Tweak Ubuntu for peak performance

One of the first things I noticed after using Ubuntu for a while was how snappy the OS is, especially compared to Windows Vista (which in my experience can't even keep up with its predecessor XP). Then I poked around the Linux forums a little bit and found out that I could work even faster in Ubuntu by changing some default settings, and using a few of the OS's unique keyboard shortcuts.

Start at the beginning by disabling the auto-start Ubuntu apps that you don't need. For example, the ancient laptop I run Ubuntu on has no Bluetooth connection, so I don't need the Bluetooth Manager applet that loads with the OS. To disable this and other unneeded startup programs, click System > Preferences > Sessions, and uncheck the programs you don't use. Other candidates for disabling are the Evolution Alarm Notifier, the Restricted Drivers Manager, Tracker (the search and indexing service), User folders update, and Visual.

Speed Ubuntu's startup by disabling the auto-start apps you don't need.

Another way to cut back on the interface overhead is to disable visual effects: Click System > Preferences > Appearance, select the Visual Effects tab, and choose None.

Pare down the overhead in Ubuntu by disabling unnecessary visual effects.

One thing Ubuntu and Windows have in common is their tendency to run more services than you need. To trim the services overhead in Ubuntu, click System > Administration > Services, and uncheck any unnecessary entries. Just as in Windows, be careful not to disable a required service. In my case, I unchecked Bluetooth device management (bluetooth) and Printer service (cupsys), the former because my laptop lacks Bluetooth capability, and the latter because it isn't connected to any printers. You'll find a list of common Ubuntu services, along with a brief description and advice for leaving them on or turning them off, at this Ubuntu Forum.

Keep Ubuntu running at top speed by disabling unneeded services.

Navigate faster in Ubuntu via keyboard shortcuts: Several of the most popular keyboard shortcuts in Windows work in Ubuntu as well, such as Ctrl-C to copy, Ctrl-V to paste, and Ctrl-S to save a file. Here are a few others for working faster in Ubuntu and its apps:
Alt-F1 opens the Applications menu, then use the arrow keys to navigate the submenus.
Alt-F2 opens the Run Application dialog box.
Alt-F3 opens the Deskbar Applet (F3 opens the search bar at the bottom of the window).
Alt-F4 closes the current window.
Alt-F5 unmaximizes the current window (if it's maximized, of course).
Alt-F7, followed by arrow keys or mouse movement, adjusts the current window's position.
Alt-F8 resizes the current window.
Alt-F9 minimizes the current window.
Alt-F10 maximizes the current window.
Alt-spacebar opens the window menu.
Alt-Tab moves between open windows.
Ctrl-Alt-Tab moves between open panels on the desktop.
Ctrl-W closes the current window.
Ctrl-Q closes the current application.
Here are some keyboard shortcuts for working in the Terminal window:
Ctrl-C kills the current process.
Ctrl-Z sends the current process to the background.
Ctrl-D logs you out.
Ctrl-R finds the last command matching the entered letters.
Tab followed by entered letters lists the available commands beginning with those letters.
Ctrl-U deletes the current line.
Ctrl-K deletes from the cursor right.
Ctrl-W deletes the word before the cursor.
Ctrl-L clears the terminal output.
Shift-Insert pastes the contents of the clipboard.
Alt-F moves forward one word.
Alt-B moves backward one word.

Adjust your keyboard shortcuts: Ubuntu makes it easy to customize your shortcuts. Click System > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts, select one of the shortcuts in the list, and enter your preferred keystroke combination. You can also alter your keyboard accessibility options by clicking System > Preferences > Universal Access > Keyboard Accessibility. Here you can enable and adjust the timing for sticky keys, repeat keys, slow keys, bounce keys, toggle keys, and mouse keys (these convert your numeric keypad into mouse controls).

Tomorrow: Diagnose Office crashes.

[bill-tb]

Very informative post, I have an older system that I use for the Internet and email and need to keep it as clean of useless stuff as possible. I made a few of the changes you suggest and still the evolution mail is running after boot. Since I never need evolution, how would you disable this?

Is there a list of what all these programs do? If not, I wonder why not, it seems that that is a really missing point in Linux that you partially fill. I didn't want to disable anything, for fear of making my system unstable. It's a quandary for new users.

Thanks again ...

[ericsyale]

Good article but, I'm not sure if this will help me...when I cold start my system, the typical window screens pop up and once it gets to the second screen, the monitor goes blank for about 3-4 minutes...I then hear the drive spooling up and everything is back to normal until it starts loading the programs. As it loads, it adds the programs in the system but, it takes about 15-20 minutes. Spy Boot takes the longest...

I've run malware to search for buges, I have Norton Antivirus. I've gone to msconfig and unchecked some of the startup programs and it hasn't helped.

Is there something I can do locally or is there a program I can purchased that will speed up my startup.

I have XP Pro 2002 w/service pack 3....Pentium 4 CPU - 2.00 GHz and 512Megs of Ram.

Thanks,

Eric
[e-mail]