Changing keyboard layout to Dvorak in Ubuntu-server

Question

I want to set my keyboard layout to Dvorak. How do I do that exactly?

Solution 1

I found this more straightforward and simple:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

Solution 2

This will guide you through the process of selecting different keyboard layouts:

$ dpkg-reconfigure console-data

Maybe you will need to install console-data.

$ sudo apt-get install console-data

If you want to make changes permanent then you can use:

$ dpkg-reconfigure console-setup

Solution 3

On Ubuntu 13.04

Switch to Dvorak:

setxkbmap dvorak

Switch back:

setxkbmap us
;dkbvnmar f;   # How to type 'setxkbmap us' in Dvorak while looking at a US Keyboard (updated)

Works locally on my Ubuntu machine. Haven't tested on ubuntu-server, but this is a prevalent search result for "dvorak keyboard linux"

Solution 4

Looks like this will work, too:

$ sudo loadkeys dvorak

Hat tip to http://ma.tt/2004/01/dvorak-on-linux-console/

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Comments

[Lloeki]

Only this solution actually made things persistent across reboots.

[Jai Bhatt]

This is the only solution that doesn't permanently alter your machine -- good for making scripts that switch keyboard layouts.

[zondo]

You're how to type it in Dvorak if you're looking at a US keyboard is wrong. If you type setxkbmap us on a Qwerty keyboard with Dvorak settings, you will see o.yqtxmal go appear on your terminal. What you want, though, is the reverse: which key on the Qwerty keyboard gets the Dvorak key I want? The correct text is: ;dkbvnmar f;. I've tested it, and it works.