Ubuntu 6.10 "Edgy Eft" on an Asus Z92J notebook (check here for other installations)
Changelog (you can always find an up-to-date version here)
* February 26, 2007
- Added instructions for removing the stock kernel (official updates provide a new kernel)
- Flash Player 9 has its own package (flashplugin-nonfree, from backports' repository)
- Minor changes
* January 29, 2007
- Java-related packages upgraded to Java 6 (from backports)
* January 21, 2007
- Added instructions for Flash Player 9
* January 5, 2007
- Added tweaks to /etc/init.d/netenv, /etc/init.d/networking and /sbin/netenv to make netenv run properly
* December 26, 2006
- Added latest NVIDIA drivers
- Added compiz support with neither XGL nor AIGLX
- Commented out unstable beryl support
- Updated versions for w32codecs and Flash plugin
* November 7, 2006
- Symlinked /bin/bash (instead of the default /bin/dash) to /bin/sh to solve some scripting errors in "universe" and "multiverse" packages
* October 27, 2006
- First official release of this document
Usage
I use this notebook for work (system/network administration and web/database development) and for fun (music, movies and sometimes games).
Operating Systems
Until last October, I used to run Debian "Etch" (see here for details on the installation).
After considering the switch for some months, I finally made it just after the official 6.10 release.
See below for details.
Partitions
I use to install linux using only / and /home partitions.
I also reserve a 10 GB partition for the preinstalled Windows XP Home and another one to test other distributions or BSD flavours.
The partition table is set as follows:
# fdisk -l /dev/hda
Disk /dev/hda: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12161 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System Size Mount point
/dev/hda1 1 243 1951866 1b Hidden W95 FAT32 2 GB
/dev/hda2 * 244 1548 10482412+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA) 10 GB /windows
/dev/hda3 1549 2201 5245222+ 83 Linux 5 GB /
/dev/hda4 2202 12161 80003700 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 2202 2854 5245191 83 Linux 5 GB /mnt/test
/dev/hda6 2855 3115 2096451 82 Linux swap
/dev/hda7 3116 12161 72661963+ 83 Linux 70 GB /home
Installation
The installation is very straightforward: it's as simple as booting from the LiveCD/installer (I only pressed F3 before booting to select the Italian keyboard) and double-clicking on the "Install" icon on the desktop.
After answering a few questions, the live system gets copied to the hard disk, some unneeded packages are uninstalled and you can reboot into a shiny new Ubuntu installation.
First boot
The default kernel (2.6.17-10-generic) has built-in support for SMP (thus, both processor's cores will be used) and includes the non-vanilla drivers for both wired (r1000) and wireless (ipw3945) networking.
After booting, take a look at the output of dmesg: I get an error while loading hw-random module.
Ubuntu 6.10 symlinks /bin/sh to /bin/dash (instead of /bin/bash, as usual up to 6.06).
This leads to errors in scripts provided by "universe" or "multiverse" packages: to get rid of these errors, simply restore the "default" shell with
$ cd /bin
$ sudo ln -nsf bash sh
Then, clean the apt cache and upgrade the system to the current available versions of the installed programs:
$ sudo apt-get clean
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
In case the kernel or some modules get updated/upgraded, rebooting the machine is a Good Thing (TM).
$ sudo reboot
Once the new kernel is working OK, you can uninstall the previous one:
$ sudo apt-get remove --purge linux-headers-2.6.17-10 linux-headers-2.6.17-10-generic linux-image-2.6.17-10-generic linux-restricted-modules-2.6.17-10-generic
Development
Kernel, drivers, and programs compilation should never be done as root: I use to add my everyday user to the src group.
$ sudo adduser bibe src
Additional repositories
To get some extra software, I enable the universe, multiverse repositories into /etc/apt/sources.list.
After modifying it, update apt's cache with
$ sudo apt-get update
NVIDIA Drivers
Enabling 3D video acceleration can be done with the official howto.
Versions 1.0.9x of the driver offers AIGLX capability: I used this howto to install them.
Add these line to /etc/apt/sources.list:
deb http://nvidia.limitless.lupine.me.uk/ubuntu edgy stable
Import the GPG signing key for the new repository, update the APT cache and upgrade the drivers:
$ wget --quiet -O - http://nvidia.limitless.lupine.me.uk/ubuntu/
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|sudo apt-key add -
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
The last command should upgrade linux-restricted-modules-common and linux-restricted-modules-$(uname -r) packages.
Installing and using the non-free nvidia module is as simple as:
$ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
$ sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx
$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
$ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
Be sure to select the nvidia module and (at least) the notebook's native 1280x800 resolution: restart the X server and you will experience a full-featured 3D video system.
IMPORTANT: as stated here, to make software suspend work properly while using the NVIDIA driver, it's necessary to add the following line
Option "NvAGP" "1"
to the "Device" section of /etc/X11/xorg.conf, and to set
POST_VIDEO=false
in /etc/default/acpi-support.
Compiz without XGL/AIGLX
I managed to install and use compiz following this howto.
First of all, add the following repository:
deb http://gandalfn.club.fr/ubuntu edgy stable
to /etc/apt/sources.list, then import the repository's key, update the cache, install the required packages
$ gpg --keyserver hkp://wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net --recv-keys 0x483170E9
$ gpg --export --armor 0x483170E9 |sudo apt-key add -
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install gnome-compiz-manager compiz-freedesktop compiz-freedesktop-gnome
and add
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
to the "Screen" section of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf (this is my working configuration).
After restarting GDM, compiz can be enabled and configured from System -> Preferences -> GL Desktop.
Restricted Formats
I used this howto to add support for restricted formats (mp3, DVD, Java, Flash).
The required steps are:
$ sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-pitfdll gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse gxine libxine-main1 libxine-extracodecs ogle ogle-gui
$ wget http://www.dtek.chalmers.se/groups/dvd/deb/libdvdcss2_1.2.5-1_i386.deb
$ sudo dpkg -i libdvdcss2_1.2.5-1_i386.deb
$ wget http://www.debian-multimedia.org/pool/main/w/w32codecs/w32codecs_20061022-0.0_i386.deb
$ sudo dpkg -i w32codecs_20061022-0.0_i386.deb
$ sudo apt-get install mplayer
$ sudo apt-get install soundconverter audacity mpg321 vorbis-tools gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3 vlc vlc-plugin-esd
Flash Player 9 can be installed enabling backports' repository and installing the flashplugin-nonfree package:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree
Real Player comes from Canonical's commercial repository: enable it and install realplay:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install realplay
Sun Java JDK, JRE and Firefox plugin
The installation of the Sun Java JDK, JRE and the Firefox plugin can be easily achieved with:
$ sudo apt-get install sun-java6-bin sun-java6-plugin [ sun-java6-jdk ]
$ sudo update-java-alternatives -s java-6-sun
I also installed the Java JDK 6 documentation, downloading jdk-6-doc.zip to /tmp (chowning it to root.root) and installing it with:
$ sudo apt-get install sun-java6-doc
$ sudo rm /tmp/jdk-6-doc.zip
Additional packages
I use to install the following additional packages:
#0# # sudo apt-get install \
#0# Cross Platform # k3b smbfs \
#0# Development # build-essential cvs \
#0# Documentation # apache2-doc apt-doc bash-doc bind9-doc courier-doc debconf-doc doc-linux-html doc-linux-text \
#0# # gnupg-doc grub-doc installation-guide-i386 postfix-doc samba-doc \
#0# Editors # vim \
#0# Email # fetchmail mailx mutt postfix \
#0# Internationalisation And Localisation # language-pack-it language-support-it \
#0# Libraries # qca-tls \
#0# Libraries - Development # libncurses5-dev \
#0# Miscellaneous - Text based # chkrootkit kernel-package mysql-server ndiswrapper-utils \
#0# Networking # nfs-common nmap ntp openssh-server samba tcpdump traceroute \
#0# System Administration # alien john subversion-tools \
#0# Utilities # apt-listchanges fakeroot \
#0# Word Processing # foomatic-db-gimp-print \
#0# World Wide Web # firefox-themes-ubuntu libapache2-mod-php5 php5-mysqli
#1# # sudo apt-get install \
#1# Base System (universe) # apt-file \
#1# Cross Platform (universe) # ntfs-3g \
#1# Communication (universe) # tor \
#1# Development (universe) # bazaar eclipse kdesvn \
#1# Documentation (universe) # apt-dpkg-ref apt-howto-en asr-manpages debian-history debian-policy festival-doc \
#1# # funny-manpages jargon-text maint-guide quick-reference-en sysadmin-guide \
#1# Games And Amusement (universe) # bomberclone bsdgames cappuccino chromium fortunes-bofh-excuses flobopuyo \
#1# # frozen-bubble gweled knetwalk planetpenguin-racer planetpenguin-racer-extras \
#1# # supertux typespeed \
#1# GNOME Desktop Environment (universe) # beagle beagle-backend-evolution epiphany-extensions gdesklets gdm-themes grip liferea ontv \
#1# Graphics (universe) # cupsys-driver-gimpprint \
#1# Email (universe) # courier-imap-ssl freepops spamassassin spamc \
#1# Interpreted Computer Languages (universe) # expectk xmltv \
#1# Libraries (universe) # libk3b2-mp3 \
#1# KDE Desktop Environment (universe) # k9copy \
#1# Miscellaneous - Graphical (universe) # amule \
#1# Miscellaneous - Text Based (universe) # linuxlogo module-assistant qemu \
#1# Multimedia (universe) # festvox-italp16k festvox-itapc16k sox \
#1# Networking (universe) # aircrack-ng airsnort bitchx-ssl debmirror gftp kismet psi rt2500 tshark wengophone wireshark \
#1# System Administration (universe) # apt-show-versions rkhunter \
#1# Utilities (universe) # arj clamav clamav-daemon gphoto2 gpsdrive hddtemp mc netdiscover p0f p7zip-full rar sshfs unzoo vlock \
#1# World Wide Web (universe) # bluefish firefox-dom-inspector privoxy
#2# # sudo apt-get install \
#2# Documentation (multiverse) # doc-linux-nonfree-html doc-linux-nonfree-text php-doc rutebook \
#2# Multimedia (multiverse) # lame
Skype has its own repository: add them to /etc/apt/sources.list and:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install skype
Multiple networking environments
I use my laptop in several places (home, customers' offices, friends' homes), and I manage these network environments easily with netenv.
Install it and use the script provided as a Debian example (or this one, which requires gawk and manages multiple network interfaces, wireless settings and hosts in a friendly manner):
$ sudo apt-get install netenv
$ sudo install -m 755 ~bibe/public_html/edgy/netenv_setup /etc/netenv/
$ echo NETENV_SCRIPT=/etc/netenv/netenv_setup |sudo tee -a /etc/netenv/netenv.conf
Be sure that netenv starts during boot:
$ sudo update-rc.d netenv start 40 S .
I'll soon build a netenv package with the tweaks I made to /etc/init.d/netenv, /etc/init.d/networking and /sbin/netenv to make netenv run properly on Ubuntu.
I also add some altoptions directives in /boot/grub/menu.lst (leave these lines "commented", or you will lose them when updating grub) for commonly used network environments, say:
$ grep altoption /boot/grub/menu.lst
## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(single-user mode) single
# altoptions=(wired) NETENV=wired
# altoptions=(wireless) NETENV=wireless
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single
Grub configuration gets updated automatically at every linux-image installation: to do it manually, simply run
$ sudo update-grub
Alternatives
Debian's way to manage multiple programs for the same task (i.e., editors) is the use of alternatives, which are symlinks provided in /etc/alternatives/.
For instance, I set vim (instead of nano) as the system's default editor:
$ sudo update-alternatives --config editor [ select /usr/bin/vim.basic ]
FreePOPs
The FreePOPs project releases new plugins quite frequently, so it's useful to download install the latest available ones:
$ sudo install -m 644 /home/data/Software/Linux/lua/*.lua /usr/share/freepops/lua/
$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure freepops # enable FreePOPs at startup
Kismet Log Viewer
An interesting utility for viewing Kismet output as HTML pages is Kismet Log Viewer, available here.
To install it, download the latest binary (version 0.9.7) and
$ cd /usr/src
$ tar zxf /path/to/kismet-log-viewer-0.9.7.tar.gz
$ cd kismet-log-viewer-0.9.7
$ install -o <kismet_suid_user> -m 700 *.pl <kismet_logs_path>
$ install -o <kismet_suid_user> -m 644 logo.png <kismet_logs_path>
Reboot
Now the system is fully configured: reboot and issue a
$ dmesg |less
to verify that there are no errors and/or problems during the boot process.
NetBeans
To install NetBeans IDE (in your home directory), download the binary installer from here, be sure to have the JDK (not the JRE) installed and use NetBeans installation wizard:
$ chmod u+x /path/to/netbeans-5_5-linux.bin
$ /path/to/netbeans-5_5-linux.bin
TODO list
I still have to test modem, IrDA, firewire, the integrated webcam and the card reader.
I hope you will find some of these information useful, and if you have any suggestion for helping me to get everything to work, please email me at
bibe AT atworkonline DOT it
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