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odd entry in /etc/passwd

by Eric Martin

So I just found an odd entry in /etc/passwd on one of my servers: +:::::: Of course I'm not running tripwire on it so I can't be assured of the last time I edited the file / did anything to edit it. etc/shadow doesn't have the entry but shadow is only checked if the second field is x, right? I'm running Suse and I've been using yast lately, could that have anything to do with it? I hope it does as I really hope I don't have to run a full audit on the box. tia -- Eric Martin

April 29, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect

by E Johnson

My original question had to do with USB disconnects/reconnects. I have this "issue" with wired mouse and wired keyboard. Sometimes, after repeated messages all the same (many per minute over hours), this appears to cause the keyboard and/or mouse to lock up, not accepting input. At that point the PC requires reboot. Same messages in /var/log/messages using: -- different types (brands) of wired mouse and/or wired keyboard, -- different distros of Linux (various Ubuntu, various Debian), -- different kernels, -- four different PCs with 3 different mobos, each with their own set of peripherals. Had this problem going on two years now. Liz J 2009/4/28 Richard Klein <richspk(a)gmail.com>: > On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Lee Keyser-Allen <frozbiz(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> FWIW, I don't believe that this (bizzare mouse behavior) is a Linux issue. >> >> I have a wireless logitech keyboard/mouse at work hooked up to a thinkpad >> running XP, and find that sometimes the mouse goes haywire. It seems to be >> due to wireless interference (there's a crapload of that in my office). > > Have you tried relocating the receiver? > > -- > Rich > Sent from Framingham, Massachusetts, United States > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list

April 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect

by Lee Keyser-Allen

It's happened across office moves (in the same building), so I'm less inclined to believe that it's the location of the receiver specifically. Since my company creates wireless devices, we've just got a ton of interference all the time (I'd estimate that at any given point in time we have around 100 APs talking in a 100 yard radius. I've got four in my office, not to mention the four stations). Also it's fine most of the time ... when I replace the batteries, it chooses a new channel often, and is borked until I get it to move to a clear channel, and then it works fine for another month or two until the batteries die. Funny enough ... the keyboard just works ... I've not changed the batteries in two years, and never had interference problems ... hooray for super low-bandwidth applications :) Cheers, Lee On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 1:31 PM, Richard Klein <richspk(a)gmail.com> wrote: > On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Lee Keyser-Allen <frozbiz(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > FWIW, I don't believe that this (bizzare mouse behavior) is a Linux > issue. > > > > I have a wireless logitech keyboard/mouse at work hooked up to a thinkpad > > running XP, and find that sometimes the mouse goes haywire. It seems to > be > > due to wireless interference (there's a crapload of that in my office). > > Have you tried relocating the receiver? > > -- > Rich > Sent from Framingham, Massachusetts, United States > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > -- Lee Keyser-Allen (lkeyser(a)alum.wpi.edu)

April 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect

by Richard Klein

On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Lee Keyser-Allen <frozbiz(a)gmail.com> wrote: > FWIW, I don't believe that this (bizzare mouse behavior) is a Linux issue. > > I have a wireless logitech keyboard/mouse at work hooked up to a thinkpad > running XP, and find that sometimes the mouse goes haywire. It seems to be > due to wireless interference (there's a crapload of that in my office). Have you tried relocating the receiver? -- Rich Sent from Framingham, Massachusetts, United States

April 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect

by J.R. Mauro

On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Lee Keyser-Allen <frozbiz(a)gmail.com> wrote: > FWIW, I don't believe that this (bizzare mouse behavior) is a Linux issue. > > I have a wireless logitech keyboard/mouse at work hooked up to a thinkpad > running XP, and find that sometimes the mouse goes haywire. It seems to be > due to wireless interference (there's a crapload of that in my office). > > I find that if it's particularly bad, I can force it to swtich channels and > reassociate by hitting the connect button on the receiver followed by the > connect button on the mouse (order is important, as just hitting the connect > button on the mouse will appear to reassociate, but will not change the > channel). > > Also I've noticed that these problems tend to be more likely to occur/are > worse when the mouse is running low on battery (which it eats through like > candy, but that's another gripe). IIRC this is an issue with wired devices. It may not be a kernel issue at all. Sometimes, hardware is just flakey. The real test would be to use a different brand of mouse for a while and see if the errors stop. > > Hope that helps, > > Lee > > On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 11:11 PM, Jason Couture <plaguethenet(a)gmail.com> > wrote: >> >> Ive noticed that logitech mice seem to have strange issues with linux, >> Example i have a wireless logitech USB Mouse and keyboard, And every >> so often the mouse freaks out and jumps all over the screen clicks on >> things while it does and then returns to normal. Next time it happens >> ill post a copy of /var/log/messages pertaining to the issue, Perhaps >> your issue is related? >> >> On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 10:28 PM, E Johnson <iris.gates(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> > Okay. great. Will try the 28 kernel and check back in next week with >> > results. >> > >> > Thanks very much, >> > Liz J >> > >> > 2009/4/25 J. R. Mauro <jrm8005(a)gmail.com>: >> >> Sorry, didn't see you already had given version/distro info. See if >> >> you can upgrade to a more recent kernel; tons of issues with the input >> >> layer were fixed between .24/.26 and now. Other advice: ensure that >> >> evdev is the driver being used. Other than that, it could be hardware >> >> issues. >> >> >> >> P.S. I would recommend .28 as I don't think .29 is incredibly stable. >> > _______________________________________________ >> > 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 > > > > -- > Lee Keyser-Allen > (lkeyser(a)alum.wpi.edu) > > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > >

April 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect

by Lee Keyser-Allen

FWIW, I don't believe that this (bizzare mouse behavior) is a Linux issue. I have a wireless logitech keyboard/mouse at work hooked up to a thinkpad running XP, and find that sometimes the mouse goes haywire. It seems to be due to wireless interference (there's a crapload of that in my office). I find that if it's particularly bad, I can force it to swtich channels and reassociate by hitting the connect button on the receiver followed by the connect button on the mouse (order is important, as just hitting the connect button on the mouse will appear to reassociate, but will not change the channel). Also I've noticed that these problems tend to be more likely to occur/are worse when the mouse is running low on battery (which it eats through like candy, but that's another gripe). Hope that helps, Lee On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 11:11 PM, Jason Couture <plaguethenet(a)gmail.com>wrote: > Ive noticed that logitech mice seem to have strange issues with linux, > Example i have a wireless logitech USB Mouse and keyboard, And every > so often the mouse freaks out and jumps all over the screen clicks on > things while it does and then returns to normal. Next time it happens > ill post a copy of /var/log/messages pertaining to the issue, Perhaps > your issue is related? > > On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 10:28 PM, E Johnson <iris.gates(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Okay. great. Will try the 28 kernel and check back in next week with > results. > > > > Thanks very much, > > Liz J > > > > 2009/4/25 J. R. Mauro <jrm8005(a)gmail.com>: > >> Sorry, didn't see you already had given version/distro info. See if > >> you can upgrade to a more recent kernel; tons of issues with the input > >> layer were fixed between .24/.26 and now. Other advice: ensure that > >> evdev is the driver being used. Other than that, it could be hardware > >> issues. > >> > >> P.S. I would recommend .28 as I don't think .29 is incredibly stable. > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > -- Lee Keyser-Allen (lkeyser(a)alum.wpi.edu)

April 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Linux audio driver problems [was Re: Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect]

by J.R. Mauro

On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 10:51 AM, Randy Cole <randyokc(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hmm... Ubuntu (tried against 8.10 x64, 9.04 i386 liveCD & x64) (and > Fedora 10 x64) have problems with sound with my recent HP DV4-1222NR > laptop. I suspect my audio setup is similar to E. Johnson's. > > Problem is with alsa-driver. When I compile from source it works, until > the kernel changes. Well, that's the nature of an unstable kernel API :P > > Even then the mute & volume "smart keys" do not have the desired effect, > so I have to use the icon or menu. Gnome keyboard shortcuts gui is > poorly documented - there is no man page, no indication what config file > gnome-keybinding-properties corresponds to. > > How do I change the action "volume mute" to affect the proper device? There are lots of ways to do that. Gnome and KDE are a bit mystical (and don't work). Google for "evtest", which is a program that can look at a file in /dev/input/ and tell you what key/keycode/etc was pressed. Also, xev might be enough for you to find out what key it is, and map that into whatever application you use. > > -Randy. > > J. R. Mauro wrote: >> Sound is fine. Ubuntu's sound problems are due to pulseaudio (most of >> the time) >> >> >> >> On Apr 26, 2009, at 12:24, E Johnson <iris.gates(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >>> How is the sound on the -29 kernel? Sound has been giving me fits on >>> the various ubuntu kernels since April 08. >>> >>> I need headset to work; don't have or use external speakers. >>> >>> Mobo = ASUS M3A78-Cm, which has Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc >>> SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) >>> >>> Even if not happy, if I had to I could put up with the USB disconnect >>> thing, but headset dysfunction would be unacceptable. >>> >>> Liz J >>> >>> 2009/4/26 Chuck Anderson <cra(a)wpi.edu>: >>> >>>> On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 10:28:02PM -0400, E Johnson wrote: >>>> >>>>> Okay. great. Will try the 28 kernel and check back in next week >>>>> with results. >>>>> >>>> 2.6.28 is not a great release. Fedora skipped over it and went right >>>> to 2.6.29.1 which is the latest stable kernel. >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >

April 28, 2009

Linux audio driver problems [was Re: Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect]

by Randy Cole

Hmm... Ubuntu (tried against 8.10 x64, 9.04 i386 liveCD & x64) (and Fedora 10 x64) have problems with sound with my recent HP DV4-1222NR laptop. I suspect my audio setup is similar to E. Johnson's. Problem is with alsa-driver. When I compile from source it works, until the kernel changes. Even then the mute & volume "smart keys" do not have the desired effect, so I have to use the icon or menu. Gnome keyboard shortcuts gui is poorly documented - there is no man page, no indication what config file gnome-keybinding-properties corresponds to. How do I change the action "volume mute" to affect the proper device? -Randy. J. R. Mauro wrote: > Sound is fine. Ubuntu's sound problems are due to pulseaudio (most of > the time) > > > > On Apr 26, 2009, at 12:24, E Johnson <iris.gates(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >> How is the sound on the -29 kernel? Sound has been giving me fits on >> the various ubuntu kernels since April 08. >> >> I need headset to work; don't have or use external speakers. >> >> Mobo = ASUS M3A78-Cm, which has Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc >> SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) >> >> Even if not happy, if I had to I could put up with the USB disconnect >> thing, but headset dysfunction would be unacceptable. >> >> Liz J >> >> 2009/4/26 Chuck Anderson <cra(a)wpi.edu>: >> >>> On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 10:28:02PM -0400, E Johnson wrote: >>> >>>> Okay. great. Will try the 28 kernel and check back in next week >>>> with results. >>>> >>> 2.6.28 is not a great release. Fedora skipped over it and went right >>> to 2.6.29.1 which is the latest stable kernel. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >> > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

April 28, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect

by J. R. Mauro

Sound is fine. Ubuntu's sound problems are due to pulseaudio (most of the time) On Apr 26, 2009, at 12:24, E Johnson <iris.gates(a)gmail.com> wrote: > How is the sound on the -29 kernel? Sound has been giving me fits on > the various ubuntu kernels since April 08. > > I need headset to work; don't have or use external speakers. > > Mobo = ASUS M3A78-Cm, which has Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc > SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) > > Even if not happy, if I had to I could put up with the USB disconnect > thing, but headset dysfunction would be unacceptable. > > Liz J > > 2009/4/26 Chuck Anderson <cra(a)wpi.edu>: >> >> On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 10:28:02PM -0400, E Johnson wrote: >>> Okay. great. Will try the 28 kernel and check back in next week >>> with results. >> >> 2.6.28 is not a great release. Fedora skipped over it and went right >> to 2.6.29.1 which is the latest stable kernel. >> _______________________________________________ >> 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

April 26, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Keyboard and mouse repeatedly disconnect/reconnect

by E Johnson

How is the sound on the -29 kernel? Sound has been giving me fits on the various ubuntu kernels since April 08. I need headset to work; don't have or use external speakers. Mobo = ASUS M3A78-Cm, which has Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) Even if not happy, if I had to I could put up with the USB disconnect thing, but headset dysfunction would be unacceptable. Liz J 2009/4/26 Chuck Anderson <cra(a)wpi.edu>: > > On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 10:28:02PM -0400, E Johnson wrote: >> Okay. great. Will try the 28 kernel and check back in next week with results. > > 2.6.28 is not a great release. Fedora skipped over it and went right > to 2.6.29.1 which is the latest stable kernel. > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

April 26, 2009