Reddragon - Ubuntu

Introduction

This is the configuration page for the Ubuntu partition on RedDragon.

Configuration Files

All configuration files can be found here.

Repositories

• Added Opera (automatically added when installing Opera)
• Added Ubuntu Tweak
• Added Medibuntu
• Added XBMC

Installed Applications

Common Essential:
[2011-11-16]	Opera (opera)	[2011-11-16] v 11.00.1156
[2011-11-16]	etckeeper (etckeeper)	Configured to use git as SCM
[2011-11-16]	GIT (git git-gui gitk git-doc)
[2011-11-16]	Google Chrome (chromium-browser)
[2011-11-16]	Midnight Commander (mc)	See reference page. Use vi as standard viewer/editor. Installed version from mc official repository to fix file highlighting issue.
[2011-11-16]	Vim (vim, exuberant-ctags, vim-gnome)	including GVim to enable support of X clipboard
[2011-11-16]	Ruby (ruby)	... for Vim plug-in snipMate.vim
[2011-11-16]	Vim/Cscope (cscope)
[2011-11-16]	Samba (smbclient smbfs)
[2011-11-16]	NFS Server (nfs-kernel-server nfs-common portmap)	See NFS for more details; Created entries in /etc/exports.
[2011-11-16]	AutoFS (autofs)	See local config
[2011-11-16]	KeePassX (keepassx)
[2011-11-16]	apt-file (apt-file)
[2011-11-16]	SSH (ssh)	Local settings
[2011-11-16]	Thunderbird (thunderbird)
[2011-11-16]	Meld (meld)	Diff tool
[2011-11-16]	Color Diff (colordiff)
[2011-11-16]	p7zip (p7zip-full p7zip-rar)
[2011-11-16]	dlocate (dlocate)
[2011-11-16]	MS Truetype core fonts (ttf-msttcorefonts-installer)
[2011-11-16]	Ubuntu restricted extras (ubuntu-restricted-extras)	shall install automatically libdvdread4
[2011-01-18]	libdvdcss2	Installed via sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh (see also [1])
[2011-11-16]	Qiv (qiv)
[2011-11-16]	gThumb (gthumb)
[2011-11-16]	GPG Agent (gnupg-agent)	Added use-agent at end of ~/.gnupg/gpg.conf
[2011-11-16]	Rename utils (renameutils)
[2011-11-16]	Wine (wine)	See Wine page
[2011-11-16]	Gnome Terminator (terminator)	See Gnome Terminator
[2011-11-16]	Flash Plugin 10 (flashplugin-installer)	First need to enable Ubuntu partner repository (deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner). Next sudo aptitude autoremove "flashplugin-*" sudo aptitude install flashplugin-installer
[2011-11-16]	MPlayer (mplayer mplayer-doc mplayer-fonts)
[2011-11-16]	Quicktime plugin (gnome-mplayer,gecko-mediaplayer)	To play Quicktime content in Opera, Firefox
[2011-11-16]	Gimp (gimp)
[2011-11-16]	Graphical Disk Map (gdmap)
[2011-11-16]	gparted (gparted)
Dist-upgrade to Precise Pangolin
[2012-04-18]	Bumblebee (bumblebee bumblebee-nvidia)
[2013-05-28]	mini upnp (miniupnpc)	For remote support script
[2013-05-28]	vnc server (vnc4server)	For remote support script
Local applications:
[2011-11-16]	GNU Go (gnugo)
[2011-11-16]	Various Go games (qgo uligo)
[2011-11-16]	Quarry (quarry)	Board games Go, Amazons, and Reversi
[2011-11-16]	XBMC (xbmc xbmc-standalone)	See local page
[2011-11-16]	fdupes (fdupes)
[2011-11-16]	PGP (pgpgpg)
[2011-11-16]	Synergy (synergy)	[2011-03-04] v1.4.5! See local settings.
[2011-11-16]	Perl Audio Converter (pacpl)
[2011-11-16]	PowerTop (powertop)
[2011-11-16]	Gnome Tweak Tool (gnome-tweak-tool)	To change default font size...
[2011-11-16]	XScreensaver (xscreensaver xscreensaver-gl-extra xscreensaver-data-extra)	First remove gnome screensaver (sudo apt-get remove gnome-screensaver). Then set the screensaver as startup app (xscreensaver -nosplash). Select glslideshow. [2], [3], [4]
Dist-upgrade to Precise Pangolin

Un-installed applications (by uninstall date):

[YYYY-MM-DD]

Application (package)

[YYYY-MM-DD] uninstalled (reason)

Simple Settings

• [2009-10-19] - Enabled proprietary video device driver NVIDIA (version 280).
• [2013-05-18] - Enable audio head-phone (see [5]). Edit file /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output-headphones.conf as follows:

[Element Speaker]
switch = on
volume = ignore

• Printer — add Canon network printer (select IPP network printer via DNS-SD for protocol).
  • Set Color Model to CMYK

Detailed System Settings

1st install

• INSTALL LOG

File System

• To be completed

Network

• To be completed

Preferences

• To be completed

Users

• Added to group users (for write access to mnemosyne):

  mich

Printer

• Go to http://localhost:631
• Set default policy to abort-job (was on retry-job)
  • Go to Printers → Canon-MG5300-series → Administration → Set default options → Policies → Error Policy = abort-job

Detailed Application Settings

Screensaver

• gnome-screensaver does not work anymore. It simply show a black screen
• Use xscreensaver instead, and select glslideshow for a slideshow.

 sudo apt-get remove gnome-screensaver
 sudo apt-get install xscreensaver xscreensaver-data-extras xscreensaver-gl-extra

• UPDATE ISSUES — viewer used by glslideshow maintains a cache at ~/tmp/.xscreensaver-getimage.cache. Delete that file when updating the set of images in the slideshow.

Using xscreensaver without OpenGL

• Package chbg does not exist anymore.
• I could build package xv, but it does nothing under xscreensaver.
• Use package qiv. Add the following line in .xscreensaver:

  qiv -s -r -S -d 10  -f -u -l -t -i      \
          $HOME/Slideshow               \n\

• Select qiv as screensaver.

Apparently qiv does not work well with sub-folders. I use the following script (autoln):

#! /bin/bash
#
# Usage: autoln /path/to/file /path/to/second/file [...]
#
#        will create the following symbolic links:
#
#        _path_to_file         --> /path/to/file
#        _path_to_second_file  --> /path/to/second/file

while [ -n "$1" ]; do
    target="$1"
    symlink=${target//\//_}
    ln -ns "$target" "$symlink"
    shift
done

In the command line:

find -L /home/mich/Slideshow -type f -print0  | xargs -0 autoln

Remote support

• Disable strict host key checking for noekeon (to allow ssh connection even if host key changed):

Host ftp.noekeon.org   noekeon
     User                    daemenj
     HostName                ftp.noekeon.org
     StrictHostKeyChecking   no

• autonoekeon.sh is run automatically at logon:

#! /bin/bash

autossh -M 0 -f -N -n -q -R 54895:localhost:22 noekeon

To connect, first setup port forwarding, then connect via localhost:

autossh -M 0 -f -N -n -q -L 22221:localhost:54895 noekeon
ssh mike@localhost -p 22221

• Port forwarding also allows to connect to router and cups server:

autossh -M 0 -f -N -n -q -L 8080:192.168.1.1:80 -p 22221 mich@localhost   # Access remote router      via localhost:8080
autossh -M 0 -f -N -n -q -L 8081:localhost:631 -p 22221 mich@localhost    # Access remote cups server via localhost:8081

• Script on desktop to setup vnc remote (vnctunnelnoekeon):

#! /bin/bash

# Save current stdout / stderr
exec 3>&1
exec 4>&2

# Redirect stdout / stderr
exec > >(tee /tmp/stdout.tmp)
exec 2> >(tee /tmp/stderr.tmp >&2)

# Deleting current .ssh/known_hosts
echo "Deleting current .ssh/known_hosts"
rm .ssh/known_hosts

# Open a vncserver
echo "Opening a virtual desktop for remote desktop sharing..."
vnc4server :1 -geometry 1440x900 -depth 8 -rfbport 5901

# TRAP EXIT --> Will remove port forwarding and kill the VNC server
trap "upnpc -d 12322 TCP; vnc4server -kill :1; rm /tmp/vnctunnelnoekeon-tail-f.tmp" EXIT

# Tunnel the VNC + local SSH Server connection through noekeon ssh
# ... SSH tunnel will remain open for 5min after which it will be automatically closed if no connection is made
ssh -f -n -R12301:localhost:5901 -R12322:localhost:22 noekeon sleep 300
# Wait a bit so that error message don't mess up my text below...
sleep 2

echo "################################################################################"
IPLOCAL=$(getlocalip.sh)
echo "Local IP address: $IPLOCAL"
IPPUBLIC=$(getpublicip.sh)
echo "Public IP address: $IPPUBLIC"
echo "################################################################################"
echo "Opening port 12322 on UPNP:"
upnpc -a "$IPLOCAL" 22 12322 TCP | tail -n 1
echo "################################################################################"

#Stop tee redirection
exec >&3
exec 2>&4

#Mail the current session to me
MAILSERVER=smtp.scarlet.be
FROM=michel.roch@scarlet.be
TO=michael.peeters@noekeon.org
echo "Sending mail to $TO..."
exec 5<>/dev/tcp/${MAILSERVER}/25
cat <&5 >/dev/null &
sleep 1
echo -e "HELO dummy.domain" >&5
sleep 1
echo -e "MAIL FROM: $FROM" >&5
sleep 1
echo -e "RCPT TO: $TO" >&5
sleep 1
echo -e "DATA" >&5
sleep 1
echo -e "subject: IP Addresses" >&5
echo -e "" >&5
echo -e "LOCAL IP Address: $IPLOCAL" >&5
echo -e "PUBLIC IP Address: $IPPUBLIC" >&5
echo -e >&5
echo -e "Connect with 'ssh -p 12322 username@$IPPUBLIC'" >&5
echo -e >&5
echo -e >&5
echo -e "Content of stdout:" >&5
echo -e "---------------------------------------------------------------------" >&5
cat /tmp/stdout.tmp >&5
echo -e "---------------------------------------------------------------------" >&5
echo -e >&5
echo -e "Content of stderr:" >&5
echo -e "---------------------------------------------------------------------" >&5
cat /tmp/stderr.tmp >&5
echo -e "---------------------------------------------------------------------" >&5
echo -e "." >&5
sleep 1
echo -e "QUIT" >&5
sleep 1
echo '... mail sent (hopefully)!'
echo

# Cleaning...
rm /tmp/stdout.tmp
rm /tmp/stderr.tmp

# kill it when the user press a key
echo "========================================================================"
# tail file to duplicate edit session. Eg:
# 1. Connect to $IPPUBLIC
# 2. tee stderr
#    exec 2> >(tee /tmp/vnctunnelnoekeon-tail-f.tmp >&2)
# 3. Redirect stdout
#    exec >&2
# 4. From now, current terminal will duplicate login terminal
touch /tmp/vnctunnelnoekeon-tail-f.tmp
tail -f /tmp/vnctunnelnoekeon-tail-f.tmp &
read -p "Press ENTER to close the desktop sharing session..." ignore
# No need to kill VNC / UPNP port forwarding, will be done on EXIT signal trap
# ssh will exit automatically

To Do / Issues

opengl / hdmi / optimus issue

• Issue — No OpenGL support with nvidia. Check the links [6], [7]. This is needed for XBMC. See this page to test availability of OpenGL:

glxinfo | grep -i direct
# The result should be: 
#   direct rendering: Yes

Some useful commands:

# Should display which card is active and which driver is in use
# (The line 'driver=nvidia' does not appear though for RedDragon
lshw -c display | grep driver
#       configuration: driver=nvidia latency=0
#       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0

# Display information on the nvidia card
# (from https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee/issues/21)
/usr/lib/nvidia-current/bin/nvidia-xconfig --query-gpu-info --nvidia-cfg-path=/usr/lib/nvidia-current

Potential solutions:

• Lost glx after first upgrade from oneiric alpha 2 install (bug 807209)
• How To Get Optimus Working On Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric)
• Install Bumblebee
• Report information to Nouveau Devs

The bug is actually due to lack of support of new NVidia's Optimus Technology:

sudo apt-get remove nvidia-common nvidia-current nvidia-current-updates nvidia-settings nvidia-settings-updates

Some links to look at:

• https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee/wiki/Troubleshooting

from Googling "bumblebee external monitor hdmi":

• http://askubuntu.com/questions/103564/external-displays-with-bumblebee
• http://askubuntu.com/questions/113886/trying-to-use-an-external-monitor-with-bumblebee-geforce-gt-525m
• https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee/issues/106
• https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee-old/issues/40
• https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee/issues/72
• http://zachstechnotes.blogspot.be/2012/04/post-title.html

Since upgrade to Ubuntu Trusty Tahr 14.04 LTS

• HDMI still does not work out of the box
• Install nvidia-331-updates
• Install bumblebee [8]

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bumblebee/stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install virtualgl # for glxspheres64
sudo apt-get install bumblebee bumblebee-nvidia primus linux-headers-generic

• Fix bug when starting see [9]:

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libturbojpeg.so.0 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libturbojpeg.so

• We get different benchmark when using primusrun and when using optirun:

optirun glxspheres64          # 150.254538 frames/sec - 157.995651 Mpixels/sec
primusrun glxspheres64          # 60.295114 frames/sec - 63.401518 Mpixels/sec

maybe this is due to frame sync when using primusrun? (60Hz)

• bbswtich is a bumblebee module that can be used to switch on / off the nvidia card. When running, there should be a file /proc/acpi/bbswitch:

cat /proc/acpi/bbswitch
0000:01:00.0 ON

If not available, load the module manually:

sudo modprobe bbswitch
dmesg | tail -n 1

other issues

• Issue — External headphone (jack) does not work
(see bug 978880)
• Broken solution — See [10]. Edit /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output-headphones.conf (and similar ...-2.conf files if any) (more links [11], [12], [13]). Change the lines:

 [Element Speaker]
-switch = off
+switch = on
-volume = off
+volume = ignore

Update — this does not work. Settings are reverted after pulseaudio update. Moreover the bass speaker is not correctly handled.

• Solved The solution is to install the latest Realtek codec from here, v5.18 (more information [14], [15], [16], [17]). To install, just un-tar and run given ./install script:

tar -jxvzf ...
cd ...
vi install                   # install script has a bug, fetch exec at wrong place after untar
sudo ./install

• To Do — Setup BEH (backend error handler) for CUPS
• Issue — Cannot read movies from DVD-RW
• Solved — Require patch on udisks (see Udisks).