ubuntu packages

I like to keep notes on the package management commands.  I don't use it all the time so it's nice to have it on hand.  All these except the dpkg command need to be run as root.  Suggested method is using sudo <command>

See all packages on your system:  dpkg --get-selections

Install a package: apt-get install  <package name> 


Update your package list: apt-get update

Upgrade to the latest packages: apt-get upgrade

Upgrade to the latest extended support version:  apt-get  dist-upgrade

Upgrade to the cutting edge at your own risk: do-release-upgrade
  I like to run with the latest when I'm running a vm since I can rebuild it easily.  For my "I just need it to work" machines I run the extended support version.  

Service and killing X

  Spent the last few days playing with my ubuntu virtual machine.  Not sure what happened but I believe something in the upgrade to the latest version went wrong.  Had a lot off issues with lightdm.  Ended up just trashing it but learned a few things along the way.



Manage services useing the service command

get service status
      service --status-all

      service sends the status-all output to stderr.  If you want to search for a service name you can run this:  service  --status-all  |&  grep <pattern> 



service restart
     service <service name>  restart
     example: sudo service lightdm restart



If X hangs you can run a few things to kill it
    Alt + PrtScn +K
               or
    Ctrl + Alt + F1
       (if you want more then one terminal you can hit F2 and F3)

development man pages

To install the man pages for development on Ubuntu

apt-get install manpages-dev