Moma's notes.
home: www.futuredesktop.org
updated: June 2004
0) Index of Installed Redhat 9 files...
Another
popular package manager
yum...
# man apt-get
( manual and info pages )
# info apt-get
Let's use it:
# apt-get update (
refresh
internal rpm package index.
Run this quite often, regularly )
Available RPM (APT) packages:
http://freshrpms.net/packages/
Examples:
# apt-get update
( update
internal package index )
# apt-get install mplayer
( installs
new or updates existing mplayer package )
# apt-get install mplayer-skins
# apt-get dist-upgrade
( update all packages to newest
version. Takes a while to run... )
Search for a program. Show info.
# apt-cache search program-name
e.g
apt-cache
search cad
# apt-cache show package-name
e.g
apt-cache show qcad
Remove a package
# apt-get remove package-name
e.g
apt-get remove amsn
Synaptic is a GUI (Graphical User Interface)
for APT
http://www.nongnu.org/synaptic/
#
apt-get install synaptic
# synaptic
(to run it)
Some problems:
# apt-get install mplayer
apt-get complained that "lame-libs-3.92-3"
conflicted with an existing library.
Executing RPM (-Uvh)...
file
/usr/lib/libmp3lame.so.0.0.0 from install of lame-3.93.1-fr2
conflicts with file from package lame-libs-3.92-3
E: Sub-process
/bin/rpm returned an error code (5)
- I removed the file from /usr/lib/
- Runned: # /sbin/ldconfig
- It did not help (?)
So downloaded newest
(lame-3.93.1-fr2.i386.rpm) from rpmfind.net and installed it with
# rpm -i --force
lame-3.93.1-fr2.i386.rpm
And apt-get was happy.
# apt-get install mplayer
# apt-get install
w32codec ( To play
closed, proprietary Windows Media Player formats
(*.avi) )
( Check
if win32 codecs were put
in
'/usr/lib/win32/' )
# apt-get install
mplayer-fonts; apt-get install transcode;
apt-get install mplayer-skins
# gmplayer (to
run)
( Take a look: Desktop
picture1...
picture2... )
----------
I wanted to play some movies with
gmplayer.
Got this error:
Error opening/initializing the
selected video_out (-vo) device.
This machine hasn't accelerated video card, so I
think, need to use x11 or xv output.
Tested first mplayer directly from
command line.
$ mplayer -vo x11 -framedrop -dvd
1 md305c3y.mov (OK)
$ mplayer -vo x11 -framedrop -dvd
1 h1.avi (OK)
And added these lines into
"/usr/local/etc/mplayer/mplayer.conf" (?? check in
manual if this is right. 'man mplayer' ??)
Alternative place is "$HOME/.mplayer/config"
file.
# cat
/usr/local/etc/mplayer/mplayer.conf
# Write
your
default config options here.
vo=x11
#
flip=yes (uncomment this and do
neck-wrestling)
mf=type=png:fps=25
See also: MPlayer-redhat9...
2) Re-installed also xmms (X mulimedia system). Had some problems
with mp3 files, skins etc.
2a) Removed old
xmms installation
# apt-get remove xmms
(rpm
-e xmms)
2b) Deleted old buggy
~/.xmms/ folder
# rm -fR ~/.xmms
2c) Re-installed xmms
# apt-get install xmms
2d) RedHat's xmms package
does not provide MP3 due to licensing issues,
so downloaded (and rpm -ivh) xmms-mpg123-1.2.7-21.i386.rpm
(mpg123 plugin) and
xmms-skins-1.2.7-21.i386.rpm
(skin package) from http://havardk.xmms.org/dist/xmms-1.2.7-rh8-rh9-rpm
Easy way:
# apt-get install xmms-mp3
# apt-get
install xmms-skins
http://www.xmms.org (RedHat
9)
3) Install RealPlayer
Browse to
player.helixcommunity.org and
0) Download RealPlayer Alpha, Linux x86 (Legacy),
Installer.
[[
Note: You could also install HelixPlayer.
Please read: Which
of RealPlayer or HelixPlayer is right for me ?
I choose
RealPlayer because it says:
The RealPlayer 10 for Linux builds
on top of the Helix Player
and will include RealAudio,
RealVideo, MP3, Flash, MPEG-4(fee-based)
and
other non-open source components.
Good -;)
Also
MPlayer
or Xine do MPEG-4.
]]
1) Goto
CLI
(command line) and become an admin (root) user.
$ su -
2) Make the file
executable and run it
# cd
/home/moma/download
# chmod
+x legacy-realplay-0.3.0.120-linux-2.2-libc6-i386.bin
#
./legacy-realplay-0.3.0.120-linux-2.2-libc6-i386.bin
It asks for a
path. I installed it in /usr/local/RealPlayer
(It asked one or two other questions, but I couldn't respond because it
simultaneously outputted ........ dots.
Obviously, it failed to create links to mozilla/plugins.
So in step 3) we fix it manually)
3) Copy or link
RealPlayer plugins for Mozilla browser
Note: Check your Mozilla
installation directory. In many cases it is /usr/lib/mozilla/. Check the
location first.
#
ln
-s /usr/local/RealPlayer/mozilla/nphelix.so
/usr/local/mozilla/plugins/nphelix.so
# ln
-s /usr/local/RealPlayer/mozilla/nphelix.xpt
/usr/local/mozilla/plugins/nphelix.xpt
File permissions
should be
755. Check'em.
# ls -l
/usr/local/RealPlayer/mozilla
total 192
-rwxr-xr-x
1 1000 1000 183726 May 18 00:52 nphelix.so*
-rwxr-xr-x
1 1000 1000 5063 May 18 00:52 nphelix.xpt*
4) Restart
mozilla browser (save your (unsaved) mozilla mail if any open)
# killall
mozilla-bin
5) Back to
normal user and test mozilla and realplay from CLI. (watch for any
warnings, messages)
^d
$
mozilla &
$ realplay &
-------
Select menu
[Help], [About
plugins] in Mozilla and check the plugin
list.
This page...
should detect RealPlayer too.
Turn your radio... on.
Test also video capabilities here...
An ugly message
popped up and reported that
"Mozilla and realplayer were
compiled with diff. versions of gcc". Who cares, it works!
Why it hasn't the
"[x] Do not show this message again" option ?
Anyway: Here is the Real and
Helix help page...
And many thanks to Real, You're on the right track !
-------------------------------------------------------
Try this
installer...
if it fails completly. Reading: Test driving Real for
Linux...
-------------------------------------------------------
((
Obsolete, old lessions:
Ok, 10 minutes
later...
I download the HelixPlayer
source and recompiled it with gcc
3.2 (check yours: $ gcc --version)
$ gcc --version
gcc (GCC) 3.3.2 (Mandrake
Linux 10.0 3.3.2-6mdk)
$ cd
/home/moma/download
$ wget
https://helixcommunity.org/download.php/415/hxplay-0.3.0.123-source.tar.bz2
$ tar -xvjf
hxplay-0.3.0.123-source.tar.bz2
$ cd
hxplay-0.3.0.123-source
$ make
$ su root
...))
<old
stuff old stuff> Download
plugins
for Netscape and Mozilla....<old
stuff>
4)
Installing Java (JRE) support. RedHat 9 or Mandrake 9/10.X,
Fedora Core 1, 2, 3
Let's try to install Sun's Java system first.
0) Browse to
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/
( http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.jsp ) and Download
JDK.
(Java Development Kit, JDK)
The file is Linux self-extracting file
(jdk-1_5_0-linux-i586.bin).
Read also the "Installation
Instructions" on
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/install.html
1) Goto CLI
(command line) and become a root-user
$ su -
password:
2) Create
a java directory
# rm -fr
/usr/local/java/
# mkdir
/usr/local/java
3) Move the jdk-1_5_0-linux-i586.bin
into /usr/local/java and execute it (as root user)
# cp /home/moma/download/jdk-1_5_0-linux-i586.bin
/usr/local/java
# cd /usr/local/java
# cdmod +x jdk-1_5_0-linux-i586.bin
# ./jdk-1_5_0-linux-i586.bin
...
...
4)
After installation
You should now have these files in
# ls -l /usr/local/java
drwxr-xr-x 9 root root 4096 Sep 15 15:17
jdk1.5.0/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 46087154 Nov 10 20:43
jdk-1_5_0-linux-i586.bin
Link
java-plugin into Mozilla plugin directory
Note
it's /jdk1.5.0/.
Check the
spelling please.
# rm
/usr/local/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so
# ln -s
/usr/local/java/jdk1.5.0/jre/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so
/usr/local/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so
Link necessary
(help) libraries that MUST be available at runtime. We are linking a
whole directory here.
# ln -s
/usr/local/java/jdk1.5.0/jre/lib/i386 /usr/lib/i386
Check it
# ls -l
/usr/lib/i386/
5) Make that (lib)
directory known to the runtime system. Add it into /etc/ld.so.conf.
# grep
"/usr/lib/i386" /etc/ld.so.conf || echo
"/usr/lib/i386" >> /etc/ld.so.conf
Update library
cache
# ldconfig
6) Link java and
javac binaries (in case you'll run normal java apps or develope
some)
# rm -f /usr/bin/java /usr/bin/javac
#
ln -s /usr/local/java/jdk1.5.0/bin/java /usr/bin/java
#
ln -s /usr/local/java/jdk1.5.0/bin/javac
/usr/bin/javac
7)
Test the Java plugin for Mozilla
Back to normal
user again
^d
Close all mozillas
and restart
$ mozilla
Watch for any
warnings, error messages !
Further, read these postings...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continue with
these lines if the Sun's Java fails to work.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had installed this Java
(JRE)... but it didn't work properly within Mozilla browser.
Had also tried Sun's
Java plugin... but no success.
When starting
$ mozilla
It reported this error among others
LoadPlugin: failed to initialize
shared library /usr/local/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so
[/usr/local/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so: undefined symbol:
__vt_17nsGetServiceByCID]
Seems like the libjavaplugin_oji.so
is compiled with a different (earlier) gcc version ?
------------
Anyway, here is
a
definitive recipe for how to make it right.
1) Download BlackDown java.
Browse to http://www.blackdown.org
and download j2re or j2sdk from
the nearest
mirror site.
Eg. I got
it from
ftp://sunsite.dk/mirrors/java-linux/JDK-1.4.2/i386/rc1/j2sdk-1.4.2-rc1-linux-i586-gcc3.2.bin
The j2re.1-4... file is
for runtime ONLY. (it installs VM, Java runtime binary executable)
! The j2sdk-1-4... file is for BOTH Java Runtime and Java
Development.
It contains javac
compiler + complete Java (VM) runtime binary. So get j2sdk-1-4... if you want it
all.
-------------
Check your gcc.
$ gcc --version
gcc (GCC) 3.3.2 (Mandrake Linux 10.0 3.3.2-6mdk)
This
Mandrake10 box has gcc v3.3 and
Mozilla
is of v1.7.
------------
Depending on your browser setup, you may need to press the [SHIFT]-key
while clicking on the file for download.
------------
2) Goto
command
line (CLI) and...
Become a root user
$ su -
Change to download folder
# cd /home/moma/download
Make the file executable and run it
#
chmod +x j2sdk-1.4.2-rc1-linux-i586-gcc3.2.bin
#
./j2sdk-1.4.2-rc1-linux-i586-gcc3.2.bin
(press spacebar to browse thru the text)
------------
3) Move the
resulting directory (j2sdk1.4.2/) to ...
# mkdir -p /usr/local/java/blackdown
# mv ./j2sdk1.4.2 /usr/local/java/blackdown/
Check it
# ls -l /usr/local/java/blackdown/
drwxr-xr-x
8 1000 1000 4096 Dec 17 07:12 j2sdk1.4.2/
------------
4) Set permissions
#
chmod 755 /usr/local/java/blackdown
# chmod
-R 755 /usr/local/java/blackdown/j2sdk1.4.2/
------------
5)
Create (soft) link to libjavaplugin_oji.so. Remove the
old one first.
Note: Check your Mozilla
installation directory. In many cases it is /usr/lib/mozilla/. Check the
location first.
# rm
/usr/local/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so
# ln -s
/usr/local/java/blackdown/j2sdk1.4.2/jre/plugin/i386/mozilla/libjavaplugin_oji.so
/usr/local/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so
------------
[[
6)
Also, I had to re-create the link to mozilla binary.
Note: Check your
Mozilla installation directory. In many cases it is /usr/lib/mozilla/. Check the
location first.
# rm
/usr/bin/mozilla && ln -s /usr/local/mozilla/mozilla
/usr/bin/mozilla
]]
Kill
and restart all mozilla instances
# killall mozilla-bin
Back to normal user again
^d
7) Restart mozilla. Note: you should not see any warnings about
libjavaplugins.
$ mozilla
In Mozilla, select menu [Help], [About plugins] and check the plugin
list.
This page... should detect Java.
(or check it here...)
---------
Finally:
Link java and javac binaries to /usr/bin/
Java applications
(such as LimeWire...)
need to find the java (VM) binary.
$ su -
# rm -f /usr/bin/java /usr/bin/javac
#
ln -s /usr/local/java/blackdown/j2sdk1.4.2/bin/java
/usr/bin/java
#
ln -s /usr/local/java/blackdown/j2sdk1.4.2/bin/javac
/usr/bin/javac
Test'em
$ java
Usage: java [-options] class [args...]
(to
execute a class)
And taste your first?
cup of fine Java... hmm,
file names do really matter in Java.
$ javac
HelloWorldApp.java
$ java HelloWorldApp
Hello World !
- OK.
// <old
stuff old
stuff>
Read Mozilla
java-plugin success story...
5)
Installing Macromedia FlashPlayer
FlashPlayer.7..
or FlashPlayer...
Let Federica...
test your flash or listen to daddies...
or watch a Disney...
Other
stuff:
*
SHRED
= Delete files in a secure manner (securely & finally)
$ shred your_file.png (scrambles, overwrites the file content, but will not delete the file itself)
$ shred -u your_file.png (overwrites the file content, deletes it too. The file is virtually impossible to recover)
$ man shred
*
Compare files and directories. Check newly burned CD
Diff
compares two files and reports found differences.
It can also
compare content of directories recursively.
$ man diff
$ info diff
$ diff
file1.txt file2.txt
Check
content of a newly burned ISO CD
# mkdir
/mnt/iso
Mount and map
(eg. EduPack-CD1.i586.iso) ISO file to /mnt/iso directory.
# mount
-t iso9660 -o loop EduPack-CD1.i586.iso /mnt/iso
Mount also cdrom
if not already done
# mount
/dev/cdrom
or :
mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
Compare /mnt/iso
and /mnt/cdrom
(silence is OK)
# diff
--brief -d -r /mnt/cdrom /mnt/iso
# umount
/mnt/iso
Her's
how to check a (newly) burned CD... + Testing
a CD...(rawread script). You have the
MD5SUMs?
See also man page for:
cmp, comp, diff3
*
Logitech wheel mouse: Roll up/down wheel didn't function properly.
Changed
: "PS/2" to "IMPS/2" in
/etc/X11/XF86Config
Section
"InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol"
"IMPS/2"
Option "Device"
"/dev/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping"
"4 5"
Option
"Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection
(and relogin to
X with: CTR + ALT + BACKSPACE)
Xserver is restarted.
- OK
*
Mouse trick
Highlight, select a word or web address in any application; in a web
browser, file listing in a terminal etc.
Goto Mozilla
browser and press down the middle mouse button (on this mouse it`s the
roller).
The browser
should pick up the word and do a search.
*
How to change the Desktop and Display manager (GNOME / KDE
/ XFCE / ICEWM)
Edit /etc/sysconfig/desktop (
global )
Or edit $HOME/.desktop (
private )
DESKTOP="KDE"
DISPLAYMANAGER=KDE
--------------------------------------------
Discussion on a newsgroup:
Q: What do I write into "/etc/sysconfig/desktop" to make XFCE-4 to become default Desktop manager.
http://xfce.org/
A: I run Mandrake-10 and XFCE, GNOME, KDE and iceWM...
Check first the /etc/sysconfig/desktop.
$ cat /etc/sysconfig/desktop
DISPLAYMANAGER=GNOME
DESKTOP=xfce4
----------------------------
Check also if the user has own (local) ~/.desktop file.
It will override the values in /etc/sysconfig/desktop.
$ cat $HOME/.desktop
DESKTOP=icewm
Remove or edit the file.
----------------------------
Tips 1)
I you want to know what system config files are involved. Go first into
the graphical system tool (in Mandrake start: drakconf),
and activate: Display -> Display Logs.
And you can see what config files each operation touches. Later you can
do the same from CLI.
Tips 2:
Playing with several DISPLAYs (same XServer, several displays. )
Note:
o Virtual terminals (text consoles) will be CNTR + ALT + F1...F6.
o XServer Displays (DISPLAY :0, :1, :2...:n) will be in CNTR + ALT + F7...F9,...Fn+7
-----------------------
o Press CNTR + ALT + F1 (or any other F1..F6 for a new terminal/console)
o Login as a normal user
Start a new X DISPLAY :1, with the KDE Desktop Manager.
$ echo "DESKTOP=KDE" > ~/.desktop
$ startx -- :1 &
Start a new DISPLAY :2 with the GNOME Desktop Manager.
$ echo "DESKTOP=GNOME" > ~/.desktop
$ startx -- :2 &
Start a new DISPLAY :3 with the XFCE Desktop Manager.
$ echo "DESKTOP=xfce4" > ~/.desktop
$ startx -- :3 &
etc.
You can now jump between the various X DISPLAYS.
Press CNTR + ALT + F7 (display :0) and CNTR + ALT + F8.. F9...F10...
Use CNTR + ALT + BACKSPACE to kill the DISPLAYS.
or brutally kill the job when you're in the terminal.
$ jobs -l
$ kill #PID
-----------------------
What is the difference between "Desktop" and "Windows Manager"
Eg. in terminal 1 (ALT + CNTR + F1)
$ xinit /usr/X11R6/bin/xterm -- :1
(The display is shown in virtual terminal CNTR + ALT + F8)
You're now running a X-application (xterm) without any Desktop manager.
Windows manager in action:
The window is shown without any borders, no way to resize, move or minimize the windows etc.
No handy toolbars or menus either. Why?
Because these are typical tasks of a Desktop Manager suchs as KDE, GNOME, XFCE.
Desktop is an application that runs on the top of X's Windows system.
You can always start a Desktop System from CLI (command line)
In the same xterm window, write
$ start[Press TAB-key]
starticewm startfluxbox startkde startxfce4
startgnome startwindowmaker
Select and start your Desktop Manager.
$ startxfce4 &
--------
Try also other X apps you find in /usr/X11R6/bin/ (xcalc, xclock...)
$ xinit /usr/X11R6/bin/xmessage "Hello. Are you OK or not OK ?" -- :2
Wanna edit code without any (memory eating) Desktop system ?
$ xinit /usr/X11R6/bin/xedit -- :2
$ locate xemacs
/usr/bin/xemacs
....
$ xinit /usr/bin/xemacs -- :2 :: whoooo. I'll never return to a Desktop systema again!
Browser is all your Desktop.
$ locate mozilla
/usr/bin/mozilla
$ xinit /usr/bin/mozilla -- :3
$ xinit /usr/bin/mozilla -- machinename:3
You can send the Windows to any DISPLAY on your local PC or to other PCs over network.
$ xclock -display alice_pc:0 &
$ display your_holiday_image.jpg -display :2
$ display your_holiday_image.jpg -display localhost:2
X is nettwork transparent ! Hmm, very epressive.
Many thanks to Marcel ( http://www.marcelgagne.com ) for his articles.
Next: Become familiar with XNest... (= nested XServers or nested Displays? Not quite sure ?)
XNest: http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7298
*
Looking good in a terminal window
<Work in
progress>
Changing the
background image of konsole
application (in KDE desktop)
Start the "konsole"
app and do menu selection:
Settings -> Configure Konsole
On
[Session]-tab,
Select session
name "Shell", and set Schema: eg. "Transparent, Dark
Background". Press [OK] and restart the konsole app.
And the desktop
wallpaper
is shown through the
konsole window as a
transparent image.
Changed your wallpaper? Oh my, it's looking good !
--------
Select also
[Schema]-tab and create your own schemas with background
pictures and colors.
--------
Changing the
background image (theme) on a CONSOLE tty terminal (eg. when logged on CNTR
+ ALT + F1).
0)
It seems to me that splashscreen and raw-console backround images
are closely related,
ie. thee are
controlled by the same config file.
And what I know,
a vanilla kernel must have a patch for the splashscreen
mechanism.
Ref.
http:///www.bootsplash.org
---------------------
Mandrake has a
shell script that can change the CONSOLE theme.
Browse to /usr/share/bootsplash/
As root user,
# ls -l
drwxr-xr-x
2 root root 4096 May 14 12:45 scripts/
drwxr-xr-x
6 root root 4096 Jun 8 09:47 themes/
# cd scr*
# ls -l
rwxr-xr-x
1 root root 4323 Mar 19 17:55 detect-resolution*
-rwxr-xr-x
1 root root 1527 Mar 19 17:55 make-boot-splash*
-rwxr-xr-x
1 root root 1536 Mar 19 17:55 remove-theme*
-rwxr-xr-x
1 root root 1038 Mar 19 17:55 rewritejpeg*
-rwxr-xr-x
1 root root 3888 Mar 19 17:55 switch-themes*
And run
#
./switch-themes
-c: Tell you the current themes
-l: List themes available.
-u: Update current theme.
# ./switch-themes
-l
Mandrake
plf1
plf2
plf5
Note: The plf
themes come from PLF's (Penguin Liberation Front) repository.
Read below xx)
Change the theme.
# ./switch-themes
plf5
That's it.
You may need to reboot?
------------
And
the
following listings may help you
to understand how it actually works.
1) Check
/etc/sysconfig/bootsplash file.
This file should
have settings for bootsplash THEME and CONSOLE LOGO.
The THEME name
is the same as *theme folder name*
in steps 2)
and 3).
THEME=Mandrake
SPLASH=auto
#
LOGO_CONSOLE=yes
LOGO_CONSOLE=theme
---------------------
2) Check the
images folder in /usr/share/bootsplash/themes/
# ls -l /usr/share/bootsplash/themes/Mandrake/
# ls -l
/usr/share/bootsplash/themes/Mandrake/images/
Note There
should be console background images for three (3) different
screen resolutions.
vt-800x600.jpg
vt-1024x768.jpg
vt-1280x1024.jpg
The other images
are shown during the boot process.
((
I think you'll
determine which of these is used with "vga=xxx" option
in
/boot/grub/grub.conf
(or menu.lst) file. Not very sure about this
!
))
------------------------------------------
3) Check
config-files in /etc/bootsplash/themes/
Again, the THEME
is the same as directory name.
# ls -l /etc/bootsplash/themes/Mandrake/config/
------------------------------------------
4) Generate
a new (pure) /boot/initrd-2.x.y-xxmdk.img
Run first mkinitrd without any
options. It will give you a workable
example on the last line.
# mkinitrd
...
I would run
# mkinitrd
/boot/initrd-2.6.3-15mdk.img 2.6.3-15mdk
((
Just for info::
You can also
run
# mkinitrd
/boot/initrd-2.6.3-15mdk.img `uname -r`
or
#
/usr/share/loader/make-initrd `uname -r`
The `uname
-r`
gives the name+version of current kernel.
))
------------------------------------------
5) Check the
new initrd-2.xxx file
ls -l /boot/*img
rw-r--r--
1 root root 163136 Aug 2 21:07
/boot/initrd-2.6.3-15mdk.img
lrwxrwxrwx
1 root root 22 Aug 2
17:08 /boot/initrd.img -> initrd-2.6.3-15mdk.img
Note:
On this machine
there is also a link to /boot/initrd.img because the
grub.conf refers to it. Do it if you need it, otherwise no.
# ln -s
/boot/initrd-2.6.3-15mdk.img /boot/initrd.img
------------------------------------------
6) Add bootsplash and
console-background CONFIG
file
into newly
created /boot/initrd-2.6.3-15mdk.img.
# /sbin/splash
-s -f
/etc/bootsplash/themes/Mandrake/config/bootsplash-800x600.cfg
>> /boot/initrd-2.6.3-15mdk.img
Note: Here we use the
THEME Mandrake,
and CONSOLE size of 800x600
pixels.
Investigate:
Can you add several configs (1024x768.cfg etc) by repeating this
command ?
Can we add other resources into initrd.img ?
------------------------------------------
7) Check
your /boot/grub/grub.conf (or menu.lst or lilo.conf ...)
Title
Mydrake-2.6.3-15
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.3-15mdk devfs=mount
acpi=ht
resume=/dev/hda5 splash=silent vga=788
root=/dev/hda1
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd-2.6.3-15mdk.img
(( Not sure how
much the vga= parameter is related to 800x600 in
step
6) ?
Need to investigate
this more thoroughly later.
))
The (possible)
values are:
vga=788 => 800x640
vga=791 => 1024x768
vga=794 => 1280x1024
------------------------------------------
8) That's
about it... I think !
Ref.
o Visit www.bootsplash.org
o Google
for "console background mandrake bootsplash"
------------------------------------------
xx)
This machine has
these packages (splash/console themes) installed.
# urpmq splash
bootsplash
bootsplash-plf
(PLF themes)
bootsplash-themes
(many nice themes)
You may need to
set your urpmi repositories if you cannot install or find'em.
-> http://urpmi.org/easyurpmi
Note:
You can create
your own themes and console-background images.
Just convert
the images appropriately.
# convert
big_summer.jpg -resize 800x600 summer_800x600.jpg
...
# cp
summer_800x600.jpg
/usr/share/bootsplash/themes/THEME-NAME/images/vt-800x600.jpg
# cp
summer_1024x768.jpg
/usr/share/bootsplash/themes/THEME-NAME/images/vt-1024x768.jpg
...
And repeat steps
4)
to 6).
- (mostly) OK
*
Login message (Greeting message)
/etc/motd...
Message of the day.
Linux can show a
greeting message when you logon a (text) console (ALT
+ CNTR + F1...F6)
/etc/motd is a pure text file. Change the file and
- Just say hello or welcome.
- Add a reminder or warning.
Study also /etc/issue
Or create a /etc/nologin
;-)
If the user
is not root, and if
/etc/nologin exists, the contents of this
file are printed on the
screen, and the login is terminated. This is
typically used to
prevent logins when the system
is being taken down.
$ man motd
$ man issue
$ info issue
And
do cram content of the
/etc... (...)
*
Login and shell environment
What are the .bash_profile and
.bashrc files.
These
hidden shell-script files are private to the login-user and they reside
in
the user's $HOME directory.
$ cat ~/.bashrc
$ cat ~/.bash_profile
$HOME/.bashrc is executed when user opens a new shell (window),
eg. by starting a xterm or konsole.
You normally add your own (shell) settings in this file.
$HOME/.bash_profile is executed on login. It sets environment for
the login-session. It also runs the user's ~/.bashrc.
Note:
These scripts can call a /etc/profile
script which has common settings for
all
users on that server.
Read more
here...
Read
also this newsgroup
message...
CLI
= Command Line Interface = Shell command prompt
* Pushd and popd (save and restore directory locations).
cd - and cd --
$ pwd
/home/moma/tmp
Save current directory location
$ pushd .
or
$ pushd $(pwd)
# pushd `pwd`
Move somewhere else....
$ cd /tmp
And return.
$ popd
Goto last (previous) directory cd -
$ cd /usr; cd
share; cd zsh
$ cd -
Goto home
directory
$ cd --;
cd
~; cd $HOME
*
Suspend (stop) a process with Cntr Z
I really
love this function. (cntr+Z, fg, bg, jobs)
Start a program (process) from a command line (CLI)
Eg.
$ mozilla
Now stop it by pressing CNTR-z in the same shell.
Cntrl z
1]+ Stopped mozilla
$
And you got the command line back !
Write bg [job#] to continue
the process in the background or fg [job#] to bring the process
back to the foreground.
$ bg
(or bg 1)
[1]+ mozilla &
List jobs (If you started several programs)
$ jobs
[1]- Running mozilla &
[2]+ Running gimp &
$ fg
2
(study also the "nohup"
command)
$ jobs
-l (use -l list option to show PID)
[1]+ 4762
Running mozilla &
$ nohup long_run_command &
And you can safely logout, thou let the box run -;)
*
Math on the command line (cli)
bash calculator
(it cannot interpret
decimal numbers)
$ echo $((5 + 6
/ 2))
$
count=$(($count + 1))
Expr command
can also do simple
integer arithmetics.
$ expr 5 + 6
/ 2
$ count=`expr
$count +1`
But
notice:
$ expr 2 \*
8 # You need to escape
(protect) the * because it's a wildcard. Also, you need to
protect <
and > (i/o redirect symbols).
16
$ expr 3
\> 4
0
$ a=7;
expr $a \> 5 \& $a \<= 10
1
$ expr length $(id -u)
$ n=`expr length "$(id)"`; echo $n
$ man expr
python
(and of course perl)
$ python
-c "print 1.2 - 3.4"
-2.2
bc
("normal" postfix calculator).
Study also Unix
power tools... chapter 49, Working with numbers.
$ echo "1.2 -
3.4 " | bc
-2.2
$ echo
"scale=3; 1.2 - 3.4 " | bc
-2.2
(shouldn't it print
-2.200 ?)
$ echo
"17 - 6 / 2 * 2" | bc
11
dc
(reverse-polish notation, works just like a HP-calculator)
$ echo
"1.2 3.4 -
p" | dc
-2.2
$ echo "17
6 2 / 2 * -
p" | dc
11
Most Linuces
have ready made packages for dc and bc.
Anyhow you can
find the source code for those GNU products on ftp.gnu.org.
Graphicâl:
$ find /usr/bin
-name "*[ck]alc*"
kcalc
$ xcalc
*
vmstat - Report process statistics, memory and paging
$ man vmstat
Vmstat reports information about
processes, memory, paging, block IO, traps, and cpu activity.
$ vmstat
procs
-----------memory---------- ---swap-- -----io---- --system-- ----cpu----
r
b swpd free buff
cache si so
bi bo in cs us sy id wa
0
0 3124 8952
9904 127724
0 0 36 13 1100 730 15
2 83 1
The actual "free, available" memory is sum of cached + free:
Calculate
$ echo $((127724 +
8952))
136676 kb
-----
Same information via
/proc/meminfo:
$ cat /proc/meminfo
MemTotal: 256104 kB
MemFree: 5256 kB
Buffers: 10584
kB
Cached: 128172 kB
Calculate
$ echo $((128172
+ 5256))
133428 kb
Some memory were consumed by the running (cat, vmstat) commands.
-----
Or type
$ free -m ( b = bytes, k= kilobytes,
m= MB)
-----
Disk reads/writes
$ vmstat -d
*
Two X sessions
Start a new X
session on the display 1.
# startx -- :1
Switch between
sessions (display 0 and 1) using CTRL + ALT + F7 and F8
keys.
*
in KDE ...
Press CNTR + ESC to show process list.
*
Installation of fung-calc
(scientific calculator)
Installation
form source:
$
./configure