November 2005 - wlug - list.wlug.org.nz

X won't boot in user
by Ron Dean 20 Dec '05

20 Dec '05

.xsessions-errors /etc/gdm/PreSession/Default: Registering your session with wtmp and utmp /etc/gdm/PreSession/Default: running: /usr/bin/X11/sessreg -a -w /var/log/wtmp -u /var/run/utmp -x "/var/lib/gdm/:0.Xservers" -h "" -l ":0" "ron" /etc/gdm/Xsession: Beginning session setup... _IceTransTransNoListen: unable to find transport: tcp _IceTransmkdir: ERROR: euid != 0,directory /dev/X will not be created. _IceTransmkdir: ERROR: Cannot create /dev/X _IceTransPTSOpenServer: mkdir(/dev/X) failed, errno = 13 _IceTransOpen: transport open failed for pts/ubuntu: _IceTransMakeAllCOTSServerListeners: failed to open listener for pts _IceTransISCOpenServer: Protocol is not supported by a ISC connection _IceTransOpen: transport open failed for isc/ubuntu: _IceTransMakeAllCOTSServerListeners: failed to open listener for isc _IceTransSCOOpenServer: Protocol is not supported by a SCO connection _IceTransOpen: transport open failed for sco/ubuntu: _IceTransMakeAllCOTSServerListeners: failed to open listener for sco ** (gnome-session:7837): WARNING **: Unable to read ICE authority file: /home/ron/.ICEauthority Despite looking for the .ICEauthority file I can't find it even amongst the hidden files I'm running Ubuntu Breezy and Ubuntu kernel 2.6.12-10-386 recently installed

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Blinkers
by Craig Box 01 Dec '05

01 Dec '05

"OSDL shares desktop survey results": http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5481370522.html Please specifically refer to http://www.desktoplinux.com/files/article019/osdl-dtl-survey-12.jpg. Craig

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Competition
by Karin Purser 01 Dec '05

01 Dec '05

Hi All, Just a reminder to get those entries in for the "community member of the year" Send your entries to: comp.lugroundup(a)k-sit.com You don't have to have donated $5000 worth of computers or something huge to be eligable. In what ever way you or someone you know has contributed, no matter how small you think, we would love to read about it. Cherio, Karin. "May all you hopes and dreams be just around the corner" You can find the podcasts at http://mirror.linux.org.au/podcasts/la-update lugroundup(a)k-sit.com

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Acceptable use of the WLUG Mailing List
by Meeting Reminder bot 30 Nov '05

30 Nov '05

The WLUG Mailing List is the discussion-list extension of the Waikato Linux Users Group (Incorporated). As such, we expect members of this list to adhere to the principles espoused in the official WLUG Charter[1], in particular, Rule 6, which covers the activities on this mailing list. While this is an Acceptable Use Policy, the WLUG Committee do recognise the need for informal discussion among list members, and draconian administration is not the goal here. Please keep in mind, however, that your comments to this list do represent the WLUG, and while it is good to be seen as an organisation with a sense of humour, some comments may do major harm to our credibility as a serious advocate of GNU/Linux and all things Free Software/ Open Source related. List discussion should * be honest * accentuate the positive, without hyperbole or blatant misrepresentation * maintain a reasonable level of spelling and grammar * not indulge in ad hominem attacks * not continue inflammatory or abusive threads * not be unprofessional or petty, especially with respect to the names of other software companies * not promote or denigrate political, cultural, or religious views * not indulge in marketing or advertising, other than on a private sale basis, or advertising of jobs - which may be announced once only * not reproduce copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder * not defame any person or organisation Posters who consistently violate these guidelines will be dealt with at the discretion of the List Maintainer. If you feel you have been unfairly dealt with, you have recourse to any member of the WLUG Committee[2]. Certain mailing list etiquette should also be maintained: * please use only plain text (not HTML) * reply inline or below when quoting, rather than on top * trim quotes (don't reply quoting a 10 page message with a single line of reply) If you have any questions, start reading at http://www.gweep.ca/~edmonds/usenet/ml-etiquette.html. These points have been established over a long time on this list. If you want to question them, please do it off list. As list users, use your discretion when pulling people up over etiquette - please reply off list, and if there is a serious breach, the list administrator will probably have dealt with it off-list already. [1] http://www.wlug.org.nz/WlugCharter [2] http://www.wlug.org.nz/WlugCommittee

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Clearing out lots of old PC's
by Jamie Curtis 30 Nov '05

30 Nov '05

Hi all, I have a number of older PC's that I need to get rid of. All ran linux fine while in use. Most of these are yours for some small donation to WLUG. I just want them gone. First come, first served, e-mail me off list if you want one. Details on the wiki: http://www.wlug.org.nz/GarageSale Cheers, Jamie

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sudo and writing to /var/log
by Bnonn 30 Nov '05

30 Nov '05

Hi everyone, I'm writing a small script to automate backing up to a remote machine using rsync. As part of the script, I'm directing stdout from rsync to /var/log/b.netbackup.log. The problem I'm having is in actually outputting said stdout. I run all my scripts with user privileges only, escalating to root only those commands within the script that need it. This has various benefits in my eyes: 1. Principle of least privilege; why run a whole script as root when you can just run certain bits of it? 2. No need to error-check UID=0 3. Anyone in the sudoers group can run the script. So normally I just type the script name from the dollar prompt, rather than sudoing it. Inside the script itself, rsync is run with sudo, so as to both read certain files in /etc/ which have 0600 umasks, and also to be able to output to the log file in /var/log. HOWEVER You would think (or at least, I do) that something like "sudo rsync options source destination >> /var/log/logfile" would NOT give you a permission denied error. Similarly with "sudo date > /var/log/logfile". But you would be dead wrong. Running the entire script with sudo (ie, sudo b.netbackup) will work fine, as will running it from a hash prompt. Anyone got any ideas why I can't write to a log file using sudo? Hopefully it isn't something really obvious that will demonstrate my fundamental lack of understanding of how Linux works... Regards, Bnonn

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Re: [wlug] hoiho moving - service disruption
by Matthew Browne (DSL HN) 28 Nov '05

28 Nov '05

> From: Craig Box [mailto:craig(a)dubculture.co.nz] > > http://www.orcon.net.nz/images/international_traffic.gif > > You were saying? ;) > > They now (very rightfully) deprioritise P2P. I was taking that into account actually, they still aren't quite up to IHUG in terms of latency but it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be. I suspect IHUG already deprioritised P2P which would seem true if you try and use port 6881 for anything ;) Before Orcon started doing that they were having delays of up to 6000ms at peak times hitting overseas servers. It was virtually unusable for any real time applications (i.e. like gaming). Thankfully things have improved a lot now and the difference is slight. Matt

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Re: [wlug] hoiho moving - service disruption
by Matthew Browne (DSL HN) 28 Nov '05

28 Nov '05

> From: Gavin Denby [mailto:redhat(a)ihug.co.nz] > > Hmm Methinks I should have a look at Orcon's plans. after all > the best support I could give would be to use them as my ISP, > and IHUG's recent cap reduction on my plan still sits poorly with me. Not to belittle Orcon's support of the LUG or their great no-cap policy but from my own experience and a group of Orcon/IHUG users I know, Orcon's latencies are a little lacking at times compared with IHUG's. This isn't a dig at Orcon, in fact more power to them I'd say. My respect for them has grown too hearing they are supporting the LUG. The truth is, most people would probably not even notice but it's better to say it up front now rather than have those few to whom low latencies matter switch only to have some trouble. I blame all the heavy downloaders that love Orcon's no-cap plans personally. One other thing worth mentioning, Orcon probably loses money on consumer broadband as most ISPs do. If you really want to support them financially, buy their dialup, tolls or hosting services. Matt Browne

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WLUG Meeting is tonight
by Meeting Reminder bot 27 Nov '05

27 Nov '05

The WLUG meeting is this evening ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A WLUG meeting is booked for this date. Date: Monday 28 November Time: 7:30pm Location: J.1.10 at WaikatoUniversity If you're seeing this message, feel free to suggest or offer to present a meeting topic - the MeetingTopics page might be a good place to start.

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LUG Roundup Competition
by Karin Purser 26 Nov '05

26 Nov '05

Hi All, The first competition for the LUG Roundup has been announced and is now open. "Community Member of the Year" is open to all within the Linux community. The competition was opened at last nights LA Live from SLUG. Closing Date is 16th December at 5pm. All entries are to be sent in writing to comp.lugroundup(a)k-sit.com Entries are to be submitted in the form of 500 words or less. You either enter yourself or nominate a person you feel is deserving of the title, detailing how they have contributed to the community. Please include Name, Email address for the entrant, State and Suburb. We have 4 independant judges that will be judging each entry on merit. The winner will be notified and announced in the final episode for the year on 24th December. The winner will recieve a concession ticket to LCA2006 in Dunedin and $200 cash to assist them in getting there. Don't forget you will need a passport to travel to New Zealand.

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