Miscellaneous

Ubuntu (Edgy) Starter Guide

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Edgy

Adding startup service

To ensure a service which exists in /etc/init.d is run on startup, simply run:

sudo update-rc.d <service> defaults

Enabling Printing

1. /bin/chmod 06555 /usr/bin/lpr /usr/bin/lprm
2. /sbin/chkconfig lpd on

Hardware

ATI Radeon on a custom kernel

Stock ubuntu kernels include the ATI kernel source, but if you've built the kernel yourself and you're getting atiddxDriScreenInit failed errors in Xorg.0.log, you'll need to install this manually with

sudo apt-get install fglrx-kernel-source 

Reboot once the install completes, and fglrx should be good to go.

Logitech MX-1000

Add this section to your /etc/X11/xorg.conf:

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "Logitech MX-1000"
        Driver          "evdev"
        Option          "CorePointer"
        Option          "Name"        "PS2++ Logitech MX Mouse"
        Option          "Buttons"         "20"
        Option          "ZAxisMapping"    "4 5"
EndSection

where "Name" is read from the relevant "Name" for your device in /proc/bus/input/devices. Then follow the remaining instructions in http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=65471

Although this document describes the steps for a USB mouse, this also works when connected to the PS2 port. Note, however, that a Logitech MX-1000 forward and back keys are 8 and 9, and xvkbd is located in /usr/bin rather than /usr/X11R6/bin. In addition, as stated in the text, part 1.4 is unnecessary.

In newer versions of X11, it seems that evdev is a driver rather than a protocol, so you'll need the line:

Driver     "evdev"

rather than

Driver     "mouse"
Protocol   "evdev"

Also, I needed to append "SendCoreEvents" to the Logitech line in the layout section

Convert m4a to mp3

ffmpeg -ab <bitrate in kb/s> -i <inputfile> <outputfile>

Note: the error output buffer too small can be ignored.

Changing default ALSA soundcard

asoundconf list
asoundconf set-default-card <cardname>

List hardware details

sudo lshw -businfo

Add swap space

• Create swap partition using fdisk

• Create swap filesystem

sudo mkswap <device>

• Activate swap

sudo swapon <device>

• Modify /etc/fstab to allow swap to be activated at boot time

Change userid/groupid for an existing user/group

• Change groupid in /etc/group
• Run sudo grpconv to update /etc/gshadow
• Change userid in /etc/passwd (and also the primary groupid for any changed groupids)
• Run sudo pwconv to update /etc/shadow