an update and an upgrade:
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# apt-get update
# apt-get upgrade
Next, I wanted to install a driver my nvidia graphics card. I opened a Konsole terminal and entered:
The output easily fills a page. There are numerous listings for headers and images and even an alsa-base and a linux tree reference. To the uninitiated, the list can be bewildering. There are only two lines, however, in which I’m interested:
linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486 - Header files for Linux 2.6.18 on x86
linux-image-2.6.18-3-486 - Linux 2.6.18 image on x86
Remember, I had made a note of the kernel that was installed when I booted up, so I knew that it was linux-image-2.6.18-3-486. If you failed to make a note, the command to find out is:
I also knew from experience that the headers are not installed by default and that I would need the headers for the nvidia installation. So, I entered this command:
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# apt-get install linux-image-2.6.18-3-486
Here’s the output:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
linux-image-2.6.18-3-486 is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
As expected, APT (Advanced Packaging Tool) told me that the image was already the newest version. So I entered this command:
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# apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486
APT then told me that it would install three new packages: linux-headers-2.6.18-3, linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486 and linux-kbuild-2.6.18. I responded Yes to proceed, as the header files are what's needed.
Here is the output:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
linux-headers-2.6.18-3 linux-kbuild-2.6.18
The following NEW packages will be installed:
linux-headers-2.6.18-3 linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486 linux-kbuild-2.6.18
0 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 3457kB of archives.
After unpacking 25.0MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
Get:1
http://ftp.us.debian.org etch/main linux-headers-2.6.18-3 2.6.18-7 [3019kB]
Get:2
http://ftp.us.debian.org etch/main linux-kbuild-2.6.18 2.6.18-1 [168kB]
Get:3
http://ftp.us.debian.org etch/main linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486 2.6.18-7 [269kB]
Fetched 3457kB in 14s (243kB/s)
Selecting previously deselected package linux-headers-2.6.18-3.
(Reading database ... 88111 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking linux-headers-2.6.18-3 (from .../linux-headers-2.6.18-3_2.6.18-7_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package linux-kbuild-2.6.18.
Unpacking linux-kbuild-2.6.18 (from .../linux-kbuild-2.6.18_2.6.18-1_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486.
Unpacking linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486 (from .../linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486_2.6.18-7_i386.deb) ...
Setting up linux-headers-2.6.18-3 (2.6.18-7) ...
Setting up linux-kbuild-2.6.18 (2.6.18-1) ...
Setting up linux-headers-2.6.18-3-486 (2.6.18-7) ...
With the headers installed, I downloaded the nvidia driver from:
www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
I clicked the link for "Linux, FreeBSD and Solaris Drivers" and downloaded the latest version which is the NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9746 driver. It's a shell script and I saved it (Save Page As) to my /home directory (where I could find it again from the command line). To install it, you must run the script as root and you must stop X. Here are the commands to do that:
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Ctrl+Alt+F1
login: root
Password: <enter your root password>
# /etc/init.d/kdm stop
# cd /home/michael <insert your username, of course>
# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9746-pkg2.run
As the NVIDIA shell script ran, I responded to the questions. Among other things, the script builds a kernel module, modifies the configuration and when the process is completed, brings me back to the command prompt. I rebooted.
With the nvidia driver installed, I logged on to a favorite webpage and scrolled down. It didn't look like waves on the screen as it refreshed. Success!
Desktop Configuration:
How you configure your desktop is purely a subjective matter. It includes wallpapers, screensavers, fonts, font size, and mouse cursors/pointers. Most of this is configured through the KDE Control Center. Some you can configure by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Configure Desktop” from the menu.
Regarding wallpapers, there are thousands available. A good place to start is
www.kde-look.org. Another sites is
www.gnome-look.org.
Unless you are an expert, it is best to install software from the Debian repositories. That photo of your son in his soccer uniform, however, the one you want to use as your desktop wallpaper, is not in the repositories. Here's one method for installing it as your wallpaper.
By default, Debian puts wallpapers in the /usr/share/wallpapers directory. Assume that your son's photo is on your Desktop and it's named "soccer.jpg". All that you need to do is login as root and copy it to the wallpapers directory. Here are the commands:
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$ su
$ Password: <Enter root password>
# cd /home/michael/Desktop
# cp soccer.jpg /usr/share/wallpapers
Right click on the Desktop and select Configure Desktop. "Background" will be highlighted. From the "Picture" list box, select "soccer", click Apply and then OK. By the way, I always put a copy of my favorite wallpapers, photos, etc. in a directory on my /home partition, too. I've named it "images".
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# cp soccer.jpg /home/michael/images
I use the KPackage program (installed by default) to see what software is available, as it provides a description of the package you select. You can search for types of packages, too. For example, to find in the repositories what screensaver packages are available, type “screensaver” in the Search box (upper left hand corner). Here are some of the results.
kscreensaver, kscreensaver-xsavers, lockvc, electricsheep,innerspace.app, rss-glx, xscreensaver and xscreensaver-gl.
You can install these using KPackage or with the apt-get install command that I've used above.
For mouse cursors/pointers, type “cursor” in the Search box and some of the results are:
industrial-cursor-theme, icoutils, artwiz-cursor, big-cursor, chameleon-cursor-theme, comixcursors, crystalcursors and xcursor-themes. Again, you can install them with KPackage or with the apt-get install command.
Typically, I install more fonts. The bitstream-vera fonts are good.
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# apt-get install ttf-bitstream-vera
If you want Microsoft fonts, they're readily available.
These are just two of many. Type "fonts" in the Search box of KPackage and you'll get a lengthy list.
After you install fonts, you select them with the Control Center. To select a different font:
K -> Control Center -> Appearances & Themes -> Fonts -> Adjust All Fonts. Check the Fonts box at the top and make your selection.
I like my fonts a little larger:
K -> Control Center -> Appearances & Themes -> Fonts -> Adjust All Fonts. I check the Size box at top, select 11 and press OK.
Printer Configuration:
There are two ways to configure a printer.
K -> Control Center -> Peripherals -> Printers -> Add -> Add Printer/Class, which brings up the Add Printer Wizard.
Or I can use my web browser and type in this URL:
http://localhost:631/
I use the browser method because I think it’s easier.
Multimedia Software and Drivers:
To play audio CDs, Kaffeine, the media player for KDE, is all that you need in some cases.
Here's the on-screen message that I got when I popped in "Mermaid Avenue" by Billy Bragg and Wilco.
******
Kaffeine-Xine...
Ok.
KDE...
Found version: 3.5.5
Ok.WIN32 Codecs...
No WIN32 codecs found in /usr/lib/win32. You're not able to play Windows Media 9 files, newer Real Media files and some less common formats. Download the codecs here:
http://www.mplayerhq.hu.
libdvdcss...
libdvdcss not found. You're not able to play encrypted (most commercial) DVD's. You can get the library here (but using it may violate copyright regulations of your country!):
http://developers.videolan.org/libdvdcss.
DVD Drive...
Ok.
DVB-Device...
No DVB-Devices found. The DVB related functions will be hidden.
Distribution...
Ok.
RESULT: Found some problems, but nevertheless Kaffeine may work.
*****
Without any assistance, Kaffeine played Mermaid Avenue just fine. And when I put in my "Revolution OS" DVD, it played, too. Most commercial DVDs, however, won't play with just Kaffeine. Consequently, if it's legal where you live, you can install the libdvdcss runtime libraries with:
And while you're at it, you can install mplayer, which will let you play just about anything:
As mentioned above, WIN32 codecs are not installed by default. They are easy to install but there are legal ramifications. If you believe that you have a lawful right to use them, you can install them with:
On a related note, Noatun plays MP3 files. It's another KDE media player and it's installed by default.
To install the Mozilla plugin (for viewing embedded video content on the web like cnn.com videos):
And for the Macromedia Flash Player plugin:
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# apt-get install flashplayer-mozilla
Although Etch installed more than 950 software packages by default, Debian offers more than 15,000 software packages in its repositories, so there is a program (or two or three) for just about anything you want to do. Why go anywhere else!
Here are some other software packages that you might consider installing: abiword, amarok, bastille, bzip2, cdrdao, dvd+rw-tools, ffmpeg, flac, f-spot, kaffeine-mozilla, knemo, ktorrent, liblame0, mc, mozplugger, p7zip-full, realplayer, streamtuner, sun-java5-plugin, unzip, unrar, and xmms. You can find descriptions in the KPackage program.
Credits:
Our Aussie friend sunrat first gave me the idea for this. You can find his Etch KDE setup at:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=10876
I also found Alexander Grundner's article helpful, especially with the multimedia support.
http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/2812/ ... tup_debian
1/7/07
Edited once to correct several formatting errors and once to correct typo in link.
