Kubuntu 10.10 alternate installation on desktop with RAID 1

Kubuntu 10.10 alternate installation on a desktop computer with RAID 1 is comparable to the Ubuntu alternate installation. The end result is completely different.

Load the Kubuntu 10.10 CD in a test computer. one where you can wipe everything off the disks. I am using a machine with a solid state disk for the system disk and a couple of two terabyte magnetic disks for use in a RAID 1 array.

Boot.

Kubuntu presents the following menu.

• Install Kubuntu
• Check disks for defects
• Test memory
• Boot from first hard disk
• Rescue a broken system

Kubuntu defaults to installation using English. If you want to use a different language, press F2 then select another language.

F3 lets you change the keymap for different keyboards.

F4 lets you select special modes for hardware manufacturers and masochists who want to waste their time with a command line installation.

F5 gives you options to improve readability for the visually impaired.

F6 gives you extra options including an expert mode. Kubuntu is based on Ubuntu which is based on Debian. The expert mode is similar to the detailed Debian install process and the Ubuntu alternate installation. Stay away from the Expert install if you are not experienced and do not have a ponytail. (People with ponytails usually buy Apple products so are unlikely to use Kubuntu.)

Check disks for defects

Check the disk for defects the first time you use the disk. It is the same check as used in most versions of Linux and has the same CD mount error as all the other Linuxes. Your installation CD-ROM couldn't be mounted. Battle on replying yes and no until the test works. Try <No> first.

When the test is finished, you get the message Integrity test successful. Mark the CD as tested after the test is finished and do not repeat the test for other uses of the disk. Select <Continue>.

Install Kubuntu

Select Install Kubuntu.

Choose language

Choose your language then press enter. This is the same language choice offered earlier through F2.

Choose a country, territory, or area

Choose your country using the up and down arrow keys then press Enter.

Detect keyboard layout?

If you have a standard keyboard, select <No> to continue. Select <Yes> when you have an odd keyboard you want to test.

Origin of the keyboard

Select your keyboard type then press Enter.

Keyboard layout

Select your keyboard layout then press Enter.

Hostname

Enter a name for your computer. You can use letters, both the normal lower case and the decorative upper case, numbers, plus the special characters dash - and stop ..

Is this time zone correct?

Kubuntu suggests a time zone based on the massive amount of information everyone knows about you based on your Internet usage. Their suggestion is often correct. Select <Yes> then press Enter.

Partitioning method

There is a list of possible ways to use your disks but none fit my requirements. The Linux defaults rarely fit anything useful and often use overly complicated configurations while ignore basic safe configuration recommendations.

I deleted all exiting partitions because the previous use of the machine was only for a test. You can make your own decisions. Deleting a partition means losing everything in the partition.

Create a 100 MB primary partition named boot using Ext4 with a mount point of /boot. Add the mount option of noatime to reduce useless disk writes. You should be able to set the bootable flag to yes but Ubuntu and some other Linuxes will not let you do this at this point. Select Done setting up this partition to complete the partition definition.

Create an 8 GB primary partition at the end of the disk for use as a swap area. Select Done setting up this partition to complete the partition definition.

Create a primary partition using the remaining space on the first disk, our SSD, for use as Ext4 with a mount point of / and the name system. Add the mount option of noatime to reduce useless disk writes. Select Done setting up this partition to complete the partition definition.

Select Configure software RAID to set up our two other disks with RAID 1. Select <Yes> to write the changes to disk. Ubuntu will waste a little time writing some sort of file system information.

Select Create MD device. Select RAID1. At Number of active devices for the RAID1 array, accept the default 2 by pressing Enter. At Number ofspare devices for the RAID1 array, accept the default 0 by pressing Enter.

You see a list titled Active devices for the RAID1 array. Select the two spare disks using the down arrow key and the space bar. Continue by pressing Enter.

Select <Yes> to write the changes to disk. Select Finish to finish defining the RAID array.

Select the software RAID partition and press Enter. Select Ext4 with a mount point of /home and the name home. Add the mount option of noatime to reduce useless disk writes. Select Done setting up this partition to complete the partition definition.

Select Finish partitioning and write changes to disk to complete the partition definition. Select <Yes> to write the changes to disk. Ubuntu should finally create the partition on the RAID array.

Create user login

Full name: Peter
User name: peter
Password: ********
Confirm password: ********
Press enter.

Encrypt your home directory

Select <Yes> then press enter.

HTTP proxy information

Press enter to accept the default.

Install the GRUB boot loader to the master boot record?

Select <Yes> then press enter to continue.

Is the system clock set to UTC?

Select <Yes> then press enter.

Installation complete

Remove the CD then press Enter to continue. The system will reboot.

KDE

KDE looks totally different to Gnome. KDE works differently to Gnome. KDE fails more frequently than Gnome. Gnome is a bit boringly predictable because it does what people choose to do in almost ever operating system out there. KDE from Kubuntu does weird stuff. Stuff you would not expect based on the actions you perform. Sorry KDE fans but I would choose almost anything, even a mac, over KDE.

KDE bigots tell me KDE is a better choice than Gnome because KDE is closer to Windows. KDE from Kubuntu is unlike any version of Windows I have ever used and I have used every version including the mobile version and the dreaded Vista.

Ubuntu with Gnome occasionally crashes when I start applications. Ubuntu with KDE crashes before I start an application.

Based mostly on the KDE in Kubuntu and a small amount on previous attempts to use KDE from various other Linux distributions, Gnome beats KDE, Gnome is usable without special training, and KDE makes you wonder if it might secretly be left over from a Monty Python comedy sketch. KDE is not my choice and I do not think I will ever bother to try it again.