Linux (Ubuntu) Titbits

A guide to using Ubuntu. Ubuntu troubleshooting and problem solving. Ubuntu tips and tricks. Ubuntu Questions and Answers. Ubuntu Errors, bugs, bug fixes.

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Switching monitors in Ubuntu

This works perfectly on my version of Ubuntu.

http://www.thetechrepo.com/main-articles/502-how-to-change-the-primary-monitor-in-ubuntu-or-other-linux-distributions

First make an empty shell script file <name>.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Author: Andrew Martin

# Credit: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1309247

echo "Enter the primary display from the following:" # prompt for the display

xrandr --prop | grep "[^dis]connected" | cut --delimiter=" " -f1 # query connected monitors

read choice # read the users's choice of monitor

xrandr --output $choice --primary # set the primary monitor

Then run the script after making it executable by chmod +x <name>.sh

Then run it ./<name>.sh

You should be monitors as printed out. Type in the monitor that you want to use as a primary.

Thanks Andrew Martin for setting this up.

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Hotlist

unpack a tar file:

tar -zxvf file name

change permissions for every file in folder recursively:

chmod -R 

make symbolic links between files and directories

ln -s

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Mysql on Linux

It's been simple enough for me to get Mysql onto linux. I installed these three packages

$ sudo apt-get install mysql-client

$ sudo apt-get install mysql-server

$ sudo apt-get install mysql-query-browser

I highly recommend query browser unless you like to everything in command line, which is also fine.

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Useful bash commands

This page has all the useful bash commands you'll ever need, be sure to bookmark it.

http://ss64.com/bash/

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Linux + PHP just works

It just works, if you're working with PHP and not using Linux = Big Mistake, upgrade and save yourself the hassle is a lot of things. More detailed reasons to come later

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Managing files and websites over FTP with Linux

FTP, in windows we have some basic programs to do that like Filezilla, which is great and gets the job done. You can use that for Linux as well. http://filezilla-project.org/download.php If you feel that you want to use the command line utility like I do then its much simpler. $ ftp $ (type in user name) $ (type in password) you are connected! You can use the basic navigation commands just like you would in a Linux file system but there is a downfall, you cannot tab your way to seeing everything on the server. Now to the basics: getting a file : ftp> get edit it, change it w/e putting it back in: ftp> put REMEMBER you go from your base, as in terminal type in cd, the path starts from there. I recommend using git or perforce and syncing your ftp with your local version, it will make your life a lot easier. Happy Ubunutuing!

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Best editors for Rails - Using Netbeans IDE for Ruby on Rails

Installing NetBeans IDE for Ruby and Ruby on Rails is simple enough.

Go to terminal type in:

$ netbeans

if its not already there, type in:

sudo apt-get install netbeans

Go into plugins and install the "ruby and rails" plugin - this should do everything you need.

I got version 6.8, it works great, seems like version 7 is not supported anymore with ruby officially but it is supported anyways. This version works for me.

Manual install:

Download the version you want from netbeans site:

http://netbeans.org/downloads/6.9.1/

select the ruby version.

Instructions are available there but you can download the .sh file

$ chmod +x <filename> (turned green for me)

$ sh <installer file> (running the installer script)

This guy does a much better job of explaining the process after: http://linuxhub.net/2010/06/install-netbeans-on-ubuntu-10-04/

Checking if it works:

Open netbeans and click "New Project"

You should see "Ruby" and "Ruby on Rails Project" on the side.

Congrats, its working!

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Wireless not enabled in Ubuntu Enable wireless greyed out

I had this problem right after installing Ubuntu.

PROBLEM:

Enable wireless greyed out, wireless not working.

sudo lshw -C network

gives: network DISABLED for wlan0

This page is helpful:

help.ubuntu.com/10.04/internet/C/troubleshooting-wireless.html

but this doesn't solve any problem.

The problem is your wireless card doesn't have the correct driver. You might think "but it works in Windows!", yes but you need to download a new driver to get your wireless working. I have a Broadcom b43 for Dell Inspirion 1545 - this solution only works for that.

SOLUTION:

Option 1: if your ehernet when you type in sudo lshw -C network

 *-network        description: Ethernet interface

is working fine (looks as it does above and you can see no errors), then plug in your computer to an ethernet connection.

Then - Hardware drivers will show up with an update or install of drivers

Broadcom STA wireless driver Broadcom b43 wireless driver

Install both of these and it should automatically turn on your wireless and start working.

if you get

could not open /var/cache/apt/apt/archives/lock - you have another updater running,

close all:

sudo apt-get install blah blah that are going on synaptic package manager that is running

try again and it should work.

Option 2:

I'm planning on using wireless and I have no access to a wired connection.

Go here: wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43

Follow instructions on there, scroll down to supported devices, type in the commands as shown.

Download the driver by clicking download and transfer it via usb to your Ubuntu laptop/desktop.

Follow instructions on: wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Download

These are the only methods that worked for me and they should fix the problem.

HELPFUL LINKS:

crunchbang.org/archives/2007/12/18/configure-wireless-on-the-command-line/ help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WifiHowTo

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Installing Ubuntu on Dell Inspirion Windows 7 Dual Boot Permission denied Error - log file ...

There are several problems with installing Ubuntu on Windows 7 but this is what worked for me.

This post describes the error:

PROBLEM:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=295095

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/162674-ubuntu-installation-error-message.html

You download Ubuntu, unpack it and click on wubi.exe and do a "Install inside Windows" - this option it says will reduce performance, but it's fine, it only matters if you are doing something that will use an obscene amount of memory.

Your installer runs and then stops and throws this error: "Permission Denied" "For more information please check the log file: C:\users\myname\info\appdata\local\temp\wubi-11.04-rev211.log (D:\users\myname\info\appdata\local\temp\wubi-10.04-rev211.log) for me. It doesn't matter what the version is.

There is a simple solution to this, you don't need VM or anything else.

SOLUTION:

- Unhide Appdata folder in Users/<your username>/Appdata (irrelevant)

- Extract the .iso download into a folder on the desktop.

- After extracting move the .iso file (yes the original download that is ~600 - 700 MB) inside of the folder that was extracted into so the folder contains: All extracted files, other files, wubi.exe, usb-installer.exe(might be misspelled), and ubuntu<version>.iso file.

- Run wubi.exe

- It will show an error saying there is no CD in the CD drive (E or whatever it is for you). Click "Cancel", it will keep popping up about 30 times, keep clicking cancel. (Yes, it doesn't make sense but it works and with a good reason)

- Your installer should run anyways, if you get any other errors either click "cancel" or "continue" until the box closes and your installer will finish.

- It will give you 2 options "I will manually reboot later" or "Reboot Now". I clicked "Reboot Now".

- When you open, you should have an OS choice selection - choose Ubuntu and it will run through the setup.

WHY AND HOW:

Why this works exactly, I do not know, but it installs Ubuntu as a program inside Windows and it works just fine for me. I am writing this blog using firefox in Ubuntu.

If you want to investigate and post a technical solution as to why this works, please comment below. If you want my technical solution, contact me.

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INANIMATE OBJECT?

hypercube

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Welcome to Linux (Ubuntu)

I am starting this blog to document all of my struggles (which eventually become joys) that I experience with Linux. I hope to provide solutions to people experiencing the same problems as I am because as we all know with Linux, not everything is up and ready and it can be a pain to get it up and running, but with some elbow grease and some ramming your head against a brick wall, it will work and it's worth it.

I use Ubuntu at work(mostly) and a combo of Ubuntu and Windows 7 at home. If you've invented something that can beat Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Gaming, Application etc, let me know and I will stop using Windows 7. Open office doesn't do it.

For those that are interested I use:

Ubuntu 10.4 - I tried 11.4 and didn't like it, my laptop is not a mobile phone and I personally found it annoying.

Laptop - Dell Inspirion 1545 Pentium Dual-Core CPU T4200 @ 2GHZ 2GB RAM 800 MB Graphics