February 2007 - main

RE: [ALUG] Hello
by Tracy Dickerson 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '07

Hey Peter, I am sure no disappointment will occur. I hope that the interest is significant enough for the meetings to continue. Is there any kind of agenda, or will this one be a meet and greet? Although I have been using differing flavours of Red Hat and Fedora over a fair few years, I would not say I have much experience with the innards of them. I would like to learn more about using the command prompt as I get lost very very easily. So if some of my questions could get answered along the way I would be very happy indeed. T -----Original Message----- From: main-bounces(a)lists.alug.org.uk [mailto:main-bounces@lists.alug.org.uk] On Behalf Of samwise Sent: 13 February 2007 17:14 To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk Subject: Re: [ALUG] Hello Hi, Tracy. I hope we won't disappoint! I think there's been quite a bit of interest so far, so I'm hoping we shouldn't struggle for numbers. Next week should be an interesting meet-up ... ! Peter. _______________________________________________ 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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Hello
by Tracy Dickerson 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

Hello All, I am interested in the potential for a Ipswich LUG. I find it impossible to be able to make the Norwich meets, and am a silent member of the Malvern LUG mailing list where a friend is a member. They have very interesting chats and I hoping that the Ipswich meets will be just as interesting. Laters, Tracy Dickerson QA LudoLogic This electronic message contains information from Ludologic Ltd which may be privileged and confidential. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this electronic message in error, please notify us by telephone or email (to the number or address above) immediately.

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Asus P5W DH Deluxe mainboard and IDE interfaces
by Barry Samuels 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

I have recently changed my mainboard to an Asus P5W DH Deluxe which includes both SATA and IDE interfaces. There are 2 IDE connectors of which one is controlled by an Intel chip and the other by a JMicron chip. I have two IDE hard drives (hda and hdb) both on the same cable and connected to the Intel interface. I also have an IDE DVD Writer connected to the JMicron interface. When Linux (kernel 2.6.20) boots it does not recognise the DVD Writer although I can get Knoppix 5.1 to boot from the DVD drive if I append irqpoll at the boot prompt after which everything seems to work. If I append irqpoll at the normal Linux boot prompt I get 'lost interrupt' messages when the system is starting and it seems to hang. It also lists, in the logs, a device sda which does not exist. There is a SCSI card installed which drives a DAT tape drive but nothing else. There are no SATA devices connected. Is there a way around this JMicron problem (DVD not recognised) or do I have to wait for the JMicron drivers in the kernel to be improved? What is this spurious sda device? Kernel settings: # # ATA/ATAPI/MFM/RLL support # CONFIG_IDE=y CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDE=y # # Serial ATA (prod) and Parallel ATA (experimental) drivers # CONFIG_ATA=y CONFIG_SATA_AHCI=y CONFIG_ATA_PIIX=y CONFIG_SATA_INTEL_COMBINED=y CONFIG_ATA_GENERIC=y CONFIG_PATA_JMICRON=y CONFIG_PATA_MPIIX=y Log extract: kernel: ahci 0000:02:00.0: version 2.0 kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:02:00.0[A] -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 18 kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:02:00.0 to 64 kernel: ahci 0000:02:00.0: AHCI 0001.0000 32 slots 2 ports 3 Gbps 0x3 impl SATA mode kernel: ahci 0000:02:00.0: flags: 64bit ncq pm led clo pmp pio slum part kernel: ata1: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0xF8824100 ctl 0x0 bmdma 0x0 irq 18 kernel: ata2: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0xF8824180 ctl 0x0 bmdma 0x0 irq 18 kernel: scsi2 : ahci kernel: ata1: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) kernel: scsi3 : ahci kernel: ata2: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) kernel: ata_piix 0000:00:1f.1: version 2.00ac7 kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:1f.1[A] -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 19 kernel: ata: 0x1F0 IDE port busy kernel: ata: conflict with ide0 kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:00:1f.1 to 64 kernel: ata3: DUMMY kernel: ata4: PATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0x170 ctl 0x376 bmdma 0xFFA8 irq 15 kernel: scsi4 : ata_piix kernel: scsi5 : ata_piix kernel: ATA: abnormal status 0x7F on port 0x177 kernel: ata_piix 0000:00:1f.2: MAP [ P0 P2 P1 P3 ] kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:1f.2[B] -> GSI 23 (level, low) -> IRQ 20 kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:00:1f.2 to 64 kernel: ata5: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0xE400 ctl 0xE082 bmdma 0xD880 irq 20 kernel: ata6: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0xE000 ctl 0xDC02 bmdma 0xD888 irq 20 kernel: scsi6 : ata_piix kernel: ATA: abnormal status 0x7F on port 0xE407 kernel: scsi7 : ata_piix kernel: ata6.00: ATA-6, max UDMA/133, 640 sectors: LBA kernel: ata6.00: ata6: dev 0 multi count 1 kernel: ata6.00: Drive reports diagnostics failure. This may indicate a drive kernel: ata6.00: fault or invalid emulation. Contact drive vendor for information. kernel: ata6.00: configured for UDMA/133 kernel: scsi 7:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA Config Disk RGL1 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5 kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:02:00.1[B] -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16 kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:02:00.1 to 64 kernel: ata7: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0xAC00 ctl 0xA882 bmdma 0xA400 irq 16 kernel: ata8: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0xA800 ctl 0xA482 bmdma 0xA408 irq 16 kernel: scsi8 : pata_jmicron kernel: ata7.00: ATAPI, max UDMA/33 kernel: ata7.00: qc timeout (cmd 0xef) kernel: ata7.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x4) kernel: ata7.00: limiting speed to UDMA/25 kernel: ata7: failed to recover some devices, retrying in 5 secs kernel: ata7.00: qc timeout (cmd 0xef) kernel: ata7.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x4) kernel: ata7.00: limiting speed to PIO0 kernel: ata7: failed to recover some devices, retrying in 5 secs kernel: ata7.00: qc timeout (cmd 0xef) kernel: ata7.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x4) kernel: ata7.00: disabled kernel: scsi9 : pata_jmicron kernel: ATA: abnormal status 0x7F on port 0xA807 kernel: serio: i8042 KBD port at 0x60,0x64 irq 1 kernel: serio: i8042 AUX port at 0x60,0x64 irq 12 kernel: mice: PS/2 mouse device common for all mice kernel: input: AT Translated Set 2 keyboard as /class/input/input0 kernel: TCP cubic registered kernel: Starting balanced_irq kernel: Using IPI Shortcut mode kernel: Time: tsc clocksource has been installed. kernel: kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds kernel: EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. kernel: VFS: Mounted root (ext3 filesystem) readonly. kernel: Freeing unused kernel memory: 188k freed kernel: NET: Registered protocol family 1 kernel: SCSI device sda: 640 512-byte hdwr sectors (0 MB) kernel: sda: Write Protect is off kernel: sda: Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00 kernel: SCSI device sda: write cache: disabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA kernel: SCSI device sda: 640 512-byte hdwr sectors (0 MB) kernel: sda: Write Protect is off kernel: sda: Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00 kernel: SCSI device sda: write cache: disabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA kernel: sda: unknown partition table kernel: sd 7:0:0:0: Attached scsi disk sda kernel: st: Version 20061107, fixed bufsize 32768, s/g segs 256 kernel: st 1:0:6:0: Attached scsi tape st0 kernel: st 1:0:6:0: st0: try direct i/o: yes (alignment 512 B) After reading a lot on the Internet and seeing other people with similar problems with JMicron and no solutions I'm not expecting much but there's no harm in asking. Suggestions will be very much appreciated. -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

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Re: [ALUG] Asus P5W DH Deluxe mainboard and IDE interfaces
by Barry Samuels 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

Thanks for your reply Richard. On 13/02/07 14:10:53, Richard wrote: > Hey Barry, I am in the same boat, with a P5B at work, and a P5B > deluxe at home. A few people have already stupidly admitted to > "skipping" proper JMICRON support in the 2.6 kernel. I wonder if that means that things will eventually improve? > Apparently Fedora Core 6 works but I don't know if that is with the > following command: > > linux all-generic-ide irqpoll I've tried that and it does work BUT (there had to be a but didn't there?) I get these messages in the logs: kernel: hdi: status error: status=0x58 { DriveReady SeekComplete DataRequest } kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown kernel: hdi: drive not ready for command kernel: hdi: status error: status=0x58 { Dri veReady SeekComplete DataRequest } kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown kernel: hdi: drive not ready for command kernel: hdi: status error: status=0x58 { Dri veReady SeekComplete DataRequest } kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown kernel: hdi: drive not ready for command kernel: hdi: cdrom_pc_intr: The drive appear s confused (ireason = 0x01). Trying to recover by ending request. kernel: cdrom: hdi: mrw address space DMA se lected kernel: ISO 9660 Extensions: Microsoft Jolie t Level 3 kernel: ISO 9660 Extensions: RRIP_1991A kernel: hdi: cdrom_pc_intr: The drive appears confused (ireason = 0x01). Trying to recover by ending request. The 'drive appears confused' keeps repeating at intervals which I find a little worrying especially when it comes to writing a DVD. I imagine that this stems from the 'irqpoll' and the drive doesn't know what to do about interrupts not meant for it. > Most people suggest messing around with the AHCI settings, I have > tried every possible combination and I can't get ubuntu 6.06, 6.10, > or 7.04 (herd 3) to boot and install. > > I am pondering replacing the board for an Nvidia chipset or using a > separate SATA controller, as ALL my drives are sata! But with you > (all IDE drives) you should get somewhere by messing around with the > AHCI settings in the BIOS. As this problem is related to the JMicron controller I have changed the settings for that i.e Basic or AHCI and it has no effect. -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain > Richard/Teatime > > > On Tue, 2007-02-13 at 13:53 +0000, Barry Samuels wrote: > > I have recently changed my mainboard to an Asus P5W DH Deluxe which > > includes both SATA and IDE interfaces. There are 2 IDE connectors > of > > > which one is controlled by an Intel chip and the other by a JMicron > > chip. > > > > I have two IDE hard drives (hda and hdb) both on the same cable and > > connected to the Intel interface. I also have an IDE DVD Writer > > connected to the JMicron interface. > > > > When Linux (kernel 2.6.20) boots it does not recognise the DVD > Writer although I can get Knoppix 5.1 to boot from the DVD drive if I > append irqpoll at the boot prompt after which everything seems to > work. If I append irqpoll at the normal Linux boot prompt I get 'lost > interrupt' messages when the system is starting and it seems to hang. > > > > It also lists, in the logs, a device sda which does not exist. > There is a SCSI card installed which drives a DAT tape drive but > nothing else. > > > > There are no SATA devices connected. > > > > Is there a way around this JMicron problem (DVD not recognised) or > do I have to wait for the JMicron drivers in the kernel to be > improved? > > > > What is this spurious sda device? > > > > Kernel settings: > > > > # > > # ATA/ATAPI/MFM/RLL support > > # > > CONFIG_IDE=y > > CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDE=y > > > > # > > # Serial ATA (prod) and Parallel ATA (experimental) drivers > > # > > CONFIG_ATA=y > > CONFIG_SATA_AHCI=y > > CONFIG_ATA_PIIX=y > > CONFIG_SATA_INTEL_COMBINED=y > > CONFIG_ATA_GENERIC=y > > CONFIG_PATA_JMICRON=y > > CONFIG_PATA_MPIIX=y > > > > > > Log extract: > > > > kernel: ahci 0000:02:00.0: version 2.0 > > kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:02:00.0[A] -> GSI 17 (level, low) > -> > > IRQ 18 > > kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:02:00.0 to 64 > > kernel: ahci 0000:02:00.0: AHCI 0001.0000 32 slots 2 ports 3 Gbps > 0x3 > > impl SATA mode > > kernel: ahci 0000:02:00.0: flags: 64bit ncq pm led clo pmp pio slum > > part > > kernel: ata1: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0xF8824100 ctl 0x0 bmdma 0x0 > irq > 18 > > kernel: ata2: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0xF8824180 ctl 0x0 bmdma 0x0 > irq > 18 > > kernel: scsi2 : ahci > > kernel: ata1: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) > > kernel: scsi3 : ahci > > kernel: ata2: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) > > kernel: ata_piix 0000:00:1f.1: version 2.00ac7 > > kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:1f.1[A] -> GSI 22 (level, low) > -> > > IRQ 19 > > kernel: ata: 0x1F0 IDE port busy > > kernel: ata: conflict with ide0 > > kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:00:1f.1 to 64 > > kernel: ata3: DUMMY > > kernel: ata4: PATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0x170 ctl 0x376 bmdma 0xFFA8 > irq > 15 > > kernel: scsi4 : ata_piix > > kernel: scsi5 : ata_piix > > kernel: ATA: abnormal status 0x7F on port 0x177 > > kernel: ata_piix 0000:00:1f.2: MAP [ P0 P2 P1 P3 ] > > kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:1f.2[B] -> GSI 23 (level, low) > -> > > IRQ 20 > > kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:00:1f.2 to 64 > > kernel: ata5: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0xE400 ctl 0xE082 bmdma 0xD880 > irq > > 20 > > kernel: ata6: SATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0xE000 ctl 0xDC02 bmdma 0xD888 > irq > > 20 > > kernel: scsi6 : ata_piix > > kernel: ATA: abnormal status 0x7F on port 0xE407 > > kernel: scsi7 : ata_piix > > kernel: ata6.00: ATA-6, max UDMA/133, 640 sectors: LBA > > kernel: ata6.00: ata6: dev 0 multi count 1 > > kernel: ata6.00: Drive reports diagnostics failure. This may > indicate a > > drive > > kernel: ata6.00: fault or invalid emulation. Contact drive vendor > for > > information. > > kernel: ata6.00: configured for UDMA/133 > > kernel: scsi 7:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA Config Disk > RGL1 > > PQ: 0 ANSI: 5 > > kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:02:00.1[B] -> GSI 16 (level, low) > -> > > IRQ 16 > > kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:02:00.1 to 64 > > kernel: ata7: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0xAC00 ctl 0xA882 bmdma 0xA400 > irq > > 16 > > kernel: ata8: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0xA800 ctl 0xA482 bmdma 0xA408 > irq > > 16 > > kernel: scsi8 : pata_jmicron > > kernel: ata7.00: ATAPI, max UDMA/33 > > kernel: ata7.00: qc timeout (cmd 0xef) > > kernel: ata7.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x4) > > kernel: ata7.00: limiting speed to UDMA/25 > > kernel: ata7: failed to recover some devices, retrying in 5 secs > > kernel: ata7.00: qc timeout (cmd 0xef) > > kernel: ata7.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x4) > > kernel: ata7.00: limiting speed to PIO0 > > kernel: ata7: failed to recover some devices, retrying in 5 secs > > kernel: ata7.00: qc timeout (cmd 0xef) > > kernel: ata7.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x4) > > kernel: ata7.00: disabled > > kernel: scsi9 : pata_jmicron > > kernel: ATA: abnormal status 0x7F on port 0xA807 > > kernel: serio: i8042 KBD port at 0x60,0x64 irq 1 > > kernel: serio: i8042 AUX port at 0x60,0x64 irq 12 > > kernel: mice: PS/2 mouse device common for all mice > > kernel: input: AT Translated Set 2 keyboard as /class/input/input0 > > kernel: TCP cubic registered > > kernel: Starting balanced_irq > > kernel: Using IPI Shortcut mode > > kernel: Time: tsc clocksource has been installed. > > kernel: kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds > > kernel: EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. > > kernel: VFS: Mounted root (ext3 filesystem) readonly. > > kernel: Freeing unused kernel memory: 188k freed > > kernel: NET: Registered protocol family 1 > > kernel: SCSI device sda: 640 512-byte hdwr sectors (0 MB) > > kernel: sda: Write Protect is off > > kernel: sda: Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00 > > kernel: SCSI device sda: write cache: disabled, read cache: > enabled, > > > doesn't support DPO or FUA > > kernel: SCSI device sda: 640 512-byte hdwr sectors (0 MB) > > kernel: sda: Write Protect is off > > kernel: sda: Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00 > > kernel: SCSI device sda: write cache: disabled, read cache: > enabled, > > > doesn't support DPO or FUA > > kernel: sda: unknown partition table > > kernel: sd 7:0:0:0: Attached scsi disk sda > > kernel: st: Version 20061107, fixed bufsize 32768, s/g segs 256 > > kernel: st 1:0:6:0: Attached scsi tape st0 > > kernel: st 1:0:6:0: st0: try direct i/o: yes (alignment 512 B) > > > > After reading a lot on the Internet and seeing other people with > > similar problems with JMicron and no solutions I'm not expecting > much > > but > > there's no harm in asking. > > > > Suggestions will be very much appreciated.

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Resonance with Norfolk wavelength
by ted.harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

Hi Folks, An interesting out-of-region experience for you ... On Sunday I was driving down to London along the A10. As I got further South, the pre-set stations on my car radio (Radio4/Norwich, Radio4/Peterborough, Classic FM, Radio3, even Radio Cambridgeshire, and Radio Norfolk) all got worse and worse. South of the Stevenage-Stansted line they were useless, and I had switched off. Then, stuck in traffic around Wood Green, I thought I'd switch it on again and see if those frequencies would pick up anything in the London area. All failed -- with the exception of the Radio Norfolk frequency (104.4 FM). I picked up, loud and clear, "Resonance104.4FM": http://www.resonancefm.com/index1.htm "Resonance 104.4fm is London's first radio art station, brought to you by London Musicians' Collective." It was intriguing listening, so I switched it on again on the way back, and even sat through an hour of music mixed with talk in a language I didn't recognise, which turned out to be "Rasaa: Iranian program with music, discussion and chat" devised by the "Iranian Community Group". So I tracked the station down when I got home (google on "104.4 FM"). The listings (accessible from the above web site) show the variety of the transmissions. Pity I can't listen on the radio from here -- Radio Norfolk wins, of course -- but I'll be trying their "listen live" resources (Ogg/Real/MP3) when they start transmitting later today. 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: 13-Feb-07 Time: 09:58:01 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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A question about encryption/security
by Eur Ing Chris Green 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

If I use the encrypt/decrypt functions in vi (or a vi clone) how secure is the resulting encrypted data likely to be? I know that this encryption is not inherently very secure as it's just a "one-rotor machine designed along the lines of the German Enigma, but with a 256-element rotor". However given that the encrypted file has no clue to indicate that it's encrypted or the algorithm used to encrypt it I think it would actually be rather difficult to decrypt. The potential code breaker has to:- Identify the file as being the one with the required data. Guess the algorithm used to encrypt it. Know the contents (or part of the contents). Am I right in my thinking or does a file encrypted in this way show any clues to how it was created? -- Chris Green

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Re: Ipswich LUG
by John Seago 11 Feb '07

11 Feb '07

To reiterate my point on message traffic on this mailing list. On Monday I received ONE message from SLUG, this follows the SINGLE message I received on Friday. Although there are other LUG's in SLUG, nominally, covers the whole country, over 5 million potential members, two messages in four days. -- John Seago GNU/Linux Registered User No. #219566 http://counter.li.org/ () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments

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easyubuntu / totem movie player
by Barry Chater 10 Feb '07

10 Feb '07

Hi Installed Easyubuntu it downloaded lots of stuff did not fix it, still says plug ins missing. gzine engine fails to start. do you think worth removing movie player and starting again. also did not add medibuntu GPG key as instructed as did not want to interfere with package software programs and repositories. have not tried the MP3 converter in sound juicer yet Barry

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your help on antivirus software and file removal
by Barry Chater 08 Feb '07

08 Feb '07

Hi Just a quick thank you to all that helped me with my problems with removing files and installing Avast antivirus software. Thanks Richard for your detailed help on directories this helped me install avast antivirus and get it running.Not bad for a newbie. A big thank you to all of you even if i have not mentioned your names i am truly grateful. my next things to sort out are to get movie player to play DVDs, downloaded several plug ins but up till now no success. still plenty of time to play with it though. also can get sound juicer to convert to MP3 but it will not play back, must be wrong plug in,rhythm box plays other Mp3 file OK Barry

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Keypad codes and xev
by Peter Alcibiades 07 Feb '07

07 Feb '07

Can anyone explain the following puzzling behaviour? I bought a USB keypad for some computer phobic people to use. Its a wonderful little thing, but it has one potentially confusing thing: a 000 key, right in the middle at the bottom. This records 000 in either a terminal or in an application. They have no use for 000. OK, lets just disable it. First thing was to run xev and find out what the keycode is. It is 90. Great, now lets find out what 0 is, and remap. Guess what, 0 is 90 as well! So, how on earth, if they are sending the same keycode, does one send 000 and the other just 0? And how do I map it so that they both send the same thing? The results from xev, both depression and release, seem to be absolutely identical for both keys, to the letter. Sure someone will understand what is happening, but it baffles me. Peter

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