UbuntuHandbook

How to Enable SSH Service in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: May 28, 2020

This quick tip shows how to enable Secure Shell (SSH) service in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, both desktop and server, to allow secure remote login and other network communications.

Ubuntu includes OpenSSH, a suite of secure networking utilities based on the Secure Shell protocol, in its main repositories. While OpenSSH client is installed out-of-the-box, you can do following steps to install and setup OpenSSH server in Ubuntu 20.04.

1. First open terminal and run command to install the packages:

sudo apt install ssh

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) for sudo prompt and hit Enter.

2. Once installed, SSH services start in background silently. You can check its status by running command:

systemctl status ssh.service

You may replace status in the code with stop, reload, restart to stop, reload, or restart the service.

3. The SSH service should be working good now for basic use! If you want to change the listening port, root login permission, or other authentications, run command to edit the configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

replace nano with gedit if you’re on Ubuntu Desktop.

Save changes by pressing Ctrl+X, then Y, and finally hit Enter. And remember to restart the SSH service via sudo systemctl restart ssh.service command.

In Howtos openssh, ssh

How to Fix ‘Folder Color’ Files Extension in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: May 28, 2020

Folder Color is a file browser extension allows to change the color and add emblem for selected folder.

Folder Color is available in Ubuntu universe repositories. However, it does not work very well in Ubuntu 20.04 with the default Yaru icon theme, since changing the color of folders will also change the icons.

The original developer has made the Yaru theme integration with Folder Color for Ubuntu 20.04, which can be installed via this PPA repository.

1.) Open terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard, then run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:costales/yaru-colors-folder-color

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) and hit Enter to continue.

2.) Then install the extension as well as Yaru theme integration:

sudo apt install folder-color yaru-colors-folder-color

3.) Finally restart Nautilus file browser via nautilus -q command. Restore previously folders’ color if changed.

And change the colors from folders’ context menu and enjoy!

(Optional) To remove the PPA repository, either go to Software & Updates -> Other Software or run command in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:costales/yaru-colors-folder-color

In Howtos folder color

Twin-panel File Manager Sunflower 0.4 Released with GTK3 Port

Last updated: May 27, 2020

Small and highly customizable twin-panel Sunflower file manager released version 0.4 after many years of development.

Sunflower 0.4 brings new interface based on GTK3. The code is ported to Python3. As a result of this rewrite performance has gone up as well.

There are still many issues in the new release. Emblems are completely missing, drag and drop is broken and keyboard shortcuts are broken due to some upstream problems. And these will be fixed in upcoming weeks.

How to Install Sunflower 0.4 in Ubuntu:

The file manager offers official .deb package that works on Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.10, and Ubuntu 20.04.

Download Sunflower

Grab the Ubuntu package and click install either via Software Install or Gdebi package installer.

Once installed, search for and launch Sunflower from ‘Show Applications’ menu and enjoy!

In Howtos, News Sunflower, twin-panel file manager

How to Quickly Setup HTTP File Server in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: July 3, 2020

There are quite a few ways to transfer files over home network. One of the easiest ways is to run a single python command in terminal.

Python contains a script that sets up simple http server. No need to install anything, and even no internet connection required.

1. Simply right-click on the folder that contains the files you want to transfer, then select ‘Open in Terminal‘

2. When terminal opens, run the single command:

python3 -m http.server

UPDATE: You can specify the listening port (e.g., 9900) if you get “Address already in use” error, by running command:

python3 -m http.server 9900

That’s it!

Now any device in the same network can access the http file server by going to (change 8000 if you specified another listening port): http://server_ip:8000

In addition, you may run python3 -m http.server & instead to start the http server in background, so the terminal window can be closed.

To check your IP address, go to Settings > Wi-Fi (or Network), click on the gear button after your connected network and check the IPv4 Address.

In Howtos http file server

How to Boot Ubuntu 20.04 into Text / Command Console

Last updated: May 24, 2020

Need to do some work in the black & white command line console? You can press Ctrl+Alt+F3 on keyboard to switch from the current session to tty3 text console, and switch back via Ctrl+Alt+F2.

From the startup grub boot-loader menu entry, you may select the Advanced Options > recovery mode > Drop to root shell prompt to get into text mode. However you need to run command mount -o rw,remount / to get file system write permission.

If you want to make Ubuntu automatically boot into the text mode, configure grub settings by doing following steps one by one:

1. Open terminal and run command to backup the configuration file:

sudo cp -n /etc/default/grub /etc/default/grub.backup

2. Edit the configuration file via command:

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

When the file opens, do:

disable GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash" by adding # at the beginning.
set GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="" to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="text"
remove # from the line GRUB_TERMINAL="console" to disable graphical terminal.

3. Save the file and apply changes by running command:

sudo update-grub

4. One more command is required as Ubuntu now uses systemd:

sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target

How to Restore:

To restore changes, simply move back the backup file via command:

sudo mv /etc/default/grub.backup /etc/default/grub

And run sudo update-grub to apply change.

Also change the setting back in systemd via command:

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

In Howtos text mode

Transmission 3.00 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: May 27, 2020

Transmission, Ubuntu’s default BitTorrent Client, released new major 3.00 version a days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 19.10, Ubuntu 18.04.

Transmission 3.00 features:

Allow RPC server to listen on IPv6.
Limit incorrect authentication attempts to prevent brute-force attacks.
Add Peer ID for Xfplay, PicoTorrent, Free Download Manager, Folx, Baidu Netdisk torrent clients
Make transmission slightly faster by adding TCP_FASTOPEN support
Add support for mbedtls and wolfssl, LibreSSL
Add queue up/down hotkeys
Improve Qt UI look on hi-dpi displays
And much more other changes.

How to Install Transmission 3.00 in Ubuntu:

The official Transmission PPA has built the packages for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 19.10, Ubuntu 18.04.

~~packages for Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 16.04 are broken at the moment of writing, check the PPA link before getting started.~~

1. Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or by searching for ‘terminal’ from your system application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:transmissionbt/ppa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then launch Software Updater (update manager) and upgrade the torrent client:

How to Restore:

For any reason, you can restore the BitTorrent client to the stock version by running command in terminal:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:transmissionbt/ppa

In Howtos, News transmission

How to Install Audacity Audio Editor 2.4.1 in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: September 2, 2020

Audacity audio editor 2.4.0 was released a few days ago. The release was paused due to a critical bug. Now version 2.4.1 arrived with quick fixes.

What’s new in Audacity 2.4.1:

Works on Mac Catalina.
New Time Toolbar.
Presets for more effects can be imported and exported.
New Multi-View mode for tracks.
Export audio to Opus in Windows, Linux.
Easier to convert labels between point labels and range labels.
New Loudness Normalization effect.
New RMS measurement analyzer.
New Noise Gate effect.
New Spectral Delete effect.
Tons of bug-fixes.

How to Install Audacity 2.4.1 in Ubuntu:

The unofficial PPA has built the new release packages for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 19.10, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 16.04.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

Type user password (no asterisk feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. If you have a previous version installed, you can upgrade Audacity via Software Updater after adding the PPA.

upgrade audacity

or run following commands one by one to check updates and install (or upgrade) audacity 2.4.1:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install audacity

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA repository, launch Software & Updates utility and navigate to ‘Other Software’ tab.

To remove Audacity audio software, either use system package manager or run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove audacity audacity-data

In Howtos, News audacity

Kodi 18.7 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: May 20, 2020

Kodi media center 18.7 was released today. Now it’s available to install via PPA in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.10, and Ubuntu 20.04.

Kodi 18.7 is a bug-fix release that contains following changes:

Add more PVR context menu support.
Add scroll to plot on PVR Channel Guide Dialog
Add an icon for Blu-rays
PVR addon API documentation updates and fixes.
improve bluray menu detection.
allows encrypted dvd playback on ios
Add “Get all” button to Controller dialog.
Fix playing games with VideoPlayer when emulators are disabled
And much more other changes.

How to Install Kodi 18.7 in Ubuntu:

Though it’s not been officially announced in Kodi website, Kodi Team PPA has made the packages for all current Ubuntu releases and derivatives.

1. Open terminal either from application menu or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then either upgrading Kodi from an existing version via Software Updater:

upgrade Kodi

or refresh system package cache and install Kodi 18.7 via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install kodi

Uninstall:

To remove the Kodi PPA repository, simply open Software & Updates -> Other Software.

To remove Kodi, run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove kodi kodi-data kodi-bin

In Howtos Kodi, XBMC media center

HPLIP 3.20.5 Released with Debian 10.3 / New Printers Support

Last updated: June 16, 2020

HP Linux Imaging and Printing

HPLIP, HP print, scan, and fax drivers for Linux, released 3.20.5 a few days ago with new printers and Linux distributions support.

HPLIP 3.20.5 added following new devices support:

HP DeskJet 1200, Ink Advantage 1200
HP DeskJet 2300 All-in-One, Ink Advantage 2300 All-in-One
HP ENVY 6000 series, Pro 6400 series.
HP DeskJet Plus 6000, 6400 series
HP DeskJet 2700 and Ink Advantage 2700 All-in-One Printer series
HP DeskJet Plus 4100, Ink Advantage 4100 All-in-One Printer series
HP LaserJet Enterprise M610dn, M611dn, M611x, M612dn, M612x
HP LaserJet Enterprise MFP M634dn, M634z, M635h, M635fht, M636fh
HP LaserJet Enterprise Flow MFP M634h, M635z, M636z

The new release also added support for Debian 10.3, and Manjaro 19.0.

There’s also known issues that USB print and scan will not work on Vasari and Taccola on Ubuntu 20.04, please refer to link: manpages.ubuntu.com.

How to Install HPLIP 3.20.5 in Ubuntu:

Due to requirement of old legacy python 2 libraries, HPLIP 3.20.5 does not install on Ubuntu 20.04.

1. To install the software, download the package “hplip-3.20.5.run” from the link below:

HPLIP Download Page

2. Then open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run command to give executable permission:

chmod +x ~/Downloads/hplip-3.20.5.run

3. Finally run command to start installing the driver:

./Downloads/hplip-3.20.5.run

Follow the terminal output and answer some questions. If everything goes OK, plug or re-plug your HP devices and enjoy!

In Howtos, News HP printer driver

How to Easily Convert Video Files to MP3 in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: May 18, 2020

Want to convert your video files (e.g., mp4, wav, mkv) to mp3 or other audio formats?

Without struggling with FFmpeg command line tool or any other video editor, SoundConverter offers a clean and easy interface that can do the job just with a few clicks.

SoundConverter supports reading Ogg Vorbis, AAC, MP3, FLAC, WAV, AVI, MPEG, MOV, M4A, AC3, DTS, ALAC, MPC, Shorten, APE, SID, MOD, XM, S3M, etc…, and converting to Opus, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, WAV, AAC, and MP3.

1.) First install SoundConverter either from Ubuntu Software Center: