How to play dvds in Ubuntu Linux


Playing DVDs in Ubuntu Linux

In order to play DVDs, you must install some additional software. Unfortunately, DVD support cannot be provided by default in Ubuntu due to legal and technical restrictions.

  1. Install the following packages with the Synaptic Package Manager (System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager). Ensure that you have enabled the Universe, Restricted and Multiverse repositories and reloaded first.

    • gxine

    • libdvdnav4

    • libdvdplay0

    • libdvdread3

  2. Open a Terminal (Applications → Accessories → Terminal) and type the following into the screen which appears, followed by the Return key:

    sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh

  3. Press System → Preferences → Removable Drives and Media and click on the Multimedia tab.

  4. In the Command box under Video DVD Discs, type “gxine -S dvd:/” (without quotes) and then press Close.

  5. Insert a DVD disc into the DVD drive of your computer. It should play automatically in gxine. You can press the f key to watch the DVD full-screen.

Playing proprietary formats

Videos can come in a range of different formats. However, some of these formats are proprietary or commercial and so cannot be included in Ubuntu by default. As a result, additional software must be installed to allow you to view such formats. The following applications may be able to play certain formats which the default applications are unable to handle:

  • gxine with Xine extra plugins

  • MPlayer Movie Player

  • VLC media player

How to watch videos in a web browser

Many videos available on the Internet can be played from within your web browser. However, many of these require an additional browser plugin to be installed first.

The plugins you require depend on the format of the videos you would like to watch. A short list of plugins available for the default Firefox Web Browser is given below:

  • For the Mplayer plugin, install the mozilla-mplayer package.

  • For the VLC plugin, install the mozilla-plugin-vlc package.

  • For the Helix plugin, install the mozilla-helix-player package.

  • For a free (open-source) Flash plugin, install the mozilla-plugin-gnash package. For the proprietary Flash plugin, install the flashplugin-nonfree package.

Restart Firefox to make the newly-installed plugins available.