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--- ubuntu_22.04_with_cinnamon_desktop_setup_guide [12/16/2022 18:40] – created crowetic
+++ ubuntu_22.04_with_cinnamon_desktop_setup_guide [02/25/2023 22:12] – gfactor
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=====Ubuntu 22.04 Installation and Setup Guide=====
+=====Ubuntu 22.04 Installation & Setup Guide=====
+{{:qortal_official_logo_transparent_.png?400|}}
 Hello Qortians! This guide is for installation of Ubuntu 22.04 with Cinnamon Desktop Environment and a bunch of custom configurations by crowetic to setup everything necessary for Qortal, and automate as much as possible.
@@ Line 19: / Line 20: @@
 For the purposes of this guide, I am doing the configuration and installation on a Dell Latitude 7370 laptop, Desktops and Laptops are also fairly different when it comes to what is available in the BIOS, however certain options are at least similar.
-===Disabling nonsense===
+===Disabling Nonsense===
-There are multiple things in the BIOS (especially newer machines) that are completely UNNECESSARY. These are things that should simply be DISABLED with prejudice! There include but are not limited to **Intel Management Engine, computrace** (which only functions in Windows, so is not AS important in terms of this guide), **and TPM.**
+There are multiple things in the BIOS (especially newer machines) that are completely UNNECESSARY. These are things that should simply be DISABLED with prejudice! They include but are not limited to **Intel Management Engine, computrace** (which only functions in Windows, so is not AS important in terms of this guide), **and TPM.**
 The above settings are generally found in the **Security** section of the BIOS, and you should be able to go into each one and DISABLE them. **note** - many machines do not have a direct link to the Intel Management Engine settings, so if you don't see it then it's possible that the settings are not there, or are in a separate section of the BIOS (like pushing another key to access them during boot.) You will have to do a little looking around in order to find them. If you can't, don't worry, disable what you can of the above, and move on.
@@ Line 61: / Line 62: @@
 Now that we've gotten the BIOS/UEFI configuration out of the way, we can boot to a USB flash drive with Ubuntu 22.04 installer on it, and install the OS.
-**Download Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop Installation ISO** - You can go here... https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop - to download the Ubuntu 22.04 ISO file. (This is an image for the installation 'disk' for Ubuntu Desktop 22.04.
+**Download Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop Installation ISO** - You can go here... https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop - to download the Ubuntu 22.04 ISO file. (This is an image for the installation 'disk' for Ubuntu Desktop 22.04.)
 (In this guide, I will assume that you have a **Windows Computer** that you are going to use to create the installation media. If you are using a computer that does NOT have windows, you will need to use another tool to write the installation media to your flash drive.)
@@ Line 85: / Line 86: @@
 At first, it will ask you to connect to a wireless network if you're not already connected via LAN. If you aren't connected via LAN, simply connect via Wifi. Then it will ask you if you want to 'download updates during installation' I usually leave this checked by default.
+**use the username qortal** if you wish to have the **automation scripts setup by the install script to work correctly.** if you do NOT use the the username **qortal** then you will have to **manually moodify the crontab** in order for **the automation to work correctly.**
 When you get to the window for disk setup, you will choose **Erase Disk and Install Ubuntu** to perform a full format/installation with Ubuntu as the ONLY OS on the drive. By default it should choose your HDD/SSD unless you have multiple drives on your system, in which case it will give you a **choice of which drive to use**. This is **up to you**, you will choose whichever drive you want Ubuntu to be installed on. Ideally you will choose an **SSD of at least 64GB** or more, to install your Ubuntu installation. Anything smaller and you'll have issues with Qortal running on the same drive, unless you run in topOnly mode for the core. Larger is better. :)
@@ Line 102: / Line 105: @@
 **Download the 'rebuilt-machine.sh' script** and **run it**
+(Any command given like the one below, is meant to be **run using the 'Terminal'** - before you have installed 'cinnamon desktop' the terminal can be found by clicking 'activities' at the top and typing 'terminal', then clicking 'terminal'.)
 <code> cd && wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/crowetic/QORTector-scripts/main/rebuilt-machine.sh && chmod +x rebuilt-machine.sh && ./rebuilt-machine.sh</code>
@@ Line 118: / Line 123: @@
 *NOTE* - If you are on a **laptop** and using the **touchpad** during the 'click your username' section, you will need to actually use the **physical mouse buttons**. Trying to 'tap-to-click' does NOT work on this pre-login screen. (I am not exactly sure WHY, but it's just a thing.) After you get into the OS, tap-to-click should be enabled by default, and will work as it is supposed to.
+**Mouse/Touchpad settings** - since I am mentioning the mouse here, I figured mentioning the mouse settings I use would be good as well. Once you're in the desktop environment, click the menu (bottom left, the 'start menu' replacement in Ubuntu with Cinnamon Desktop) and type 'mouse'. This will take you to 'mouse/touchpad' settings. Under the 'touchpad' options, click 'reverse scrolling direction'. That's usually the only setting required there, but if your mouse is 'bouncy' or 'acting weird' at all, you can set 'custom acceleration' and change both (usually about middle of the slider is good for most with issues) so that the mouse 'acts right'.
 ====Ubuntu Settings Configuration====
-**Configuring Desktop** - Right click the desktop and click 'customize' then turn OFF 'auto-arrange' - you can also configure the spacing settings as preferred.
+**Configuring Desktop**
+**Right click the desktop** and click '**customize**' then turn **OFF 'auto-arrange'** - you can also configure the spacing settings as preferred.
 Click **desktop settings** and turn on all of the desktop icons you prefer, I usually do all except 'network'.
@@ Line 127: / Line 136: @@
 **Right click on Qortal UI** - click the icon that is currently blank, and browse for - pictures - qortal.ico (this was downloaded with the script) - select that icon to use for the Qortal UI.
-**Right click the Desktop** again, and click **'create new launcher here'** - configure this launcher with a name 'Qortal' and the icon from the pictures folder called **QLogo-512.png**. The command for the launcher you can click 'browse' and go to - Home - 'start-qortal.sh'. Select that, save the launcher. It will **pop up asking** if you want to **place the icon in menu** say **YES.**
+**Right click the Desktop** again, and click **'create new launcher here'** - configure this launcher with a name 'Qortal' and the icon from the pictures folder called **QLogo-512.png**. The command for the launcher you can click 'browse' and go to - Home - '**start-qortal.sh**'. Select that, save the launcher. It will **pop up asking** if you want to **place the icon in menu** say **YES.**
 **arrange the desktop icons** with **Qortal top left**, and **Qortal UI to the right of that.**
@@ Line 133: / Line 142: @@
 Put trash icon bottom right, about 2 inches from the bottom (as the Qortal logo will be in bottom right corner, we want trash icon above that for ease of visibility.)
+To **set desktop background** the easy way - **open files app** (this is on the panel at the bottom as well as searchable in the menu) - open '**Pictures**' folder, in that folder you will see a file called '**Qortal-The-Future-Wallpaper.png**', **right click that file** and click **set as wallpaper...**
+The **rebuilt-machine.sh** script that was utilized above, also includes with it a text file that is placed **on the desktop** - this file includes a few other settings that should be modified if the user wishes the machines to be EXACTLY like the ones setup by CHD.
+**Configuring Menu**
+The 'menu' is the equivalent of the 'start menu' on Windows, where you can see and search for installed applications on the computer. In the menu we would like to ensure that the **launchers** for both **Qortal** core and **Qortal UI** are included.
+Since we have already created the **Desktop Launcher** for the **Qortal Core** (and subsequently told it upon creation to also create a launcher in the 'menu') we should already have the **Qortal** icon in the menu, under the **other** category. Therefore we do NOT need to do anything else to get the Qortal launcher in the menu.
+However, we have not yet created the **Qortal UI** menu launcher. In order to do this, simply do the following.
+-**Right click** the menu and click '**configure**'.
+-In the window that comes up find '**Menu**' **tab** at the top.
+-In the Menu tab, click '**Open the menu editor**' - this will open the menu editor.
+-In the menu editor, click the '**other**' category **on the left**.
+-Click '**add item**' button on the right. This will open the launcher creator just like the desktop one.
+-**Name** your launcher '**Qortal UI**'
+-Browse for the **qortal.ico** file in your **Pictures** folder, **add that**.
+-**Browse** for the **Qortal UI** AppImage **this will just be called 'Qortal UI'** on the desktop.
+-**Click OK**
+You will now have **both launchers** in both the **menu and on the desktop** and will be able to **click the menu** and **search for Qortal** to find either.
+**Another thing** that I like to do, is to **add both of these to favorites** so that they show up on the  left side of the menu when clicked. To do this **click the menu and type 'Qortal'** it will come up with both launchers. **Right click** 'Qortal' and click 'add to favorites'. Repeat the search process and do the same for 'Qortal UI'.
+That's it, now you have launchers configured, favorites for Qortal and Qortal UI, and a fully configured Desktop that is very similar in functionality to Windows, but MUCH MORE SECURE.
+There are a few other visual settings that I will go over in the next section of the guide, but the majority is now completed. Enjoy your **AWESOME NEW LINUX DESKTOP SETUP** that is **fully customized to run and automate Qortal!**
+====Ubuntu Power Settings====
+In order for the Qortal Core to run ALL THE TIME no matter what, we will need to configure a few of the **default power settings** on the machine. We will want to **disable sleep** and **disable any action when  laptop lid is closed**. In order to do this, **click the menu and type 'power'**, this will bring up '**Power Management**' configuration.
+Open Power Management, and make sure **sleep is fully disabled** - 'suspend when inactive for' should be set to **NEVER**. 'when the lid is closed' should be set to **DO NOTHING**, and 'when the power button is pressed' set to '**ASK**'. Also, **check the box** that says '**perform lid-closed action even with external monitors attached**'.
+Make sure you do this for **both plugged in AND battery settings** (if you're doing this setup on a laptop with a battery, it will have a duplicate set of options for battery as it does for plugged in, ensure that both of these are configured as described above.)
+====Qortal Startup Settings====
+To make Qortal startup (with the Qortal icon) - click the Menu - search for 'startup' and you will see **Startup Applications (Cinnamon-Settings)** - open this application.
+Click **plus icon** at the bottom and click **custom command** - Name the command **start-qortal** - then **browse** under the command section, and go to - Home - and find **start-qortal.sh** script.
+You **can set a 5-10 second delay** for Qortal startup, to ensure your network connection is connected BEFORE Qortal starts.
+Save, that's it! Now your Qortal core will **start automatically** after you login, and **show the Qortal icon** on the taskbar.
+====Ubuntu Visual Settings====
+**Desktop**
+Make sure that 'auto-arrange' is turned OFF and that spacing is ideal to your preference.
+**Menu** - Set the various icon sizes slightly larger for ease of use. I generally set the 'category' size slightly larger than 'application' size, and 'favorites' size larger than category size. Ultimately this is individual preference, but I find size 42 for favorites to be nice on 1080 displays, and 38 for category, 35 for applications.
+**Text editor**
+The text editor has strange default configuration that I find annoying. I generally go into 'preferences' in the text editor (you can simply open the text file on the desktop then click the 3-line 'menu' button at the right of the editor, and go to 'preferences') and **modify a few things**. I like to **remove line numbers** by default (as that is only useful when coding and debugging) and **remove 'highlight current line'** as I simply find that to be annoying, especially with a dark theme. I also then go to **colors** and set it to **solarized dark** which I think looks the best with the overall dark theme.
+**Terminal**
+The terminal also has a default setting that makes the terminal window too small, in my opinion, so I modify that. **open a terminal** and go to **edit - preferences** and make the following changes. **default window size** should be set to a larger size, I generally set it to 135x35. Also, the default colors of the terminal aren't as visually appealing, so I **modify the colors** to **solarized** at the bottom of the '**colors**' **tab**, under **built-in schemes**. *note - the window size setting will only take effect the **next time** you open the terminal, colors will apply immediately.
+**Ubuntu Themes**
+In order to TRULY **make the machine's GUI LOOK GREAT**, you will need to make use of the '**Themes**' app that is built-in to Ubuntu.
+**Click the Menu, and type 'themes'**, then **open the Themes app**. Within this app the first tab, 'Themes',  will show you the current settings, we can skip that at first and go to **Add/Remove** tab at the top.
+This will update the list first, then show you the available free themes from Ubuntu and its theme community.
+We want to find **3 specific themes** that will be utilized for **our custom overall theme**.
+Those 3 themes are - **'Adapta-Nokto', 'CBlack', and 'Windows 10 Light Theme'.**
+Click the **download button** (little downward-facing arrow) to **install these 3 themes**.
+Once you HAVE them, **go back to the main 'Themes' tab** at the top. Here we will **set the themes** we just downloaded, to **specific sections** of Ubuntu visual options.
+**Window borders** - set this to **Adapta-Nokto**
+**Icons** - set to '**yaru-blue-dark**'
+**Controls** - set to '**CBlack**'
+**Mouse Pointer** - set to **'DMZ-Black'**
+**Desktop** - set to **Windows-10**
+That's it, now you should have a BEAUTIFUL and EASY to USE overall GUI theme for your machine. There is only **ONE FINAL THING** that truly **sets it off** and makes it look **awesome!** This is the **custom Menu Button and label**.
+**Customizing Menu Button and Label**
+For this **finishing touch** we will **right click the menu** and click **configure**, it will then open the settings. On the first tab **Panel** at the top under **Appearance** we will say **use a custom icon and label**, and modify to the following:
+**Icon** - **Browse** to your **Pictures** and find the **blue-gray-menu-button.png** file, select that.
+**Icon Size** - Set the icon size to **40**.
+**Text** - Set text to say '**ortal-OS**' - (Yes, it is deliberately missing the Q in 'Qortal', you'll see why when you set it ;) )
+**THAT'S IT, YOU NOW HAVE A FULLY CUSTOMIZED MACHINE!**
+I will continue updating this guide as necessary as time goes on, and I will also include pictures for the  settings configuration to make it as easy as possible for all learning types. Eventually I will also consider doing a full 'setup video' guide as well.
+Hope this helps you to have an AWESOME, SECURE, and VISUALLY APPEALING computer for your Qortal Node!
+====notes====
+If you did **not use the username 'qortal** during your installation, then the **automation for the auto-fix scripts** will **not work** until you **do the following**
+-Open crontab editor
+<code> crontab -e</code>
+It will ask you which editor you would like to use, choose **nano** (generally option 1.)
+Once you do that it will take you to the crontab, **edit any of the lines that have /home/qortal** and replace that with **/home/your-username-here**
+To **save and exit** use **cntrl+x** then **Y** and **ENTER**, once you have **done this** your **automation will function as intended.

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