Chapter 5. System Menu

Table of Contents

Administration
Device Manager
Login Screen Setup
Networking
Printing
Shared Folders
Synaptic Package Manager
Time and Date
Ubuntu Update Manager
Users and Groups
Preferences
Assistive Technology
CD Database Server
Desktop Background
File Management
Font
Keyboard
Keyboard Shortcuts
Login Photo
Menus and Toolbars
Mouse
Multimedia System Selector
Network Proxy
Palm OS Devices
Preferred Applications
Remote Desktop
Removable Storage
Screen Resolution
Screensaver
Sessions
Sound
Theme
Windows
Take Screenshot
Help
About Ubuntu
Lock screen
Log out

The System menu provides applications for the administration of your computer and setting of personal preferences and choices. In addition, the System provides quick access to online help systems and tools for managing your session.

Administration

Ubuntu provides a wide range of easy to use applications that enable users to administrate various aspect of the computer system. All these applications can be found under Desktop->Administration .

Device Manager

Device Manager Main Window

The Device Manager displays information about the hardware installed on your system.

Login Screen Setup

Login Screen Setup Main Window

Use the Login Screen Setup dialog to configure the initial login screen. You can specify the welcome text, set the background image, enable the accessibility options, configure login security, and set yourself up to be automatically logged in when the system starts.

Networking

Networking Main Window

The Network administration tool allows you to specify the way your system connects to other computers and to the Internet. Among other things, you can set your computer's name.

Printing

Printing Main Window

Use the Printing dialog to manage your printers. You can add and delete printers, and manage the print jobs of existing printers.

Shared Folders

Shared Folders Main Window

The Shared Folders application provides users with an interface via which to share folder and device resources across a Local Area Network (LAN). In order to use this application either the Samba or Network File System (NFS) network services must be installed and configured.

Synaptic Package Manager

Synaptic Package Manager Main
                            Window

The Synaptic Package Manager is used to manage the software on your computer. You use it to install, upgrade, and un-install applications. As apposed to the Ubuntu Update Manager, Synaptic provides a fine level of control over the package management system.

Time and Date Settings must be run using 'sudo'.

Time and Date

Time and Date Main Window

The Time and Date Settings enables you to adjust the time and date settings for your computer, specify your current time zone, and synchronize your date and time with Internet time servers.

You can choose to synchronize with Internet time servers periodically, but you must have support for the Network Time Protocol (NTP) installed. When you click the checkbox to set periodic time synchronization you are given the option to install support for NTP if you don't have it already installed.

Time and Date Settings must be run using 'sudo'.

Ubuntu Update Manager

Ubuntu Update Manager Main Window

The Ubuntu Update Manager is a simple and easy to use application that help users to keep their system software updated Ubuntu Update Manager must be run using 'sudo'.

Users and Groups

Users and Groups Main Window

The Users and Groups dialog allows you to manage user and group accounts. All users have their own login, with separate desktop and individual settings and preferences for email, browser, and other software.

User accounts can be created for people or for applications, but you will generally only be using this dialog to manage human users of your computer. The initial 'super user' and first 'normal user' and group accounts are created for applications as part of the software installation process.