via Installing Ubuntu on a Dell XPS M1530 - Ubuntu Wiki.

It installed okay using the shell script but I get this error when I try to run:

/opt/google-earth/googleearth-bin: relocation error: /usr/lib/i686/cmov/libssl.so.0.9.8: symbol BIO_test_flags, version OPENSSL_0.9.8 not defined in file libcrypto.so.0.9.8 with link time reference.

It opens the splash screen, then the main screen and the startup tip window, which is blank, then it crashes.

I fixed it by renaming /opt/google-earth/libcrypto.so.0.9.8 to /opt/google-earth/libcrypto.so.0.9.8.bak. This forces google-earth to use systems libcrypto.

I hooked up an HP OfficeJet 6310 printer to my Ubuntu 8.10 desktop but could not find a 6300 series driver. The solution was to use the HP OfficeJet 7110 cups+Gutenprint driver.

I just tried to mount a floppy disk on a new Ubuntu Hardy 8.10 installation and found that there was no /dev/fd0 device. The fix was to add the following line to /etc/modules:

floppy

Then reboot. (or type: sudo modprobe floppy)

1. Install VirtualBox-2.0

Add repository to /etc/apt/sources.list and install Virtualbox-2.0

echo "deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian intrepid non-free" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
wget -q http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian/sun_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install virtualbox-2.0

2. Configure Ubuntu for VirtualBox-2.0

Add yourself to the vboxusers group

sudo gpasswd -a `whoami` vboxusers

Startup vboxdrv module on boot by appending it to /etc/modules

echo "vboxdrv" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules

3. Usb Filesystem fix

Get the vboxusers group id

cat /etc/group | grep vboxusers

vboxusers:x:128:spirit

Edit /etc/fstab to add these two lines and replace the devgid with the vboxusers group id

#usbfs for virtualbox
none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=128,devmode=664 0 0

4. Kernel usbcore fix

check your current kernel version

uname -r

2.6.27-7-generic

Get the sources for your kernel and fix usb/core/devio.c

sudo apt-get build-dep linux-source-2.6.27
sudo apt-get install linux-source-2.6.27 build-essential
tar -jxvf /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.27.tar.bz2
cd linux-source-2.6.27/drivers/usb/core
perl -pi.bak -e 's/16384/131072/' devio.c
make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build/ M=`pwd` modules
strip --strip-debug usbcore.ko
sudo install -m644 -b usbcore.ko /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/usb/core
sudo depmod -ae
sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot your system and check if vboxdrv is running

lsmod | grep vbox

vboxdrv 72472 0

The VirtualBox manager can be found under Applications/System Tools. You should see the USB options in the settings. You can add the devices you want.

I decided to upgrade one of my computers to Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex. I downloaded the iso, popped it into my DVD/Burner and rebooted. Halfway through the boot it bombed out. So I tried it again, this time popping the CD in my DVD/Reader. Success. It booted fine and I installed Intrepid onto by hard drive.

But, now after booting Intrepid my DVD/Burner (Panasonic LF-D521) no longer works. When I pop in a CD I get this error in ‘dmesg’: COMMUNICATION CRC ERROR (ULTRA-DMA/32). If I boot the 8.04 Hardy CD everything works again. So It’s an OS problem. True, but read on …

Searching the net on this error showed many Windows users having the same error too. One person said they had an old CD drive attached as a secondary drive on the same cable as their brand new fancy burner. They removed it and the Burner began working again. Well, I have an old DVD Reader attached as a secondary drive. I shut down the computer, disconnected the old drive, rebooted, and guess what? My DVD/Burner is now working again!

Update: 2008-11-06
I swapped out the old Samsung DVD/Reader (SD-612) with a newer Samsung DVD/Reader (NEC DV-5800A) and now both my DVD/Burner and DVD/Reader work.

Ubuntu 8.10, named Intrepid Ibex, is scheduled for release next week, so we figured it’s time to run down the checklist of improvements, fixes, and enhancements since Hardy Heron came out earlier this year.

Everything you Need to Know about Ubuntu 8.10 - Intrepid Ibex | Maximum PC.

The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the beta release of Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop and Server. Codenamed “Intrepid Ibex”, 8.10 continues Ubuntu’s proud tradition of integrating the latest and greatest open source technologies into a high-quality, easy-to-use Linux distribution.

The final version of Ubuntu 8.10 is expected to be released in October 2008.

Read more »

I recently setup an Ubuntu desktop at a community center. They had a donated Canon MF4150 multifunction laser printer, scanner, and FAX that they wanted to use as the printer. (I just needed to get the printer portion working; not the scanner or FAX.)

Ubuntu 8.04 did not have a driver for the MF4150. Canon makes a driver for Debian/Ubuntu but does not offer it via their USA web site. However, if you go to their Australian web site you can download the driver. Their are two .deb files in the tar file that you download. Install both of them. You should now have the MF4100 Series driver listed when you go to install printers.

This got the printer working but the scanner still did not work.

Ok after digging around for a while, I’ve managed to get my scanner to work when connected to USB.
Read more »

The Rhapsody.com plugin for firefox kept bombing out during the install. It appears that the installer file does not work with firefox 3. Here’s how I got it to work:

In a terminal type:

wget http://forms.real.com/real/player/download.html?f=unix/rhapx/RhapsodyPlayerEngine_Inst_Linux.xpi
unzip RhapsodyPlayerEngine_Inst_Linux.xpi
sudo mv nprhapengine.so /usr/lib/firefox-addons/plugins
# This next line removes the .xpi file and other files that were extracted that we do not need.
rm -rf install.js META-INF RhapsodyPlayerEngine_Inst_Linux.xpi

Now restart firefox and it should work.

Here are the packages from Ubuntu’s repositories that I like to install on my Ubuntu box:

sudo apt-get install amarok audacity beagle beagle-backend-evolution build-essential compizconfig-settings-manager cream exiv2 fdupes festival festvox-kallpc16k gnome-commander gnome-ppp gnucash gparted grsync hplip-gui imagemagick jpilot jpilot-plugins k3b lame libimage-exiftool-perl libk3b2-extracodecs libmp3lame0 libsox-fmt-all libvcdinfo0 libxine1-ffmpeg lm-sensors mail-notification mailutils msttcorefonts nautilus-actions nautilus-gksu nautilus-open-terminal ntfsprogs openssh-server pdfedit sensors-applet secpanel smbfs sox sshmenu-gnome ssmtp thunderbird thunderbird-beagle thunderbird-gnome-support ubuntu-restricted-extras vlc wine wipe

acidrip emerald libvlc0 mozilla-plugin-gnash pitivi seahorse

sudo apt-get install acidrip amarok audacity beagle beagle-backend-evolution build-essential compizconfig-settings-manager cream emerald exiv2 fdupes festival festvox-kallpc16k gnome-commander gnome-ppp gnucash gparted grsync hplip-gui imagemagick jpilot jpilot-plugins k3b lame libimage-exiftool-perl libk3b2-extracodecs liblame0 libsox-fmt-all libvcdinfo0 libvlc0 lm-sensors mail-notification mailutils mozilla-plugin-gnash msttcorefonts nautilus-actions nautilus-gksu nautilus-open-terminal ntfsprogs openssh-server pdfedit pitivi seahorse sensors-applet secpanel smbfs sox sshmenu-gnome ssmtp thunderbird thunderbird-gnome-support ubuntu-restricted-extras vlc wine wipe

http://earth.google.com/
http://picasa.google.com/linux/
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
http://www.aczoom.com/tools/cdinsert/#download
   then build http://sourceforge.net/projects/gtkcdlabel/
http://kornelix.squarespace.com/fotox/

Applications/Accessories/Terminal
Applications/Internet/Pidgin
Applications/Internet/Thunderbird
Applications/Office/GnuCash
Applications/Office/Jpilot
Applications/Office/OpenOffice.org Word Processor
Applications/Sound & Video/Amarok
Custom Launcher: secpanel
Hardware Sensors Applet
System Monitor Applet
Weather Applet

If you are gnome user, you probably enjoy shutdown with just a click on the dialog. In order to shutdown from the command line, you are requested to be either root or use sudo, such as

sudo shutdown -h now

With sudo, you need to type your password. Sometimes it will be more convenient if we are able to shutdown without sudo. Is it possible?

The answer is yes, there are two ways.

1. Adding suid mode to /sbin/shutdown
2. Modify /etc/sudoers with visudo

1. Adding suid mode to /sbin/shutdown

By adding suid mode to the shutdown command, you are allowing a regular user to run the shutdown command as root.

sudo chmod u+s /sbin/shutdown

Now you can run shutdown without needing sudo.

2. Modify /etc/sudoers with visudo

This seems to be the proper way to allow a command to run as root from specified users without needing to type a password.

sudo visudo

By running visudo, it edits /etc/sudoers.

Adding the line below to that file, assume myuser is the user that you want to allow to run the shutdown command without a password.

myuser ALL = NOPASSWD: /sbin/shutdown

For ubuntu, usually the default user is in the %admin group. Therefore, you can also allow all users from the %admin group to shutdown without a password.

%admin ALL = NOPASSWD: /sbin/shutdown

In fact, you still need sudo to shutdown, but this time you do not need to specify a password.

sudo shutdown -h now

You can also reboot the system by using the shutdown command too.

sudo shutdown -r now

This tutorial enables you to install, boot and run Ubuntu 8.04.1 (Hardy) from a USB flash drive.
USB Ubuntu 8.04.1 Persistent install from Linux

Read more »

I just picked up a PNY NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT PCI Express x16 video card for $60 at buy.com. It has 512 MB of memory, a DVI port, and a VGA port and allows you to run two monitors under Ubuntu 8.04 just fine.

You can either download the restricted nvidia driver from the Ubuntu repositories, or manually download the latest driver from Nvidia’s web site.

You can set it up so that both monitors act as one large desktop, or each monitor as its own X-Server screen by running nvidia-settings.

I needed to buy a new motherboard on the cheap side the other day. The board that I got has a VIA chipset on board. (Biostar P4M900-M7 SE Motherboard - v7.0) I was hoping to get 3D graphics going on my Ubuntu Linux box without having to buy a new PCIe video card. I finally got it all going. Here’s how:

The first step was to get the latest VIA driver for Ubuntu. Get the driver here.

You will need to extract the files from the tar file. Then run the installation script ./vinstall. Reboot and you should be running on the new via driver.

I could now run glxinfo and had Direct Rendering enabled. glxgears worked fine. However, I still could not enable the Desktop Effects under System/Preferences/Appearance/Visual Effects.

I came accros this script that runs various compiz checks.

Compiz-Check is a script to test if Compiz is able to run on your system/setup and if not, it will tell you the reason why.

Forlong’s Blog - Compiz-Check.

The script indicated the VIA driver was blacklisted. It offered to remove it from the blacklist which I did. Now all of the desktop effects work. Thank you Compiz-Check!

I had a need to turn my Ubuntu desktop into a NAT router and provide DHCP addresses to my local LAN. The local LAN is on the eth0 interface, and the Internet is on the wlan0 wireless interface.

Here’s how I did it …
Read more »

=> Default tftp port : 69
=> Default configuration file : /etc/inetd.conf

How do I set up the tftpd daemon to accept connections from another computer?

The configuration of the vsftpd FTP service (read as daemon ) simply requires three steps.

Step # 1: Install tftpd
Type apt-get command to install tftpd

$ sudo apt-get install tftpd

Step # 2: Create the directory tftpd will use to share files
The default directory is /srv/tftp. This directory does not exist so you need to create it.

$ sudo mkdir -p /srv/tftp

Step # 3: Restart tftpd
To restart tftpd type the command :

$ sudo update-inetd --enable tftpd

I recommend using vsftpd. It is simple and quite secure FTP server. According to vsftpd man page:

vsftpd is the Very Secure File Transfer Protocol Daemon. The server can be launched via a super-server such as inetd or xinetd. Alternatively, vsftpd can be launched in standalone mode, in which case vsftpd itself will listen on the network.

=> Default ftp port : 21
=> Default configuration file : /etc/vsftpd.conf

How do I set up the vsftpd daemon to accept connections from another computer?

The configuration of the vsftpd FTP service (read as daemon ) simply requires three steps.

Step # 1: Install vsftpd
Type apt-get command to install vsftpd

$ sudo apt-get install vsftpd

Step # 2: Configure /etc/vsftpd.conf
The default vsftpd configuration file is /etc/vsftpd.conf. You need to edit this file using text editor such as vi:

$ sudo vi /etc/vsftpd.conf

Add the following line (uncomment line) to the vsftpd configuration file:

local_enable=YES

Above config directive will allow local users to log in via ftp

If you would like to allow users to upload file, add the following to the file:

write_enable=YES

For security you may restrict local users to their home directories. Add the following to the file:

chroot_local_user=YES

Save and close the file.

Step # 3: Restart vsftpd
To restart vsftpd type the command :

$ sudo /etc/init.d/vsftpd restart

Here is the bug report
Bug #236021 in initramfs-tools Ubuntu: “There is no vfat module in the 2.6.24-17 initrd”

If you installed Ubuntu on a Windows computer using the Wubi install (Ubuntu is installed as a Windows application) and updated to the -17 or -18 kernel, you’ll find that you are dropped to an initramfs prompt after rebooting. Here’s how to fix it until initramfs is updated:

Reboot, select Ubuntu and press the ESC key.
Select the -16 kernel and boot.
Open a terminal window and edit line 210 of the /usr/share/initramfs-tools/hook-functions file.

sudo vim /usr/share/initramfs-tools/hook-functions

Change line 210 from:

virtio_pci; do

to:

virtio_pci vfat nls_cp437 nls_iso8859-1; do

Then rebuild initramfs like this:

sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot and you should be running the new kernel without problems.

Here is a good site to get you started with Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy).
Ubuntu How-To

Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron How-To

Desktop Linux for the masses. Who needs Windows anymore?
Hands on with Ubuntu 8.04 :: Linux Format :: The website of the UKs best-selling Linux magazine

Yes, the Hardy Heron is here This is the new Long Term Support LTS release of Ubuntu, and is possibly the most eagerly anticipated distro of all time. Read on for our hands-on look at the new features, with screenshots galore…

Do you like to play games on your computer? Linux has a never ending supply. Check out this site.
The Linux Game Tome

Do you learn better by watching something rather than reading? If so, then maybe this site is for you. They provide many HOWTO videos for Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Screencasts