Entries Tagged 'Ubuntu' ↓

Ubuntu Linux always amazes me. It’s a great all around operating system that is free, as in free beer and freedom. Today, I needed to install an OS on an old computer whose CD rom was not working and even when replacing it out, I couldn’t get it to boot from CD. No problem, I used a PXE boot feature and loaded the complete OS off the network. Try doing that with Windows!

That’s right, eat your heart out Windows. It really demonstrates the full power of the operating system that can be harnessed and it’s just one of the amazing things you can do with Linux. I will be putting up a tutorial about this on my tech site in just a few days.

Ubuntu just keeps getting better as an OS. People frequently ask me why I love using Ubuntu Linux and I invariably rattle off 4 or 5 features that I really love about Ubuntu. I don’t know if I have ever convinced anyone to change, but then again, I’m not a software evangelist. I think the software you use is up to you and your needs. Anyways, here are several reasons why I love Ubuntu Linux.

1) It’s easy to write shell scripts using Ubuntu Linux. It’s so easy to write a little script to take care of repetitive tasks and save you a lot of time.

2) Every software package you need is available for use with it. You can be just as productive, if not more so, on the tools provided with Ubuntu.

3) It’s free. That’s right. There is absolutely no cost for the software.

The other day, I decided to take my computers down for the few hours it would take to upgrade to Hardy Heron. I wanted to take advantages of the new features and the improved Firefox 3. So far everyone is working very well. The upgrades went perfect, except for two issues, one on each computer.

First off, on my laptop, the host name of the computer fell out of the host file so sudo couldn’t work. This was almost a major issue, but it is very easy to fix.

Go to System-Network-General. Click on the unlock and enter your password. Next, copy that hostname listed there.

Next, go to hosts tab and you are going to want to add the hostname localhost at ip 127.0.0.1 and the host name from the previous step at ip 127.0.1.1 . Basically, get it looking like this screenshot.

After you finish, reboot your computer and you are back in business.

The second problem that I encountered was on my desktop. On its first reboot, it had several crash errors. I rebooted and they didn’t appear again and haven’t since. I think it’s just some legacy tracking errors.

All in all, I like the performance I am getting with the new Ubuntu.

I am interested lately in the future of business computing. Go back many years and business computing was all about mainframe computers and then came the desktop revolution and the fact that small business could easily meet their needs with a desktop computer. Medium sized businesses followed suit. Still for big processing jobs, nothing can be beat a mainframe.

Up until recently, mainframes were out of the reach of small and medium sized businesses, but I see that changing. It is becoming easier and easier to rent just part of a mainframe to run your business processes and I think this will become a trend. Computing is going to be more and more transfered off to outsourcing. Remember, if it isn’t your core business, then you should look at outsourcing it for cost reduction.

But still there are ways to take advantage of things if you decide to handle things yourself. I see this as a particular boon for an OS like Ubuntu Linux. Imagine if you could rent out dedicated quad core server in a data center and could use as a virtual cluster with a desktop in your office? Those kind of possibilities are possible.

Sometimes you want to to have two computers using the same internet connection. It’s been awhile since I last posted an Ubuntu tutorial, so it is about time. Here I discuss how to share internet access over a crossover cable.

Ok, this config would take less than a minute if I was there. Maybe it will be the same for you if you can cut and paste fast. It can be done graphically and you might want to try it for fun. The fun part about Ubuntu is that you can experiment and there is nothing better than just figuring things out.

Open a terminal and type this:

sudo cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/interfacesbkup

That backed up the file we are going to work with and then this:

sudo gedit /etc/network/interfaces

Now you are going to add the setting for your network. A file will get opened in your editor. Look in the file and you will see this line:
#iface eth0 inet dhcp

Right above it you will see a line that says auto eth0. Don’t touch that line. You want to delete the #iface line and put this in its place:
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.1
netmask 255.255.255.0

This sets the ip address of your LAN connection. Save the file and then exit from gedit.

Now, hook up the cable that goes between your computer and your wife’s computer then just restart networking by typing this in a terminal:

sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart

Now you are ready to use the connection.

1st, do a google search to make sure you have still internet. (IE see something went wrong). It also checks to see if we need to do any default networking.

2nd, is the other computer using Ubuntu or Windows. If the other computer is using Ubuntu as well, just change her /etc/network/interfaces file in the same way I described above, but just change the address, to 192.168.1.2 and add these lines:
gateway 192.168.1.1
dns-nameservers 192.168.1.1

If the other computer is using Windows, go into the TCP/IP properties of the connection and untick the automatically get IP address and auto nameservers. For ip address enter 192.168.1.2 , tab through the mask and for gateway use 192.168.1.1 and for dns, use 192.168.1.1

Now check if the other computer has internet. and check if you have internet. You should both be set.

Problems?
Send me another copy of your ifconfig
If for some reason you lose internet on your Ubuntu, run this command:

sudo rm /etc/network/interfaces

and then

sudo mv /etc/network/interfaces/networkbkup /etc/network/interfaces

When you restart your networking will be back to normal.

I know this is very long, but it is actually very simple, I just have a long explanation. In short, set the networking for eth0 up and then get the other computer set up.