Flavor of the Month: Fluxbuntu
This month we will be installing Fluxbuntu, an unofficial build of Ubuntu with the Fluxbox interface. To get it, go to http://fluxbuntu.org/en/node/3, and choose a download location.
Written by Robert Clipsham
1. After backing up your important data, burn the CD using the usual procedure, and insert the CD into the CD/DVD drive. Restart your PC and wait for the disk to load.
2. When the disk has loaded (above), you can check the disk for errors using the 'Check CD for defects' option, then start the installation with the 'Start or install Fluxbuntu' option.
3. Once the Log in window (above) appears, type fluxbuntu as the username, and livecd as the password.
4. You are left with a simple liveCD interface, with full access to programs by right clicking or using the standard desktop icons. When you are ready to install, single click 'Eterm' on the desktop, and type sudo ubiquity then press Enter.
5. This will bring up the installer. Choose your native language, then click Next.
6. To allow you to get the fastest downloads, and to get the correct time zone; Ubuntu needs to know your location. Select it on the map (below), then continue to the next step.
7. You must now select your keyboard layout. Choose the correct one for your PC, then move on.
8. The installer now asks for some personal details (below) to allow it to automatically fill in fields for installation of other applications, and for creating a user account. It also asks for a name for the PC, so it can be identified on the network (if you have one).
9. The installation will now ask how you would like to partition your Hard Drive (below). As always, be careful here, and ask if you are not sure what to do. Pick the relevant option, depending on what you are doing.
10. The installer will now show a summary of all the options you have chosen. Click install when you are sure about the options you have chosen.
After restarting, you will have a full Fluxbuntu installation, ready for customization.
You will notice that unlike the other installations, this installer does not include a migration assistant for transferring your documents and settings. This is because Fluxbuntu is based on Ubuntu 6.06 – Dapper Drake. This is a long term support (LTS) version of Ubuntu, which means that it is supported longer than a normal release. It also means it is not as up-to-date. It is your choice if you would still like to use Fluxbuntu, but in my opinion you would be better installing an official release of 7.04 (maybe Xubuntu for older PCs), and then installing the fluxbox and fluxconf packages from the repositories.
