Ubuntu 5.10 (Breezy Badger) How-To

Ubuntu

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Installing Ubuntu

Here are some good instructions for installing Ubuntu.

Initial setup

  1. Relocate /home
  2. Update and upgrade package sources
  3. Install nVidia driver
  4. Enable 5-button mouse
  5. Enable DMA
  6. Fix CD/DVD eject
  7. Fix sound
  8. Fix screen resolution
  9. Customize themes and fonts
  10. Add extra repositories

Useful packages

Miscellaneous

Most of the information on this page comes from the following sources:

You can visit my home page to find out how to contact me with feedback and suggestions for this site.

Relocating the /home directory

IMPORTANT: This only applies if you want to move your home directory to another drive, or if you want to activate an existing home directory on another drive.

  1. (NOTE: Skip this first step if you already have your home directory on the drive you want, e.g., if you've already done this step during a previous installation.) Copy your current home directory onto the new drive: 
    sudo mkdir /mnt/newdrive
sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/hdb1 /mnt/newdrive/
sudo cp -R -p /home/[user] /mnt/newdrive/
sudo chown [user]:[user] /mnt/newdrive/[user]
sudo umount /mnt/newdrive/
  2. Mount the new drive as /home: 
    sudo nano /etc/fstab
    Add the following line immediately after lines for the main and swap partitions: 
    /dev/hdb1 /home ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
    Save the file (i.e., press [CTRL] + [o]) and exit Nano (i.e., press [CTRL] + [x]). 
    sudo mv /home /home.old
sudo mkdir /home
sudo mount -a
  3. Restart Gnome Desktop Manager either by pressing [CTRL] + [ALT] + [BACKSPACE] or by: 
    sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart

Update and upgrade packages

  1. sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Install nVidia driver

  1. sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx nvidia-settings
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.nvidia-driver.backup
sudo nvidia-glx-config enable

  2. sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/NVIDIA-Settings.desktop
    Add the following into the new file: 
    [Desktop Entry]
Name=NVIDIA Settings
Comment=NVIDIA Settings
Exec=nvidia-settings
Icon=
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;
  3. (optional) Disable the splash screen: 
    sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
    and find the following section: 
    ...
Section "Device"
	Identifier	"NVIDIA Corporation NV11 [GeForce2 MX/MX 400]"
	Driver		"nvidia"
	BusID		"PCI:1:0:0"
...
    and append the following line to this section: 
    	Option		"NoLogo"
  4. Restart Gnome Desktop Manager either by pressing [CTRL] + [ALT] + [BACKSPACE] or by: 
    sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart

Enable 5-button mouse

  1. sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.5button-mouse.backup
sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
    Replace: 
    Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "mouse.usb"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "YES"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
    With: 
    Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "mouse.usb"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "Buttons" "7"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Enable DMA

(See http://ubuntuguide.org/#speedupcddvdrom.)

  1. sudo hdparm -d1 /dev/cdrom
sudo cp /etc/hdparm.conf /etc/hdparm.conf.enable-dma.backup
sudo gedit /etc/hdparm.conf
  2. Append the following to the /etc/hdparm.conf 
    /dev/cdrom {
       dma = on
}
  3. Repeat the above for /dev/cdrom1

Fix CD/DVD eject

NOTE: Fix issue where non-empty CD/DVD drives don't eject when the physical eject button is pushed. Don't use if unnecessary. 

  1. sudo cp /etc/sysctl.conf /etc/sysctl.conf.eject-fix.backup

  2. sudo gedit /etc/sysctl.conf
    Add: 
    dev.cdrom.lock=0
    Save and close the file.
  3. Reboot

Fix sound

(See http://ubuntuguide.org/#configuresoundproperly.)

Fix screen resolution

  1. (optional) If you're having problems with screen resolution, see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FixVideoResolutionHowto.
  2. The following worked for me. Check that /etc/X11/xorg.conf contains the correct HorizSync and VertRefresh options in the "Monitor" section as follows. 
    sudo ddcprobe | grep monitorrange
    The first two values returned are your HorizSync rates, the second pair is your VertRefresh values. 
    sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup.sync_and_refresh
sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
    Find the following section and make sure the HorizSync and VertRefresh lines exist and have the appropriate values (e.g., 30-96 and 50-160): 
    Section "Monitor"
            Identifier         "FLATRON 995F"
            Option             "DPMS"
            HorizSync          30-96
            VertRefresh        50-160
EndSection

Customize theme and fonts

  1. gnome-theme-manager
    Click "Theme Details", and set "Controls = Glider, Window Border = Clearlooks, Icons = GNOME". 
  2. gnome-font-properties
    Set "App = Sans 8, Desktop = Sans 8, Window title = Sans 8, Terminal = FreeMono 10".

Always use browser in Nautilus

  1. gconf-editor
    Select "apps / nautilus / preferences" and check "always use browser".

Add extra repositories

  1. sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.backup

  2. sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Add: 
    #deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 5.10 _Breezy Badger_ - Release i386 (20051012)]/ breezy main restricted

## OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED REPOSITORIES

deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy main restricted

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security main restricted

deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted


## COMMUNITY SUPPORTED REPOSITORIES

deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security universe multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security universe multiverse

deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates universe multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates universe multiverse


## BACKPORTS

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

#deb http://ubuntu-backports.mirrormax.net/ breezy-extras-staging main restricted universe multiverse


## PENGUIN LIBERATION FRONT (PLF) REPOSITORIES (http://wiki.ubuntu-fr.org/doc/plf)

## Primary
#deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ breezy free non-free
#deb-src http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ breezy free non-free

## Secondary (use only if primary is not working)
#deb ftp://ftp.free.fr/pub/Distributions_Linux/plf/ubuntu/plf/ breezy free non-free
#deb-src ftp://ftp.free.fr/pub/Distributions_Linux/plf/ubuntu/plf/ breezy free non-free


## MISCELLANEOUS

## timidity-patches-eaw
#deb http://www.fbriere.net/debian/dists/etch misc/ 

## libdvdcss2, w32codecs
#deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ etch main

## jEdit
#deb http://dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/jedit ./
#deb-src http://dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/jedit ./

  3. sudo apt-get update

Install Microsoft fonts

  1. sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts

Install codecs

(See http://ubuntuguide.org/#codecs.)

  1. Add extra repositories.
  2. sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Add the following line at the bottom: 
    deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ etch main
    Save and close the file. 
    sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install w32codecs
sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2

    sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Remove or comment out the following line: 
    deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ etch main
    Save and close the file. 
    sudo apt-get update
  3. In case previous step didn't work, install w32codecs and DeCSS2 manually: Save w32codecs_20050412-0.0_i386.deb to home directory from here or here. 
    cd ~/
sudo dpkg -i w32codecs_*.deb
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/examples/install-css.sh

  4. sudo apt-get install libmad0 libdvdread3

  5. sudo apt-get install lame sox ffmpeg mjpegtools vorbis-tools

  6. sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.8-misc gstreamer0.8-plugins gstreamer0.8-plugins-multiverse gstreamer0.8-ffmpeg 
gst-register-0.8

Install Totem-xine (media player)

  1. sudo apt-get install totem-xine

  2. gedit ~/.xine/config
    At the appropriate line, set: 
    video.driver:xv
  3. (optional) This will add a right-click option in Nautilus under "Scripts" for enqueuing multiple files in Totem. 
    gedit ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/totem-enqueue
    Add: 
    #!/bin/bash
totem --enqueue $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_URIS
  4. (optional) This will add a right-click option in Nautilus under "Scripts" for replacing multiple files in Totem. 
    gedit ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/totem-replace
    Add: 
    #!/bin/bash
totem --replace $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_URIS
  5. See further instructions for post-installation setup.

Install gxine (media player)

  1. sudo apt-get install gxine
gedit ~/.gxine/config
    At the appropriate line, set: 
    video.driver:xv
  2. (optional, but NOT recommended since Totem-xine is better) Make gxine the default media player: 
    sudo cp /usr/share/applications/defaults.list /usr/share/applications/defaults.list_backup
sudo sed -e 's/totem.desktop/gxine.desktop/g' /usr/share/applications/defaults.list_backup > /tmp/defaults.list
sudo mv /tmp/defaults.list /usr/share/applications/defaults.list
killall gnome-panel
killall nautilus
  3. (optional, but NOT recommended since Totem-xine is nicer) Make gxine the default DVD player: 
    gconftool-2 --type string --set /desktop/gnome/volume_manager/autoplay_dvd_command "gxine dvd://"
  4. (optional, but NOT recommended since MPlayer has a nicer plugin) Install gxine plugin for Firefox: 
    sudo ln -fs /usr/lib/gxine/gxineplugin.a /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/plugins/
sudo ln -fs /usr/lib/gxine/gxineplugin.la /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/plugins/
sudo ln -fs /usr/lib/gxine/gxineplugin.so /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/plugins/
  5. See further instructions for post-installation setup.

Install MPlayer (media player)

  1. sudo apt-get install mplayer-386 
sudo cp /etc/mplayer/mplayer.conf /etc/mplayer/mplayer.conf_backup
sudo gedit /etc/mplayer/mplayer.conf
    Replace: 
    vo=x11,
    With: 
    vo=xv,
  2. (optional) Install mplayer plugin for Firefox: 
    sudo apt-get install mozilla-mplayer

Install VLC (media player)

  1. sudo apt-get install vlc

Set up Xine

  1. xine-check
  2. To fix WMV playback (only if it is broken): 
    cp ~/.xine/catalog.cache ~/.xine/catalog.cache.backup
gedit ~/.xine/catalog.cache
    Find the following section: 
    [/usr/lib/xine/plugins/1.0.0/xineplug_decode_w32dll.so]
size=173768
mtime=1112804124
type=131
api=15
id=win32a
version=10000
supported_types=50593792 52428800 52822016 ... (long line truncated)
decoder_priority=1
    Replace (in this section only): 
    decoder_priority=1
    With: 
    decoder_priority=7

Install TiMidity (MIDI player)

  1. sudo apt-get install timidity timidity-interfaces-extra freepats
  2. (optional) To install a better and more complete sound fonts: 
    sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Add: 
    deb http://www.fbriere.net/debian/dists/etch misc/
    Save and close the file. 
    sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install timidity-patches-eaw
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Remove: 
    deb http://www.fbriere.net/debian/dists/etch misc/
    Save and close the file. 
    sudo apt-get update
sudo cp /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg.backup
sudo gedit /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg
    Replace: 
    source /etc/timidity/freepats.cfg
    With: 
    source /usr/share/doc/timidity-patches-eaw/examples/timidity.cfg
  3. (optional) To make Timidity the default MIDI player: 
    sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/timidity.desktop
    Add: 
    [Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Timidity MIDI Player
Comment=Play MIDI audio files
Exec=timidity -ig
Terminal=false
Type=Application
StartupNotify=false
MimeType=audio/midi;
Categories=Application;AudioVideo;
#Icon=???
#NoDisplay=true
    Save and close the file. 
    sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/defaults.list
    Add: 
    audio/midi=timidity.desktop
  4. (optional) To reduce Timidity's CPU usage: 
    sudo gedit /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg
    Add: 
    opt EFresamp=d          #disable resampling (or "opt EFresamp=l" for linear resampling)
opt EFvlpf=d            #disable VLPF
opt EFreverb=d          #disable reverb
opt EFchorus=d          #disable chorus
opt EFdelay=d           #disable delay
    Save and close the file.

Install GParted (disk partition utility)

  1. sudo apt-get install gparted

Install Mozilla Thunderbird (email client)

  1. sudo apt-get install mozilla-thunderbird
  2. (optional) See how to restore Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird icons.

Restore Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird icons

  1. Firefox: 
    wget -c http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~djm/ubuntu/mozilla-icons/mozilla-firefox.png
wget -c http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~djm/ubuntu/mozilla-icons/document.png
chmod 644 mozilla-firefox.png
chmod 644 document.png
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-firefox.png
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-firefox.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/icons/default.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/icons/document.png
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/chrome/icons/default/default.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-firefox.png /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-firefox.png
sudo cp mozilla-firefox.png /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-firefox.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-firefox.png /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/icons/default.xpm
sudo cp document.png /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/icons/document.png
sudo cp mozilla-firefox.png /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/chrome/icons/default/default.xpm
  2. Thunderbird: 
    wget -c http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~djm/ubuntu/mozilla-icons/mozilla-thunderbird.xpm
chmod 644 mozilla-thunderbird.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-thunderbird.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-thunderbird-menu.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-thunderbird-pm-menu.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/lib/mozilla-thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/mozilla-thunderbird.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/lib/mozilla-thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/messengerWindow16.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/lib/mozilla-thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/messengerWindow.xpm
sudo dpkg-divert --rename /usr/lib/mozilla-thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/default.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-thunderbird.xpm /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-thunderbird.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-thunderbird.xpm /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-thunderbird-menu.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-thunderbird.xpm /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-thunderbird-pm-menu.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-thunderbird.xpm /usr/lib/mozilla-thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/mozilla-thunderbird.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-thunderbird.xpm /usr/lib/mozilla-thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/messengerWindow16.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-thunderbird.xpm /usr/lib/mozilla-thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/messengerWindow.xpm
sudo cp mozilla-thunderbird.xpm /usr/lib/mozilla-thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/default.xpm

Install SMeg (Gnome Menu Editor)

  1. sudo apt-get install smeg

Install GnomeBaker (CD burner)

  1. sudo apt-get install gnomebaker

Install Sound Juicer (CD ripper)

  1. sudo apt-get install sound-juicer

Install Acroread (PDF viewer)

  1. sudo apt-get install acroread

  2. sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/defaults.list
    Replace: 
    application/pdf=evince.desktop
    With: 
    application/pdf=AdobeReader.desktop
  3. (optional) Install Acroread plugin for Firefox: 
    sudo apt-get install mozilla-acroread

Install Flash player plugin for Firefox

  1. sudo apt-get install flashplayer-mozilla

Mount

  1. EXT3 partition: 
    sudo mount /dev/hdb1 [mount_point_dir] -t ext3
  2. NTFS partition: 
    sudo mount /dev/hda1 [mount_point_dir] -t ntfs -o nls=utf8,umask=0222
  3. FAT32 partition: 
    sudo mount /dev/hda1 [mount_point_dir] -t vfat -o iocharset=utf8,umask=0000
  4. CD/DVD: 
    sudo mount /media/cdrom0/ -o unhide
  5. ISO: 
    sudo modprobe loop
sudo mount file.iso /media/iso/ -t iso9660 -o loop -r

Unmount

  1. sudo umount [mount_point_dir]
  2. Force unmount (if previous step doesn't work): 
    sudo umount [mount_point_dir] -l

Create ISO

  1. You might have to unmount and remount the drive: 
    sudo umount /dev/dvd -l
sudo mount /dev/dvd
  2. From CD/DVD (replace [device] with dvd, cdrom, or cdrom1): 
    dd if=/dev/[device] of=file.iso bs=1024
  3. From directory: 
    mkisofs -o file.iso [dir]

Play ISO

  1. Install and run gxine.
  2. Select "File / Preferences... / Media (tab) / DVD (tab)".
  3. Change DVD location from "/dev/dvd" to "/.../file.iso".

MD5 Checksum

  1. Create: 
    md5sum file.iso > file.iso.md5
  2. Verify: 
    md5sum -c file.iso.md5

Install teTeX (LaTeX)

  1. sudo apt-get install tetex-base tetex-bin tetex-extra

Install Development Tools

  1. Basic compilers and tools: 
    sudo apt-get install build-essential
sudo apt-get install manpages-dev autoconf automake libtool
  2. OpenGL and SDL development: 
    sudo apt-get install libxxf86vm-dev nvidia-glx-dev 
sudo apt-get install libsdl1.2-dev libsdl-ttf2.0-dev libsdl-image1.2-dev libsdl-mixer1.2-dev
sudo apt-get install libsdl-sound1.2-dev libsdl-net1.2-dev
  3. To build MPlayer: 
    sudo apt-get install x-window-system-dev libgtk1.2-dev libpng-dev libxxf86vm-dev

Install CVS (version control system)

  1. sudo apt-get install cvs
  2. (optional, recommended) Install TkCVS, a GUI front-end for CVS: 
    sudo apt-get install tkcvs
  3. (optional) Install Pharmacy, a GUI front-end for CVS: 
    sudo apt-get install pharmacy

Install GVim (editor)

  1. sudo apt-get install vim-gnome
  2. (optional) Fiddle with your ~/.vimrc file to your heart's content. (See my ~/.vimrc for an example.) 
  3. sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/gvim.desktop
    Add the following: 
    [Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=gvim
Comment=Edit text files
Exec=gvim --remote-silent
Terminal=false
Type=Application
StartupNotify=false
MimeType=text/plain;text/html;text/css;text/xml;text/x-dtd;text/x-chdr;text/x-csrc;text/x-c++hdr;text/x-c++src;text/x-java;text/x-csharp;text/x-tex;text/x-bibtex;text/x-readme;
Icon=text-editor
Categories=GNOME;Application;Utility;TextEditor;
# NoDisplay=true
    Save and close the file.
  4. (optional) Make gvim the default text editor: 
    sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/defaults.list
    Delete: 
    text/plain=gedit.desktop
    Add: 
    text/plain=gvim.desktop
text/x-chdr=gvim.desktop
text/x-csrc=gvim.desktop
text/x-c++hdr=gvim.desktop
text/x-c++src=gvim.desktop
text/x-csharp=gvim.desktop
text/x-java=gvim.desktop
text/x-tex=gvim.desktop

Install Sun Java

(See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/JavaPackageBuildNewVersions.) 

  1. sudo apt-get install java-package java-common
sudo apt-get install build-essential
  2. Download JRE Linux Self-Extracting File from http://java.sun.com (jre-1_5_0_06-linux-i586.bin or something similar, NOT the RPM). 
    sudo apt-get install fakeroot
fakeroot make-jpkg jre-1_5_0_06-linux-i586.bin
sudo dpkg -i sun-j2re1.5_1.5.0+update06_i386.deb

  3. sudo update-alternatives --config java
    Select the sun java option.

Install jEdit (editor)

  1. Install Java.
  2. sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Add the following lines: 
    deb http://dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/jedit ./
deb-src http://dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/jedit ./
    Save and close the file. 
  3. sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install jedit

  4. sudo gedit /usr/bin/jedit
    Replace: 
    ... ${JEDIT} -jar "/usr/share/jedit/jedit.jar" $@
    With: 
    ... ${JEDIT} -jar "/usr/share/jedit/jedit.jar" -reuseview $@

Install Games (ScummVM)

  1. sudo apt-get install scummvm
sudo apt-get install beneath-a-steel-sky flight-of-the-amazon-queen

Set up SSH tunneling

See the CFS connectivity page and this example ~/.ssh/config file for information specific to CUCS tunneling.

  1. Set up tunneling to [target_hostname].[target_domain] via [bastion_hostname].[bastion_domain] using port local forwarding on port 2001: 
    nano ~/.ssh/config
    Add: 
    host [bastion_hostname]
user [bastion_username]
hostname [bastion_hostname].[bastion_domain]
ForwardAgent yes
LocalForward 2001 [target_hostname].[target_domain]:22

host [target_hostname]
user [target_username]
hostname localhost
port 2001
  2. Start tunneling: 
    ssh -f -N [bastion_hostname]
  3. SSH to target: 
    ssh [target_hostname]
  4. (optional) Set up public key authentication.

Set up SSH public key authentication

  1. Create a private/public key pair on your client: 
    ssh-keygen -f [key_file] -t dsa
    I highly recommend using a non-empty passphrase; you can later set up key management so that you only enter your passphrase once per session.
  2. Append the contents of your [key_file].pub to the server's ~/.ssh/authorized_keys2 file. If you don't have access, email the server's admin.
  3. SSH to server: 
    ssh -i [key_file] [server_name].[server_domain]
  4. (optional) If you use SSH tunneling and public key authentication with multiple SSH servers, then you will probably run into a "HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED" warning. This is because multiple servers are associated with a single hostname (namely, localhost) through the use of port forwarding. You can resolve this issue as follows (assuming port forwarding for the different target servers are on ports 2001, 2002, ...): 
    cp ~/.ssh/known_hosts ~/.ssh/known_hosts.backup
ssh -N -f [bastion_hostname]
ssh-keyscan -H -t rsa,dsa -p 2001 localhost >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
ssh-keyscan -H -t rsa,dsa -p 2002 localhost >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
ssh-keyscan -H -t rsa,dsa -p ...  localhost >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
  5. (optional) Set up SSH key management so that you only have to enter your passphrase once per session.

SSH key management

The following allows you to set things up so that you only have to enter your SSH key passphrase once per login session. 

  1. sudo apt-get install gnome-keyring-manager
  2. Activate your keys for the remainder of the session (you'll be prompted for your passphrase): 
    ssh-add
  3. Deactivate your keys: 
    ssh-add -D

RemoteDesktop to your CUCS computer

NOTE: the remote computer must be currently booted in WinXP.

  1. Configure SSH tunneling for CUCS using the example ~/.ssh/config file. The following assumes that in SSH forwards localhost:2011 to [CUCS_hostname].u.cs.cornell.edu:3389 on lion (as per your ~/.ssh/config file). 
  2. ssh -N -f herakles
ssh -N -f lion

  3. rdesktop -r disk:sync=/home/[local_dir] localhost:2011
    Note that disk:sync should be set to an absolute (as opposed to relative) path.

Access your CUCS home directories via Samba

NOTE: I find that using SFTP is faster and more reliable.

See http://www.cs.cornell.edu/support/Linux/smbmount.htm for additional info.

  1. Configure SSH tunneling for CUCS using the example ~/.ssh/config file. The following assumes that in SSH forwards localhost:2017 to smb.cs.cornell.edu:139 on lion (as per your ~/.ssh/config file). 
  2. ssh -N -f herakles
ssh -N -f lion
  3. You can now use either smbclient, which provides an ftp like console: 
    smbclient //smb.cs.cornell.edu/win -U [username] -W CUCS -I localhost -p 2017
    Or smbmount to mount the share: 
    smbmount //smb.cs.cornell.edu/win [local_dir] -o ip=localhost,port=2017,username=[username],workgroup=CUCS
    And smbumount to unmount it: 
    smbumount [local_dir]

Access your CUCS home directories via SFTP

I find this method faster and more reliable than using Samba.

  1. Configure SSH tunneling for CUCS using the example ~/.ssh/config file. 
  2. ssh -N -f herakles
sftp lion
  3. For SFTP access via Nautilus, open Nautilus and press [CTRL]+L and enter one of the following addresses:

    Linux home directory: 
    sftp://lion/home/[user]
    Windows home directory: 
    sftp://lion/home/WIN/[user]
    Linux Bigbox directory: 
    sftp://lion/home/BIGBOX/[user]
    Windows Bigbox directory (seems to be read-only): 
    sftp://lion/home/BIGBOX.win/[user]
  4. For the sake of completeness, the locations of these directories under Windows are:

    Linux home directory: 
    \\cucs\home\UNIX\[user]
    Windows home directory: 
    \\cucs\home\Windows\[user]
    Windows Bigbox directory: 
    \\cs.cornell.edu\home\bigbox\[user]

Rename your computer

  1. Run the following, and then choose the "General" tab, and change the hostname as desired: 
    gksudo network-admin
  2. (optional) If you access your computer remotely, you might need to tell your DHCP server the new name: 
    sudo cp /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf.backup
sudo gedit /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf
    Add the following line to the appropriate place (assuming the new host name and domain are "hostname" and "domain", respectively): 
    send host-name "hostname.domain";

Disable USplash

  1. (optional) To disable USplash, if, like me, you find it ugly: 
    sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst.backup
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
    Remove the "splash" option from the appropriate lines. I.e., Replace: 
    kernel          /boot/... root=... ro quiet splash
    With: 
    kernel          /boot/... root=... ro quiet

Enable green [ok] messages during boot

  1. Disable USplash. 
  2. sudo cp /lib/lsb/init-functions /lib/lsb/init-functions.backup
sudo gedit /lib/lsb/init-functions
    Replace: 
    echo "[ ok ]"
    With: 
    printf '['
$TPUT setaf 2 # green
printf " ok "
$TPUT op  # normal
echo ']'

Recursively remove files by name

  1. To remove *.monkeypoop from [dir] recursively: 
    cd [dir]
find . -name "*.monkeypoop" -exec rm {} \;

Add or change a default application

  1. sudo cp /usr/share/applications/defaults.list /usr/share/applications/defaults.list.backup

  2. sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/defaults.list
    Add/change appropriate line to: 
    [mime-type]=[new-app].desktop
    To figure out what [new-app] should be (if necessary): 
    ls /usr/share/applications/*.desktop
    To figure out what [mime-type] should be (if necessary): 
    ls /usr/share/applications/mime/[text|image|...]

  3. killall gnome-panel
killall nautilus

Remove occurences of ^M in Vim

  1. In vim, replace all extraneous ^M by: 
    :%s/^M$//g
    IMPORTANT: Make the ^M by typing "[CTRL]-V [CTRL]-M", not by "[CARROT] M"! This expression will replace all the ^M's that have carriage returns after them with nothing. (The dollar ties the search to the end of a line)
  2. In vim, replace all ^M's that need to have carriage returns: 
    :%s/^M/ /g
    IMPORTANT: Make the ^M by typing "[CTRL]-V [CTRL]-M", not by "[CARROT] M"! This expression will replace all the ^M's that didn't have carriage returns after them with a carriage return.

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