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[ALUG Announce] Alug Norwich 2nd Thursday Pub Meet 8th October @ The Coach & Horses
by Adam Bower 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Dear ALUG, This months second Thursday social meeting of ALUG will take place on 8th October 2009 at The Coach and Horses (82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1BA http://www.thecoachthorperoad.co.uk/ ). This is our second meeting in the Coach and Horses and it offers food, a good selection of real beer (including takeouts!) and reasonably good connections for travel and parking. There should be people there from 8pm, hopefully someone will bring a Tux to aid people in recognising us. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Thanks Adam -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Delays at earth.li?
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 02 Oct '09

02 Oct '09

Hi, I have just (08:40 BST, 30 Sept) received Sam Tuke's posting dated Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:02:04 +0000. The successive headers encapsulating the delay are: Received: from col0-omc1-s16.col0.hotmail.com ([65.55.34.26]) by the.earth.li with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from <samtuke(a)hotmail.com>) id 1MrZio-0005vC-VR for main(a)lists.alug.org.uk; Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:02:07 +0100 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=the.earth.li) by the.earth.li with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from <main-bounces(a)lists.alug.org.uk>) id 1Mstm5-0003BE-Tq; Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:38:57 +0100 This isn't the first time recently that I've noticed substantial delays, though not on the 4-day scale until today. Is there a problem? Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 30-Sep-09 Time: 08:58:01 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Backup/Recovery Options
by Alex Scotton 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Hi there, I have seen this matter arise under a slightly different context many times on this mailing list and am sure a Google search will produce tonnes of results; however i thought I'd get some recommendations and some easy options for backing up my Linux OS: I would like to create an image of the Ubuntu 9.04 system running on my desktop PC, so that in the event I mess something up I can return to a system, that is already setup and 'tweaked', as apposed to dropping the install disk back in and starting again.. I would also like to look into doing this for other ubuntu pcs over the network and hosting these recovery images on my desktop pc... Would be awesome to have some sort of semi-automated process to recovering these images from the grub. Anyways cheers in advance for your help Alex Scotton

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HP Photosmart R507 can't be mounted
by Jenny Hopkins 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Hullo List, I've got a problem with an HP Photosmart R507 camera on an ubuntu jaunty system. The camera is set to behave as a disk drive. When plugged into a debian system it is assigned to be /dev/hdc1 and can be mounted. However, with the ubuntu, it won't assign a device. here is the tail of dmesg: [14522.580027] usb 4-4: new full speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 4 [14522.805646] usb 4-4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice [14522.815803] scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices [14522.840286] usb-storage: device found at 4 [14522.840295] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning lsusb shows the camera listed. The running modules after this show: Module Size Used by vfat 18816 0 fat 58272 1 vfat binfmt_misc 16776 1 ppdev 15620 0 bridge 56212 0 stp 10500 1 bridge bnep 20224 2 video 25360 0 output 11008 1 video input_polldev 11912 0 nfsd 228012 17 auth_rpcgss 42144 1 nfsd exportfs 12416 1 nfsd nfs 266600 2 lockd 74284 2 nfsd,nfs nfs_acl 11136 2 nfsd,nfs sunrpc 195552 23 nfsd,auth_rpcgss,nfs,lockd,nfs_acl lp 17156 0 parport 42220 2 ppdev,lp snd_hda_intel 434100 3 snd_pcm_oss 46336 0 snd_mixer_oss 22656 1 snd_pcm_oss snd_pcm 83076 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss snd_seq_dummy 10756 0 snd_seq_oss 37760 0 snd_seq_midi 14336 0 snd_rawmidi 29696 1 snd_seq_midi snd_seq_midi_event 15104 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi snd_seq 56880 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event snd_timer 29704 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq snd_seq_device 14988 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq pcspkr 10496 0 snd 62756 15 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device shpchp 40212 0 soundcore 15200 1 snd snd_page_alloc 16904 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm usb_storage 99648 0 usblp 20224 0 usbhid 42336 0 forcedeth 61712 0 fbcon 46112 0 tileblit 10752 1 fbcon font 16384 1 fbcon bitblit 13824 1 fbcon softcursor 9984 1 bitblit (sorry about large list...) I've been googling for hours, and the closest thing I have found is a bug report in libgphoto_2 here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libgphoto2/+bug/355998 but the bug is reported fixed and the version being used is 2.4.2-0ubuntu4. I'm puzzled that lsmod doesn't show any e/ohci_usb type modules and won't probe for them, but maybe this is an ubuntu thing. Any hints warmly welcomed. Thanks, Jenny

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sharing a dvd writer amongst linux boxen
by Jenny Hopkins 28 Sep '09

28 Sep '09

Hullo, erm, again.... Out of curiosity: If I have a debian server (no X window system installed) that has a cd/dvd burning drive on the same intranet as a debian client that has no dvd burner, is there any method known to man or beast that can allow the server drive to be shared? First, I'm not sure how to include the drive in exports, as surely it isn't mountable with just a blank medium in it? Secondly, if I could somehow do the latter, how would I tell the dvd burning GUI that the medium to be used is an nfs mounted share? Thanks, Jenny

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No keyboard and no mouse ???
by Barry Samuels 28 Sep '09

28 Sep '09

I have just run an update for Debian Testing, the first update for 5 days, and when I start X I have no keyboard and no mouse. The mouse pointer is displayed but won't move and using the keyboard has no effect including the alt-sysrq combinations and I can't get to a terminal using alt-F(n). I can run and close an X application remotely using ssh and I can kill the unresponsive X server remotely using ssh. I can also kill individual X applications remotely. It doesn't look as though the system is locked in any way as the clock on the bottom bar (xfce) updates and the cpu load meter also appears to be updating. I haven't the remotest idea where to start looking for this problem. Could someone please help? -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

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Re: [ALUG] main Digest, Vol 51, Issue 22
by Sam Tuke 26 Sep '09

26 Sep '09

Interesting stuff - more of a response than I would have expected. Sam. > From: main-request(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Subject: main Digest, Vol 51, Issue 22 > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:00:03 +0100 > > Send main mailing list submissions to > main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > main-request(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > You can reach the person managing the list at > main-owner(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of main digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. FW: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools' > ( (Ted Harding)) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:31:01 +0100 (BST) > From: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> > Subject: [ALUG] FW: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools' > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk, man-lug(a)lists.manchester.ac.uk, > linux-users(a)lists.manchester.ac.uk, sheflug(a)sheflug.org.uk > Message-ID: <XFMail.090925203101.Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Hi Folks, > Apologies for cross-posting -- I know some of you will read this > more than once. > > No 10 has mow responded to the "No MS in Schools" petition. > See the URL below. At first reading, it may seem that they > are "kicking it into touch", but in fact if you read the > link > > "Further details of the Becta advice can be found on the > following link: > > http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35287&CFID=3039363 > > it will appear that they are not particularly sympathetic to MS. > See especially the last 3 paragraphs of that document, which to > my view of it describe a serious scam! > > Ted. > > -----FW: <E1Mr8dr-0000Wo-Jd(a)steak.ukcod.org.uk>----- > > Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:07:11 +0100 > From: 10 Downing Street <number10(a)petitions.pm.gov.uk> > To: e-petition signatories <number10(a)petitions.pm.gov.uk> > Subject: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools' > > http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20711 > > --------------End of forwarded message------------------------- > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> > Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 > Date: 25-Sep-09 Time: 20:30:52 > ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------ > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > http://www.anglian.lug.org.uk/ > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main > > > End of main Digest, Vol 51, Issue 22 > ************************************ _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organise, edit, and share your photos. http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/134665338/direct/01/

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FW: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools'
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 25 Sep '09

25 Sep '09

Hi Folks, Apologies for cross-posting -- I know some of you will read this more than once. No 10 has mow responded to the "No MS in Schools" petition. See the URL below. At first reading, it may seem that they are "kicking it into touch", but in fact if you read the link "Further details of the Becta advice can be found on the following link: http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35287&CFID=3039363 it will appear that they are not particularly sympathetic to MS. See especially the last 3 paragraphs of that document, which to my view of it describe a serious scam! Ted. -----FW: <E1Mr8dr-0000Wo-Jd(a)steak.ukcod.org.uk>----- Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:07:11 +0100 From: 10 Downing Street <number10(a)petitions.pm.gov.uk> To: e-petition signatories <number10(a)petitions.pm.gov.uk> Subject: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools' http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20711 --------------End of forwarded message------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 25-Sep-09 Time: 20:30:52 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Grub can't find my new kernel, when old kernel works and is in the same directory
by Srdjan Todorovic 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

Hi all, Decided to give Linux 2.6.31 a go to see if it fixes the annoying I/O slowness bug I've been having for a long time. Compiled it, installed the modules and copied the kernel image to the correct place in what is effectively /boot title Slamd 64 12.2 Linux 2.6.30-cfq root (hd0,1) kernel /boot/slamd64-2.6.30-cfq root=/dev/sda2 title Slamd 64 12.2 Linux 2.6.31-srki root (hd0,1) kernel /boot/slamd64-2.6.31srki root=/dev/sda2 The first entry works and I can boot it. The second entry does not work and I get a "Error 15: File not found" I've verified the kernel is in the same dir and the filename is correct - so no typos. Googling for this message shows some ubuntu related stuff about having to reinstall grub - I can't imagine why i'd have to do this given the previous entry works. I can't see what I'm doing wrong with the grub config - everything seems to be ok. Does grub have a size limit on the kernel image? The grub screen shows: Booting 'Slamd 64 12.2 Linux 2.6.31-srki' root (hd0,1) Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83 kernel /boot/slamd64-2.6.31srki root=/dev/sda2 Error 15: File not found Press any key to continue.... Anyone kindly offer some help please? Thanks Srdjan

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ssh-agent
by Richard Lewis 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

Hi ALUG, I'm trying to get ssh-agent to work properly so that I can have passwordless ssh. I've got my public key in the authorized_keys files on the relevant remote machines, and I can log in to them by just unlocking my key OK. The bit that I'm stuck with is starting ssh-agent properly. If I run urxvt, for example, under ssh-agent: $ ssh-agent urxvt I can't then run ssh-add, it says "Could not open a connection to your authentication agent." Although ps reports that the ssh-agent is running. The next thing I can't do is get ssh-agent to start my Fluxbox session. In /etc/X11/Xsession.options I have have "use-ssh-agent" (which I think is a default anyway). But I don't have any ssh-agent process running, and ssh-add reports the same error as above for a shell running under Fluxbox. (My /etc/X11/Xsession.options also has "use-session-dbus" and it seems that dbus works OK; I have a process called /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session /usr/bin/startfluxbox. That's not exactly related, but I guess it's kind of similar.) Any ideas why this isn't working? Cheers, Richard -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Richard Lewis ISMS, Computing Goldsmiths, University of London Tel: +44 (0)20 7078 5134 Skype: richardjlewis JID: ironchicken(a)jabber.earth.li http://www.richard-lewis.me.uk/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- +-------------------------------------------------------+ |Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.| |http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html | +-------------------------------------------------------+

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Debian dependency hell!!
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

Hi Folks, I have hit yet another instance of having an attempt to install a Debian package run into a dead end. For the sake of another package, I need mencoder (I already have mplayer) on a Debian Etch system (regularly upgraded). So I start up Synaptic, search for mencoder (which comes up in the search list), and mark it for installation. First result: NOT AUTHENTICATED: libpostproccvs51 To be installed: libfribidi0 liblzo2-2 libpostproccvs51 and I then choose to Mark these. Result: mencoder: Depends: libdvdnav4 but it is not going to be installed Depends: libmpcdec3 but it is not installable Depends: libtwolame0 but it is not installable This "not going to be installed" and "not installable" is a block which I frequently encounter. No reasons are given as to why "it is not going to be installed" nor why "it is not installable", which leaves me clueless as to what to do about it! There is no visible "help" button in this situation. Is there any work-round for this situation? While I like Debian when using what can be installed on it, I find this situation very irritating, and I'm beggining to get fed up with it. Enough to drive me to use Ubuntu! (Which I find too glitzy and "user-oriented" [yuk] for myh taste, but at least it seems to do this kind of thing effortlessly). Comments? With thanks, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 23-Sep-09 Time: 19:30:31 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Document Management Systems
by Mark Rogers 23 Sep '09

23 Sep '09

Does anyone here have any experience/recommendations for web-based document management systems? Ie: a collection of users, each with (secure) access to different sets of individual and shared documents, via a web interface. I know there are several wheels out there which I could avoid re-inventing, but I don't have any first-hand experience of any of them. -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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Corrupting address book file in icedove
by Jenny Hopkins 22 Sep '09

22 Sep '09

Hullo there, I'm having problems with a corrupting address book. One of my clients uses icedove aka thunderbird for her mail, and the address book is becoming corrupt on a daily basis. Googling has led me to a bug report in 2007 that never seemed to be resolved but i can find little else other than helpful instructions on how to uncorrupt the file. This problem started when the disk filled up to 100%, but even though space has been freed up the problem is continuing. The versions are running on lenny: ii icedove 2.0.0.22-0lenny1 free/unbranded thunderbird mail/news/rss clone ii thunderbird 1.5.0.13+1.5.0.15b.dfsg1+prepatch080614i-0etch1 Transition package for icedove rename Has anyone else experienced such a problem? Can anyone make any suggestions? System load is usually pretty small, but a large rsync file transfer does happen every lunchtime - seems to have no bearing on the random time of corruption though. Any hints welcome, Jenny

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Anyone like Bing?
by Mark Rogers 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

I've just had to do a fresh Windows install so it still has its default search engine. Too lazy to type "openoffice.org" in the address bar I typed "openoffice" and let Bing find it for me. Or at least I thought it would, but it wasn't even listed. A few ads for downloads from non-OOo sites, and few references to it, but even adding "org" to the search didn't get me there. It's hard to see how that could be unbiased results! -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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[ALUG Announce] 3rd Monday Monthly Ipswich Social Meeting : McGintys, Northgate Street
by samwise 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- The monthly "Third Monday" ALUG Ipswich Social Meeting is back this coming Monday (21th September) at 20:00: P J McGinty & Sons 15 Northgate Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3BY Tel: 01473 251 515 Map/Directions URI: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=IP1+3BY WWW: http://pjmcginty.moonfruit.com/ McGintys pub is in the centre of Ipswich, not far from our old haunt - The Milestone. It's directly opposite the town's central library and has a reputation for good Irish beer. All are welcome, novices and experienced users. Feel free to ask for further information on the Main ALUG mailing list. Remember to call or email me, if you're arriving later and want to ensure I don't wander off, which I have a tendency to do if the turn-out hits rock-bottom ... Hope to see you there, Peter. ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Securing grub
by Dan Hatton 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

Dear All, I just frightened the life out of myself by selecting this option from my grub menu: title Gentoo Linux (rescue) root (hd0,4) kernel /boot/bzImage-2.6.28-tuxonice-r10 root=/dev/sda5 real_root=/dev/sda5 init=/bin/bb and finding it dropped me straight to a shell with root privileges, with no need to enter a password. Since the machine sometimes gets left unattended in areas other people have access to, I'd really like this not to be a possibility. But I would still like the possibility of a minimal-services, non-GUI boot. Any ideas, please? -- Thanks, Dan

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Exernal USB Drive
by Mathew Moore 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Hi All I am trying to format a USB drive to ext3 or 4 but when it finishes it will not let me do any thing with it like add files. I have read it is about ownership and ubuntu root owns the files and drive and i have tried changing it but no change. any ideas thanks Mat

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DPMS trouble
by Dan Hatton 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Dear All, I've posted about this before, but I can now give a clearer description of my problem (thanks to Tim Green for a tip that helped me get there). Any suggestions as to how to make DPMS work correctly will be welcome. I have two computers (say 1 and 2), both with built-in LCD screens, plus two external monitors (A and B) that plug into VGA ports. The results of running xset dpms force off (or going to DPMS off mode via xscreensaver) are as follows: Computer 1 + no external monitor: built-in screen goes to DPMS off mode. Computer 1 + monitor A: monitor A goes to DPMS off mode, built-in screen was in off mode anyway, from time computer was started with monitor A plugged in. Computer 1 + monitor B: monitor B goes to DPMS off mode, built-in screen was in off mode anyway, from time computer was started with monitor B plugged in. Computer 2 + no external monitor: built-in screen goes to DPMS off mode. Computer 2 + monitor A: both built-in screen and monitor A go to DPMS off mode. Computer 2 + monitor B: built-in screen goes to DPMS off mode, monitor B stays on, complaining that I should "check signal cable". So it seems all individual components work OK, and it's the combination of computer 2 and monitor B that's problematic. In each case, the monitor behaviour when the computer is switched off altogether is the same as that in response to xset dpms force off. Thanks very much, Dan Some details that might help: Computer 1 has an Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03), and runs Fedora 9 with xorg 1.5.2-6.fc9. Computer 2 has an Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03), and runs Gentoo with xorg 7.2. Monitor A is a Samsung SyncMaster 710N. Monitor B is an LG Flatron W2234S. xorg.conf from computer 1 # Xorg configuration created by system-config-display Section "ServerLayout" Identifier "single head configuration" Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0 InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer" InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard" EndSection Section "Files" # RgbPath is the location of the RGB database. Note, this is the name of the # file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db"). There is normally # no need to change the default. # Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together) # By default, Red Hat 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of # the X server to render fonts. FontPath "unix/:7100" EndSection Section "Module" Load "dbe" Load "extmod" Load "fbdevhw" Load "glx" Load "record" Load "freetype" Load "type1" Load "dri" EndSection Section "InputDevice" # Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1)) # Option "Xleds" "1 2 3" # To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable. # Option "XkbDisable" # To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the # lines below (which are the defaults). For example, for a non-U.S. # keyboard, you will probably want to use: # Option "XkbModel" "pc102" # If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use: # Option "XkbModel" "microsoft" # # Then to change the language, change the Layout setting. # For example, a german layout can be obtained with: # Option "XkbLayout" "de" # or: # Option "XkbLayout" "de" # Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys" # # If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and # control keys, use: # Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps" # Or if you just want both to be control, use: # Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps" # Identifier "Keyboard0" Driver "kbd" Option "XkbModel" "pc105" Option "XkbLayout" "gb" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Mouse0" Driver "mouse" Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2" Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice" Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes" EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "Monitor0" VendorName "Monitor Vendor" ModelName "LCD Panel 1024x768" HorizSync 31.5 - 48.5 VertRefresh 40.0 - 70.0 Option "dpms" EndSection Section "Device" # VendorName "Videocard vendor" # BoardName "VESA driver (generic)" Identifier "Videocard0" Driver "intel" BoardName "Unknown video card" EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "Screen0" Device "Videocard0" Monitor "Monitor0" DefaultDepth 24 SubSection "Display" Viewport 0 0 Depth 16 Modes "800x600" "640x480" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Viewport 0 0 Depth 24 Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" EndSubSection EndSection Section "DRI" Group 0 Mode 0666 EndSection xorg.conf from computer 2 # Xorg configuration created by system-config-display Section "ServerFlags" Option "DontZap" "yes" Option "DontVTSwitch" "no" EndSection Section "ServerLayout" Identifier "Default Layout" Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0 InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer" InputDevice "Synaptics Mouse" "AlwaysCore" InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Keyboard0" Driver "kbd" Option "XkbModel" "pc105" Option "XkbLayout" "gb,us(euro)" Option "XkbOptions" "grp:alt_shift_toggle" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Synaptics Mouse" Driver "synaptics" Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" Option "Protocol" "auto-dev" Option "LeftEdge" "1700" Option "RightEdge" "5300" Option "TopEdge" "1700" Option "BottomEdge" "4200" Option "FingerLow" "25" Option "FingerHigh" "30" Option "MaxTapTime" "180" Option "MaxTapMove" "220" Option "VertScrollDelta" "100" Option "MinSpeed" "0.09" Option "MaxSpeed" "0.18" Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015" Option "SHMConfig" "on" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Mouse0" Driver "mouse" Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2" Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice" Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no" EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "Monitor0" Modeline "1024x600" 48.96 1024 1064 1168 1312 600 601 604 622 -HSync +VSync # Option "Above" "Monitor1" Modeline "1280x768" 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 -HSync +Vsync Modeline "1280x768" 102.98 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 802 -HSync +Vsync Modeline "1280x1024" 138.54 1280 1368 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1069 -HSync +Vsync Modeline "1280x1024" 108.88 1280 1360 1496 1712 1024 1025 1028 1060 -HSync +Vsync Option "dpms" EndSection Section "Device" Identifier "Videocard0" Driver "intel" # Option "monitor-LVDS" "Monitor0" # Option "monitor-VGA" "Monitor1" Option "Clone" "true" Option "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,VGA" BusID "PCI:0:2:0" # Screen 0 EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "Screen0" Device "Videocard0" Monitor "Monitor0" DefaultDepth 24 SubSection "Display" Viewport 0 0 Depth 24 Modes "1280x1024" "1024x600" "800x600" "640x480" Virtual 1280 1024 EndSubSection EndSection Section "DRI" Group 0 Mode 0666 EndSection

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Re-launched Linux User
by Richard Lewis 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

Hi ALUG, Did anyone else notice that Linux User had disppeared from the newstands? No, neither had I. But they've recently published a re-launch issue, now under Imagine Publishing. Don't know if anyone else has read it and has any opinions? Just thought I'd voice some of mine. The features seem to be quite good, but some of the tutorials and reviews are dreadful. The hardware reviews go into no detail whatsoever. So they reviewed several netbooks in this issue, and all they did was to tell you the basic specs, tell you how they found OOo to work, and tell you what it's like to hold the thing. No objective benchmark testing or anything. But the software reviews were even worse. So bad, in fact, that I've quoted this passage from a view of Mono 2.4: "Mono 2.4 was released in March of this year. The Mono project and the DotGNU project are based on similar ideas. The fact that you can just download it and do anything with it makes it attractive to a lot of people out there who don't want to be tied down by an NDA or some other legal straitjacket which prevents them from realising their goal in writing a certain type of application. The General Public License, which is the most successful software license ever produced by any organisation anywhere, and the MIT X11 license make all of this possible." He manages to convey almost as little information in the remaining 500 words of the review. It's good for a laugh if you have a spare £6 (I still think they should drop the 'free' DVDs from these things). Though I should say again that the features (Shuttleworth interview, Jon 'Maddog' Hall on OpenMoko, Gerry Gavigan on grass-roots marketing of FLOSS) were worth reading. Best, Richard -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Richard Lewis ISMS, Computing Goldsmiths, University of London JID: ironchicken(a)jabber.earth.li http://www.richard-lewis.me.uk/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- +-------------------------------------------------------+ |Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.| |http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html | +-------------------------------------------------------+

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[ALUG Announce] Coach and Horses is now permanent venue for 2nd Thursday meetings.
by Adam Bower 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Hi all, Last night we had a decent turnout of 9 people, lots of regulars and a couple of new faces. The Coach & Horses turns out to be an excellent venue, serving decent food, free wifi, very good beer (including takeouts!), plenty of seating and a good atmosphere. So this will remain the venue for all future Alug 2nd Thursday pub meets until time we see fit for a change. http://www.thecoachthorperoad.co.uk/ thanks Adam -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Augmenting sound on DVD video-rip
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

Greetings all. I have copied an amateur VHS video onto a DVD (using a Tape/DVD machine with cross-copying capability). I have copied the DVD to a ".iso" file (ndf filesystem, I think) using cat /dev/dvd > titlename.iso, and I dare say I can store the various compoment files in a directory using dvdbackup. No problem in duplicating the DVD using growisofs from the ".iso" file. This works well. However, the sound-track is too quiet (it was filmed from the back of a lecture-theatre during a talk), and it would be good to augment the sound volume (the DVD has to be played at maximum sound level on the player, and even then is often too faint). I have little experience of manipulating video stuff, and would welcome guidance on how to proceed! With thanks, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 09-Sep-09 Time: 19:15:52 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

2 1

Over-clever keyboard detection in Gentoo
by Dan Hatton 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

Dear All, I usually operate my Gentoo netbook with one of two USB keyboards plugged in - a Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard or an Apple Pro Keyboard. Usually, the computer responds to either of these, and its built-in keyboard, as if they were PC-style keyboards, i.e. shift-2 gives ", shift-' gives @. I quite like it this way. Occasionally (usually while the Apple keyboard is plugged in, although I've seen it once while the Microsoft keyboard was plugged in), however, the computer switches to responding to both the USB keyboard and its built-in keyboard as if they were Apple-style keyboards, i.e. shift-2 is @, shift-' is ". There's nothing wrong with this in itself, but unfortunately it coincides with the computer becoming very to respond to keypresses, and frequently mistaking a single keypress for a large number of multiple presses of the same key. It also coincides with the second light from the left (of six) in xkbvleds coming on, which suggests that the behaviour is switchable. Any ideas how to switch it, please? -- Thanks, Dan

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[ALUG Announce] Changed Venue! Alug Norwich 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 10th September 2009
by Adam Bower 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Dear ALUG, Note that we have a new venue for the pub meet this month! This months second Thursday social meeting of ALUG will take place on 10th September 2009 at The Coach and Horses (82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1BA http://www.thecoachthorperoad.co.uk/ ). This is a new venue for Alug but has been chosen as it offers food, a good selection of real beer and reasonably good connections for travel and parking. There should be people there from 8pm, I will try and bring a Tux to aid people in recognising us. Thanks Adam -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Re: [ALUG] Bittorrent / Sky / ThePirateBay
by mick 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

On Tue, 8 Sep 2009 09:44:24 +0100 Alex Scotton <alex.scotton(a)gmail.com> allegedly wrote: > >>and if so does anyone know of a good encrypted proxy?.. > > > > Try Tor, though some operators (myself included I may add) actually > > block torrents in their exit policies. Too bandwidth hungry. > > been checking out the website, looks very good.. however few > questions, I assume you have volunteered to be a "relay" so this just > sets up a few ssh tunnels between you and the target and bounces your > connection around a little etc... its routed through encrypted > "relays" to the target and then "encrypted" back through? does this > not create a tad of latency, especially on torrents if some relays are > allowing it and some aren't. See http://www.torproject.org/overview.html.en for details of how tor works. It is not really a set of ssh tunnels. Tor's great strength is that no-one can link your source address to the destination you are interested in (well, no-one without the capability of observing all possible tor nodes - which excludes even most nation states). Yes, tor is slow, but how fast do you need to be for file transfer? And of course, the more tor relays there are, the faster the network gets. See also http://www.torproject.org/docs/tor-doc-relay.html.en for how to configure your tor client as a relay. But beware, the impact on your own bandwidth can be huge. I choose to run a tor exit node (a relay which also permits exit) on a VPS. Despite some judicious throttling I still consume 3 to 3.5 Gig of traffic per day. My VPS contract allows 150 Gig per month so I kep an eye on usage. I found that running a relay on my ADSL line was totally impractical. You can, of course, just use tor as a client, but that way you are not giving anything back to the community. And as I said, the more tor relays there are, the faster and more "secure" the network becomes. When I want to use tor myself, I just set up an SSH tunnel to my relay and join the network from there. Mick --------------------------------------------------------------------- The text file for RFC 854 contains exactly 854 lines. Do you think there is any cosmic significance in this? Douglas E Comer - Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 1 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc854.txt ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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Partition imaging and restoring
by Mark Rogers 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

Ah, Windows, Windows, Windows, how I love thee. There definitely seems to be a certain type of user who, given a few weeks with a Windows installation (no matter what AV software is installed) will end up with a compromised machine. So I'm looking for a way to roll-back to a clean install. What I'm thinking is to have two partitions on the disk - the Windows one and an EXT2/3 partition containing an image of the clean Windows install. All I need then is: (a) a way to create the image (Linux has several of these but recommendations welcome) (b) a way for a "normal user" (with some support) to restore the image I started by thinking simple; have a dual-boot config with a basic Linux install selectable from a Grub menu (labelled "System Restore" or similar), which when booted simply runs the restore command automatically (which might just be dd). To create/update the image I'd use a LiveCD. But then I thought that this has probably all been done before and there's probably a standard solution out there? The key point is that it needs to be end-user friendly when it comes to restoring the image. -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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Pub meet pub suggestion
by Montmorency 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

>We need to have a bit of discussion over where the 2nd Thursday Norwich >pub meet is going to be held this month. The Coach and Horses on Thorpe Road! http://www.thecoachthorperoad.co.uk/ Points: a) Very good beer that they brew in the premises. b) They do food c) The location is very convenient for the railway station, for getting home. Busses and taxis are to be found there as well as trains. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox- a&ie=UTF8&q=Coach+Horses +Norwich&fb=1&split=1&gl=uk&cid=0,0,4671222259257925321&ei=djqkSpe9NdG6j Ae-wvi2Dg&ll=52.627098,1.311128&spn=0.008075,0.01929&z=16&iwloc=A d) There is some parking in front of the pub. And side-street parking in the area. e) It's not crowded on weekdays, it's a large place with lots of tables so getting one for Alug shouldn't be a problem. f) The pub has wireless. katmeat montmorency(a)ukfsn.org bellphegore(a)nerdshack.com

4 3

Bittorrent / Sky / ThePirateBay
by Alex Scotton 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

Hello guys, I've been humming and harring for days now, over what's been going on with The Pirate Bay tracker.... Basically, I download from nowhere else other than thepiratebay, hastening to delete all other trackers from torrents before starting downloads; however over the last few days I've noticed a rapid decline in my download speeds, and noticed differences between the number of seeders published on thepiratebay site and what I actually get in bittorrent... So after about 30 seconds of investigation today realised that bittorrent was registering tracker.thepiratebay.org as "offline(timed out)"; assuming the worst I headed over to suprbay.org only to find out that the tracker was indeed up and running fine, so i decided to ping/traceroute tracker.thepiratebay.org and have found that it is possible for me to resolve the IP linked to the hostname but not in fact get there: traceroute to tracker.thepiratebay.org (192.121.86.7), 30 hops max, 60 byte packets 1 myrouter.home (192.168.0.1) 1.224 ms 1.632 ms 2.040 ms 2 cr0.eacos.uk.easynet.net (87.87.253.19) 62.079 ms 62.576 ms 63.556 ms 3 * * * 4 * * * 5 * * * ........ So assuming that Sky had done the dirty deed; I switched to OpenDNS and unfortunetly the same story there as I guessed there would be, because all they provide me with is resolutions and the direction for the IP linked to the hostname, right? they are as they say a Domain Name Server... so if Sky don't want me going somewhere, then I ain't getting there, even if I use OpenDNS. So would I be able to get around this using a proxy? and if so does anyone know of a good encrypted proxy?.. so i can say a big F**k you to Sky... (I am by the way calling them tomorrow to ask them why I can't connect to it) Gathering all the info possible would help for my lovely telephone call with a bright and bubbly Sky rep tomorrow; So if any of you other poor poor peeps use Sky, can you ping/traceroute tracker.thepiratebay.org for me, and in fact even if you aren't with sky give it a try for me, and let me know your findings.. ya never know maybe it isn't sky but instead a higher power up the line. Thanks in advance Alex Scotton

3 2

Bittorrent / Sky / ThePirateBay
by Alex Scotton 06 Sep '09

06 Sep '09

---------- Forwarded message ---------- (didn't CC the list haha...again) From: Alex Scotton <alex.scotton(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 12:51 AM Subject: Re: [ALUG] Bittorrent / Sky / ThePirateBay To: Srdjan Todorovic <todorovic.s(a)googlemail.com> > Others on IRC are reporting similar. Can resolve the host but can't get > to it. Wow.. had spaced on the Alug IRC, has been a few years since I've been on there.. and with IRC on my phone aswell no less, what a fool ha ha ha... Are these peeps on Sky also, or does it vary? there's a lot of people experiencing the same from all over the world according to the Suprbay forums.. bring on Blackout Europe and the end of our free speech, aye?.. Will let you know what Sky has to say on the matter, I shall be informing them that I wish to download "legitimate" un-copyrighted data from there and that i shall be canceling the direct debit etc.. and forfeiting the contract as a result of this action... as I am paying for the "Internet" (open and free as it is) not some corporate fool's idea of the Internet.

1 0

Thursday pub meet
by Richard 06 Sep '09

06 Sep '09

How about Take 5 in tombland? Equal distance from bus and train station, it's a busier area at night than the reindeer, next to inner-city bus stops, taxi rank, and a cash machine. They do great food, plenty of Ale (YAY!). St. Andrews car park is very nearby. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=take+5,+tombl… Cheers Richard -- Richard Bensley - 07540878285

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Re: [ALUG] Google Phone (T-Mobile/HTC G1)
by Alex Scotton 06 Sep '09

06 Sep '09

Doh! Well trust T-Mobile, aye?.. it's pretty iritating, so there's no flash support in cupcake either?.. hmm I know (what I assume is version 2) the g2 has flash 10 support so it must be coming.. Just going to have either play the waiting game, or flash it with JesusFreke's copy, then begs the question do you trust a guy who calls himself jesusfreke haha On 17 Aug 2009, 1:43 PM, "samwise" <samwise(a)bagshot-row.org> wrote: Hi, Alex. I have a Vodafone HTC Magic Android phone. Fortunately, for me, it came with Cupcake (Android OS 1.5) by default, so I haven't had any of the problems you describe. Although I'm pretty sure I don't have Flash support - that's supposed to be on the way, but it's not in Cupcake out of the box. October was the last date, I remember reading ... I haven't hacked it much - I've installed some apps that weren't in the Android market but, so far, I haven't seen any real need to root it, tbh. Android is pretty flexible anyway, and does most things out of the box or with apps from the market place so I haven't felt a need to put Debian (or Ubuntu) on it. Peter. 2009/8/17 Alex Scotton <alex.scotton(a)gmail.com>: > Hi guys, > > I'm a relative new comer to the world of linux, I use Ubuntu when I > can, however ha... > _______________________________________________ > 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! > _______________________________________________ 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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Thursday pub meet
by Adam Bower 05 Sep '09

05 Sep '09

Hi all, We need to have a bit of discussion over where the 2nd Thursday Norwich pub meet is going to be held this month. We need a venue with good beer, plenty of seating, good accessibility for people using bus/train and nearby car parking. As I've not got any idea over city pubs does anyone else have any suggestions? or shall we just start by doing some investigative research in person starting over the next few days ;) Thanks Adam -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li

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Re: [ALUG] Google Phone (T-Mobile/HTC G1)
by Alex Scotton 04 Sep '09

04 Sep '09

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:00 PM, Alex Scotton<alex.scotton(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> For the following reason: >> >> <head><style>body{font-family: >> Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:9pt;background-color: >> #ffffff;color: black;}p{margin:0px}</style></head><body >> id="compText">Helena >> Oakey wrote<br><<<<br><o:p></o:p> > > Fair enough, just going to have to wait until I get back to a PC to > email you guys then ha ha, how useless :-( > > Whilst I am emailing though, I posed a question a while back that I am > now about to search my emails for; it was regarding my Monitor and it > not "sleeping" correctly, and it was answered with something along the > lines of "DPMS 0 0 15", but after a quick google last night when I > suddenly remembered the words DPMS (at 3am in bed) haha, no such joy.. > Sent this to Ted by accident ha ha... i'm such a fool sometimes haha... Found the answer in my emails, gotta love archiving all the ALUG conversations hehe... the answer lies in "xset DPMS" but if i want these settings to persist past a restart of X, I need to set them in Xorg.conf, right?

1 0

Why do these pipes report as empty files to 'file'?
by Chris G 02 Sep '09

02 Sep '09

Using NFS it sets up what would *seem* to be some pipes in /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs, however some of these seem to have rather odd characteristics and they confuse rdiff-backup so it reports errors due to files apparently changing while it runs. The specific files in question are these:- chris$ ls -l /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt* /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt6: total 0 -r-------- 1 root root 0 2009-08-25 21:42 info /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt7: total 0 -r-------- 1 root root 0 2009-08-25 21:42 info /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt8: total 0 -r-------- 1 root root 0 2009-08-25 21:42 info Now note that these are reported as normal (but empty) files by 'ls'. Similarly 'file' reports them the same:- chris$ file /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt?/* /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt6/info: empty /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt7/info: empty /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt8/info: empty But they're not really empty, presumably because they're pipes or fifos or something:- root@chris:/var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs# cat /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs/clnt6/info RPC server: garage.local service: nfs (100003) version 3 address: 192.168.1.88 protocol: tcp port: 0 root@chris:/var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs/nfs# This is presumably what's confusing rdiff-backup because they *seem* to be empty ordinary files but they aren't. Is this normal for pipes/fifos or is there something special about these? -- Chris Green

2 2

Wireless card
by Chris & Barry 31 Aug '09

31 Aug '09

Hi Anyone want a pcmcia-11 wireless card dont need it any more it worked ok with Ubuntu 6.10 it is a Edimax turbo EW-7108Pcg No charge, With Windows and linux driver disks Barry

2 1

iTunes alternatives?
by James Elsey 28 Aug '09

28 Aug '09

What are you guys using for media players? Since getting an iPod, I've become fond of how iTunes manages music collections, and I haven't been able to find a good Linux alternative. Exaile comes close, but I'm still missing the following iTunes had a lovely way of storing compilation albums separately, so your main "list" of artists wasn't cluttered up by those on compilation CDs. Exaile/Amarok seem to list everything by artist > album, and when you have several compilations, this list becomes difficult to manage Audio books, iTunes has a nice way of storing those "out of the way", can't see anything in amarok to do this.. There's some other features I can't find good implementations of, but these are my two pet-hates at the moment. I haven't heard of any iTunes Linux versions on the horizon, and I don't think running under WINE would be ideal Any suggestions? James Elsey

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Re: [ALUG] Any experience of the "Fit PC 2" here?
by Alex Scotton 28 Aug '09

28 Aug '09

*(Sorry if this reposted; I keep getting mails about postponed posting because of "suspicious headers")* Putting all your eggs in one basket, aye? I want to do this too, currently running a media server, wow server, ftp server on my windows box (hides head in shame ha ha) and with 4 other pcs in the house all from time to time using bittorrent (especially me hehe).. would love to set up a buntu box as a server providing dns, possibly a few domain services (i.e. possibly storing user info etc.. people in the house log onto the server not their local account...) and in so doing provide an intranet possible of handling the bittorrent web ui, enabling peeps to upload their torrent file to the server and then leaving that to download the file and place it on a public drive when it's finished downloading.. would love to have a service that detects network load and adjusts bittorrent's bandwith allocation as appropriate... Would also love an app to sense new computers on the network and ask my permission for it's access etc.. Let me know how your venture goes chris Alex Scotton

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Anybody had experience of this?
by Chris Walker 27 Aug '09

27 Aug '09

http://maemo.nokia.com/ I've been tempted to trade in my old Nokia phone for a Nokia N97 but have been put off by the reviews - and the £500 price tag. I've thought about an Android phone and an iPhone but today I read about the Nokia N900. It has a Linux OS but having downloaded an SDK for the N97 and installed it on my Windows machine, am I likely to have problems trying write something for a Linux OS on a phone? I have to confess that my programming experience is limited to BBC Basic on a model B back in the 80's and now that I'm about to retire I thought I'd buy myself a new phone and do something useful with it. So 2 questions really. One is about the thoughts of the people here around Maemo. It's been used before on other devices but is the fact that it's based on Linux that important and is it any good? Second question concerns programming. Has anybody done any programming for a Linux phone, other than tweaking? I wouldn't be pestering you for advice so don't be afraid to answer ;-) Just in case you're wondering what sort of thing I'd be programming (more accurately trying to program), it would be a beer database. Just the sort of thing to show off at one of the monthly meets in a pub :-)

2 1

First report on WD MyBook II box - and a question
by Chris G 25 Aug '09

25 Aug '09

Well I have my WD MyBook World Edition II now and "it just works"! :-) To expand a little, I plugged in the power, connected the ethernet lead and turned on. Using 'arp' I discovered its IP address and then was able immediately to connect to its web configuration pages. I have enabled ssh and nfs and am now able to log in to the WD box's command line (seems a pretty standard Linux system) and can mount nfs shares from the box. What more could one want? (Well, a little, see below.... ) Now the question, I use dnsmasq on my desktop system (well that's where it is at present) to provide local DNS on our little network. It's set up so that DHCP clients can be accessed with just their host name or with the domain suffixes. E.g. I can access 'maxine' or 'maxine.isbd.net', or C475IP or C475IP.isbd.net. However the WD box registers with dnsmasq as 'garage.local' rather than just 'garage' (which is the host name I have given it). Can anyone suggest why this might be and/or how I can fix it? -- Chris Green

1 0

Tonidoplug
by mark fernandes (IFR) 25 Aug '09

25 Aug '09

With respect to small low powered linux servers - I did come across this beastie courtesy of LXer Linux News: "TonidoPlug is a tiny, low power, low cost home server based on 1.2 GHz Sheeva processor that allows you to access your applications, files, photos, music and media from anywhere (Powered by Tonido). TonidoPlug comes pre-installed with powerful Tonido Applications - Photos, Jukebox, Webshare, Workspace, Thots, Explorer, Torrent and Search - all running on top of embedded Ubuntu Jaunty Linux OS. Additionally, TonidoPlug can be extended by installing new applications from Tonido App store." It has a 512 Mb flash drive, Ethernet port and a USB port for additional storage for a $100. Website says currently shipping only to US :-( but shipping to other countries will open shortly (whatever that means). http://www.tonidoplug.com/tonido_plug.html http://www.linuxpromagazine.com/Online/Blogs/Productivity-Sauce-Dmitri-s-op… Hope that this is helpful, Mark

2 1

Re: [ALUG] A low powered backup solution probably/possibly.
by James Elsey 25 Aug '09

25 Aug '09

If it were me I would certainly take the price into consideration, as it all depends on what you are backing up. If you are running a small business from home, or have documents that you can't lose then this would be a viable option. If its just personal files/photos/media, would it not be best to buy a spindle of CDs and come up with some rotation system for backup? It would have its benefits. 1. cheaper 2. less can go wrong 3. probably less prone to weathering (does the garage get extremely hot during the summer? 4. less enticing to any thieves 5. doesn't cost anything to run! Maybe I'm too naïve, but I'd favour CD/DVD media as backup over a server! J -----Original Message----- From: main-bounces(a)lists.alug.org.uk [mailto:main-bounces@lists.alug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Chris G Sent: 24 August 2009 13:39 To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk Subject: Re: [ALUG] A low powered backup solution probably/possibly. On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 10:36:36AM +0100, Chris G wrote: > On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 10:34:17AM +0100, Chris G wrote: > > Synaptic, Qnap and IcyBox all offer NAS servers which handle NFS as > > Oops, that's Synology not Synaptic. > A little further research on Google (especially the reviews and comparisons found at www.smallnetbuilder.com) has led me to the Western Digital My Book World Edition II. Price for a 2Tb version of this is about £215, it has ssh access built in, no hacking needed, power consumption is 16 watts when active, 5 watts when idle. The performance is not quite as good as the top of the range Synology and Qnap ones but it's *way* cheaper. £215 for a low powered Linux box with 2Tb of storage seems excellent value to me. So I'm off to buy one and will report back when I've played with it a little (if anyone is interested). -- Chris Green _______________________________________________ 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! __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4362 (20090824) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4362 (20090824) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

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A low powered backup solution probably/possibly.
by Chris G 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

After all my recent maundering about there being no low powered systems suitable for backup servers I did a bit of lateral thinking and looked at NAS servers again (I had looked a couple of years ago). They have got a lot cheaper now and there seem to be two or three which offer what I'm after (specifically Linux/NFS support). Synaptic, Qnap and IcyBox all offer NAS servers which handle NFS as well as SMB shares. Synaptic and Qnap go beyond that and offer SSH access to the server, a web server, PHP/mySql and python even! It may be that the IcyBox servers do as well but I haven't investigated in detail. Power consumption is pretty low, the Synaptic DS209 for example, with two 750Gb disks claims 25 watts when active, 10 watts when idle. Prices are in the £100 to £200 range without disk drive, adding a big SATA disk will only be £70 or so. I think there will be one replacing my garage linux box quite soon and I can use the garage system as my general purpose test bed. -- Chris Green

2 6

Any experience of the "Fit PC 2" here?
by Chris G 23 Aug '09

23 Aug '09

Does anyone here have any experience of the Fit PC 2 ? They are getting almost reasonably priced now - CPC have the Linux one for £285 (plus VAT) which for a really tiny and low powered machine isn't at all bad. Power consumption is 5 watts, it has 1Gb of memory and a 160Gb hard disk and Gigabit ethernet. It would thus seem to be quite a good basis for various Linux based "boxes on the network". It comes with Ubuntu 8.04 installed. -- Chris Green

2 2

Maintaining music libraries in various formats
by Jon Dye 20 Aug '09

20 Aug '09

Hi all, I currently have my music collection as a bunch of mp3s, oggs or flacs on a fileserver on my home network. That's fine for me using linux to play them back but we have several devices (including Windows machines and iPods) at home that don't support either ogg or flac. I also don't really want to copy the files as flac to my mps player (my mobile phone) as they take up a lot of space so I currently transcode them to ogg or mps. Ultimately I'd like to keep everything as flac as I have lots of space so I will be gradually re-ripping stuff to flac. Because file space is cheap I had a crazy idea to keep a directory of originals on the network and then to run a periodic script to build a directory of mps3 or oggs from the originals. This would save time transcoding and would support the various devices on the network better. Has anyone heard of a scheme like this or knows of any software designed to do this. Ideally the update script would: 1. Create/Update the corresponding mp3/ogg file whenever a file in the originals directory changes (i.e. I rip a new CD) 2. Update the metadata in the originals directory whenever the metadata in a mp3/ogg directory changes. 3. Support all file formats in the originals directory (as I won't have only flacs there at the start). I suppose hard linking mp3s/oggs where relevant is therefore a good option here. I had an idea to somehow use SCons to "build" the mp3s/oggs from the flac files but that only supports requirements 1. The other option was to write a custom python (or similar) script to do it. My question is, does anyone have any suggestions for existing tools that do something similar or for ideas of how to implement what I want. JD

2 1

Iceweasel plugin selection
by Richard Lewis 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

Hi ALUG, So I'm trying to get a WAV file to play in an HTML document in Iceweasel. I have an <object> with an <embed> inside it: <object classid="clsid:02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B" codebase="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab" type="audio/wav" width="1" height="1" class="griller" id="griller"> <param name="AUTOPLAY" value="False" /> <param name="src" value="AK_2049_AR_12318-1.wav" /> <embed width="1" height="1" type="audio/wav" qtsrc="AK_2049_AR_12318-1.wav" src="AK_2049_AR_12318-1.wav" AUTOPLAY="False" name="griller" enablejavascript="true" /> </object> This works on Safari with the Quicktime plugin, but not on Iceweasel. I'm guessing the problem may be with the plugins Iceweasel is using. In Edit | Preferences | Applications, I can select the plugin to use for "WAV audio", but the options are only "Use Movie Player (default)", "Use Windows Media Player Plug-in (in Iceweasel)", or "Use other..." (which browses for an executable). about:plugins tells me that I have the VLC plugin installed and that it knows how to handle content of MIME type "audio/wav" or with ".wav" suffixes. I also have the mplayer plugin installed which (AIUI) pretends to be WMP and also knows how to play .wav files. Why does VLC not appear in my list of available plugins in the Preferences | Applications dialog? Is this true for others? Best, Richard -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Richard Lewis ISMS, Computing Goldsmiths, University of London Tel: +44 (0)20 7078 5134 Skype: richardjlewis JID: ironchicken(a)jabber.earth.li http://www.richard-lewis.me.uk/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- +-------------------------------------------------------+ |Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.| |http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html | +-------------------------------------------------------+

1 0

Upsizing mdraid array
by Mark Rogers 18 Aug '09

18 Aug '09

I have a server which has 1 drive holding the O/S, and 4-off 500GB drives as two pairs of RAID1 (mdraid) arrays. I want to replace the 500GB drives with 1TB drives. What is the best way to do this? Ideally I'd do it offline, just copy (and resize) the partitions across and then put the disks back into the machine and boot it. But I don't know if there's any software that would allow me to do that. So all suggestions welcome. (I don't recall now why I have 2-off RAID1 arrays; a single RAID 5 array might be a better use of the drives, in which case the same question arises: how do I migrate to that configuration?) -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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Re: [ALUG] Surprised by Microsoft
by MJ Ray 18 Aug '09

18 Aug '09

Wayne Stallwood <ALUGlist(a)digimatic.co.uk> [...] > I remain to be convinced that MS want to control content for it's own > sake, at the heart they are still a software giant not a media one so > their key interest is leveraging content delivery to make their software > the most attractive option. [...] One way to do that is to present yourself as the best friends of content delivery services - or broadcasters, in oldspeak. A good tactic would be to let one of your trusted leaders go work for them for a while, then appoint them back to high office in your organisation and let them give interviews saying things like "There is a growing consensus something can be done. We have to protect IP for the health of our economy. We need implementable anti-piracy measures. We can do a lot more [than the Digital Britain report proposes] if there is a will to do it." -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/17/microsoft-ashley-highfield-inte… wouldn't it? The push for free and open source software is fast becoming about more than FOSS for the sake of freedom of computing. It's becoming a struggle between public and private benefit in access to everything from Department for the Environment presentations to BBC and ITV shows. Where is this debate happening next? -- MJ Ray (slef) LMS developer and webmaster at | software www.software.coop http://mjr.towers.org.uk | .... co IMO only: see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html | .... op

1 0

Surprised by Microsoft
by Mark Rogers 18 Aug '09

18 Aug '09

I just visited a site which required Microsoft's Silverlight plugin (Ryanair's route checker). Given that I was running Firefox 3 on Ubuntu I wasn't expecting much but I clicked the "install silverlight" link anyway, and was redirected first to Microsoft and then on to the open-source Mono project and Moonlight. I knew that Moonlight existed, but I wasn't expecting that kind of endorsement from Microsoft. If this is the kind of thing that the deal between Novell (who sponsored/developed Moonlight) and Microsoft leads to then maybe my thoughts on that process have shifted a little. -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

3 7

Does anyone get random long waits on Google?
by Chris G 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

For quite a while now I occasionally get a very long wait when I do a Google search. Tonight I decided to see if I could diagnose the problem at all but I haven't got very far. It seems to happen pretty randomly, every few Google searches I do I get one that takes a very long time, like a minute or more. If I hit the Firefox Stop button and try again it usually works instantly. Just now when trying to diagnose the problem I repeatedly did the same Google search, every so often (random intervals, usualyy every six or seven searches or so) it took a long time. I have the Tamper Data add-on installed in Firefox so I used that to look at the times. Most of the Google searches return in 150mS or so without much variation but the occasional slow ones vary from ten seconds or so up to a minute or so. I've tried hammering other web sites to see if I can provoke similar symptoms but I can't, it seems to be only Google that does this to me. Can anyone suggest a reason why this might be happening? (Or a way to diagnose it, all that Tamper Data is telling me is that GET is occasionally taking a very long time) -- Chris Green

2 1

Re: [ALUG] Suspend/hibernate on a desktop system, easy?, possible?
by James Elsey 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

Hi Chris, You could always have a look at "Wake-on-LAN", if your garage PC is only used for backups you could leave it switched off and wake it up over LAN when you need to do a backup, either manually or via some scheduled scripts. Its worth a read if your bored! ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake-on-LAN J -----Original Message----- From: main-bounces(a)lists.alug.org.uk [mailto:main-bounces@lists.alug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Chris G Sent: 17 August 2009 11:10 To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk Subject: [ALUG] Suspend/hibernate on a desktop system, easy?, possible? Is it possible to get a normal desktop system to suspend or hibernate when there is no activity? I'd like to get my garage backup system to use less power when it's not doing anything (which is most of the time). If specific hardware is good/easy for doing this then I'm quite happy to build a new system as I'm thinking of creating a new system for test and upgrade purposes so I could use my exisiting garage system for that. -- Chris Green _______________________________________________ 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! __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4341 (20090817) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4341 (20090817) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

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Re: [ALUG] main Digest, Vol 50, Issue 8
by Sam Tuke 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

I have just got back from visiting the Reindeer. I arrived there at about 20.40 and it was all closed up. Where did you chaps get to? Sam. > From: main-request(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Subject: main Digest, Vol 50, Issue 8 > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:00:02 +0100 > > Send main mailing list submissions to > main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > main-request(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > You can reach the person managing the list at > main-owner(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of main digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 13th August 2009 (Was: Re: [ALUG Announce] > 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 9th July 2009) (Srdjan Todorovic) > 2. Re: No network every time (Chris Walker) > 3. [ALUG Announce] 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 13th August 2009 (Was: Re: > 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 9th July 2009) (Srdjan Todorovic) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:21:35 +0100 > From: Srdjan Todorovic <todorovic.s(a)googlemail.com> > Subject: [ALUG] 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 13th August 2009 (Was: Re: [ALUG > Announce] 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 9th July 2009) > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Cc: Alug Announce <announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk> > Message-ID: > <a59829110908120121q33ef3e68kc0327ca2011ea0b0(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hello everyone, > > It looks as if no one has posted a message about it this month.... > > ALUG pub meet this Thursday 13th August 2009 at the usual place. > Details are as below. > > Thanks and hope to see you there, > Srdjan > > On 06/07/2009, David Reynolds <david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk> wrote: > > ALUG Announce > > > > Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > Unsub, change settings via > > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce > > ----- > > Dear ALUG, > > The monthly second Thursday social meeting of ALUG will take place > > on 9th July 2009 at The Reindeer (10 Dereham Road, Norwich, > > NR2 4AY; tel. 01603 762223). It's very near the junction of > > Dereham Road and the Norwich inner ring road (Grapes Hill) > > and serves a selection of real ales, nice pub food (if you fancy > > going early to eat) and coffee. > > > > There are generally people there from 20:00 onwards and we tend > > to sit to the left of the main entrance. > > > > We look forward to seeing you there. > > > > Cheers, > > David > > > > -- > > David Reynolds > > david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk > > > > ----- > > Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) > > Unsub, change settings via > > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:57:12 +0100 > From: Chris Walker <cdw_linux(a)the-walker-household.co.uk> > Subject: Re: [ALUG] No network every time > To: Chris Walker <cdw_linux(a)the-walker-household.co.uk> > Cc: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Message-ID: <4A805F78.4050605(a)the-walker-household.co.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Chris Walker wrote: > > I've no idea what I've done recently to provoke it, but every time I > > power on my machine, it tells me there's no configured network > > interface. All I have to do to fix it, is give the root password, and > > then click ok several times until I get to 'finish'. It remembers all > > the static ip details but I can't persuade it to remember to start. > > > > All I can recall doing recently is trying to persuade the box to talk to > > my Nokia phone but I'm not sure if that's the cause. I mention it just > > in case. > > > > I've tried googling for the solution but got nowhere. Anybody any ideas? > > More by luck than judgement, I've fixed this. > > It stopped happening when I switched off fastboot. I've no idea what it > is - I can guess what it does! - but courtesy of a google suggestion, I > made the change and for the past couple of days, it's worked. > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:21:35 +0100 > From: Srdjan Todorovic <todorovic.s(a)googlemail.com> > Subject: [ALUG] [ALUG Announce] 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 13th August 2009 > (Was: Re: 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 9th July 2009) > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Cc: Alug Announce <announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk> > Message-ID: > <a59829110908120121q33ef3e68kc0327ca2011ea0b0(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > ALUG Announce > > Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce > ----- > Hello everyone, > > It looks as if no one has posted a message about it this month.... > > ALUG pub meet this Thursday 13th August 2009 at the usual place. > Details are as below. > > Thanks and hope to see you there, > Srdjan > > On 06/07/2009, David Reynolds <david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk> wrote: > > ALUG Announce > > > > Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > Unsub, change settings via > > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce > > ----- > > Dear ALUG, > > The monthly second Thursday social meeting of ALUG will take place > > on 9th July 2009 at The Reindeer (10 Dereham Road, Norwich, > > NR2 4AY; tel. 01603 762223). It's very near the junction of > > Dereham Road and the Norwich inner ring road (Grapes Hill) > > and serves a selection of real ales, nice pub food (if you fancy > > going early to eat) and coffee. > > > > There are generally people there from 20:00 onwards and we tend > > to sit to the left of the main entrance. > > > > We look forward to seeing you there. > > > > Cheers, > > David > > > > -- > > David Reynolds > > david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk > > > > ----- > > Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) > > Unsub, change settings via > > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce > > > > ----- > Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) > Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > http://www.anglian.lug.org.uk/ > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main > > > End of main Digest, Vol 50, Issue 8 > *********************************** _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Messenger: Happy 10-Year Anniversary—get free winks and emoticons. http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/157562755/direct/01/

3 2

Re: [ALUG] Suspend/hibernate on a desktop system, easy?, possible?
by MJ Ray 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

Chris G <cl(a)isbd.net> > There is then of course the question of whether turning the machine > on and off two or three times a day will wear it out more quickly than > leaving it permanently running. You may find help with suspend in the Linux Ecology HOWTO [ox.ac.uk LDP mirror] along with many other tips on how to reduce environmental damage from your computer. http://mirror.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Ecology-HOWTO/index.html Simon Richter emailed me notes about the different types of disk - which I don't really understand so I've asked him to publish them himself at http://www.hogyros.de/?q=blog/1 - the gist seemed to be server disks don't like being power cycled repeatedly and yanking the power is very harmful to desktop disks. I've read articles that warn against powering down and up too often. They say that more frequent heating/cooling causing parts to fail, but I find the fans fail most often - which brings a different heating failure problem! I prefer to save some fan spin instead. (Edited repeat of http://mjr.towers.org.uk/blog/2006/lynn#howtonotmelt ) Hope that helps, -- MJ Ray (slef) LMS developer and webmaster at | software www.software.coop http://mjr.towers.org.uk | .... co IMO only: see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html | .... op

3 2

Google Phone (T-Mobile/HTC G1)
by Alex Scotton 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

Hi guys, I'm a relative new comer to the world of linux, I use Ubuntu when I can, however have used Windows for most of my life :( .. love reading the newsletters and various problems and solutions that come up; however never find myself with the knowledge to answer coherently ha ha.. Anyways, with you all being people of the Open source persuasion; I wondered whether any of you had one of the Google Mobiles, as the OS it uses (Android) is completely open source, and there are reports of installing Ubuntu onto the device, and loads of alternative OS's. Have any of you had any experience of "modding" them, because I am planning to do so with mine when i feel comfortable enough to do so. This has all cropped up regards a phone call with T-Mobile's "Technical Support" this morning, because of course the phone has come brand new with the old version 1.0 OS, missing many of the features I got the phone for (Google Latitude, Increased share functions, and flash 10 support) telling me that the Update for the 1.5 version of Android (CupCake) will arrive at some point in the form of a question on the screen.. but they couldn't tell me when that'd be, it could take upto 3 months! Anyways, hi to all... and thanks for reading :)

4 3

Suspend/hibernate on a desktop system, easy?, possible?
by Chris G 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

Is it possible to get a normal desktop system to suspend or hibernate when there is no activity? I'd like to get my garage backup system to use less power when it's not doing anything (which is most of the time). If specific hardware is good/easy for doing this then I'm quite happy to build a new system as I'm thinking of creating a new system for test and upgrade purposes so I could use my exisiting garage system for that. -- Chris Green

1 0

Playing CDs on Linux - why is it so difficult, or is it me?
by Chris G 16 Aug '09

16 Aug '09

I'm trying to play a CD on my kubuntu 9.04 Linux box, without much success at the moment. The default "Listen Music Player" allows me to select one track and play it but once started the user interface is completely dead, I can't stop the track playing, select another track or anything. A quick Google search suggests that this is quite a common problem with "Listen Music Player". So I have downloaded Rhythmbox, I can't even get it to select and play tracks from the CD. Ah, yes I can, I need to add all the tracks to the "Play Queue" and then press play. Is there not an application that plays a CD without all this paraphernalia? Any suggestions for a bear of very little (audio) brain like me? -- Chris Green

3 4

Re: [ALUG] Playing CDs on Linux - why is it so difficult, or is it me?
by MJ Ray 16 Aug '09

16 Aug '09

On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 01:20:32PM +0100, Chris G wrote: > I'm trying to play a CD on my [xubuntu] 9.04 Linux box, without much > success at the moment. [...] > Is there not an application that plays a CD without all this > paraphernalia? Any suggestions for a bear of very little (audio) > brain like me? Lately, I've put a CD into a Gnome laptop and it popped up a window that offered to let me play it. I think it used Totem. In the past, I've used cdtool, cdplay from the command-line and even grip I think. Most of my CDs that I listen to while at my desk have been copied to disk now, though. Fewer extra moving parts to go wrong. Good luck!

1 0

[ALUG Announce] 3rd Monday Monthly Ipswich Social Meeting : McGintys, Northgate Street
by samwise 15 Aug '09

15 Aug '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- The monthly "Third Monday" ALUG Ipswich Social Meeting is back this coming Monday (17th August) at 20:00: P J McGinty & Sons 15 Northgate Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3BY Tel: 01473 251 515 Map/Directions URI: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=IP1+3BY WWW: http://pjmcginty.moonfruit.com/ McGintys pub is in the centre of Ipswich, not far from our old haunt - The Milestone. It's directly opposite the town's central library and has a reputation for good Irish beer. All are welcome, novices and experienced users. Feel free to ask for further information on the Main ALUG mailing list. Remember to call or email me, if you're arriving later and want to ensure I don't wander off, which I have a tendency to do if the turn-out hits rock-bottom ... Hope to see you there, Peter. ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

1 0

Re: [ALUG] Really awkward text parsing shell script question
by Martijn Koster 14 Aug '09

14 Aug '09

Mephi wrote: > I need to add a value to the 25th item in each line. Other than knowing that value is > numeric and 10 characters long, I don't know anything more about it. > > running the command: > sed -n -e '/text/p' "log _20090814_162009" | awk '{print $25}' > gives: > 1363231555 > ... > > I need to able to make them look like: > 1000000001363231555 > ... Just prepend it to the field before printing them: awk '{$25="100000000"$25; print}' for example: mak@yoda:~$ echo "a 1363231555 c d" | awk '{$2="100000000"$2; print}' a 1000000001363231555 c d -- Martijn

2 1

Really awkward text parsing shell script question
by Mephi 14 Aug '09

14 Aug '09

Ok, I've got a shell script that parses some logfiles. It spits all the lines with an appropriate value using sed: for i in log_* do sed -n -e '/text/p' "$i" > "/home/mephi/logs/$i" done The problem I have is that the logfiles aren't quite right and I need to add a value to the 25th item in each line. Other than knowing that value is numeric and 10 characters long, I don't know anything more about it. running the command: sed -n -e '/text/p' "log _20090814_162009" | awk '{print $25}' gives: 1363231555 1363231555 1363231555 1363231555 1229014082 1229014082 1229014082 1229014082 I need to able to make them look like: 1000000001363231555 1000000001363231555 1000000001363231555 1000000001363231555 1000000001229014082 1000000001229014082 1000000001229014082 1000000001229014082 Can anyone offer any help? Cheers, Matt

1 0

Norwich pubmeet tonight - venue change
by Steve 13 Aug '09

13 Aug '09

l337 gr33tz and all that. Having recently heard that the Reindeer has shut /again/, it's time to pick a different venue for tonight's pub meet. I propose any (or all - ALUG pubcrawl anyone?) of the following: The King's Head - Magdalen Street A fine selection of real ales, bar billiards, generally quiet. There is free parking on Fishergate iirc. Micawbers - Pottergate (near the Reindeer) Woodforde's beers, nice atmosphere. Parking probably on St. Gregory's. Not sure. Cider Shed - Sprowston Road Run by the same people as the fat cat - good selection of beers and local ciders. Parking is available on surrounding roads. The Fat Cat - Nelson Street It's the Fat Cat. Excellent beer but liable to be busy. Parking no problem. So... vote now :) King's Head suits me best as it's less than 10 minutes stagger from my house :D See y'all tonight. Steve

3 4

Re: [ALUG] [ALUG Announce] 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 13th August 2009 (Was: Re: 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 9th July 2009)
by Fabian Howard 13 Aug '09

13 Aug '09

Hi Everyone, Is it just me or has the The Reindeer shut? http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&categ… Fabian Howard

1 0

2nd Thurs Pub Meet 13th August 2009 (Was: Re: [ALUG Announce] 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 9th July 2009)
by Srdjan Todorovic 12 Aug '09

12 Aug '09

Hello everyone, It looks as if no one has posted a message about it this month.... ALUG pub meet this Thursday 13th August 2009 at the usual place. Details are as below. Thanks and hope to see you there, Srdjan On 06/07/2009, David Reynolds <david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk> wrote: > ALUG Announce > > Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Unsub, change settings via > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce > ----- > Dear ALUG, > The monthly second Thursday social meeting of ALUG will take place > on 9th July 2009 at The Reindeer (10 Dereham Road, Norwich, > NR2 4AY; tel. 01603 762223). It's very near the junction of > Dereham Road and the Norwich inner ring road (Grapes Hill) > and serves a selection of real ales, nice pub food (if you fancy > going early to eat) and coffee. > > There are generally people there from 20:00 onwards and we tend > to sit to the left of the main entrance. > > We look forward to seeing you there. > > Cheers, > David > > -- > David Reynolds > david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk > > ----- > Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) > Unsub, change settings via > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce >

1 0

How to exercise a disk drive?
by Chris G 11 Aug '09

11 Aug '09

Are there any disk exercising/testing programs for Linux? Well, I'm sure there are, so does anyone have any recommendations? I want to stick a couple of old (as in I have used them in systems now defunct) IDE disk drives into my Linux box and make sure that there is nothing radically wrong with them. They're not *that* old, 160Gb and 200Gb respectively. Destructive (of data) teting is fine, I don't even know at the moment whether they're ex-Windows or ex_linux. -- Chris Green

3 4

No network every time
by Chris Walker 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

I've no idea what I've done recently to provoke it, but every time I power on my machine, it tells me there's no configured network interface. All I have to do to fix it, is give the root password, and then click ok several times until I get to 'finish'. It remembers all the static ip details but I can't persuade it to remember to start. All I can recall doing recently is trying to persuade the box to talk to my Nokia phone but I'm not sure if that's the cause. I mention it just in case. I've tried googling for the solution but got nowhere. Anybody any ideas?

2 2

Help with Openwrt
by S.Jude＠uea.ac.uk 09 Aug '09

09 Aug '09

Hello, Are there possibly any openwrt users out there who can help me? I bought a cheapy Linksys WRT54GS for a networking/electronics project I've got in mind. I flashed it with openwrt with no problems, until I tried setting it up as a bridge. It has lost the network config file and is running the IP address of 0.0.0.0 (a bit of a problem) I can get it into failsafe mode but can't seem to get tftp to upload a new image to it in failsafe mode. I did try to write a new network file but it wouldn't let me write the file (this may be my failing with permissions rather than openwrt!). Does anybody have any experience of openwrt who can suggest a solution other than opening the box and resetting the flash? Thanks Simon

1 0

Straightforward hardware for Linux box - suggestions?
by Chris G 06 Aug '09

06 Aug '09

I'm considering a new Linux box for my wife to use so I can more easily tidy up and upgrade here existing one. I'll go for 'bare bones', i.e. no mouse, keyboard or display as she'll carry on using the existing ones. I'll almost certainly go for integrated graphics on motherboard as it's mostly business use so no real need for a whizzy graphics card. So, what's a good motherboard to go for at the moment that will 'just work' with a (say) Ubuntu 9.04 installation? -- Chris Green

5 16

Charity sack collection organiser
by Mark Rogers 06 Aug '09

06 Aug '09

Sorry for the terrible subject line, I can't think of a better one! I've been asked by someone who organises charity bag collections for some software to help them organise themselves. Ie they send people out to drop empty sacks (or leaflets) through people's doors, then go back to collect them, and they want a way to basically manage that process to make sure areas get covered properly but not more than once, to record how many bags they get back out of each 100 empty bags they send out, etc. Any suggestions? I figure there are similar potential uses for such an application out there (eg Kleeneezeeee or whatever they're called), but half the problem is working out what to search for. -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

5 9

Opensourc3 magazine...
by Brett Parker 04 Aug '09

04 Aug '09

Just got told about this on the blug mailing list, so thought I'd pass it on: http://www.opensourc3.org/ Is fairly advert heavy in the pdf, but nothing that can't be easily skipped past, looks like issue one is a brief introduction, I'm hoping issue two gets a little more indepth. Anyways - not a completely bad read - worth having a quick squint at. Cheers, -- Brett Parker

2 3

DPMS on LG monitor
by Dan Hatton 01 Aug '09

01 Aug '09

Dear All, I usually operate my Gentoo netbook with one of two external monitors plugged into its VGA output: - an LG Flatron W2234S; or - a Samsung SyncMaster 710N. I'm also usually running xscreensaver with the following options (among others) timeout: 0:02:00 cycle: 0:01:00 lock: True lockTimeout: 0:00:00 passwdTimeout: 0:01:00 dpmsEnabled: True dpmsStandby: 0:05:00 dpmsSuspend: 0:05:00 dpmsOff: 0:05:00 The netbook's built-in screen and the Samsung monitor switch off after five minutes like these options tell them to. But the LG monitor stays on, advising me to "check signal cable". Any ideas how I can get the LG monitor to obey the DPMS commands, please? -- Thanks, Dan

2 2

Anonymous FXP
by lists＠glover.uk.net 29 Jul '09

29 Jul '09

Hi, Here's a question for you all (because I'm sure I'm not the only person whose attempted this!) We have a piece of software at work (Omnibus Transomneon), which initiates FXP transfers of files between video servers. Because this software is pretty dumb, and it normally only talks to Omneon Video servers, it will only log into FTP as anonymous. The problem I have is I have a Linux (Unbuntu 9.04) that I need this to transfer files onto. I have tried vsftp, which will accept anonymous FTP, but won't do anonymous FXP, authenticated FXP works. I tried proftpd, which will allow anonymous FXP, but bitches about the "Size command in ascii mode". Transomneon uses this to check the progress of transfers. Although the transfer is in binary mode. I tried pureftpd, which would not allow anonymous user to delete files. I gave up with wu-ftpd because I couldn't get ls to work. This has been driving me insane all day. I know what I'm trying to do is very insecure, but I'm on a private well firewalled network. Anybody got any ideas of an FTP server that will support anonymous FXP, and the size command, and allow anonymous deletes? Many Thanks Chris

1 0

BB: Comparing notes
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 27 Jul '09

27 Jul '09

Greetings Folks, Probably not a Linux issue (though it could be). Anyone else having trouble logging in to their Barclays Bank online banking using their new interface (which went live this morning)? On the machine which I've usually used for this (somewhat slow, smallish RAM), which has always worked OK in the past, with the new interface my browser (Firefox) is completely choked and goes bananas. I then used another machine (faster, more RAM) and didn't get that trouble (Browser = Iceweasel); but even so had to try a few times before their system would recognise my details ("didn't match our records"). When I phoned up their helpline, I was finally "talked through" a login. What I was told to enter for URL was A: www.ibank.barclays.co.uk and this led to a successful login. What I usually use is B: https://ibank.barclays.co.uk Both lead to the same apparent page: https://ibank.barclays.co.uk/olb/m/LoginMember.do but it was B which gave the problems. I was told by the Indian lady not to use entries stored in "Favourites" (yuk) or in Bookmarks "for security reasons", but to type it in explicitly. There are some other details I could give, if it was of interest; but I'm mainly interested at the moment in whether other people have been having similar problems. Best wishes to all, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 24-Jul-09 Time: 09:45:54 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

4 4

Dual Booting OSX & Ubuntu
by Simon Royal 25 Jul '09

25 Jul '09

Hi I am a Mac user who currently has a PowerBook G4 which I want to dual boot OSX and Ubuntu on. Is there any on the group that has done this? I really don't want to mess my current Mac OSX Leopard installation up, but luckily I do triple boot at the mo between OSX Leopard, OSX Tiger and OS9 all on separate partitions. So if I could I would lose or use the Tiger and OS9 partitions for use in this project. I have dual booted OSX and Ubuntu a few years ago and it worked, but I can't for the life of me remember how. Simon Royal --- Visit my Mac site at http://www.simonroyal.co.uk. Or Skype me on 'Simon-Royal'. (Apple PowerBook G4 867Mhz, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, SuperDrive. Mac OSX 10.5, 10.4 & 9.2.2...)

2 1

DVD-RW drive refuses to read CD-R disks
by Srdjan Todorovic 25 Jul '09

25 Jul '09

Hi everyone, I'm perplexed - I've got a DVD+RW drive that refuses to read CD-Rs and other CDs, but these disks can be read in my laptop's DVD+RW drive. Manually mounting such CDs gives me: mount: No medium found I know I can read some factory-pressed CD such as the EF2000 CD (lovely game). My drive is: LG HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GSA-H55N and was purchased in very early 2008 I believe. Laptop drive is: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T40N (Which I believe is also an LG) Is this likely to be a hardware fault and I have to buy a new drive? Thanks Srdjan

2 2

Re: [ALUG] appalling service from 1and1
by James Elsey 23 Jul '09

23 Jul '09

I've been using 1and1 for about 3 years now and must admit I haven't had any issues with their service. They had an outage with their servers but after a quick and friendly phone call my sites were back up within the hour But then again, I haven't tried moving any domains/packages etc J -----Original Message----- From: main-bounces(a)lists.alug.org.uk [mailto:main-bounces@lists.alug.org.uk] On Behalf Of mick Sent: 22 July 2009 19:48 To: Steve Fosdick Cc: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk Subject: Re: [ALUG] appalling service from 1and1 On Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:45:59 +0100 Steve Fosdick <lists(a)pelvoux.nildram.co.uk> allegedly wrote: > On 21/07/2009 22:16:40, mick wrote: > > > I also had some feedback from MJ Ray that 1and1 (my main provider of > > DNS management, mail and blog) could be difficult. I'd never had > > much problem with them, except for their habit of "forgetting" to > > tell me that they had improved their packages when prices changed, > > so thought no more. > > Do I take it you mean they have reduced the price of the package to > new customers but forget to tell you and continue to charge the > higher price? Yes - but slightly more subtle than that. They introduced a "new" package which offered better services (more mailboxes, more webspace, more traffic) at a slightly lower charge. I was not offered the new service. When I noticed the new services (from a magazine ad as I recall) I contacted them and was the told that I had to cancel my existing package and move to the new one. Mick --------------------------------------------------------------------- The text file for RFC 854 contains exactly 854 lines. Do you think there is any cosmic significance in this? Douglas E Comer - Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 1 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc854.txt --------------------------------------------------------------------- __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4267 (20090722) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4267 (20090722) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

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appalling service from 1and1
by mick 22 Jul '09

22 Jul '09

Some while ago I sought the list's advice on good commercial hosting services (full root access, with as few restrictions as possible). I had a few recommendations and eventually settled on a VPS from bytemark as offering just what I needed. (As an aside, I also now have a VPS from rapidswitch which is also excellent value - and gives a bigger monthly bandwidth allowance that bytemark). I also had some feedback from MJ Ray that 1and1 (my main provider of DNS management, mail and blog) could be difficult. I'd never had much problem with them, except for their habit of "forgetting" to tell me that they had improved their packages when prices changed, so thought no more. But, I have recently had cause to complain, and loudly. I have tried to move one of my domains (I have several with them) to bytemark so that I can have greater control. The process is unnecessarily complex (and for a naive customer would probably be impossible) but the worst part is that having unlocked the domain at their end and posted it as "pending transfer", they now refuse to answer any DNS queries despite still being authoritative for that domain. That domain has fallen off the edge of a cliff and may as well not exist. Their reponse to my complaint so far is "thank you for your patience". Guess who loses my business. Mick --------------------------------------------------------------------- The text file for RFC 854 contains exactly 854 lines. Do you think there is any cosmic significance in this? Douglas E Comer - Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 1 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc854.txt ---------------------------------------------------------------------

4 4

[ALUG Announce] 3rd Monday Monthly Ipswich Social Meeting : McGintys, Northgate Street
by samwise 20 Jul '09

20 Jul '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- The monthly "Third Monday" ALUG Ipswich Social Meeting is back this coming Monday (20th July) at 20:00: P J McGinty & Sons 15 Northgate Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3BY Tel: 01473 251 515 Map/Directions URI: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=IP1+3BY WWW: http://pjmcginty.moonfruit.com/ McGintys pub is in the centre of Ipswich, not far from our old haunt - The Milestone. It's directly opposite the town's central library and has a reputation for good Irish beer. All are welcome, novices and experienced users. Feel free to ask for further information on the Main ALUG mailing list. I've been playing with FreeBSD a little this month, so happy to chat a bit about that. Firefox 3.5 has some cool new features too. Plus I've been playing around with an ePub creator which might be of interest. Remember to call or email me, if you're arriving later and want to ensure I don't wander off, which I have a tendency to do if the turn-out hits rock-bottom ... Hope to see you there, Peter. ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

2 1

kmail
by Peter Alcibiades 18 Jul '09

18 Jul '09

It really seems that the kde team have taken leave of their senses. I just upgraded to squeeze in the continuing effort to deal with xsession errors - they have changed now in kind, but there are still a bunch of them - one side effect of which was to update kmail. The thing now comes with two 'features' which seem designed to destroy usability, and no guide on how to get rid of the things. One is that messages are separated by day and week, with drop down tabs. Why anyone would want this is a mystery. It makes scrolling through your old messages just about impossible. The other is that wherever you move the mouse these crazed popups appear, to obscure whatever you were looking at. This was probably put in in case you should persist in trying to scroll through, and make it doubly impossible! A bit of google searching revealed an obscure button and a setting deep in the bowels of the thing which let you turn them both off and get back to something that looks like a normal email client. But really, what on earth has happened to these guys? Kmail used to be, out of the box, a nice simple email client packaged with a quite decent calendar. You can still get back to that, but you have to make an effort. Al

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Re: [ALUG] kmail
by Peter Alcibiades 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

It is kmail Version 1.11.2. Not running KDE as a DTE - though I have in the past. I seem to have got rid of the most brain dead features now, except that for some crazed reason when you pass the mouse over the folder pane, it insists on delivering you a popup that tells you what each folder is, in case you had suffered from memory loss since the last time you did it. But of course, preventing you from seeing half the pane. This is maddening but just about manageable as long as its limited to that pane. The developers of this thing should be forced to use it as shipped for a few months, it would be enormously educational for them. This was a true Victor Meldrew moment. Another one happened in the ongoing process of this upgrade to sqeeze. Imagine this. You are running Gnome perfectly happily but notice some oddities here and there. Like for instance the screensave appears to be disconnected, and you get xsession errors about themes not being installed. So you try dpkg-reconfigure, and are told that Gnome is not installed! "I don't believe it!" you cry, before you can stop yourself. Peter

1 0

"YouTube Medley"
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 14 Jul '09

14 Jul '09

Greetings all! What I want to do: 1. Download a certain series of YouTube videos and store them locally in a suitable format (MP3?) such that each can be viewed from the local file. 2. Merge these into a single video DVD to make a "medley" which can be played straight through from the DVD. Advice on how to do #1, and (if that is possible) how to proceed to #2, would be most welcome! Platform: Debian Etch or Lenny (both available). With thanks, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 13-Jul-09 Time: 11:40:56 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Re: [ALUG] [Fwd: Re: From Ipswich Freecycle Mods: : Offer two pay as you go mobile sim and top up cards felixstowe]
by Chris G 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 03:23:30PM +0000, Martin Pike wrote: > i have a couple of observations on this. > > first, if he didn't post a taken to the previous one, then that post is > still 'active'. > It's surely not a requirement to post a taken message is it? > we could also consider adding sim cards to the same category as vouchers, > i.e. they don't save anything (much) from landfill. > > cheers > > --- On Mon, 13/7/09, Angelika <freecycle2(a)angelika.co.uk> wrote: > > From: Angelika <freecycle2(a)angelika.co.uk> > Subject: [Fwd: Re: From Ipswich Freecycle Mods: : Offer two pay as you > go mobile sim and top up cards felixstowe] > To: "Ipswich Mods" <Ipswich_Freecycle-owner(a)yahoogroups.com> > Date: Monday, 13 July, 2009, 4:16 PM > > What's the policy when someone claims that "it's a different one from > the one I offered yesterday"? > -- Chris Green

1 0

Putting a SATA drive in standby
by Barry Samuels 12 Jul '09

12 Jul '09

I have, in the last few days, changed my 2 x 250 GB IDE drives for 2 x 1 TB SATA drives. One drive is used once a day to mirror the other. Previously I used hdparm to spin down the mirror drive after a short period of inactivity and I've tried to do the same with one of the new drives but I suspect it isn't working. If I issue the command 'sg_start --stop /dev/sdb' I hear a click from the computer as if the drive is being switched off but can't detect any difference in noise. That could be because the drive is ultra quiet but if I then try to mount a partition on the drive it mounts instantly. With the previous drives if I did that there would be a significant pause whilst the drive was spinning up to running speed. Does the fact that there is no pause of any sort when mounting the drive mean that it hasn't stopped? I've also tried 'sdparm --command=stop /dev/sdb' with the same results. If I issue the command sdparm --command=ready /dev/sdb then it comes back with 'ready'. -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

1 0

How things have changed
by Steve Fosdick 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

I've just bought a couple of new bits of hardware and was very pleasantly surprised how things have changed for the better. I got a wireless trackerball and a UPS both with USB connections. I plugged the trackerball receiver in, pressed the connect button and it started working. That wasn't a great surprise but obviously nice. I plugged the UPS in and, before I had a chance to check that it had been detected and then look for software for it an icon appeared telling me the UPS was fully charged and also reporting on the batteries in the wireless trackerball. For simplicity this beats having to install software from an accompanying CD in order to get the same features. It seems when manufacturers adopt standard protocols or are more open about the protocols and interfaces they do use the pace of development increases dramatically. Steve.

2 2

Deleting from a Google Groups archive
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

Hi FOlks, If anyone out there is running a Google Groups mailing list, I'd be grateful for advice about the following question, which I can't seem to find the answer to myself! I have just set up a Google Group for use as a mailing list by a small group of volunteers working on a local-history project. I have not gone "live" with it yet All seems to be working, in my tests. However, this means that my test messages have gone into the archive. I would like to delete these before going "live". But I have not managed to locate any means of doing this, despite being the owner and manager! Any advice? With thanks, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 09-Jul-09 Time: 09:57:17 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

2 1

Linux-based information screens
by Mark Rogers 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

This is one of those things that Google would probably give me the answer if I could think of the right question. I want to create an information screen, similar to the kind of things you see in railway stations etc, maybe showing a live TV feed in one area, some headlines coming from an RSS feed, a slideshow of images in another area, etc. Ideally I'd like something that runs from live-CD, with configuration on a USB stick, so that restarting the PC just restarts the system without risking any corruption. Any suggestions, whether to what I should use or at least what I should search for? -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

2 2

using scponly shell
by samwise 06 Jul '09

06 Jul '09

Hi, Hopefully, not too off-topic but I'm having trouble setting up a user account on a FreeBSD server (an OS I'm not greatly comfortably with yet), to use the scponly [http://www.sublimation.org/scponly/wiki/] shell. I basically want to allow the account SFTP access, but not have an interactive login shell - so scponly looks like what I'm after. I've set the user's login shell to be /usr/ports/shells/scponly and also added the shell to /etc/shells. When I try to SFTP into the server with the user, though, I'm getting the "Received message too long 1416128883" error. Googling hasn't really helped much. Anyone got any suggestions? TIA, Peter.

3 5

[ALUG Announce] 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 9th July 2009
by David Reynolds 06 Jul '09

06 Jul '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Dear ALUG, The monthly second Thursday social meeting of ALUG will take place on 9th July 2009 at The Reindeer (10 Dereham Road, Norwich, NR2 4AY; tel. 01603 762223). It's very near the junction of Dereham Road and the Norwich inner ring road (Grapes Hill) and serves a selection of real ales, nice pub food (if you fancy going early to eat) and coffee. There are generally people there from 20:00 onwards and we tend to sit to the left of the main entrance. We look forward to seeing you there. Cheers, David -- David Reynolds david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

1 0

HTML code for YoTRube sequence
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 04 Jul '09

04 Jul '09

Hi Folks, I am no expert whatever on HTML (at best I can do the basic basics), so if there's a solution to the following query please spell it out! I'm trying to concoct a web-page which would play, in sequence and without user intervention, a series of movies from YouTube. As an example to work on, take the following three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8_-McoAriI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g247CEZ9p70 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJQM5xBaRXI The idea is to give a URL where there is a top-level page, in which there is a link such that, if the user clicks on it, the above are automatically played in sequence and, when they are completed, it returns to the top level. I don't know if this is even possible without some embedding of durations, since once a YouTube link is opened there is (as far as I can tell) no indication of completion, so it stays there until the user does something else. With durations, it may be possible for the HTML to step to the next YouTube URL after that time has elapsed (though I've no idea how to program that). Any suggestions very gratefully received! With thanks, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 04-Jul-09 Time: 23:11:53 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

2 1

Re: [ALUG] xsession-errors again...help
by Peter Alcibiades 04 Jul '09

04 Jul '09

OK, now mono is gone. Thanks for that suggestion. Also we are no longer endlessly looking for pidgin and beagle bits. Restarted, and those particular errors seem to have gone, but are now succeeded by the following...! I googled them, and some of them seem to be associated with kmail. Then I have some nphelix errors, that is another thing that you have to go to endless lengths to kill but it won't stay dead. Is it normal to have xsession errors? Or if your system is set up right, should there basically be none? Peter ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) Removing DOMNodeRemoved listener ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) Window manager warning: Buggy client sent a _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW message with a timestamp of 0 for 0x3c00003 (Evince Doc) Window manager warning: meta_window_activate called by a pager with a 0 timestamp; the pager needs to be fixed. ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) ** Message: GetValue variable 1 (1) ** Message: GetValue variable 2 (2) kbuildsycoca running... Launched ok, pid = 3954 ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:996:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave QLayout::addChildLayout: layout already has a parent WeaverThreadLogger: thread (ID: 1) suspended.

1 0

Re: [ALUG] xsession-errors again...help
by Peter Alcibiades 03 Jul '09

03 Jul '09

Wayne, yes, I do turn out to have gnome do. Or had, since now it is completely removed. So I'll try this for a couple days. Thanks, this is the easiest first step. Then if this doesn't work, or doesn't fully work, I will follow up with Phil's suggestions first on removing mono, and then on monitoring file access, which should get to the bottom of it. Many thanks for that too. I do have mono installed, so that could be the next thing to go... Peter

1 0

xsession-errors again...help
by Peter Alcibiades 03 Jul '09

03 Jul '09

OK, this time I decided to have at it root and branch, so did locate to find every pidgin or beagle file there was. I had already removed pidgin using synaptic, but there were a few left over documentation files and some libraries. Then did rm on the lot of them. It makes no difference! I am still getting the errors. Are we at a point where the only thing that will work is a clean reinstall? Surely this cannot be? Is there any way to find out what it is that is looking for the pidgin files? As in Cannot index Thunderbird contacts because a System.ArgumentNullException was thrown: Argument cannot be null. Parameter name: path Could not read Pidgin buddy list file: Could not find a part of the path "/home/peter/.purple/blist.xml". Well, it is not surprising it cannot find part of the path, because I have deleted the whole folder. But what is it that is looking for it if there is neither pidgin nor beagle installed? Thunderbird is equally mysterious. Maybe the thing to do is get rid of Iceweasel? Could it be that? I have also gone through and eliminated beagle in the same way. Does not seem to make any difference. Peter

3 2

xsession-errors again...help!
by Peter Alcibiades 28 Jun '09

28 Jun '09

My xsession-errors file is filling up with a constant stream of messages like this: Cannot index Thunderbird contacts because a Beagle.Util.InvalidMorkDatabaseException was thrown: This file is missing a valid mork header Could not read Pidgin buddy list file: Document element did not appear. file:///home/peter/.purple/blist.xml Line 1, position 1. And yet I have neither Thunderbird nor Pidgin installed. Nor the Debian equivalent, icedove. How to stop this stuff? In desperation I tried installing them and then doing completely remove. Is this something to do with Mozilla, that Firefox aka Iceweasel demands that you have this other stuff installed and configured with addresses? Why? Is the solution maybe to just get rid of Firefox and go to Konqueror - which I have done for one other person, on account of the impossibility of printing properly? Or any other suggestions? Al

4 5

Identica/Twitter
by steveydoteu 21 Jun '09

21 Jun '09

I am looking for means of posting to both at the same time. For example if I post on Twitter, it also reposts to Identica. I know that Identica offers this feature, but as of yet I have not found a means of doing so via Twitter. Any suggestions? Linux or Windows.

3 2

http://identi.ca/group/alug
by steveydoteu 21 Jun '09

21 Jun '09

http://identi.ca/group/alug That is all. Just thought it wise to share with the list.

1 0

A KDE 4 mystery
by Barry Samuels 20 Jun '09

20 Jun '09

I have just upgraded my laptop running Debian Testing/Squeeze. This caused KDE 3.5 to be replaced with KDE 4. I have set up 6 workspaces under KDE 4 and if I log out or shutdown and reboot then go back into KDE there is only one workspace shown. If I do the same again I go back to 6 workspaces - ad infinitum. Why should the number of workspaces alternate like that? -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

1 0

Handheld technological frontiers
by Richard Bensley 18 Jun '09

18 Jun '09

Check it out, copy and paste on the iPhone! Check it out, copy and paste on the iPhone! Check it out, copy and paste on the iPhone! Check it out, copy and paste on the iPhone! Check it out, copy and paste on the iPhone!

3 2

Program to tail and highlight
by Jon Dye 18 Jun '09

18 Jun '09

Hi all, I'm currently tailing some log files so I can watch what's going on with a particular process. What I'd really like to do is to highlight particular matches in the file, preferably with different colours. Does anyone know of any command line applications that could do something like this? Thanks, JD

4 4

DNS
by Mark Rogers 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

I've always shied away from running DNS for "real" customers, as it's such a critical part of the infrastructure and is easily managed by the domain registrar (usually 123-Reg). However, after a second DNS outage in 2 yrs at 123-Reg (which should be near impossible, as DNS is the one thing it is easy to make redundant) I've reached the point (again!) of considering running my own. I've always found configuring Bind to be, er, a bit of a bind, so are there any simpler options out there or should I just bite the bullet and install bind? What is the typical system overhead of running DNS - should I add it to my web/mail servers or should it be separate? It makes sense to use our (separate) web and mail servers, if only because if both of those are down then it doesn't really matter than DNS is down too! Requirements are to be able to handle domains and subdomains (ideally multi-level subdomains although we don't have that at the moment so I won't miss it), and wildcards, with A,CNAME and MX records. So pretty basic stuff. -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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Re: [ALUG] Gentoo kernel installation hangs while removing something under /var
by Jim Rippon 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

----- "Dan Hatton" <vi5u0-alug(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > what size was the partition you had mounted? > > IIRC, 12GB, so not _that_ small. > That sounds like plenty - there may indeed be something else wrong. Were you using the stages from the CD or downloading them, and had you chrooted when you installed the kernel? > > I'm tempted to make /var/tmp/portage a symlink to something in the > root filesystem, then. Is there any reason that would be enormously > stupid? > I have never tried - if you haven't come across it already, gentoo-wiki.com is an excellent resource for particular system setups and packages - although I don't know whether this case would be on there. There is an article I came across with a quick search for using tmpfs (swapping RAM disk) for portage here http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Speeding_up_emerge_with_tmpfs It may be easier to configure portage to use a different location to extract/build packages - see man make.conf for details of how you can redirect this, or have a look through the portage section of the online docs http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml?part=3 Jim

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[ALUG Announce] 3rd Monday Monthly Ipswich Social Meeting : McGintys, Northgate Street
by samwise 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- The monthly "Third Monday" ALUG Ipswich Social Meeting is back tonight (Monday 15th June) at 20:00: P J McGinty & Sons 15 Northgate Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3BY Tel: 01473 251 515 Map/Directions URI: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=IP1+3BY WWW: http://pjmcginty.moonfruit.com/ McGintys pub is in the centre of Ipswich, not far from our old haunt - The Milestone. It's directly opposite the town's central library and has a reputation for good Irish beer. All are welcome, novices and experienced users. Feel free to ask for further information on the Main ALUG mailing list. Sorry for the late reminder - I've been camping all weekend with no access to internet. Topics for discussion is wide open - nothing major planned this month. We can potentially discuss eBooks and see an in-development Android title tho. Remember to call or email me, if you're arriving later and want to ensure I don't wander off, which I have a tendency to do if the turn-out hits rock-bottom ... Hope to see you there, Peter. ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Linux Journal cut-price subscription offer
by MJ Ray 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Message-ID: <eba6d2300906120329s2fd9be4ga5abe51e865ff5f9(a)mail.gmail.com> From: Alan Pope <alan(a)popey.com> ----- Forwarded message from noreply(a)linuxjournal.com ----- Subject: Exclusive savings for our International readers Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:52:40 -0700 (PDT) Are you tired of the rising costs of just about everything? So are we! For a limited time all international subscriptions to the print edition of Linux Journal will be reduced to the low price of $49.50 for 1 year (a savings of over 30% off the regular price) AND upgraded to include a free digital subscription. As a special bonus you will also receive Linux Journal's System Administration Special Issue free of charge. Act now, https://secure.linuxjournal.com/subs/rb/tn26462?promo=M96INTL Hope that helps, -- MJ Ray (slef) Webmaster for hire, statistician and online shop builder for a small worker cooperative http://www.ttllp.co.uk/ http://mjr.towers.org.uk/ (Notice http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html) tel:+44-844-4437-237

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Re: [ALUG] Gentoo kernel installation hangs while removing something under /var
by Jim Rippon 12 Jun '09

12 Jun '09

Dan, Sounds like your var partition had filled up perhaps - what size was the partition you had mounted? Don't know your experience with Gentoo, but it extracts package sources under /var/tmp/portage/$(package_name) and compiles them therein so you need to have a fair amount of space in /var in order to extract/build larger packages (openoffice, firefox, kernel etc). Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Hatton" <vi5u0-alug(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: "Anglia Linux Users' Group" <main(a)lists.alug.org.uk> Sent: Friday, 12 June, 2009 13:04:47 GMT +00:00 GMT Britain, Ireland, Portugal Subject: [ALUG] Gentoo kernel installation hangs while removing something under /var Dear All, Any idea what might be going on in the following, please? I'm installing Gentoo from the latest (20090606, IIRC) installation CD, on a new machine. I followed the handbook as far as attempting to install a kernel with emerge tuxonice-sources (I also tried the more standard emerge gentoo-sources, with the same symptoms). The emerge process (or rather, a process started by it) hangs just after applying patches to the kernel. top reveals that almost all the CPU is being taken up by an attempt to rm something under $(chroot)/var. the exact pathname of the "something" scrolled off-screen before I could catch it, but it looked like it was probably a directory full of patches. When I killed the rm process, emerge carried on nicely, and put a kernel source tree where I'd expect it, in $(chroot)/usr/src. That kernel configured OK, and at least started to compile OK before I had to leave it to go do my day job. So what's the problem, apart from that it's kind of inelegant for an install process to hang and need special measures by the user? If this sort of thing happens on other packages too, the stuff that should have been rm'd and hasn't will pretty quickly fill the small partition I've mounted as $(chroot)/var. Possible explanations welcome. -- Thanks, Dan _______________________________________________ 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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