Frequently Asked Questions
These are among the most frequently asked questions on the Ultima Linux Support Forums, among other sources.
| NOTE | The original FAQ page (before June 24, 2008) has been moved to Old FAQ. |
Contents |
General Questions
Does Ultima Linux support <feature>?
That depends on what <feature> is. Feel free to ask us on the forums. As a general rule, hardware support depends on what we (the developers) have available at the time – other devices probably do work, but we can only guarantee what we’ve personally tested. Software depends largely on the developers’ own needs and the amount of user demand.
Will you add <feature> to Ultima Linux?
Again, you will need to ask us. What we add to Ultima Linux depends largely on both user demand (both our own and our users’), and how much we can test it, among other factors – a complete answer would be too lengthy to discuss here.
Where can I find support for Ultima Linux?
Almost all technical support is through the Ultima Linux Support Forums. In extreme cases – where sensitive information is involved, or for urgent queries – you can e-mail the developers directly (info@ultimalinux.com), but e-mail is strongly discouraged for “everyday” support requests.
Where can I find documentation for Ultima Linux?
This wiki is the “official” documentation source, although it is massively incomplete. (Feel free to add anything you might know.) Good places to start are – or will be, anyway – the Main Page and our “ebook,” The Definitive Ultima Linux. Most programs in Ultima Linux also come with built-in documentation, such as man pages, or the text files in /usr/doc/.
Because Ultima Linux is very similar to Slackware (among other distributions), the vast majority of Slackware resources can also be applied to Ultima Linux with little to no significant alterations. Slackware Linux Essentials might be a good start.
Why another distribution when there are so many?
Our project started in 2004, when there were only around 300 distros (not the 400+ you see today). Most of them were legitimate, too – not the cheap trash you see that changes Ubuntu’s wallpaper and calls it a completely new system. We’ve continued since then because we think our product is better, and because we’re determined to fix it if it’s not.
Ultima Linux takes distribution development very seriously, and yes, we are in it for the long run.
Distribution/Downloads
How is Ultima Linux licensed?
The Ultima Linux distribution as a whole is considered to be under the GNU General Public License, version 2, as this is the most commonly-used software license in the distribution. Individual software packages within the distribution, however, may have their own software licenses (you can usually find this in a file called COPYING or LICENSE in the package’s directory under /usr/doc/). Individual software packages follow their own respective licenses, not necessarily the GPL.
There is one additional restriction: Commercial redistribution of Ultima Linux binaries (this includes package sets and ISO images) requires the permission of the Ultima Linux developers. This is mainly intended to prevent CD retailers such as LinuxCd.org (see below) from profiting unfairly without compensating us for our work.
Most of the copyright/license terms are detailed in the COPYRIGHT.txt file on the Ultima Linux FTP site.
May I mirror the Ultima Linux files on my Web site?
If you have the disk space and bandwidth for over six gigabytes of files per release, then absolutely yes. (If you don’t have the disk space/bandwidth, we recommend against it, but there’s no legal reason you can’t try if you want to!) However, you must include the complete source code for all files mirrored, as per the GPL.
May I burn copies of Ultima Linux and give them to my friends?
Yes, please do – besides, our plans for world domination mostly spread by word of mouth anyway. Of course, the GPL zealots will no doubt require us to say you must tell them where to get the source code (hint: http://www.ultimalinux.com is a good place to start).
May I sell copies of Ultima Linux commercially?
If you are selling Ultima Linux for profit, you must contact the Ultima Linux developers first to request permission. Generally speaking we will not authorize vendors to sell our product if they do not contribute back to our project (after all, it is unfair that others solely profit from our work).
I saw a site selling Ultima Linux CD’s. Are they for real?
If the site is listed on the Get Ultima! page, they are likely authorized to sell Ultima Linux products. However, there are also sites purporting to sell Ultima Linux CD’s and other merchandise without our permission or authorization. Be aware that unauthorized distributors may not be distributing the authentic Ultima Linux product.
User Accounts
Why isn’t there a default root password?
Ultima Linux 8.3 and older releases do not have a default root password simply because we forgot to implement one. Starting with Ultima Linux 8.4, a root password can be set on system boot using the rootpass LiveCD cheatcode, although this is not enabled by default (as it requires manual intervention in the boot process).
While logged in as root (or any other account), you can create or change the login password in the KDE Control Center, under Security & Privacy → Password & User Account. From the command line, it’s even faster: su -c passwd.
Why does the default user account have passwordless sudo access?
Unlike the blank root password, passwordless sudo is a deliberate feature. Most home users probably need root access a lot more than they think – installing software, accessing hardware devices, even setting the clock – and one of the developer’s own pet peeves is having to enter a password every time this is required.
You can change the sudo configuration by opening a terminal and running the command visudo. The default sudo configuration varies depending on the Ultima release. In Ultima Linux 8.3, the default account is explicitly listed as having sudo privileges; in both 8.3 and 8.4, the wheel group has full passwordless sudo, and the users group has passwordless sudo for KDE applications (i.e. to kdesu) only.
Can I rename the default user account?
In Ultima Linux 8.4, you can rename the default user account from the LiveCD boot prompt using the username= option; for example, linux username=multima.
Technical Questions
Is Ultima Linux based on Slackware?
Ultima Linux is built on an independently-developed codebase. That said, the codebase was originally forked from Slackware (sometime around April 2006), and we still use some of their code, either “straight-up” (such as the pkgtools) or as a starting point for our own code (for example, a lot of our build scripts were based on Slackware’s).
We also use code from other distributions, primarily Slackware-derived; for example, a large amount of the AMD64 code was based on Slamd64.
What Slackware version does Ultima <version> follow?
None. Ultima Linux follows the immediate upstream sources for code (i.e. the original developers), not Slackware.
UltimaLinux.com Website
Why am I getting an SSL certificate error?
You are likely accessing a secure URL via an https link, such as https://www.ultimalinux.com. Our site uses a self-signed certificate, which essentially means we alone are vouching for our own identity and trustworthiness. If you don’t trust our security – and that is, after all, entirely your own choice – simply reject the certificate and don’t use the secure URL.
What parts of the site require secure access?
Nothing on UltimaLinux.com requires secure access – you can access everything over the standard (non-secure) HTTP protocol.
UltimaLinux.com provides SSL support primarily for two reasons: (a) for an added layer of security when posting content – for example, on the forums and wiki – and (b) to demonstrate Ultima Linux’s support for running a secure site (our server runs, of course, on Ultima Linux). We do not manage financial transactions or collect any personal information on this site; if such services are necessary, they will be handled by an established external service.
What runs the UltimaLinux.com site?
Our server runs on Ultima Linux (currently the x86 Edition). Most of the software used is included with the distribution – Apache HTTPD, PHP, MySQL, among others – and the site itself is a mixture of MediaWiki, phpBB, and a lot of custom code (for example, Überpage).
For bandwidth reasons the actual distribution code is hosted externally. Our primary FTP site – used for the distribution ISO’s, as well as the package repository – is hosted courtesy of ibiblio.
- Personal tools
- Toolbox