March 2007 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

GPS on Linux
by Richard Klein 24 Mar '07

24 Mar '07

Andy, I think you were talking about using a GPS receiver with Linux after the last meeting. The receiver I had mentioned came in a couple days ago. It's a Navibe SP611 (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=NAVIBE-ORN), and it does indeed output NMEA 0183. The Navibe website is easy enough to find (http://www.navibe.com/), but it doesn't even acknowledge the existence of the SP611. Linux seems to recognize the serial/USB bridge in the GPS as a Prolific PL-2303: dmesg says: usb 2-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3 pl2303 2-1:1.0: pl2303 converter detected usb 2-1: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0 But I can't get GPSMan or GPSDrive to recognize it. "cat /dev/ttyUSB0" gets no response, and I have to hit CTRL-C to get the command prompt back. Per this page (http://koti.mbnet.fi/lonnberg/pl2303x.html) I found that bMaxPacketSize0 = 64, which suggests the bridge is a PL-2303X rather than a plain vanilla PL-2303. Apparently this used to require a patch, but only up to kernel 2.6.8. uname -r says I'm at 2.6.15-1-686, so this shouldn't be an issue. What should I try now? Oh, the GPS receiver did send a stream of NMEA data to my Windows computer at work with GPSDiag, so the reciever doesn't seem to be defective. -- Rich

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Meeting idea
by Eric Martin 24 Mar '07

24 Mar '07

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 I know I've said this at a few meetings, but is anybody up for having a key signing one night? We had one a while back that I missed. I've never run one but I have read a few docs on it. Any people interested? Eric -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGBHM8aI8VEtSi4H8RAv3jAJ9oa0Fh4TkNNyPl6FDwx2gjhVNwQgCfYjXy j32HL5TsSg2y19EW1Yv4En8= =qK8i -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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An amusing background screen...
by Andy Stewart 23 Mar '07

23 Mar '07

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 ...or at least I thought so... http://badvista.fsf.org/blog/images/windowsvistaballmerpiraxz7.jpg - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGBGSBHl0iXDssISsRAn3NAJ4iJAeiS33R4IOBXmNNKbBh0QwnngCeONLN tnWAhKuMnuzQX54yP2qErtI= =U2BM -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Hello from new member. April topics?
by Terry S 23 Mar '07

23 Mar '07

Hello, My name is Terry. I've wanted to attend WLUG meetings for a couple years but the schedule never worked out. Right now, Wednesdays are good! I look forward to seeing what the meetings are like and the mixture of people. Recently installed Slackware on one of my PCs. Looking forward to re-learn the basics (had a long illness, then just other stuff), move to Linux for the long haul, and be productive using its software. *Suggested April Topics?* - Package installation and updates (esp Mozilla products). - Avoiding problems with package-management systems (I had a nightmare with rsync on Gentoo). - Anything on setting up and configuring personal keys, certificates, basic firewall on Linux. Sincerely, Terry S. (p.s. to Eric Martin -- I think I know you. Did you teach a Night Life course on Linux?)

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Fw: Suse Linux Professional 10?
by douglas.r.aker＠verizon.com 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Thanks to all who responded to my query. I really got a lot of good information and food for thought! Doug ----- Forwarded by Doug Aker/EMPL/MA/Verizon on 03/21/2007 06:28 PM ----- Doug Aker/EMPL/MA/Verizon 03/20/2007 02:33 PM To "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> cc Subject Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10? OK, did so more research. Looks like it's called OpenSuse 10.2. Read some reviews. Some good, some not so good. Also considering switching to Fedora Core 4 or (K)Ubuntu 6.10. Any thoughts for or against these distro's? Has anyone ever used: http://www.thelinuxstore.ca/ ? Thanks, Doug Doug Aker/EMPL/MA/Verizon@VZNotes Sent by: wlug-bounces(a)mail.wlug.org 03/20/2007 10:54 AM Please respond to "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> To "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> cc Subject [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10? Hi all: The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the latest Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it "Suse Linux Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem (at least I think it was something like that). Thanks, Doug _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Progress with new Sparc????
by ken jones 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Doug et al I found my cross over cables. printenv told me to set up at 9600bps ASCI 8 none 1. I have tried VT100 and auto-detect. When I turn on the sparc it tells me that it is using ttya for input. However, my hyperterminal sees nothing. If I slow down the expected clock rate to 2400 I get to letters "pp" when I startup the sparc. I do not get "ok" and I get no response when I hit the "Enter" key. Too bad, since that connection would allow me to show you what my terminal is saying. I did get a good response from probe-scsi and probe-scsi-all. It saw both hard drives. I am now trying test-all. Last time it just hung but now it seems to be correctly testing the terminal screen. OKAY! I know something. Self test failed a Transceiver check. It says: Transceiver check -- failed Selftest Failed. Return Code = -1 Testing sbus@1f, 0/SUNW, fas@e 8800000 CE DMA fill from address ffef8000 for 80 bytes Testing sbus@1f, 0/SUNW fdtwo@f, 1400000 Testing floppy disk system. A formatted disk should be in the drive. No diskette or incorrect format. Self test failed. Return code = -1 I wondered what is the "transceiver test" which is failing. The word "transceiver" usually is referring to I/O. I was correct. I installed the ethernet cable and the transceiver test passed. I know one thing now. The CDROM reader does not work. Part of test-all is to check for a formatted disk in the reader. I put a known good disk in, but the SUN does not see it. That does not explain why it will not boot up correctly. It should note that there is no disk and boot to installed linux. My latest status is to try booting over my office network. I gave my home router/DHCP server the new sparc's ethernet address and assigned an IP address. I have no idea whether the sparc is configured to expect a DHCP address. I do not see where I can configure that. Ken Jones Doug Mildram wrote: > doug> I know the Sparc a bit. > > give me a call hell, i am trashing sparc's here, incl. 1 ultra1 > > also: sun keyboard is a big factor. If it's seen at powerup, > its the console (monitor or no monitor) > > if keyb not attached on powerup, > the com1 equivalent /dev/ttya (DIN or 25pin, varies) > becomes the console. > > > doug 508-243-6580 cell > > > MORE RANDOM TIPS TO MYSELF YEARS AGO: > on a SPARC instead of BIOS we have "eeprom" or "rom prompt".... > > There's no "F2" or "DELETE" hint during bootup, > but there is one "dangerous" way to stop either the OS or the boot-up. > > L1-a or STOP-A is like a ctl-Z to the OS...or an interrupt a bootup. > > eeprom prompt is "ok" > ok> > > If you accidentally STOP the OS by mistake you can get it to go BACK UP WITH > > ok> go > or maybe > ok> continue > > normally we do NOT DO MUCH with the eeprom settings, > AND, it is possible to tweak eeprom settings from either situation: > 1) from the ok> prompt with "setenv" > 2) from SOLARIS with # eeprom > > So you can see all the settings with a simple anyuser% /usr/sbin/eeprom > > Syntax is slightly different. I wont talk about UNIX "eeprom" anymore > except to say there is a man page. > > BACK TO THE ok> PROMPT you can...most notably: > > ok> setenv auto-boot? false > or > ok> setenv auto-boot? true > > the question mark is not a "wild character". It just implies > that it's a true/false parameter. > > false means it will *NOT* boot to solaris... on power up. > true means "normal"...will try to load solaris from boot-device > > a UNIX "reboot" command will override this setting. > > -----boot "device" in eeprom > NORMALLY the eeprom setting for boot-device has a few words > and "disk" should be the first word. > > ok> printenv boot-device > > may return disk diskbrd diskisp disksoc net > I only know what "disk" and "net" means..... > "net" is useless unless you have another "diskless server" set up. > > > > ok> probe-scsi (can you see the CD drive?) > Target 0 > Unit 0 Disk ..... > > > maybe not . but if the CD is on an external scsi bus you may need to say > > ok> probe-scsi-all (can you see the CD drive?) > > pci@1f,4000/scsi@3,1 (a 2nd controller for the external scsi port) > Target 6 > Unit 0 removable read only device TOSHIBA..... > Unit 0 Disk ..... > > pci@1f,4000/scsi@3 > Target 0 > Unit 0 Disk ..... > > BACK TO installation. hopefully you simply say: > > with solaris2.7 CD in the drive, > > ok> boot cdrom > > didnt work? it must have been looking for > > > ok> devalias > > shows > > cdrom /pci@1f,4000/scsi@3/disk@6,0:f > > BUT I HAD A CD drive on the 3,1 controller so I can say: > > boot /pci@1f,4000/scsi@3,1/disk@6,0:f > > AND THIS WORKED on this particular machine. > > (if you see the CD light come on, and eventually see some kernel string like > > SunOS 5.7 Generic_106541-17 sun4u sparc SUNW,Ultra-Enterprise > > > THEN YOU KNOW you got the right command. > > Next you hope your CD and CD drive dont have too many read errors. > > ok> > > > SPECIAL BOOT ARGUMENT......to rebuild /dev* entries. > > lets say you ADD HARDWARE like a 2nd disk. > > UNIX% halt > ...add a disk if you can...then you'd want to > > ok> boot -r (THIS Reconfigures /dev and /devices, > so it would add /dev/???/??? for the new disk) > > SPECIAL BOOT ARGUMENT......to stop at singleuser. > > > ok> boot -s (would stop at runlevel 1 for the default kernel ..on disk?) > > But even then (unlike most unix's) it prompts you > for the root password, i think. So dont forget it. ------------------doug > > > >

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Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?
by Clint Moyer 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

I could not get Compiz to work on OpenSuSe 10.2. Besides I can't advocate for Novell considering their recent partnership with MS. Any of the Ubuntus are great. The GUI frontend to apt works exceptionally well. After you've updated the list of repositories, adding pretty much any app is a simple point-n-click. It was pretty straightforward to load Nvidia's driver and setup Beryl. Sweet eye candy! In 13 years of using Linux, it's the first distro I've considered user-friendly enough to put on my kids' PC. If you want to be cutting edge, Ubuntu 7.4 officially releases next month. Of course, you can also get it right now. Clint ---- douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com wrote: ============= OK, did so more research. Looks like it's called OpenSuse 10.2. Read some reviews. Some good, some not so good. Also considering switching to Fedora Core 4 or (K)Ubuntu 6.10. Any thoughts for or against these distro's? Has anyone ever used: http://www.thelinuxstore.ca/ ? Thanks, Doug Doug Aker/EMPL/MA/Verizon@VZNotes Sent by: wlug-bounces(a)mail.wlug.org 03/20/2007 10:54 AM Please respond to "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> To "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> cc Subject [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10? Hi all: The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the latest Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it "Suse Linux Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem (at least I think it was something like that). Thanks, Doug _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Re: [Wlug] Problems with a Sparc ULTRA1
by ken jones 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

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Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?
by Bruce Linnell 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

>From a neophyte's point of view, I'm pleased with oSuSE 10.2. I also installed using a DVD, but can't say it went without a hitch. The only problem was getting my USB wireless adapter to work. But I had already had that problem with Ubuntu and Gentoo. I never did get it to work directly (ended up using a NIC and a Buffalo wireless converter). But in the course of trying those three distros I decided I liked the oSuSE best...and I think it was YaST that tilted the scales. Again, I was a blank slate 3 months ago so I can't give you a "compare and contrast" with previous releases of oSuSE or YaST. Bruce On Tue, 2007-03-20 at 14:33 -0400, douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com wrote: > > OK, did so more research. Looks like it's called OpenSuse 10.2. Read > some reviews. Some good, some not so good. > > Also considering switching to Fedora Core 4 or (K)Ubuntu 6.10. Any > thoughts for or against these distro's? > > Has anyone ever used: http://www.thelinuxstore.ca/ ? > > Thanks, > Doug > > > > Doug Aker/EMPL/MA/Verizon@VZNotes > Sent by: > wlug-bounces(a)mail.wlug.org > > 03/20/2007 10:54 AM > Please respond to > "Worcester Linux Users Group" > <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > > > > > To > "Worcester Linux > Users Group" > <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > cc > > Subject > [Wlug] Suse Linux > Professional 10? > > > > > > > > > > Hi all: > > The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux > Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the > latest Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it > "Suse Linux Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast > slowness problem (at least I think it was something like that). > > Thanks, > Doug _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Problems with a Sparc ULTRA1
by ken jones 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

I just acquired by second Sparc ULTRA1 Creator. It does not boot. After much struggle complaining about not finding sda4, it concludes: VSF: can not open root device "sda4" or 08:04 Please append a correct "root=" boot device Kernel panic: VFS: unable to mount root fs on 08:04 Press L1-a to return to the boot prom I've tried booting from my aurora 1.0 iso disk set. No luck. I've tried booting from my just out of the envelope GENTOO disk. No luck. Before it gives up it seems to have found the two scsi drives. It says: Attached scsi disk sda at scsi0, channel 0, id0, lun Attached scsi disk sdb at scsi0, channel 0, id1, lun It has found the following partitions partitions if that is what these are. /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0: p1 p2 p3 p4 and /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target1/lun0: p1 p3 I stopped the boot: with a "stop a". ok test scsi > CE DMA fill from address ffee2000 for 80 bytes succeeded Dma register test -- succeeded Esp register test -- succeeded Dma read test -- succeeded Dma write test -- succeeded Any ideas? Ken Jones

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