Using apt-p2p For Faster Upgrades From Intrepid to Jaunty

apt-p2p is a p2p proxy for apt dowloads, it will act as a proxy between apt requests and a repository server, downloading any request files from peers (if possible), else will fallback to direct HTTP download. In general, apt-p2p save bandwidth, use limited cpu and memory resources and reduce congestion on the ubuntu mirrors.

So how apt-p2p can increase the upgrade speed?
As mentioned earlier, apt-p2p will get the request files from peers, therefore, it will avoid the congestion on the ubuntu mirrors.

Steps:

1. Install apt-p2p

sudo apt-get install apt-p2p

2. Prepare sources.list

#Backup sources.list chenhow@chenhow:-$ sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list-apt-p2p-backup

3. Edit sources.list

#Add "localhost:9977" after the "http://" deb http://localhost:9977/archive.canonical.com/ubuntu hardy partner deb-src http://localhost:9977/archive.canonical.com/ubuntu hardy partner deb http://localhost:9977/*mirror-address*/ubuntu/ hardy main universe restricted multiverse deb-src http://localhost:9977/*mirror-address*/ubuntu/ hardy main universe restricted multiverse

4. Update packages

sudo rm -rf /var/cache/apt-p2p/cache/* chenhow@chenhow:-$ sudo apt-get update

5. Start upgrade from Interpid to Jaunty

chenhow@chenhow:-$ sudo update-manager -d

6. Check peers, downloads and uploads speed and DHT statistics

Open Internet browser, go to http://localhost:9977

7. Done

Sunday, April 5, 2009 | posted in Ubuntu | 0 comments [ More ]

Playing DOS Game In Ubuntu

Long time since I last play the computer games. I don't know whether everyone feel the same, when I'm getting older, I have lost my interest in playing games, especially those strategy and online games that takes you a lot of time to accomplish.

But recently I have regained that interest and start looking for some very famous RPG games that I played before like 金庸群侠传 and 侠客英雄传. I know these 2 are very very old games, but I still enjoy playing it.

Since I'm using Ubuntu, so I have to install WINE and Dosbox in order to play the game.

1. To install WINE and Dosbox

sudo apt-get install wine dosbox

2. After installed WINE and Dosbox, use WINE to install the game

wine installer.exe

Eg:(Follow the wizard to complete the installation, if you are installing chinese game, change your gnome session to chinese in order to read the chinese character)

3. Once finish install the game, run dosbox

Goto Applications>Games>DOSBox Emulator

4. Then type the following command in DOSBox Emulator

- mount c /home//.wine                           ### Mount C to wine directory

- c:                                                         ### Change to C Drive

- cd DRIVE_C/PROGRA~1/JINGYONG/  ### Go to your game installed directory

- PLAY.BAT                                          ### Execute the game

Eg:

5. Enjoy the game ^_^

*Note: If you encounter "DOS memory range unavailable" error, is because Linux kernel prevents programs (Wine) from accessing the first 64k of kernel memory. To solve this problem, run this command:

sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=0

Monday, October 27, 2008 | posted in Ubuntu, wine dosbox | 2 comments [ More ]

Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex)

On October 30, Ubuntu going to release Ubuntu 8.10 , code name "Interpid Ibex". Just few more days from now, let's count down for the new release of this wonderful OS.

If you can't wait and wanted to try it immediately, you may upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10 beta now. The following link provide the details steps on how to upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04 to Ubuntu 8.10 beta.

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/upgrade-ubuntu-804-hardy-heron-to-ubuntu-810-intrepid-ibex-beta.html

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 | posted in Ubuntu, ubuntu 8.10 | 2 comments [ More ]

Gnome DO aka Linux Launchy

Ubuntu: Last time when I saw my Windows user friend showing off how fast he's able to launch his application using 'Launchy', I was so impressed and thinking why don't we have similar application running in Ubuntu Desktop. So I did a search and finally I found an application called Gnome Do, a launcher allows you to quickly search for many items in your desktop environment. And it do not only allows you to search items, it also allows you to specify actions to perform on search results.

To install Gnome DO:

Steps

1. open terminal and type

sudo apt-get install gnome-do

2. Once Gnome Do is installed, first you need to manually run the application, then only you can summon it by pressing Super<Windows Key> + Space.

3. Instead of running Gnome-do manually everytimes, you can add Gnome-do to become startup programs. Just go to System>Preferences>Sessions>Startup Programs tab

• Click Add


• Enter any name on "Name:" field


• Enter "/usr/bin/gnome-do" on "Command:" field


• reboot
  

4. Now everytimes you login, Gnome-do will be running on backgroup. So you can summon gnome-do by only pressing Super<Windows Key> + Space

5. Done

To use Gnome-do, press the summon key and type the keyword of the file or application which you wanted to open or run.

Source: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/GnomeDo

| posted in gnome-do, Ubuntu | 0 comments [ More ]

Gnome Schedule in Ubuntu Hardy

Ubuntu Hardy: For those who are not familiar with setting up a crontab through CLI and looking for a GUI (graphic user interface) alternative, you may want to install Gnome Schedule. Gnome Schedule provides GUI for users to easily manage their scheduled tasks without going through any command.

To install gnome-schedule

Steps:

1) open a Terminal and run the following command

sudo apt-get install gnome-schedule

2) Done

To Run Gnome Schedule

Steps:

1) Goto "System>Preferences>Scheduled tasks"



2) Click on "New" to create the type of schedule task you wants to create.



3) Create Task. Example: Play say.mp3 at 8 am Morning.



Source: gnome-schedule.sourceforge.net

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | posted in gnome schedule, Ubuntu | 0 comments [ More ]

Run Thotkeeper in Ubuntu Hardy

Thotkeeper is an open-source, cross-platform diary/journal application using XML datafile format. If you like to keep a journal where you can write down anything interesting that you see or hear in life and don't want it to be publish. And you don't need features to add images, audio, beautiful theme and etc. You should go ahead and a give it a try.

It's just a simple application to keep your journal in your system. I use it to write my diary, as you know or may not know, writing a blog is not as easy as you think, you need to provides accurate information to your readers and need to put effort to decorate or design your page. So if you don't feel like putting so much effort to write a blog, you can use thotkeeper to write your diary instead.

To run Thotkeeper in Ubuntu:

Steps:

1) Download thotkeeper from http://thotkeeper.googlecode.com or thotkeeper

2) Extract the downloaded file to your desire location

3) Open a Termial and run the following command to install python and wxpython

apt-get install python python-wxversion

4) Go to the extracted folder and execute the following command to run thotkeeper

./thotkeeper #if not working, try python ./thotkeeper

5) Done (Easy isn't it)

Source: http://code.google.com/p/thotkeeper/

Sunday, July 27, 2008 | posted in thotkeeper, Ubuntu | 1 comments [ More ]

Install Flash Plugin for Mozilla Firefox

Ubuntu Gusty: If you want to play youtube and some other flash files, flash plugin is a must for your browser. To install Flash plugin for Mozilla Firefox is not difficult at all, usually the browser will prompt out a wizard and guide you through the installation process. But for the latest version of Ubuntu(gusty 7.10), there’s a known bug affecting the Flash plugin in the Gutsy repo. User will get the error saying that the flash plugin is not installed even though the user has already installed the plugin.

To solve this problem:

Solution 1

Download the following debian package and install it manually

- Download debian package

wget http://mirror.ne.gov/ubuntu/pool/multiverse/f/flashplugin-nonfree/
flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu3_i386.deb

- Install the downloaded package, either double click to install it or open a terminal and type the following command

dpkig -i flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu3_i386.deb

Solution 2

Thursday, February 14, 2008 | posted in flash plugin, Ubuntu | 0 comments [ More ]