Linux Freedom

Latest Laptop

2012-01-05T16:02:00.003-06:00

Okay I just replaced my burned out Gateway MX-8111 Laptop with a Compaq CG56-115DX. I got an extremely good deal for the unit $120. Still being sold new at $365 recommended retail price. While it is a 64 Bit machine (I have Xubuntu 11.10 64 Bit installed) the processor is only a single core CPU. (AMD V140) If you paid the full retail price on this unit it really isn't worth the cost of doing what I am planning, which is upgrade the CPU to an AMD Athlon Dual-Core Mobile P340 which matches the current MHz and wattage rating of the V140.

Its not the best solution for getting myself back to where I need to be but overall more cost effective than any other route I would have been forced to go. Though I will most likely go with the 8 GB RAM upgrade first, since that will initially do the most good. The only real thing I am not happy about is that it has no built in Media Card reader. Not a major issue but not all USB Card Readers are Linux friendly so I have to do a bit of research to find one that does.

How To Get Kubuntu 11.10 Akonadi, Nepomuk, and Kontact All Working Correctly

2011-10-31T11:24:00.001-05:00

Kubuntu users using 11.10 for the first time will quickly discover that there are some serious issues with the indexing system. The problem affects Kontact significantly and can cause your system to come to a crawl. Fortunately, these issues have been addressed but are not available in Canonicals standard repositories yet.

To fix the problem you need to add the KDE Backports repository and activate experimental updates.

If you are upgrading from Kubuntu 11.04 you will have to do a fresh upgrade in order to get a proper upgrade.

IN 11.04 - Backup all your Kontact Files: There is a major change in how Kontact handles, indexes and stores data between Kubuntu 11.04 and 11.10 the updated version of Kontact cannot read your files from 11.04 and you will have to export everything to be imported to the new version of Kontact later.

Boot the 11.10 CD-ROM or USB Drive Into Try Kubuntu Mode - Your going to have to do some file maitainance here first.

If you have one Linux partition mount that partition. Then use Alt+F2 key combination to open the run dialog box. Type in 'kdesu dolphin' to have root privelages in it. Navigate to the Linux partition and remove all files and directories except for the home directory.

Once that task is complete go into the home directory and then into your user directory. Tell dolphin to show hidden files and directories. You will need to remove them all. Remember that all hiiden files and directroies have a leading . before them. Example; your hidden directory that holds your KDE configuration files will have the name .kdesu

This will keep all your persnonal files intact while allowing Kubuntu 11.10 to get a fresh install. This is important since an upgrade install does not work well between 11.04 and 11.10.

If you are like me and have a separate Linux partition for home (i.e. mount point is /home) then just go into it and remove all the hidden files and folders in your user directory. You can reformat the other partitions when you do the install.

If there is more than one user on your system make sure that all necessary backups for them are done and also remove all their hidden files and directories in their user directories as well.

Once you have backed up all necessary data files and cleaned up the system as described then start the Kubuntu install.

Once Kubuntu 11.10 is installed and you have booted into your system you need to do the following:

Install the Kubuntu KDE Backports ppa - sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

Go to Applications >> Settings >> Software Sources in the menu. Click on the "Updates" tab and make sure that Pre-released updates (oneiric-proposed) and Unsupported updates (oneiric-backports) are selected. All boxes ubder "Install updates from:" should be checked.

Open Konsole and use the following commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

You will notice that your entire KDE install from the CD or Flash Drive install is going to be upgraded to version 4.7.2 allow this as this version has several bug fixes, including the ones needed to fix Akonadi, Nepomuk and Kontact.

After all updates have installed and the system reboots you can restore all your Kontact Data and go about getting your system setup back to where you want it.

One thing you need to know, the new version of Kontact does not play well with clamav or with spam filters (yet) so you should avoid using them for now. Otherwise you will find yourself waiting on Kmail (Kontact) constantly as it filters email everytime you run it. Kmail filters all email in your inbox everytime you download, startup or setup your personal filters. The new version of Kmail is not probably tagging files as already scanned so if its in your inbox its going to get scanned everytime Kmail does something.

Remove Akonadia in Kubuntu

2011-10-15T07:52:00.004-05:00

Having to make a decision on where to go with using Linux without using Unity led me back to KDE. Initially I installed Kubuntu 11.04 and was pleased with several of the features but when I upgraded to 11.10 I encountered severe issues.

I liked Kmail until I did the upgrade, unknowingly I had several backend issues due to changes in the KDE PIM suite, all caused by Akonadi.

From Wikipedia Akonadi is is explained as:

Akonadi is a storage service for personal information management (PIM) data and metadata named after the oracle goddess of justice in Ghana. It is one of the “pillars” (core technologies) behind the KDE SC 4 project, although it is designed to be used in any desktop environment. It is extensible and provides concurrent read, write, and query access.

Akonadi provides unique desktop-wide object identification and retrieval.^[3] It functions as an extensible data storage for all PIM applications. In KDE 3 each PIM application had different data storage and handling methods, which led to several implementations of essentially the same features. Besides data storage, Akonadi has several other components including search, and a library (cache) for easy access and notification of data changes.

Akonadi communicates with servers to fetch and send data instead of applications through a specialized API. Data can then be retrieved from Akonadi by a model designed to collect a specific data (mail, calendar, contacts, etc.). The application itself is made of viewers and editors to display data to the user and let them input data. Akonadi also supports metadata created by applications.

Because Akonadi takes care of data storage and retrieval, which are traditionally the difficult parts of creating a PIM application, development of PIM applications is made much easier. In fact, the Mailody developer Tom Albers demonstrated how a mail reader could be created in only 10 minutes using Akonadi.

That's all fine and dandy, except for one huge and very important detail, its murder on the CPU resources. My duo core did not drop below 93% the whole time it was active. It severely affected my network speed, graphics, disk and memory access. When I setup Clam and Spamassasin in Kmail it bogged down so bad I couldn't use it. To make matters worse I couldn't shut it down without killing any KDE PIM service to boot. Finally, in Kubuntu anyway, removing it via apt would remove half of KDE as well. Oh I was not pleased by this.

There was no doubt Akonadi had to go. I removed all KDE PIM applications, which irked me bad because I did want them, but they were useless to me with Akonadi completely tied to them. Installed Thunderbird and manually removed all Akonadi bin files in /usr/bin/ and removed the akonadi folder in /usr/share/ (kdesu dolphin can do wonders)

Result is my average CPU state is back down below 10% when I'm not running intense Multimedia or graphic applications and still well below 50% when I do. In other words I can run my computer normally and not worry about overheating my CPU which Akonadi was definitely doing.

This is an example of a good idea badly implemented and released prematurely. If Akonadi stopped indexing and scanning its data base when PIM applications didn't need the service then it might have been useful. But between it and Neopuk there was no downtime for the CPU. Since I use a laptop that's just absolutely unacceptable. Bad enough there is still a power management bug in the Linux Kernel causing issues, I sure don't need a data base indexer causing even more of an issue and killing my battery even faster.

Yes I am staying with KDE (Kubuntu) but I won't be using Kontact. Which really is a shame because Thunderbird does not replace it completely. However, i can read my email, setup functional spam filtering and anti-virus scanning without making computer bog down so much that a 486 using Windows XP actually runs faster.

I'm all for shared resource technology, it makes a lot of sense. However, it shouldn't eat up resources like Akonadi does.

New Desktop Enviroment Group Posted at OpenDesktop.org

2011-05-22T20:00:00.001-05:00

Base Specifications for the Free Desktop Environment

1. Any Desktop Environment needs a set of standards to determine the development path it will take. This specification is currently a rough draft of ideas and concepts. This is a beginning phase draft designed for interested parties to begin conception of a new Desktop Environment.

2. The following however, are base requirements for this DE:

Must follow and use all Open Desktop Specifications
Must use Compiz-Fusion for 3D, desktop effects and animations
Must use Emerald for theme Decorations
Must be OpenGL compliant
Must be user configurable to create the look, style and layout they desire
Must be user friendly but allow for advanced options for power users
Must not use any other Desktop Environment's tools and confguration applications
Development of tools to ease the creation of themes, including cursors and icons
Include integration with WINE using links to library files that handle the functions required to run the desired programs
Must fully Comply with Fitts' Law
Must be portable to work with any windowing system such as Xorg, Wayland, Xfree2k and others.

3. This DE needs to incorporate ideas and features found in Gnome, KDE, Xfce, LDE and all other DE environments used by *NIX systems. These features need to be properly evaluated for their usefulness and ability to enhance the Free Desktop Environment not just add features. If the feature does not add quality and desired ability then another solution or method needs to be utilized instead.

4. The DE must look at several sources for inspiration, ideas and concepts. Not only from DEs but from distribution specific implications of tools, layouts and designs as well.

Switching From Gnome 2 To Xfce

2011-05-17T05:41:00.009-05:00

Switching to another Desktop Environment can create some havoc. Especially finding replacement programs, applets and utilities one had previously but in some cases those options are no longer viable for any number of reasons.

Switching to Xubuntu I incorporated the following changes to my software line up;

EMAIL

When I switched from Gnome to Xfce I initially spent some time getting things set back up. I originally installed Evolution but that became a problem when I tried to fix a minor issue. I was going to do a reinstall of Evolution as part of the fix but dependencies somehow got broken. I decided to install Thunderbird to handle my email while I looked into the issue. Instead I discovered that Thunderbird had matured considerably and now had available the features I needed, plus others I didn't have with either Kontact or Evolution previously. Since Xubuntu used Thunderbird as its default email client I decided to go ahead and make it my default as well. With available add-ons I was not only able to get the features I needed and wanted but others that produced a better experience for me overall. The following is a list of the add-ons I have installed:

Adblock Plus
Contacts Sidebar (Not available at Mozilla site. Must be obtained at developers website.)
Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus
Enigmail
Firetray (I used AllTray in Gnome for Evolution and it didn't work so well in Xfce. This add-on works better and has user configurable options you will never see in AllTray.)
FlashGot
HabuL
Image Zoom
Lightning (I removed the Xubuntu version of this add-on and installed the one from Mozilla. I highly suggest you do this as well since this add-on is under heavy development you will want to get and use the latest stable copy available.)
Mail Merge
Mail Tweak
Message Faces for Thunderbird
Provider for Microsoft Exchange
ReminderFox
ThunderBirthday
ThunderBrowse
Timezone Definitions for Mozilla Calendar (This is a required add-on. DO NOT REMOVE)
.vcs Support
Zindus

SLEEP INHIBIT APPLET

Sadly this was an applet I found extremely useful but in order to get it into Xcfe required an install of most of the Gnome Core system which I was not willing to do. The good news is I found this neat little utility that is actually better and does not require dbus access to function. You can configure it to automatically run when certain programs start as well.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:caffeine-developers/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install caffeine

DROPBOX

There is a plugin for Thunar to access Dropbox available here:

http://www.softwarebakery.com/maato/Thunar-dropbox.html

Get the latest tarball version and follow the instructions on the website to build and install it.

TWITTER

I just can't get Gwibber to work and this is due in part to new Twitter sign in security requirements. Thankfully a new Linux Native Twitter Client just came on the scene. It has some very nice features while being surprisingly lightweight. Its called Hotot and is available via Launchpad:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hotot-team
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install hotot

EMERALD

I'm not going to reinvent the wheel here. The following Blog Post has the correct information on how to get Emerald working on Natty. (Any version of Natty)

http://abz89.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/how-to-fix-emerald-in-ubuntu-11-04/

CONCLUSION

Its not Gnome but then with Gnome 3 changing to Gnome Shell and Ubunty defaulting to Unity I wanted a Desktop Environment that allowed me to have the workflow, look and feel I wanted. Xfce has provided that for me and using the above applications, utilities and blog posts have allowed me to keep those functions I had grown accustomed to having.

Many others have expressed the same opinion concerning Unity and Gnome 3. So this post is to help anyone who wants to keep a similar layout like the one they currently have under Gnome 2. Xfce just may be the answer for you.

Its certainly worth looking into.

XFCE - The Mouse That Works

2011-05-14T12:59:00.002-05:00

Like just like three years ago when KDE 4 came on the scene I am finding myself being forced to move onto another Desktop Environment. However, unlike last time many of the alternative environments have matured significantly and this allowed me look them over with a happier feeling that I wouldn't be left to far out where my productivity would suffer.

Three years ago Xfce was decent but lacked in features I needed. Today that's changed with Xfce 4.8. The only real issues I faced was finding solutions to my personal needs and taste that replaced Gnome based functions that required me to basically load Gnome itself. Don't get me wrong here I have several Gtk apps installed, many of which were created with Gnome in mind. What I'm saying is that getting certain functions implemented were not easy unless I was willing to also install Gnome. Being that the idea here is to replace my Desktop Environment I really wasn't willing to do that. Since Xfce is Gtk based I really had no issue with using Gtk based apps but installing Gnome wasn't going to happen.

Thank God for Google as I have been able to find plug ins, and applications that fulfilled the needs and saved me from having to install Gnome alongside Xfce. (I will write about this on another post.)

While there are some things about Xfce that are still in my learning curve I am actually happy with it overall. Though there are a couple of things that I feel need to be addressed.

1. To dependent on Gnome for system settings and functions. Xfce developers may not see a need to reinvent the wheel but use of another Desktop Environment to gain access to system settings, functions and configuration is just not a good idea in the grand scheme of things. Requiring the libraries and tools that force a parallel install of another Windows Manager is just asking for trouble, especially in the event that things become incompatible. Which is very likely to happen with Gnome 3 when it becomes the default Gnome system. (Which is starting to happen now. Main stream distros will soon be replacing Gnome 2, before the end of this year.)

2. I don't mind simplicity but I would like to see more options in the few settings apps that are Native to Xfce. It would also be nice to have a way to install themes, icons and cursors without having to do it manually, or using the Gnome tools.

3. Better integration and by this Xfce developers need to develop the tools for various program hooks like LibreOffice/OpenOffice, Firefox and other programs so that they function correctly within the Windows Manager. This also includes having the system tell applications where the panel(s) are located. For some reason all my tray apps assume the panel is on top where my panel is at the bottom. When I open them again they drop down slightly and it gets annoying. LibreOffice had a whole different issue, the title bar was off the top of the screen. I did get this fixed but its obvious that Xfce is not reporting coordinates to applications correctly. On this note it would be nice to see a Compiz plugin for Xfce. Xfce developers themselves need to take the lead on these or work with others to implement this.

My final gripe was something I saw from an Xfce developer to a user. A user was asking if there was a replacement for Gnome-Applet-Sleep-Inhibitor (By the way I did find a solution to this. Its called Caffeine https://launchpad.net/caffeine) The user was told to use the Gnome-Applet because there was no need to create a separate applet for Xfce. What the developer is not understanding is to use that applet you have to install the Gnome-Power-Manager, which requires that you install most of the Gnome Core features. Since the idea is to replace Gnome and not install it I was more than a bit upset by this statement. If that is the kind of support the Xfce community is giving then Xfce will always be nothing more than an alternative low end Desktop Environment.

Despite the above I find there are a great many things I like about Xfce. Its easy to configure and modify when you finally figure out how. You can make it look the way you want without to many issues. Honestly the only way I can tell the difference between my current Xfce desktop and my old Gnome desktop is the Icons in my Notification Tray and how they act.

One major kudo is the Xfce Weather Applet. I love how it gives more complete data without having to actually open the interface. With the animations turned on it has a nice affect down in the panel. Though I would like to see a radar map added to the interface I do like the forecast window a lot more than Gweather.

If you, like me, aren't happy with where Gnome is going with Gnome 3 and prefer to have the options to make your desktop layout like you want, then Xfce is a good option to look at. Its not a perfect replacement but I do have my system setup and ready for work. Xfce three years ago wasn't mature enough for that but with the recent 4.8 release it is now.

2011-04-01T12:34:00.001-05:00

Linux Mint Debian Review and How To

1 Overview:

After thinking long and hard about the changes that Canonical plans with their 11.04 release I finally decided it was time to move on to another distribution. The problem, finding one that suited my needs and at the same time kept a level of familiarity I was used to with Ubuntu. However, I also wanted more control over my system and its configuration.

I knew I wanted to stay with a Debian base and specifically wanted it to be based on Sid. I looked at Aptosid (formally Sidux) and a few others but many of the tools I wanted weren't available. Then I discovered Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE).

I will be straight forward, this distribution is not for beginners and should never be considered for general use in an office setting. It is usable but considered unstable so things will break here and there with the updates since its based on Debian's testing repositories. Its for those of us who look to get as close to bleeding edge as possible and enjoy challenges in solving issues in our computing environment. This distribution is definitely for tech savvy users. Once installed and setup just about anybody can use it easily, but keeping things running takes some real knowledge, and a willingness to look for and implement some pretty radical solutions. This includes compiling source code to keep things working correctly.

Now let me say this, Linux Mint has always been a solid Ubuntu based distribution, and the Debian edition is pretty solid as well. Though there are some pretty big issues to deal with once its installed.

One thing about LMDE I find highly appealing is that its a rolling release. This means, unless you have a major issue occur, that you no longer need to reinstall the OS as the updates keep it up to date with the latest version (which are snapshots taken of the current files which you should have. Providing you keep it updated.)

2 Getting And Installing Linux Mint Debian Edition:

LMDE is released as a DVD iso and can be downloaded from here - http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=66

Once you download and burn the DVD (you can also put it on a USB thumb drive if you desire) then boot from the media to the Live Desktop and double click the installer.

I discovered a minor glitch while installing, even though I used the advanced option to setup my hard drive with gparted, the installer still forced me to format the drive again and set my mount points (i.e. / /home and swap partitions.) So if you do need to use gparted to set the partitions don't bother to set the mount points or format them. Instead to just set your partitions with gparted and then do the rest with the installer.

Installation itself is smooth and very quick. The real issues occur once its installed.

3 After Initial Install (Setting Up The System):

Because of differences in Debian's system and Installer compared to Ubuntu the first thing you will have issues with is that not everything the system needs to be fully functional gets installed. Also you may find that wireless isn't working because of this as well, laptop users will have to hard plug into a network. So your first step is to install all the missing recommended files. Synaptic is installed so you can use it to select them and install. Once the recommended files gets installed and things start working right then you can go back and remove any cruft (unwanted and unneccessary files) to clean things up.

If you use a laptop and require proprietary drivers for wireless (like I do) you can then get those installed. Once you do a restart it should bring up the wireless. Be aware the drivers I used for Ubuntu are not the drivers I needed with LMDE as LMDE now follows Debian for the system and therefore driver packages aren't put together to handle several different WiFi cards and are instead packaged as they were originally developed. You will need to find out which package is appropriate for your wireless under Debian, not Ubuntu. I would like to also note my wireless actually works much better under LMDE than it did in Ubuntu.

You probably noticed by this point that LMDE has no startup splash screen by default. Plymouth is not installed but is available in the repositories.

"sudo apt-get install plymouth plymouth-themes-all v86d"

Next to get plymouth working correctly you need to setup and configure the system.

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

Then copy and past the following over the current entries;

# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=15
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
#GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="splash vga=788"

# Uncomment to enable BadRAM filtering, modify to suit your needs
# This works with Linux (no patch required) and with any kernel that obtains
# the memory map information from GRUB (GNU Mach, kernel of FreeBSD ...)
#GRUB_BADRAM="0x01234567,0xfefefefe,0x89abcdef,0xefefefef"

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY="true"

# Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"

Now run the following commands;

sudo echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | sudo tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash
sudo update-grub2
sudo update-initramfs -u

Restart to make sure Plymouth is running correctly.

I created a Plymouth Splash for LMDE which can be found at
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Linux+Mint+Debian+Edition+Plymouth?content=140429

To install and use this theme after downloading and unpacking it use the following commands;

sudo cp -R LMDE/ /usr/share/plymouth/themes/
sudo /usr/sbin/plymouth-set-default-theme LMDE
sudo update-initramfs -u

You will now have a complete base system with an appropriate boot splash.

Now comes the issue of repositories for software. Since its easier to just show you what repositories I use by posting my sources.list file I am going to do so;

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import backport romeo
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian testing main contrib non-free
deb http://security.debian.org/ testing/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org testing main non-free

#############################################################
################### OFFICIAL DEBIAN REPOS ###################
#############################################################

###### Debian Main Repos
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ main contrib non-free

###### Debian Update Repos
deb http://security.debian.org/ /updates main contrib non-free
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ -proposed-updates main contrib non-free

##############################################################
##################### UNOFFICIAL REPOS ######################
##############################################################

###### 3rd Party Binary Repos

#### Bimoid - http://bimoid.com/
## Run this command: wget -O - http://www.bimoid.com/debian/apt.key | apt-key add -
deb http://www.bimoid.com/debian/ stable non-free

#### Debian Multimedia - http://www.debian-multimedia.org/
## Run this command: apt-get update && apt-get install debian-multimedia-keyring && apt-get update
deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org sid main non-free

#### Google Linux Software Repositories - http://www.google.com
## Run this command: wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | apt-key add -
deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/ stable non-free main

#### Google Linux Software Repositories (Testing) - http://www.google.com
## Run this command: wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | apt-key add -
deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/ testing non-free

#### Unofficial Maintainer - http://unofficial.debian-maintainers.org/
## Run this command: wget -q -O - http://unofficial.debian-maintainers.org/project/openpgp/archive-key.asc | apt-key add -
deb http://unofficial.debian-maintainers.org/ sid main contrib non-free restricted

#### Wine - http://www.winehq.org/
## Run this command: wget -O - http://www.lamaresh.net/apt/key.gpg | apt-key add -
deb http://www.lamaresh.net/apt sid main

# deb http://download.tuxfamily.org/shames/debian-sid/desktopfx/unstable/ ./

deb http://packages.kirya.net/debian/ sid main contrib non-free

deb http://apt.progchild.de stable main

4 Final Review:

I am extremely happy with LMDE and even though I have a lot more to do to get things working the way I want overall I'm impressed. One thing I did was replace gdm3 with gdm. This allowed me to make use of GDM themes and I am using this one,
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Mint+Glass+GDM+Theme?content=75858

For my icons I am using the following,
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Oxygen-Refit+2+-+Green+Version?content=84683

Finally for gtk2 I went with this theme,
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/GreenTea+Theme+for+GNOME+2.x+%26+Metacity?content=119786

The total combined affect is impressive and very pleasent to the eyes.

The above information simply gets LMDE to a complete base system that is both functional and enjoyable. I have been able to get all the programs I use installed, including LibreOffice (instead of OpenOffice) and I am back up and running. Currently my only issue is getting Compiz and Emerald up and running. The version in the repository is older and buggy. I am going to have to compile and install the latest version myself, but that's another how to.

For experienced Linux users and those looking to step up LMDE is an excellent choice for a personal system.

Fix the cursor issue in GTK and Compiz

2010-07-20T12:44:00.003-05:00

NOTE: Canonical has fixed this issue with the release of 10.10

By now most Lucid users know of the issue when using compiz in Gnome in Lucid Lynx that the selected Cursor Theme does not show properly. Well I researched the issue and found the way to fix it. Though the total process is extensive it does work.

Before anything else make sure the theme you wish to use is located in "/usr/share/icons/" this may not be absolutely necessary but I since you're setting a system default its best to do so.

Step One - Set the System Default Cursor Theme:

To change the cursors edit as root the index.theme file using the following command "gksu gedit usr/share/icons/default/index.theme"

Change the line "Inherits=themename" by changing the current theme name to the name of your desired icon theme. Logout and login again and your new cursor is in use.

Step Two - Set gconf to use the desired theme:

Use the command "gconf-editor" then navigate to desktop >> gnome >> peripherals >> mouse and then edit the line cursor_theme and using the actual folder name of your cursor theme.

Step Three - Set Compiz to use the desired cursor theme:

Open up the CompizConfig Settings Manager in the control center and under General Options set Default Icon to the desired Icon Theme.

That's it, a bit of a PIA but it works and if you change your Cursor settings you will have to adjust all this as well, unfortunately.

Using The Cricket A600 Wireless Broadband Internet Device In Ubuntu

2010-06-27T04:09:00.005-05:00

NOTE: This entry is deprecated with the release of Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat. It now autodetects the device and all you have to do in the Network Manager is tell it that its a Cricket Device. None of the steps below are needed if you use Ubuntu 10.10

None of the material here is mine except a few comments here and there. What I did do was glean the various posts and comments to bring it all together into a comprehensive and complete tutorial for the Cricket A600

The Cricket A600 is an extremely powerful mobile CDMA modem device that provides affordable, high-speed mobile broadband Internet service. This USB modem is a versatile device to take advantage of Cricket's unlimited broadband access plan whether online at home or around town. The problem, Cricket doesn't support Linux and in general will try and dissuade Linux users from purchasing any of their broadband access devices. The other issue, getting it to work. You must provision the device on a Windows or Macintosh computer before it will work in Linux. Believe it or not, one of the Local Cricket stores here in Houston did that for me since I did not have access to a Windows system that I could provision it on.

The usual disclaimer and notices:

This Tutorial is based on how others and myself got this device working and accessible in Ubuntu. I am running this in Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) with no issues and am very happy with the results. I can even watch streaming video. With that said I make no guarantee on your results. All things NOT being equal in Wireless Broadband access there is no way to determine the results you will get but I have the following as tested by speedtest.net

Download: 1.74 Mb/s
Upload: 0.42 Mb/s
Ping: 120 ms

A 5 MB MP3 takes 24 sec Average
A 35 MB Video Clip 3 Min Average
A 800 MB Movie 61 Min Average

Before you purchase this device make sure you are in Cricket's coverage area. They have recently expanded their service and cover a great deal more than before but they still don't cover everywhere. So before you attempt to follow this document make sure you can actually make use of the device

This tutorial will explain how to setup the Cricket Wireless A600 3g Modem for Ubuntu

Credits for this article go here; and here;

You will need to get the drivers and software required for the A600 device.

Download the source file.

Download the data file.

Extract the contents to your preferred directory using the following command:

tar xzvf usb-modeswitch-1.1.2.tar.bz2 and then cd into the directory of the extracted files.

32 bit Users – Install usb_modeswitch with the following command:

sudo make install

64 bit Users need to recompile modeswitch to work on the 64bit platform. Run the following commands in a terminal to do so:

sudo apt-get install build-essential

sudo apt-get install libusb-dev

rm usb_modeswitch

make

sudo make install

Now add the data files by going back to the directory ou downloaded them to and run:

tar xzvf usb-modeswitch-data-20100707.tar.bz2

Then cd into that directory and run:

sudo make install

Lucid Lynx users can also get the usb-modeswitch and usb-modeswitch-data files from the repository and I suggest you do, so that when updates become available you will get them. However, you will still need flip-flop.sh, so here is the complete text of that file.

/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch
sleep 10
usb_modeswitch -v 0x1f28 -p 0x0020 -R 1

You may need to make flipflop.sh executable by running the following command:

chmod +x flipflop.sh

Now plug in the A600 to an open USB port, wait a moment for it to be detected and for usb-modeswitch to do it's magic. Your device should now show up in network-manager. You may need to restart your computer for it to work.

You will now be able to select "Cricket Communications connection" in the Network Manager. It takes about 30 seconds to connect when you select it. Also bear in mind a strong signal doesn't necessarily relate to a strong connection. Like any cell phone device there are a great number of factors that can cause issues with your signal.

If you experience issues getting connected open flipflop.sh in your favorite text editor and adjust the sleep time from 10 to 20, or even 30 some systems need a longer time.

This tutorial was updated to coincide with a newer version of USB mode-switch.

Living up to the Lucid Lynx Hype

2010-03-28T05:37:00.002-05:00

Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx has a lot of hype. Usually I find the hype in anything, less than true.

However, not in this case. For once Canonical got it right and made good on making a better Ubuntu.

First Ubuntu 10.04 is a LTS (Long Term Support) release and they usually make the extra effort because of that. It shows with Lucid. Keeping in mind the next LTS isn't until the 12.04 release which is in two years. Previously canonical didn't get to radical with an LTS release. This time, well radical is putting it mildy.

Big pluses: More hardware support, astounding graphics and sound has improved. Updated software with new featues (including my favorite system monitor gkrellm)

Major problem: Firefox is flakey (I had to make Google Chrome ny default browser.) I should state this is not Canonical's fault entirely, as Mozilla made some severe changes with 3.6 and I had same issue with 3.6 in Karmic and had to revert back to 3.5 to have a stable copy of Firefox.

For the record I want it to be said despite the Firefox issue I am very impressed with the Lynx. It definitely boots faster and is a lot more responsive and smoother than the Koala was.

This was the first time I have ever done an online upgrade where something didn't blow up almost immediately. Canonical went to a lot of trouble to make this proccess a lot better. In the past a lot of software was removed. This time however only a couple of programs were removed and it was not an issue getting them reinstalled. However, I still had to go in and remove unwanted packages. Even so it wasn't all that bad. For once I will recommend the online update for those who don't want the hassle of retweaking their setup.

Yes its definitely worth the upgrade. Yes I highly recommend doing so, even using the online update though a fresh install is probably faster as it took me nearly 4 hours to get through the complete proccess.

The thing I like the most: usplash is finally deprecated. I have never been a fan of usplash and with plymouth now taking over the boot splash procedure I think were finally going to see some really neat boot splash screens.

I have been playing with Lucid now working with it and its really very pleasent. None of the little glitches from Karmic seem to be present and so far only Firefox has given me any real problems, but I wasn't surprised by them. Since I am finding Google Chrome to run a bit better than Firefox ever did I am not to upset.

The only other thing I had a problem with was getting the GDM greeter to look like I wanted, the run gnome-control-center at the login screen trick like we did in Karmic, well doesn't work. So I found a neat little program called python-gdm2setup. To get it, do the following:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gdm2setup/gdm2setup

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get-install python-gdm2setup

to use: gksu gdm2setup

The only thing it doesn't do is change the cursor, gonna ask them to add that ability though.

Ubuntu users are going to find themselves using a vastly improved and more friendly (to both the casual and power user) desktop that stands out beyond just your typical Linux system. Thoughs new to Linux will gain access to many new features they never had before.

10.04 is not the MS killer Linux system but 10.10 just very well maybe.

Karmic Review

2009-10-12T11:22:00.002-05:00

Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala beta is available for download and I am very impressed with many things about it. Especially the improvements in video responsiveness.

The new startup splash and login screens are mind blowing (the effect is amazing.) So even though we aren't seeing the use of plymouth with Karmic the updated usplash package is very nice. They definitely added more under the hood with it. I pretty sure making a usplash screen is going to be harder now.

However I have to note that I did not like the default layout. Between netbook-launcher and maximus I did not like the initial look and or feel. Netbook Launcher is nice but annoying and unless you have a touch screen I can't see much use for it. I could not find a settings option panel for it (I really did try to find it) to make it not startup figuring I can mess around with it later. However, there just didn't seem to be such a method so I was forced to remove it sudo apt-get uninstall --purge netbook-launcher. Maximus was purely annoying and I did find a way to supposedly shut it off through gconf-editor but that failed and I was more than happy to use apt-get to purge it. Maximus takes selected apps, removes the windows border and then sets it to full screen mode. I was not happy with it one iota. I can understand doing that to Firefox but not Nautilus and I am not sure what the developers were attempting to accomplish with it. Once those two apps got removed I got the more familiar Gnome Desktop look I prefer.

I should note as well there seems to be something wrong with the sound server in Karmic and even though my sound card is correctly identified it did not get setup. Despite having no issues with Jaunty, in Karmic I have no sound at the moment. I am hoping by the time the RC is released this gets fixed. For sure by the final release.

Being that Karmic is in Beta I am duly impressed and beyond the server issue and the annoyances of those 2 programs Karmic Koala is faster, sleeker, much more responsive and well worth looking into when it is released to the general public.

Prowler Menu

2009-07-21T19:20:00.003-05:00

I am just having to much fun making themes. These days I am working with jameshardy88 who resides in Great Britain. he does Themes and I do the GnoMenu designs to go with them. The Prowler theme for Gtk is in the works but then I found the Theme and sent it to James to go over. In the meantime I created the GnoMenu Theme and I really like how the layout happened to come together on this one.

I am also realizing i spend way to much time on my computer (j/k)

2009-07-17T20:58:00.003-05:00

Okay I'm addicted to making GnoMenu themes. Its fun and productive. And now I can make a better user's guide because I have just about made every type of menu there is. I haven't done tabs yet but I will on my next theme so I can have knowledge of how they work under GnoMenu.

So I made a Vista like menu to understand how to do it. This was the hardest menu to do so far. The way text is lined out in this style of menu is very different than others. Add that the particular visual elements didn't fit as well as expected at first. Plus somehow hidden characters got into my XML code. The code looked absolutely correct but wasn't working and once I redid the affected sections by hand, over writing the code, it magically started working as it should. Have no idea how or why the erroneous hidden characters got there, but they did and in coding that's all that matters to the interpreter.

Anyway I did do some change ups and added a couple of things so the menu fit more with GnoMenu's abilities and appeal. Vistaish, yes but Vista, Hell No!!

Azenis Look

2009-07-10T20:21:00.004-05:00

When I set out to make a Menu Theme for GnoMenu I had no idea what i was getting myself into. First off this is, as far as I know, the first GnoMenu theme made to fit a particular GTK2 theme.

The Azenis Theme was originally created by JJ Ying for Windows Blinds, a Windows Theming Engine. Azenis has won awards for its design and has been ported to KDE and Gnome where it has proven just as popular.

The decision to do this was pretty basic. It was one of those themes that had such a unique look to it that there was no other way for me to complete the look without building the theme for GnoMenu.

Using images I got from the KBFX Azenis Menu I redid the image to fit the GnoMenu scheme better. I did not want to make it look like its Windows XP counterpart, at least not completely. However, I couldn't make it look like the other themes I have created. My designs mostly follow the basic design originally conceived by ZWS from his Black and White Menu. The Azenis menu art work forbade that so I got a bit creative with the design myself. As you can see my Icon columns are both to the right of the listings menu.

It wasn't all that hard to move the elements around to fit the artwork of the Azenis Menu and once I found extra Azenis Icons that weren't in the Icon set from gnome-look and replaced some of the filler Icons with them. Additional Icons were made by jameshardy88 and myself to complete the look.

I also made a button for it as well and of course a simple Icon theme to complete the look.

So what makes this theme special? Well beyond being made to work with a specific GTK theme it created a surge in GnoMenu downloads. We already had a good following but there are those who love the Azenis theme so much they wanted this menu to use with it. Which means they downloaded and installed GnoMenu.

That wasn't my intention, and to be honest I just wanted a Menu that fit the theme I had decided to use. However, its a nice bonus for Gnomenu and brings even more interest to our project. Theme designers are going to give GnoMenu serious consideration when creating themes now to help complete the theme's look. I would say that's a good added bonus.

Why Cookie Cutter Web Sites Are Bad Deals

2009-06-25T16:10:00.002-05:00

Never believe marketing hype. This is my mantra when it comes to dealing with sales people. I research before I buy. I look at the brand name, quality and though I look for bargains I certainly don't jump onto something that is easily to good to be true.

That is why I hate cookie cutter web sites. E-bay even tells you because of the number of web sites sold on their auction site. Ezine @rticles also warns you of the same. Finally Search Engine Journal rounds up the disaster one gets in using the cookie cutter web site approach.

I like anyone else looked at ways to make money and I got caught in a similar scam for classified ad placements in newspapers. Let me tell you right here, right now, the only people who are really making money in this type of deal are the ones selling you the material in the first place.

The so called 10 free web sites deal has several restrictions. You have to use their designs, You have to follow their program etcetera and so on, blah blah blah. Oh and yeah they host the site on their servers, which means they control your content and traffic. Add to that even if people buy the products on your particular site they are actually paying you a small commission. The final point, the price of the product is set by them. You are NOT ALLOWED to run your own promotion pricing. Which leads to a final question, are you really running a business?

Then there are other factors to consider. Here in Texas in order to open a merchant account that allows you to take credit cards you must have a business license. This law, which was recently passed, was designed to stop on-line credit card scams and theft. To make this perfectly clear if you have a web site that takes credit cards you as the individual must obtain a Texas Tax Identification Number and separate business license. You can no longer use a corporate sponsor to simply take a credit card on-line on your behalf. The sponsor can still handle all aspects of the transaction but your business must be registered with the state of Texas. You as the individual business owner are responsible to make sure that all Sales Taxes collected get paid to the the State. That's a big obligation if the parent company suddenly goes belly up. (cutting off your income if you are somehow making any) leaving you holding the bag to pay for uncollected Sales Taxes.

Me personally, I would rather collect the sales taxes myself and make sure that Texas gets paid. Trust me I worked for one company that got in trouble for that. I have no desire to be on the receiving end of Susan Comb's wrath for failure to collect and pay my taxes. (I do not mean her personally but trust me her staff can make hornets look tame.)

Many states have a whole slew of laws concerning e-commerce alone. Bet your A** they enforce them. You need to know what laws you have to abide by in your state. Many a MLM company and individuals involved in said MLM are finding this out the hard way. Oh and guess what, you may have to follow more than one state's laws as well. You have to know any and all that can affect you.

Finally I will leave you with this from PEK INTERACTIVE

Open Letter To Open Source Developers And Distributors

2009-06-17T17:46:00.003-05:00

Dear Developers and Distributors,

I am an advocate and user of Open Source Software, Specifically Ubuntu, in latest incarnation of Jaunty Jackalope 9.04.

In this particular case I am trying to use a scanner. Unfortunately I cannot access this scanner as a normal user, but I do have access as root. This means that all I have to do is give the user permission to access the scanner. Easily done, however, I have no information on how to do this anymore. The way scanners are accessed in Ubuntu has changed and there is no documentation on this.

It is vital to give your users this information so that they can have access to their hardware. Using xsane, or any scanner program, as root is a unsafe practice that I would rather not do.

I understand that software and systems have to mature but removing the 'scanner' group and changing how scanners are handled without giving the information needed to allow scanner access is simply bad support. If a user cannot access the hardware what use is it to them? Please in the future document such important information and disseminate it so that supported hardware can be used.

Sincerely,
Shaun C. Marolf

Building a Business - Growth by Communication

2009-06-07T12:25:00.004-05:00

I have officially been in business just over a week. Though I still have many hurdles to get over things are going fairly well. I have two business clients and both are and will lead to even more clients.

Why am I already growing as a business in such a short time? Simple I follow the belief that the bottom line should never be the deciding factor in giving good customer support. If I have to take a loss here and there to be build a better more profitable business, so be it. The loss hurts, especially in the growing stage I am in. I have to get a lot of stuff taken care of and I still need to get the HeliOS Project here in Houston going. However finding, and keeping, clients is vital to all of that. Communication with my clients in every stage of their projects, and service support, is not only vital, its what will make HeliOS Solutions of Houston grow, and allow the HeliOS Project to start.

I cannot stress enough that good business means good communications. Your clients, like mine, want and need to know how you are doing on their project, not someone else's. In other words you need to not only need to work on each project, but all your projects.

Your work becomes a juggling act. You have to divide your time and make the customer think that their project is the most important one you're working on. While treating all projects on your work list equally. Its the never ending cycle.

In all of this you need to get with your client and demonstrate your progress and communicate what you have done, take their feedback, change requests and incorporate those as well.

Business isn't just producing a product and saying "Here it is." its also giving good support and communicating with your client, to produce a better business relationship.

The Open Franchise Experiment

2009-05-15T16:10:00.002-05:00

Okay, I am going to discuss something here that is a new concept only in that it is two older concepts combined together.

Open Source Ideals and Business Franchising. Something many would consider a near oxymoron, if not a complete one. Yet despite the Corporate Software Industry saying GNU/Linux and other Open Source Software would never be as good as Commercially Produced Software many Open Source Offerings ended up surpassing their commercial counterparts in quality and user base.

So in this spirit we now introduce the Open Franchise opportunity.

Open Source is about freedom. The freedom to modify, change and improve existing code, documents and other associated items, so long as you give back and share these changes, if you distribute them to others.

Franchises are about business. In a normal franchise you purchase the right to use the name, trademarks, logos and other things from a parent company. In return you get corporate support and service. However franchise contracts are extremely restrictive and do not allow the franchiser many options.

The Open Franchise is a bit different. The franchiser is allowed to use the name, trademarks and logos at no cost. The parent company instead requires that the franchisee run a charitable operation side by side with the business. The support network for this business is not a central corporation but instead a network of other franchisers working on a similar goal and business. Though each Franchiser is given the freedom to run their business as they see fit, they are all essentially running the same kind of business.

Now they can be a one person operation, a family run business or they can have employees. It really depends on the community they are in and what the individual franchiser can sustain. In other words we have flexibility here. You can run it from home or an office, again your choice as a franchiser. Unlike other franchise operations in the Open Franchise concept the franchiser makes the rules with very few stipulations. The main one being that they also work the non-profit charitable business at the same time. Which when done right isn't all that hard.

See the franchisee in this scenario isn't a corporation, rather its another person who is also running this business as well. He has already hit the pitfalls, roadblocks and idiots along the path. He knows how to handle them because he had to learn the hard way. He isn't in it to be rich. He is more interested in working the charity side while simply making an honest buck.

Its about doing it better, doing it ethically and helping others along the way. To him if you can make a successful business following his lead then he has done more than a bottom line will ever give him.

That is what real business is about. Teach you how run a business, make that business work and then return to community some of that success so that those whom aren't as fortunate as others have a chance to better themselves as well.

So what's the experiment? Me. I am his first, and for the moment, only franchiser. The reason why is because I get to be one who is alpha and beta tested. Learning from me we will be able to create the Open Franchise concept and document it. even though it utilizes the Open Source Concept this is still business. A business that relies on a name that has to be synonymous with certain concepts and a reputation, otherwise everyone associated to it gets a bad reputation.

Yes there has to be contracts and agreements but they need to be fair. Allowing the franchiser the ability to run his business his way, while protecting the name, trademarks and reputation of the parent company. Welcome to a new balancing act.

Linux and the Drummer (Part Two)

2009-05-02T00:23:00.002-05:00

Finally after a few minor glitches got the wireless card working on the drummer's laptop. Its one of those Broadcom cards that has no functional Linux based drivers yet. This required me to setup and tweak ndiswrapper to make it function. However, he is extremely happy with the results.

Most of the glitches involved getting the system onto a working wired connection. Not the actual setup and configuration of ndiswrapper. Yet once done the card snapped to and worked and Network Manager is seeing it under its wireless interface.

He is impressed to say the least. As he puts it everything is right there in front. The menu is easier to navigate and he is enjoying the Ubuntu Linux experience.

The first thing he remarked about was on line multimedia worked a lot better. I installed all the restricted and medibuntu extras to make sure it would play all the various multimedia files on the Internet, including Flash 10. Under Windows the playback was choppy but with Linux and Firefox they play smoothly.

He still has a basic no bells and whistles install at this point. He and I agree that they're nice but he needs time to learn it better before he adds a bunch of features which may overwhelm his experience at this time.

I will continue to work with him on this but for now its a learning experience.

2009-04-18T14:44:00.002-05:00

I am a veteran, a combat veteran from operation Praying Mantis and Desert Shield / Storm. I am not Timothy Mc Veigh whom was an extremist who hated the United States. I love my country and believe in the Constitution. Though I am not overly happy with much of the current political scenario I still support the government.

That said I want to know why on April 7th the Department of Homeland Security labeled myself and fellow veterans as potential domestic terrorists?

Is it because veterans tend to be more vocal about issues? Which we have every right to be. As far as I am concerned veterans have earned this right, even if its in opposition to the current administration.

I will never carry out an attack against my country, but I will vocalize my displeasure on any subject I choose. The first amendment gives me the right and I and my fellow vets put our tails on the line for those who didn't. I will stand up for anyones right to speak freely, even if I disagree with them. It is their right to speak freely, and it is mine as well.

I feel insulted and betrayed.

Linux and the Drummer

2009-04-08T14:58:00.003-05:00

when I advocate Linux to a new user I first make sure they know that this is NOT WINDOWS. Though I can make it look similar and react as Windows to some degree we still find ourselves with some incompatibilities.

So where do I get new users involved? Those who are just frustrated and tired of Windows problems. Computer care should involve updating and occasionally basic system maintenance. Conflicker has become a problem for a lot of Windows users and despite an individuals pronounced expertise on the subject no Linux system was reported as infected with conflicker, though it may have been passed on by some Linux based servers unknowingly. I have ClamAV on all my Linux systems for that reason, to keep them from passing on Windows based viruses. And it works.

So when a friend who is a drummer for a band called "The Long Gone Daddys" asked me to fix his computer I asked what do you use it for? Answer to check the MySpace and web site for the band mostly. He also needed better tools for the web site management as well. He knew I used Linux so I asked if he wanted to give it a try. He answered that he wanted to have a working computer that stayed working.

DING DING DING Linux is gonna be installed.

What advantages does he get from Linux?

Better Web Design utilities and programs.
Open Source music composition software. He does write music after all.
A more reliable and secure computer.
Longer usability on his laptop because newer versions of Windows will most likely be unusable on it.

Of course the proof is in whether he keeps Linux or not but I'm willing to bet he will.

Open Source For Business

2009-01-21T12:07:00.001-06:00

Nothing can give better endorsement than to show where Linux succeeds. We all know businesses use Linux but sometimes we are hard pressed to name them in discussions. Most everybody knows of Ernie Ball but what about AutoZone, Wal-Mart and others and government entities. The list below comes from www.aaxnet.com

Please go to the web site for more information on each company listed.

Amerada Hess Corporation - Oil Exploration Supercomputing - Amerada Hess Corp is a $7.4 billion petroleum company, but the supercomputers traditionally used to analyze oil exploration data are rather costly even for a company of this size. No longer a problem. Amerada Hess now uses a large Linux cluster for the job.Amerada Hess Corporation

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) - Light Rail Metropolitan Transit System - This system tracks the flow of electricity from the high voltage DC power lines of Pacific Gas and Electric to the distribution of electricity via the third rail. If an emergency required the evacuation of a train, this system would be used to turn off the electricity to ensure the safety of passengers as they exited the system.

Boscov's Department Stores - special invoicing, server consolidation, Web site, etc. - Boscov's, America's largest family owned department store chain, has been steadily moving it's back office operations to Linux, and will probably eventually migrate POS (Point of Sale) systems as well.

Burlington Coat Factory - Entire Systems - Burlington Coat Factory is a "Factory Outlet" retailer with 280 stores in 42 states. Initial Linux installations at their new distribution center and a few new stores proved highly successful, so roll-out to existing stores began. An order for 1,250 Dell computers preloaded with Linux was placed to support the effort.
The Linux systems are used to run warehousing and distribution, the gift registry and back office functions such as ordering and general desktop. The chosen office productivity suite is Applixware Office, which allows a very high degree of customization.

Conoco - Oil Exploration Supercomputing - Conoco is one of several major petroleum companies that have chosen to use inexpensive Linux clusters instead of costly supercomputers to analyze oil exploration data.

Cisco - Worldwide Printing System - Cisco, a $21 billion maker of routers that tie the Internet together, signed a major agreement with Microsoft regarding support for Active Directory. As part of that deal, Cisco management declared Cisco an "all Microsoft" company.
Unfortunately, Cisco's IT staff couldn't get network printing services to work right through NT servers (and you can't say Cisco engineers don't understand networking, now, can you?). Cisco's worldwide printing services now run on Linux.

Digital Domain - Visual Effects Supercomputing - Digital Domain is a major visual effects studio. In particular, they did the visual effects for Appolo 13 and Titanic. The effects for Titanic were particularly demanding, too demanding for their SGI Inigos, and would have normally required a supercomputer costing millions. Digital Domain was able to do the job on an inexpensive Linux cluster instead.

Ernie Ball Inc. - Entire Operation - Ernie Ball was one of those unfortunate companies turned over to the BSA (Business Software Aliance) by someone with a grudge. While few "infractions" . There's hardly a small business anywhere that has all the paperwork together for their software, and while few "infractions" were found, that was enough to be very costly. Ernie Ball decided this would never happen again and made a very successful migration to Linux.

Garden Grove California, City of - major operations - The City of Garden Grove began moving operations to Linux in 1995 with central data systems running Samba and the Pick database. The initial deployment was so successful and saved so much money the city has been gradually moving other operations to Linux, including some desktop systems.

Google - Search Engine - The wildly popular Google search engine simply would not be possible without a customized version of Linux fit exactly to its needs.

Just Sports USA - A fast growing chain (now 50 stores) selling sports items - All Stores, Back Office functions, Inventory and eCommerce systems run on Linux. All functions are integrated together using a PostgreSQL database. The eCommerce system runs on Linux / Apache Web servers and is also integrated with the inventory database. Postgre and Apache are also Open Source products.

Kaiser Aluminum - Manufacturing Control - Kaiser, one of the world's largest producer of aluminum, aluminum sheet and foil, has chosen Linux for many applications on the manufacturing floor. It works side by side with Unix, Windows NT and specialty "real time" operating systems.

Largo Florida, City of - City office desktop systems. - Largo has about 400 thin client workstations running the KDE Desktop from a Linux server. Database workloads were migrated from SCO Unix, AIX and Windows NT servers for a multi-million dollar savings. Largo figures its IT budget is about half that of other cities its size. Using thin clients provides a low cost, very low maintenance, uniform and easily administered computing environment for all city users. At peak, there are about 230 simultaneous users.

Lawson Inc. (Japan) - In-Store Consumer Web Ordering System - Lawson, a giant convenience store chain (7,600 stores) in Japan, will be placing two Linux based computers in each store to implement it's new Web ordering system. The over 15,000 computers will be purchased from IBM pre-configured with Linux installed.

Mexico City - government of - Everything! - The government of Mexico City have concluded they can no longer justify the ever rising cost of Microsoft Windows when the cost of Linux software is very low. Linux has already proven itself in the city's motor vehicle licensing agency and in the Mexican school system. Money saved will be used in social welfare programs.

Mobil Travel Guide - Major Consumer Web Site - This Exxon division found Linux ideal both from a cost/performance standpoint and for scalability as the division grows.

Omaha Steaks - On-Line Commerce - Advertisements for this mail order company can be found in the back of most up-scale home oriented magazines. They were running their internal systems on an IBM AS/400 and outsourced their Web site, but they wanted to tie the on-line ordering directly into the AS/400. A cluster of Linux servers now runs the Web site and connects to the AS/400.

Panasonic - Major Electronics Manufacturer - Panasonic's popular DBS business telephone system included a voicemail system based on Windows NT, but it was a bit pricy. To be more competitive in smaller businesses, Panasonic developed a system incorporating 1CTI's Linux based voice mail software. The Linux based system has been so well accepted by the customers the Windows based system is being discontinued.

Raymour & Flanigan - Furniture Chain (50 stores in Northeast) - The store chain has trnsferred most of its servers to Linux, and is replacing Windows 98 PC with Linux based "thin client" workstations in its service centers. Inventory and other databases are now being migrated from Microsoft Access running on Windows servers to Oracle running on Linux.

Royal Dutch/Shell - Oil Exploration Supercomputing - One of the world's largest petroleum companies, Royal Dutch/Shell could certainly afford the supercomputers traditionally used to analyze oil exploration data, but why do that when your competitors are using inexpensive Linux clusters to do the job. Royal Dutch/Shell has decided to set up a bigger Linux cluster than the ones it's competitors have.

Tommy Hilfiger - Clothing Brand - Note: website designed by idiots won't let you in at all without Flash plug-in. The company is installing three Linux based portals running on IBM xSeries servers. The first provides remote access to data on the company's IBM iSeries (AS/400) datacenter computers. The second provides access for clothing manufacturers to designs and specifications. The third provides B2B eCommerce access to retailers and a company store for employees. Company officials say the Linux systems provide the required performance at a lower cost than any other platform.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. - Dealer Communications System - Toyota is installing a Linux based system connecting all its car dealers to it's factory. This is a Web based system from the ground up, and will be handling 30 different functions including parts ordering, warranties, sales transactions and repairs.

Travelocity - Travel Agency - Travelocity is the back-end system for the travel services offered by AOL, Yahoo and US Airways. It's Web site gets 11 million page views and 170,000 email transmissions a day. The system is being migrated to Linux and Java.

U.S. Army - major military organization - The U.S. Army's Land Warrior program, the first stage of a far reaching battlefield information and communications system, leads a general move to Linux. The Army says that "Evidence shows that Linux is more stable". Apparently the Army has issues with Microsoft's "blue screen of death".

U.S. Federal Courts - case management, case tracking, finance and accounting, probation and pretrial services - A support contract has been awarded (Nov-03) to PEC Solutions for migration of the Federal Judiciary to a Linux based system.

U.S. Postal Service - OCR Supercomputing - The Postal Service had declared itself an "all Windows NT" house, but you can't use NT for what it simply can't do - so they now sort all the bulk mail on over 900 Linux clusters scattered around the country (at less than half the cost of the next cheapest solution (and that wasn't NT either)).
The OCR (Optical Character Recognition) system uses scanners that were already in place. The Linux system consists of 5 rack mounted PCs, one to handle the scanners and sorting equipment, and 4 to share the computational tasks.

WesternGeco - Oil Exploration Supercomputing - IBM has built a Linux based supercomputer for analysis of seismic data. This machine is built from 256 IBM eServer xSeries. This is the second largest Linux cluster IBM has built for oil exploration, the largest being the 1024 xSeries cluster for Shell.

This list is far from complete. It doesn't include the U.S. Navy, Air Force or Marines. There are several other companies that use Linux as well. Some use it in speciality applications and some are using it to replace Windows entirely. IBM isnt mentioned despite the infamous challenge to its employees to go from the Windows Desktop to the Linux Desktop.

Really Linux has a very comprehensive guide for small businesses to move to Linux. With so much to show and with guides to help why are we still finding it so challenging to get Linux moved into the small business community?

The main reason is we are still fighting F.U.D. (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) like this one here.

We have to create real life comparisons and show higher reliability compared to MS. Which is very simple to do. TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) proof that Linux reduces costs overall. Is more secure, reliable and just as easy to use.

If we are ever going to expand the use of Linux we must not only target home users but businesses as well.

Myth Busting: "Its Illegal To Remove Windows From A Computer."

2009-01-19T12:30:00.000-06:00

If you ever hear this argumnet then you need to say just two simple words, "Prove it." The reality is they can't. I was going to do a bit of research on this but there is nothing to research. Matter of fact when I did a web search at Google all I found was piracy hacks and methods to remove illegal copies of MS software.

Short run, no where in the MS EULA is there such a statement. Simply because said statement itself would be illegal under Federal Law. (IANAL but any good IP lawyer can prove this.) Do an internet search using a law search engine, nope not there.

This myth is not perpetuated by MS but they don't discourage it either. Truth is the myth is usually spewed out as a defense by MSCE types and other MS advocates to keep the status quo going. They fear change, and any inclusion of Linux, replacement of Windows by Linux etcetera is a definite change. They don't know Linux, don't use Linux and feel that Linux can never be a better alternative to the current MS offering.

I was looking for a way to defeat this mythy, lie. However, in this case the simple truth slices right through it. Just two words do it, "Prove it."

The Proper Promotion Of Linux As An Alternative

2009-01-18T02:46:00.002-06:00

The Linux community needs to be a lot more professional if before we can take the desktop market from MS.

Recent blog posts, news articles and comments has brought to light that we, as a community, are not properly promoting Linux. I say this because the community is not helping itself and many statements are rude and vulgar. This does not, and never will, help promote Linux. If we are ever going to bring Linux to main stream users then we need to look at how to educate people on its abilities, usage and advantages.

Usage of derogatory remarks, vulgar language, hateful attitudes and militaristic ideals will never help convert users to the Linux desktop. Instead we need to become helpful and available. We cannot keep the RTFM attitude going anymore. Its this attitude that has held Linux back from adoption in main stream usage and we are simply shooting ourselves in the foot when we use it.

There are several ways to promote Linux that are for more positive and that help convert people to using it without making them feel put off. The community overall already does this but unfortunately the majority is not as vocal as the those whom spew the damaging remarks, attitudes and statements.

Lets take a good look at what it takes to properly promote Linux to people.

Attitude Is Everything:

Negativity will repel people, while positive and helpful attitudes will make them feel welcome. Overall, the latter is the desired outcome. This means we need to be ready, willing and able to answer questions. Regardless of their simplicity, level of understanding and even if it seems like something a user should already know. Trust me when I say there is no such thing as a stupid question, but there are stupid answers.

I have worked help desk support off and on over the years and what I have learned is this, there are people whom just have no understanding of the computer in front of them. This happens in the Windows world more often. Considering that most new computer users are using Windows instead of Linux it happens a lot more often there than it does in the Linux world. However, there will still be those that don't understand the difference between a left mouse click and a right mouse click and the modifiers. Matter fact most base level Windows users don't even know that certain keyboard keys can modify the mouse click at all. This also holds true in Linux.

We have to remember, and understand, when we answer questions that just because we know the answer that they may not. A reply that makes those asking the question feel stupid or insulted is not helping and instead makes people decide Linux is not for them. When someone asks a question it means they want to learn, and its our responsibility to help them learn.

Demonstrate Linux:

Start by showing Linux and the programs available for it. This is easily done and if you know what your doing you can create a Live DVD that is loaded with all the programs, codecs and features to show that it is extremely capable. Of course this DVD should never be distributed for legal reasons, however you can have base distribution CDs and DVDs available to hand out.

If you are lucky and have a decent laptop then you have a demonstration system right there, especially if there is an Internet connection available to you at the time. Here's a fact; most people, approximately ninety percent, use their computers for three basic functions, Internet, email and word proccessing, another five percent use spreadsheets and accounting software. With OpenOffice and Firefox Linux meets these needs easily. You can demonstrate this very easily with a laptop. Play videos, music and DVDs for the interested party you are demonstrating the system to.

To properly show what linux can do educate yourself on the various different server programs, security options and features built in or installable. I say this because there will be times when the final five percent will show an interest and even if you can't demonstrate those abilities you can explain them and answer some questions. You don't need to be an expert but having a base general knowledge of the subject will allow you discuss them intelligently.

Get Involved With The Linux Community:

Writing How Tos, articles and being part of a local LUG are things anyone can do. If you can code get involved with a project. Even if you can't code you can still help a project, like I do.

Use and help at the forums as well. By plugging into the community you stay up to date with changes in Linux in general.

Also use more than one distribution. This allows you to understand the differences in how things are done in each. This way you understand the community as a whole and not just from one perspective.

Conclusion:

Of all the things I discussed the most important is attitude. Our attitudes towards people have more impact than anything else. Knowledge and expertise alone is not enough. Proper promotion requires we be open, friendly and professional to help new Linux users.

The Evolution Of An GNU Project

2009-01-05T03:12:00.000-06:00

I'm proud of my involvement with the GnoMenu project and even though I am going to use it as the example (when you write, go with what you know) this post really isn't about GnoMenu. Rather its to show what community involvement can do and how sharing ideas can improve a project.

First off any GNU Open Source project is a community effort. Yes there are project leaders but if they do their jobs right its more about guiding and moving the project in a forward and positive direction. That is exactly what happend in the scenario I'm about to discuss.

First lets be honest GnoMenu is a fork of another project the "Gnome Vista Start Menu" by Chris Hughes. Most hard core Linux users looked at the menu Chris did as a cheap Vista look alike. In some ways it was but Chris also stated that other menu designs were possible yet no one really bothered to pay attention. Well almost nobody. Enter Helder Fraga who took Chris' work and forked it into GnoMenu.

This is the original basic look of GnoMenu. Very Vista like. Meanwhile Helder and I start working on GnoMenu through Launchpad. He works on the coding and bug fixes while I start handling documentation and bug tracking. I also find myself answering questions and writing blueprints not much later. I am also trying to recruit people to help the project move forward and trying to look for ways to improve the product. On my suggestion Helder gets GnoMenu to be system color aware but it also has a unique feature as well. I realized that sometimes menu themes may have and use unique color schemes so I wrote the blueprint stating that theme creators needed a way to toggle the system color awareness off if it would interfere with the theme. We now have what I like to refer to as intelligent color awareness in GnoMenu. Intelligent in the sense that it can be shut off if menu theme designers don't want the menu to be system color aware. Yet, GnoMenu will be system color aware otherwise.

So Helder is fixing bugs and adding features. One of the blueprints he writes states that GnoMenu needs a default menu that is not so Vista like. In response Helder creates this look.

This was more a step backwards in many respects since many features were no longer available. Though for GnoMenu's future it was necessary. Why, because it forced change in how we looked at menu designs and what it was we wanted GnoMenu to be. It also forced Helder to make GnoMenu compliant to Gnome's Menu standards. It also stopped us from reinventing the wheel and made us get more serious about the future of this project.

The holidays role around and Helder goes on a hiatus to handle personal issues and be with his family. I in the meantime find myself getting pounded with a whole lot of questions and bug reports which I sort through and file appropriately. I make FAQs and blueprints. Validate some bugs and assign them to an appropriate release. Discover there are themes out there that don't like GnoMenu and with help get the fix. Though small there is a community of GnoMenu users out there and they're helping me by providing information and tracking down those unique if not down right out of the Twilight Zone issues.

Finally things calm down and I get a chance to go back and look at the menu design. Helder's design was just terrible and it ruined many things that made GnoMenu great. So what do I do in response. I make this mockup and post it at Gnome-Look to get feed back on it.

The responses were mixed but everybody did like the idea of using Icons instead of words. The fact is we humans are visually orientated creatures. The use of words is something our brain has to be trained to do. Don't get me wrong, reading is very important but we recognize visual cues much easier. It is the main reasons that television became such a powerful and popular form of media delivery. It is second to none, even the Internet. Though as more contect becomes available on the Internet we will eventually be using it to get our television shows and information feeds.

Next step is the community gets involved and two days after my mock up design is posted we have this design pop up.

Even the still on hiatus Helder popped in a comment on this Theme. It broke the mold. (By the way, this is an actual working theme.) Its a large menu theme and just a bit disorganized but it raised the bar and immediately brought more life to GnoMenu and Both Helder and I were duly impressed. So impressed that there wasn't much doubt how the new default theme was going to be laid out.

I created this layout as a possible canidate:

Much smaller, a bit more polished and very professional looking. Now I'm not saying this is, or will be, the next default theme for GnoMenu 1.7. What I'm saying is that because we stepped back and reworked our ideas GnoMenu evolved. We took our ideas to the community and got an explosive response in return. So explosive GnoMenu took a major leap forward with a whole new look and feel. One that is much more Gnome centric and yet beatiful and functional.

Now if your saying to yourself that I did nothing but talk about GnoMenu then you missed the whole point. That community driven projects can and, in many cases, do outpace closed sourced development cycles. Here's why, ideas pile up on each other as each person whom gets involved takes the idea of the previous person and adds to or improves it. In my case I wanted to return functionality without destroying Helder's desire to have something completely different from a Vista look a like. That was the main driving reason for the Icon usage. Plus it has another major advantage. Words are not universal, pictures and images are. Words have to be translated to languages others can read, pictures and images do not. So long as they follow a universal concept. This effectively solves a major issue in translation problems. Though we still have to do it, the pressure to do so will be a lot less.

ZWS the creator of the Black White Theme probably had very different motives behind his design but none the less he made a huge impact. An impact that will carry GnoMenu forward for a long time to come. Though on rare occassions this may happen in closed source development It is far more likely to happen when design and development is open to the public.

What I want to point out especially is that by taking my basic idea and throwing it out and making sure people knew that it could be done, it did. Far better than I expected it to as well. So very often I see projects that lose track of what it really means to be an open project. Anyone can add value and sometimes users have great ideas. To often we as project leaders fail to listen to those ideas. More often than not we should.

Need A Laugh - Here You Go

2008-12-17T18:05:00.000-06:00

A first grade teacher had a small number of children gathered around a table for a reading group. After the story was read she gave the children a work sheet to do.

While they were working she heard a little girl say very softly "damn!"

The teacher leaned over and said quietly, "We don't say that in school."

The little girl looked at the teacher, her eyes got very big and she said, "Not even when things are all f***** up?!"

Being A Non-Coding Contributor

2008-12-17T14:50:00.001-06:00

I am not a programmer. With that last statement many would be surprised to also learn I am heavily involved with a software project.

Though I don't write code, I do handle a lot at the project tracking site. Bug reports, documentation, Answering questions, writing FAQs and blueprints.

I write most of the blueprints for the project, act as the bug report manager and I am the main contact for answering questions when they come in. Even had to answer one question in Spanish though I barely speak a word of it. Love translation programs.

The point is I am doing a lot for the project, freeing up time for the developers handling the day to administration that would otherwise fall behind. Its also a statement that even non-coders can become big time contributors to projects.

This is an important realization for people. You don't have to write code to help on a project. There are many aspects of project development that you can help with:

Specification Tracking: Drafting Blueprints for developers to work from. You only need a basic understanding of software operations and standards to do this. Blueprinting a feature basically involves stating what the feature is, how it should work and even in some cases how it should look. Most often you will most likely build a Blueprint from a bug report, as many bug reports are feature (or lack of) requests.

Bug Tracking: This one is a lot harder because some bug reports are really questions, some are feature requests and some are legitimate issues. Experience in beta testing will be very helpful here. Also knowing the software that is being developed is vital as well. Basically you have to decide if the bug reported is one of the above three. If its a question or a feature request then obviously its not a bug and should be reclassified appropriately. Keep in mind though you may decide to make a report a question only to later find out its actually a real bug. However running the issue as a question allows you to create a much more accurate bug report if necessary.

Answering Questions: This is usually where people can help the most. If the software project proves to be popular (as the one I am working on has) among users then people are going to need some level of support. Helping others fix small to large issues or referring them to the correct FAQ can be tremendously helpful to the developers. They don't always have the time to answer a question. The hardest part of dealing with a question is narrowing things down till a resolution is reached. This is a great way in honing your trouble shooting skills. Sometimes you will know what the answer is, or you know there is a FAQ that has the answer. One should always refer the question to the available FAQ if possible before stepping into the world of step by step trouble shooting. Most questions I work on find themselves becoming a FAQ. This is because it keeps me from having to trouble shoot the same issues over and over when I can send the user straight to the answer. Does the FAQ I send them to always work? Nope, but I either update that FAQ with more information or create a new one when done trouble shooting that particular issue.

Step by step trouble shooting is very tedious because its all done by email. Sometimes you will give an answer and sometimes you will need ask a question. I honestly have a sense of accomplishment when I help someone resolve an issue. Especially when we spent days working on it. (Yes I have had those happen and yes they are now FAQs.)

One of the last things I do is try to get people involved. Coders, interface designers and graphic artists in my case. I even try to find people to help me do the day to day stuff. Our project is small but popular. More popular than we expected to become really.

Small to large projects are always looking for help. Non-coders can be very helpful in the right project. It is time consuming but well worth it if one is looking to get a sense of being part of the community.

Brutal Lessons And Hopefully Positive Outcomes

2008-12-12T16:37:00.002-06:00

I was not going to talk about this in my blog initially. There was no real need to at first, when this storm started as it was Slashdotted and I myself created links to it as well so people would find it. More significantly, I was not expecting Ken to have this situation reach this level of communication this soon. However, the Slashdot effect played a major role in bringing about communication between the two antagonists. And yes Ken admits his antagonism. Though we may never know Karen's full side of the story I believe we know enough to say she too is apologetic. I believe and gather from the gist of things that she has apologized to both Ken and Aaron. If this is the case, that is good enough for me, and it should be good enough for everyone else as well.

Yes Karen was ignorant about Linux and F/OSS in general. Yet the perception about ignorance is that its a sin major sin in the F/OSS community. A sin that one should be burned at the stake for. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ignorance as follows:

ig·no·rance
Pronunciation:
\ˈig-n(ə-)rən(t)s\
Function:
noun
Date:
13th century

: the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness

Harsh reality check. Everyone on the planet Earth is ignorant about more thing than they are knowledgeable of. To be ignorant is not a sin. However, ignorance can only be countered with education and discussion in an honest and open dialog. It can not be countered with statements of hate, harranging and harassment.

Many of the community responses were outright derogatory, hateful, threatening and unwarranted.

Even in Ken's follow up blog post there are still statements like "Throw that b**** under the bus..." Despite the fact that Ken made it very clear that communications had been established and Karen had learned more in the last few days than in the five previous years.

Yes Ken went a bit overboard in his initial response to Karen. Karen definitely crossed the line with her first email to Ken. However, and this is the lessen all of us F/OSS supporters must learn, Ken used this as an opportunity to educate another person about F/OSS. Despite all the negativity that arose towards Karen (most were outright attacks and character assassinations) she became educated about what F/OSS is, how it works and what it means to technology.

People, people, people we must never ever attack someone for being ignorant. Ignorance is simply a fact of life. No human being is omnipotent and has knowledge of all things. That is simply not possible. What made this situation explode more than anything else is that Karen is a teacher and the initial response from the F/OSS community at large was "OMG a teacher doesn't know what Linux is or what F/OSS is. You mean she has never heard of GPL?"

Folks as much as it pains mean to say this, I doubt many teachers do, those that do fall into one of two categories:

1.) They are Linux and F/OSS users themselves but they don't teach on them at school. Though they may show a interested student here or there.

2.) They are teachers whom teach technology and have formed opinions about F/OSS, some for, some against and some remain neutral.

Here's another fact we have to accept as well. Most people whom use computers don't know, and don't care, what F/OSS is. To them all the computer is, is a tool. As long as that tool does what they want, when they want and in the manner they expect it to then they are happy.

In the thousands of comments most were militant F/OSS advocates spewing hatred and contempt for Karen that was neither appropriate or warranted. There were also posts from Microsoft advocates adding even more fuel into an already out of control fire.

My issue with Karen was never her ignorance, it was her threatening Ken with legal action without researching the subject first. A mistake I can be reasonably assured of Karen will never make again.

Militaristic attitudes do not help F/OSS any more than a RTFM attitude does. We cannot advance the use of F/OSS by attacking those whom are ignorant about it.

There was, in the melee, a comment posted that should become the definition of how F/OSS advocates handle situations. "It is better to convert an enemy, than defeat him." What does this mean? It means we should inform and educate, not attack, even if they attack us first.

When SCO first brought about their lawsuit in 2003 against IBM and threatened Linux, Pamela Jones at Groklaw used this philosophy and created one of the most powerful and influential information resources to counter SCO. So powerful, in fact, that opposing lawyers began using information from her blog and links to counter SCO's arguments. It worked to.

Did she convert SCO, no but she definitly had an impact on many SCO supporters whom eventually converted. Ah yes and there we smell victory.

If we are ever going to bring F/OSS main stream to the general public we best learn our lesson about what ignorance is. It is not a crime or a sin, but rather, an opportunity to educate and open communication.

Because we all need a laugh

2008-12-03T18:42:00.000-06:00

How fights start

When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take
Her someplace expensive....so, I took her to a gas station...... And then
The fight started....

*********************************************************
I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Millers
Light for $14.95. Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95. I
Told her the beer would make her look better at night than the cold
Cream. And that's when the fight started.

************************************************************************

After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to
Apply for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me for my
Driver's' license to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I
Had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that I was very sorry, but
I would have to go home and come back later.

The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'.
So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair. She
Said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she
Processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my
Experience at the Social Security office.

She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might
Have gotten disability, too'

And then the fight started.....

***********************************************************************

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school
Reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she
Sat alone at a nearby table.

My wife asked, 'Do you know her?'

'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand
She took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I
Hear she hasn't been sober since.'

'My God!' says my wife, 'Who would think a person could
Go on celebrating that long?'

And then the fight started.....

************************************************************

I rear-ended a car this morning. So, there we were
Alongside the road and slowly the other driver got out of his car.

You know how sometimes you just get soooo stressed and
Little things just seem funny?

Yeah, well I couldn't believe it.... He was a DWARF!!!

He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted,
'I AM NOT HAPPY!!!'

So, I looked down at him and said, 'Well, then which one
Are you?'

And that's how the fight started.....

********************************************

I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some
Reason, took my order first.

'I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please.'

He said, 'Aren't you worried about the mad cow?'

'Nah, she can order for herself.'

And that's how the fight started.....

Ubuntu on National TV?

2008-11-26T17:52:00.004-06:00

I was watching "Fringe" at hulu.com when towards the end of the show this image of "Olivia's" computer was shown.

I cannot be certain but it sure looks like Ubuntu to me. Though laid out very simply, no real clutter to speak of. No top Gnome Panel present and I couldn't be sure because of the focus, but the Ubuntu logo may be in the left side of the panel.

You be the judge, I know this much. that isn't Windows and they prominently display the Dell Logo throughout the show. My guess obviously leans towards it being the Gnome desktop, modified obviously, but still Gnome and the color scheme smacks of "Human"

How To Configure A Ubuntu PPTP VPN Client

2008-11-23T01:16:00.007-06:00

As a Linux user and an telecommuting employee one of my biggest challenges was configuring the VPN Client to connecct to my employer's VPN server so I had access to the Knowledge Base as well as all other Internet services:

Linux, unlike Windows, requires additional routing configurations. Fortunately this is an easy step once you understand what it is Linux is looking for.

This how to uses KVPNC as the VPN manager. The Network-Manager in both KDE and Gnome has a known issue with VPN and therefore is unusable. Ideally it would be best to use it instead of adding another network managemet tool into the mix. However, KVPNC works well in both KDE and Gnome and I assume other GUI interfaces as well.

I am using Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) in this example.

Start by getting the needed packages:

sudo apt-get install kvpnc pptp

NOTE: pptp-linux which is another pptp client program did not work for my VPN. This may only be a Ubuntu flavored issue. It is recommended to use pptp only.

Once you have installed KVPNC in Ubuntu it can be found in the Internet section of the menu.

Start KVPNC and run the wizard. Plug in your base information. You will not to be able input all information but at this point all we are interested in is getting the profile created. We will use the configuration editor in KVPNC to properly setup Linux to connect to the VPN.

This is the General options window. Gnome users should uncheck “Use KWallet” KDE users will most likely want to leave it checked. Leave “Do not quit by clicking close button” checked. Otherwise KVPNC will not minimize to the system tray.

You may select “Hide on startup” If you choose.

Click “Apply”

Now select General under the Profiles section.

The Profile name should be the one you gave it when you ran the Wizard.

The description is optional.

The connection type should be PPTP

The Gateway address should be the actual IP address of the VPN gateway on the Internet.

Click “Apply” if you made any changes.

Now go to Routes under the Network section

Okay here is where we have to set things up so that everything works like its supposed to. Linux unlike Windows does not automatically setup PPTP routing. This is where we run into issues. It is important you setup the VPN routing exactly as I show you otherwise your access to the Internet can be severely hampered if not outright broken. Linux's default settings will set the VPN tunnel as your only access route to and from the Internet. Most VPN servers are not designed to handle this. So we have to set a route that sends only traffic that is targeted for the VPN to go there while all other traffic uses the default system route.

First thing is tell KVPNC to “Keep default route” otherwise it will use the VPN tunnel for all traffic. The default is “Replace default route” Simply click the drop down arrow and change to “Keep default route” to get the desired behavior.

Next we need to set the VPN route for all traffic associated to the VPN. I will use 192.168.1.0 as the example. To do this click the “Add route” button. This will bring up the settings dialog box.

Set the remote network to 192.168.1.0 with a netmask (matrix) of 24 (default) leave “Use gateway” unchecked and check “Use interface” and then from the drop down select ppp0 for the device.

Click “OK” then click “Apply” in the Network Routing Window.

Now go to PPTP under Connection specific.

Okay this is the final step to get Linux to communicate with our VPN. Make sure that “Require MPPE” is unchecked if you do not use encryption. MPPE is the encryption method for PPTP so this must be off or you will not connect if your VPN doesn't use it. Ensure the “Authorization Method” is set to chap (in most cases) and not pap.

Once you have made these settings click the “Apply” button and close the settings dialog.

Click the “Connect” button and Linux should make the connection to your VPN. You should now be able to access your VPN services and the Internet without restrictions.

A Gnome Menu With Eye Candy

2008-11-13T18:44:00.006-06:00

Making the switch to Gnome 2.24 from KDE 3.5.10 has been, for me, a fairly fun and interesting experience. I never had a lot of luck with Gnome in the past. I found it clunky and awkward compared to KDE at the time. Now however Gnome has reached a level of sophistication I can easily work with.

I like to be able to customize my system's look and feel and make it unique. Which is why I went to all the trouble to learn how to change the menu button for Gnome Main Menu.

Now though I want to discuss a new menu option for Gnome called, appropriately enough, GnoMenu.

GnoMenu is a fork of Gnome Vista Menu, orignally by qb89dragon at Gnome Look here. Whise (Helder Fraga) has vastly improved the GnoMenu version and has fixed many errors and bugs found in the original Gnome Vista Menu, though it is still in its initial development state. GnoMenu is a fully functional replacement menu that adds eye candy to the otherwise bland selections of available Gnome menus.

Many will not like GnoMenu's Vista like look. However, there are other themes available. Even a couple that are XP like. GnoMenu is a very serious attempt to bring a fully themable eye pleasing menu to the Gnome desktop.

GnoMenu is easy to install and configure no matter what distrubution you use. Once you download the package and unpack it all that is required is to make sure you have the correct dependencies installed, which are listed in the "README BEFORE INSTALLING" file. Then as root run the "make install" command. GnoMenu will then be listed in your "Add to Panel" options. Simply right click the Gnome Panel and select "Add to Panel" and then select "GnoMenu" to add it to the panel.

The preferences dialog allows one to select the various theme options, Menu, Icon Panel Button and Program Widgets. You can mix and match these as you please. However, under Program Widgets the selection of Animated is not recommended as it does not properly work (yet) and its best to select Classic. (These are the only two available options under Program Widgets at this point.)

GnoMenu, being in its initial development state, has some issues and annoyances. The menu does not disappear if you click the menu button again. In one instance GnoMenu actually remained on my desktop until I restarted it. It also does not revert to the main selection level after you select an application to run. The menu does not use the system default Icons and uses its own defined Icon themes. Finally you have to scroll to the bottom of a sub-menu to go back to the previous menu. Despite these annoyances I am using GnoMenu for its eye candy ability.

GnoMenu is a definite step in the right direction in bringing more eye candy to the Gnome desktop. Though the initial Menu Theme options are very Vista or XP like its still, in my opinion, better than the bland looks that Main Menu, Main Menu Slim and Menu Bar offer.

GnoMenu is well worth the look, and well worth using if you want additional eye candy for your Gnome menu. As more people start making use of GnoMenu and create more themes and options for it I expect it to become more fun to use and play with.

GnoMenu is availabe through Gnome Look and can be seen and downloaded from here.

How To Change the Default Gnome 2.24 Menu Button

2008-11-12T15:07:00.003-06:00

I'm stubborn, no doubt about. I wanted a particular look and I got it. Weren't easy, not in the sense of doing it, in the sense of finding out how to do it. So here are my instructions.

Change the button for Gnome Main Menu:

First select the graphic you wish to have for the button if it is a SVG file you will not need to alter it. However, if its a PNG file using GIMP open it up and scale the image to have a height of 128 pixels.

Make sure you know the current name of the Icon Set you are using in Gnome.

Open Nautilus in root mode, "gksu nautilus"

Go to /usr/share/icons/(theme name)/scalable/places/

Rename the file start-here to something else.

Copy your graphic file into the places folder and name it start-here (be sure to keep its correct extension.)

Restart the Gnome Panel "killall gnome-panel"

Your selected menu button will now display itself in the Gnome Panel.

From KDE to Gnome (A User's perspective)

2008-11-11T22:07:00.003-06:00

I wasn't happy with many of the things with KDE 4 and where it was going. So I decided to give Gnome another try. Though it isn't the smoothest transition I have ever made it really has been a fairly pleasent experience. There are some things about Gnome I don't care for. However, I could also say the same concerning KDE. I needed to upgrade to Intrepid for networking (specifically wireless) improvements. Yet after some thought on this matter I realized that KDE and I simply needed to part ways. KDE 4 just isn't what I want in a GUI.

I have played with other GUIs of course but Gnome was really my only option. I needed one that had the extras to meet my productivity requirements. I may do a lot of experimenting on my computer but reality is, I need to be able to do my work too. KDE for years was how I met those needs but KDE 4 is clearly not ready and is going in a direction I wasn't happy with. So I went with Gnome.

The Gnome panel isn't as feature rich as Kicker in KDE 3 is/was. KDE 4 goes in an entirely new direction with Plasma. Though I was quickly able to setup the Gnome Panel to be more favorable to my desires its not really what I want. KDE menu options are far greater than those in Gnome and I truly believe that needs to change. There is a Vista like Menu system for Gnome but it lacks severely in fuctionality so its unusable in its current state and from what I can gather it isn't being developed beyond what it is at the moment. I personally would like to see a Kickoff clone in Gnome.

Gnome can easily be made to be just as beautiful as KDE if one is willing to do the work. Yeah I modified my Gnome Interface. The following screen shot shows what I mean:

Yes I am using the Oxygen Icons from KDE 4. I love their look. The Tango and Tangerine Icons are a bit flat looking. I have always preferred Icon sets that had some gleam to them. Thankfully KDE 4 and Gnome both comply to the Open Desktop Standards for Icons so using the Oxygen Icon set is no great trick to do. You just have to get them installed via another method instead of using the ones in the Ubuntu repositories.

One thing I really like about Gnome is its use of SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) for Icons and the panel. This makes for a more seamless transition of Icon sizes. KDE still uses set sized PNG files but I'm sure they will eventually move to SVG as well. Selecting alternate Icons in KDE is still easier to do than it is in Gnome.

Programs that I used to replace KDE apps:

Nautilus replaced Konqueror. This is a gimme but I wanted to note that I miss having a location bar I can type in. Other than that Nautilus is great and I already prefer it to Dolphin. I hated Dolphin in KDE 3 and though it was greatly improved for KDE 4 I still wasn't a big fan of it.

Totem replaced Kaffiene. I still use the Xine backend. Functionally the same but Kaffeine has more configuration options, but to be honest I rarely used any of them if at all.

Guake replaced Yakuake. Functionally they work almost identically and for all intent and purpose they are the same.

Weather Report replaced Kweather. Weather Report has more features like a forecast tab and it grabs a radar map (if available) of the local area as well. Hands down it beats Kweather.

Pidgin replaced Kopete and Konversation. Kopete is much better when it comes to features and plug-ins. Pidgin (formerly Gaim) is still working on many of these things. I doubt web-cam support will be there soon. However, Pidgin better integrates with Evolution's address book than Kopete does with Kaddressbook. Pidgin also has a great IRC interface built into it as well.

Evolution replaced Kontact. Comparing the two of them side by side is like comparing apple and oranges. Both are PIM suites, but each works from different philosophies and methods. Kontact is designed to integrate software such as kmail and kalendar into a single central interface. Kontact is the sum of a central interface that calls separate applications into use. Evolution uses the all in one approach. One program all functions.

Philosophically Kontact is about security and is extremely rigid in that regard. Evolution, however, is about cross platform compatibility with the Windows world. Evolution is far less rigid on security features, but you can make them just as rigid as Kontact's if you want. It strives to be Outlook friendly so that we Linux users can better work with Windows users. Personally I prefer setting my own security measures instead of having them dictated to me by the program developers.

Issues needing to be addressed:

Evolution: Overall I am glad I made this switch but there are three issues I have.

1; The mail filtering is crap compared to Kontact. In Kontact I was able to set the filters in exactly the right way to get my email sorted not only by sender but content as well. In evolution I can set one or the other parameter but not both together. Still having a fight with getting my mail filtered to what mail folder I want them relayed to.

2; Cannot iconify Evolution without using the AllTray applet. This is, at best, a work around and a fairly shoddy one at that. I see no reason why the Evolution developers can't put the option in to have Evolution in the system tray and running. Kontact did it very well. Evolution maybe a Outlook alternative, that doesn't mean it needs to function like Outlook.

3; RSS Feeds should be separated from the email folders. I believe Kontact's use of a separate integrated program (a.k.a. Akregator) is a better solution and makes for a more pleasant experience. In Evolution's case have a Feeds Folders sub category like there is a Search Folders

Switching to Evolution allowed me to get back many of the things I miss out on otherwise. (HTML based email being one. Yeah I know but many of my friends are HTML email designers and I couldn't see their work in Kontact.)

KDE programs I still use:

K3B, Hey its simply the best CD/DVD creator program for Linux.

Scribus, This is a separated QT app so not really tied to KDE. I just don't see anything else like it for Linux.

Quanta and Kompozer, One needs web design apps, I also use Amaya, Bluefish and Screem and really have always used them all.

ManDVD and ManSlide, Again not tied to KDE but are QT based interfaces. I just like them.

Krita, I have always been a GIMP user for the most part. But now and again I use Krita for a couple of specialty things that are either complicated to do in GIMP or just really not do-able with GIMP.

KBarcode, I need barcodes once in awhile and i just don't see a gui gtk based barcode generator/printing package.

Kshisen, KDE 4 version on this one. Love the game and xshisen sucks. There is no Gnome version of Shisen-Sho so here I am.

Going Gnome. So long KDE it was fun while it lasted

2008-11-08T15:10:00.001-06:00

I did something I thought I would never do. I stopped using KDE and switched to Gnome. I have used KDE for a very long time. I have always preferred KDE to Gnome. I was never Anti-Gnome but reality has set in. The KDE development is going in a direction I do not feel happy with. Plasma is a wonderful idea but the implementation of it is not sitting well with me.

So now I am running Ubuntu instead of Kubuntu. So why am I not happy with KDE's new direction?

In a nut shell I don't care for the look and feel KDE4 is going to. Yes its a major improvement in many ways but the overall effect is well... I don't want to bash any KDE developers but I'm afraid they are losing touch with what the users want. All the bling is nice but users aren't as interested in that as they are functionality.

Besides what good is the bling if you can't customize it. I loved KDE 3 for the simple fact I could customize it. Gnome wasn't as easy to customize but KDE 4 is a bit (actually a lot) harder than either.

Of course I already got rid of the stock Gnome layout and fitted it to suit my desires. I will miss kickoff but maybe I can convince a gtk developer to make a similar style for menu system for Gnome.

Evolution has one issue. It doesn't iconify into the system tray like Kontact did. I have to use Alltray to get that and its a bit of a PIA but hey now I can see the html design mails I get now and then. A trade off I can live with.

Finally I was actually running more gtk based apps the qt based apps. Seems to me it is simpler to use the gtk based GUI where those apps integrate readily. Honestly it was worth the switch.

Oh and the updated hardware support in Ubuntu Intrepid ROCKS!!!!

updating to OpenOffice 3.0 in Kubuntu Hardy Heron (8.04)

2008-10-15T09:14:00.002-05:00

Okay before I begin we first need to discuss a couple of things here:

Credit must be given to mogyweb who's how to for Ubuntu was helpful but incomplete for Kubuntu as there is one or two more steps which must be discussed.

The file system Structure differences between Gnome and KDE are very apparent when installing the latest version of OpenOffice in Hardy. However, they are minor at best.

The following is from mogyweb's post. Anything preceded with a * is an added note:

OpenOffice 3.0 is not in the repository for Ubuntu yet…why…I do not know. Anyway you can install it very easily by following a couple steps.

Download the file from OpenOffice.org
OOo_3.0.0_LinuxIntel_install_english-US_deb.tar.gz (*You should replace with the tar ball file that has the appropriate language for your use if available.)

*Use Adept or Synaptic to remove all OpenOffice 2.4 packages. These will conflict with OpenOffice 3.0 files and will keep 3.0 from loading. In your home folder (and all other user home folders, if you have more than one) remove all hidden folders related to OpenOffice. The user settings for OpenOffice 2.4 are incompatible with 3.0 and will keep OpenOffice 3.0 from loading files and starting up past the initial startup screen if using the the main OpenOffice user Interface or past the splash screen if calling up a specific OpenOffice application such as Writer.

Now you need to right click it and extract or run this command:
tar xzf OOo_3.0.0_LinuxIntel_install_english-US_deb.tar.gz

That will create a number of folders. Now move into those folders:

cd OOO300_m9_native_packed-1_en-US.9358/DEBS

*Before installing, if you use KDE exclusively remove the file ooobasis3.0-gnome-integration_3.0.0-9_i386.deb from the directory you can either delete it (not recommended) or move it into another directory. In the directory desktop-integration is the deb package that will install your menu icons for OpenOffice 3.0. You should copy or move that deb package into the working directory so that your menu icons are incorporated into the KDE menu under the Office listings.

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

*You will have to redo file associations but that is easy enough to do. Simply right click the file you wish to associate to OpenOffice and select Open With >> Other. Check the box labled "Remember application association for this type of file" and the under the Office Menu listing select the appropriate OpenOffice application for that file type. KDE will then associate the file extension to the correct application and hence forth when you open that file type it will use the OpenOffice application.

Ike Took A Hike In My Yard

2008-09-22T13:24:00.000-05:00

Monday, September 22nd, 2008
Ike took a hike in my yard
By now we all know what Hurricane Ike did to the Texas Gulf Coast. Since I was right down the path of it, living in Crosby TX, I can say it was a very sobering, and yet, enlightening experience. I met and made friends with people I never expected I would and came to the realization that there are those whom are bitter, selfish and snobbish, and these are the people I am supposed to know.

In other words Ike brought out the worst and best of people.

Worst: My son's mother and her mother. These two have shown nothing but their greed and manipulative natures. I bought three flashlights keeping one for myself. My son's mother blew the bulb in one and misplaced two others that were working. Keep in mind that there were already 3 working flashlights in the house. My son and I both had Orange colored flashlights. His we found. Sons mother had already taken the one I had been using before they returned from evacuating while I staid behind to baton down the hatches and ride it out. The power has been out since before the storm actually hit so afterwards the neighbors and i had a bar-b-que and cooked up any meat we had before it spoiled and had to be tossed and more or less. We ate on that for three solid days before FEMA arrived with emergency rations. I had to throw what ever else in the fridge away. Well I was informed I had given the food away to the neighbors (uhm actually they fed me.) Anyway I was informed that I was to give my flashlight up by Grandma and when i said no, that was not going to happen she threw me out of the house.

These same two have done nothing but complain about the noise from the neighbors emergency generators running, and how the generators should be in the garages of the neighbors running them so there was NO NOISE (which is so wrong at so many levels, good way to die actually.) I am so sorry they were so inconvenienced by people trying to get even a little electricity. (Actually I can't believe the pure selfishness of such statements.)

To further explain my disdain they took ALMOST ALL the MRE's I got from FEMA and put them in the back of Grandma's SUV. Deciding what and when I could have at their Discretion more or less. Actually they left the ones they didn't want in the kitchen for me. I had collected 5 cases of MRE's to their 3.

Now logically if the refigerator is empty there is no need to plug it in. Waste of power, right? oh no these two, after the neighbors offered ME access to the extra plugs on their generator (I'm thinking fans and lights, silly me) plugged in the refigerator and one fan and yelled at me for plugging in my fan while they had left for the day.

Oh I also planted a fir tree in the front yard after the storm. They dug it up.

Good: Neighbors gathering together to clean up the street after the storm. nearly everybody who weathered it out pitched in. We even helped those who were coming home a couple days after. I myself went and dug the debris out of the storm drain and cleand the gullies along the side of the road so the water standing on the street would drain.

JJ's Home Cooking, a restaurant here in Crosby, allowed me to install, setup and configure a Wi-Fi Hotspot. (I supplied all the necessary equipment, cables and work to get it up) This allowed local residents to access the Internet since most everyone all over Houston have lost their connections, along with their power. Matter of fact we are looking at a longer period before cable and internet services are fully repaired after power gets up. Here in Crosby only DSL services are running. Cable is down for the count. (So much for the ring in ring therory.)

Now going back to my son's mother and grandmother, the fact that I setup said hotpoint has pissed them off as they think I had no business using the equipment I (not them) have purchased and was not using at that time. I felt it was better to help people get their communications going and allow them to contact friends and family. Granted I had my own pressing needs but the fact I had them also meant others did too. I know how it affects me when i can't get on the Internet. So helping others by helping my self was a wonderful solution and I must Thank Jerome and Shirley immensly for allowing me to do it in the first place.

2008-06-07T00:00:00.004-05:00

How To Make a Fully Customized Live KDE CD/DVD Using Kubuntu

By Shaun C Marolf (technoshaun)

Introduction:

There are tools available to allow anyone to create and distribute a completely customized Ubuntu Based distribution using the Gnome Desktop. Many Kubuntu users would like to do the same thing but such tools are not fully compatible with KDE and the Kiosk tool does not change or remove all of the Kubuntu defaults so that a program like Remastersys can create a customized ISO with the defined changes.

This How To is designed to address these issues and allow those interested in creating their own customized distribution based on Kubuntu. Many thanks to Jamie “Boo” Birse from LinuxMint for giving me a copy of his developer notes, which without, this how to could not have been created. “Boo” is the KDE Guru at LinuxMint and is responsible for the KDE Community Editions. Because The LinuxMint KDE CE distribution is based on Kubuntu his developer notes were extremely helpful.

Getting A Leaner And Cleaner KDE Installed:

The main issue of trying to get a customized KDE Kubuntu based distribution is dealing with many of the hidden default settings in Kubuntu to begin with. Ideally it would be much easier to have a base KDE install where those defaults are not present. Fortunately there is a way to do this using the Ubuntu Repositories.

Step One:
Install Ubuntu Server;

Normally when you install Kubuntu you download one of the Kubuntu ISO images and make the CD and then install it on the system. However, whether you use the Live CD, or the Alternate Install CD you are going to end up with the default setting we don't want.

In order to avoid getting those configuration files installed one needs to do the installation through another method. That method is to simply use the Ubuntu Server Edition CD instead. The server Edition does not install the X-Server and therefore does not install a GUI. Because of this we can install KDE clean and without the messy Kubuntu default settings.

Download the Ubuntu Server Edition ISO file and create the CD from the image. On the selected machine install the Ubuntu Server. When asked what additional services you wish to install do not select any. This will install only the core Ubuntu components and base files on the system.

Step Two:
Update the Installation

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade -y

Step Three:
Install X-Server, KDM, KDE-Core Pmount and Synaptic;

Obviously we need to install the X-Server and KDE. However, it has to be done correctly or we may as well have used the Kubuntu CDs. Since we only have a command line at this point we will have to utilize it. Login and at the prompt and type the following command EXACTLY as I have it here;

sudo apt-get install xorg kdm kde-core pmount synaptic -y

After the installation completes run the following command

sudo shutdown -r now

Step Four:
Use Synaptic To Install Core Software

Add the following to your sources.list file

## Remastersys
deb http://www.remastersys.klikit.com/repository/ remastersys/

We need some software installed to handle key factors like sound automount and many other things. The current installation is exremely minimal and would require a great amount of time to go through and individually find all the correct packages needed. So I have used Synaptic to create a recovery file of all the software you need for your core install system.

Click Reload in Synaptic to update the apt sources.

In Synaptic go to File >> Read Markings >> browse to the file corepackages that was included in the archive along with this file.

Click Apply

Step Five:
Remove the Server Kernel

There is one thing we have to clean up when using this install method, and that is the kernel. Since we used the server edition for the base install we have the server kernel. As we are either building a Desktop System, or a Demonstration System (as is the case with me) we certainly don't need the server kernel.

The corepackages file installed the 2.4.26-18-generic kernel packages (latest at time of this how to) so use synaptic to remove all of the old 2.4.6-xx-server kernel packages on your machine. (Use Completely Remove option to purge them.)

Step Six:
Install Additional Packages

NOTE: You may want to use Remastersys to create a core system ISO image before installing more packages. This will allow you to have a clean base install to work from if you want to create different types of Kubuntu Based Distributions.

At this point I am going to let you play on your own. We are going to install the software packages we want to be included on our CD/DVD ISO image. It is completely your choice of what to install. You know what you want to have on your live CD/DVD. There is one important note about what you install though. DO NOT INSTALL ANY PACKAGE THAT WILL SETUP THE KUBUNTU DEFAULTS. If you do then the rest of this How To will become useless for use as I am basing it on a build that is free of these default settings.

Final word of warning, be careful on what you include in your customized distribution. Especially if you include non-open source packages. Some of these by their license must be installed separately by the end user. Also note, even including some open source packages may prove an issue because of some legal restrictions. If you are not sure about some things research, ask in a forum, ask those who also make distributions, etcetera. Do not land yourself in hot water for illegal distribution of software.

Finally to assist you here is a copy of my sources.list file:

# deb cdrom:[Kubuntu 8.04 _Hardy Heron_ - Release i386 (20080423)]/ hardy main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates main restricted
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy universe
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy universe
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates universe
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy multiverse
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository. This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is
## offered by Canonical and the respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu
## users.
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ hardy partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ hardy partner

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-security main restricted
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-security universe
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-security multiverse
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-security multiverse

## Linux Mint Elyssa Repositories
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ elyssa main upstream import
# deb-src http://packages.linuxmint.com/ elyssa main upstream import
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ elyssa community
# deb-src http://packages.linuxmint.com/ elyssa community
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ elyssa backport
# deb-src http://packages.linuxmint.com/ elyssa backport

## Medibuntu
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ hardy free non-free

## Bleeding Edge Wine Packages
## GPG Add Key Command: wget -q http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/387EE263.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
deb http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/ hardy main
# deb-src http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/ hardy main

## Remastersys
deb http://www.remastersys.klikit-linux.com/repository/ remastersys/

There is a known problem in Hardy Heron, Kaffeine is broken and will not function fully. It is best to not include it until it is fixed. If you have it installed you should purge all kaffeine files from your system or you will have issues. (This will be updated when kaffeine is fixed)

Step Seven:
Create A Test Account To See Your Default Setting Changes

Use your current account as the working account where we do all the changes, editing and configuration changes. You will also need a test account to see how things come together as you do them. Test often (you should test each time you make a change to the default desk configuration) and make sure everything is coming together as you planned. Each time you make a change use Krusader or some other File manager in root mode and clean out the entire home folder (including the hidden folders, especially) of your test account. When you do that it will repopulate with new default folders and when you log into it will be as if you logged in for the first time. The reasoning and purpose of this is so we can see what a new user will experience when they use the Live CD/DVD for the first time. Since our global settings will only affect a new user we must make KDE think your test account has never been logged into before each time we use it.

Your initial desktop should look nothing like a standard Kubuntu desktop. Which is good because we can now modify it in any manner we choose. The following steps will take you from this to your final layout step by step. In some cases I will tell you to hand edit the files and in others I will have you use the Kiosk Admin Tool. There are some cases where you can use either method, and I will mention that. However, based on my experiences while putting this How To together I will emphasize what I feel is the better method of the two.

Step Eight:
Set Default Kicker Options

NOTE: If you plan on using kicker_kickoff_1, or any other menu system outside of the standard KDE Menu, in your distribution install it now before continuing with the rest of this step. Make sure all panel applets you wish to use are also installed.

Most everything we want to do with the kicker panel needs to be done via the Kiosk Admin Tool. The final part of this step will require the hand editing of a file. You will see and understand why when we get to that.

Start by opening the Kiosk Admin Tool. You will find it under 'System' in the programs section of the KDE Menu.

The default profile should be the only one listed and highlighted. Click on 'Setup Profile' to start. Then click 'Panel' you will get a notice click 'OK' to continue. Click 'Setup Panel' to begin configuring the Global default settings of the kicker panel. Just as if you were on your own desktop right click on kicker to bring up the options. Start with 'Configure Panel' Here you can set the panel looks and operations. When you are all done setting up the panel use the 'Add Applet to Panel” to select what Applets you want starting up and arrange them on the panel where you want. Go back to 'Configure Panel' to make any final adjustments. When done with that click on 'Save' in Kiosk Admin Tool to save your changes. Now use the following command to do a bit of hand editing to your default settings;

kdesu kate /etc/kde-profile/default/share/config/kickerrc

Look at the line labled UntrustedApplets= and see what's listed there. If any applet you have previously selected is listed there then remove it from this line.

Step Nine:
Select Your Default Cursor Theme;

Setting of the default cursor is much easier now. First make sure that you have installed the cursor theme you wish to use as the default.
The following information is from Debian Admin

If you want to change the default cursor theme first you need to install one of the available cursor themes
crystalcursors
dmz-cursor-theme
xcursor-themes
comixcursors
Chameleon-custor-theme
Big-cursor
For example i am installing crystalcursors
#aptitude install crystalcursors
This will complete the installation.
Now you need to run the update-alternative to set/change the current cursor-theme, when prompted give the number of the theme and press enter.

sudo update-alternatives --config x-cursor-theme

There are 24 alternatives which provide `x-cursor-theme’.
Selection Alternative
———————————————–
1 /etc/X11/cursors/core.theme
2 /etc/X11/cursors/redglass.theme
3 /etc/X11/cursors/whiteglass.theme
4 /etc/X11/cursors/handhelds.theme
+ 5 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalblue_classic.theme
6 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalblue_nonanim.theme
7 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalblueleft.theme
8 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalblueleft_classic.theme
9 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalblueleft_nonanim.theme
10 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgray.theme
11 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgray_nonanim.theme
12 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgrayleft.theme
13 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgrayleft_nonanim.theme
14 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgreen.theme
15 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgreen_classic.theme
16 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgreen_nonanim.theme
17 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgreenleft.theme
18 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgreenleft_classic.theme
19 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalgreenleft_nonanim.theme
20 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalwhite.theme
21 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalwhite_nonanim.theme
* 22 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalwhiteleft.theme
23 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalwhiteleft_nonanim.theme
24 /etc/X11/cursors/crystalblue.theme
Press enter to keep the default[*], or type selection number: 23
Using ‘/etc/X11/cursors/crystalwhiteleft_nonanim.theme’ to provide ‘x-cursor-theme’

Step Nine:
Setup the Desired Default Desktop Icons

To setup default Desktop Icons (The icons every new user will see when they first login) simply setup icons on your working desktop, use the Kiosk Admin Tool and click on 'Setup Profile' Select 'Desktop Icons' and click 'Setup Desktop Icons' then click 'Save'. This will create the file structure the default profile will use to set the default settings. Using Krusader (or some other file manager) in root mode copy the files from your working desktop directory to /etc/kde-profile/default/share/apps/kdedesktop (or kdesktop)/Desktop/

If you want functional Icons for System, Home and Trash then simply cut and past each of the following into new text files on your desktop to create them. Each one should have its own file and it should be named appropriately:

[Desktop Entry]
Comment=Home Folder
Encoding=UTF-8
Icon=folder_home
Name=Home
Type=Link
URL=system:/home
-----------------------------------
[Desktop Entry]
Comment=Contains removed files
EmptyIcon=trashcan_empty
Encoding=UTF-8
Icon=trashcan_full
Name=Trash
Type=Link
URL=trash:/
-------------------------------------
[Desktop Entry]
Comment=System Folder
Encoding=UTF-8
Icon=system
Name=System
Type=Link
URL=system:/

Once the above files are created then copy them to the afore mentioned directory. Once copied all new (first time) users will get the Icons for System, Home and Trash on their desktop.
NOTE: I recommend you at least put the Trash Icon on new desktops.

Step Ten:
Set the Default Icon Theme

To set default Icons in KDE so that all new (first time users) start with your selected Icon Theme right click on the desktop and select run command. Enter the following into the dialog box:

kdesu kedit /etc/kde-profile/defaults/share/config/kdeglobals

Just above the [KDE] section add the following:

[Icons]
Theme=name of the Icon Theme you wish to use

In my case the entry looks like this

[Icons]
Theme=oxygen

All new users I setup on my system will now default to the Oxygen Icon Theme set for KDE3 when they first login.

Step Eleven:
Set Default Background Image

Setting the default background image hand edit the following:
/etc/kde-profile/default/share/config/kdesktoprc

Here we are concerned with two enteries:

Wallpaper=
WallpaperMode=

In my case the entries look like this:

Wallpaper=/usr/share/wallpapers/Jewell.png
WallpaperMode=Scaled

Kiosk Admin Tool will also do this but its a bit more time consuming.

Step Thirteen:
Set the Default Theme and Color Scheme

The absolute best way to setup and install a color scheme is to use the Kiosk Admin Tool. It will allow to bring up the theme dialog. Whether you create your own color scheme or use an existing one use of the Kiosk Admin Tool is safest and most efficient way to import or select the color default and theme. Same with Style and Windows Decorations. Once you have setup the decorations, style and color themes click on save and exit .Kiosk Admin Tool. Test and see all your work come together in the test account.

Step Fourteen:
Set the Default Ksplash Theme

You will have to create the file that sets the default KSplash theme. To do so use the following command:

kdesu kate /etc/kde-profile/default/share/config/ksplashrc

Simply put in the following two lines:

[KSplash]
Theme=name of ksplash theme

Save the file.

Step Fifteen:
Set the KDM Theme

Unfortunately the kdmrc file on this setup is bad. Since its easier to replace it than to fix it I am including a copy of my kdmrc file in this package. Simply take my kdmrc and as root copy it to /etc/kde3/kdm and over write the current kdmrc file. Then edit the file by hand:

kdesu kate /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc

Look for the line Theme= and place the path to and the name of the KDM theme there. You will be glad to know you will be able to use the KDM theme manager after that. Because the KDM theme setting is global that's all you need to do.

Step Sixteen:
Login Manager Settings

Like KDM this is a global setting so its a quick and simple one. In Kcontrol under 'System Administration' select 'Login Manager'. Click on 'Administrator Mode' and then enter your password. Click the 'Background' tab and select the background you want displayed. I personally like to choose the same background as the one in my default settings. You can choose whatever you want of course.

Step Seventeen:
Set Default Sounds

You will have to create the file that sets the default sounds. Use the following command to do so:

kdesu kate /etc/kde-profile/default/share/config/knotify.eventsrc

I suggest you cut and past the following into it:

[exitkde]
presentation=1
soundfile=/usr/share/sounds/KDE_Logout_new.wav

[startkde]
presentation=1
soundfile=/usr/share/sounds/KDE_Startup_new.wav

Now lets look at this one a bit. It took me awhile to figure this out. Unlike other configuration settings this is not a simple if else function, where if the user has settings use them else use default. In other words this works very differently from the other configurations and we need to know what is happenning.

Lets look at the knotify.eventsrc file in my home directory here:

[Textcompletion: no match]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=1
soundfile[$e]=

[Textcompletion: partial match]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=1
soundfile[$e]=

[Textcompletion: rotation]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=1
soundfile[$e]=

[Trash: emptied]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=1
soundfile[$e]=

[cancellogout]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=16
soundfile[$e]=

[cannotopenfile]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=0
soundfile[$e]=

[catastrophe]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=2
soundfile[$e]=

[exitkde]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=1
soundfile[$e]=KDE_Logout_3.ogg

[fatalerror]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=2
soundfile[$e]=

[messageCritical]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=

[messageInformation]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=65
soundfile[$e]=KDE_Chimes_2.ogg

[messageWarning]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=1
soundfile[$e]=KDE_Error_1.ogg

[messageboxQuestion]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=65
soundfile[$e]=KDE_Vox_Ahem.ogg

[notification]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=1
soundfile[$e]=KDE_Beep.ogg

[printerror]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=2
soundfile[$e]=

[startkde]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=

[warning]
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=2
soundfile[$e]=

Now lets look at Kubuntu's default knotify.eventsrc file that sets their default sounds.

[messageCritical]
presentation=65
soundfile=/usr/share/sounds/KDE_Error_1.ogg

[startkde]
presentation=1
soundfile=/usr/share/sounds/kubuntu-login.ogg

Carefully look at the user file then look at the default file. You will notice that the lines in the default file fill in the missing lines from the user's file. For example The KDE startup sound is defined in our default file but the lines in the default file do not exist in the users file.

This is a typical entry for a event sound in the users file:

[warning] Name of Event
commandline[$e]=
logfile[$e]=
presentation=2
soundfile[$e]= path and name of soundfile

If we have a defined default sound then last two lines are removed and those lines are read from the default file making this an if then process. If the presentation and soundfile lines are not present in file (a) then read from file (b). Which makes for a somewhat confusing scenario.

Add to that any attempt to dig up actual documentation on the file enteries utterly failed. The only thing I could find out is if you set presentation=0 no sound will play for that event even if defined. So in other words I haven't a clue about the rest of the entries and I have no idea what effect the numbers under presentation= does. Though best guess is its a time delay of some kind. Whatever [$e] means, well your guess is as good as mine on that.

So with all that in mind if you decide to define default sounds then here is what I suggest you do to ensure they work. Use the presentation= number as defined from the file I took from my ~/.kde/share/config/ folder.

In the file /etc/kde-profile/default/share/config/knotify.eventsrc make enteries like so:

[event]
presentation=number as defined in the list
soundfile=path/name to file

Do this for each event you want to have a default sound for.

Step Eighteen:
Clean Up For ISO Creation

Once you have tested and are satisfied with everything then remove and delete the test user account. Now open a terminal and use the following command:

sudo apt-get clean

Close the terminal

Step Nineteen:
Create the ISO Image

Using Remastersys is pretty straightfoward. In this case we want to make a distributable copy. However, we need to modify the Remastersys config files first.

Select “Modify the remastersys config file to customize options” and click “OK”

The only two you really need to concern yourself with are Title and Filename. Change those to what you want then return to the main menu.

Select “Make a Distributable copy to share with friends” and click “OK”

Remastersys will now build your ISO file. That file once made will be located in /home/remastersys/remastersys/filename.iso

Burn your first CD or DVD and test it out.

Here is how the desktop on my Live DVD came out:

Technical Note of Interest:
What Is Weird?

When I first started this process I had a major issue with USB thumb drives not being automounted. During the course of building my Demo Distribution for my Proof of Concept I had to use pmount and pumount to use my thumb drives. At some point they magically started working while I made the modifications to the default settings. What triggered the automount to start working I have no idea. I do know it just “magically” started working like its supposed to so I am not overly worried about it. You will probably have the same experience and if anyone can figure out what the heck the trigger is I would like to know more for curiosities sake.

Notes On the Process:
What I Learned By Doing This

Knowing what can be done and knowing how to do it are, as always, two completely different things. The exercise I put myself through in doing this was to teach myself not only how, but why wasn't it better documented. The information presented in this How To derived from my poking around more than what I found online. If it hadn't been for 'Boo's' notes many aspects of this How To would never have evolved. I think the main reason that documentation is a bit poor is that those who usually do this aren't really users, but developers. Developers are pretty much poor documenters. They generally make and keep notes for their purposes and though other developers can usually understand them the average user gets very confused, very fast. Fortunately with my first computing experience being in development (No I do not write code anymore and have no real desire to) I was able to at least decipher many of the things I did come across to put this How To in a format that a typical end user can read, understand and implement. It does of course assume that the user, in this case, has a working knowledge in KDE Operations and KDE Administration at a minimum.

KDE is remarkably configurable and is in reality very easy to configure. Knowing how to configure it (especially the defaults) is the trick in this case. Because of programs like Remastersys anyone can create a Live CD/DVD with an installer. However, despite the fact that doing a total customization setup for Gnome was easy, for KDE it was not.

This How To IS NOT complete and there are many more aspects that need to be covered. Such as the defining of default system sounds and other settings. Yet it is a definite step into getting this to be a much easier process for us KDE users and supporters. So while I will continue to poke around and add on to this document, it also my hope that others will become more involved as well, and also add on to it. With KDE4 becoming closer everyday to being usable in a full productivity environment the need to update this document for it becomes apparent.

Why did I choose Kubuntu? Mostly because they annoyed me with some of the things they did with Gutsy, and now Hardy. It was a challenge to find all the little locked in defaults they had and I was more than happy to figure out how to circumvent them. Considering that this How To is also a proof of concept the idea is if I can do it to a distribution that locks you down a bit harder then imagine what can be done in a distribution designed to allow you to do this in the first place.

So to that end I have at least made the start of a user friendly How To. So to everyone all I can say is here is what we have always wanted, the information we need to make a completely customized KDE based distribution. Though not complete (yet) it is a definite beginning and best of all written in a much more user friendly format.

--Shaun Marolf
a.k.a. Technoshaun

--------------------------------------
My KDM RC File

[General]
ConfigVersion=2.3
ConsoleTTYs=tty1,tty2,tty3,tty4,tty5,tty6
PidFile=/var/run/kdm.pid
ReserveServers=:1,:2,:3
ServerVTs=-7
StaticServers=:0

[Shutdown]
BootManager=None
HaltCmd=/sbin/poweroff
RebootCmd=/sbin/reboot

[X-*-Core]
AllowNullPasswd=false
AllowRootLogin=false
AllowShutdown=Root
AutoReLogin=false
ClientLogFile=.xsession-errors-%s
Reset=/etc/kde3/kdm/Xreset
Session=/etc/kde3/kdm/Xsession
Setup=/etc/kde3/kdm/Xsetup
Startup=/etc/kde3/kdm/Xstartup

[X-*-Greeter]
AntiAliasing=true
ColorScheme=
EchoMode=OneStar
FaceSource=AdminOnly
FailFont=Sans Serif,10,-1,5,75,0,0,0,0,0
GUIStyle=dotNET
GreetFont=Sans Serif,22,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0
GreetString=Welcome to Kubuntu at %n
GreeterPos=50,50
HiddenUsers=root
Language=en_GB
LogoArea=Logo
LogoPixmap=/usr/share/apps/kdm/pics/kdelogo.png
MaxShowUID=29999
MinShowUID=1000
Preloader=/usr/bin/preloadkde
SelectedUsers=
ShowUsers=NotHidden
SortUsers=true
StdFont=Sans Serif,10,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0
Theme=/usr/share/apps/kdm/themes/Klear_KuiX
UseBackground=true
UseTheme=true
UserCompletion=false
UserList=true

[X-:*-Core]
AllowNullPasswd=true
AllowShutdown=All
NoPassEnable=false
NoPassUsers=
ServerArgsLocal=-nolisten tcp
ServerCmd=/usr/bin/X -br

[X-:*-Greeter]
AllowClose=true
DefaultUser=shaun
FocusPasswd=true
LoginMode=DefaultLocal
PreselectUser=Previous

[X-:0-Core]
AutoLoginAgain=false
AutoLoginDelay=0
AutoLoginEnable=false
AutoLoginLocked=false
AutoLoginUser=shaun
ClientLogFile=.xsession-errors

[Xdmcp]
Enable=false
Willing=/etc/kde3/kdm/Xwilling

New Job New Internet Service and Life

2008-03-14T14:17:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow morning I start a new job. Can't give to many details but it certainly involves computers.

Now Hulu Internet Television Service, is cool. Imagine being able to watch any television show you wanted at anytime you wanted no matter where you are. All you need is a Computer and a braodband connection. Hulu offers that, for the most part anyway.

Though they don't have every television show ever made they have a very large selection. They allow you to watch any show they have available anytime you want and the service is FREE being ad supported. It works with Linux using Firefox so I had absolutely no problems watching any show I selected.

Since I really don't watch a whole lot of TV and when I do I much rather watch shows I like and not just what's on. This to me is a absolute must have service. The cost is great too.

They have classic TV shows as well as current TV offerings. Full length movies too.

This is a highly recommend service.

Son turned four years old on Wendsday, I wish I could see the world through his eyes.

Real Software Freedom Is About Choice Not Type

2008-03-08T15:46:00.003-06:00

I have a lot of fun with Linux. Simply put Linux is more suited to my use than Windows. Not to mention I'm no fan of windows at all.

However there are several discussions about freedom in software some which are completely invalid because they discount what freedom is. Freedom is the right to make choices based on an individuals needs and motives. Not a groups. I.E. I use Flash and not Gnash. Yes Flash is Closed Source and Gnash is Open Source but the reason I use Flash is because even though it isn't perfect it works better than Gnash.

I also prefer Adobe Acrobat over kpdf because it works (and looks better.

My point is that I use Linux but I don't neceassarily restrict myself to choices based on Open Source over Closed Source.

I use what works for me and true freedom comes down to right to make that choice. Not based on a license or source code access.

Lets make this perfectly clear: True Software Freedom is the right to choose and use software one feels will work best. Militant ramblings concerning how evil closed software is do not help the Open Source Community.

Creating a Software license which is based on political ideals and not creativity are also a bad idea. Attacking developers whom write software for Linux based systems, that happens to be closed source also does not help.

Solutions in Open Source programs aren't always the best for a particular purpose and the closed source solutions may provide them. To say anyone whom uses closed source over open source doesn't get what Computing Freedom is about is full of it.

Real freedom comes with the options to make choices based on need and expected results. Not what type of software it is. As a consultant I do try and push Open Source in many ways but I also know that it isn't the only, nor always the best, option.

Why Being Mobile is Important

2008-03-06T15:43:00.002-06:00

There are any number of reasons I like being mobile. One among many is when I have to leave the house to take care of something quick but can't return immediately and i have to wait I can still get online, do my research and in general get business taken care of.

Today is one of those days. I had to take care of the registration on my truck but because it was out of date I had to get a ride in. Well the person who brought me to the court house had business herself and I am forced to wait on her. Since her business is taking significantly longer I have to wait on her till I can get to my truck later.

Now here I sit in Starbucks waiting for her to call me so we can meet up when she completes her business. Having a nice laptop and a internet connection (which isn't provided by Starbucks because I removed the wireless/modem card on the laptop to save baterry power) I can still work on things while I wait.

Even post my second blog entry in one day (a very rare occurance for me) because I'm also not being distracted or otherwise bothered while i do what I have to do. (Though most of it is from my sone so I don't mind to much.)

Anyway I actually did my application searches and pretty much got all the programs I wanted installed.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day for me and I hope I get the position I want. If not an old employer wants me back. Either way I'll be back to work soon.

Swiftfox VS. Firefox

2008-03-06T08:52:00.002-06:00

If you like to try out different software packagaes as I do then sometimes things can get a bit messed up. Case in point, I had replaced Firefox with Swiftfox. Swiftfox is Beta at best and to be honest not as compatible with Firefox as I would like. The problems are more instability than functionality. Also many FF plugins simply aren't compatible with SF.

I also realized when I switched back to FF that SF had done some changes that created more issues with FF than I liked. Fortunately I was able to recover the damages.

To fix FF issues in Linux is easy. Simply delete the hidden folder .mozilla under your home folder. If you have FEBE then getting your extensions back is easy as well. If not get it before deleteing the hidden folder and backup extensions and themes and bookmarks before doing so.

Once the hidden folder is deleted and you start FF it opens in default mode with no new addons, cookies, extensions or themes. Reinstall FEBE through the file>> open dialogue and then restart FF again. Then use FEBE to reinstall everything else and restart FF one last time.

Though you will have to re-enter your saved passwords (I have learned from past experience that FEBE does not handle restoration of cookies, password data and user settings well so I highly suggest you never use those options) the minor inconvienence makes for a fresh start with FF and helps improve its usability.

Lesson learned - be able to recover from trying something new if it doesn't work for you.

LinuxMint is it.

2008-03-04T09:52:00.004-06:00

The LinuxMint KDE CE (Community Edition) 4.0 Daryna is now out of Beta and has been released.

Based loosely on Kubuntu it provides better stability and uses the more common sense approaches needed.

Kcontrol instead of System Settings: Jonathon Riddell does a remarkable job but his opinion concerning Kcontrol needing to be replaced, though correct, cannot be done with a sub-par interface. System Settings does not give you access to all KCM's and therefore is proving to be highly unpopular among hard core KDE users. Myself included. Replacing KControl must be done with something that allows access to the all settings, not just a select few. KDE users are used to, and want, full access to all KDE Control Modules. Many whom use KDE choose to do so over Gnome for this reason alone. Myself included.

Synaptic instead of Adept: Yes synaptic is GTK but so what? Its simply the best front end for Apt there is. Many KDE users get it and use it. Adept is to confusing in some ways and far less configurable. Also since LinuxMint's update front end uses synaptic I can pin software and not worry about it getting accidentally updated. (I do this with OpenOffice since I use the version directly from them and not the one in the Ubuntu repositories.) You can't version pin software in Adept without jumping through a few hoops. In fact one thing I could not do on Kubuntu and have done on LinuxMint is completely remove Adept. Yes I lose the KDE front end for Restricted Modules but then I don't need it.

Better setup scripts: LinuxMint install and configuration scripts are leaner and much tighter. Overall I have a much better running laptop. Especially in the Compiz-Fusion setup. Since I'm not jumping into KDE 4 yet and am using KDE 3.5.9 until KDE 4 is ready for general user consumption. Right now its still in early adopter status and requires more applications to be ported over. Plus there are numerous bugs being worked on as well.

The only thing I don't understand is the use of TastyMenu. KBFX maybe, but TastyMenu has a lot of issues and bugs in it. No matter since I installed Kickoff 1 anyway. Would prefer Kickoff QT but that's near impossible now.

Also interesting article here concerning how to get Linux to be a better player on the Desktop. Though I agree it really focuses on one real issue, the hardware aspect. Though important it is NOT the total answer.

Linux adoption will happen only when users find it as easy to use as Windows with all the same functions and abilities.

Nuff' Said.

LinuxMint (K)Ubuntu Made Better

2008-02-26T11:07:00.002-06:00

Many people know I have used Kubuntu for some time. Though there are many things about it I am not thrilled about it does have the largest software repository collection available. So when a friend said try LinuxMint I looked at it but I didn't jump into it immediately.

LinuxMint, at first, was Gnome based. Now I have nothing against Gnome but I am a KDE man and so I didn't give LinuxMint a try. I did however pay attention to what was going on with it since I was hearing nothing but good things about it. LinuxMint released a KDE Beta version and I am now using it instead of Kubuntu.

First LinuxMint is an unofficial Ubuntu version. They use the very same repositories plus a couple of their own. However, its what you get when you initially install LinuxMint that makes a difference.

As far as I am concerned the KDE version of LinuxMint is what Kubuntu should have been to start with. The script and configuration files are much leaner and better written. With Gutsy my video driver would get buffer over run errors and lock up. With Daryna (LinuxMint's release based on Gutsy) I have zero issues with the video now. OpenGL applications do not lock up my system and I can even use Compiz-Fusion on my Intel 965GM based laptop, cube and all. Daryna is basically Gutsy
on some serious steroids.

Because Daryna uses the same hardware base as Gutsy I had no issues installing it onto my laptop. My 1280 X 800 widescreen was setup perfectly as was my sound and USB.

Multimedia setup is an absolute breeze and LinuxMint is much easier to get it going in as well. Not that it was all that hard to begin with in Gutsy. You can even use Automatix2, but I caution people to be careful using it as you are apt to find more up to date packages in the repositories since the Medibuntu trepositories are part of the apt sources used in LinuxMint.

I was able to update KDE to 3.5.9 by adding the following to my sources.list file:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-kde-3.5.9/ubuntu gutsy main

I updated without a hitch and I was also able to install Kickoff 1.

The KDE version of LinuxMint uses Tasty Menu as its default but you can use the standard Kmenu, KBFX, or Kickoff 1.

I also like the mintUpdate and Software Portal apps in LinuxMint which are really much better than the standard Kubuntu issues, even if they are GTK based. (Just so everyone knows, I am not opposed to GTK based software in KDE and I use a lot of it. It's more important to me that the software I use fulfill the needs it supposed to than how it appears or what file manager it uses.)

The final win me over feature is LinuxMint will ask you if you want to setup a root account. (This is not recommended but at least you have the option.) As I am a traditionalist I think that's great. The sudo only thing never thrilled me and even though I still use sudo I also like having access to my admin account separately in case something goes wrong in my main user account. Trust me with all the playing around I do I have blown up my user account a lot and having access to a root account is, for me, vital. This also fixes, what to me is, a glaring security issue in standard Ubuntu based distributions.

Last note: I am not sure why but the Synaptic Package Manager, though part of the initial install, does not have a listing in the menu. I had to go in and make one so I wouldn't have to launch Synaptic from the run command prompt. Since all of the LinuxMint update and software install tools
rely on Synaptic I found it a bit odd that they don't list in the menu. Adept is there but I am not a fan of adept. (See previous statement about GTK based software.) I like Synaptic a lot better.

I have got to say LinuxMint scores a 10. This is what I have been wanting in a Debian Based distro for a long time. The LinuxMint motto is "From Freedom Came Elegance" I say "With Intelligence Came
Reliability" at least with LinuxMint.

Notes of Interest: I removed the Generic Kernel and replaced it with Real Time kernel. I also changed the tray Icons used by the update notifier to get rid of the Tango look. I found some appropriate Icons easily enough and to be honest they actually make it easier to determine what's going on. I also changed the update check from 5 to 60 minutes. Mostly because I don't need to have my system eat bandwidth that often and every 60 minutes is appropriate enough.

Also in todays KDE news there was note of a major problem with a Gnome update that literally broke Gnome. Seems like many Gnome users will be going to KDE to fix it or replace Gnome altogether. Hmm support calls anyone?

News of note

2008-02-22T02:47:00.008-06:00

First off, the Microsoft olive branch is a lie. Please all developers take note of the NON-COMMERCIAL CLAUSE and statement. Please for the love of technology do not fall into the spiders lair.

To the Fedora and Kubuntu camps. Who gives a damn who contributes more, has a better 3rd party developer upstream and does the most for KDE development. Neither camp is working off a primarily KDE based distro and that's fine. We can have KDE on either and that's good enough. Both make important contributions to open source and KDE and though there will always be arguments over this, that or whatever they should not be posted on a blog that talks primarily about a particular distro's contributions. Especially since said blog said nothing derogatory about the other's Distro in the first place.

Now on to my news. I de-blacklisted my Intel 965GM video card so I could use Compiz-Fusion. Since it really didn't matter whether I had it going or not the GPU is simply going to lock up from time to time until the bugs are worked out of the driver and backend controls. There's no telling when or what will cause it, so I enabled my card for Compiz.

The HeliOS theme package is looking nice as I play with different aspects and features. Its slowly becoming the toyal and complete package and I setup both KDE a\nd Compiz looks for the package. To show the effects here are the pics.

This is the standard desktop screen shot. Nothing spectacular or special. It simply shows what the desktop looks like in normal state. The purpose is to allow people to see if they like the look.

Now we come to the menu screenshot:

This is a screen shot of the menu and file manager using the KDE Decoration and Theme. Which BTW is Cylon for the Decoration and the Theme is HeliOS which I created by using all sorts of packages from kde-look.org. This theme isn't finished just yet but I an really pleased how its coming together as I find just the right material to use. However, the next screen shot shows the same thing only now its with Compiz activated:

The main, and most obvious difference is the decoration of course. Since I am using Compiz I have to use Emerald as the theme manager. since the Cylon look isn't available for Compiz (yet) I needed to use a theme that fit and so I went with the one you see. Yet none of this is as important as the effects screen shot. By that I mean how does it look on a 3D enhanced system like Compiz? well the cube looks like this:

The cube settings I have are topcaps off, 40% Translucency when moving the cube with the mouse and mirroring on for the skycap bottom. Overall a very cool ( and impressive) look. Though the overall theme is coming together nicely its far from complete. I have the Sounds, Icons, Cursors, KDM, KSplash, Splashy Theme, and GRUB Splash done, which is most everything, but I just feel there is something more it needs. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

Hope you like the look.

Cleaning out the garbage

2008-02-19T20:47:00.003-06:00

Facebook: Disabled
WAYN: Closed

Yep both were becoming exxessive or never used. WAYN (Where Are You Now) was a joke of a social site really and then they wanted $$$ for services. Sorry if it didn't work well when services were free why would I throw good money into it now that they decided to charge me.

Facebook just became an out of control worthless social site with no end of issues and way to many emails coming in and most were to entice me to log on to services. Add to that I wasn't allowed access to messages because I wasn't inviting enough people to join. Point blank, who needs that rot? I invite people I think might be interested. I wasn't one of them anymore. Add to that the privacy and security issues in tow with Facebook usage I decided it was best to just stop. I deleted every single app and suspended the account. Will contact customer service to delete it later.

I still have other social web sites I use that don't pound me with emails I don't want or need.

Finally got the Real Time Kernel working and believe me on a DuoCore2 laptop in performance mode its freakin' awesome. even in Dynamic Mode its good but Performance Mode just makes it zing. If you have never used a Real Time Kernel then let me explain what that means. There is no lag time in processor hand off. In the normal kernel if a process is done with its time slice then the system will wait x amount of time before hand off where x is the amount of time left in the time slice assigned to the process. A Real Time Kernel however, hands off the process once the process is done whether there is time left or not. In other words the kernel doesn't go idle when processes are waiting in line for CPU time. Multitasking goes a lot smoother in a Real Time Environment compared to the standard kernel method. Though most people will have no need for a Real Time Kernel heavy resource users like myself can enjoy less lag and lock while the system cycles through processes.

KDE 3.5.9 is out now and its installed on my laptop. Putting it on my son's desktop now. That soon to be four year old can run Windows (Mom's computer) and Linux (his computer) and to him (bless his little heart) there is no difference. The only real thing unique on his, is that he is using the Windows version of Firefox, utilizing WINE so he can have Shockwave (needed for some of his kiddie websites.)

His mother prefers she uses hers (she is a die hard Windows user) and not his. Hey the kid has his own computer and not just some toy system either. Its a 2GHz P4 (granted a single core system but still great for a four year old boy) with a GB of RAM and a 250 GB Hard Drive. (His old Hard Drive crashed so I had to replace it.)

I am working with/for HeliOS Solutions now. Good guys and were working on a whole new business model and system.

My Unbranded Kubuntu

2008-01-05T05:42:00.000-06:00

I did I removed the Kubuntu startup and shutdown displays. How I did can be found in my latest Theme Package that I pasted at KDE Look. It was an effort but I am extremely pleased with the results. Now for my next trick...

Kubuntu Breaks Itself

2008-01-01T18:54:00.000-06:00

Okay that's an odd title but let me explain and you'll see why I am kinda glad things worked out this way.

First off I make no qualms about my issues concerning many of Canonical's more "interesting" decisions and why they PO me.

One of the more recent issues is the KDM over ride. I like making KDM and Ksplash screens. Its fun and helps me learn how things work and people generally like my material when I'm done packaging it.

I can't use the KDM theme manager but I did find the way to get around it and have plastered that information all over kde-look.org. Whatever Canonical did to KDM is not as i shall say, a good thing. This is another one of the "hmmmms" things. Is Canonical trying to be the MS of the Linux Community?

Usplash versus Splashy: I can give a lot of reasons why Splashy is superior to Usplash but the one I feel is the most important is that Splashy allows anyone to create and change splash themes without to much effort. Usplash on the other hand requires some pretty hard core programming knowledge, requires a bunch of steps to convert the graphic to something it can use and then you have to compile that. three letters, a acronym, WTF?

So after banging my head around slightly I actually got Usplash replaced with Splashy and that means I can do a total theme configuration.

However, KSplash went nuts on me and I had to clean out the KSplash cache folder in ~/.kde/share/apps/ksplash/cache and also move all my themes to /usr/share/apps/ksplash/themes so now that's working again.

Now why all this is going on something happened to my KDE config files. I.E. Kubuntu broke itself and my desktop just went bye bye. I had to reset EVERYTHING and then I noticed a wonderful thing. Those annoying little Kubuntu hacks were gone. KDE started acting like KDE should. Yep my New Year just strated off great.

Way to funny not to poswt

2007-12-21T18:58:00.000-06:00

BE AMUSED by some different Feminine & Masculine Archetypes at work and play
within these 2 American English Students:

THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Remember the book "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus"? Here's an
interesting example offered by an English professor from the University
of Phoenix Arizona:
PROFESSOR: "Today we will experiment with a new form called the tandem
story. The process is simple. Each person will pair off with the person sitting
to his or her immediate right. As homework tonight, one of you will
write the first paragraph of a short story.
You will e-mail your partner that paragraph and send another copy to me.
The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another
paragraph to the story and send it back, also sending another copy to
me. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on
back-and-forth. Remember to re-read what has been written each time in order to keep
the story coherent. There is to be absolutely NO talking outside of
the e-mails and anything you wish to say must be written in the
e-mail. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached."
The following was actually turned in by two of my English students:
Rebecca (last name deleted), and Gary (last name deleted).

THE STORY:

(first paragraph by Rebecca)

At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The
chamomile, which used to be her favourite for lazy evenings at home,
now reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times,
that he liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep
her mind off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she
thought about him too much her asthma started acting up again. So
chamomile was out of the question.

(second paragraph by Gary)

Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron
now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about
than the neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with
whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago. "A.S. Harris to
Geostation 17," he said into his trans galactic communicator. "Polar
orbit established. No sign of resistance so far..." But before he
could sign off a bluish particle beam flashed out of nowhere and
blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The jolt from the direct
hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the cockpit.

(Rebecca)

He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt
one last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who
had ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its
pointless hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4.
"Congress Passes Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel,"
Laurie read in her newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously
excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her
youth, when the days had passed unhurriedly and carefree, with no
newspapers to read, no television to distract her from her sense of
innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her. "Why must one
lose one's innocence to become a woman?" she pondered wistfully.

(Gary)

Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live.
Thousands of miles above the city, the Anu'udrian mothership launched
the first of its lithium fusion missiles. The dim-witted wimpy
peaceniks who pushed the Unilateral Aerospace disarmament Treaty
through the congress had left Earth a defenceless target for the
hostile alien empires who were determined to destroy the human race.
Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the Anu'udrian ships
were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to pulverize the
entire planet.
With no one to stop them, they swiftly initiated their diabolical
plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the atmosphere unimpeded. The
President, in his top-secret mobile submarine headquarters on the
ocean floor off the coast of Guam, felt the inconceivably massive
explosion, which vaporized poor, stupid, Laurie and 85 million other
Americans. The President slammed his fist on the conference table. "We
can't allow this! I'm going to veto that treaty!
Let's blow 'em out of the sky!"

(Rebecca)

This is absurd. I refuse to continue this mockery of literature. My
writing partner is a violent, chauvinistic semi-literate adolescent.

(Gary)

Yeah? Well, you're a self-centered tedious neurotic whose attempts at
writing are the literary equivalent of Valium. "Oh, shall I have
chamomile tea? Or shall I have some other sort of FUCKING TEA??? Oh
no, I'm such an air headed bimbo who reads; too many Danielle Steele
novels!"

(Rebecca)
Asshole.

(Gary)
Bitch.

(Rebecca)

FUCK YOU - YOU NEANDERTHAL!-!!

(Gary)

Go drink some tea - whore.

(PROFESSOR)

A+ I really liked this one!

Cross Development Adoption in KDE 4

2007-12-16T06:31:00.000-06:00

Kickoff Menu Style- Developed by SuSE, will be the standard menu in KDE 4. It replaces the old 2nd generation menu in KDE 3. This is not the same Kickoff that we have available in KDE 3.5.5 and up. Its a port and is instead a plasmoid. I consider Kickoff the best of the 3rd generation menus but Raptor is in development and it will be a 4th generation menu system totally unique to anything else out there. To get an idea of what Raptor will be like go here to see it. Once Raptor is fully developed as a plasmoid it will be an exciting replacement menu.

System Configuration - Developed by Kubuntu, will be standard in KDE 4. This is good idea as the Kcontrol center is a bit confusing. However, the current Kubuntu version does not give access to all KCMs and if we are going to have this as the new means to utilize them then access to them must be allowed. I am not in the mood to use kcmshell setups.

Dolphin will replace Konquerer as the file manager - Don't get me wrong I can see the idea and even the need behind this. However, Dolphin is not KIO capable which means in some ways its a step backwards. If Dolphin is going to be the new File Manager then it needs to be made plugin capable and the KIO plugins will need to be ported over to Dolphin (as plasmoids of course.) Otherwise what's the point?

Plasmoids finally end the issue of kicker applets not being available to all KDE based distros. Plasmoids set and use a standard that makes them plug and play in KDE 4 that does require packaging for specific distros to be used. In other words plasmoids make KDE 4 standards that allow people to use as they see fit, regardless of the specific distro they use. So when Raptor does get released for general use all you have to do is get the plasmoid package and install it into the plugins of KDE 4 and you will have it. That's cool. No more waiting for your distro (or someone else) to package it so you can use it.

Lastly Moodin will become the default splash screen engine, though no surprise there.

(K)Ubuntu strikes again

2007-12-11T12:14:00.001-06:00

Okay my disdain for what Canonical is doinf to Linux is getting to be over the top and I'm just plain sick. With all the over rides, lockouts and plain bad attitude they are giving to 3rd party repositories which they DO NOT WANT YOU TO USE I am just getting sick and tired of it. The use od sudo is bad enough but to lock out KDM and to make it use the GDM config files just plain PISSES ME OFF.

Linux is supposed to be fun and configurable, not locked down with schemes and over rides. What Canonical is doing, in my opinion, is taking the fun out of Linux. Yes I use Kubuntu but that just may well change soon. I am looking at other options now. I will not support a Linux Distro that both destroys the overall Linux philosophy and locks out developers because they only want people using their approved repositories.

From DesktopLinux

"Woodford said, for MEPIS users this means that Ubuntu does not provide a foundation for long term incremental upgrades. "Ubuntu is almost a whole new distro each time it's released," he said. "By using the EXPERIMENTAL code, each and every time, the Ubuntu code tree is inherently less stable than the Debian code tree, which contains additional levels of testing and vetting and fixing of code."

Woodford said that sometimes the Ubuntu tree contains desirable newer versions of major user applications, and the major user applications, such as Firefox and OpenOffice, come from upstream sources where the code was already stable.

So it is that Woodford has decided to go back to Debian for MEPIS' Linux heard. In particular, he will be using Debian GNU/Linux version 4.0 -- code-named Etch. - Woodford has also found that although Ubuntu is source compatible with Debian, it is becoming less and less binary compatible with Debian. "This was not obvious over a year ago, but it is very obvious now," he said."

Gutsy Gibbon Webcam Woes

2007-12-03T16:50:00.000-06:00

If you use Gutsy Gibbon (Edubuntu, Ubuntu, Kubuntu or Xubuntu) then you have noticed a neat little issue. Webcams that previously worked in Feisty aren't working in Gutsy.

Though I was surprised to find my reliable and old VGA cam didn't work I was even more surprised to learn that I couldn't get it to work in Gutsy even using the correct driver.

Apparently there was a major overhaul of the webcam modules to alleviate them of outdated drivers which means support for older webcams is gone.

So I went looking for a list of webcams known to work with Gutsy. All I could find is a list for Skype but its a start. Since the cams listed here are known to work in the Linux version of Skype for Gutsy they will also work with Gutsy sans Skype.

EZonics
EZ CAM II

Logitech
Communicate STX
Quickcam 9000 Pro
Quickcam Chat for Skype
Quickcam Express II
Quickcam Notebook Deluxe
Quickcam Pro 4000
Quickcam Pro for Notebooks
Quickcam Ultra Vision
Quickcam Zoom

Phillips
SPC 900NC

These are the models I wrote down when i went to get another webcam that would work. I ended with the Quickcam Notebook Deluxe which worked right out of the box on my laptop.

Camorama was of no help for camera testing and Kopete and aMSN were the apps I had to use to see if it was working.

PLEASE if you are reading this and know of any webcams that work in Gutsy out of the box or with minor tweaking email me at shaun.marolf@gmail.com so I can add them to this list.

(K)ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon

2007-11-27T14:54:00.000-06:00

It's been a really long time since I posted anything and there are several reasons for that and something I tend to rectify. So here is a post.

I still am not the biggest fan of (K)ubuntu but I have to admit Canonical has done a great job. Since I use Kubuntu I will make a couple of statements. Hardware detection and setup was SWEEET!!! Everything, including the built in winmodem is up and running on my Compaq Presario C700 Laptop that I just bought and the only thing I had to do was activate the firmware file in the Restricted Drivers control panel for the modem. All other devices setup without a hitch.

For some odd reason Dolphin was made the default file browser. For some this isn't a bad thing but if you are going to change the default file browser there needs to be a way to select Konqueror without removing Dolphin. However simply removing Dolphin will return Konqueror as the default.

Some will prefer Dolphin because of its simpler more graceful interface but it is limited on options so power users will (like myself) want to remove it and get Konqueror back. Since I use Firefox and have it set as the default web browser which comes up no matter what app or interface I am in I have already seperated my file browser from my web browser. Good idea bad implementation on that.

Apps are solid, plentiful and KDE 3.5.8 is really solid since it is a bug fix release.

Beryl is gone and compiz is it and I am still learning the differences so I can get my 3-D desktop going as I like (cube and all) but there is no real documentation so I am experimenting with it still. I had just figured out Beryl (sigh)

Multimedia setup is a breeze as well and Automatix2 is only needed to get a few codecs that Canonical does not carry in its repos. Surprisingly that's very few compared to the Feisty Fawn repos.

Anyway (K)ubuntu is very much improved with 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon and despite the sudo scheme that I hate I really am impressed. It scores a 9 out of 10.

Mobile Again

2007-05-26T19:07:00.000-05:00

Okay I pulled out the OLD and reliable laptop and decided to give the HDD one last try. Would you believe it worked? Not only that Kubuntu reconfigured itself to work on the Video board built into the laptop. I can now say I am duly impressed. Never ever had any other Linux Distribution do that before.

So the old and slow but reliable Laptop is up and running. I have it on the wireless updating as I type this. Its installing packages. It already downloaded most of them will have to run the update one more time to get all of them. (Seems to just be the way it is.) Yes its SLOW but it works and I can get back to being a portable hacker again.

I lost the ability to use Beryl on the transition though but minor loss compared to other things.

So back in the saddle again.

Women in OSS deserve respect

2007-05-23T07:36:00.000-05:00

Melissa Draper recently did something that took both courage and intelligence to do.

Her recent letter to the Open Source Software community (click on the title to read it) makes a clear and shocking statement. Here it is coming to the end of the first decade in the 21st century when equal rights, opportunities and acceptance for and of women should come without question.

I don't agree with all aspects of the sexual revolution, as it were, but I definitely feel that women have rights equal to any man. Among those is the right to be accepted for talent, ability and effort without being harassed because of gender.

Melissa, Celeste and other women I know of in OSS have my utmost respect as individual contributors. I certainly could not do some of the things they do, nor would I want to. Celeste is a interface designer. Uhm I'm surprised the poor lady isn't bald sometimes after reading some of her blog entries.

The point is these ladies work hard at what they do for the community. They should not have to endure sexist remarks and comments from those who can't see past their bust lines. (Sorry ladies I could not think of a better way to phrase it.)

I know its a males natural tendency to first see the woman. That's not the issue. It is however an issue when we men don't check our libido before we open our mouth or put our fingers on a keyboard and make rude, crude and in some cases obscene comments. The males in the OSS development community certainly should know better.

Yes men and women are different, thankfully. However, the differences go beyond the physical and women are able to see things in ways we men never will. Its those different perspectives we need in the OSS community for Linux, KDE, Gnome and whatever other projects you can name to stay fresh and growing. Matter of fact I would like to see more women become involved with OSS development and design.

The ladies deserve our utmost respect and acceptance. They do not deserve lurid comments and attitudes which lead to open letters like Melissa wrote. Hopefully, that will be the last such letter.

Laptop Is Dead

2007-05-21T23:15:00.000-05:00

It died Sunday morning on a restart. I just wen over it. No way to save it, the cause. Power supply blew and spiked it. Its toasted nothing appears to be salvageable. Even the Hard Drive is gone and won't spin up. Not sure on the DVD burner but I'm not gonna count on it.

Setup Tower system again and like the good geek I am had all data backed up so I am rocking and rolling. Even have Beryl going but no longer portable.

The Look of Tux

2007-05-19T17:48:00.000-05:00

When you work on the look and feel of your computer you just tend to want to show it off. So here it is.
The background is Crystal Tux.
The Icon set is Crystal SVG
Cursor theme is Fedora 6 set
Panel Wallpaper is Blue54
Using the SuSE Kickoff menu compiled for Kubuntu
The Launch Button is from the KDE@work KBFX button set modified to work with Kickoff.
The monitor panel is gkrellm2 with the Invisible Theme
Using Beryl and Compiz for 3D effects and features.

I call this theme layout Tux Blue.

Hope you like

My New Web Site Is Up

2007-05-15T19:01:00.000-05:00

All my murking around in Linux is paying off. Check it out and get back to me.

--Shaun

Good Bye SUDO hope to never see you again

2007-05-14T01:36:00.000-05:00

My biggest beef with Kubuntu has been the use of sudo to any damn thing. I have always and forever stated that Linux is not Windows and that the root (super user) account exists for a reason.

Well I finally found the answer. I can have Kubuntu, all its packages in the software repository, AND no more sudo. That's right boys and girls this happy camper has eliminated the need for sudo and now has a a root account with a password.

Next phase is to fix it so I can log into KDE as root. Not something I will do unless I need to fix some things trust me but that account needs to be there and it will be.

There are a lot of other issues to fix in Kubuntu as well but you know what, I will fix them. the answers are there they just have to be uncovered.

BTW I am not giving the answer on how to do this here. It will be on my Kubuntu Hacks web site when I get written out.

Menu Systems, Some Observations

2007-05-11T00:41:00.000-05:00

The number one complaint I hear on Vista is the new Menu. Its a flat panel menu system and most people do not care for it. They would prefer to have the XP like Start menu. Okay it does organize the structure a bit better but it just doesn't sit well with users.

KBFX uses a flat panel menu as well but most people downloaded it to modify the launch button in KDE and set KBFX to use the default Menu. Why? Like Vista users linux users did not care for the flat panel layout. It was skinable though and that was a big plus in its favor.

Tasty Menu tried to be a bit of both and though conceptionally its a practical idea it just doesn't work as well. To many bugs and issues.

Now SuSE Kickoff I like. For a next generation menu system it has the right potential. I'm not saying it doesn't need work because it does. It should be made skinable and that includes its buttons. However, it functions much more intuitively than the others. The tabbed layout just makes a whole hell of a lot of sense. Yes it needs a lot more work but I really like it and want to see reach full potential. here is what I think Kickoff needs to have added:

Themes - If the developers add the ability to use themes in Kickoff I am sure its popularity will swell ten fold. People today want to customize the look and feel of their system. Making the menu customizable with themes would be a huge step to gaining popularity and thus more deployment by end users. Along those lines also set up an easy way to use and set different button sets like KBFX does. That was what made KBFX popular to begin with.

User Definable Tabs - The stock tabs are nice but it would be nice to have a couple of others as well like a tab for URLS. The favorites tab is a nice feature but it really isn't enough. Hard core users may want a tab that gives them instant access to a specific group and or combinatin of programs. Again the Favorites Tab doesn't fill that niche exactly and really shouldn't be used for that purpose.

Now how do you approach these? I know in some ways the look is kinda built into Kickoff but a bit of redesigning and re-coding can fix that. Kickoff 2, if you will, can easily be rewritten to allow for that, and a KCM can handle the issue of providing the interface for the user to select the themes and button sets.

User definable tabs can be added or removed with the checking or unchecking of a check box. The menu type can be drag and drop, user defined via a menu file generated by the KCM using data gathered from the users input, or it can be a url selector and all the user has to do is tell the KCM what browser he prefers the tab gets the bookmark data from. (Firefox, Opera, Konquerer, etc.)

Now of course you do have to set a limit on the number of tabs the user can add but I think three should be about right.

It might not be a bad idea to have a on/off togable Control Center module menu as well which allows the user quick and easy access to the KCMs.

Just some food for thought.

Ready For Work

2007-05-09T23:43:00.000-05:00

When I had both my desktop and my laptop going but separate in many aspects I generally had a mismatch of information. Solution use only one of the two. The desktop is still a good system and I fully intend to make use of it in another capacity. (I need a server anyway.)

So with a my laptop now being used as my main and only system how do I handle the delicate balance between personal, business and private files. Not to mention the ever so delicate balance of privacy and non disclosure of information. Laptops just are at risk period. Physical security issues and general handling of things you don't want to take out in public for whatever reason. Welcome External Hard Drive Enclosures. I have two of them. (One is empty at the moment.) I bought both for work, and since I no longer have that job, as I quit, I have made use of one. I pulled the SATA drive from the desktop and put it into the enclosure that had the dual interface (either IDE or SATA.) The other drive is IDE only and the drive that was in it went back to the computer I finally setup for my son.

On top of all of that I have a CD-R/W backpack Drive as well that well for the moment is sitting there not being used. Right now the one external drive is where I keep my more delicate files and I maintain a minimalist set of data files on the laptop's hard drive. The files I need for whatever I need to do away from home.

So I keep portability, maintain a modicum of physical security and still have a system that can perform the work I need. Not a bad trade off all in all and to be honest I really do like having my more personal data files detached so that I don't accidentally access something in public I don't want someone to see.

Other things of Note:

Installed CAD for network layout design.
Installed all the productivity files I have ever used and will probably use again
Changed out the system default programs to others that either worked better for me or just plain suited my needs better.
Got the Anti-Virus scanner system going with Dazuko (Vital in that I work with other computers using Windows. Anything I can do to help those poor saps.)
Configured and got Beryl up and running. Not vital but I have to have some toys. Besides its a really cool way to show off Linux. Not entirely done setting it up but the base stuff I wanted it to do is going.
Got the Zire21 and Kpilot to fully sync with each other. Not just my contacts, calendar and to do list, but everything. (Looks like the Kpilot team fixed thos conduits.) So now the data flow between PDA and Kontact is functioning exactly as it should.
Setup my Brother MFC-210 to the laptop. I have full printing, FAX and scanner access to it using Linux (can we say that makes me very, very happy.)

I plan on organizing my Menu to be the way I want it so that's the next big push.

Kubuntu Finally Redeems Itself

2007-05-07T20:32:00.000-05:00

Well I really have to admit that Kubuntu has grown on me. Don't get me wrong still want to se sudo get dumped. I think the Ubuntu team has the right idea but I really believe they went about all wrong. Anyway I digress.

What finally made me decide that Kubuntu was alright? Beryl, in a word. Beryl is a 3D theme manager that works with Gnome and KDE, probably with other windows managers as well, that really makes a difference in your desktop computing experience. As stated in my previous post I had eight virtual desktops. that was a bit much so I cut it in half to four. But where i had issues with either my network access being shutdown because KDE lost the pipe between it and the device isn't happening and I have all my multimedia and the system isn't broken, you get the picture. ALL THE COOL EFFECTS AND EVERYTHING STILL WORKS!!!

For that alone Kubuntu has redeemed itself for all the other headaches it has given me.

KDE4 and Beryl

2007-05-07T16:33:00.000-05:00

Okay the Oxygen look is sweet but since its an alpha phase look on KDE4 there wasn't a whole lot. Some minor affects added but nothing like beryl.

Now Beryl is up and running on my laptop. I have 8 virtual desktops. all the really really cool 3D effects and of course previews and its worth everty bit of CPU power it consumes. This just makes Vista Premium look sick. There are similar effects but lets see Vista give you a 3D box (in my case octogon) you can move around with your mouse to select the desktop you want. And if you roll the mouse wheel on the desktop it switches them too. Vista doesn't do that and Beryl doesn't require the CPU or RAM vista does.

KDE4 Goes Live

2007-05-07T11:42:00.000-05:00

http://home.kde.org/~binner/kde4-live-dvd/

I'm downloading it now will post comments later.

Weekend

2007-05-06T02:57:00.000-05:00

Saturday I accomplished the following:

1.) Setup 80 GB External HDD using a case I bought for work. Used the HDD from the tower and installed into the case, formatted it and set permissions so I had write access to it. Now have a lot more space for my files.

2.) Rebuilt my son's computer. Not sure what caused it but when we turned it on this morning several key files were missing. CLI was non functional as was the X-server. So instead of bothering with looking into what caused it I simply reloaded Kubuntu. Did one thing out of ordinary. Setup Windows version of Firefox using WINE so I could get ShockWave installed for him. Since both Nick Jr and Noggin web sites use it. Not something I would normally do but hey this is my kid and he wants to use their games so i fixed it so he could.

3.) Played on my system settings and did a small bit of tweaking to get multimedia better setup. So far so good. more to do but my priority is business not play.

Productive weekend thus far.

Also did a beter job of setting up his programs. Not only is Tux Paint coming up as full screen, his preferred choice, also installed all the children and educational software I could find in Ubuntu repositories. Setup Dazuko and KlamAV as well

Kubuntu Issues

2007-05-04T17:54:00.000-05:00

Okay one issue I had with feisty fawn was the inability to get my Palm Device to sync with KPilot. I am happy to now report that issue is resolved. I learned that the visor module was not being loaded so I had to add the following into /etc/modules file, 'visor' and then sudo modprobe visor which got it up and running. I was finally able to import my contact list into Kontact (Kaddress Book.)

Next step is seeing if I can get my schedule and to do lists to sync up.

For some reason I can't seem to get Konversation to use emoticons. I haven't done it in awhile and I seem to remember there was a minor issue with a capital letter being used in the KDE wiki that was errant and I'm trying to remember what line it was on but alas my memory is a bit fuzzy there.

However getting Dazuko (hence KlamAV) and Kpilot going is a good day of messing with things and I am very happy to see improvements happening in the direction i want and need them to go.

Also determined which applications actually worked and which ones didn't. Gyachi was a disappointment in the long run. It took to much memory and did very little compared to kopete, aMSN on the other hand is running very well and I honestly can't tell to much difference between it and the actual MSN Messenger, and my webcam works in it. Knemo is my network monitor program of choice. The others didn't seem to do as much or give quite as much information. Knemo will show both my Wired and Wireless connections and when they are inactive it doesn't annoy me with a network unplugged icon, it just doesn't show anything.

The power manager/monitor programs I tried were also a bit nowhere and though I got somewhat better reports from them they also didn't completely function as expected so I went back to the KDE default. I have also been able to lower my CPU draw by watching which programs were hogging it up and removing those from the startup as well.

My CPU draw goes from 4% to 25% when I'm doing simple things and when I do the tough stuff jumps to about 65% though when I run a scan or search it definitely jumps way up (99 to 100%)

Dazuko is Up and Running in Kubuntu

2007-05-04T12:12:00.000-05:00

One thing I have always been having an issue with was getting something simple like installing dazuko to happen in Kubuntu. Well I got it up thanks to Brad Johnson and his AllYourTech.com article here: His article was the answer that wasn't even available at the Ubuntu/Kubuntu forums and though just a bit outdated on some things the core information is correct and I was able to get dazuko setup and loaded. Now unlike Brad I use ClamAV (with the KlamAV frontend of course) but since real time access is needed by both programs for active scanning his solution for AntiVir is the same as required by me.

Now unlike Brad I see only one need to have a Anti-Virus solution in Linux and that is to keep from passing on Windows based viruses. Linux viruses do exist but they really don't get all that far since they need root access to begin to even be effective. The few the briefly flourished were because of those who did not heed the warnings of not using Linux for day to day stuff as "root."

Anyway yet another milestone in getting Kubuntu to do what I need and want. Still fighting the day to day issues but I am winning as I learn.

Sometimes bad things lead to good things.

2007-05-02T22:22:00.000-05:00

Yeah well first let me tell you what the bad thing was. I tried to install Kolab and it killed the command interpreter on my desktop. Hey stuff happens when you do what I do and you learn from it of course but....

It got me to put my laptop up as my main to use system. Why is this good? Well instead of running two separate systems which hold two sets of information but actually need to be combined for me to function I decided that it was best to take the desktop off-line and go strictly with the laptop. Yes I lost some files and more importantly some email but in the end this will make for a better organized Shaun.

Computing Freedom Has Sacrafices

2007-04-29T14:47:00.000-05:00

Its no secret I am not a fan of Windows. In fact for going on nearly three years now I have been and will continue using Linux. However, this does not come without some cost to my computing abilities.

The reality is though I can perform any basic to high level function in Linux as I can in Windows there are just some things that Linux does not have access to. Shockwave among those. For those who don't know Shockwave is a Internet API that allows multimedia content, games and other things to be used on a web browser. Shockwave can be used on Internet Explorer, and nearly all Mozilla Gecko compliant browsers, provided you use windows. There are some work arounds such as using WINE for Linux but I don't want to have to load the Windows version of Firefox on my Linux system just for one API plugin.

There is no Shockwave for Linux (at least not yet) nor do I see one being developed by Adobe anytime soon. However, and this is important, if the Linux community would send requests to Adobe for a Linux compatible Shockwave Plugin they may consider making a port of Shockwave to Linux.

Okay so many Linux Veterans see Shockwave as a security risk and could care less if Adobe ever develops one for Linux. But with Vista already looking like it will be pushing up daisies sooner than MS expected many people are wondering if Linux might be a better choice. (Trust me all you people thinking about switching, its well worth the effort to do so.) Then support needs to be considered.

Despite RMS and his overbearing beliefs that all software should be open source, reality is it isn't and probably never will be. IF LINUX IS TO FLOURISH THERE MUST BE COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS. And the applications can be closed source as well. Adobe already has flashplayer available for Linux. The printer and scanner drivers I use for my MFC-210C from Brother are all closed source, and I could care less. They work and I can perform the functions I need to. That's the bottom line. Besides, because Brother went to all that effort in the first place I commend them for it. The reason I bought this particular Brother Printer/Scanner/FAX/Copier in the first place was because I knew that Brother had Linux drivers available for it. Closed source or not, they are there. Though not the easiest thing to get setup in Kubuntu I did so. (With some help from online resources.)

Trust me there are annoying aspects of the Linux community's mentality I dearly wish would disappear. No software should be a political statement. Closed source should be able to get along with open source, but alas, like all things there are extremists all over the place and such will always be a battle. Yet as long as there are enough people who have some legitimate common sense about things then we can keep on doing business in both worlds.

Feisty Fawn

2007-04-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

I am not a fan of the Ubuntu/Kubuntu schema. the sudo and other aspects of the distro tend to leave me a bit flat. However it has the best software repository in Linux available, is well supported and it does multimedia very well.

That being said I do use Kubuntu as the issues with PCLOS and Mepis are at this time unresolved and I have business needs that have to be met. Since Kubuntu meets them I use it.

Feisty Fawn (Version 7.04) is the latest Ubuntu/Kubuntu release. The Kubuntu side has made drastic improvements in the user interface and actually stepped back on some things returning access of the root directory to the user in konqueror though if you do the upgrade option you won't see this.

My desktop system was upgraded over the Internet and for the most part it went very smoothly with only a few minor glitches. Nothing even a newbie can't learn to fix.

Still though my laptop came out better when I did a full system reinstall on it using the installation option of the CD.

Some aspects of the security features still prove to be a pain but thanks to the how tos I have been able to get CUPS up and running so now both my LaserJet and Brother MFC-210C can now be used by my Desktop system (local) and Laptop (network). I am still working out the saned setup to get Kubuntu to share the scanner part of the MFC-210C between the two and eventually with a Windows machine as well.

The print to FAX option is still being worked out as well.

Over all I have to rate Feisty Fawn an 8 out of 10. The improvements are well worth looking into.

One final note: Automatix2 is a must use in Kubuntu and there is a version for Feisty Fawn available.

I Quit my job

2007-04-24T19:36:00.000-05:00

At 5:30 AM CDT I awoke and got on my computer to file reports I was behind due to an overloaded work schedule. I have been run ragged and had no time for my son, myself or anything.

Lo and behold there is an email from the office manager stating I would only be getting HALF the pay I have earned because I was (with all good reason) behind on reports again. Meaning a $1500 to $2000 pay check was now $750 to $1000. Here I am over worked and highly stressed out and trying to keep it together to the next paycheck and there it is in my email telling me all that work I did was for nothing.

Here is the response from my boss:

The issue at hand is one of time management and expectations.

You've brought up multiple times you have no time for yourself, your son, or to do the required paperwork for the job...requesting off a day here or there would have resolved that.

I won't change the policy of needing daily invoices / deposits in order to qualify for a bonus. Your statement below indicates that you feel we aren't paying you your full pay, yet it's clearly stated and communicated that you earn 12.50 / hour for the 1st hour and 22.50 for each additional as your full pay. You can qualify for a bonus by following the daily procedures. I'm not making up "let's screw shaun rules" in fact for the last few pay periods I've let you skate by with a mere warning or at most a single call penalized because I knew you were working hard. Perhaps that was my mistake and I should have disqualified your bonus from day 1 of not following the daily close out requirements as laid out in your contract.

I've done multiple favors for you to help you out Shaun, even fronting your money before you've earned it. As I said, my mistake was letting you have so much leeway from the beginning because you came to just expect the bonus as part of your pay, rather than something you earn.

We will take you off the schedule immediately as per your rushed resignation, although even this action will only hurt you. For 1 you won't be making any additional money, and 2 as per your agreement it will further delay your paycheck in total until we receive all Rescuecom supplies back at our office, and have cleared the pay period waiting time to cover any possible warranty's for your work.

I'm truly sorry for it to end this way, I expected far more when I hired you originally.

Feisty Up!

2007-04-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

One complaint I had about Kubuntu disabling access to root level directory structure is now fixed. Though if you run the upgrade script you won't notice it. Feisty seems to be returning to the KDE concept a bit more.

I upgraded my desktop to Feisty over the Internet. I did a fresh install on my laptop. The new version of KB3 rocks.

I got a Multi-Function Center at Fry's. Normally I don't go in for all in one wonders but its a Brother and there are two qualities about it I dearly like immediately:

1. Brother has LPR and Cups drivers available for download. This allows the Printer to be used on a Linux system. They also provide drivers for SANE and print to FAX.

2. The Ink Cartridges are refillable.

I have setup the printer, fax (still not fully functional) and scanner locally on my clone desktop. I have the laptop printing to the printer over CUPS. I am working on setting up saned so my laptop, and a Windows system (not my computer) can access the scanner over the network.

I have read several how tos on saned but so far none have been all that helpful. Kubuntu is not particularly friendly about allowing saned to be run and accessible. I will eventually get it going though.

Moral, Ethical and Personal Issues

2007-04-19T00:16:00.000-05:00

Well today has taught me something. The company I work for isn't so great. They tried to get me to take a expedited call (a call where I have to be at the customers within an hour) fortunately the call was to far away for me to do that. However, they lied to me and said K asked them to see if I could do so. K however wasn't even working today due to a family emergency.

I have had to rethink my ethical beliefs on many things and I have determined the following:

Customers must give their credit card in advance now. They will be charged for the service call regardless. So even if I can't fix the issue (There is no such thing as 'Fix or Free' under the policies of the company) if I offer any solution, even telling the customer to call someone else, then they will be charged for an hour of service. This is morally wrong. I fixed nothing and the customer should not have to pay.

The company now has its own branded security suite, it will not guarantee any other product or service against viruses, trojans and spyware. This effectively ties my hands when it comes to offering the best solution for the situation. Again this is ethically wrong. Especially since I just checked on the package from the OEM of the software and found its not as well rated as I would like it to be. In other words its not all that good compared to the solutions I prefer.

Finally there is no such thing as a day off as I have learned these last two days. That's a personal issue with me. When I ask for a day off I want it off. I caved in for my first day I was supposed to have off but the second day I did not. Still they tried to assign me a job.

I will have to rethink this job.

Breathing Room

2007-04-17T23:48:00.000-05:00

Well I will finally get to sleep in tomorrow. I am taking the day off and getting things caught up. I also have an appointment at the VA at 1 PM so tomorrow is essentially a me day, which I haven't had in a very long time.

I was planning on mowing the lawn in the morning but it rained tonight so that's out. I do have reports and other things to get caught up on though.

I am still working out the issues with Kubuntu. I may not be overly happy with many aspects of it but I am dealing with it and when Feisty goes official I will upgrade to it.

Work is really keeping me busy and I had to work today after all but I have tomorrow off period. That too almost changed but the job cancelled out and since there is no major issues I am getting it off despite the call center giving K hell. She isn't going to unblock me.

Today I got all my laundry done and finally ate a decent meal instead of on the run. Really do feel much better and the hot bath earlier was nice. Nothing like soaking in a tub of hot water, though jacuzzi jets would have been perfection.

I picked up two contracts this last week and neither are small potatoes. AmeriSuites and Piper Precision. Both willing to work with me to get and keep their systems up on the run. Neither want anyone else but me. Kinda nice to be wanted.

The what, where, when and how of Technicians

2007-04-07T21:34:00.000-05:00

When is a tech not a tech? When he has to be a salesman. When is a salesman a tech? Never.

The above two statements are fact. A technician is supposed to fix, repair and otherwise lend assistance. I am a tech not a salesman. I don't want to, nor do I like to, sell anything. Yes I can offer products but only if I feel they are good solid products.

I also do not like to BS people. If I can't fix it I simply can't fix it. It should not be my place to call the cable company, DSL provider or Communications Package provider. And I should not be charging customers for that either. I have personal ethics here. If I actually perform work and get a legitimate solution for the customer then yes I expect to be paid but when I come across AT&T proprietary equipment that is specifically designed to keep outside technicians from working on their system, then I have no choice but to say I cannot fix the issue when it is an AT&T issue.

Also being the only available tech for my company in Houston at the moment means I am busy. Even a couple hours of breathing time means a lot to me. Last week it was off early in the morning, getting home late and barely getting sleep after going through all my email.

So what can I do? For now not much as my job is a required make money where possible position.

Good Ideas and Inspiration

2007-04-04T02:02:00.000-05:00

During the conference call I brought up an idea on how to deal with data recovery and backup for customers.

Though the boss was initially not wanting to add yet another checklist for us to use on calls I clarified that this was not a checklist for technicians but rather a checklist for customers to give us a complete report of the following:

Where files are stored, what programs are used for email and finances. This is valuable information that has been some issue because the customer doesn't always tell us everything and well we techs are human and can forget sometimes. Having it in writing in front of us makes a huge difference.

One of the many things I learned while in the military is that memory is more short term than we like to admit so a good checklist filled out with the right information is an invaluable tool to make sure that the job is done right. Some people are blessed with a photographic memory, like my boss. I am not one of those people and truth be told my short term memory is suffering these days. The suggestion stemmed from a frustrating phone call that one of my clients called on saying we forgot to back up her quick books data. Fortunately she isn't upset but had we a checklist at that time it wouldn't have happened.

Now how well did my idea come across? The other techs all agreed with me. Something that we have the customer fill out while we setup for data recovery and/or backup will help. Knowing what we need to put in the backup set saves us a lot of problems later and makes the customer feel better because we show we care by making sure we know what data to save.

Can't break free from Kubuntu

2007-04-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

I cannot find a suitable replacement for Kubuntu and the fact of the matter is I have the best system setup with it. However, I still hate the sudo crap.

Okay there are many other things as well but I got CUPS working thanks to this web site.

Kubuntu is not a bad distribution it just drives me insane. I am not a Linux newbie but Kubuntu makes me feel like one. I am so used to flying around my system and putting things where I want that when I deal with Kubuntu and find myself facing a new and unwanted roadblock it just PO's me to no damn end.

Kubuntu has one great and endearing feature on it. For corporate desktops it is the most secure KDE based system out there.

Now to learn how to get Kolab going between my desktop and my laptop :)

No to (K)Ubuntu

2007-03-27T10:50:00.000-05:00

The stupidity of the Ubuntu line has finally made me decide it has to go. I went to setup a CUPS printer access and quickly learned the the (K)Ubuntu has a all ports closed policy. Okay as much as that helps people new to Linux from getting hacked or otherwise compromised its bad policy period. A good IP Table firewall (Like Shorewall) will do better at that. The no open port policy destroys zeroconf networking, and CUPS. I have two computers and one laser printer. I should be able to see that printer on the CUPS broadcast, except CUPS isn't being allowed to broadcast.

This is the final straw. Good-bye Ubuntu and Kubuntu you just aren't worth it.

--Shaun

(SIGH!!) Back to Kubuntu

2007-03-24T19:18:00.000-05:00

Well MEPIS blew up when I installed the Multi-Media support so its back to Kubuntu. It also means no cool 3D interface, for now. Oh well such is life.

MEPIS to the rescue

2007-03-22T13:32:00.000-05:00

After my Kubuntu issue I decided that was it. However, I like the Ubuntu repositories simply because they have a large selection of available software. So the question is how do I get what I really want?

Well the stable version of MEPIS wasn't going to do it so I took a shot at MEPIS 6.5 RC3 and it works. I did a complete upgrade using the Edgy repositories, the original repositories were for Dapper. Thus resulting in me getting KDE 3.5.6 (Latest Version) and several major upgrades to core system files. So far I haven't had an issue. Warren also has the KDE 3D interface going nicely and I'm using it now. SWEET!!!

So I have the Ubuntu repositories, and I have a seperate root account (No sudo for me) and I have a cutting edge user interface. Granted its going to be a real PIA to get it all back together but considering what I'm getting in return, its well worth it.

HOW TO come soon.

(K)Ubuntu Annoyance Emerges

2007-03-21T01:03:00.000-05:00

There is a reason why I hate the (K)Ubuntu setup. When things go wrong you sometimes need that root account. Today is a prime example. Something I could have fixed easily as root happened. However, because that option is not available I ended up with data loss. This is why I hate the (K)Ubuntu sudo scheme. And why I am not fond of (K)Ubuntu.

First off its simply not as secure as a separate Root account. Yes it can keep you from doing things you may not want to do, it can also keep you from doing things you may want to do, or need to do, as well.

Separate root accounts that you can log into allow you to fix issues before they become bigger issues. Which was my case. Having to log into an account that is in an issue situation can actually do more damage.

Root accounts allow system and account repair. (K)Ubuntu proved to me AGAIN why it fails to be a true *NIX access system. ROOT EXISTS FOR A REASON.

Almost Comical, Certainly Insane....

2007-03-19T08:45:00.000-05:00

When does a law suit finally show its absurdity? When the claims of a company literally make them the owner of the Internet.

I have been following The SCO Vs. IBM case since the beginning. The fact of the matter is the case is all but over. There is no doubt in mine, or anyone else's mind that SCO made a big noise but had no real case to begin with. Now IBM is showing the court that if SCO's claims stand they would be able to claim ownership rights to the Entire Internet and all technology of Internet enabled devices. This includes cell phones, mp3 players, DVRs, etc. You can read about it at Groklaw.

Work is getting better and I am developing new customer relationships. I may bring in a contract service agreement here.

Kubuntu, though still not my preferred choice, is definitely growing on me. The sudo aspects, and the other annoyances associated with it still leave me a bit perturbed but it does what I need it to do for work purposes as well as personal stuff.

My next step in networking is to learn how to configure a Kolab server. This will be interesting.

Kubuntu doing the job...

2007-03-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

Well Kubuntu is growing on me though there are definite annoyances but I have to admit it works and is doing what I want it to do as well as what I need it to. So that being the case I am learning all the work arounds. I have Kickoff installed and quickly learned how to change the button to what I wanted. Krusader allowed me to not only change the active button but to place the inactive button where I wanted it to be. (/usr/share/apps/kicker/pics/)

kicker_basic.mng is the unpressed launch menu button and kicker_active.png is the pressed launch button (No, I do not know the reasoning behind using two different file formats for the button graphics.)

I have placed almost all my wallpapers in the default /usr/share/wallpapers/ directory and as long as I can get to the rudimentary level I am satisfied.

What I would like to see is a generic based distribution that uses the Ubuntu repositories but doesn't have the (K)Ubuntu silliness of keeping people out of the system files without the use of special programs like Krusader. I even made an entry for Konqueror as root in my menu and it still won't allow me access to the / level of my directory structure unless I put in the address bar manually. And lets please for the love of (place whatever you want here) get rid of the stinking sudo scheme.

Linux is supposed to be open, the (K)Ubuntu scheme just doesn't feel all that open to me.

Well I have updates to download on the laptop.

Home sick

2007-03-12T13:33:00.000-05:00

Not feeling good today. which is a real bummer since its my sons birthday. Plus I am still behind on paper work thanks to the chaos that is my life.

Anyway thought I would show off the ugly dongle cord on the laptop.

There it is. Comments?

Shaun

Kubuntu and Me???

2007-03-11T17:10:00.000-05:00

I am not the biggest fan of Ubuntu/Kubuntu, mostly because of the sudo usage. I prefer being able to log in as root. Still though here I am on my laptop using Kubuntu. Why? Well because PCLOS failed to update in time for me to be able to perform my work. Mepis was my next attempt and it broke when I updated. Linspire was pretty much out of the question since getting it to do what I need is a royal PIA.

Tried Your OS only to quickly learn it isn't being maintained well. Etc and so on. So I downloaded and burned Kubuntu 6.10 (Edgy) and installed it onto my laptop. I have to say its been through some nice changes. The gnome look has pretty much disappeared and there is a kickoff download for available here.

I can deal with the sudo thing even though I find it annoying at times but all in all its pretty nice and you can still get around the Kubuntu people trying to make settings access more in line with the Gnome philosophy. If I wanted that I would use Gnome, I use KDE because I can use the options if I want, and sometimes do.

Well the laptop is for all intent and purpose completed. While I was doing it the desktop arose with a surprise issue. PCLOS 0.93a Big Daddy was/is not ready for the change to Daylight Savings Time three weeks early. So while my laptop changed to the correct time my desktop did not. Tex sadly has dropped the ball on this one. I have no choice but to again move to another Distro and it seems Kubuntu is it.

However, I am sure I will find myself annoyed by some Kubuntu specific issue and my hunt will be on to find a more acceptable distribution.

2007-03-07T08:56:00.000-06:00

Work has been keeping me busy so I haven't had a whole lot of free time to post in my blog.

Two bits worth talking about here: First the laptop, it was down for two weeks. The internal power connector cracked (or it already was cracked form the previous time, not sure on that.) Anyway, it was causing the positive connection to short out on the USB ground, which is like a yikes and bad news for the laptop. I had to purchase a new power connector. Tried to get one that would fit internally, no dice, found a dead main board on e-bay and bid on it. Someone wanted it more and I didn't see paying $70 as justifiable for a power connector. So went to the local Radio Shack who actually had the right size connector to fit the power supply. However, there was no way on earth I would ever get it to fit in the laptop case. Its one of the heavy duty cylinder types thats like an inch and a half long.

Well to get my laptop back up I had to remove the old broken connector and run two wires (Positive and Negative voltage lines) from the main board. I also had to put a small slit in the back of the laptop case so I could install the main board. I had to solder the wires of course which is really kind of a nerve wrecker. One slip of the soldering iron tip to the wrong place and its bye bye laptop. So now I have this dongle cable coming out the back of my laptop. (I wrapped it in electrical tape.) Its ugly but functional.

I also installed a Dual Layer DVD burner as well. I have burned some CDs but not a DVD with it yet. So now all I need is to refurbish (paint some letters on) the keyboard and get a new battery.

Secondly: I downloaded and started Playing with PCLOS 2007 Test 3. I tried out beryl for its 3D affects, very,very nice. However, it caused me to lose communication with the built in network adaptor. I had an IP address but I wasn't able to get the network to communicate when I fired up beryl. I even turned beryl off and tried resetting the adaptor, and it didn't work. So I was forced to reinstall PCLOS to get my adaptor back up. I will say this, I WANT BERYL WORKING. It was way way cool.

NFS out of the gate

2007-02-11T23:27:00.000-06:00

Before today I used Samba to handle my network file sharing needs. That was in an evironment where I had Windows machines and Samba was the only real solution for that situation. Well with the laptop being Linux and my desktop being Linux Samba really wasn't what I needed. Nope NFS (Network File Services) was the solution here. Now I have never setup NFS before so I looked for a tutorial and found one href="http://nfs.sourceforge.net/nfs-howto/index.html">

I set up NFS in a matter of minutes and was able to transfer files from my desktop to my laptop easily there after. NFS is much easier to setup than Samba and has built in security with simple switches. NFS is designed for diskless clients, but works very well with all Linux clients as well.

Considering that I have worked both Windows Networking services and Linux Networking Services I keep realizing that Linux is really much more suited for the job.

I keep finding more and more reasons why my exit from windows is a good thing. NFS is yet another.

The Repaired Laptop

2007-02-05T17:35:00.000-06:00

I usually have a lot of bad luck. I mean Job had an easier life than I did. So when I have a very fortunate thing happen I am incredibally estatic over it. Case in point the laptop I mentioned in yesterdays post is now fully repaired and functional. There was no Main Board damage though there was a ton of dust in it. Easily cleaned up. The power adaptor also was not broken. There was just no solder on one of the power lead connections. So yanked out my (paraphrassing my son and "Blue's Clues" here) handy dandy solder iron and some silver solder and put it on the connection. Of course I had the enire notebook torn apart and I was able to get it back together. It does need a new battery but that's another matter entirely.

A note to the engineers and designers though. Sometimes these things need to be worked on. Please consider making sure that the CPU can be removed and reinstalled safely. I fully understand the need to use materials to ensure the CPU stays as cool as possible, BUT STOP USING GLUE! at least on the CPU side.

I installed PCLinuxOS 0.93a Big Daddy since 0.94a is far from ready. Tex and crew have run into several issues and they need to fix them. It will be nice when ready but its not going to happen for another month.

Work is good

2007-02-04T09:10:00.000-06:00

One of nice things you have happen when you work on computers is watching the people become happy because you saved what is otherwise a dead hulk of a machine and brought it back to life. If that isn't exactly possible if you can recover their files they get very happy there.

Case in point. Last night I got a 7:30 PM service call. At first the dispatch gave me information that did not make sense and I had to call K and have her talk to the customer to clarify the actual job. Turns out the job was data recovery.

Now to compound the issue a technician at a national computer chain outlet told the customer that her Hard Drive was unreadable. This turned out to be completely inaccurate. What the customer had was a laptop that had taken a beating during it's use. The power connector on the laptop wasn't making proper connection internally and the unit would run a barely charged battery instead of the AC power and would shut down in short time. Nothing was wrong with the customer's hard drive at all.

I took the hard drive from her laptop, placed it in my laptop, booted up with Knoppix and copied the entire "Documents and Settings" folder over to a 160GB extrenal Hard Drive and then moved her Quickbooks data files to the external Hard Drive as well.

Customer was then able to take the external Hard Drive and plug it in to her laptop and read the files. Happy was not the word. Relieved and estatic would be the one. She runs an at home business and could not afford the loss of her data.

So she had a dead hulk Laptop she didn't want and guess who got it? Yep I looked at it when I got home. Can it be repaired? Possibly, depends on the amount of actual internal damage but from the look of things I would say yes. The unit works, you have to get the power plug "just so" but I was able to get the battery charged. The USB plugs that are in the back next to where the power adaptor plugs in are also loose which means there just may be some main board damage. However, I'm good at fixing things like this using the "bubble gum and bail wire" method.

Its a P4 2.66 MHz unit with a Gigabyte of RAM and fully loaded. The only thing it doesn't have is built in wireless but I have a wireless card anyway. The customer kept the Hard Drive (I recommended she did anyway) so I will need to either use the Hard Drive in my old laptop or get a new one. I opting for a new one.

If I get it fixed (good possibility) I will have a more up to date laptop which will make my work much easier.

2007-01-19T20:54:00.000-06:00

My first assignment went well. They called because the mouse wasn't working. Okay not a major issue in and of itself but the real issue wasn't the mouse. It was the collected garbage on the system. Namely spyware, unused but loading applications and what appeared to be a system hi-jack. Cleaned it up, cleaned it out and changed the AV program to a diffrent one at the customers request. Total of 3 hours but they are happy and so am I.

One week later

2007-01-18T21:29:00.000-06:00

Monday was a holiday.
Tuesday was meetings
Wendsday was training
Thursday was just for spite
Friday I get my first assignment

That's right boys and girls I get my very first assignment tomorrow morning. Yippee I'm a working man. (Cue the Rush song please.)

So what next for this happy boy. Get the new Girl Friend to come spend some time at my new place once I get moved in and settled. Can't think of a better way to enjoy life myself.

Ducks in order...

2007-01-12T18:15:00.000-06:00

When you take on a new job you expect certain things need to be in order for the company and yourself. Well among those things was having to get a checking account. I did that and the actual getting of the checking account was painless its what I had to do to qualify getting my checking account open.

First and foremost you have to have the correct State Identification to open any kind of account. That's a matter of federal law, which I understand. So being in Texas with Washington State Identification wasn't going to cut the mustard. I figured I'll just go get my Texas Drivers's License and be good to go. Well if you own a car with out of state plates (I do) you have to register that car in Texas before you can get a Texas License. Alright, as much sense as that doesn't make to me I just got a Texas State ID. I spent two and half hours at the Texas State Department of Public Safety just waiting for them to take my money, take my picture, print both my thumbs and make me sign my name. Okay done but arghh what an ordeal.

So all ducks in order for my job but I can think of better things to do.

Job Offered, Job Taken

2007-01-12T07:30:00.000-06:00

Ah life no matter how much I hate some things about it I will never be bored by it.

2007 is definitely my year so far. VA is raising my compensation, I was offered and I am taking a position as a on call Networking and Systems Tech/Admin/Consultant. Multi titled yes but since the term computer geek is to overly used and broad well. And to really add the topping I have a new Girl Friend who makes me feel like a man. (I maybe high maitenance, but well worth it.)

So let the new year begin (yeah I know but hey....)

New Job Offering

2007-01-09T03:16:00.000-06:00

Okay so I applied for a job with Company ABC (Not real name). No biggie I have dealt with these companies before usually the local guy calls you in for a interview. Not ABC, at least not with me. I get an email from the Corporate office from "K" and she arranges a phone interview with me which was done yesterday. Later on today I will have a second phone interview with ABC being conducted by "K" only this one will confrenece in a guy "L" (Seriously these are the First Initials in their names, purely coincedence.)

I am a bit intriqued because last time I had this happen, I ended up at the Ames Research Center in Mt. View, CA surveying the network there for NASA. It was a great gig but costly. I made nearly double what everyone else there doing the same job was making. (For a reason too, and no I will not discuss it.) Yet the cost of everything in that part of CA is insane. It was a great experience and trust me being able to put that on a Resume is a great thing. It definitely gets you noticed, which afterall is what the resume is about.

Already told its a 1099 position (Contract I pay my own taxes, Blech.) Yeah I will be working for myself essentially but, sounds like I will be travelling all over the place. Hmm good thing bad thing contract position, (I prefer contract positions BTW. This is how people should be employed as far as I'm concerned.)

This is a set of dice still rolling on the table, somehow I'm feeling lucky.

Richard M Stallman

2007-01-07T21:45:00.000-06:00

Okay before I say anything else I definitely believe in the free exchange of knowledge and ideas. I do not however believe that those ideas should be the only way that technology and software is developed.

I am no fan of Microsoft, matter of fact I no longer will use their products. I run Linux on both my laptop and my desktop computers. Not because I am a Open Source fanatic, but because I find Linux to be a far superior product where it counts. I also don't have to worry about updates that lock me in (and / or down) to some scheme cooked up by MS to control what I see, hear, read and create on my computer.
(Here is my Desktop's desktop)

I am also not a fan of Richard Stallman either. Don't get me wrong he's an extremely intelligent man but he doesn't need to bring politics into the GPL and into Open Source vs. Closed Source debate.

Linus Torvalds has a problem with the upcoming GPL V. 3, so do a lot of other people developing Open Source Software. I'm not saying the GPL didn't need to be updated but to write a GPL with the sole intention of keeping companies like TiVo from using the Linux Kernel as they did, and Digital Rights Management systems as they do is not only ludacris, but dangerous.

Let me explain a couple things about TiVo, I have worked for them, they are good company with a lot of good ideas. They are also a company fighting more lawsuits and potential lawsuits than anyone realizes.

In regards to the TiVo Linux kernel, they made their kernel work exclusively with their hardware. They publish and make available the source code as required under the GPL V. 2 but it won't do you a whole lot of good unless you actually own a TiVo, and know how to hack it. (BTW neither are that hard to do.) The rest of the Software on the TiVo is proprietary and no they don't have to publish it. So the kernel is available and modifiable under the terms of the GPL.

In regards to the DRM software TiVo uses, well they really don't get a whole lot of choice on this matter. Why? Because the content providers aren't giving them any. They either have the DRM installed or TiVo goes bye-bye and buddy they aren't kidding.

Mr. Stallman needs to also realize TiVo doesn't make a dime from the sale of any one of those beautiful DVRs. They are manufactured by outsourced services not TiVo. TiVo gets its money stream from one source. It's subscribers. The service TiVo provides is its real product. Mr. Stallman doesn't like TiVo's Business model because he feels the service should be provided for free. There is however one little problem with that, the cost of running the service must be taken into account as well.

TiVo is a legitimate and legal business model that has to cut a fine line between providing features the customers want and keeping the content providers happy and not suing them. Richard Stallman has no right, or business to place his political objectives in TiVo's way.

Stallmanism is my new catch phrase here. RMS doesn't want to see a tivoised software system and I don't want stallmanism in my software license. Seems we have a conflict of interest here.

One final note. The GPL V3 will not hold up in court folks because of the non DRM clause. That part at the very least will be struck down by the courts when (and it will) gets challenged.

About Me

2007-01-06T06:47:00.000-06:00

Okay time to post my resume: Yes in my bog. Why?
Saying who I am tells you nothing about what's important, what I have done and what I know. So here it is:

Shaun C. Marolf

Profile
Strong technical proficiency in MS Windows OS 3.11 through XP Professional, Macintosh OS9, Linux 2.6 Kernel, Linux / Samba Networking, computer system hardware troubleshooting and repair. Comprehensive knowledge and experience in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Publisher, Outlook, Front Page) OpenOffice Suite (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base
Experience
Network Administrator Feb 2005 â May 2006
New Horizon Technologies, Pasco WA Part Time
Provide Systems and Networking Support for Linux Server using Samba 3, MySQL, Apache with PHP for Windows 2000 Professional, XP Professional and Linux clients systems.
Provide full building network support and other businesses on behalf of New Horizons Technologies.
Knowledge Technician, TiVo Support Aug 2004 - Jan 2005
Safe Harbor Technologies. Elma, WA
Level 1.5 Help Desk Support provided support for system installation, networking, and troubleshooting.
Service and Support Technician, Dell Computers Jul 2002 - Nov 2002
Certified Dell Technician. Port Arthur, TX
Performed Level 2 help desk and desktop support.
Conducted hardware and software troubleshooting on low to high-end systems
Provided application support on Win 95, 98, ME, 2000 Professional, XP Home and Professional.
Network Survey Specialist, NASA Apr 2001 - Jun 2001
Ames Research Center, Mt. View, CA
Performed software and systems installations.
Led network survey team tasked with analyzing network client systems as part of the Systems Upgrade Project.
Responsible for maintaining project database.
Education, Training, and Certification
Dell Certified Systems Expert Course: Port Arthur, TX (Certified) July 2001
Automated Data Systems Security Officer: USS Merrill (DD-976) US Navy San Diego, CA 1993 - 1994
Joint Operational Tactical System: (JOTS 1 and 2) US Navy San Diego, CA. 1988, 1994
Satellite Networking Systems: US Navy ASU, Bahrain 1991
Navy Tactical Data System Level 1: US Navy Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, VA 1982
Navy Tactical Data System Level 2: US Navy San Diego, CA. 1988
Held Secret Level Clearance in US Navy.

Basically in a nutshell I do know something about this stuff and what I'm posting here. Also I have found entire quotes of my other blogs translated and posted all over the place so I must be doing and saying something that people want to read about.

Standby though because I know without a doubt I'm going to tick off a lot of people on both sides of any given argument.

--Shaun

First Post - New Blog

2007-01-06T06:02:00.000-06:00

Here it is my new Blog Home. Mostly because I keep moving around the Linux community doing this taht and the other thing.

Anyway I'll be doing a lot more here than I could in other places. Standby the world is not ready for me!!!

--Shaun