Terminal Diary | techblog

25 April, 2010

Changing the entries in boot loader of Ubuntu

This post will show you how you can change the order, color, text etc that
are shown in the boot loader (grub) of your Ubuntu linux. The configuration
files that are needed to boot your Ubuntu linux are residing in the menu.lst
file in boot folder
Let use the terminal to edit those entries easily

1. Take the gnome terminal and type in the followin command to back
up the menu.lst file

$sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/grub/menu.lst.bak

2. Open the file in gedit text editor with all permissions as follows

$ sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

3. Go to the end of the file and there you will see the list of entries that
are shown by the grub as shown in the figure…

4. Rearrange the entries as if you wish in that list by just cutting-pasting.
U can change the name of the entry also…Look how I changed the first
entry as “myUbuntu”

Changing the timeout for automatic booting

Lookout for the entry like ” timeout 10 “ in the menu.lst file. Change
its value to some other value, the value is expressed in seconds…

Changing the color pattern

Lookout for the entry “Pretty colors”..

Remove the # symbol infront of the line “#color cyan/blue white/blue”

5. After making the required changes save and close the file to make thechanges available to the system… If the menu.lst file had corrupted accidently in some ways, just relax and copy back the menu.lst.bak file to menu.lst file as follows

$ sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst.bak /boot/grub/menu.lst

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Configuring the new GRUB 2

As you know GRUB is the software used by debian operating systems like Ubuntu… for loading and transferring control to the operating system kernel during the initial boot. The new version grub2 has many differences from the previous versions of grub in many aspects of configuring and tweaking. GRUB 2 will be installed by default on new installations of Ubuntu (Karmic).While the main grub boot loader file continues to reside in the /boot/grub folder, it is no longer called as menu.lst in GRUB 2. The main Grub 2 instruction file is now grub.cfg. This file is produced by various scripts. The files responsible for the content of grub.cfg are /etc/default/grub and individual script files located in /etc/grub.d/. The changes made to this scripts are taken into effect when “update-grub” command is issued on the terminal.

Configuring the GRUB 2To make changes to the new GRUB 2 we have to make changes to the script files… So let us discuss about the important configuration files…

grub.cfg (/boot/grub/grub.cfg)

Please don’t make any changes to this file. This is the main configuration file, and it is the sum total of all the scripts that affects the GRUB 2. grub.cfg is the configuration file and it is not the script, you have to change the scripts to modify the grub and not the configuration file. You have to run the “update-grub” command to make the changes into effect (to rebuild the grub.cfg)

grub (/etc/default/grub)

1. Type $ sudo gedit /etc/default/grub to open this file

This file contains information similar to /boot/grub/menu.lst. It contains settings primarily affecting Grub’s menu display. This file can be edited by root to make changes to these settings. These changes will be imported into grub.cfg when “update-grub” is executed.let us discuss about some of the entries in this file
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
This is the number of seconds before the default entry is automatically booted. Setting a value of -1 will display the menu until the user makes a selection (no timeout).
GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY=true

Add or uncomment this line to prevent “Recovery” mode kernel options showing in the menu.

2. Save and close the file.
3. Issue the following command in the terminal

$ sudo update-grub

/etc/grub.d/ (folder)

1. Type in $cd /etc/grub.d/ to enter into this folder. Issue a ls command to see all the configuration files in this folder

2. We have to modify the 05_debian_theme script file to change the appearance of boot loader. So open that file using the terminal as follows
$ sudo gedit 05_debian_theme (file opened in gedit text editor)

3.Changing colors
look at the 8th & 9th row (first set up color of text, second selected row):
set menu_color_normal=magenta/black
set menu_color_highlight=cyan/blue
(change the colors as per your wish)

4. Setting background image for grub 2

1. Check for the line in the script file as shown in the figure below

2. Here i set my grub background as a picture file, boot.png

What you have to do is just copy a picture file to /usr/share/images/desktop-base directory. I am just assuming that picture file is now in your desktop.

$sudo cp /home/username/Desktop/filename.png /usr/share/images/desktop-base/

3. Change the 16th line (shown in fig below ) by replacing the word filename with boot

for i in {/boot/grub,/usr/share/images/desktop-base}/filename.{png,tga} ; do

4. That’s enough for the time being. Now save and close the 05_debian_theme script file

5. Run the command $ sudo update-grub to rebuild the grub.cfg file. Then you will see the output as follows…

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24 April, 2010

Things to care when you buy a laptop from Kerala

Probably laptop is a an avoidable tech think when you live in a todays professional technical life. The laptop market is making a noticable growth in a recent period.

The giants among the field are Sony, Apple etc.. Hp is also a good option at this range. U may get greatly appealing, light weight systems if you have enough money to pay an amount for greater than 50k rupees.

Dell, Thoshiba makes the middle part of the laptop industry by providing computeras with reasonable configuration at nominal price range of 35k-45k. Lenovo was also there in this range till last year, but they are not a preferable option now if you are lookig to invest for a laptop in this range. U may get a professional system that compensates both multimedia experience as well as study purposes in this level.

But when it comes to the next layer you may get cheaper laptops but with attractive configurations. But they try hard to compete with the quality of laptops that constitutes upper layers. Acer, Compaq falls in this category.

Let our discussion zoom into the middle layer. If you are looking to buy a laptop in kerala, contact as many shops as possible before messing up with head ache. Most of the brands have their own showrooms throughout Kerala. Please dont fall in illusions created by the "offers" given by the shoppees. Probably they charge you for these offers.

In the middle level Dell is the favourite option for many of them. If you are going to buy a Dell, its better to avoid direct purchasing from some local shoppes here. You will get new dell at a price difference of 4,000 rupees if you select online purchase. Probably kerala people hesitate to perform an online money transfer becoz they are unware and unconvinced of the security of payement...

So keep on with your manifestos... If you are not much courageous for a direct deal, make the deal with some direct vendors, they purchase the laptop online and transfer it to you. Visit the Dell's website for laptop models by clicking here. At the first they will give quotation for the model you have specified, you can proceed by taking a DD payable to DELL INDIA (P) LTD at banglore. Transfer it to the online vendor along with your copy of DD and ID proof. They do the rest and you will get your brand new laptop at home (is it good enough???). The vendor will give warranty to you probably for one year with options of extending it later.

Mozad Infoways is a good option if you are located near the Cochin city. (i have purchased). U get the system shipped (sorry!!!) from the dell factory at Sreeperumpathur. If you purchase the same from some local computer shoppees you may have to pay around 4k rupees additionally....

Similarly all the brands have direct dealors and vendors. Try to find out them to make the purchase without wasting money...

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How to connect Windows XP to Ubuntu over LAN cable

This post is all about connecting Ubuntu and Windows system using a LAN cable for sharing data between them . . . A LAN cable is a preferable mechanism for sharing files in a good speed in the range of Mbps.

Connection requirements :
        LAN cable
        Ubuntu linux with Samba (or any other file sharing application)
        Windows machine

Connect LAN cable to both of the systems. On connecting both the Windows and Ubuntu try to connect automatically between each other.

Now follow the steps below...

Configuring the Linux system

1. Right click on the Network manager icon on the top sidebar. Select

"Edit connections".

2. Under the "wired" tab on the pop up Network connections window choose the

"add" button to add a new connection.

3. Make changes in the opened window as in figure

# specify the connection name as u like. I call it "Ubuntu XP network"

        # Check the connect automatically box enabled
        # Click on the IPv4 settings
            * Click on the methode field and choose "Manual"
            * Click below the address feild and enter an arbitray ip say,

               192.100.100.1                   ....you can choose it your own
            * Add 255.255.255.0 in the Netmask (no options for you, enter it as if)
        # click on the apply button to make the changes available.

4. That's all you need to do in Ubuntu machine.

Configuring the Windows system

1. Open the Network Connections folder from Start ---> Network Connections

2. Right click on the connection with the name "Local Area Connection" and

click on the properties

3. Under the general tab select Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) and click

"properties"

4. Choose 'Use the following IP address' and enter
IP Address : 192.100.100.3
Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0

5. Press the OK button to complete the configuring.

Thats all about configuration. Now restart the connection from the Ubuntu system using network manager (No need to pull out the cable physically)
Inorder to share a particular file from windows, right click on the file and select properties.In the properties window check the corresponding
feilds related to sharing under the "sharing" tab.

To access those files from Ubuntu system, goto Places ---> Network ---> Windows network

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23 April, 2010

How to connect Airtel GPRS in Ubuntu linux

The gprs internet is a good option when you are looking for an affordable internet connection and limited budget...

You dont need to think about the wires... (coz it probably makes you weired). Here check out how airtel's gprs can be accessed in your desktop or laptop

Follow the steps to connect.

1. Connect the phone using the data cable to the computer. Choose the COM port

mode or phone mode in your phone. In Nokia it is called 'nokia mode'

2. On selecting the phone mode the 'New Mobile Broadband wizard begins

automatically. If the wizard does not pops up automatically, right click on the
network manager icon on the top of the task bar. Then choose edit connection.

Click on the add button. The window will appear as follows..

3. Select the Airtel from the list.

4. Write click on the network manager icon on the top bar and slect the 'edit

connections'. Select the 'Mobile Internet' tab and click on the edit button
after selecting the Airtel from the list.

5. On the IPv4 settings tab change the dns entry as follows...

        DNS : 8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4

    These are public dns addresses by google and may give better performance in

case of of speed.

6. Click on the network manager icon on the top panel and select Aircel to dial

the connection.

Repeat the step 6 whenever you need to connect using the same connection, after connecting the mobile phone/usb modem to the system....

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How to connect Aircel GPRS in Ubuntu Linux

Older versions of the Ubuntu linux has very less support for USB modems. This was the major problem that prevents you from connecting the mobile broadband internet facility provided by means of gprs.Linux versions were back in automatically detecting the USB modems in the mobile phones… But the new 9.04 version of Ubuntu linux (some previous versions also ) comes up with many facilities to overcome this problems…

Let me get into the matter… Here i am sharing my experiences when i tried to connect Aircel gprs using my Nokia 5200… the following procedures may be applicable to almost all java based phones.

Inorder to connect aircel gprs in your computer, first connect your phone to the computer through the data cable and select the nokia mode. Then the Network manager in Ubuntu will automatically detect the presence of phone. It will automatically starts a Mobile broadband configuration wizard…

Go through the pictures to get the step by step procedure..

One of the problems that I faced while the connection process is the list of mobile broadband ISPs provided did not contain Aircel. No problem!!! select the Airtel from the list, so that u can edit the connection later. Also the number that we have to dial in Aircel and Airtel are almost the same.

After the wizard completes right click on the network manager icon on the top panel and perform as shown in the pictures below..

Select the ‘edit connections'

Choose the Mobile broadband tab and select the ‘Airtel’ and click on the edit button

Change the following ….

Connection name : Aircel

Number : *99#

APN : aircelgprs (in lower case)

Leave the remaining spaces untouched and click ‘apply’…

Click on the IPv4 Settings tab and enter the value in the DNS field as in figure.

8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4

Each are primary and secondary dns addresses respectively seperated by the a comma. Please remember we have started from configuration of airtel. So the dns addresses are also belonging to airtel. Here in this step we replace this with google's public dns. Read more about dns on

http://1024bitez.blogspot.com/2010/04/something-about-domain-name-servers.html

Click on the network manager icon on the top panel and select Aircel to dial the connection.

Then the icon of the Network manager will show that the connection is active soon. If you put your mouse over the icon u get a pop up ” Mobile broadband connection ‘Aircel’ active”

That's all about the connecting Aircel in the Ubuntu linux, enjoy the power of mobile internet.

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