Linuxers November 2006

linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in

74 participants
87 discussions

Freespire 1.0 Installation Report.
by Rony 06 Nov '06

06 Nov '06

Hello All, The client who was given Mandriva 2006 yesterday is having the same problems in thunderbird that I was facing when I had 2006 installed in my system. It goes dead slow almost as if it hangs and the client has been giving me desperate calls. So I decided to install a new OS. I was sifting through my cd collection and found 'freespire 1.0' in the 'PCWorld 2006' DVD. I tried it out on my system before I do it at the client's place. It is a single cd iso and is a live + install version. Freespire 1.0 is a debian based system but please note that it is personalized to some extent and is not a look alike to debian or ubuntu. It also contains a little dose of non-libre packages like flash player and the windows codecs and mp3 player etc. all pre-loaded. But the best part of this distro is is is fully self contained with no extra download necessary and yet its not very heavy on the hardware. It is multimedia ready except for a dvd player. It has the latest firefox and thunderbird 1.5 versions so no updating or installation required. It uses terms like My Documents and My Computer and that makes it ideal for windows to linux migration. Another feature of this distro is that it is a live + install distro and installation time is very short. In the live as well as install option, after the preliminary desktop appears, it gives a set of options to be set, like display resolution, refresh rate, gamma, sound etc and that is a very good feature. Its desktop looks very sexy compared to other distros. A note of caution. Freespire does not recognise other linux distros installed so it will boot with only its own and windows options. New linux users who are already using another linux distro are advised not to install freespire, unless they have some knowledge of mounting partitions and editing grub menu files. For only windows users there will be no problem with dual boot. After installation I was unable to boot into my existing Kubuntu 6.06. Even the rescue option in the kubuntu cd did not work. Although I mounted my partition and did a chroot, it could not do a grub-install. So I mounted the partition and added lines from Kubuntu's boot menu into freespire's boot menu. Still Kubuntu would not boot. When it could boot into kubuntu single user option, I found that it did not have the 'savedefault' line. Therefore the line was Hashed in the main boot option. Then kubuntu booted properly and I did a grub-install to restore its grub. The freespire's lines were then added to it and now I can boot into all distros. Another important point to note is that during manual hdd install it only allows you to select an existing partition, it does not allow you to create a new one in free space or delete a partition. So you will have to do it manually before you install freespire. That can be done by first booting live and then rebooting again to install. Fdisk is available in the system. I was able to play a vcd and sample .oog files on the music player. Firefox already had flash built-in so I could play on-line videos too ( from reuters.com site ). There is a package manager called CNR which requires a free subscription. It asks for an email address and password. Please don't put your email password there. You leave it blank and create a separate password later in the next screens. However, I found later that apt-get works in command line and requires no log-in. Its repos are already in the list. Thunderbird does not use its default .thunderbird directory. It uses .lmail and one simply has to open .thunderbird and copy all its contents into the .lmail directory. The grub menu uses a peculiar format for root=/dev/hdax. It uses root=/dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/partx So overall this distro is great for windows to linux users as it saves a lot of time in getting latest packages and codecs. Its only a little different compared to other debian distros, yet its debian and I hope to get a good screen resol at the client's place. Regards, Rony. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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Linux on Intel 845 GLVA
by Rony 06 Nov '06

06 Nov '06

Hello All, I was looking forward towards installing a debian based distro for my client who uses Mandrake 10.1 on a Celeron 2 Ghz. and Intel 845 glva mobo and Intel ethernet card. However to my surprise, neither Ubuntu 5.10 live nor kubuntu 6.06 live+install gave a screen resolution of more than 640 x 480 in spite of the xorg.conf having entries for 1024 x 768 and 800 x 600. So I installed Mandriva 2006 on his system and it worked out of the box with no driver or extra installation needed. Even the HP 690 printer was auto detected and configured during installation itself. Those who intend to install this distro need to keep one thing in mind that after the install configuration is done, it will show up as a list containing all the hardware like mouse, printer, video, sound, network etc before it actually does the installation. This is not just a list, it is a configurable list where the devices can be configured manually and it will be needed if you want to make changes just before install. For eg. Ethernet from dhcp to static, boot loader from lilo :P to grub, video system resolution and such tweaks. After installation, It has a very good package manager that can search for repository mirrors and lets you add from a big list of servers in different regions. It keeps the existing cd packages list too. Regards, Rony. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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Marathi... and GNU/Linux
by Frederick Noronha 06 Nov '06

06 Nov '06

Invitation for Marathi Translators and Wordlist Editors "janabhaaratii" a Govt. of India funded project, are pleased to invite "English-Marathi Translators" having • Computer Operation knowledge • Fluent with Marathi language and Computer Terminologies Desirable: • Familiarity with Indian Language text processing using GNU/Linux platform • Familiarity with different kinds of translations & issues thereof • Familiarity with tools to support translations • Knowledge of Data Entry in Marathi is essential "Marathi Wordlist Editors" are expected to contribute to the wordlist having variety of words from various domain, in terms of editing existing wordlist and making it qualitatively and quantitatively better. For registration visit: http://www.janabhaaratii.org.in/page_gen.php?lang=en&body=/announcement/tra… or send email to: Alka Irani alka(a)cdacmumbai.in Priti Patil prithisd(a)cdacmumbai.in Gracy Abreo gracy(a)cdacmumbai.in No registration fees. Registration is a MUST. Agenda 1st Orientation Programme for Marathi Translators and Marathi Wordlist Editors Date: 10th Nov 2006 Venue: C-DAC Mumbai (Formerly National Centre for Software Technology) Air-India Bldg, 8th Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai- 400 021 Telephone: +91 22 2202 4641, +91 22 2283 6924 Fax: +91 22 2204 9573 Time: 10:00 - 17:00 hrs • Concept Introduction (30 min) • Dos and Don't of Translation and wordlist Edition (60 min) • Introduction of Translation Tools (60 min) Lunch Time: 12:30 - 13:30 hrs • Practice Session (60 min for getting familiar with Marathi text input process) • Actual work (till 17:00 -- FN 9822122436 +91-832-240-9490 (phone calls after 1 pm please) Free the airwaves... for India's sake (see the article at the URL below) [http://www.tehelka.com/home/20061111/20061111.asp?filename=18.jpg]

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Re: [ILUG-BOM] Overriding pppoe DNS servers
by अिनकॆत (Aniket) 05 Nov '06

05 Nov '06

In Ubuntu , you will find a config file.. /etc/ppp/pppoe.conf In this file, there is an option called "Usepeerdns" Just set the value value to "no". Should do it. I use fedora, and there is no such file in fedora, but I remember seeing it in Ubuntu Live CD some time back...post your feedback. -- The Future is Open...The Future is LINUX

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Overriding pppoe DNS servers
by Sandesh Singh 05 Nov '06

05 Nov '06

Hi. I am usig Ubuntu 6.06. I connect to my local ISP using DSL. I set up the connection using 'ppoeconf'. Upon connection, the pppd daemon automatically(?) downloads the list of dns servers. However, the list of servers it downloads are not very good. I tried to stop this behavior by saying 'No' in the appropriate dialog of 'pppoeconf', but that did not help. The /etc/resolv.conf file keeps getting updated with the list at regular intervals. I want to override this behavior, and provide my own list of DNS servers. How can I do this? Thanks. -- sss http://sandesh247.googlepages.com/

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All Linux Distro Screenshots.
by Rony 05 Nov '06

05 Nov '06

Hello All, This is an interesting preview to various distro screenshots. http://shots.osdir.com/ Regards, Rony. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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Re: [ILUG-BOM] Disk sharing over network.
by Debarshi 'Rishi' Ray 04 Nov '06

04 Nov '06

> What i plan to have is that when users see a directory called Data > it should be a combination of hostA, HostB, HostC.... harddisk.guy. > (snip) > I can use a LVM LVM should exactly suit your needs. Just create a volume group consisting of (/dev/hda, /dev/hdb, /dev/hdc, etc.. or /dev/hda1, /dev/hdb2, etc..) and then create logical volumes out of the volume group. Maybe you can have a single logical volume for the whole group. I hope I understood your problem correctly. Cheerio, Debarshi -- "India is not, as people keep calling it, an underdeveloped country, but rather a developed nation in an advanced state of decay." --Shashi Tharoor

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Disk sharing over network.
by Sachin 04 Nov '06

04 Nov '06

Hi All, I want to have a storage server and i have a chunk of computers with p4, 1gb ram lying around. What i plan to have is that when users see a directory called Data it should be a combination of hostA, HostB, HostC.... harddisk. Lets say we start filling up one guy. When one is filled up it should move on to second disk and so on without the users knowing it. I can use a LVM, or mount nfs but i want something which does exactly what i said above. Can anybody throw some light on existing free opensource software available for this? --Sachin ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the New Yahoo.com (http://www.yahoo.com/preview)

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[Caution] Bad emailing and spam due to list members.
by Rony 03 Nov '06

03 Nov '06

Dear All, This message is related to this list and not off-topic. It is an earnest request to all members to please change the format of your email replies to avoid putting the OP's email address in your replies. This is causing too much of spam through the list. The list admins. are doing their part to eliminate email addresses from the website but please do your part too. Just scroll through the recent messages too and you will find replies with the OP's email address. Is it possible for the admins to crunch the email addresses in the entire web-pages that are available on our list website archives? Regards, Rony. ___________________________________________________________ To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com

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Re: [Commercial]Share Your Views With LFY
by Roshan 03 Nov '06

03 Nov '06

LFY wrote: > Please write to us at sujata dot banerjee at efyindia > dot com with a CC to atul at efyindia dot com > before 10th November,2006. I have posted the response only to this mailing list. There are a few who would be interested in changing / modifying what I have written. (I hope so :) ) > Look forward to your responses. Here's it: There are a few components that make up a GLUG / LUG, and co-opertive functioning of all the components help build a successful GLUG/LUG. For any GLUG/LUG, I consider the following 1. People / Members of the GLUG / LUG The most important component of any GLUG / LUG. They could include the developer community, the system admins, students, faculty, newbie's, IT Managers etc. Each one is equally responsible and important in the GLUG / LUG. They have to co-operate with each other to the fullest. Perhaps, the community of developers and experienced system administrators are the ones that have the zeal to enforce strong values laid by the FSF. They should actively participate in discussions relating to GNU/Linux (or Linux). 2. The Communication media The Internet is equipped with ample amount of tools that form a part of the GLUG/LUG mailing list. The website of GLUG/LUG is the starting or entry point for any one to be introduced to a GLUG / LUG. Activities related to the GLUG/LUG should be posted here. Communication among members is best through a _mailing list_ and an _IRC channel_. Though, mobile phones would have been really great, the community is public, and a mobile phone / landline number would lead to one - to - one conversation debarring the participation and gain of others from the same converstaion. However, for a Off-topic discussion, they would be much better. 3. The Meetings Official meets, are usually monthly. They can be once in two weeks too. The purpose of Monthly meetings should be talks related to and about GNU/Linux. However, it is also important to spread awareness of what the GNU project is all about and how GNU/Linux has been instrumental in achieving the aim of the GNU project prior to its kernel development (HURD). The GLUG / LUG must arrange to organize a seminar for a very specific target audience. This target audience can usually be students, who are actually interested in _Freedom_ software. They could also be IT managers in the industry. This, would actually require co-operation and help of the existing GLUG / LUG members and the receiving party. The meeting can last for 2 hours, at max, and preferably conducted on holidays or weekends. 4. BoF Meetings This isn't the most important part, but nevertheless, an element in building strong relations among fellow members. It helps one to understand the other's expertise in a particular field. Apart from that, it's also a leisure time for many. 5. Linux Distribution (GNU/Linux) CD's and DVD collection A GLUG / LUG should encourage members to share information about the CD's / DVD's of Linux Distributions (GNU/Linux) they possess. This is again, in the true spirit of freedom, to distribute copies without the restrictions of proprietary licenses. 6. How-to Support Sure, there's a lot on the internet, one may claim. But is it really easy to find what is required? Yes, it is. There are books and podcasts. You should know how to search using a search engine.However, How-to support should include specific cases. It should treat local cases and solve those problems. However one important aspect of this communication, is one cannot interact, therefore, that should be provided in the _mailing list_ and IRC channels. For example, MTNL Triband is available in Delhi and Mumbai. Not all over the world. There may be a general how-to to setup a ADSL connection, but that may not always help. Therefore, the GLUG / LUG should maintain specific HOW-TO, pertaining to local solutions. 7. Careers and Jobs in GNU/Linux It isn't a *free* world at all. Or is it? The GLUG / LUG must have postings about jobs and careers related to tasks in GNU/Linux on their website. 8. Newbie treatment and trolls "Don't you know google.com?". "Doesn't seem to know a website that has one big white box, and has atleast 26 letter to punch in?" Newbie are fools? May be they are. But that doesn't mean, you were never one of them. The point that is emphasized on is that Newbie's should _NOT_ be flamed / criticized straight away. Redirect them to a FAQ on the GLUG's / LUG's website and let them know how and what questions they are supposed to ask. The power of command line that you may be happy with, is not of any importance to a Windows user. He hasn't used it. In fact, there is no need for him to use it. Trolls / Flames cannot be eliminated. They can only be minimized. They aren't all that bad. The views expressed above are based purely on what I have been observing. I am not an expert at forming a GLUG / LUG, but essentially, the members with the surrounding 7 components is what, I think would be required for a successful GLUG / LUG. Apart from this, I haven't mentioned a component that drives a lot of things. Funds! I am not completely aware of what funds would flow for a GLUG / LUG and where they would come from and what are the legal restrictions. I leave it to others to discuss. -- http://www.gnu.org.in __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Answers: Share what you know. Learn something new http://in.answers.yahoo.com/

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Linuxers November 2006