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======Project: Installing UNIX/Linux on a laptop======

A project for UNIX/Linux Fundamentals by Christopher M. Caccia during the Fall Semester of 2011.

This project was begun on October 10th 2011 and has taken four days to complete.

=====Objectives=====

The purpose of this project is to install a UNIX/Linux based operating system, Ubuntu, on my personal laptop.  Once the operating system is installed on the laptop I want to make sure that all device drivers have successfully loaded and are operating properly.  I also hope to install a terminal application and access, modify, and create files via a UNIX shell.
=====Prerequisites=====
In order to successfully accomplish/perform this project, the listed resources/experiences need to be consulted/achieved:

  * Sudo command
  * USB bootable image (Ubuntu)
  * USB stick required
  * Laptop
  * The pipe (|)
  * tee command
  * echo command


=====Background=====

The purpose of this project is to install a working UNIX/Linux based operating system on a personal laptop.  I have decided to use the Ubuntu UNIX operating system, and hope to have a usable laptop by the end of the project.

UNIX/Linux as an operating system does have some distinct advantages.  The first advantage is the cost factor!  Ubuntu is an open-source operating system that is free for download.  The second advantage Ubuntu has as an operating system is it's size.  UNIX/Linux as an operating system takes up a very small amount of hard drive space in comparison to operating systems like Windows.  


=====Scope=====

Mission:
To install UNIX/Linux Ubuntu operating system on my personal laptop.

Follow these steps:

1) Download Ubuntu 11.10 32-bit operating system to a bootable USB stick

2) Format hard drive on laptop

3) Boot laptop via USB

4) Install Ubuntu to hard disk

5) Restart laptop

6) Make sure that all peripheral devices have loaded properly and operating system is functioning.
=====Attributes=====
State and justify the attributes you'd like to receive upon successful approval and completion of this project.

  * __Commands__: Sudo, echo, cat
  * __Files & Directories__: Manipulated a configuration file to fix the wireless NIC driver problem.
  * __Text Processing__: using the "tee" program, reading from standard input and write to standard output.
  * __The UNIX Shell__: Corrected the wireless NIC problem using a terminal shell.
  * __The UNIX Development Environment__: Using the pipe (|) utility.
  * __Security__: Implemented the "tee" program as a sudo user.
  * __Groups__: I set permissions for files and group access.
  * __System Administration__: Installed Ubuntu 11.10 32-bit O.S. on laptop


=====Procedure=====
**Installation:** 
I started this project by downloading a USB bootable image to a USB stick.  I then formatted the hard drive in my laptop and booted the system up via USB Hard Disk.  At this point I was prompted with installation options of Ubuntu on my laptop.  I selected the option for full installation.  Once the installation of the Ubuntu operating system was completed I noticed that my screen colors seemed to be slightly off.  Thinking that I may have had a corrupted video driver, I started the installation process all over.  After the second installation of the operating system any video issues I had were resolved. 

**The Wireless Problem:**
The only driver issue I encountered a problem with was the wireless NIC.  The wireless network interface card would not operate correctly.  I could not detect any wireless networks and therefore could not connect to a wireless network.  After researching Lenovo wireless NIC driver issues with UNIX/Linux, I found that there was data missing from wireless NIC configuration files.  With the help of the biggest wizard of all, Matt Haas, I was able to come up with a command that read the missing configuration data from standard input and write to standard output of the configuration file.  The command used is listed below, in the execution block. Once the command had been executed I restarted the system.  Upon restart the wireless NIC card driver successfully loaded and a list of available networks was displayed.  At this point I was able to connect to my network without a problem.

All other peripheral devices loaded successfully.


=====Execution=====
Command needed to correct the wireless NIC driver issue.

<cli>
ccaccia@ccaccia:~$ echo 'options acer_wmi wireless=1' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/acer_wmi.conf \
ccaccia@ccaccia:~$ 
</cli>

=====Reflection=====

I have come to the conclusion that I will keep a UNIX/Linux operating system on my laptop.  I don't believe that UNIX is as user-friendly as Windows, but I do believe that the UNIX operating system is a much more effective tool for an experienced user.  Even users with little computer experience can easily operate on the Ubuntu O.S. until you run into a problem.  Correcting the wireless NIC driver issue was much more difficult to implement than it would have been in Windows.  With that being said, the Ubuntu software is free... and is a viable option for anyone looking for a free operating system. 
=====References=====
In performing this project, the following resources were referenced:

  * http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download
  * https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/560464
  * http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/4738/acerwmi-driver-in-ubuntu/
  * The almighty and powerful Matthew Haas
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