In the last two years, Ubuntu has very quickly become the most frequently downloaded Linux distribution, because it’s free, actively maintained and enhanced, easy to use, and available in enough different flavors to suit almost any user’s platform preference and hardware configuration.
Prior “Desktop” columns have shown how to acquire and install Ubuntu (http://www.linux-mag.com/content/view/2230), and how to best apply it to aging computer hardware. This month, let’s focus on tweaks and adding complimentary software that improves the Ubuntu desktop experience.
For the purposes of this article, I assume you’re using the “Dapper” 6.06 LTS (Long Term Support) version of Ubuntu, which was released in July of 2006.
Time to get cracking!
Enable the Root Account
I’m probably going to get yelled at by the Ubuntu faithful because the use of sudo to perform root activities is so integral to the operating system, but I’m a traditionalist — I like not having to preface with sudo before every administrative command. I find it to be a hindrance. So, before proceeding further, pull up a terminal prompt (located in the Applications& gt; Accessories menu, if you’re using the default GNOME version of Ubuntu) and enter the following command:
# sudo passwd root
At the prompt, provide the password for your main user account, and then provide a new password for the root account, twice. You should now be able to launch a terminal and type su and the root password…
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