March 2007 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

Re: [Wlug] Hello from new member. April topics?

by Terry S

Well, it was a while ago... ...in a nutshell, I was rebuilding base system and the portage tree a few months after install, following instructions posted and detailed reasoning explained by a senior Gentoo developer. After a few problems problems, the error that blocked me from fixing anything else was that the rsync server I chose at install time was no longer valid, which I verified by looking at the list again. But no one seemed to know how to change it, and I just couldn't deal with re-installing the whole thing at that time (I did a Stage 2, which took 2 days). I still have Gentoo installed on that computer, but I just don't have time to deal with it right now. Maybe in the summer, then again, maybe not. Slackware may be more appropriate, considering time constraints. I have it installed (dual-boot) on the Windows box I'm using right now, but I barely have time to touch it...hope to change that in the next couple of weeks! Actually, the first thing I want to do is install Slackware on my laptop. I might do that in the next week. Several things going on right now. Like needing to get a used network printer with "tabloid-size" capability installed on my Windows box, then (fingers crossed) getting it installed under Linux, too -- oh, joy [sarcasm]! *But first* there's this mechanism that I didn't realize needs replacing about every 6 years -- and it's $180 to buy -- and first I have to figure out how to get the darn mechanism apart and cleaned, because sometimes that can be the problem...I wonder if I should just give up and shell out the $180 bucks! Thanks Eric and Eric for your offers of help. Sincerely, Terry S Eric Martin wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Why yes I did teach a Worcester Nightlife course on linux. Like Eric > Stein said, I'd be happy to help you out with gentoo's portage. If you > don't mind my asking, what sort of problems did you have with it? > Eric > > Terry S wrote: > >> - Avoiding problems with package-management systems (I had a nightmare >> with rsync on Gentoo). >> > >> (p.s. to Eric Martin -- I think I know you. Did you teach a Night Life >> course on Linux?) >> _______________________________________________ >> Wlug mailing list >> Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org >> http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >> > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFGAoVmaI8VEtSi4H8RAj7cAJ42rqpKjjuBpLQD0zmNM7QvY5qpXwCeIn2l > ENOUycXi3oiX77TnZbeFszk= > =JtnG > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- >

March 23, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Hello from new member. April topics?

by Eric Martin

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Why yes I did teach a Worcester Nightlife course on linux. Like Eric Stein said, I'd be happy to help you out with gentoo's portage. If you don't mind my asking, what sort of problems did you have with it? Eric Terry S wrote: > - Avoiding problems with package-management systems (I had a nightmare > with rsync on Gentoo). > > > (p.s. to Eric Martin -- I think I know you. Did you teach a Night Life > course on Linux?) > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGAoVmaI8VEtSi4H8RAj7cAJ42rqpKjjuBpLQD0zmNM7QvY5qpXwCeIn2l ENOUycXi3oiX77TnZbeFszk= =JtnG -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

March 22, 2007

Hello from new member. April topics?

by Terry S

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?)

March 22, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Hello from new member. April topics?

by Eric Stein

Hi Terry! Terry S wrote: > 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! > Great! Show up, I don't. Something always comes up. > 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. > It's hard at first, but you get used to it. > *Suggested April Topics?* > > - Package installation and updates (esp Mozilla products). > Your package manager should make that really easy. > - Avoiding problems with package-management systems (I had a nightmare > with rsync on Gentoo). > Technically, the package management system for Gentoo is portage (emerge), but I'm nitpicking. I'll be glad to help you with gentoo related problems. > - 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?) > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

March 22, 2007

Fw: Suse Linux Professional 10?

by douglas.r.aker＠verizon.com

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

March 21, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Progress with new Sparc????

by Adam Gomes

Ken, I'm still a little confused. Are you trying to boot an already installed OS, or are you trying to boot from cd? If the former is true, what does the partition table on the drive look like? BTW, the sun serial console should work at 9600/8/n/1 on a null modem cable connected to your PC's serial port (or even an old vt100 terminal). Can you share with me the output of probe-scsi? If you get me a little more info, I can probably help you out. Like I said, I run linux on sparc at home (and have for years), and I used to be a sparc / solaris system admin a few years back. Anyway, good luck. --Adam On Tue, March 20, 2007 9:40 pm, ken jones said: > 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 >> >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

March 21, 2007

Progress with new Sparc????

by ken jones

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 > > > >

March 21, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by Clint Moyer

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

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Problems with a Sparc ULTRA1

by ken jones

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by Bruce Linnell

>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

March 20, 2007