Linux Tips

How to Change the position of the Restore/Max/Close buttons on windows in ubuntu 9.04,9.10,10.04

2010-03-12T19:06:00.001+05:30

Many you might have already seen that the position of the buttons on the window decorated had been left justified in ubuntu 10.04.
Actually it is very easy to change the justification.

1. Press Alt+F2 and type in

gconf-editor

2. Navigate to

app->metacity->general

double click the "button_layout" option and change it to "memu:maximize,minimize,close"
rather than "minimize,maximize,close:menu"

This will move the buttons from left to right.

"shopt -s cdspell" : Automatically correct mistyped directory names on cd

2010-03-11T19:09:00.000+05:30

Use shopt -s cdspell to correct the typos in the cd command automatically as
shown below.

$ cd /var/vmall
-bash: cd: /var/vmall: No such file or directory
$ shopt -s cdspell
$ cd /var/vmall
$ pwd
/var/vmail
Here actually i mistyped 'vmail' as 'vmall'.

Enjoy!

Use “cd -” to toggle between the last two directories

2010-03-08T18:48:00.001+05:30

You can toggle between the last two current directories using cd - as shown
below.

[dipin@linuxgeek ~]$ cd /etc/
[dipin@linuxgeek etc]$ pwd
/etc
[dipin@linuxgeek etc]$ cd /var/
[dipin@linuxgeek var]$ pwd
/var
[dipin@linuxgeek var]$ cd -
/etc
[dipin@linuxgeek etc]$ pwd
/etc
[dipin@linuxgeek etc]$

Enjoy!

Try to navigate up the directory using cd followed by consecutive dots

2010-03-07T18:36:00.003+05:30

In the below example i have show how to navigate up to level 5 using cd......(cd followed by 6 dots).
Here a single dot represents the current directory, 2 dot means 1 level up, 3 dots means 2 level up and so on..

Add the following alias.

$ alias cd..="cd .."
$ alias cd...="cd ../.."
$ alias cd....="cd ../../.."
$ alias cd.....="cd ../../../.."
$ alias cd......="cd ../../../../.."

Now use cd.... to navigate upto level 3.

Add more alias if you need.

Enjoy!

thanks to linuxhacks.

Toggle SSH Session using SSH Escape Character

2010-03-06T18:51:00.003+05:30

When you’ve logged on to the remotehost using ssh from the localhost, you may want to come back to the localhost to perform some activity and go back to remote host again. In this case, you don’t need to disconnect the ssh session to the remote host. Instead, follow the steps below.

1. Login to remotehost from localhost:

dipin@linuxgeek:~$ ssh user@remotehost

2. Now you will be connected to the remotehost and your prompt will read:

remotehost$

3. Now to come back to the localhost temporarily, type the escape character ~ followed by Control-Z.
You won't see the ~ character on the screen immediately after you type it, until you press and press enter. So, on the remotehost enter the following key strokes: ~

remotehost$ ~^Z
[1]+ Stopped ssh user@remotehost

dipin@linuxgeek:~$

4. Now you are back to the localhost and the ssh remotehost client session runs as a typical UNIX background job, which you can check as shown below:

dipin@linuxgeek:~$ jobs
[1]+ Stopped ssh user@remotehost

5. Now you can go back to the remotehost ssh without entering the password again by bringing the background ssh remotehost session job to foreground on the localhost.

dipin@linuxgeek:~$ fg %1
ssh user@remotehost

remotehost$

Enjoy!.

How to Install stable Firefox 3.6(Not the Namoroka One) in your ubuntu

2010-02-26T14:16:00.007+05:30

I you are using ubuntu 9.10 karmic/ 10.04 Lucid.
just run these commands on your terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-stable 
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install firefox-3.6

Now for those who are using ubuntu 9.04/8.10/8.04.
You will need to edit your source list and add the appropriate ppa.
Open sources.list

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

and add the below lines to it.

PPA for 9.04 (Jaunty): deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/firefox-stable/ubuntu jaunty main

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/firefox-stable/ubuntu jaunty main

PPA for 8.10 (Intrepid): deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/firefox-stable/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/firefox-stable/ubuntu intrepid main

PPA for 8.04 (Hardy): deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/firefox-stable/ubuntu hardy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/firefox-stable/ubuntu hardy main

save and exit
Now get the updates

sudo apt-get update

and install firefox 3.6

sudo apt-get install firefox-3.6

Pino: Install twitter and Identi.ca Client for ubuntu Linux

2010-02-23T14:20:00.002+05:30

Pino is Twitter and Identi.ca client for Linux desktop. It's simple and fast.

Install Pino in ubuntu

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:vala-team/ppa
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:troorl/pino
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install pino

Pino is hosted on code.google.com

Howto: VPN connection setup on ubuntu 9.10 karmic koala

2010-02-20T09:24:00.001+05:30

I took this from http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8261958&postcount=6

There are so many variations on these VPN implementations that it is extremely difficult to generalize a known-good configuration for each.

Install from the various VPN components

PPTP (Microsoft VPN)
- pptp-linux
- network-manager-pptp
b. VPNC (Cisco VPN)
- vpnc
- network-manager-vpnc
c. OpenConnect
- openconnect
- network-manager-openconnect

Reboot

PPTP VPN Configuration - This setup works for connecting to ISA 2004/2006 PPTP VPNs. It should work for connecting to MS PPTP VPN implementations in general. I can't speak for other PPTP VPN implementations.

Create new PPTP connection
- VPN Tab Settings
- Set Connection name
- Set Gateway
- Set username (for domain-based user accounts, use domain\username)
- DO NOT SET PASSWORD
- DO NOT SET NT DOMAIN
- PPTP Advanced Options (Advanced button)
- uncheck all auth methods EXCEPT MSCHAPv2
- check "Use Point-to-Point encryption (MPPE)"
  - leave Security set at "All Available (Default)"
  - trying to force encryption level causes this option to become unset
- check "Allow stateful inspection"
- uncheck "Allow BSD Data Compression"
- uncheck "Allow Deflate Data Compression"
- uncheck "Use TCP Header Compression"
- uncheck "Send PPP Echo Packets" (although connection works either checked or unchecked)
- save configuration
b. Initial Connection attempt
- enter password in login box
- DO NOT check either password save box at this time
- once connection establishes, verify remote connectivity - ping, rdp, ssh, etc.
- disconnect VPN session
c. 2nd connection attempt
- enter password in login box
- check both password save option boxes
- once again verify remote connectivity
- disconnect VPN session
d. Subsequent connection attempts
- VPN session should automatically connect using saved auth credentials

VPNC VPN Configuration - This setup works connecting to an ASA5510 - software version 8.2(1). I didn't have any other Cisco devices to test against.

Create new VPNC connection
- set connection name
- set Gateway
- set Group Name
- set User Password to "Saved" and enter password
- set Group Password to "Saved" and enter password
- set username
- set domain (if applicable)
- leave Encryption Method at "Secure (Default)"
- set NAT traversal to "NAT-T"
- save configuration
b. Initial Connection attempt
- open VPNC connection
- if prompted, select "Always Allow" if you want connection to be automatic
- verify remote connectivity - ping, rdp, ssh, etc.
- disconnect VPN session
c. Subsequent connection attempts
- open VPNC connection - session should automatically connect

OpenConnect VPN Configuration - This setup works connecting to an ASA5510 - software version 8.2(1). I didn't have any other Cisco devices to test against.

Create new OpenConnect connection
- set connection name
- set Gateway
- set Authentication type to "Password/SecurID"
- no need to set username, OpenConnect won't store it yet
- save configuration
b. Initial connection attempt
- open VPN connection
- check "Automatically start connecting next time"
- click Close
- you will get the "No Valid VPN Secrets" VPN failure message
c. 2nd connection attempt
- open VPN connection
- accept certificate (if prompted)
- change Group (if necessary)
- enter username (may need to be domain\username)
- enter password
- click Login
- if VPN connection fails, see note below
- verify remote connectivity - ping, rdp, ssh, etc.
- disconnect session
d. Subsequent connection attempts
- open VPN connection
- enter password
- session should connect

Note: If you get the "Login Failed" message, cancel and wait 15-30 minutes before attempting to connect again. Also, I ended up having to use the NT style domain\username pair for authentication, even though a Cisco AnyConnect client connecting to the same ASA only requires username.

More Detail: OpenConnect has been brutal to get connected. I got failed attempt after failed attempt. When I checked the NPS (IAS) log and the Security Event log on the W2K8 domain controller, I could see my user account authenticating properly via RADIUS from the ASA. Yet the OpenConnect client came back with a "Login Failed" message. I'm not an ASA expert, so I have no idea what to check in the ASA configuration to troubleshoot this problem, other than the basic AAA configuration. But I believe the problem lies in the ASA configuration because when I get the OpenConnect "Login Failed" message, the AnyConnect client from my Windows laptop fails as well. I think it may be a ridiculously short timeout or max failure setting. Whatever the issue is, I have to wait for some length of time (~15-30 minutes) for whatever the problem is to reset.

However, once I finally get the OpenConnect client to successfully connect, it worked from then on. (Just don't mess with the connection configuration, or you will get to go thru this whole process again.)

How to install VLC Media Player in Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

2010-02-17T12:13:00.005+05:30

Here's is a guide to install VLC using motumedia ppa.

To install VLC, you will need to install the medibuntu-keyring, w32codecs and libdvdcss2.
For that open a terminal and type the following.

$ sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 2EBC26B60C5A2783

$ sudo apt-get update 
$ sudo apt-get install medibuntu-keyring
$ sudo apt-get update

$ sudo apt-get install w32codecs
$ sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2

Now add the motumedia GPG key.

$ sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys  C5D7718106438B87

Now add this line to your repository.

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/motumedia/ppa/ubuntu lucid main

Go to System->Administration->Software Sources and select the Third-Party Software tab then click the Add button and add the line there.

Now install VLC and its moxilla-plugin

$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install vlc mozilla-plugin-vlc
$ sudo atp-get upgrade

Social integration and boot recovery in Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

2010-02-10T14:26:00.000+05:30

Lucid Lynx is going to feature a new social integration with a new “MeMenu”. The MeMenu is basically an application from where you can access social networks like Twitter, Facebook etc and send IMs. You can access Canonical’s very own Ubuntu One as well. MeMenu in Lucid is going to integrate Gwibber for Twitter, Facebook and Identica, and Empathy for MSN, Google Talk and Yahoo Chat.

Currently in Ubuntu, when there is a problem during the boot, the system goes straight to the maintenance shell. This can be a nightmare for novice users. In Lucid, there is going to be a more user-friendly recovery process with an improved handling of filesystem check failures and mount errors.

OpenOffice is to be dropped from Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.04

2010-02-10T14:23:00.000+05:30

According to the latest Ubuntu Netbook Remix Blueprint, the Ubuntu community are planning to drop OpenOffice from the default installation of Ubuntu Netbook Edition for the upcoming Lucid Lynx release, atleast for now. Now documents will be opened by default in Google Docs.

The developers have been removing applications that are irrelevant on a netbook. While document editing is clearly a not irrelevant on a netbook, the developers feel that with netbooks being used mostly for internet related works, Google Docs will suffice.

Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS released (the fourth maintenance update)

2010-01-29T11:29:00.001+05:30

The Ubuntu team has announced the release of Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, the fourth maintenance update to Ubuntu's 8.04 LTS release. This release includes updated server, desktop, and alternate installation CDs for the i386 and amd64 architectures. Ubuntu 8.04 LTS continues to be maintained through 2011 for desktops and 2013 for servers through online updates, but this is the final maintenance release of 8.04 LTS.

In all, some 70 updates have been integrated, and updated installation media has been provided so that fewer updates will need to be downloaded after installation. These include security updates and corrections for other high-impact bugs, with a focus on maintaining stability and compatibility with Ubuntu 8.04 LTS.

To download Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, or obtain CDs, visit:

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

This is the last maintenance release for the 8.04 LTS series. Future security updates will be individually downloadable from the Ubuntu archive in the same way as before, but no further updates to installation media will be provided for 8.04 LTS. The next LTS release, 10.04 LTS, will be released in April 2010. It is recommend that users installing Ubuntu after April install the latest LTS release.

Glatx: Try the latest experimental Deb files

2010-01-28T15:17:00.001+05:30

My post gtalx: Howto Gtalk in ubuntu ( google talk ) has already show you how to install gtalx on linux

To install on 32-bit Ubuntu 9.10 you can try this EXPERIMENTAL deb file (this installs today's snapshot of the unstable branch).
To install on 64-bit Ubuntu 9.10 you can try this EXPERIMENTAL deb file (this installs today's snapshot of the unstable branch).
The way to use the deb file:

$ sudo dpkg -i gtalx_0.0.5_i386.deb

or if you have 64 bit Ubuntu

$ sudo dpkg -i gtalx_0.0.5_amd64.deb

you might get a dependency error after the above line so you'll need to execute this next:

$ sudo apt-get -f install

To remove this package execute:

$ sudo apt-get remove gtalx

How to Block an ip address using iptables

2010-01-21T12:27:00.000+05:30

You can block an user with an ip address from accessing your system using the iptables.

For that follow these steps.

1. Open up a shell and login as root.

2. now type the command below to block the ip(XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX).

# iptables -I INPUT -s XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX -j DROP

3. See whether the new rule has been added.

# /sbin/iptables -L -n

You can find other options to choose from with the following command:

# iptables --help

How to install GIMP in Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

2010-01-15T11:16:00.001+05:30

A quote from wiki.ubuntu.com: "The GIMP has been removed from the default installation in order to make room for more features and content to be included in Ubuntu. Basic functionality for image editing provided by The GIMP can be found in some of Ubuntu's other applications, such as F-Spot. The GIMP remains available in the package repository."

In the next version of the well known Linux distribution Ubuntu (10.04 - Lucid Lynx) the Ubuntu developers decided to adjust the default applications. GIMP will be classified as software for specialists which means that GIMP will not be installed by default any longer.

This is how you can install GIMP from command line.

Open up the terminal and type:

$ sudo apt-get install gimp

How to Disable splash screen in ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

2010-01-14T19:21:00.004+05:30

The splash screen is shown when you boot up ubuntu.
You can stop showing the splash screen and instead view details about your boot process.

Follow the steps below to disable the splash screen.
1. Edit grub.

 $ sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

Locate the following line

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

Remove quiet and splash
Now the line should look like this

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=""

Now save and exit.

2. Now update the grub.

$ sudo update-grub

Now Reboot..

How to Restore grub in ubuntu remix 9.10 karmic koala

2010-01-11T15:08:00.000+05:30

I recently installed Windows 7 on my laptop which already had ubuntu remix installed in it.
The problem i faced was, the GRUB was lost. But i had trouble getting your GRUB boot loader since the process of restoring GRUB has changed.

Follow these instructions to restore your GRUB.

1. Boot from your UBUNTU LIVE from which you installed Ubuntu
2. Now open up the terminal.
3. Now find out the drive in which you installed Ubuntu.
print the "Partition table" and find out the drive.

$ sudo fdisk -l

4. Now mount the drive.

$ sudo mount /dev/sdDP /mnt

'D' is the drive number and 'P' is the partition number.
In my case, It was 'sudo mount /dev/sda3 /mnt'

5. Now install GRUB.

$ sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdD

'D' is your drive. For me it was 'sda'.

6. Now unmount the drive and reboot.

$ sudo umount /mnt

You should have your GRUB restored by now.

How to Show the Restore/Maximize, Minimize buttons on Maximized Windows in Ubuntu Remix 9.10 karmic Koala

2010-01-09T17:31:00.005+05:30

I recently installed the new Ubuntu Remix 9.10 karmic Koala on my laptop.

I found that all windows where automatically maximized when open. I had showed you how to disable the auto-maximize feature of ubuntu remix earlier.

Another annoying feature was that the maximized windows doesn't have the restore/maximize, minimize and close buttons on it.

If you need it just enable it as i have said below:


Press Alt + F2, enter gconf-editor,
Go to -> /apps/maximus/undecorate and unset it.
(i.e uncheck the check-box).

Thats it.

How to disable the Auto Maximize feature in Ubuntu Remix 9.10 Karmic Koala

2010-01-09T17:14:00.003+05:30

I recently installed the Ubuntu Remix on my netbook. The most annoying feature i found was the 'Maximus'. It maximizes every window you open, even small windows which should not be maximized.

This is how you can disable this feature.


Press Alt + F2, enter gconf-editor, Go to -> /apps/maximus/no_maximize and set it to "true" (i.e check the check-box).

So, if you want the restore, close buttons on the maximized windows then uncheck

'undecorate'.

How to install Skype on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

2010-01-07T14:30:00.000+05:30

Download the setup
32 -bit
64 -bit

Launch the Skype install .deb file (just double click it) and follow the on screen prompts.

(To start Skype at system startup)
Go to "System -> Preferences -> Startup Application", Click "Add" and enter the following details:

Name: Skype

Command: skype

Click "Save"
Next time you start your system Skype will auto-launch.

How to generate a SSH key in Linux ( ubuntu debian fedora)

2010-01-05T14:44:00.001+05:30

To generate a SSH key pair use the command 'ssh-keygen'.

$ ssh-keygen -t dsa

This will ask you to enter a file to save the key. The default is '.ssh/id_dsa' in your home directory.

Generating public/private dsa key pair.

Enter file in which to save the key (/home/dipin/.ssh/id_dsa):

Press 'Enter' to accept the default.
Now it will ask for a passphrase and will ask you to re-enter to confirm.

Generating public/private dsa key pair.
Enter file in which to save the key (/home/dipin/.ssh/id_dsa): /tmp/key
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase):
Enter same passphrase again:
Your identification has been saved in /tmp/key.
Your public key has been saved in /tmp/key.pub.
The key fingerprint is:
8d:f7:d8:d1:b6:ea:c2:a7:a4:fd:ff:6f:95:06:bb:0a dipin@dipinkrishna.info

You will get a private key file and a public key file with '.pub' extension.

How to uninstall or remove old kernels in Ubuntu

2009-12-23T11:20:00.001+05:30

Ubuntu always keeps the old kernel even after installing a new kernel. This is done just in case the new one doesn’t work well for you.

Now if you don't want the old kernels anymore then use the command below to remove the old kernel which you wish to remove.

$ sudo apt-get remove --purge 2.6.28-11*

replace 2.6.28-11 with the version you wish to remove.

Hope this helps...

What is Inbound and Outbound Network Loadbalancing

2009-12-21T17:58:00.001+05:30

Network load balancing is now a key feature that is required for all enterprises, especially financial companies. This capability balances network sessions like web, email, etc over multiple connections in order to spread out the amount of bandwidth used by each LAN user, thus increasing the total amount of bandwidth available. Additionally, network load balancing is commonly used to provide network redundancy so that in the event of a WAN link outage, access to network resources is still available via the secondary links.

Inbound Load Balancing operates by processing traffic activity from remote users who are requesting information from your local network. Multiple communication channels are utilized for increased bandwidth to accommodate numerous sessions by remote users accessing the network and retrieving requested information.

Most networks with Load Balancing capabilities benefit their local users when processing outbound information requests. This setup, inversely is known as Outbound Load Balancing, efficiently uses the local network's available bandwidth to best serve its users that request information from other networks.

How to make terminal ask for password every time you type sudo command

2009-12-19T10:56:00.002+05:30

when you type sudo command for the first time in a terminal it will ask you the sudo password.
This password will be remembered by that terminal for 15 minutes by default.

If you want terminal to ask for password each time you type sudo command just do as said below.
1. Type at terminal

sudo visudo

2. Edit as shown below


 Change

  Defaults env_reset

 to

  Defaults env_reset,timestamp_timeout=0

How to make a terminal remember sudo passowrd for ever

2009-12-17T18:41:00.002+05:30

when you type sudo command for the first time in a terminal it will ask you the sudo password.
This password will be remembered by that terminal for 15 minutes by default.

If you want that terminal to remember your password for ever during its life time follow these steps.
1. Type at terminal

sudo visudo

2. Edit as shown below


   Change

    Defaults env_reset

   to

    Defaults env_reset,timestamp_timeout=-1