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Episode 9 of the LUG Roundup
by Karin Purser 14 Nov '05

14 Nov '05

Hi All, Episode 9 of the LUG Roundup is now available. This fortnight we speak with Matt Brown from Waikato LUG in New Zealand. Sorry for the lateness of the post to notify, but due to technical problems(my computer dying) mid week I lost everything. So you can find the pods at the following links http://mirror.linux.org.au http://la-pod.k-sit.com Cherio Karin lugroundup(a)k-sit.com

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Installing Skype on Ubuntu [Rant]
by Mathew Carley 13 Nov '05

13 Nov '05

Today I "rescued" my laptop (temporary measure as it needs the hard disk replaced) by installing Ubuntu Hoary over what was SuSE 9.3. 1. Yes, I know I could get breezy. It would take <5 minutes to download on my connection here (Yay for 40 megabits). 2. SuSE 10 will be going on the new hard drive, anyway. [That DVD ISO took around 2 hours] Here's why I'm a bit frustrated at the moment with Ubuntu: I wanted to install Skype. Skype is a KDE app, (and it looks ugly in Gnome - there are workarounds, but aside from that). It requires libqt3-xxxxxxxx. Firstly, I was trying to install it from the .deb package distributed on skype.com <http://skype.com> (skype_1.2.0.18-1_i386). Err, no - turns out I needed libqt3c102-mt_3.3.4-3_i386. So I download it. I read that I can use libqt3-mt_3.3.5-1_i386 instead, which is supposed to be a better way... I thought hrm... I should only need this package and maybe one other... but no. Next, it tells me that I need (insert several GCC-related libraries and supporting packages * 6) Why is none of this mentioned on any of the forums I ended up going to? Long story short: Here is what I ended up downloading and installing with dpkg (and for some parts I used Synaptic, but I couldn't make a local repository? What about apt-get? Would that have made life easier?): cpp-4.0_4.0-0pre6ubuntu7_i386 gcc-4.0_4.0-0pre6ubuntu7_i386 gcc-4.0-base_4.0.2-3_i386 initrd-tools_0.1.81.1_i386 [and Ubuntu versions of initrd-tools 0.1.77 and 0.1.78; however they wouldn't work with libc6] libc6_2.3.5-6_i386 libfontconfig1_2.3.2-1_i386 libgcc1_4.0.2-2_i386 libqt3c102-mt_3.3.4-3_i386 [which was replaced with libqt3-mt_3.3.5-1_i386] libqt3-mt_3.3.5-1_i386 libstdc++6_4.0.2-3_i386 libxrender1_0.9.0-2_i386 nscd_2.3.2.ds1-20ubuntu14_i386 and of course skype_1.2.0.18-1_i386 Not only did I have to get the required versions of these files from ftp.fi.debian.org/ <http://ftp.fi.debian.org/>, but the Ubuntu versions were "outdated" in terms of version numbering. According to most of what I read, I should have just needed to resolve 1 or 2 things (ended up downloading the repackaged skype .deb from a link posted on the Ubuntu Forums). Now, aside from all that, when I went to install libc6_2.3.5-6_i386, I found it conflicted with initrd-tools. Which is a vital part of the OS, if I am not mistaken. However at some stage over the several hours I was installing and figuring all this out, it installed. At some stage Synaptic decided that it would be a good idea (well, it asked, and there didn't appear to be any "argh! don't do that!" option) to remove most of the base system because I no longer had initrd-tools. So I downloaded initrd-tools 0.1.81, installed that, but now I want to install things like locale, but it won't because it needs a whole lot of other things. I think if I reboot this machine it... well... won't. Perhaps I will download and install Breezy and give the same task a go. As I mentioned originally, installing Ubuntu on this hard-drive was just a temporary measure so that I could at least browse the net. I like Ubuntu, but I felt that I really had to stuff around to get this app installed (and even then it doesn't seem to quite work correctly). Did I just have a bad experience (that perhaps I shouldn't have?) Maybe I have been somewhat spoiled by SuSE, and I don't use Debian-based Distros that often, so I'm not as used to them, but has anyone else experienced similar problems? This is the part where you all go: you didn't need to do all that, you should have .... :-) -- Regards Mathew Carley HostENZ Data Services A Carley Network Media Ltd. (NZ) Company http://www.hostenz.co.nz mathewc(a)hostenz.co.nz Office Phone (Helsinki): +358 9 2316 3712 Cell Phone (Finland): +358 4 0816 2816 Cell Phone (France): +33 6 1811 9475 Skype: mgcarley The information contained in this electronic mail message and any attachments are confidential to Carley Network Media Ltd and it's subsidiaries, and may contain proprietary information or may be legally privileged. See http://www.cnmltd.net/email/ for our standard email disclaimer. Errors & Omissions Excepted. Prices in this email do not include GST unless stated otherwise.

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Re: [wlug] wlug Digest, Vol 173, Issue 12
by Mathew Carley 13 Nov '05

13 Nov '05

>Did you check that this package was compiled for your distribution? >Ie was that .deb for ubuntu hoary, or was it for debian sarge? .deb is >just a packaging format, it doesn't magically work on any computer that >can install .deb files, just like you can't assume a Red hat .rpm will >work on mandriva. See http://www.skype.com/products/skype/linux/ Debian package <http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-deb> (7.7 MB) Xandros, MEPIS, Ubuntu, other Debian-based distros Apparantely it was. Whether or not "Debian-based distros" is accurate is up to the development team. After reading a bit, I downloaded a version from ubuntuforums.org<http://ubuntuforums.org>that someone had re-compiled to work "correctly" with Ubuntu - which still didn't seem to work. >What provider offers 40mbit connection(s) in NZ ? Seems a rather odd >shape for bandwidth allocation. 1. No bandwidth provider offers 40mbit connections in New Zealand. I am currently living in Finland. 2. Yes, you are correct, it is unusual. I think it's actually rated at 48Mbits, but I typically get around 4000 *kilobytes* per second in actual download speed (total). I posted a screenshot of my downloading of the Breezy ISO from Denmark (not using a download manager other than the one that comes with firefox). The file came in at a measly average of 2950 kilobytes per second. (I have also used Ibiblio.org <http://Ibiblio.org> and got similar speeds). The screenshot is at http://www.mathew-carley.com/images/screenshot.png. >Sometimes Debian packages will work on Ubuntu, but that is only >coincidence. >If a package doesn?t work because it was made for Debian, not >Ubuntu, don?t even dream of installing other Debian packages to >make it run. You?ll tear up your system, but you won?t achieve a >working install. I figured that I was having a problem such as this, but wanted to see how far I could take it and if I could actually get it to work. I can load up skype and see my buddy list, but if I want to use voice or even text chat? Forgetaboutit! -- Regards Mathew Carley HostENZ Data Services A Carley Network Media Ltd. (NZ) Company http://www.hostenz.co.nz mathewc(a)hostenz.co.nz Office Phone (Helsinki): +358 9 2316 3712 Cell Phone (Finland): +358 4 0816 2816 Cell Phone (France): +33 6 1811 9475 Skype: mgcarley The information contained in this electronic mail message and any attachments are confidential to Carley Network Media Ltd and it's subsidiaries, and may contain proprietary information or may be legally privileged. See http://www.cnmltd.net/email/ for our standard email disclaimer. Errors & Omissions Excepted. Prices in this email do not include GST unless stated otherwise.

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D-Link DSL-302G modem queries
by Leslie Katz 12 Nov '05

12 Nov '05

I use the above modem, connected to my Ethernet port, with Fedora Core 3, kernel version 2.6.12-1.1378. I wanted to try out an application called Qnext, which is, among other things, a videoconferencing application. However, it insisted that the ports it required on my machine for incoming communications were not accesible by external contacts. Looking for the reason why that was, I found at the Australian D-Link site information about opening ports in the modem and realised that that was my problem. The D-Link information was for Windows only, so I looked on the Web to try to find information applicable to Linux. That led me to the WLUG Wiki page on the DSL-302G. That page contains the fullest information available on the topic, at least according to my Google searches I'm posting this because I'm hopeful that a subscriber to the list has followed the instructions on the Wiki page successfully to open a port. Unfortunately, I haven't even been able to take the first step, accessing the modem's internal web server. My Linux browser is Firefox. When I ask it to go to 10.1.1.1, I'm prompted for the user name and password and I give those and press Enter. Then, the browser says that it's waiting for 10.1.1.1 and never connects. My computer is dual-booting and my Windows browser is Firefox too. I tried to access 10.1.1.1 with it and had exactly the same result. I also have Internet Explorer and when I go through the same routine with it, I get the modem's internal web server instantaneously. Here are my questions: 1. Is there some thing I should be doing to access the server in Linux Firefox? 2. If I can't use Linux Firefox, is there some other browser anyone's used successfully? (I tried lynx, but it wouldn't work, I suppose because of the need for username and password. Maybe one can add those to the lynx command string, but that's way beyond my capabilities.) 3. Finally, I don't understand the effect of changing settings on the modem, but is it possible that changing them through Windows, which I think I could manage, would change them for Linux too? (I don't know how to express the idea technically correctly, but are those changes somehow internal to the modem and independent of the operating system used with the modem?) If anyone can give me information on any of the above questions, I'd be very grateful. Leslie PS: Ian McDonald, who kindly directed me to this list, said he thought that there'd been some discussion on this list recently about my modem. I searched for "302" by thread for each month for 2005, but found nothing. Perhaps the thread didn't make reference to that number. In any event, if you see this, Ian, I wouldn't want you to think I didn't bother trying the archives first.

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debianhelp new website - www.debianhelp.co.uk
by gg gg234 09 Nov '05

09 Nov '05

Hi, This new website is having some basic information about debian and still it is under development stage and you can post your comments about this website .This website might help for some users. www.debianhelp.co.uk Best regards

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Totem Music Player
by Ivan Potgieter 09 Nov '05

09 Nov '05

Craig Box wrote: > Gstreamer in Breezy isn't all that good at keeping sync with all files. > Try using mplayer or totem-xine. Totem-xine did the trick. Just use synaptic to install it and it works well. Many thanks, Ivan

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greig mcgill
by David Nicholls 08 Nov '05

08 Nov '05

sorry this is a bit off topic but can you please contact me greig? the contact details i have for you are a bit stuffed and i need to have a quick chat please. cheers... David Nicholls Computer Support Consultant d.nicholls at waikato.ac.nz School of Science & Engineering / Dept of Chemistry The University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand

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Totem Music Player
by Ivan Potgieter 08 Nov '05

08 Nov '05

Aristotle Pagaltzis wrote: > What codec is in use? As noted before, I'm using various gstreamer0.8 plug-ins. > MPlayer often has synch problems with Real-encoded films I am not using MPlayer and I'm not sure what Real-encoded refers to. > ... sometimes the file is really screwy ... These all play correctly on my Win2k PC, so it's not the files themselves. The files-types I've tried inlcude: mp3, mp3, mpg, avi, wmf, mpe, and others. I have tried as many as I can, but they all have the audio playing about 0.5 - 1 sec after the video. Ivan

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Totem Music Player
by Ivan Potgieter 07 Nov '05

07 Nov '05

Hello all, I've just tried to play a video clip on Totem Music Player (Ubuntu 5.10/Gnome) and the audio is not synched with the video. I have installed various gstreamer plug-ins. Has anyone else experienced this? What can be done to correct this? Regards, Ivan

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FW: Linux Research - Request For Assistance
by Craig Box 03 Nov '05

03 Nov '05

Another message for the LUG from afar. Craig ________________________________ From: Andi Mann [mailto:amann(a)enterprisemanagement.com] Sent: Friday, 4 November 2005 9:55 a.m. To: secretary(a)wlug.org.nz Subject: Linux Research - Request For Assistance Hi, I am a Senior Analyst for Enterprise Management Associates (www.enterprisemanagement.com) a leading IT analyst firm, covering Systems Management technology. We are doing an in-depth research paper on Linux server management, and would like your help to survey the members of the Waikato Linux Users Group. We have posted a web survey, and I would like you to forward this email to your members, asking them to complete the survey. Each survey should take about 10 minutes. The URL for the survey is: http://www.emausa.com/surveys/ema_lsurvey.htm The proposition I am researching is that the total cost of ownership (TCO) for large-scale commercial Linux systems is declining due to availability of more powerful management tools; and that Linux TCO is equal to or less than that of Windows. It is in reaction, in part, to 2004 studies from Meta Group, Yankee, and Microsoft claiming Linux has higher management costs, and higher TCO, than Windows. My research aims to find out if the availability of better management tools has further reduced the cost of Linux ownership. In return, we would be happy to provide any respondents with the completed report. We think this will be a very significant paper, which will help you and your members present independent validation of Linux cost advantages. I would appreciate your help. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks, Andi.

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