November 2006 - main

Laptop wifi help - need to automate dhclient
by Mark Rogers 01 Dec '06

01 Dec '06

I have a laptop running Kubuntu 6.10, which is recognising its 3Com wireless USB dongle (3CRUSB10075) using ndiswrapper. When I run "dhclient eth1" it even gets itself an IP address and seems to work fine. Where I'm stuck is getting it to run dhclient itself automatically when the WLAN dongle is connected. The laptop is for a customer who is collecting it this afternoon, so I'm hoping for some quick suggestions if anyone has any. [Apologies to any PLUG subscribers who are here also for the duplication, I'm hoping for a wider audience given the limited timescale I have to get this working.] -- Mark Rogers More Solutions Ltd :: 0845 45 89 555

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USB, I'm lost
by cl＠isbd.net 29 Nov '06

29 Nov '06

I'm trying to get my Slackware 11 system to see USB devices but at the moment I'm having no success at all. Plugging either a digital camera or a memory stick into the USB sockets elicits no response at all, nothing in any of the log files, nothing that I can see in the /proc area. If I do 'lsusb' I just get:- Bus 1 Device 1: ID 0000:0000 Bus 2 Device 1: ID 0000:0000 Bus 3 Device 1: ID 0000:0000 I'm running a 2.6.18 kernel. What do I need to do to get something useful to happen?! -- Chris Green (chris(a)halon.org.uk)

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executable script gives error "file not found"
by Jenny Hopkins 28 Nov '06

28 Nov '06

Hullo there, I've been setting up a debian box to be a clone of several other like boxen. The new box has amd64 architecture and the old i386. Apart from that they are all still on debian sarge, 2.6 kernels. One thing all the boxen have in common is that they share files over an nfs mount from a server. Some of the files are binary executables. Now, on the new box, they simply won't run: I get the error balloon@capirossi:~$ /home/balloon/bin/balloon-audio-off bash: /home/balloon/bin/balloon-audio-off: No such file or directory The same error appears when running it as root. The file is executable. The selfsame file also runs no problem from the other computers using it. All I know about the file is that it invokes the bash shell and that it is sending data to the parallel port. I put together a test bash script to idiot check bash and that ran ok. I'm baffuffled. Thanks, Jenny

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Network Manager and wpa_supplicant problems
by Barry Samuels 26 Nov '06

26 Nov '06

I saw reference to Network Manager on this list recently and decided to try it on my laptop but cannot get it to work. I find the documentation incomprehensible and I've tried to blunder my way through the setup without luck. My desktop also has a wireless card which can connect to the AP but it's normally connected by cable. I don't particularly want to use Network Manager on this. I can use my laptop wireless with an 'ordinary' setup i.e. no Network Manager. I'm running the latest Debian Etch/Testing. I have a wireless enabled Thinkpad that uses the ipw2200 driver. I'm running kernel 2.6.17. My wireless access point is a Netgear WG602 which is set to use WEP. Can I use Network Manager with this setup? Can anyone point me to a simple step by step guide to setting up Network Manager and wpa_supplicant. I think my stumbling block is wpa_supplicant. You know the sort of guide: 1. Do this 2. Do that 3. Then do this etc. -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

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peculiarities with debian apt and amd64
by Jenny Hopkins 23 Nov '06

23 Nov '06

Hullo there, I've been trying to set up a debian box with an amd64 processor. Just a standard install: stable is fine. I've taken the amd64 iso from here: http://www.kmuto.jp/debian/d-i/ sarge-custom-0801.iso I've edited my own apt sources list by hand and added these lines: deb http://ftp.nl.debian.org/debian-amd64/debian/ stable main deb-src http://ftp.nl.debian.org/debian-amd64/debian/ stable main deb http://security.debian.org/ stable/updates main apt complains that it can't find Packages. /var/lib/apt/lists show Release and Sources but no Packages, and then it shows security i386 Packages (If I comment out the security line I get the same complaint about Packages) cat /proc/cpuinfo knows all about the amd64ness of the box. The odd thing is that this install is identical to the other amd64 box, nutmeg, I have here: same iso, same sources list, and that is happy: nutmeg:/etc/apt# ls /var/lib/apt/lists/ ftp.nl.debian.org_debian-amd64_debian_dists_stable_main_binary-amd64_Packages ftp.nl.debian.org_debian-amd64_debian_dists_stable_main_binary-amd64_Release ftp.nl.debian.org_debian-amd64_debian_dists_stable_main_source_Release ftp.nl.debian.org_debian-amd64_debian_dists_stable_main_source_Sources lock partial security.debian.org_dists_stable_updates_main_binary-amd64_Packages security.debian.org_dists_stable_updates_main_binary-amd64_Release I've been round the install twice now and each time the same thing happens. Puzzled, Jenny

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RE: [ALUG] Recommendations sort on good TFT Displays
by Keith Watson 23 Nov '06

23 Nov '06

Funnily enough a colleague mentioned this to me recently... <http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=23165020402&actio n=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=117211> Given the low price it gets good reviews, although, as one cynic pointed out, who's going to buy something and then publicly admit the bought crap! :o) Regards, Keith ____________ CREDITOR, n. One of a tribe of savages dwelling beyond the Financial Straits and dreaded for their desolating incursions. - Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary > From: Tim Green Sent: 19 November 2006 16:27 > > On 11/18/06, Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. <lists(a)ashleyhowes.com> wrote: > > Who would you recommend as good TFT suppliers these days? > > I am very happy with my Sumsung SyncMaster 204b. So happy, in > fact, it became the standard issue for engineers where I work. > > 20", 1600x1200, VGA and DVI. > > It might only be 4:3, but, compared to the extremely popular 1280x1024 > (5:4) monitors (usually 17" to 19"), it looks wide. The price > is good too. > > Hope this helps, > Tim. > _______________________________________________ > main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > http://www.alug.org.uk/ > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main > Unsubscribe? See message headers or the web site above! >

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Linux & openlink
by Paul 23 Nov '06

23 Nov '06

Having recently spent vast sums on a brand new WiFi card (a netgear WG511T Atheros based card), I've been trying to connect to Norfolk's Openlink network. I appear to get a reasonable signal strength from within the Forum, and can detect three or more access points... However, dhcp refuses to pick up an address, and the hell desk is of little use. Has anyone within the group been able to connect a Linux powered device to Openlink, and if so, what settings did you use ?? I've tried both madwifi and ndiswrapper drivers with a SuSE 10.0 install to no avail. Regards, Paul.

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FW: Re: [linux-users] Software in schools
by Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk 23 Nov '06

23 Nov '06

Hi Folks, Version of the following have been kicking around on the man-lug and linux-users mailing lasts (up in Manchester) for the last day or two. The following version is clear and helpful, so I'm forwarding it to you all for your consideration! It originated from the UKUUG, I understand. Best wishes to all, Ted. -----FW: <45655993.6030904(a)cairnlin.co.uk>----- Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2006 08:19:31 +0000 Sender: linux-users-admin(a)lists.manchester.ac.uk From: Iain <iain(a)cairnlin.co.uk> Subject: Re: [linux-users] Software in schools Cc: linux-users(a)lists.man.ac.uk Dave Love wrote: > Perhaps you could get Fletcher to provide info on where to read what > this motion says -- I assume it's online somewhere. I don't see how > you can ask an MP to sign something when you don't know its contents. > Here's the rest of the email that Leslie sent out (don't know why only the first para made it onto the list). An Early Day Motion is a marker, giving MPs the opportunity to sign it. This one only appeared yesterday and most MPs won't sign unless lobbied to do so, so three sigs is good. If we can get to 30-40 sigs over the next few weeks we'll be very happy. Iain. ================================== Dear LUG member, John Pugh MP has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons entitled Software in Education, number 179. Please write to, or email, your MP within the next week with a request that (s)he add his/her name to this motion. I would be grateful if you could keep me informed about the letters you send and replies you receive. You can find more information below and at www.openschoolsalliance.org. Yours sincerely Leslie Fletcher +++++++++++++BACKGROUND INFORMATION++++++++++++++++++++ The text of the motion is : That this House congratulates the Open University and other schools, colleges and universities for utilising free and open source software to deliver cost-effective educational benefit not just for their own institutions but also the wider community; and expresses concern that Becta and the Department for Education and Skills, through the use of outdated purchasing frameworks, are effectively denying schools the option of benefiting from both free and open source and the value and experience small and medium ICT companies could bring to the schools market. http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=31752&SESSION=885 CONTACTING YOUR MP An easy way to contact your MP is by email using the step-by-step guide at: http://www.writetothem.com/ The Open Rights Group (ORG) have sensible and practical information on how to write to, or email, MPs: http://www.openrightsgroup.org/orgwiki/index.php/Letter_writing If you decide to follow up your letter with a visit to your MP's constituency surgery, please look at ORG's advice: http://www.openrightsgroup.org/orgwiki/index.php/MP%27s_surgery POINTS TO COVER IN A LETTER You may wish to cover some of the following points * Schools receive questionable advice on IT procurement from BECTA, the government agency responsible for the use of IT in education. * BECTA's framework agreements look only at the long-term financial performance of suppliers, seriously hampering the involvement of SMEs and ignoring the risk that schools could become locked into expensive and restrictive contractual arrangements. * Lists of approved suppliers are very limited both in number and variety - only only fifteen suppliers for non-curriculum software for example, none of which has any commitment to open source software. * BECTA's own case studies found considerable savings in cost for schools using open source software. * Government policy claims to promote a level playing field for open source software. This is not happening in schools because BECTA's advice is partial and inconsistent. If you have some connection with an SME (proprietor, partner, employee, ... ) please make this clear in your letter as the impact on SMEs in their constituency is something MPs can relate to. If you are involved with a school, on the staff, a governor, parent, ... , mention that also. Again the wellbeing of schools in their constituency is something MPs are keen to be seen promoting. MAKE SURE YOU FINISH OFF WITH A SENTENCE LIKE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT YOUR MP TO DO! : "John Pugh MP has tabled Early Day Motion number 179, entitled Software in Education expressing concern about this and I urge you to add your name to it." SOFTWARE, PARTICULARLY MOODLE, BEING USED BY THE OU AND OTHERS You can read about the OU's innovative use of FLOSS and about the lukewarm support from the DfES here: http://www.ukuug.org/mediawatch/?p=789 There is a Wikipedia entry for Moodle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodle BECTA AND ITS FRAMEWORKS There is a Wikipedia entry on this topic; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becta This ZDNet article, referred to in the Wikipedia entry sets out the issues for FLOSS very clearly: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39256053,00.htm EARLY DAY MOTION An Early Day Motion is a parliamentary device to introduce an issue to MPs and to gauge support; you can find out more from the Wikipedia entry about EDMs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_day_motion HOW WE GOT HERE This EDM is the first parliamentary result of the Open Source Consortium's work to raise the political profile of free and open source software. Several other groups are involved, particularly UKUUG, SchoolForge UK and FFII-UK; you can find more information on the website of the Open Schools Alliance, a newly-formed pressure group: www.openschoolsalliance.org http://lists.manchester.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/linux-users --------------End of forwarded message------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 23-Nov-06 Time: 08:35:27 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Re: [linux-users] Software in schools
by Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk 23 Nov '06

23 Nov '06

Hi Folks, Regarding the origins of the Early Day Motion, there are some interesting exchanges on the UKUUG "Advicacy" mail archives. See: http://lists.ukuug.org/pipermail/advocacy/2006-November/date.html Best wishes to all, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 23-Nov-06 Time: 08:40:29 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Recommendations sort on good TFT Displays
by Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. 20 Nov '06

20 Nov '06

I'm in the process of considering upgrading one or two of my 19" CRTs to flatscreen TFTs in order to get more screen space and a higher resolution. Back when I used to buy CRTs, some monitors were known to be better than others. I went for a Sony Multiscan 400PS CRT many years ago and it is still clear, accurate, has excellent colour definition and strength. Who would you recommend as good TFT suppliers these days? I did look at an Apple 23 inch display a few days ago (1900x1200 approx), having seen some of the originals about 5 years ago. To be blunt, it was crap. I don't know what they had happened to it, but the image was hazy, the text unclear, even when calibrated. I'll be using the TFT for coding, text-work and general programming stuff. Maybe a bit of graphics editing as well. It will be moved between a Mac, PC and Linux box, so multiple inputs would be cool. I look forward to your comments. -- Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. http://www.ashleyhowes.com/ "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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