June 2007 - main - earth.li

Linux and Astronomy
by Yvonne Everett 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

Hello Those astronomy fans out there... does anyone have a recommendation for a replacment to the software Celestron Registax? I have a NexImage and the software enclosed with it is for Windows. If anyone has any experience of this type of webcam through Linux and what they've used, I'd be interested to hear your comments/results... Thanks and regards -- Yvonne Everett Email: ye103910(a)googlemail.com

1 0

LJ
by Ruth Bygrave 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

Aha! Enlightenment moment (again). Instead of running about two-and-a- half blogs, I should roll everything into one and experiment with 'custom friends groups' until I get the behaviour I want: mundane friends and relatives don't see the not-personal stuff, Unix geeks don't see the dumb-user Mac stuff (unless they want to), only the creative-writers I'm in touch with see the SF-fan and writing stuff, and people can ask to be added if they just, like, like me? Does that make sense? It would have the huge virtue of not running separate user accts to achieve separation, and being able to stay logged-in consistently. But is it reliable/secure? Regards, Ruth

3 2

Anybody else ever tried fast-user-switching as context-switching?
by Ruth Bygrave 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

On both Mac and Windows, Fast User Switching is implemented and used as 'Mum Dad and all the kiddies can now get to their stuff quickly'. Am fairly sure that this is a 'Unix-y thing', though cannot remember if I used to play with it in Linux in my abortive crash-and-burn attempt to switch to Linux in 1999. I started out on the Mac trying to use this as context-switching (it's entirely my machine, I can use it in whatever demented geeky way I like). I found that the 2-3 seconds it took to switch between my main user acct and my creative writing acct effectively put me off using it. The other day, when setting up a blog for my 'Dumb Script Kiddy tries to grow up hobbyist-programmer' stuff, I suddenly realised that the reason it took me 2 or 3 seconds to switch to my creative writing acct was probably because Skype was in the startup items and Skype is a resource hog. Because context-switching between my main user acct and my blog acct (with nothing but mail and news loaded) fairly *flew!* This actually started me thinking of going back to the idea with minimal programs loaded. I asked Adrian if he's ever thought of using FUS as context-switching. "No," he said. He has different contexts: work, social, climbing, &c, but the immediacy of having e-mail immediately available pulling everything together and the fact that you don't see the e-mail coming in from the other acct means that trying to organise it the way I was thinking of, wouldn't work. Have been trying it as 'geek fun', but actually fear Adrian may be right, because the 'oops, in wrong context, e-mail this to the other acct' thing is all too easy to achieve. Would you advise me to keep trying it as a playful geeky thing or get in the habit of having everything on my main acct because of this real-world 'notification' issue that Adrian pointed out? Regards, Ruth

5 8

simple Photo albums
by Venura Mendis 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

I'd like to setup up a simple web photo album on my home machine. A quick look on google found me far too many options and I cant make up my mind. I was wondering if anybody had any opinions on this. my basic requirements are 1) I use my linux box to backup my photos. So something that can build a gallery dynamically from the filesystem without replicating image files 2) very occasional viewing of photos (Im much more likely to use picassaweb if I want to publish pictures to lots of people) 3) be able to upload pictures remotely (preferably bulk upload option) using a web page. Though setting up ftp is perhaps easier Im thinking of playing with Gallery (http://gallery.menalto.com/) but it probably does far more things than I need and might not meet my first req. Ive already got apache,php and mysql running. thoughts?

1 0

Re-Introduction
by J.R.Seago 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

I have now, as evidenced by this email, managed to rejoin the world of those connected to the internet. (Thanks to Mark Ray and the PhoneCoop). I have rejoined ALUG as it was where I started with GNU/Linux. it also has a little more traffic than Highland LUG, see http://www.highland.lug.org.uk/index.html The web-site tells the world that the LUG has "...about 20 members living at locations all over the Highlands", if one considers that it is roughly the area covered by Northern Constabulary, it represents 20>25 members in an area roughly the size of Belgium or about 10,000 square miles that's an average of one member about every 500 square miles! I have signed up to Highland LUG and some of the other Scottish LUGS, but in total they do not seem to produce the volume of traffic that ALUG does! -- J.R. Seago GNU/Linux Registered User No. #219566 http://counter.li.org/ () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail - against microsoft attachments /\

1 0

kubuntu apt-get not installed
by elc 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

ten requested :- root@elc-desktop:~# cat /etc/fstab # /etc/fstab: static file system information # # <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass> proc /proc proc defaults 0 0 # /dev/hda7 -- converted during upgrade to edgy UUID=181919c2-0d4c-41bb-b526-8726cc94c07a / ext2 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1 /dev/hda1 /media/hda1 vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1 # /dev/hda5 -- converted during upgrade to edgy UUID=CEA6-EEB3 /media/hda5 vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1 # /dev/hda6 -- converted during upgrade to edgy UUID=1389-3e5c /media/hda6 vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1 # /dev/hda8 -- converted during upgrade to edgy UUID=e2b293e2-7592-4631-9eb7-6764bed4b103 none swap sw 0 0 /dev/hdc /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 usr,noauto 0 0 root@elc-desktop:~# _ and root@elc-desktop:~# blkid /dev/evms/hda5: UUID="CEA6-EEB3" TYPE="vfat" /dev/evms/hda1: UUID="0E1C-1DEB" TYPE="vfat" /dev/evms/hda8: TYPE="swap" UUID="e2b293e2-7592-4631-9eb7-6764bed4b103" /dev/evms/hda7: UUID="181919c2-0d4c-41bb-b526-8726cc94c07a" TYPE="ext2" /dev/evms/hda6: UUID="1389-3E5C" TYPE="vfat" /dev/hda1: UUID="0E1C-1DEB" TYPE="vfat" /dev/hda5: UUID="CEA6-EEB3" TYPE="vfat" /dev/hda6: UUID="1389-3E5C" TYPE="vfat" /dev/hda7: UUID="181919c2-0d4c-41bb-b526-8726cc94c07a" TYPE="ext2" /dev/hda8: TYPE="swap" UUID="e2b293e2-7592-4631-9eb7-6764bed4b103" /dev/mapper/hda5: UUID="CEA6-EEB3" TYPE="vfat" /dev/mapper/hda1: UUID="0E1C-1DEB" TYPE="vfat" /dev/mapper/hda8: TYPE="swap" UUID="e2b293e2-7592-4631-9eb7-6764bed4b103" /dev/mapper/hda6: UUID="1389-3e5c" TYPE="vfat" root@elc-desktop:~# _ elc > On Monday 18 June 2007, ten wrote: > >> > About a week ago I went through the update procedure. I started with >> > Dapper 6.06 (from live CD), updated to Edgy 6.10, then updated to Feisty >> > 7.04. Things worked perfectly until last weekend when I tried to boot up >> > linux and got this result. Would I presume that the live CD 6.06 would >> > not now be of any use since I am 2 upgrades up? >> > >> > > I wonder. Could you post me/the list the output of the following two commands > please? > > cat /etc/fstab > > blkid > > > Cheers :-)

2 2

Meta stuff about comparative operating systems and Switching Sideways
by Ruth Bygrave 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

This is an essay on the abortive blog that was my last blog, until it sank without trace because it had 0 readers and comments and I got discouraged and wandered away. http://mogcow.blogspot.com/2006/11/switching-sideways.html I'm still quite proud of it, and think it contains useful if opinionated advice. I don't expect people on this list to agree with it necessarily, but feel it's an interesting point for discussion... except I'm probably wrong about that because nobody ever read it: I put up Statcounter, and it had about 38 hits, most of which were probably me checking in from the library to see if anybody had read it yet... Regards, R

1 0

Re: [ALUG] usb wireless card for visitors
by Elisabeth Fosbrooke-Brown 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

"Rob Grant" <r.grant at uea.ac.uk> wrote: > > Visitors to UEA need to get their network cards registered in order to > access our network. ITCS can provide temporary access for visitors at conferences etc., which could be what you want. When I worked at the BA Festival last year there was a simple process involving username/password being signed out to a user; no idea what the innards were. They're not anti-Linux as far as my experience goes, but maybe that's because I haven't had any problems - apart from the newsystem mess-up last year, of course. -- sfr

1 0

RE: usb wireless card for visitors
by Rob Grant 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

> > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:38:21 +0100 > From: "Rob Grant" <r.grant(a)uea.ac.uk> > Subject: [ALUG] usb wireless card for visitors > To: <main(a)lists.alug.org.uk> > Message-ID: <007001c7b1be$b35f2c50$018ede8b(a)UEA.AC.UK> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > Visitors to UEA need to get their network cards registered in order > to access our network. As a more convenient alternative, the > technical support manager here suggested that our school buy two or > three usb wireless cards which can be pre-registered and loaned to > visitors. > > Obviously, I'd like to make sure that whatever we get will have a > good chance of working for any visitors who arrive with Linux > laptops. Hence, any ideas on either of these would be appreciated. > Rob > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:02:43 +0100 > From: Simon Jude <s.jude(a)uea.ac.uk> > Subject: Re: [ALUG] usb wireless card for visitors > > I'm not sure that you are aware of this, but the first time you > connect to the UEA wifi network it asks you to register. I did this > the other day with my laptop running ubuntu and it was registered and > working straight away (although the registration page says it can > take 20mins). > I'm not sure how this works for 'guests' at UEA but there used to be > a similar system for visitors wanting to use the UEA ethernet network > connections. Alternatively, parts of UEA are covered by the > Norwich-wide wifi which is free to use, and there are also numerous > departmental wifi networks too that are accessible. > > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:15:42 +0100 > From: Richard Lewis <richardlewis(a)fastmail.co.uk> >> > You can only register a network device's MAC address if you have a > valid UEA network user account. However, a single user account can > register more than one device. So Rob, if you register some wireless > cards, you (or whoever registers them) would be responsible for > whatever use is made of them. > > Also note that the University hosts a second wireless network provide > by BT OpenZone which visitors can pay a fee to use. > > http://www1.uea.ac.uk/print/home/services/units/is/services/itservices/netw… pus/wireless > > (apologies for UEA's ridiculous > CMS-generated-ultra-long-just-to-annoy-pretty-much-everybody URLs). > > And Simon, did you manage to use netreg.uea.ac.uk with a non-MSIE > browser? I'm very impressed ;-) > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:35:29 +0100 > From: Wayne Stallwood <ALUGlist(a)digimatic.co.uk> > Subject: Re: [ALUG] usb wireless card for visitors > > It is going to be a difficult search I am afraid, naturally you want > to > go the USB route rather than PCMCIA because not all new laptops have > PCMCIA. > > Of those that work a lot require a firmware image download (which is > going to be difficult to do before you get the link up) and/or only > work > for specific hardware revisions (and it's not easy to buy a specific > hardware revision of a card). For the former you could of course stick > the firmware with installation instructions on a CD or USB keydrive > > Then the range of wireless USB dongles that will play nicely with OSX > without lots of fiddling (you mention wanting it to be Mac compatible > too) is pretty limited, I am not even sure OSX will let you use a > third > party card if there is built in wireless hardware available. > > Even Windows is a bit of a problem if the machine already has Wireless > (and a fair percentage of recent laptops will) as you can get > unexpected > behaviour by adding an additional card. Even more so if there is no > way > to make the existing wireless card disappear without disabling the > driver in the device manager. And things only get worse if the > existing > card has a third party connection management bundle of nastiness on > the > taskbar. > > I've tried to help Coffee shops and pubs etc with this sort of set up > before and to be honest it is more trouble than it is worth. > > Perhaps you should ask the UEA should consider having a area on their > MAC registration page where a temporary visitor pass can be granted, > perhaps this would have restricted access compared to a fully > registered > MAC. It just strikes me that offering pe-registered cards for loan > effectively weakens the presumed reasoning for having the MAC > lockdowns > in the first place. > > Sorry I usually try to be more positive about the advice I give :-) > > > Message: 6 > Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:47:43 +0100 > From: Simon Jude <s.jude(a)uea.ac.uk> > Subject: Re: [ALUG] usb wireless card for visitors > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Message-ID: <4677A63F.2030200(a)uea.ac.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > >> And Simon, did you manage to use netreg.uea.ac.uk with a non-MSIE >> browser? I'm very impressed ;-) >> >> > Yep, that worked fine, it even identified me as using linux! (just > don't > tell ITCS I'm running Linux!!! ;-)) > > > Simon > > > Wayne Stallwood wrote: >> O >> Perhaps you should ask the UEA should consider having a area on their >> MAC registration page where a temporary visitor pass can be granted, >> perhaps this would have restricted access compared to a fully >> registered >> MAC. It just strikes me that offering pe-registered cards for loan >> effectively weakens the presumed reasoning for having the MAC >> lockdowns >> in the first place. >> >> > It might be worth checking whether they have this already. > Simon, Richard, Wayne, thanks very much, that is very helpful. I anticipated that the IT manager would come back with a suggested card and wanted to see if I could propose something Linux usable- if you are right Wayne it seems more likely that the IT manager will come back and say that the whole idea is flawed even for MS machines. If a speaker turns up at 12pm wanting to access the internet during his talk, catch up on a few emails in the common room afterwards then be on a train at 5pm, we don't want to be poking around in his wireless card configuration trying to disable the built in one and enable our usb one. Apart from the hassle a visitor might feel justifiably annoyed if they then get back home and have problems getting their own wireless connections working again. I appreciate the info regarding the BT and Norwich networks. I think though that we are keen to offer the courtesy of a free connection to our guests and the Norwich city network has an uncertain future. Plus, how good is indoors reception with these? Looks like I should bring my own laptop in and try all the options with both Ubuntu and XP. Then if necessary our school can do what it can to push for a streamlining of the visitor registration process. I don't want to over push the linux thing at UEA as I get the feeling that attitudes to FOS in general vary considerably among our technical people here and I don't want to come across as too much of a trouble maker. I'm especially wary as someone with low technical knowledge- but you have given me some useful pointers to do what little I can here. Best wishes, Rob Rob Grant Lecturer in Development Economics School of Development Studies University of East Anglia NR4 7TJ +44(0)1603592324 r.grant(a)uea.ac.uk

1 0

usb wireless card for visitors
by Rob Grant 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

Visitors to UEA need to get their network cards registered in order to access our network. As a more convenient alternative, the technical support manager here suggested that our school buy two or three usb wireless cards which can be pre-registered and loaned to visitors. Obviously, I'd like to make sure that whatever we get will have a good chance of working for any visitors who arrive with Linux laptops. Hence, any ideas on either of these would be appreciated. i) suggestions for a usb wireless card that should plug and play with Linux, Macs and Windows. Physical robustness probably a help too. ii) or is this whole idea a bad one? Apologies if this 'which wireless card?' thing has been rather done to death here recently. I can't recall anything specifically usb and mac/win interoperable though. Thanks, Rob Rob Grant Lecturer in Development Economics School of Development Studies University of East Anglia NR4 7TJ +44(0)1603592324 r.grant(a)uea.ac.uk

4 5