Ubuntu How To...

This is a short quick reference card of actions we've found useful installing Ubuntu based set-ups.

Install Ubuntu

• Download .iso from https://releases.ubuntu.com/20.04/
• Burn into a USB pen drive using BalenaEtcher or some other Boot disk burner
  • BalenaEtcher: https://www.balena.io/etcher/
• Boot PC from the USB and follow instructions.

Install Anydesk

Run the following commands as root user:

• add repository key to Trusted software providers list

wget -qO - https://keys.anydesk.com/repos/DEB-GPG-KEY \| apt-key add -

• add the repository:

echo "deb http://deb.anydesk.com/ all main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/anydesk-stable.list

• update apt cache:

apt update

• install anydesk:

apt install anydesk

Set the desktop for a Kiosk

1. Disable notifications, autohide, etc:

   1. Start->search for Notifications->control panel: DISABLE ALL

   2. Settings->Dock: Auto hide to ON

   3. Settings->Power: OFF Dim screen, blank screen NEVER, automatic > suspend OFF

   4. Settings->Privacy->Problem Reporting to NEVER.

      1. Screen lock to OFF

2. In terminal:

   1. sudo apt install gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extensions

3. In Software manager (orange shopping bag):

   1. Install gnome-tweaks for extensions.

4. In Firefox:

   1. Open https://extensions.gnome.org

      • Install the FF plugin

   2. Install "block-caribou" to disable touch screen keyboard.

   3. Install "disable gestures"

   4. Install "hide top bar"

Stop and Restart

• Stop:
  sudo shutdown -h now

• Restart:
  sudo shutdown -r now

Manage Services

1. Services are Unit files with the .service extension.

2. They reside (or are linked into) /etc/systemd/system

3. For Broox Services, they all use the naming broox-xxxxx.service.

sudo systemctl [start|stop|restart|status|enable|disable] broox-servicename.service

• Start: sudo systemctl start broox-controller.service

• Stop: sudo systemctl stop broox-deepengine.service

• Restart: sudo systemctl restart broox-3mtotuio.service

• Status: sudo systemctl status broox-3mtotuio.service

• Enable on startup: sudo systemctl enable broox-3mtotuio.service

• Disable on startup: sudo systemctl disable broox-3mtotuio.service

Add auto-starting desktop apps

• Click Activities

• Start app "Startup Applications"

• Add the app, for example Broox MediaPlayer.

• Command has to point to the executable.

Use Video4Linux devices

1. Video4Linux devices automatically mount on /dev/videoN

2. To list, from terminal, use ls -l /dev/video*

3. You can use lsusb to see connected devices.

View connected Video4Linux devices (webcams et.al.)

1. Open Terminal.

2. If `qv4l2` is not installed: sudo apt install qv4l2

3. Start: qv4l2

Set up a Headless X11

• Install the X Dummy server

sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-dummy

• Then write this in the /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/xorg.conf (or possibly /etc/X11/xorg.conf) file (create it, if it does not exist):

Section "Device"

Identifier "Configured Video Device"

Driver "dummy"

EndSection

Section "Monitor"

Identifier "Configured Monitor"

HorizSync 31.5-48.5

VertRefresh 50-70

EndSection

Section "Screen"

Identifier "Default Screen"

Monitor "Configured Monitor"

Device "Configured Video Device"

DefaultDepth 24

SubSection "Display"

Depth 24

Modes "1024x800"

EndSubSection

EndSection