Annoying #Ubuntu Glitches

I think this has been going on for a couple of years now, but I still get stuck trying to install Ubuntu Restricted Extras to get the additional codecs needed for MP3 playback, etc.  If you the install through the Software Center, it hangs up on a permissions screen in the background that you don't have any access to.  Then you end up rebooting and get this annoying error pop-up:

The following packages requested additional data downloads after package installation, but the data could not be downloaded or could not be processed.

ttf-mscorefonts-installer

This is a permanent failure that leaves these packages unusable on your system.  You may need to fix your Internet connection, then remove and reinstall the packages to fix this problem.

I got hit with this even now (February, 2016) with a new install of Ubuntu 15.10. Note to self:  always remember to do this install from the command line:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Why I Dislike @Microsoft and Use #Ubuntu instead

Scenario: Windows 10 on a HP tablet consistently stops on a routine Windows Update around 80%. Multiple reboots.  No resolution. I turn to the Microsoft Support Forum, find no answer. Click on the Online Chat with Support.

After one sentence describing the issue, I only get this as a solution:

Rose....

‎2‎:‎29‎:‎56‎ ‎PM

Okay, I suggest you to contact a local technician for the further assistance with this issue. Hello, I am the local technician (Microsoft Certified Professional).  What kind of answer is that?  Back to the laptop with Ubuntu Linux.  Thanks anyway.

Linux Based PC for Under $100

On a budget? Need a basic workstation and prefer to use Linux/Open Source software? Want to have a planet-friendly alternative for computing?

SymplePC.com has introduced a re-manufactured workstation running Ubuntu Linux. See the press release for more details.

Ubuntu 14.04 Upgrade Bug

I upgraded one laptop with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS to 14.04 LTS. Most of the process went pretty smoothly.  However, every software update after the upgrade complains about a failed install:
Calculating upgrade... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
38 not fully installed or removed.

For the sake of brevity, I won't post the entire string of error messages, but it boils down to errors encountered while processing: tex-common

Researching a bit leads me to this bug report - "package tex-common 4.04 failed to install/upgrade" - which proves to be interesting reading.  The issue is also listed on the TrustyTahr Release Notes under Known Issues.

Towards the bottom of the bug report a fix has been suggested (post #12). Also for users that know they have the tex-common package installed (appears to be pretty common), it is suggested to purge the package before the upgrade and then re-install (post #13).

Ah, the joys of upgrades!

Ubuntu: Linux for human beings

Catchy phrase, eh?  Up to three installations of Ubuntu now (2 laptops, 1 server) and enjoying every minute.

 

Found this over at LinuxCounter.net - guess it's a bragging rights kind of thing.

Of course, could always learn new a thing or two about Ubuntu and Linux in general.

Check out this blog:

Cool UBUNTU Tips & Tricks brought to you by OzzyFrank

Logwatch and fail2ban

Things are running along pretty smoothly on the Ubuntu server over on Amazon AWS. Doing some research on server admin and security, saw a post on installing Logwatch to more easily scan the logs daily.   Of course, no surprise to see lots of attempts at compromising the server.

Decided to do something about it and found this article (geared more to Debian Wheezy, but still applies to Ubuntu): Install and Config Fail2Ban

I particularly liked the information about apache-badbots and apache-myadmin, both of which would help block a lot of the traffic seen in the logs.

Also saw lots of entries in the logs with w00tw00t.at.blackhats.romanian.anti-sec:)
So looked up a post on this blog that discusses using fail2ban specifically to block it.

Fun stuff!

Ubuntu on Dell Inspiron 1420

Earlier I posted that I had installed Ubuntu on an old computer, but didn't really go into any detail about the hardware.  It's a 5 year old Dell Inspiron 1420 that was running with the original Windows Vista (service pack 2 installed).

This poor old laptop had a couple rounds of spyware/malware and was pretty buggy to the point no one wanted to even try to use any more.  Almost to the point of recycling it (or donating to a worthy cause), but thought why not install one of the new Linux distributions on it for fun.  Turns out it gave the old Dell a brand new lease on life!

With that said, I'd had some problems with the wireless drivers related to the hardware on this model, the Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini-Card.  I had read previously about issues with proprietary drivers, etc.  Ubuntu connected via wireless without a hitch but I always had to manually reconnect the wireless after a reboot.  Researching showed several others having the same problem with 12.04 and recommended a different connection manager - wicd - but that caused more problems on the Dell because wireless broke all together.

Long story short, I put the default network-manager back and decided that the issue wasn't with Ubuntu but rather the drivers.   Still want to link to an article about an alternative for later:

Broadcom Wireless on Ubuntu

more Ubuntu changes

After setting up a nice screensaver in Raspbian on the Raspberry Pi, I realized that my laptop with Ubuntu 12.04 only had the default blank screen available.  Not to be outdone by the RasPi, I found some information about why Ubuntu's screensaver is the way it is and what to do about it:

How to Add Screensavers to Ubuntu 12.04

more Raspberry Pi

Here's something very interesting - combining my two newest hobbies Ubuntu Linux and RaspPi - A Raspberry Pi Build Cluster for Ubuntu

Never mind that I can't actually watch the YouTube video with Raspbian :-P

Still, if it could be done, I think having a modified Ubuntu that could run on the Raspberry Pi would be cool!

Customizing Ubuntu

Just for future reference, I'm going to try and list all the different software packages I've added to Ubuntu now I've got it installed on this old laptop.

I must say, installing and customizing things on Ubuntu is much easier than the last time I tried using a flavor of Linux (Redhat back around 2006 or so).

Here's the list so far:

• Oracle Java(TM) Development Kit (JDK) 7
• Eclipse, using the Ubuntu Software Center, got an older version (Indigo), but that's ok with me
• Wikipedia Lens
• OpenSSH server
• Gimp
• Lightweight Java Game Library (lwjgl) by following this link
• Boot-Up Manager (BUM)
• ClassicMenu Indicator
• Kompozer
• XChat-GNOME
• FileZilla (I know it's got FTP built in, but I like FileZilla anyway)

That's it for now, but I'm sure to find some more toys to download and install.

Do you Ubuntu?

Just installed Ubuntu 12.04 on an old laptop.  Pretty cool so far.  Always liked working with Linux and now they are so easy to install and configure, even with WiFi, webcams, USB, etc.

It was quite an "upgrade" from the cranky old Windows Vista that was running on this computer.