Ubuntu - 4 GB Ram on 32 bit machine
Linux, UbuntuI have a 32bit machine at work, that has 4 gigs of RAM. In order to get my kernel to recognize the correct amount of RAM I have _ALWAYS_ customized and recompiled a new kernel, which obviously removed my ability to upgrade to the latest/greatest from the repositories.
Well, those days are over for me! This week I rebuilt my machine, and opted to use Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 4 (which by the way is very stable and awesome). And since I had a fresh system, I wanted to look around and see if there was an easier way to handle my RAM challenge.
Look no further. Just install the following packages and then reboot, its just that easy.
linux-server
linux-image-server
linux-headers-server
linux-restricted-modules-server (I actually had to do the one for my kernel linux-restricted-modules-2.6.28-7-server)
The result is a nicely set up, compiz enabled, Gnome environment, but with a whopping 4 gb of memory.
sudo apt-get install linux-server linux-image-server linux-headers-server linux-restricted-modules-2.6.28-7-server # # Here is the Mem section from running 'top' # Mem: 4040568k total, 3833644k used, 206924k free, 87580k buffers
Modfiying Laptop Cooling with i8k (Dell E1505)
Linux, Technology, UbuntuEver since installing Ubuntu 8.10, I have noticed my laptop operating temps are a little hotter than I like. Not dangerous hot, but definitely in the "uncomfortable to my lap" range. After a little research I found the package "i8kutils".
Definition: i8kutils: Dell Inspiron and Latitude laptop utilities This is a collection of utilities to control Dell Inspiron and Latitude laptops. It includes programs to turn the fan on and off, to read fan status, CPU temperature, BIOS version and to handle the volume buttons and Fn-keys. The package includes also a small Tk applet, designed to be swallowed in the gnome panel, which monitors the CPU temperature and comtrols automatically the fans accordingly to user defined thresholds. The programs require the kernel module i8k.o which can be compiled from the package sources or found in Linux kernel 2.4.14 and later versions. The kernel module has been tested only on Inspiron 8000 laptops but it should work on any Inspiron and Latitude laptops. (from About.com)
WARNING. Be careful with your settings, you might break your stuff!
Step 1: Install i8kutils
sudo apt-get install i8kutils
Step 2: Modify /etc/modules
sudo gedit /etc/modulesAdd this i8k force=1 to the end of the file and save it.
Step 3: Create i8kmon file (it will be a new file)
sudo gedit /etc/i8kmonHere is the config I used for my laptop:
# Run as daemon, override with --daemon option
set config(daemon) 0
# Automatic fan control, override with --auto option
set config(auto) 1
# Report status on stdout, override with --verbose option
set config(verbose) 1
# Status check timeout (seconds), override with --timeout option
set config(timeout) 1
# Temperature thresholds: {fan_speeds low_ac high_ac low_batt high_batt}
set config(0) {{-1 0} -1 45 -1 55}
set config(1) {{-1 1} 45 60 55 70}
set config(3) {{-1 2} 60 128 70 128}
# end of file
Once you are ready, you can either restart the system or run the following command:
sudo modprobe i8k force=1
Optional Step 4: Install/config gnome-swallow-applet
sudo apt-get install gnome-swallow-appletRight-click on the toolbar to add the new swallow applet. Then, in the application to watch enter i8kmon
The gnome-swallow-applet along with i8kmon is pretty neat. It allows you to see the current temp as well as what fan speed is currently running. But it also allows you to force the speed up or down when you want.
Results: It wasn't uncommon for my laptop to work in the 120F+ range, now after running acpi -f -t in terminal, you can see the results.
alynch@badonkadonk:~$ acpi -f -t
Battery 0: Full, 100%
Thermal 0: ok, 99.5 degrees F
Turn your Ubuntu 8.10 into gOS
Google, Linux, UbuntuI have to admit, after seeing Dave opting to install gOS recently I got a little envious. So, I decided to turn my compiz/emerald Ubuntu 8.10 into a nice little gOS environment. Turns out it was pretty dang quick and easy.
First step get the GTK theme.
After installing gOS 3.0 in a VM I realized that it was a spiffed up Gnome. Good sign! After a couple searches I came up with this theme on deviant art (gOS-3-0-Theme) Lucky for me, that theme contained the gOS icons, gtk theme, wallpaper, AND an Emerald theme. (nice!)
Next, get google-gadgets.
Google-gadgets is similar to the gadgets you see in Vista, but better since there is a .deb for it :). Go here to grab the latest release, download it, and double-click on it to install the deb. If you want to have it start on boot, create a startup entry for it in System > Preferences > Sessions > and execute ggl-gtk or ggl-gtk -ns if you don't want the sidebar.
Finally, the menu bar.
The lastest release of gOS uses wbar for some reason, but from browsing the source it looks like the code hasn't been updated since late '07. So, I chose AWN (avant window navigator) instead. The fact that you can install AWN by installing it via apt-get install avant-window-navigator helps. :)
Ahhh, don't you just love Linux!
Reencode videos for Blackberry 8100
Linux, UbuntuAfter much searching/trying stuff I have found a way to successfully re-encode videos that can play on my Blackberry Pearl.
mencoder -vf expand=:::::4/3,scale=240:180 "[entervideohere]" -o "[enteroutputhere]" -of avi -ovc lavc -oac mp3lame -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vbitrate=230:acodec=mp3:abitrate=64
Obviously you need to have mencoder installed
I am not completely sure what other dependencies there are, since I tried installing so many different tools....but I THINK you need the following: lame, ffmpeg .
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Windows and Linux...at the same time!
Linux, Virtualization, Ubuntu
Be prepared ... cool geek stuff ahead.
I think I came across this blog entry on digg, but I can't remember for certain. But wherever the original source, it is awesome.
Long story short, you can run a virtual Windows machine (with vmware server) and connect to it via seamless rdp allowing you to interact with your windows applications right on your linux desktop.
Here is a screenshot example. You can see my Gnome panel at the top of the screen, and the Windows taskbar at the bottom.
While this is cool in a gadgety sort of way, it is also going to be so much nicer for IE browser testing and who knows what else.
Here is a blog post detailing exactly how to get your own symbiosis up and running.
NOTE: in the example below the "\" in his examples were removed for some reason... your launcher should look like this
rdesktop -A -s 'c:\seamlessrdp\seamlessrdpshell.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe' WindowsIpAddressHere -u YOURUSERNAME -p YOURPASSWORD
Hardy Heron: First Impressions
Linux, Ubuntu
Recently, Hardy Heron Alpha 3 was released so, being curious and an avid distro-installer I decided to download the iso and create a virtual machine to see what was new.
I am currently running Ubuntu Feisty (one version older than Gutsy) since I encountered some behavior with Compiz-fusion that I just couldn't stand. (I'm really picky about my OS!).
Get the Alpha 3 - 386 ISO HERE
Installing Hardy Heron Alpha 3
First I created my virtual machine using Vmware Server. And set the CDROM device to boot from the hardy heron installation iso file.
Once past the boot menu, I encountered this message: "Unable to register AppArmor" Not sure what the deal was but after hanging at this message for a couple seconds it went on through to boot into the live cd session.
[AppArmor is an alternative to SELinux, (which is pretty difficult to configure btw)]
Live CD: As you can see, this is pretty generic Gnome live cd.
From within the Live CD session, I choose to install Hardy Heron to my virtual hard drive. One thing of note here, the max screen resolution was 800x600 and the GUI for installation was slightly larger than that. So I had to guess my way to the "Next" buttons by tabbing and hoping :).
Eventually we got to a real session:
As with any of the previous pre-release Ubuntu's, you get to enjoy PLENTY of updates to your software. In this case we were greated with 199 updates available.
After clicking on the update notifier and selecting to install the updates, we ran into another little quirky issue...this is Alpha right?! ;) I was able to begin pulling the updates by going into terminal and typing:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade
After a reboot, once the updates were all downloaded and installed, I found out why the update manager didn't want to install these updates.
My Impressions
So, what do I think? I think it's just to early to really tell anything about the new features that Hardy Heron plans to offer.
I was really hoping to see the new enhancements to the desktop effects but I could not enable them for some reason. I did not see any Restricted Drivers Manager that would allow me to install the appropriate video card drivers.
So, if you are new to Linux and want to try out Ubuntu, be sure to try out a stable version (Gutsy is the current release version, go download it HERE). I on the other hand, am going to keep this little VM around and see what the next round of updates brings.
Upcoming Features
Among road-mapped features that I'm looking forward to in Hardy Heron:
- hardy-desktop-effects
- To ensure the smooth operation of compiz as the default window-manager the integration work into the desktop has to be emphasized. The tools for controlling appearance, workspaces, keyboard and sessions have to be made more compiz-aware. The default behaviour (actions triggered via keyboard-shortcuts or by popping up dialogs) of compiz is not to be different from metacity. It has to be taken care of that shortcuts of applications are not overridden by compiz. Interaction with the underlying framework (RandR) provided by Xorg has to be ensured so hotplugging of displays, screen-rotations and resolution-changes work without causing compiz to quit or crash.
- Kubuntu Hardy KDE 4
- Handle the 4.0 release, merge with Debian and get it in sync with Ubuntu features.
- I am really looking forward to this. I enjoy switching back and forth between Gnome/KDE/Fluxbox/e17. So a nicely integrated KDE 4 will rock!
- Fix the Linux audio mess once and for all
- Currently audio on Linux is a mess. Sound servers like Esound, Arts, Jack, PulseAudio constantly fight for exclusive access to the sound device. Applications usually support only a small subset of the available sound server/device APIs, and need to be configured for their use. Sound APIs are generally incompatible. Audio applications usually come with a messy plugin systems to support every API available. Several abstraction APIs exist, however, none is good for all use cases. Professional audio usually requires shutting down all non-professional sound porgrams. On the other hand Apple managed to define a common sound system (CoreAudio) which makes nearly everyone happy - desktop users as much as professional audio people.
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