Connecting to the Internet

To connect to the Internet:

1. Open System → Administration → Networking.

2. Select the connection you wish to use, then click Properties.

3. Ensure Enable this connection is turned on.

4. If your ISP or network administrator has given you an IP address, set Configuration to Static IP address, then enter the address in the IP address field and click OK. Otherwise, set Configuration to DHCP and click OK.

5. To activate or deactivate network connections, select your connection, then click Activate/Deactivate.

How to clone an installation : Ubuntu (5.10 / 6.06.1 / 6.10)

How many times have you reinstalled your machine? I know I long ago lost count. It isn’t that it is unreliable but, in my case, I often upgrade to new versions or reinstall to test things out. How nice would it be if you could clone your current installation and fairly easily reinstall to just about the same stage you were before you changed? This post will tell you how!

The first thing to remember is that Ubuntu uses the APT package management system which handles installed packages and their dependencies. If we can get a list of currently installed packages you can very easily duplicate exactly what you have installed now on a future machine. Below is a command you can use to export a list of your installed packages.

# sudo dpkg --get-selections | grep '[[:space:]]install$=' \| awk '{print $1}' > package_list

update: (see comments) - the blog reformats the single-quotes around the parameters for grep & awk. Note that both should be the character on the quote key. Also, the “–get-selections” is a double-dash, although it doesn’t appear as such.

At this point you should end up with a file called “package_list” which consists of a long list of every package your currently have installed.

The next step would be to tell the clone machine to install each of those packages. You’ll have to copy that file to the clone machine (via network, usb drive, email, etc) and also make sure to duplicate the /etc/apt/sources.list file. Without the same access to repositories it may not be able to find the packages.

To tell your system to use the previously exported package list use the following command (after making sure to also clone your /etc/apt/sources.list file):

1. sudo aptitude update
2. cat package_list | xargs sudo aptitude install

Note: this should only be used between the same distribution and the same release version. Example, only use this to clone a 6.06.1 to 6.06.1 machine. You will run into problems in trying to clone from 6.06.1 to 6.10 or similar.

How to enable DVD playback : Ubuntu (5.10 / 6.06.1 / 6.10)

DVD playback is not a feature that is installed by default due to license restrictions. In my opinion the restriction is stupid, very restrictive and violates my rights (of course I am not a lawyer so don’t listen to my rants.) This tutorial will show you how to install DVD playback capability on your Ubuntu linux machine.

note: in some areas this is not legal. If that is the case for you you can 1) continue to let some corporation demand payment to be able to playback the DVDs you already paid for, 2) stop watching DVDs altogether or 3) tell them to take a hike and install playback anyway. Viva la revolucion!

Installing DVD playback is pretty simple. You’ll need to install the Seveas Repository before you’ll have access to it and then simply run:

# sudo aptitude install libdvdcss2

or, if you prefer not to install Seveas repository you can run the following command to automagically download and install the appropriate files:

# sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/./install-css.sh

We desperately need a change to our countries laws in this regard, at least in the US. Until then we simply do what has to be done.

update: if you find that, for whatever reason, you don’t have the above file to run and install you can try to take a look at this comment for an additional method.

How to use gaim for gmail chat

In response to my earlier post I wanted to make a how-to publically available for those that aren’t familiar with setting up Jabber. If you have a gmail account you already have an account with Jabber. Gmail’s chat uses the Jabber protocol so you’re already half-way there. (If you don’t have a gmail account you really should, post a comment and I’ll send you an invite)

This how-to depends on 1) gaim, 2) gmail account.

1. ‘Add Account’ in Gaim
2. Use the drop-down & select Jabber
3. screen name = your.address (before @ sign for gmail)
4. server = gmail.com (you do not need to use the @ anywhere)
5. resource : I don’t know the importance of this–I use the default
6. password = your gmail password
7. alias = what do you want to be known as?
8. more options / advanced
9. connect server : talk.google.com
10. Register & Connect

Any contact in your gmail address book will be available under your new account.

Ubuntu Mirror

This technical document gives an overview of the process of creating either a private or public mirror of the Ubuntu software. Additionally, the requirements for becomming an official Ubuntu mirror are described.

A full list of official archive mirrors can now be found in launchpad.

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archivemirrors

Each mirror listed in launchpad is verified at least every 24 hours. You are recommended to select a mirror marked "Up to date" that is located geographicly near you. If you are unsure which mirror to select the best option is [iso-country-code].archive.ubuntu.com where iso-country-code is the two character country abreviation of a country near you. For example, if you live in the United States you could choose us.archive.ubuntu.com

As Ubuntu grows in popularity, so does the need for reliable mirrors to support the Ubuntu community. If you are reasonably familiar with apache, ftp and rsync, have available resources in a secure location such as an office or data centre and wish to help Ubuntu, you may wish to consider setting up an Ubuntu mirror.

What is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'Humanity to others', or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. The Ubuntu distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world.

Ubuntu is a community developed operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. Whether you use it at home, at school or at work Ubuntu contains all the applications you'll ever need, from word processing and email applications, to web server software and programming tools.

Ubuntu is and always will be free of charge. You do not pay any licensing fees. You can download, use and share Ubuntu with your friends, family, school or business for absolutely nothing.

We issue a new desktop and server release every six months. That means you'll always have the the latest and greatest applications that the open source world has to offer.

Ubuntu is designed with security in mind. You get free security updates for at least 18 months on the desktop and server. With the Long Term Support (LTS) version you get three years support on the desktop, and five years on the server. There is no extra fee for the LTS version, we make our very best work available to everyone on the same free terms. Upgrades to new versions of Ubuntu are and always will be free of charge.

Everything you need on one CD, which provides a complete working environment. Additional software is available online.

The graphical installer enables you to get up and running quickly and easily. A standard installation should take less than 25 minutes.

Once installed your system is immediately ready-to-use. On the desktop you have a full set of productivity, internet, drawing and graphics applications, and games.

On the server you get just what you need to get up and running and nothing you don't.