To do list:
- truecrypt
- resolve ssh over local wireless network
- evolution incoming email notifier
- pdf viewer, editor
- imaging hard disk using "dd"
- windows fonts
- trowser -- extended less command with color text display
Installation and configuration of Ubuntu 10.04 - June 2010
==========================================================
Install the ubuntu desktop version (32-bit) on a PC x86
with erase hard disk option (all previous partitions gets deleted)
For dual boot installation (installing Ubuntu on a Windows system as
an additional operating system), seek professional guidance, backup your system
(hard drive) to an external disk, and plan the installation process carefully.
If you have a spare internal disk, you may install Ubuntu on that drive.
Otherwise, create two additional partitions on the primay disk as below:
Boot the system using GParted-Live CD and perform the following steps:
- reduce the size of the Windows partition to create space for new partitions
- create a new partition (to the right of Windows partition) of any size > 10GB
for Linux system and user file. Choose ext4 as the format for this partition
Note you can access (both read & write) Windows files from Linux
but Linux (ext4) cannot be read from Windows.
Files that need to be shared by both operating systems, need to be placed
in the Windows (NTFS) partition
- create the last partition at the right end of the disk for the Linux swap
parition. Choose "swap" as the format for this partition.
The recommended size for this partition is twice the size of the main memory
Apply all these operations and make sure that Windows work correctly.
Then install Ubuntu and carefully choose the installation options.
Login as the first user,
- customize panel
bring the panel to the bottom
move icons from the status panel to the bottom panel
delete the empty status panel
add to panel "Window List"
drag Applications>Accessories>Terminal to the panel
- connect to the wireless network
connect to hidden wireless network, network name, WPA PS2 Personal, passphrase
Firefox, customize (small icon, newtab, copy, print
Edit Preferences: home page, download
- Start a terminal session, and test sudo command as
sudo bash
sudo -i
sudo /etc/crontab
- If there is a problem due to unresolved hostname for sudo commands,
reboot in recovery mode as root
cd /etc
vi hostname [ensure that only onle line is present with the name of this pc]
vi hosts [replace the first two lines with the following three lines]
127.0.0.1 localhost name_of_this_pc
127.0.1.1 name_of_this_pc
You may add additional lines with ipaddress-servername pairs here
save these files and reboot
- To hide login usernames,
sudo -i
gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory --type Boolean --set /apps/gdm/simple-greeter/disable_user_list True
restart the computer
- To move the window control buttons to the right,
gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/general/button_layout --type string “:maximize,minimize,close,”
- To move the window control buttons to the left,
gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/general/button_layout --type string “menu:maximize,minimize,close,”
- To change the window title bar color,
System > Preferences > Appearance (Clearlooks)
- To change the background color of the panel,
RClick on the panel > Properties > Background > Solid color
- Terminal:
Edit > Profiles... > Default > Edit
General > Font: Courier 10 Pitch Regular 18 > OK
Colors: Text color R:255 G:170 B:0 OK
Background color R:0 G:0 B:0 OK
Add/create a new profile (Classroom)
General > Font: Courier 10 Pitch Regular 18 > OK
Colors: Text color R:0 G:0 B:0 OK
Background color R:255 G:255 B:255 OK
Close
To open a new terminal with Classroom profile,
start a terminal (default profile),
File -> Open Terminal -> Classroom
delete the parent terminal window
- File browser
Edit - Preferences:
Views - List View,
Behavior - Single click, View executable text files
- System - Administration - Users and Groups
sudo vi /etc/group and /etc/passwd
create users & groups
delete group names that are unused (same as usernames)
# The next step is applicable only if you would access samba files
# from other servers
- mounting samba shares
sudo apt-get install smbfs
Create one directory for each smb share in /net (e.g. music)
create /usr/local/bin/smbshares script
Add the following line to /etc/sudoers
%family ALL=NOPASSWD: /bin/mount, /bin/umount, /sbin/mount.cifs, /sbin/umount.cifs
- ?hold: sudo apt-get install vim
- vpn.cs.fiu.edu (FIU-SCS), username, password,
Advanced... select MSCHAP, MSCHAPv2, and
enable "Use Point-to-Point encryption (MPPE)"
- remote desktop to office desktop
Applications -> Internet -> Terminal Server Client
General
Computer: remoteWindowsSystemName
Protocol: RDPv5
User Name, Password, Domain: AD
Display
select "Operate in full screen mode"
Local Resources
enable "Add my local drive to the remote computer"
Save As -> remoteserver-win
use ctrl-alt-Enter to toggle between Full Screen and regular window
then minimize to access local windows
In the remote screen, to access local file system
from Windows explorer,
My Network Places -> Entire Network -> Microsoft Terminal Services ->
\\tsclient\Local\ ...
- rdesktop jupiter
creating a(tunnel)
[ see http://www.revsys.com/writings/quicktips/ssh-tunnel.html ]
ssh -i /privateKeyPath -L localhost:5999:serverName:9999 -p9999 -l username serverName
Linux putty for tunnel
SSH -> Auth -> specify puttyjupiter file
SSH -> Tunnels -> Source port: 5999 Destination: 127.0.0.1:5999
Do NOT include username along with the host name.
To include automatic login name specify it under Connection -> Data -> Auto-login username
vi /etc/ssh/ssh_config
GSSAPIAuthentication no
System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager
installed xtightvncviewer 1.3.9-6
installed flashplugin-installer 10.1.53.64ubuntu0.10.04.1
To start the Rdesktop session from a local terminal session (or create a application launcher),
/usr/bin/vncviewer localhost:99
[ http://pwet.fr/man/linux/commandes/xtightvncviewer ]
- GUI scp
Run the following commands only one time to register authentication for each boot session
ssh-add -D
to remove all identities stored in the system
ssh-add /home/user/cygwinjupiter
Nautilus (Gnome file browser): File -> Connect to Server ->
for SCIS U: drive,
Service type: SSH, Server: ocelot.aul.fiu.edu,
Folder: /homeFolderPath
check Add bookmark, Bookmark name: U_SCIS
Connect
for subsequent connections, click on U_SCIS on the left pane.
For J_Ext
Service type: SSH, Server: jupiterExt
Port: 9999
Folder: /homeFolderPath
Uername: username
check Add bookmark, Bookmark name: J_Ext
Connect
for subsequent connections, click on J_Ext on the left pane.
Similarly, create J_Int folder (with server as jupiter)
- email client (evolution)(Edit -> Preferences -> choose account -> Edit/Add)
http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution
http://www.go-evolution.org/FAQ
FIU-SCIS
Receiving Email: IMAP, imap.cis.fiu.edu, no encryption
Receiveing Options: Under Folders
enable both "Show only subscribed folders" & "Override server namespace"
Namespace: mail
Sending Email: SMTP, smtp.cs.fiu.edu,
enable "Server requires authentication", SSL encryption,
Authentication Type: Login, Username: usernamestring
Defaults: change the Drafts and Sent folder settings for account specific folders.
Gmail
Receiving Email: IMAP, imap.gmail.com, SSL encryption,
Sending Email: SMTP, smtp.gmail.com,
enable "Server requires authentication", SSL encryption,
Authentication Type: Login, Username: usernamestring
Defaults: change the Drafts and Sent folder settings for account specific folders.
- Display configuration for projector
System -> Preferences -> Monitors
enable "Show monitors in panel"
set Resolution: 1280 x 800 (local use), 1024 x 768 (projector), Apply
- customize aliases in ~/.bash_aliases
comment out Alias "return" that includes "vi" - interferes with file completion feature
include the following five aliases
alias jint='ssh -p9999 -l username jupiter'
alias jext='ssh -p9999 -l username jupiterExt'
alias ocelot='ssh -l username ocelot.aul.fiu.edu'
alias mapshares="/usr/local/bin/smbshares your_smbusername"
alias rmshares="/usr/local/bin/rmshares"
- customize the prompt string PS1 as below:
sudo vi /etc/profile
replace 15th line as
PS1='\u@\h:\w \!\$ '
sudo vi /etc/bash.bashrc
replace 21st line as
PS1='${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\u@\h:\w \!\$ '
vi ~/.bashrc
uncomment line 39 "force_color_prompt=yes"
edit lines 53 and 55 to include "\!"
see http://www.linux.com/archive/feature/113860 for color codes
- KMyMoney
sudo apt-get install kmymoney2
export Loose QIF files from the previous Microsoft Money software
and import them in KMyMoney application
- Rhythmbox
copy all mp3 songs repository (2.5GB) to /local folder
Edit -> Preferences -> General -> Visible columns (choose ONLY "Time")
Install necessary plugins
play /local/MP3/LinuxPlayLists
sudo apt-get install tagtool
to edit ID3 tags of mp3 files
- Chrome browser
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:chromium-daily/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install chromium-browser
Chrome extensions: NPR: News, Music and Books; Forecastfox Weather; Google Tasks by OpenBit;
Countdown by mermin; FreshStart (Session Manager) by Visibotech; Web2pdf converter; Stock Tracker by Charlesblee;
Docs PDF/PowerPoint Viewer (by Google) by wescarr@google.com; Google Dictionary (by Google)
http://ubuntuguide.net/how-to-install-chromium-google-chrome-browser-in-ubuntu-10-04
- Configure papermill printers at FIU
System -> Administration -> Printing -> Add -> Printer
Network printer -> Find Network Printer -> Host: papermill -> Find
Host: papermill Queue: printers/printername -> Verify -> Forward
# The following plugin is ok but not that great
- gedit text editor
vigedit plugin: http://blog.tsmacdonald.com/archives/312
Install this as a regular user
mkdir ViGedit
bzr branch http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~tristil/vigedit/main-method
cd main-method/
python install.py
Start gedit -> Edit -> Preferences -> Plugin tab -> enable ViGedit -> Close
- apt-get install xchm
copy all ComputerScienceAndTech repository (4.2GB) to /local/ComputerScienceAndTech folder
- sudo apt-get install bouml
UML modeling tool
see http://mahmudahsan.wordpress.com/
- Configure wireless interface for wlan0
...
- Fixing ssh over wireless connection on home network
aptitude search '~i'
dpkg --list | grep ss
apt-get remove openssh-client
apt-get install openssh-client
System -> Administration -> Update Manager ...
Keyboard shortcuts:
To erase memory and reboot
ctrl-prtsc-reisub (hold ctrl + prtsc and type reverse of busier)
check with tsclient (Applications -> Internet -> Terminal Server Client)
To check badblocks on a hard disk
badblocks -s -v -w /dev/hda
badblocks -b 4096 -c 49152 -w -s /dev/hda1
============================== Previously used commands =======================
use the command "apport-collect bug-number" to submit the system error details through a browser.
*** The following section was not used.
/etc/gdm/PostSession/Default is called directly after graphical LOGOUT.
See https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-uk/2008-May/012702.html
Insert "/usr/local/bin/rmshares" command
inside /etc/gdm/PostSession/Default
To prevent CIFS from hanging during shutdown,
execute the following two commands only one time:
sudo update-rc.d -f umountnfs.sh remove
sudo update-rc.d umountnfs.sh stop 15 0 6 .
The next two methods are not applicable since wireless network connection
takes some time after login.
/etc/gdm/PostLogin/default is called directly after graphical LOGIN
before the graphical session starts (ie. it is a login script)
Add "/usr/local/bin/smbshares $USER" to the login script
System -> Preferences -> Startup Applications -> Add
To run a script on logout, ( not suitable for a logoff sesion )
Put them $HOME/.bash_logout
This is not applicable since this will be executed for each terminal job
***
Notes:
If you are using bash, the global login file is /etc/profile, and the user login files are ~/.bash_profile
[note that .bash_profile is different from .bashrc in that .bash_profile is only sourced on login (or on the start of a login terminal).
.bashrc will be sourced for any kind of terminal startup.]
For environment variables,
see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EnvironmentVariables
# update-rc.d -f umountnfs.sh remove
Removing any system startup links for /etc/init.d/umountnfs.sh ...
/etc/rc0.d/S31umountnfs.sh
/etc/rc6.d/S31umountnfs.sh
# update-rc.d umountnfs.sh stop 15 0 6 .
Adding system startup for /etc/init.d/umountnfs.sh ...
/etc/rc0.d/K15umountnfs.sh -> ../init.d/umountnfs.sh
/etc/rc6.d/K15umountnfs.sh -> ../init.d/umountnfs.sh
# update-rc.d umountshares.sh stop 14 0 6 .
update-rc.d: warning: /etc/init.d/umountshares.sh missing LSB information
update-rc.d: see <http://wiki.debian.org/LSBInitScripts>
Adding system startup for /etc/init.d/umountshares.sh ...
/etc/rc0.d/K14umountshares.sh -> ../init.d/umountshares.sh
/etc/rc6.d/K14umountshares.sh -> ../init.d/umountshares.sh
# update-rc.d -f umountshares.sh remove
Removing any system startup links for /etc/init.d/umountshares.sh ...
/etc/rc0.d/K14umountshares.sh
/etc/rc6.d/K14umountshares.sh
# update-rc.d -f umountnfs.sh remove
Removing any system startup links for /etc/init.d/umountnfs.sh ...
/etc/rc0.d/K15umountnfs.sh
/etc/rc6.d/K15umountnfs.sh
# update-rc.d umountnfs.sh stop 14 0 6 .
Adding system startup for /etc/init.d/umountnfs.sh ...
/etc/rc0.d/K14umountnfs.sh -> ../init.d/umountnfs.sh
/etc/rc6.d/K14umountnfs.sh -> ../init.d/umountnfs.sh
#
============================================================================
- Ethernet (wired network) communication should work always.
If there is a problem check at https://help.ubuntu.com/ and select Internet
- For a wireless network (with WPA-PSK, TKIP non-broadcast network) connection,
visit http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=202834 by wieman01
iwconfig [note your wireless adapter as wlan0, ath0, etc.]
Generate passphrase_in_hex_code by
wpa_passphrase your_specific_ssid passphrase_in_ascii
[prefix each space in the ascii passphrase with "\"]
vi /etc/network/interfaces [for wpa-psk tkip non-broadcast network: 13 lines]
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
auto ath0
iface ath0 inet dhcp
wpa-driver wext
wpa-ssid your_specific_ssid
wpa-ap-scan 2
wpa-proto WPA
wpa-pairwise TKIP
wpa-group TKIP
wpa-key-mgmt WPA-PSK
wpa-psk passphrase_in_hex_code_without_any_delimiters_or_quotes
vi /etc/init.d/wireless-network.sh [1 line]
/etc/init.d/networking restart
chmod +x /etc/init.d/wireless-network.sh
ls -l /etc/rcS.d/S41* [make sure there is no file that begins with S41]
ln -s /etc/init.d/wireless-network.sh /etc/rcS.d/S41wireless-network
Restart the computer
If for some reason, the system doesn't boot up (goes into a loop)
even in recovery mode, boot up the computer with a live CD (Knoppix)
RightClick on the ubuntu hard drive partition (sda4) -> Properties
Permission tab -> uncheck "Read only" -> OK
Start a terminal
su (enter - no password is required)
chroot /mnt/sda4
cd etc
edit the necessary file and save it
Shutdown and boot from the hard disk as normal.
[Hence do not save password as a text string in any file
because it can be read with root access by any one with a live CD]
- Mounting samba shares from a server using smbmount
visit http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=280473
Add an alias in ~/.bashrc as
alias mapshares='sudo ~/smbshares your_smbusername'
Create one directory for each smb share in /media (e.g. music)
Create a bash script ~/smbshares as below
#!/bin/bash
#
# If the network is routed through the home gateway,
# mount all seven samba shares to the /media folder
# with appropriate credentials.
#
# check for the correct number of arguments
if [ $# -ne 1 ]
then # only one argument must be given
echo Usage: $0 smbUserName
exit
fi
homenet=`ifconfig | grep inet\ addr:192.168.2. | wc -l`
if [ $homenet ]; then # currently connected to the home network
smbuser=$1
userID=`id -u $smbuser`
echo -n "Enter password for network samba shares: "
stty_orig=`stty -g`
stty cbreak -echo
read passcode
stty $stty_orig
echo
# for each smb share, add one line as below
smbmount //yourServer/smbShareName /media/music -o username=$smbuser,password=$passcode,uid=$userID,umask=000
echo All shares are successfully mounted from the home network
fi
exit
# end of the script
- To identify names of software packages, visit
Package list of ubuntu 8.04 at http://packages.ubuntu.com/hardy/
- ATI (fglrx) video
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RadeonDriver#head-de8fa92c38d23a0a45d2ac513a4e5bb85ac9e919
- Ruby
http://www.math.umd.edu/~dcarrera/ruby/0.3/
http://tryruby.hobix.com/ (browser based - Java applet)
http://www.troubleshooters.com/codecorn/ruby/basictutorial.htm
http://www.rubycentral.com/pickaxe/
http://glasnost.itcarlow.ie/~barryp/ruby-tut.html
- Reference: http://www.cis.fiu.edu/~prabakar/resource/Linux