Older computer? Try Lubuntu!

There is no secret that I like Ubuntu, but I have an older computer (Dell D630 laptop) and all the new "bling" in the Ubuntu desktop version is just to much for my computer.

I have been looking for an alternative. For a awhile I ran Linux Mint with Cinnamon, and to be honest I really don't have a problem with that distribution, it has a lot of benefits and Cinnamon is an good looking alternative to Ubuntu's Unity, I do recommend it to anyone, but still too heavy for my hardware. So I started to look for something "lighter" and there is some out there. But most of them requires a lot "hands-on" and not really nice to look at. 

Half a year ago I got a tip about Lubuntu, so I have been running Lubuntu 12.04 now since it was released and I must say that I'm happy with the performances, look and feel. There is some hands-on, I will not hide that fact but it is a minimal and mostly too fulfill my need to test things out. To give some examples; I had some problems with a usb chip-card-reader (new e-ID from my bank, SEB, BankID) but I got it to work after a while (I will write a walkthru when I get the time). I also had some hardware specific issues, display don't shutdown (power off) as you sett in the power settings (only make the display black) and the network interface doesn't turnoff properly on suspend/hibernate but otherwise it has worked relatively smoothly.

 Normally when a new release is out i will do a backup and then try to do a upgrade (do-release-upgrade) and normally the outcome will be bad and I end up doing a full reinstall. So when the new release for Lubuntu 12.10 came out (about the same time/hour as Ubuntu) I did the same and to my surprise, it worked smoothly. The only thing that didn't work 100% were the repositories, I had gone to an 8 PPA's but it's pretty easy to add it again. I would recommended to remove all "own" repositories before you do an upgrade, it goes a bit faster also.

Lubuntu's new icon theme looks fresh and the new session manager is logical and works fine, you can read more about new features and issues on the Lubuntu Wiki 

I'm even experimenting with Lubuntu as my media center with XBMC, but this is really out of my comfort zone, but maybe it can create some posts about that experience as well.

Until next time, happy Ubunt-ing. ;) 

Add Gnome Shell to Ubuntu 11.10

At first I found it difficult to adjust into the new system. But, now my mind is changing… Unity is getting very stable and it does have a lot of good features. But the biggest problem is that Gnome Shell and Unity both introduced Big new features all at ones! And Unity have a lot to improve, but I think you should give it a chance in 11.10.

So, here is how to install Gnome shell in Ubuntu 11.10 (and it will not mess up your installation and you can switch between Unity and Gnome Shell).

Open the terminal and enter the following command:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell

After next reboot, click on the little settings icon near the password field to change default desktop. Select “GNOME” from the list and login and enjoy your Gnome Shell!

Firefox 8 in Ubuntu 11.10

Running the latest Ubuntu (11:10)? And wonder why you do not get Firefox 8? Run the following in a terminal window;

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-mozilla-security/ppa

sudo apt-get update & & sudo apt-get upgrade

And you have solved the problem. :)

Howto: E-legitimation Telia Net iD, Ubuntu 10.04

Some problems in Ubuntu 11.10, because it ships with Firefox 7 (and if you added Firefox 8), Telia is still blocking access for this version, still. But they have provided a workaround.

Telia Requirement:

Linux: Ubuntu 11.10 (and older)
Web browser: Firefox 6 (and older)

https://cve.trust.telia.com/TeliaElegNG/


I will post a walk-through when Telia grant access for Ubuntu 10.04.

In the meantime; this is the Telia workaround:

Install the following add-on for Firefox;

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/59/ 

To get around Telia.se's "versions-check". Create a new "User Agent" and enable it (to fake version 9.10 Ubuntu):

Net-iD Walk-through, install the application:

Go to https://cve.trust.telia.com/TeliaElegNG/ and install Net iD

To download a "e-legitimation" you have to install NetiD:

1. Ones downloaded unpack the application with the following command
   
   
   
   

   tar –xvf iidsetup_32.tar.gz

2. A folder, named "iidsetup" will be created. Run the command
   
   
   
   
   

   sudo ./install

   from that folder.
   
   
3. A webpage will be stated by the installation of the installation of the Net iD PKCS#11 module, click on install.
   
   
4. Restart Fierfox, and Net iD installation is done.

Now you have to go to your "e-legitimation" issuer (in my case SEB) and apply for a "e-legitimation" with Telia (if that is your provider).

You will get a straight forward guide, just follow it and it will install the "e-legitimation".

Restart Firefox and go to https://cve.trust.telia.com/TeliaElegNG/ to test you ID.

Ubuntu 10.4 Lucid Lynx (LTS) Desktop setup / tweak

New Ubuntu is out. Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx (LTS).

So whats new? Ubuntu 10.04 is a LTS (Long Time Support) version, it means that the makers of Ubuntu will support the version (desktop) for 3 years (instead just until the next version released). My first Ubuntu installation was Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Dapper Drake) and since then I have install all Ubuntu versions that have come out from Canonical Ltd. Here I'm trying to gather info that is useful to get a "working" desktop, and my work have not been easier.

Ubuntu 10.04 - Java issue

Buy default Ubuntu 10.04 comes with OpenJDK Java 6 runtime (or without any Java plug-in at all). And for my most important use of Java (Citrix, Bank ID, Net-ID etc.) I can't use these Java plug-ins and have to remove OpenJDK (etc.) and install Sun/Oracle Java 6.

Lets go through this.

Ubuntu 10.04 Alternate installation (encrypted LVM setup)

The Ubuntu 10.04 alternate installation CD/DVD allows you to perform certain specialist installations of Ubuntu. It provides for the following situations:

• setting up automated deployments;
• upgrading from older installations without network access;
• LVM and/or RAID partitioning;
• installs on systems with less than about 256MB of RAM (although note that low-memory systems may not be able to run a full desktop environment reasonably). 

I use this CD/DVD to install/setup an encrypted LVM (logical volume manager) disk, to protect the data on the disk.