Like Ubuntu, but just not convinced that Unity is the next greatest thing since sliced bread?
1. Simply install the gnome session fallback:
sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback
Logout, choose gnome at login time, and you are done.
Wayno
Just another WordPress site
31
Mar
Like Ubuntu, but just not convinced that Unity is the next greatest thing since sliced bread?
1. Simply install the gnome session fallback:
sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback
Logout, choose gnome at login time, and you are done.
Wayno
28
Feb
NOTE: THIS LETTER HAS NOT BEEN SENT, IN HOPE OF RESOLVING THIS ON A LOCAL LEVEL.
————-
Patrick J. Esser, President
Cox Communications
1400 Lake Hearn Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30319
The Hermitage Cat Shelter is dedicated to the shelter, protection, and care of homeless cats, especially those that are often not considered adoptable by other organizations. We are both an adoption facility and long-term sanctuary for those felines who are “adoption-challenged.” including felines who are FIV or FeLV-positive, and other types of chronic health issues. All of our kitties roam free within 8,000 sq ft of outdoor/indoor living space. (Mission Statement)
To that end, we rely heavily upon the internet to carry out our mission. Approximately a year ago, The Shelter contracted with Cox Communications here in Tucson, Arizona, to install internet access for the shelter. We have 4 hard wired connections, and a laptop in use, using a central router. Because the way things we’re done, we have a cable modem and laptop (wifi) in one building, and the wifi and hardwired router in another. Because the distance is too great, the laptop cannot connect to the router in the next building, even though it sits a few feet from the cable modem. All of this goes through a single connection from the outside.
When we often have inclement weather during our monsoon season, or extremes in temperature, we experience frustrating and severe outages. Why? Because the technician who installed this took several short cuts (see photo, attached) and obviously has no pride in their work.
We are committed to providing the best opportunity available to the cats under our care. But is Cox committed to doing the right thing and fixing the poor installation quality that was performed?
28
Feb
I am a software guy. I don’t know a whole lot about power supplies.
It’s another black box that works, until it doesn’t.
This supply worked great! For 6 months. Then life started to get flakey.
I have an Asus Mobo. Not exactly no name. The hard drive started to get errors. Uh oh! New hard drives have doubled in price, since I bought mine last year, in part due to the tsunami destroying a key plant (can’t blame this on Godzilla. Honto ni!)
So I put the sata drive and old cable into another machine. Boots great! Hmmm.
Maybe bad Sata controller? Marched down to the computer store and put in a new pci sata controller. Nope still didn’t work.
Tried to booting off a dvd or usb, Nope skip those. Only boots from hard drive.
Reflashed the bios. Nope. No change.
So I said. What the (expletive deleted!) Just for giggles I looked at the hard ware monitor.
Yeah 5V dipping to 4.1 volts, and 12 V dipping to 10.1 volts. Yeah perfectly explains why nothing works.
I’ll be returning the Sata card and buying a more expensive power supply. Something with a brand label, like Cooler Master.
A power supply is a power supply, until they turn to….Flakiness only belongs in pie dough. DOH!
and so it goes….
Wayno
1
Feb
Yeah this required 3 hours of futzing to figure out.
1. Once you have the Subsonic Server installed, turn it off.
sudo service subsonic stop
2. Next change to the /var directory.
Remember anything with an octothorpe (#) is a comment and NEED not be coded.
cd /var # change to the /var
sudo mv subsonic subsonic.old # renames the existing folder
sudo service subsonic start # restart the subsonic server
3. Now we have to create a symbolic link for the lame transcoder, even if it is already installed.
To verify if lame is installed:
dpkg -l | grep lame
You would get output that looks like:
nwayno@Homer:~$ dpkg -l | grep lame
ii lame 3.98.4-0ubuntu1 An MP3 encoding library (frontend)
ii libmp3lame0 3.98.4-0ubuntu1 An MP3 encoding library
ii libtwolame0 0.3.12-1 MPEG Audio Layer 2 encoding library
ii twolame 0.3.12-1 MPEG Audio Layer 2 encoder (command line frontend)
nwayno@Homer:~$
If lame is NOT installed (the dpkg just returns a prompt) — install the lame decoder:
sudo apt-get install lame
as you can see, mine WAS installed.
4. Go back to localhost:4040 and re-enter all the information. If it complains that lame is not installed in the transcode directory, simply create a symbolic link.
which lame
should return:
/usr/bin/lame
5. so off we go again!
sudo service subsonic stop # stop the subsonic server
cd /var/subsonic/transcode # change back to the transcode dir
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/lame # create the symlink
sudo service subsonic start # start up the server so it gets change
it will just return a prompt.
to confirm the symbolic link is there:
ls -l
and you should get output that looks like:
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 13 2012-02-01 15:10 lame -> /usr/bin/lame
which tells us that /usr/bin/lame is properly symlinked.
6. Now you can proceed to the Roku Box, and configure Subsonic TV.
Please note that subsonictv for Roku is not free. It is currently $5 USD plus applicable taxes.
The configuration will now save correctly on the Roku set top box, because it can now find the lame mp3 decoder.
Tested with Ubuntu 10.10 (64 bit), and Roku Model 2100X (hardwired)
Wayno
22
Nov
The information on how to label an ms-dos formatted drive seems scattered across the internet, and might seem overwhelming at first. But it’s not too hard. Here’s my recipe!
1. If not already installed, install the mtools package. This is an open source package for manipulating ms-dos file systems, under Linux.
to do that simply install the package:
sudo apt-get install mtools
We’re half way there!
2. Let’s insert that flash drive, thumb drive, micro sd card or whatever it’s called.
3. Most systems should auto-mount the drive. If not, view this article, on how to mount a usb or micro-sd card.
4. We’ll use
sudo blkid
to get the device id!
$ sudo blkid
[sudo] password for :
/dev/sde1: LABEL=”” UUID=”1B44-206B” TYPE=”vfat”
That’s the guy I want! sde1! Your device WILL probably have a different device name.
5. Let’s fix /etc/mtools.conf first.
using your favourite editor (nano in my case) let’s change mtools.
as always the # (octothorpe) is a comment and need NOT be coded.
cd /etc # change to the /etc directory
sudo cp mtools.conf mtools.conf.org # make a backup of the current file
sudo nano mtools.conf # edit the mtools.conf file
add a line at the bottom which reads:
drive p: file="/dev/sde1"
control+O (OH) to write, and then control x to exit. Again, your device name, might be different.
do a
cd ~ # change back to my home directory
to get back to your home directory, after editing /etc/mtools.conf.
6. So now I try to label the drive, p: but I get:
nwayno@Homer:~$ sudo mlabel p:WAYNOFLSH
Total number of sectors (1957888) not a multiple of sectors per track (62)!
Add mtools_skip_check=1 to your .mtoolsrc file to skip this test
Oh-oh! It turns out the it tells you how to fix the problem right there, but it may not be obvious. (All this to label an ms-dos drive under Linux? YES, unfortunately!)
Using your favourite editor, create .mtoolsrc (yes the period at the beginning is important!)
and add the line:
mtools_skip_check=1
to the file. Save and exit. Again, all this is not hard, it’s just a pain.
7. Let’s try again!
$ sudo mlabel p:WAYNOBKFLSH
$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sde1 955M 203M 752M 22% /media/WAYNOBKFLSH
8. Flush the buffers with sync
sync
Mission accomplished!
Look Ma, I didn’t have to use Windows, after all!
Wayno
6
Nov
A lot of times, I want to see what the task number is of a running task. I might want to see if there are multiple occurrences of a task, or a zombie task (defunct).
Easy way is to:
ps -ef | grep taskname
ps says give me a snapsnot of all the running tasks. The -ef says give me all the tasks, and give me a full listing. That is then piped (that is the output of ps, becomes the input to grep and we are searching for some task name.
But that get’s tiresome.
Easier way? Sure!
Add an alias to .bash_aliases!
alias thog='ps -ef | grep $1'
So use your favourite editor, add the line above, then exit.
NOTE: IN ORDER FOR CHANGES TO BE READ, YOU MUST LOGOUT/BACK IN.
So we created a command called “thog” (could be anything as long as it doesn’t conflict with any installed programme) — and I pass the command line argument $1 to it. (The first command line argument)
So the output would look like this:
nwayno@Homer:~$ thog java
root 2031 1 0 Oct28 ? 00:13:16 java -Xmx100m -Dsubsonic.home=/var/subsonic -Dsubsonic.host=0.0.0.0 -Dsubsonic.port=4040 -Dsubsonic.httpsPort=0 -Dsubsonic.contextPath=/ -Dsubsonic.defaultMusicFolder=/var/music -Dsubsonic.defaultPodcastFolder=/var/music/Podcast -Dsubsonic.defaultPlaylistFolder=/var/playlists -Djava.awt.headless=true -verbose:gc -jar subsonic-booter-jar-with-dependencies.jar
nwayno 28470 28430 0 21:07 pts/0 00:00:00 grep java
That shows me the java (or whatever) task number. Might be useful if you want to kill a task.
Want to see all the Zombie tasks? (tasks that have no parent task)
nwayno@Homer:~$ thog defunct
root 28843 2067 1 21:11 ? 00:00:00 [miniserv.pl]
nwayno 28852 28430 0 21:11 pts/0 00:00:00 grep defunct
So now you know.
By the way, I corrected the spelling of Adventures in the title. Taking it a bit easy this week, still healing.
enjoy,
Wayno
21
Aug
Thanks to @jelly-home on #debian for getting me unstuck.
Couple of steps involved. It’s not that hard, but the post above makes it harder then it needs to be.
Let’s make sure the device is NOT black listed first.
egrep -r -i “black” /etc/modprobe.d/* | grep -i “nv”
1. Go into the Synaptic Package Manager (System/Administration/Synaptic Package Manager) and add the Debian Non-Free Software as shown.
NOTE: At this point I jump to command line, but the following could be done in Synaptic as well.
2. Install the nvidia Dynamic Kernel Module Support
Note: this assumes sudo works on your debian box, or you will have to su root
sudo apt-get install nvidia-kernel-dkms
Before we reboot, let’s fix X.
3. We need to change xorg.conf, so it loads the proper driver.
As always anything the begins with an octothorpe (#) is a comment and does NOT need to be coded.
cd /etc/X11 # change to the X directory
ls
if there IS an xorg.conf file (I did NOT have one) make a backup copy:
sudo cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.bkup
Now edit or create xorg.conf file:
sudo nano xorg.conf
and the contents need to be:
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
DefaultDepth 24
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Default Device"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection
Control + o to write, control + x to exit.
NOTE: If this /etc/X11/xorg.conf file looks familiar, it should! This is the same file off of 64 bit Ubuntu 10.10 Livecd. (Ubuntu to fix Debian!)
And then reboot.
4. to confirm the correct driver:
grep -i glx /var/log/Xorg.0.log
and you should get output that looks like:
(II) “glx” will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) LoadModule: “glx”
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
(II) Module glx: vendor=”NVIDIA Corporation”
(II) NVIDIA GLX Module 195.36.31 Thu Jun 3 08:59:25 PDT 2010
(II) Loading extension GLX
(II) Aug 21 14:27:19 NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
(==) Aug 21 14:27:20 NVIDIA(0): Enabling 32-bit ARGB GLX visuals.
(II) Loading extension NV-GLX
(II) Initializing extension GLX
Enjoy video goodness!
Thanks jelly-home
Wayno
10
Aug
Many apps, applets, games, and more are written in, or use Java to run. Java is very important, and widely-used. With this article, I will show you how to install the latest JRE/JDK (1.7.0) on Ubuntu/Debian, and Fedora.
original article here:
and 64 bit java install directions from Oracle
Ubuntu:
1. Download the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) / JDK (Java Development Kit) 7 from here:
The file type for Ubuntu is the .tar.gz
Note: The JDK is for developers. Do not download unless you plan on programming in Java.
2. Unpack (or untar, or extract) the .tar.gz file in the desired directory. Type:
tar -zxvf filename
3. Install Java 1.7 to alternatives. Type:
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /your/java/directory/jre/bin/java 3
Note: Replace /your/java/directory/, with the directory where you extracted the .tar.gz
4. Choose your Java version using alternatives. Type:
sudo update-alternatives –config java
Then choose the option that points to your Java 7 directory.
Note: If you have chosen the JDK, your javac will not be updated. Typing the javac -version command will return the previous Java’s version javac. I do not know how to fix this.
5. Configure the Java browser plugin.
You will have to use a symbolic link to configure the plugin.
Type:
ln -s /your/java/directory/jre/lib/your system architecture/libnpjp.so /your/brower/plugins/directory
Note: /your/java/directory/ is wherever you extracted the .tar.gz
Also, /your system architecture/ is the architecture type of the Java .tar.gz file you downloaded. This will either be i386, or amd64. If you are unsure which, open a file manager, go to your Java directory, and go to the jre/lib/ directory. If a folder entitled amd64 is there, you have the x64-bit version. If not, you have the x32-bit.
Another thing to note, the /your/browser/plugins/directory/ is your browser’s plugins directory. Example: if you are using Mozilla’s Firefox, your plugins directory is /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/
6. Test the plugin. Restart your browser, and go to
Click the Java Version button. If the pink box says Java 1.7.0 from Oracle, you have configured the plugin correctly.
Installing Java 1.7 goodness for Ubuntu. Enjoy 🙂
Fedora:
1. Download the .rpm installer from Oracle here:
2. Install. You can do this by:
A) Using the Open With feature of your browser
B) Going to the directory of the download in a file browser, right-clicking the file, and selecting the Open with Software Install option
C) Typing (as root)
rpm -ivh filename
The browser plugin should be configured by the installer.
Java 1.7 goodness for Fedora. Enjoy 🙂
Jack
28
Jul
Original post here.
The basic idea of how to convert a video for the Sansa Fuse Mp3/Video player is simple. What’s not so simple is directions.
1. You will need to make sure you Sansa Fuse is set correctly. Set it to MSC Mode.
2. If not installed already, you will need to install k9copy. You can do this simply by:
sudo apt-get install k9copy
Note this is a KDE application, so it may add the required KDE libraries to make this application work, and this may take some time. As Alton Brown says: “Your patience WILL BE rewarded. Your impatience, will be punished!”
3. Follow the directions give in the post above, to install fuzemux, and video4fuze.
4. Now the k9copy part. To change the settings, bring up k9copy, and find “configure k9copy”
Hit the MPEG-4 encoder and select the vido tab:
It should look like this: Encoder: mencoder
Width: 224 Height: 176
and I arbitrarily set the file size to 500 meg.
Video part done!
5. Now to the audio. Select the Audio tab (still under MPEG-4) — codec is mp3 (lame) and bitrate: 128. The gain was preset to 7 (I did NOT change this)
It should look like this:
6. If you have never used k9copy, it can be a bit intimidating. What you want to do, is to OPEN the DVD. All the title sets will be presented: (make sure you check ALL the title sets)
Set you input/and output as shown in the image above. Your name is going to be different then: “SOUTH_PACIFIC”
7. Hit the COPY button, and then go do you favourite 30 minute activity: walking, biking, television, reading. You know: something other then watching k9copy work!
It will create an output file called
NEXT!
8. While the directions say to start video4fuze on the command line, in reality, that didn’t work for me. Why? Because at least in Ubuntu 10.10 (64 bit), it installs it into /usr/share/video4fuze
And while that’s NOT in-correct, it’s probably NOT in your path either.
Two choices:
either manually navigate to the directory
cd /usr/share/video4fuze
or
create a launcher:
You will note, that this is a Python Script.
so to run it: python /usr/share/video4fuze/video4fuze.pyw
And the screen pops up. Select the input file. The output file will be called, /home/username/input_file2_fuze.avi
You will note, that video4fuze – is really a front end for mencoder.
Again, this is NOT fast. So yea, another 30 minute thing.
10. Plug in your Sansa Fuse to your usb port. My Sansa Fuze has 8 G internally, and a 16G external drive. So I put this on the external drive. Videos will be 300 – 500 meg.
You MIGHT need to create a VIDEOS folder on the Sansa Fuze. (mkdir or nautilus will do this).
11. Copy and Paste time. Simply copy the /home/username/input_file2_fuze.avi file video4fuze created to your mp3 player VIDEOS folder. This will take some time, depending on how fast your ram is. Mine isn’t so, this time a 15 minute break. (Who said any of this was fast?)
12. When it’s done copying:
sync
sync to flush the buffers to disc.
13. Unplug the usb cable, let the fuze refresh, and enjoy!
Wayno
24
Jul
This requires an intermediate skill level.
Installing unstable software, can cause your system to crash. This is NOT recommended for n00bs. The how to add the ppa’s are contained in the link below. But again, if you don’t know what this is: DON’T DO THIS, unless you are sure.
PPA for Firefox / Thunderbird Versions 5/6/7/8
Version 3.X of Firefox kills my Ubuntu 10.10 (AMD 64) System. But version 6 and beyond run fine.
This is what Thunderbird V 5 looks like:
Thanks again, Joe.
Wayno
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