This post originally ran in May 2008. I am reposting it now, as part of my throwback thursday project, to give some of my older quality posts some love. While I still like Linux and, as I have written about last year still use Linux, it is not my main working platform.
Category: Ubuntu
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One important difference between Debian and Fedora
Before starting out with Oracle Linux this summer, my experience with Linux had been more or less confined to Ubuntu, which stems from Debian. Oracle Linux, on the other hand, stems from the Fedora project and Red Hat. Though they both build on the same kernel, they diverge from each other in a few important aspects. Software available in the repositories for Debian are divided into free, non-free and contrib. All software available in Fedora’s repositories are free.
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Automatically unlocking the default Gnome-Keyring
One of the things that really annoy me about Linux is the fact that every time I start my computer, I have to enter a separate password to unlock the Gnome-Keyring, so as to log on to my wireless network. While I appreciate the need for a keyring, I really think it should be unlocked automagically. Luckily; there’s a way.
What we need to do is to install a package called libpam-keyring, which can be found in the package manager. Once installed, a little bit of configuration is needed, by way of adding a couple of lines to the configuration file. Follow this next step carefully. If you put the line in the wrong place it may cause problems with other parts of machine authentication.
Edit the /etc/pam.d/gdm file and append the following line to the end of the file:@include common-pamkeyring
Once this is done, the gnome-keyring will be handed your login password, and unlock at logon, provided they are the same. If your login password and gnome-keyring password are different this will not work. To resolved this, you will need to ensure that they are the same, either by changing your login password, or by changing the gnome-keyring password, as detailed here -
Clearing or Resetting the Gnome-Keyring
A few weeks ago, I needed to change the password for the Gnome-Keyring, as I wanted to lend my computer to a friend. This can be done using either the command line or through the GUI, the latter being the one I prefer for its simplicity. Here’s how:
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Essential Console commands in Linux
Having once again forgotten most of the commands I use in the command shell in Linux in general and Ubuntu especially, I did a quick google search, which turned up this thread at the Ubuntuforums. The thread had two amazingly useful links, both of which referred to quick reference cheat sheets provided by FOSSwire.com Here they are:
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Ubuntu: Reinstalling MadWifi
I’ve been having some problems connecting my EeePC to wireless networks of late. The problem was that it didn’t detect available wireless networks, nor did it connect to the ones I’d already defined.
It runs Ubuntu 8.04, and I originally had to fuss around a bit to get the Atheros WLAN card to work. After reading more than a few forum posts, I found that reinstalling MadWifi most likely would fix the problem. The fix is done solely in the command line shell. I ran the following commands, in succession:
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Trying out the Asus EeePC 900
Hardware
Hardwarewise, there’s nothing truly astonishing about the Eee. Let’s have a look at the specs of our unit:
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Running commands and programs on startup in Ubuntu
In a previous post, I showed you how to disable the Caps Lock key in Ubuntu. The problem with this method is of course that it only lasts for the duration of your current session. To resolve this problem, you need to have the command run automatically at startup.
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Disabling Caps Lock – Ubuntu
Whenever I get a new keyboard for my desktop computers, the first thing I do is remove the Caps Lock key. It’s a useful key to be sure, but I dislike it. It’s much better in my mind to use the Shift key. As a result, I have been looking for a way to disable it, which I knew was possible in Linux at the very least. -
Installing Uplink on Ubuntu Linux
Uplink is a really fun game that I’ve played on and off over the years. Having gotten my Ubuntu-computer up and running, I felt it would only be natural to pick it back up. Installing it isn’t as straightforward as in Windows though, as I quickly realized. This is how it’s done: -
Apt-get FTW or: How I learned to stop worrying and learned to love Ubuntu
I love technology and fiddling with computers and gadgets dearly, and so, one of my long-term goals have been to has an operational computer running Linux, with which I can do most, if not all, of what I am able to do with my Windows computers.
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Like most IT-professionals who has been working in the business for more than, say five minutes, I have got a pretty decent stash of computers laying around at home. One of these is a HP Compaq nc6000 portable computer – one of HP’s finer pieces of work in my opinion – complete with 1GB of RAM and an intel WLAN interface card. I’d tried to install this with Ubuntu earlier (version 6.06 – Dapper Drake), but found no joy when trying to get it up and running with wireless LAN. Since a computer with Linux without an internet connection is rather like a bicycle to a fish (in other words,not very useful), I decided to shelf the experiment.
Then, a friend of mine invited me to Linux installation evening hosted by OLUG – Oslo Linux User Group and PING, and told me to bring a computer to install Linux on. So, hoping to get my computer up and running with Linux and WLAN, I brought the aforementioned nc6000.
I booted the computer with the Ubuntu 8.04 Live CD, and chose the install option. The installer installed without a hitch; and when it booted back up, it got online, with wireless LAN, right out of the box.
If you know nothing about Linux; let me tell you this; the most absurdly useful set of commands I have found so far (within 48 hours of installing the computer) are the following three: