Configuring your Linux system

DataScience Workbook / 02: Setting Up Computing Machine / 1. Operating System (OS) installation / 1.3. Configuring your Linux system

Introduction

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution that can be used on a personal computer or workstation for research and data analysis. Ubuntu Desktop provides both a graphical desktop and a command-line environment, so you can choose the interface that fits the task. This tutorial provides practical orientation for a newly installed Linux machine: completing the first setup, finding important locations, opening Terminal, and checking that the system is ready for use.

Getting started with Ubuntu

Ubuntu can be installed from a bootable USB drive or tested first without changing the computer. Use Ubuntu’s official installation guide for the current installer screens and hardware-specific notes.

If you plan to keep Windows or another operating system on the computer, first review Several OSs on the same computer. It explains the general multi-boot, disk-space, and boot-menu considerations that apply before starting the Ubuntu-specific steps below.

Install Ubuntu

Before starting:

Back up files from the computer. Choosing an option that erases the disk permanently removes the existing operating system and data.
Connect the computer to power and make sure the installation USB is available.
Download the Ubuntu Desktop image from the official download page.
Create a bootable USB drive using the method described in the Ubuntu installation guide. Writing an image to a USB drive is different from copying the downloaded file; the process also erases the USB drive.

To begin the installation:

Insert the bootable USB drive and restart the computer.
Open the boot menu using the key shown by the computer manufacturer. Common keys include F12, Esc, F2, and F10.
Select the USB drive and choose Try or Install Ubuntu.
Test the desktop, keyboard, network, display, and trackpad if you are unsure whether the hardware is supported.
Start the installer and select the language, keyboard layout, network, and installation type.
Choose whether to install Ubuntu alongside another operating system or erase the disk. Read the disk summary carefully before continuing.
Create your user account and a strong password. Keep automatic login disabled on a shared or portable computer.
Complete the installation, remove the USB drive when prompted, and restart the computer.

The Erase disk and install Ubuntu option removes the selected disk contents. Confirm that your backups are complete and that you have selected the intended disk before starting the installation.

Update Ubuntu

After the first login, install available updates before setting up research software. You can use the graphical updater or Terminal.

Open Activities, search for Software Updater, and install the offered updates.
Alternatively, open Terminal and run:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
```
The apt commands update package information and then upgrade installed packages. Detailed software installation is explained in Installations on Linux.

Keep the system connected to the internet while updates are being installed.
Restart if Ubuntu requests it.

Ubuntu interfaces

Ubuntu Desktop provides two complementary interfaces:

a graphical user interface (GUI); and
a command-line interface (CLI).

Both interfaces work with the same user account, files, and installed applications.

GUI

The graphical user interface (GUI) is the desktop with windows, menus, icons, and panels. Use Activities to search for applications and open workspaces. Use Files to browse folders, Settings to configure the computer, and Software or App Center to install graphical applications.

Common actions include:

open Activities and type an application name;
open Files to browse the home folder and external drives;
press Ctrl+L in Files to enter a location directly;
press Ctrl+H in Files to show or hide hidden files; and
right-click a file or folder to see available actions.

CLI

The command-line interface (CLI) accepts text commands in a terminal window. It is useful for repeatable tasks, scripts, software documented for Linux, and connections to remote systems. The command line and GUI are not separate storage spaces: a folder created in Terminal appears in Files, and a folder created in Files can be used from Terminal.

Open Terminal

Open Activities and search for Terminal.
Select the Terminal application.
Optionally press Ctrl+Alt+T if this shortcut is enabled by your Ubuntu desktop.
Keep Terminal in the Dock for quick access by right-clicking its icon and choosing Add to Favorites.

When Terminal opens, the shell prompt indicates that it is ready for input. Do not copy the prompt itself when following a command example. For detailed command-line terminology and navigation, continue to Terminal Basics.

Linux file system

The graphical Files application and Terminal use the same file system. Linux organizes files in a single directory tree that starts at the root directory, written as /. A path to a specific location is a sequence of directory names separated by /. An absolute path starts at the root, while a relative path is interpreted from the current location.

Use ls with an absolute or relative path to list directory contents:

ls /
# ls /path/to/nested/location
ls ../

The command ls / lists the top-level directories.
/path/to/nested/location shows the syntax of an absolute path.
The relative path ../ refers to the directory one level above your current location.

User account and home directory

Your personal files belong in your home directory:

the shortcut ~ refers to the current user’s home directory;
for a user named alex, the home directory is usually /home/alex;
$HOME is a built-in shell variable that stores a path to your home directory;

Check the location of your home directory and move to it with:

cd ~              # navigate to your home dir
pwd               # display current path
echo "$HOME"      # display path to your home dir

The final command should print the same path shown by pwd.

Use ~ or $HOME when you want to refer to your home directory without typing its full path.

Avoid storing personal work directly in system directories (e.g., /usr, /var, /bin). On a personal Linux machine, keep research projects, scripts, configuration files, and downloaded data in your home directory or in a separate data drive.

Important locations

location	purpose
`/`	The root of the entire file system.
`/home/<username>`	Personal files for a user account.
`~`	Shortcut for the current user’s home directory.
`/tmp`	Temporary files; contents may be removed automatically.
`/etc`	System-wide configuration files.
`/usr`	Installed programs, libraries, and shared read-only data.
`/var`	Variable data such as logs and package-management files.
`/mnt`	A conventional location for mounted drives and file systems.
`/media`	A conventional location for removable media mounted by the desktop.

Do not edit or delete files in /etc, /usr, or /var unless instructions specifically require it and you understand the consequences.

Hidden files

Linux hides files and folders whose names begin with a period, such as .config or .bashrc. These files usually store application or shell settings.

In Files, press Ctrl+H to show hidden files. In Terminal, use:

ls -lha

Hidden does not mean protected. Treat configuration files carefully, and do not delete them just because they are not normally visible.

Basic settings

Open Activities, search for Settings, and review the following areas:

Settings area	What to check or configure
Wi-Fi or Network	Confirm internet access.
Displays	Set resolution and arrange multiple monitors.
Keyboard and Mouse/Touchpad	Adjust layouts, shortcuts, and pointer behavior.
Region & Language	Select language, formats, and input sources.
Date & Time	Verify the time zone for accurate logs and scheduled tasks.
Users	Review accounts and administrator privileges.
Power	Configure sleep and battery behavior on a laptop.

Checks for CLI setup

Open Terminal and run these commands:

Identify the installed Linux distribution and release:
```
cat /etc/os-release
```
Identify the processor architecture:
```
uname -m
```
Confirm the current shell:
```
echo "$SHELL"
```
Confirm that your home directory is available:
```
echo "$HOME"
```

Typical architecture output is x86_64 for most Intel or AMD computers and aarch64 for many ARM-based computers. The exact output and available software depend on the hardware and Ubuntu release.

Record the Ubuntu release, processor architecture, and major software versions when beginning a project. This information helps diagnose installation problems and supports reproducibility. For broader storage, memory, network, and permission checks, explore Unix system information and permissions.

For more about shell variables and shell configuration, continue to Introduction to Unix shell.
For detailed Linux software installation instructions, continue to Installations on Linux.
For command-line navigation and file operations, continue to Introduction to Command Line.