RE: Uni contact for an RMS talk

[Payne, Owen]

Do you need to reserve seats/space or is it first come first seated etc?


-Original Message-
From: Rik Tindall [mailto:a...@infohelp.co.nz] 
Sent: Monday, 5 October 2009 4:31 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Uni contact for an RMS talk

Thanks Roger,

Confirming this event now.

Yes, it's an inimitable performance that RMS always gives..

Roger Searle wrote:
> Having heard RMS speak last year, I would highly recommend this event 
> to everyone.  I hadn't known too much about his philosophies or 
> technical background, nor had I paid too much attention to "free" or 
> "Free" or GNU/Linux etc.  I spent a little time investigating prior to

> his speech last year and am much wiser for having done so.  He is an 
> excellent speaker, intelligent, eloquent, entertaining, and of course 
> is a geek of the most high order (and I'm far from being worthy).  I'm

> putting next Tuesday in my calendar now.
>
> Will confirm once we're ready to spread the word, but the RMS 
> Ch-ch extra speaking date will be: Tues 13 October

Room: A1 Lecture Theatre [Arts block]
Date(s): Tuesday, 13/10/2009
Time: 17:00-19:00
Booked For:  Richard Stallman talk
Event Name:  Richard Stallman talk

+ topic to be defined soon.

--
Kind regards,
Rik Tindall


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RE: Good broadband provider in Christchurch

[Payne, Owen]

On a similar note and sorry to top the thread...but what are the
contract terms like for broadband, are they all 12 months 24 months or
are there any that offer short term, casual contracts?

 

-Original Message-
From: Robert Fisher [mailto:rob...@fisher.net.nz] 
Sent: Wednesday, 23 September 2009 4:15 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Good broadband provider in Christchurch

On Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:25:22 Dan Wallis wrote:
> Hello
> 
> I'm currently living in the UK, and am moving to Christchurch in 
> January. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good ISP in NZ?
> When I was growing up (in NZ), Clear.net.nz were good, but that was 
> back in the days of dial-up. Is the information on 
> http://www.internetchoice.co.nz reliable?

I use and recommend Orcon. They have provided me and many customers with
good service and they consistently rate high in Customer satisfaction.

> How long does it typically
> take to get a DSL line installed,

Xtra (Telecom) used to be difficult, especially when they were supplying
the connection for another ISP. I considered it anti competitive but got
nowher when I complained to the Commerce Commission.

> or would you recommend going
> wireless? I have my own DSL router, so it'd be nice to be able to use 
> that; although I'm yet to determine if it's 2+ ready.
> 
> Thanks
> Dan
> 

--
Regards, Robert

--
Robert Fisher
(aka - Rob, Bob, Robbie, Robbo, Fish)
www.fisher.net.nz
Phone:  03 383 5807
Mobile: 027 228 4698

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RE: Into the echoing silence

[Payne, Owen]

\>ping

Usage: ping [-t] [-a] [-n count] [-l size] [-f] [-i TTL] [-v TOS]
[-r count] [-s count] [[-j host-list] | [-k host-list]]
[-w timeout] target_name

Options:
-t Ping the specified host until stopped.
   To see statistics and continue - type Control-Break;
   To stop - type Control-C.
-a Resolve addresses to hostnames.
-n count   Number of echo requests to send.
-l sizeSend buffer size.
-f Set Don't Fragment flag in packet.
-i TTL Time To Live.
-v TOS Type Of Service.
-r count   Record route for count hops.
-s count   Timestamp for count hops.
-j host-list   Loose source route along host-list.
-k host-list   Strict source route along host-list.
-w timeout Timeout in milliseconds to wait for each reply. 

You forgot to include a target for your ping

-Original Message-
From: Roy Britten [mailto:roy.brit...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 22 July 2009 2:28 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Into the echoing silence

ping

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RE: Not sure if anyone has seen this already.

[Payne, Owen]

How do I install BBC iPlayer Desktop on a Linux machine?


If your computer meets our recommended specifications
<http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/download_programmes/desktop_
requirements>  the BBC iPlayer pages should be able to detect what you
need to install and guide you through the process.

BBC iPlayer Desktop is powered by Adobe Air (Adobe Integrated Runtime).
When you install BBC iPlayer Desktop you also install the Adobe Air
components. Air may already be installed on your computer as it is being
used by many other applications. Find out more about Adobe Air here
<http://www.adobe.com/products/air/> .




From: zed...@gmail.com [mailto:zed...@gmail.com] On Behalf Of David Lowe
Sent: Wednesday, 3 June 2009 5:13 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Not sure if anyone has seen this already.


On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 3:26 PM, Payne, Owen 
wrote:



Covering a lot of safe ground and nothing out of the ordinary,
but good
coverage


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kp806/Inside_the_Virtual_Anthill
_Open_Source_Means_Business/
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kp806/Inside_the_Virtual_Anthil
l%0A_Open_Source_Means_Business/> 




ummm so do I need to install some closed source proprietary software
to view a presentation about open source? Is this irony day?

- D


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Not sure if anyone has seen this already.

[Payne, Owen]

 
Covering a lot of safe ground and nothing out of the ordinary, but good
coverage

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kp806/Inside_the_Virtual_Anthill
_Open_Source_Means_Business/

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RE: Help

[Payne, Owen]

http://www.ipcop.org/index.php?module=pnWikka&tag=IPCopDocumentation 

-Original Message-
From: Julian Warwick Bethell [mailto:jwbeth...@paradise.net.nz] 
Sent: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:49 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: RE: Help


DO YOU HAVE A DMZ ORANGE networks. SETUP YOURSETF I don't know want you
meant 

  

Julian Bethell
PC Technician

2/96 Wainui Street
Riccarton
Christchurch
New Zealand
tel: (03) 348-5875
mobile: 0211643666
computert...@paradise.net.nz



-Original Message-
From: Steve Holdoway [mailto:st...@greengecko.co.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 11:08 AM
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Help

From the intranet:

1. Set up apache and host the website on 192.168.0.59 2. Check it's
working by pointing your browser from a machine on the Green network to
192.168.0.59.
3. Set up DNS to resolve the website name internally to 192.168.0.59

From the internet:

1. Set up your external DNS to point to the IP address of your adsl port
( you may need to use a service like no-ip or dyndns if you have a
dynamic IP address ).
2. Using the port forwarding menus on IpCop, Forward ports 80 and 443
from DEFAULT IP to 192.168.0.59

...
profit.


Steve

On Tue, 19 May 2009 10:56:33 +1200
Julian Warwick Bethell  wrote:

> I want to see this website from the intranet and the outside I am 
> using Linux host it
> 
> 
>   
> 
> Julian Bethell
> PC Technician
> 
> 2/96 Wainui Street
> Riccarton
> Christchurch
> New Zealand
> tel: (03) 348-5875
> mobile: 0211643666
> computert...@paradise.net.nz
> 
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Steve Holdoway [mailto:st...@greengecko.co.nz]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 10:30 AM
> To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
> Subject: Re: Help
> 
> Where do you want to see this website from ( ie intranet, office ), 
> and
what
> software are you using to host it?
> 
> On Tue, 19 May 2009 10:22:00 +1200
> Julian Warwick Bethell  wrote:
> 
> > I am running a web server to do some web Hosting and I want to setup

> > a
DMZ
> Orange zone on my IpCop firewall.
> > 
> > My web server machines IP is 192.168.0.60 and my Orange zone card is
> 192.168.0.59
> > 
> > 
> >   
> > 
> > Julian Bethell
> > PC Technician
> > 
> > 2/96 Wainui Street
> > Riccarton
> > Christchurch
> > New Zealand
> > tel: (03) 348-5875
> > mobile: 0211643666
> > computert...@paradise.net.nz
> > 
> > 
> > -Original Message-
> > From: jim.cheet...@gmail.com [mailto:jim.cheet...@gmail.com] On 
> > Behalf
Of
> Jim Cheetham
> > Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 8:15 PM
> > To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
> > Subject: Re: Help
> > 
> > On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 8:02 PM, Julian Warwick Bethell 
> >  wrote:
> > > Can you help me setting up a DMZ
> > 
> > Is this still not working for you? You're thread-jumping, too.
> > 
> > Please read http://catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html and 
> > possibly http://www.wikihow.com/Ask-a-Question-Intelligently
> > 
> > Then start a new message to the list (not a reply to a previous one)

> > and tell us what equipment you have, what the configuration is, and 
> > what new thing you want it to do.
> > 
> > It's quite possible that a DMZ is not what you need, but we won't 
> > know until you explain what you're trying to do.
> > 
> > -jim
> > 
> 
> 
> --
> Steve Holdoway  http://www.greengecko.co.nz
> 


--
Steve Holdoway 
http://www.greengecko.co.nz


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RE: uses for old computers

[Payne, Owen]

The fans are useful in greenhouses etc for moving the air around if you
attach a solar panel. Door stops? 

-Original Message-
From: Derek Smithies [mailto:de...@indranet.co.nz] 
Sent: Tuesday, 12 May 2009 3:36 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: uses for old computers

Hi,
  So what do you do with the old computers that one tends to acquire?

They are "old" so the hardware is borderline for reliability, so there
is not much point in putting lots of time in them to making them do big
important jobs.
   An old computer as a fileserver - will work, but when it fails the
blood pressure goes up (the kids want their videos to watch) and it is
not good.
The WAF is poor - they don't seem to appreciate when their videos are
not available

fileserver yes, maybe. Bit limited on ram, so is a bit slow.
firewall - yes, the throughtput is low cause ADSL is quite slow. But I
only need 1 firewall and I have "lots" of the old computers.

On the old computers, the harddrive is often thefirst thing to go, so
maybe a liveCD running some application is the way to go. Yes - but
what?

As a book end - well, it is a bit big for this..

Hmm, - two computers + some planks of wood and we have a respectable
shelf.. Just a bit big.

What about a really exotic use?
Some custom software, custom hardware, use the computer power supply and
we could have a really high speed battery charger..
---Does anyone know of such a project ?---

Ahh.
  A teaching tool. Yes, - show kids how they work - pull it apart.
Remove cover on the hard drive, and scratch the platter as it it
attempts to start up. Makes a horrible sound, but the kids see that when
the disk surface is scratched, the computer cannot even begin the boot
process..

Install win98 on it, and run all the old games which are still
available. 
Yes, but it is of questionable legality to install pirated win98 isos.

Comment??

Derek.

P.S. In fact, the most common use for old computers is to take up space
in the garage.
  --
Derek Smithies Ph.D.
IndraNet Technologies Ltd.
ph +64 3 365 6485
Web: http://www.indranet-technologies.com/

"The only thing IE should be used for is to download Fire Fox"

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RE: debugging gdm session errors

[Payne, Owen]

Reconfigure x via the terminal 

-Original Message-
From: 164qv.a...@gmail.com [mailto:164qv.a...@gmail.com] On Behalf Of
Kerry Mayes
Sent: Wednesday, 6 May 2009 4:13 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: debugging gdm session errors

Hi all

I've just upgraded to Ubuntu Jaunty on three machines but am having
difficulty with one machine.  The problem is that after logging in, I
just get a black screen with the mouse pointer, which I can move around
but get no other response.  I've had no luck finding anything on this
error via google, the reported bugs, or on the Ubuntu forum so I've been
trying to do more diagnosis before reporting it as a bug.

I can ctrl+alt+F1 to get a terminal screen and I can log in via ssh.

I can log in to a "failsafe gnome" session but this just gives me a
terminal window with no window manager (I can run one graphical
programme but it has no window controls).

So far I have found that the scripts in xsession.d all seem to be being
executed:
Synergy, which I have loading from a script in xsession.d, runs fine in
any position I put it in in that directory - though I can't put it after
99x11-common_start

How would I progress from here?

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RE: Workshop Weds 7pm

[Payne, Owen]

Do you have 9.04 down and available to burn? 

-Original Message-
From: Rik Tindall [mailto:a...@infohelp.co.nz] 
Sent: Wednesday, 6 May 2009 10:17 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Cc: Free Software Group
Subject: Workshop Weds 7pm

Hi all, monthly notice,  6 May:

Tonight is the Sydenham GNU/Linux Users' Free Software class,
7.30-9.30pm (first Wednesday of each month, February to December), at
the South Learning Centre
, (rear door) South
Christchurch Library, 66 Colombo Street, Beckenham: 2009.

BYO distro liveCD show & tell, exchange & tuition.

Ubuntu is the default distro used, and release 9.04 is just two weeks
old. A chance to meet other users, of *BSD too, have installation
questions answered, and get on-line security tips, etc.

All welcome.

--
Kind regards,
Rik Tindall


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RE: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Payne, Owen]

I think the question should be "Do all bios have the ability to boot usb
sticks properly?" 

-Original Message-
From: Christopher Sawtell [mailto:csawt...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 April 2009 2:38 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

Do all USB memory sticks available now-a-days work properly as bootable
devices?

What about SD cards?

--
Sincerely etc.
Christopher Sawtell

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RE: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Payne, Owen]

On a daily use basis I find it a very usable system. Open office, a
browser, a mail client and some troubleshooting tools. It's quick to
boot and runs well on even minimal systems, and it's not for the other
features it includes. I tried a few others before settling on this one.
The ubuntu usb utility was easy to use and created a nice system but I
found it a little slow. Puppy on a stick is one of the better ones I
found along with Knoppix. 

-Original Message-
From: Aidan Gauland [mailto:wgsil...@no8wireless.co.nz] 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 April 2009 11:15 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

He said "likely to run on any random computer", not "help me crack any
random computer". :)

Payne, Owen wrote:
> And then there's backtrack of course. 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Ross Drummond [mailto:r...@ashburton.co.nz] What I am after is 
> likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a browser and capability

> of connecting to the internet, has a small writable space, and as a 
> bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it encounters.

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RE: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Payne, Owen]

And then there's backtrack of course. 

-Original Message-
From: Ross Drummond [mailto:r...@ashburton.co.nz] 
Sent: Tuesday, 28 April 2009 5:02 pm
To: CLUG mailing list
Subject: Linux on USB stick recommendations

Does the group have any suggestions for what to run on a USB stick as a
live Linux system?

What I am after is likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a
browser and capability of connecting to the internet, has a small
writable space, and as a bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it
encounters.

I have a USB stick with System Rescue on it which works well, but it is
not designed for desk-top type tasks.

Cheers Ross Drummond

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RE: Getting started with 802.11

[Payne, Owen]

On a similar note I have a usb wireless card that I use for an old computer 
using knoppix and it has a problem detecting this at startup. No wireless card 
is detected and I cannot start it at all. Is there a trick to getting usb 
wireless cards detected? Once it is detected it should be no issue configuring 
and bringing it up. But does anyone have any ideas what I should do to detect 
it.

-Original Message-
From: Nick Rout [mailto:nick.r...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 8 April 2009 1:36 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Getting started with 802.11

On Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 1:26 PM, Roy Britten  wrote:
> 2009/4/8 Gauland, Michael :
>>  The next into the modern age is to get my laptop networking 
>> wirelessly under Ubuntu.  I've installed 'ndiswrapper',  and the USB 
>> stick seems to be working. 'wifi-radar' reports finding the router, 
>> but I haven't been able to get a connection up.
>
> And what are you running?
>
> If any of the 8.10 *buntus, ignore all the out-of-date advice on the 
> Interwebs regarding installing additional packages. It often (based on 
> very limited personal experience and some Googling) Just Works if you 
> leave it as a standard setup and enable the backports repository. (And 
> update and upgrade forthwith.) Installing ndiswrapper may or may not 
> adversely affect your results.
>
> Roy.
>

Recommendation: use an atheros card if at all possible. They just work on linux.

Unfortunately your laptop may have given you no choice of chipset, but often 
they are mini-pci and you can swap out a broadcom etc for an atheros based one.

I have had no real problems with ubuntu/mythbuntu 8.04 or 8.10 using atheros 
chipsets, using the standard network manager and no extra packages.

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RE: linux in media in a better light

[Payne, Owen]

I think he is referring to the following 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/18/linux_adoption_in_recession_idc_
09/ 

-Original Message-
From: Nick Rout [mailto:nick.r...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, 19 March 2009 3:51 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: linux in media in a better light

On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 3:35 PM, chris  wrote:
> The following may help

may help what?

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RE: linux in media in a better light

[Payne, Owen]

If I was to suggest this to the technology editor on the press do you
think it would be OK to say that it comes from the LUG as that may carry
a little more weight. Obviously if anyone disagrees then I won't.

-Original Message-
From: Payne, Owen [mailto:owen.pa...@ccc.govt.nz] 
Sent: Thursday, 19 March 2009 3:05 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: RE: linux in media in a better light

I think his change in tone was a little forced as he still manages to
get a bash in at

"The trick is finding a system that doesn't take an army of geeks to
install and configure and does what you need it to do out of the box"

However he is still grudgingly positive about linux 

"Of all the alternative operating systems, one stands out when it comes
to great performance on lower-spec hardware - Linux.

Those of you shaking your heads and turning the page, hold on. There are
plenty of other options if you can't stomach Linux, but I can tell you
right now they won't perform anywhere near as well as a well- tuned
Linux setup, so bear with me for a moment"

However his tone does seem to suggest that linux is a last resort if
your machine won't take xp or win98!

I wonder if there would be an appetite in the local press for a true man
on the street comparison of the two operating systems. From install to
internet and to document production and email on both windows and linux
side by side.

It could be a good article in the middle of a recession.

-Original Message-
From: jim.cheet...@gmail.com [mailto:jim.cheet...@gmail.com] On Behalf
Of Jim Cheetham
Sent: Thursday, 19 March 2009 2:57 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: linux in media in a better light

On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 2:01 PM, Adrian Mageanu
 wrote:
> Example given is this article in The Press 
> http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/2269025/Renew-your-old-PC
>
> that offers Linux as a viable alternative for desktops and home use.
>
> I don't personally know the author of the article, but he has my tick 
> of approval for what he wrote there.
>
> Noting that he is the same author who wrote the previously discussed 
> articles, I welcome the change of tone and touch of objectivity.

His advice is suspect ... "find an old 98 disk and install" is terrible.
It's unlikely that the licensing would be valid, and Win98 is totally
unsupported, and supports only outdated and insecure versions of IE. A
pretty irresponsible comment.

He avoids the comparison of Linux with XP/Vista, by implying that it is
only worth considering if you have outdated hardware. A head-to-head
comparison would be more interesting, from the perspective of improving
the performance of your existing machine by switching OS.

On the plus side, he has targetted pretty much the correct distributions
for the hardware in question. So that's good :-)

-jim

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RE: linux in media in a better light

[Payne, Owen]

I think his change in tone was a little forced as he still manages to
get a bash in at

"The trick is finding a system that doesn't take an army of geeks to
install and configure and does what you need it to do out of the box"

However he is still grudgingly positive about linux 

"Of all the alternative operating systems, one stands out when it comes
to great performance on lower-spec hardware - Linux.

Those of you shaking your heads and turning the page, hold on. There are
plenty of other options if you can't stomach Linux, but I can tell you
right now they won't perform anywhere near as well as a well- tuned
Linux setup, so bear with me for a moment"

However his tone does seem to suggest that linux is a last resort if
your machine won't take xp or win98!

I wonder if there would be an appetite in the local press for a true man
on the street comparison of the two operating systems. From install to
internet and to document production and email on both windows and linux
side by side.

It could be a good article in the middle of a recession.

-Original Message-
From: jim.cheet...@gmail.com [mailto:jim.cheet...@gmail.com] On Behalf
Of Jim Cheetham
Sent: Thursday, 19 March 2009 2:57 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: linux in media in a better light

On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 2:01 PM, Adrian Mageanu
 wrote:
> Example given is this article in The Press 
> http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/2269025/Renew-your-old-PC
>
> that offers Linux as a viable alternative for desktops and home use.
>
> I don't personally know the author of the article, but he has my tick 
> of approval for what he wrote there.
>
> Noting that he is the same author who wrote the previously discussed 
> articles, I welcome the change of tone and touch of objectivity.

His advice is suspect ... "find an old 98 disk and install" is terrible.
It's unlikely that the licensing would be valid, and Win98 is totally
unsupported, and supports only outdated and insecure versions of IE. A
pretty irresponsible comment.

He avoids the comparison of Linux with XP/Vista, by implying that it is
only worth considering if you have outdated hardware. A head-to-head
comparison would be more interesting, from the perspective of improving
the performance of your existing machine by switching OS.

On the plus side, he has targetted pretty much the correct distributions
for the hardware in question. So that's good :-)

-jim

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RE: OT: C.S's Destination.

[Payne, Owen]

 Packing list for scotland

Rain coat
Parka
Rainproof overtrousers
Packamack
Wellies
Loads of fleece
Rain hat
umbrella
As much healthy food as you can pack as there is feck all in
scotland...have you ever tried a battered mars bar

-Original Message-
From: John Carter [mailto:john.car...@tait.co.nz] 
Sent: Monday, 9 March 2009 9:06 am
To: Christopher Sawtell
Cc: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: OT: C.S's Destination.

On Fri, 6 Mar 2009, Christopher Sawtell wrote:

> I was asked off list:
>
>> Where are you off to?
>
> Just so you all know:-
>
> http://www.rosehearty.com/
>
> http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=map+rosehearty+aberdeenshire+scotland+
> uk

Hmm. Satellite view shows cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud as far as the
browser can see.

Streetview hasn't made it out there yet.

Terrain shows flat as a pancake and right next to the sea.

Mapview shows very small village with a photo of a lighthouse getting
clobbered by high seas and a force 10 gale.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13833614

I take it sunlight, and safe from global warming driven sea level rise
are not high on your list of criteria for destinations.

> And specially for the hawk-eyed puppies amongst us the font is set to 
> be almost invisible.
> Arial @ 10 points.
>
> Happy now?

Can't say I noticed the change. It's all the same clean clear font in
alpine (the text based mailer I use).

Well, Good Luck to you and enjoy! Keep in contact!

John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639
Tait ElectronicsFax   : (64)(3) 359 4632
PO Box 1645 ChristchurchEmail : john.car...@tait.co.nz
New Zealand


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RE: Hardy 8.04 modem concerns

[Payne, Owen]

You say it times out, do you get a ppp log of the session? 

-Original Message-
From: chris [mailto:che...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, 24 February 2009 4:31 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Hardy 8.04 modem concerns

sorry Steve the information I sent you was from the wrong machine  :-(

I have just resent the correct info
Regards Chris

On Tue, 2009-02-24 at 16:25 +1300, Steve Holdoway wrote:
> Looks like you may need to trawl through the intel website for the
right drivers ):
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Steve.
> 
> On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:07:39 +1300
> chris  wrote:
> 
> > Forgot, modem is attached to ttyso
> > Cheers Chris
> > not ttyusb0
> > I am having to send this from another machine not the one that won't

> > connect.
> > 
> > On Tue, 2009-02-24 at 15:41 +1300, Steve Holdoway wrote:
> > > On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:33:20 +1300 chris  wrote:
> > > 
> > > > Hi All
> > > > I can not connect from my hardy partition to xtra, using either 
> > > > wvdial, or gnome pp.
> > > > This same machine will connect using the the same modem from the

> > > > windows partition.
> > > > Can anyone please offer any sugestions?
> > > > 
> > > > Regards Chris Thomas
> > > > 
> > > Hi Chris,
> > > 
> > > Knowing what the modem was ( sudo lspci should tell you ) will
make support easier (:
> > > 
> > > Cheers, Steve
> > 
> 
> 


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RE: wireless connecting - network manager problem?

[Payne, Owen]

Anything in the logs? And what is the wireless card on the laptop? 

-Original Message-
From: Nick Rout [mailto:nick.r...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, 20 February 2009 11:53 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: wireless connecting - network manager problem?

Yes network manager has improved, but I find now that I am asked for my
encyption password each time I log on (or is it reboot?) whereas on
8.04 it joined up to the wireless on login.

Anyone know how to get back the old behaviour?

On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 11:48 AM, Caleb Sawtell 
wrote:
> Personally I found that connecting to wireless was alot more reliable 
> in ubuntu 8.10 :)
>
> On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 11:30 AM, Andrew Errington 
>  wrote:
>>
>> Could be deteriorating hardware.  Try a USB wireless dongle and 
>> disable the built-in wireless.  See if the exact same issues persist 
>> with the new hardware (everything else is the same).
>>
>> A
>>
>> On Fri, February 20, 2009 11:09, Roger Searle wrote:
>> > Hi, over the last month or so I have experienced increasing 
>> > problems getting the wireless connection to connect.  This is an 
>> > ubuntu 8.04 with gnome, network manager 0.6.6.  Only changes have 
>> > been any updates via apt-get update/upgrade.  Connections are to 2
separate wrt54gl routers
>> > (home, work), set up essentially the same.   I know they function
OK
>> > based on other laptops connecting without issue.
>> >
>> > Going back a month, connections would "just work" on logging on to 
>> > the gnome desktop.  Then I would occasionally experience a problem 
>> > connecting, and manually intervene via  network manager.  2 weeks 
>> > or so ago I began to be prompted for the passphrase and could then 
>> > successfully connect.  Now I am often unable to connect at all, or 
>> > can connect after 2 or sometimes 3 or 4 times entering the 
>> > passphrase. Sometimes I'm having to resort to an ethernet cable  
>> > :-(
>> >
>> > Turning on and off the wireless switch on the laptop, or disabling 
>> > then re-enabling wireless via network manager, or a reboot, or 
>> > resetting the router, have all been tried in an attempt to resolve 
>> > with any consistency, but generally it's random if it is 
>> > successful.  Removing and recreating the passphrase entry in the 
>> > "Passwords and Encryption Keys" tool (where the password is usually

>> > shown in what appears to be a hex format) hasn't helped.
>> >
>> > I'm at a loss to explain what I am describing, so seeking any 
>> > suggestions on how to resolve this or where to look.
>> >
>> > Cheers,
>> > Roger
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

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RE: wireless connecting - network manager problem?

[Payne, Owen]

Could be a timeout issue with the security or the session??? 

-Original Message-
From: Roger Searle [mailto:w...@paradise.net.nz] 
Sent: Friday, 20 February 2009 11:10 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: wireless connecting - network manager problem?

Hi, over the last month or so I have experienced increasing problems
getting the wireless connection to connect.  This is an ubuntu 8.04 with
gnome, network manager 0.6.6.  Only changes have been any updates via
apt-get update/upgrade.  Connections are to 2 separate wrt54gl routers
(home, work), set up essentially the same.   I know they function OK
based on other laptops connecting without issue.

Going back a month, connections would "just work" on logging on to the
gnome desktop.  Then I would occasionally experience a problem
connecting, and manually intervene via  network manager.  2 weeks or so
ago I began to be prompted for the passphrase and could then
successfully connect.  Now I am often unable to connect at all, or can
connect after 2 or sometimes 3 or 4 times entering the passphrase.
Sometimes I'm having to resort to an ethernet cable  :-(

Turning on and off the wireless switch on the laptop, or disabling then
re-enabling wireless via network manager, or a reboot, or resetting the
router, have all been tried in an attempt to resolve with any
consistency, but generally it's random if it is successful.  Removing
and recreating the passphrase entry in the "Passwords and Encryption
Keys" tool (where the password is usually shown in what appears to be a
hex format) hasn't helped.

I'm at a loss to explain what I am describing, so seeking any
suggestions on how to resolve this or where to look.

Cheers,
Roger



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RE: Remove a watermark from a PDF

[Payne, Owen]

Manuals are more reassuring than useful, it's kind of like a technical
comfort blanket...most companies never actually expect anyone to read
them hence why most lack basic proof reading for clarity and seem to
have been translated from the japanes to English via cyrillic and
klingon. 

-Original Message-
From: Andrew Errington [mailto:a.erring...@lancaster.ac.uk] 
Sent: Thursday, 19 February 2009 10:24 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Remove a watermark from a PDF

> Mostly they sem to contain drivel about interference with other 
> devices, the evils of inserting your VCR in a bathtub or leaving your 
> 46 inch TV outside in the rain.

And never clean anything with benzene!

A

(Actually, I do like reading manuals.  From cover to cover.)


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RE: en_nz dictionaries?

[Payne, Owen]

I meant the valleys of Wales ;-) although you get similar substances
there sold in ounces, half ounces, eighths and teenths...

-Original Message-
From: ke...@katipo.net.nz [mailto:ke...@katipo.net.nz] 
Sent: Thursday, 12 February 2009 10:47 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: RE: en_nz dictionaries?

Quoting "Payne, Owen" :

> I came out here nearly 2 years ago and in the valleys you still ask 
> for ounce bags of tobacco,

Snip

That's not to only thing sold in ounces in certain valleys - especially
on the West Coast.

Regards,
Kerry


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RE: en_nz dictionaries?

[Payne, Owen]

It's only illegal if the government is willing to prosecute. See my
previous post 

-Original Message-
From: Steve Holdoway [mailto:st...@greengecko.co.nz] 
Sent: Thursday, 12 February 2009 9:30 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: en_nz dictionaries?

On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:21:33 +1300
Zane Gilmore  wrote:

> Britain does *not* use metric standards.
> We were there about 3 years ago and petrol was sold in gallons and the

> speed signs were in miles per hour.
> The speedo on our rental car was in mph.
> Stuff at the supermarket was sold in pounds.
> 
> Britain has *not* gone metric.

Gallons! that's a bit rich! So all they media frenzy about fuel going
over a pound a litre didn't happen, then??? It's also *illegal* to price
up products in pounds. The European Union's 1994 Units of Measurements
Regulations became law in the UK at the turn of the century.

I've told you a million times not to exaggerate (:

Steve
--
Steve Holdoway 

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RE: en_nz dictionaries?

[Payne, Owen]

I came out here nearly 2 years ago and in the valleys you still ask for
ounce bags of tobacco, and a pound of mince,. If you ask for 200g of
anything in the local shops you get a confused look ( mind you the
confused look seems to be permanent with some of the shop assistants). 

-Original Message-
From: Steve Holdoway [mailto:st...@greengecko.co.nz] 
Sent: Thursday, 12 February 2009 9:13 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: en_nz dictionaries?

On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:52:39 +1300
"Payne, Owen"  wrote:

> Um, technically it went metric, but they never really had the spine to
enforce it, so all the kids are taught in metric, whilst the rest of the
country uses imperial. If you ask about this anyone over 40 tells you
it's because they find it easier to work out

[snip]

Britain actually went metric in 1965, 4 years before New Zealand.
Surprising it did at all since it was invented by the French (: I think
the only (major?) non-metric country left in the world is the US. The
only hangover that's in common usage is the measurement of road
distances/speed in miles. For example, the 22m line on a rugby pitch
which is really 25 yards. ( in the Netherlands you can still ask for an
"ounce" of cooked meat at the deli - although it now means 100g ).

And yes, I'm somewhat over 40, and remember being taught basic
arithmetic with pounds, shillings and pence as well...

Steve
--
Steve Holdoway 

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RE: en_nz dictionaries?

[Payne, Owen]

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_Martyrs

-Original Message-
From: Vik Olliver [mailto:v...@olliver.family.gen.nz] 
Sent: Thursday, 12 February 2009 9:05 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: en_nz dictionaries?

On 12/02/09 Payne, Owen wrote:
>  Um, technically it went metric, but they never really had the spine  
> to enforce it, so all the kids are taught in metric, whilst the rest  
> of the country uses imperial. If you ask about this anyone over 40  
> tells you it's because they find it easier to work out
>

I disagree. I'm slightly over 40 and from the UK. I remember things
going metric, just. Some things were a bit weird (hosepipe in 20 metre
rolls, diameter of 1/2 or 3/4 inch etc.) and for a long time things sold
in pounds were just relabelled 454g.

However, once the use of metric standards was enshrined things
definitely became easier. An example would be building materials on
600mm centres, and the metric thread standards.

Just re-labelling in metric does not equate to metrification, the
materials you use need to be available in malleable metric sizes as
well. The dimensions of things like standard sizes of timber evolved to
make sense in the imperial system. To make sense in metric, actual
dimensions need to change - or it is indeed easier to work it out in
imperial.

Vik :v)


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RE: en_nz dictionaries?

[Payne, Owen]

Um, technically it went metric, but they never really had the spine to enforce 
it, so all the kids are taught in metric, whilst the rest of the country uses 
imperial. If you ask about this anyone over 40 tells you it's because they find 
it easier to work out

Unit Relative to previous Feet Millimetres Metres Notes 
thou  1⁄12000 0.0254  25.4 μm
The unit is known as a mil in the United States.[2] 
inch 1000 thou 1⁄12 25.4   
foot 12 inches 1 304.8 0.3048  
yard 3 feet 3 914.4 0.9144 Defined as exactly 0.9144 metres since 1956. 
furlong 220 yards 660  201.168  
mile 8 furlongs 5280  1609.344  
league 3 miles 15,840  4828.032 No longer an official unit in any nation. 
Maritime units 
fathom  6.08 or 6[3] 1,853.184 1.853184 The British Admiralty in practice used 
a fathom as 6 feet. This was despite its being 1⁄1000 of a nautical mile (i.e. 
6.08 feet) until 1970, when the international nautical mile of exactly 1852 
metres was adopted. The commonly accepted definition of a fathom was always 6 
feet. The conflict was inconsequential in determining depth as Admiralty 
nautical charts used feet as depths below 5 fathoms on older imperial charts. 
Today all charts worldwide are metric, except for USA Hydrographic Office 
charts, which use feet for all depth ranges.
 
cable ~100 fathoms 608  185.3184 One tenth of a nautical mile. When in use it 
was approximated colloquially as 100 fathoms. 
nautical mile 10 cables 6,080  1,853.184 Used to measure distances at sea. This 
value referred to the British nautical (Admiralty) mile of 6,080 ft; the modern 
international mile is slightly different. 
Gunter's survey units (17th century onwards) 
link  66⁄100 201.168 0.201168  
pole 25 links 66⁄4 5029.2 5.0292 The pole is also called rod or perch. 
chain 4 poles 66  20.1168 1⁄10 furlong 


As you can see the imperial system is easy to use and it is definitiely more 
confusing to have to work of a decvimal system where everything is divided by 
10.

Mind you at the same time they thought that lead was safe 

-Original Message-
From: Steve [mailto:st...@greengecko.co.nz] 
Sent: Wednesday, 11 February 2009 10:03 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: en_nz dictionaries?

On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:55:53 +1300
Volker Kuhlmann  wrote:

> On Wed 11 Feb 2009 10:04:31 NZDT +1300, Steve Holdoway wrote:
> 
> > en_gb should do as a start...
> 
> Not to step on any toes :), but the GB is no good here. You want 
> metric content, though the spelling would be close enough.
The UK went metric when I was at school.
>
Steve
--
Steve 

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RE: wtf!

[Payne, Owen]

 http://www.stuff.co.nz/4735216a28.html
 

To try to rebalance his articledid b*&!r all good though as a few
weeks later he did an article that seemed very similar to the one I
wrote...

-Original Message-
From: Steve Holdoway [mailto:st...@greengecko.co.nz] 
Sent: Monday, 9 February 2009 12:33 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: wtf!

On Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:21:09 +1300 (NZDT) Derek Smithies
 wrote:

> 
> I personally feel insulted. I have been using linux on a personal and 
> professional basis for ten years, and do not see myself as being 
> anything like the people described by Dave.
> 

+1, since the last century! I do have a beard though, but I can spell
Volkswagen properly.

Glad to see it's dropping off the front page. Wonder at the concerted
effort to get it there in the first place? I cry "conspiracy"!!

Steve
--
Steve Holdoway 

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RE: wtf!

[Payne, Owen]

That was written several months ago and I wrote a response piece for it
that only got published on the site. I'm sure Dave is a respected
professional in his chosen field, however articles like this prove that
his field is obviously not IT. 

-Original Message-
From: Steve [mailto:st...@greengecko.co.nz] 
Sent: Monday, 9 February 2009 7:28 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: wtf!

Just who is this f*ckwit?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4698845a24229.html



--
Steve 

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RE: Feb meeting...

[Payne, Owen]

Do we know what the topic of the talk will be? 

-Original Message-
From: Andrew Sands [mailto:and...@theatrix.org.nz] 
Sent: Friday, 30 January 2009 11:44 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Feb meeting...

On Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:51:10 Zane Gilmore wrote:
> Although I like the idea of getting together for a geeky chin-wag over

> a few beers, I think that we can put together a few talks.
>
> Occasionally people will turn up who are worth listening to and right 
> now we could easily do a couple a talks right now.
>
> I arranged for Derek to do a talk on what he was up to.
>
> And Andrew and I could do a presentation on what went down at LCA 
> (linux.conf.au).
> There were some very cool things that happened there.
> (e.g  http://www.itwire.com/content/view/22752/1090/1/0/ )
>
>
>
> BTW
> Have you seen that the next one is in Wellington!?

Hi,

OK, So for those who are still recovering from post LCA trauma; so many
projects so little time..

The meeting scheduled for 7:30pm on February 10th 2009, will be at the
St Albans Community Resource Centre, 1047 Colombo Street.

The speaker will be: Derek Smithies

And there might be other things discussed during the "tea break".

Can I get confirmation on this so I can mark it on the family room
calendar.

Thanks,

Andrew

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RE: Christchurch RepRaps - OT

[Payne, Owen]

I'd love to see one in operation if it gets completed. Perhaps a topic
for the group meetings.. 

-Original Message-
From: Vik Olliver [mailto:v...@olliver.family.gen.nz] 
Sent: Tuesday, 27 January 2009 9:57 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Christchurch RepRaps - OT

Is there anyone in Christchurch building a RepRap? I've been asked by
someone moving into the area who is building one and wants to contact
others. As we use Linux for developing the software I thought there was
a fair chance of anyone doing so being on the list. It's also vaguely on
topic :)

Feel free to reply by private e-mail if you think it more appropriate.

Vik :v)


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RE: Hi from South Africa

[Payne, Owen]

I just thought all that was down to the NZ 'It'll be right" and the "I'm
to hard to need worry about massive geological disasters" attitude. The
sense of impending destruction just adds an exciting challenge to each
day.

-Original Message-
From: John Carter [mailto:john.car...@tait.co.nz] 
Sent: Tuesday, 27 January 2009 9:36 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: RE: Hi from South Africa

On Tue, 27 Jan 2009, Payne, Owen wrote:

> As another migrant a few points, Christchurch is a nice city to live 
> in with somewhat cheaper living expenses but this is more than made up

> for by the poor employment prospects and the lower pay.

> If it is work you are concerned with go for Wellington, still a lovely

> vibrant city if you can cope with the wind.

If you come from Port Elizabeth... you'll feel right at home.

Otherwise you'll wonder why you can't ever walk straight and why you are
spending so much repairing car doors that have been ripped clean out of
your hand and bent the wrong way.

You also may look at the very visible and obviously very active tectonic
plate boundary fault line bordering the harbour and wonder which idiot
put a capital city here.

The fresh volcanic cones dotting the Auckland landscape may also cause
you to wonder about the residents knowledge of geology.

Christchurch's skyline may be dominated by an even larger volcano... but
it has have been soothingly contoured by glaciers, removing the sense of
edginess about it.


John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639
Tait ElectronicsFax   : (64)(3) 359 4632
PO Box 1645 ChristchurchEmail : john.car...@tait.co.nz
New Zealand


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RE: Hi from South Africa

[Payne, Owen]

 Hi,

As another migrant a few points, Christchurch is a nice city to live in
with somewhat cheaper living expenses but this is more than made up for
by the poor employment prospects and the lower pay. If it is work you
are concerned with go for Wellington, still a lovely vibrant city if you
can cope with the wind.

-Original Message-
From: Schalk Engelbrecht [mailto:schalk.engelbre...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, 26 January 2009 7:35 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Hi from South Africa

Hi guys, just thought I would introduce myself and say hello so long.  I
am currently in South Africa but joined your group as I am immigrating
to New Zealand at the end of July.  I am really wanting to settle and
find work in Christchurch, but from what I have seen so far it looks
like I might have a better chance in Wellington.  I really do not see
myself settling in Auckland.

It is quite funny to watch your discussions over the last couple of days
- especially the ones over the February meeting and all the suggestions.
It seems like user groups all over the world have the same things in
common.  I can show you the exact same discussions going around in South
Africa.

I will be monitoring this group and contribute where I can and hope it
goes from strength to strength so by the time I land there you guys have
a well established bi-monthly meeting in place where I can meet all of
you.

Schalk


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RE: Distro for a single use machine

[Payne, Owen]

 Yes but on a machine that old, compiling a gentoo install even with a
minimal package installation will take the best part of 2 or 3 days.
Safer bet is something like puppy or dsl or one of the others that
abound. 

-Original Message-
From: Christopher Sawtell [mailto:csawt...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, 26 January 2009 2:55 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Distro for a single use machine

On Monday 26 January 2009 11:37:12 Payne, Owen wrote:
> You could try a cutdown version or spin yourself a distro with only 
> the things that you need on it
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Linux on Back2Go [mailto:li...@back2go.co.nz]
> Sent: Monday, 26 January 2009 11:36 am
> To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
> Subject: Distro for a single use machine
>
> Hi I was wondering if any recommendations for a Distro for a single 
> use machine.
> I have an slimline IBM that was running 98 something on a network, 
> most bullet proof thing we ever had. I was wanting it to run GRAMPS 
> and maybe a very thin wordprocessor and nothing else but a keyboard, 
> mouse and monitor. So I can hand it around the family to do GRAMPS 
> things with it, Any suggestions, where to find Distro etc, I will be
in Chch next few
> days too if that helps, cheers Kevin   also on 0272497326 but text is
> best.
How much Disc and RAM have you got available?

These days Linux needs a bit more RAM than was usual on 10 year old
machines, but it will run very happily off an eight Gig disk.


Consider Damn Small Linux, or Puppy Linux, or indeed spinning your own.

If the latter, I'd think about starting from  one of the Gentoo stages.
Before anybody jumps down my throat, remember that there are Gentoo
binary 
packages for most of the system, and as he only wants two apps., they
can be 
installed directly off a cd, or a binary repository. 
 
Consider AbiWord for the word processor.

-- 
With Sincerity,
Christopher Sawtell

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RE: Distro for a single use machine

[Payne, Owen]

You could try a cutdown version or spin yourself a distro with only the
things that you need on it 

-Original Message-
From: Linux on Back2Go [mailto:li...@back2go.co.nz] 
Sent: Monday, 26 January 2009 11:36 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Distro for a single use machine

Hi I was wondering if any recommendations for a Distro for a single use
machine.
I have an slimline IBM that was running 98 something on a network, most
bullet proof thing we ever had. I was wanting it to run GRAMPS and maybe
a very thin wordprocessor and nothing else but a keyboard, mouse and
monitor. So I can hand it around the family to do GRAMPS things with it,
Any suggestions, where to find Distro etc, I will be in Chch next few 
days too if that helps, cheers Kevin   also on 0272497326 but text is
best

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RE: Promotional event for the average person

[Payne, Owen]

"I doubt we'd look like a Hare Krishna group or anything, because we're
not promoting a belief system, we're providing a public education
service which applies to the field of technology and computing
(something which is very useful!)."

Hmm, well one of these events I've been to overseas had lots of Mr Onion
head types wombling around in their slayer and metallica t shirts
handing out the latest distros and trying to ( unsuccessfully) engage
members of the public in conversation; It was a bit embarrassing. On the
other hand at a serious event I went to,  the stalls were well laid out
with lots of information and many articulate people engaging lots of joe
public typesfrom the word go, so I suppose it depends on the approach
and the skill of the people involved.

-Original Message-
From: Jeff Mitchell [mailto:jeffmitch...@orcon.net.nz] 
Sent: Thursday, 15 January 2009 1:57 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Promotional event for the average person

I like the idea of handing out free Windows software (i.e. 
cross-platform apps).

I doubt we'd look like a Hare Krishna group or anything, because we're
not promoting a belief system, we're providing a public education
service which applies to the field of technology and computing
(something which is very useful!). There are a lot of really daft people
out there, some of whom don't even know about openoffice. So if we run a
broad enough event, then we could cover lots of things and some people
will no doubt benefit as a result. Some attendees would probably be
happy just with the latest Firefox, Thunderbird or ooO. A lot of people
haven't even caught onto those sorts of things yet.

We are going to need a lot of good speakers, and this topic should be
brought up at the next LUG meeting. This is not about promoting Linux,
this is about solving problems. We can eliminate pathetic problems with
ease. There are people who still need to defrag and scan for viruses,
and in some cases they even need to pay for software or submit to DRM
(shudder).

Here is my summary:

- We are going to need a lot of good speakers (e.g. good communicators,
distro specialists, people in the IT industry, every day users).
- This topic should be brought up at the next LUG meeting.
- We need to promote cross-platform apps, not just Linux.
- We should mostly focus on Ubuntu, due to its great community, but I'm
not against being more generic.
- We need to explain how Microsoft is ripping us off.
- We need to argue our case that "free" software is about freedom, not
price (this is a common misconception, and it annoys me when people get
it totally wrong).
- We need to have a target audience and guest list, and perhaps run more
than one event.
- Most importantly, we are going to have to organize a team to do this
(let's start by giving roles to certain individuals, then have some real
life discussion).

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RE: Promotional event for the average person

[Payne, Owen]

I agree, I recently had a comment from a sys admin of many years
experience that he never bothers with FOSS as you don't get anything for
nothingPeople are still either unaware, suspicious or assume that it
is limited or dodgy software. A free software disc for windows based
software along with a Linux distribution disc at a software demo or
event at a demo would do wonders to raise the profile in the right
environment, and I don't just mean a room in the back of the computing
department. A high profile event raising the awareness of FOSS as well
as Linux would help. Problem is we start looking like Hare Krishna
members or Jehovah witnesses when we normally try doing this, so it
would need to be properly organised and professional in approach. 

-Original Message-
From: Jeff Mitchell [mailto:jeffmitch...@orcon.net.nz] 
Sent: Thursday, 15 January 2009 11:24 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Promotional event for the average person

Hi all,

I think that Ubuntu is an awesome computing solution, and I am very
impressed with Compiz Fusion and the Emerald Theme Manager. Canonical
does an amazing job of maintaining the community, and they also do an
amazing job of creating partnerships (like the one they have with Dell).

So anyway, it kind of bugs me how no-one knows what Linux is. What are
we doing to inform the public? We have an excellent computing solution,
but people know absolutely nothing about it. Neither do people in the IT
industry. I studied at Electec College Of Technology in 2007, and the
tutor there basically said that Linux didn't work well and that we
didn't need to know anything about it.

I heard something about an opensource software demonstration which
apparently happened in 2006 - but what is happening this year? Do we
have any annual events happening? Because I haven't heard of any, and I
think that people aren't exactly thrilled about the basic concept of
FOSS (I'm sure that plenty of people know what FOSS is, but don't really
care). Why not run an event to specifically demonstrate Compiz Fusion
and *buntu - along with some cool applications and games? That would be
great for the average person. We could spread the word via radio,
newspapers and word of mouth (also with promotional flyers).

I'd like some opinions on this - just note that I'm not saying this
should be done, I'm just saying it could be useful. The growth rate of
the Ubuntu/Linux installation base is too slow, and we should be aiming
to get more Windows users educated about alternatives. I only know one
person in real life who uses Linux.

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RE: Unable to boot

[Payne, Owen]

you should still be able to rescue this with a rescue disk as mentioned
, edit the grub file to point the bootloader at the correct
partitions/volumes so that it gets the correct boot files from the
correct partition/boot info as per
 
http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=996
 
good luck




From: David Merriman [mailto:david.merrim...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2009 10:00 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Unable to boot



On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 8:59 AM, Steve 
wrote:


Looking at your setup, I'd say that you put the drives
back in in the wrong order, so that sda - with the bootstrap - is now
sdb. Whether you can recover from this now, I'm not too sure. Still
worth a try though (:

Steve



I'll check that out, though I suspect I've done too much damage
now :)

Thanks,
David






On Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:51:32 +1300
David Merriman  wrote:

> Hi all, I've got a problem which I'm unable to fix,
and I need a little
> help. I've done some fiddling, and now I can't boot up
my machine any more.
> Here's the background:
>
> I have two removable SATA drive bays in my PC.
Normally I have two drives
> sitting in there, one with SuSE 10.3 (my normal
system) and SuSE 11.1 on it,
> and the other with a single FAT32 partition with a
bunch of video files on
> it.
>
> From memory (I'm at work at the moment), the
partitions are set up as
> follows:
> sda1 - 1GB boot partition
> sda5 - 2GB swap
> sda6 - 30GB SuSE 11.1 (/)
> sda7 - 60GB SuSE 11.1 (/home)
> sda8 - 20GB SuSE 10.3 (/)
> sda9 - 150GB SuSE 10.3 (/home)
> sdb5 - 160GB FAT32
>
> Last week I bought a new drive, took out the other two
drives, and plugged
> this one in. I intend(ed) to use this drive as a
playpen, just to mess about
> with different flavours of Linux, and so far it has
PCLinuxOS, Mepis and
> Linux Mint on it.  That worked fine.
>
> Later I put my original drives back in, intending to
boot up SuSE 10.3
> again, but the system stopped after the BIOS check,
with the word 'GRUB' in
> the top-left corner. Now normally it says 'GRUB
Loading Stage 1.5' (I
> think), and half the time it will hang at that point
anyway, requiring a
> reboot, but it's always done that (that may be a
symptom in itself).  This
> time it just said 'GRUB', and stopped.
>
> I assumed that GRUB or some part of the boot sequence
had got corrupted
> (don't ask me how, the drives were just sitting on the
desk until I plugged
> them back in...), so I booted off my SuSE 11.1 DVD,
selected 'Boot from hard
> disk', and was then able to boot from the hard disk as
usual.
>
> I then tried using the recovery utilities on the DVD
to fix the boot issue,
> and that's when things started to get worse.  I first
ran the automatic
> recovery utility; it said some part of the boot
sequence was incorrect, and
> attempted to fix it.  I was still unable to boot, so
then I tried the manual
> recovery method, trying various combinations of
booting from the Master Boot
> Record, from the boot partition, the root partition,
rewriting the MBR, etc.
> etc.  Long story short, no matter what I tried it
wouldn't boot up, and now
> I'm at the point where I can't boot at all, and I'm
stuck.
>
> I wasted over 3 hours on it last night, and I've
exhausted my admittedly
> limited knowledge (and patience).  Short of
reinstalling, I dont' know what
> else to try, so I'm hoping that one of you kind souls
will be able to have a
> look at this machine for me, and hopefully get it back
into a working
> state.  I'm happy to pay for your time in whatever
fashion you prefer,
> money, blank disks, whatever.
>
> If anyone is able to help, I'd be most grateful.  As I
say, I'm at work at
> the moment, so I can't run any commands on the machine
for you, but I'll try
> and answer any other questions you may have.
>
> Thanks,
> Dav

PCMCIA aircard problems

[Payne, Owen]

 
Hi,
 
I wonder if anyone can explain what is happening with my system, It
appears to recognise it, and I have the dialstring in the network
options , the dial starts and then the entire system becomes completely
unresponsive, can't kill restart do anything, the only option I have is
to power cycle, I'm on fedora 10 with an sierra aircard 580 on telstra.
As there appears to be no dial log errors, no system messages or any
logs that I can trace down to diagnose what is happening I'm kind of at
a loss to explain.
 
 
Owen Payne

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Anyone have a copy of Fedora Core 10 already downloaded

[Payne, Owen]

I'm only on mobile broadband at the moment and downloading may take an
excessive amount of time so wonder if anyone has any of the images
already downloaded that I can get a copy of?
 
Thanks
 

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