IT 566 Conquered

I must say that this has been one of the most enjoyable classes I have taken. I feel like a full fledged nerd now. For my final project I made a kid friendly laptop. I took 10+ year old laptop and made it kid friendly and functional. I had gotten to the point that it was worthless but after reading several sources about Xubuntu I decided a new OS may give it new life.

It did. Now I have a very well working laptop for my kids. I made it as kid friendly as possible complete with big Icons and a full suite of Educational Software from the Ubuntu Software Center.

Here is a screenshot.

The kids love it.

Word Press. Looks like fun.

I have installed word press.  Here is how.
1 Download the tar package here - http://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz
2 Open the folder with your download and open your var/www folder (to get there press alt+f2 and type in gsku nautilus /var/www). Drag the package in your var/www folder, right click and tell it to extract here.
3 Right click the extracted Wordpress folder and choose properties.  Choose the permissions tab and ensure the owner can create and delete files.

4 log into phpmyadmin and create a database called wordpress. Make sure your php user (who you log in as) has all permissions in the new database.
5 go to localhost/wordpress and follow the instructions for configuring your database.  Remember that
 when you set up the wordpress config that your username and your password in the first form is that for your phpmyadmin.
6 On the next page, fill out the information form and create a wordpress Site Name, Username and Password. This will not effect where your site is located.  It will just be the name at the top of your site.  Access it by typing  your web address or your ip address or localhostduring/wordpress.  Log in using the Username and Password you set up during the config.

http://uhohit566.zapto.org/wordpress/ (This link will only work when my server is on but it looks like this.)

Samba installed.

I got Samba installed with only a couple of snags. The main one was that when I tried to open the configure application I got a warning that some of the lines were unreadable. Further when I tried to share the folder an error about "child process" came up.  I did not know the two were related so after poking around a little and uninstalling and reinstalling using the software center and the Terminal, I decided to see what synaptic said.  It showed an upgrade was available for one of the Samba files.  After this upgrade everything worked.  Here is a screenshot from my xp machine. Its like magic.  Pretty cool.

Drupal

Drupal install was very similar to Moodle.  I had to do it twice because of the "apply to all files" button in the Ubuntu GUI when changing file permissions.  This meant I had to delete the database and such.  It went well though.  Here is my site. http://uhohit566.zapto.org/sweetdrupal   I am very excited about the potential of drupal.  I would like to make a forum so if there are any challenges undecided, that might be a nice one.

Boxee

I got boxee Working.  On Ubuntu I had to add a repository.  Install after that was simple and straight forward.  Windows install was easy.  I was hoping Boxee would let me use my netflix on my Ubuntu machine but alas, no luck. All in all it is pretty cool.  I have only begun to explore it.

Moodle Server!

Here is a link to my Moodle Server.  Don't ask how I did it because I am not sure.  (Really you can ask me, I might be able to help. I would love to if I can. Be specific with your questions)
http://uhohit566.zapto.org/moodle/

Making a Lamp

I set up my lamp a while ago but am just now getting around to tweeting it.  It was a little tricky but not to bad. I followed the instructions found here. http://tuxtweaks.com/2010/04/installing-lamp-on-ubuntu-10-04-lucid-lynx/ If it fails during the phpmyadmin test stage, here is a fix. http://tuxtweaks.com/2010/04/installing-lamp-on-ubuntu-10-04-lucid-lynx/comment-page-1/  Take note that apache is NOT automatically selected during phpmyadmin setup.  You MUST hit the spacebar to select it. Here are my screenshots.

Networking 101: Install Apache

1.Open synaptic.  Search Apache 2.  Mark for installation and apply.  Now follow the instructions here for preparing your first site.
2. Before I could set up port forwarding, I had to turn my ATT 2wire gateway into a modem.  I did this by putting it into Bridge Mode.  Instructions as well as trouble shooting can be found here and here.   This process was not as easy as it sounds. AT&T does not want me to have control over my network without paying them 50$ to tell me how. There was even a setting I needed that was not accessible through my regular 2Wire interface. Fortunately, with a little help from the web,  I was able to squeeze enough info out of AT&T to do it myself. (namely my PPPoE password and the VPI and VCI settings) I feel fortunate to have been able to do this.  It seems it is something difficult for many AT&T subscribers.  I am now connected using my Linksys Router running dd-wrt standard software with a 2wire gateway acting as a modem. Time to port forward.
3.  First, set up  Static DHCP Lease. The best and most thorough instructions for this that I found are ->  How to!    Now follow the instructions found here for port forwarding and be sure to use the Static IP Lease you set up a minute ago.  (The web GUI method is the one I used.)
4.  Now find your ip address.  You can find it many ways.  The easiest is to look at the top of the GUI of your router. Type it into your browser and confirm it works.  Great.  Now have someone from outside of your network try it.  If it works then success.  If not, check to make sure your ISP does not block port 80.  Also check back through the static IP lease page and make sure no errors.  Did you save the settings on your router?  Still having trouble?  Post in the comments and I will help if I can.  Check mine out here. http://98.68.160.220/

Solving the MP3 Issue

Simply download Audacity to play an mp3.  To be able to create an MP3, you also need the Lame download.  Here is a screenshot of the  Mp3 I created since blogger does not allow me to actually post a MP3.

Three ways to install software +

The synaptic package manager is a no fuss way of installing software.  Search for it in the search bar in the PM and mark it for installation.  Hit apply

The Ubuntu Software Center is probably where I am most comfortable installing from just because of the GUI

The apt-get method in the terminal is the most interesting one to me.  I feel like a real bona-fide geek doing it like this.  Unfortunately I was confused in the difference between installing as su, as sudo, and actually making a "root terminal" (which you are not supposed to do but I found a tutorial online how to and did it before I realized.  haha.

Libre Office Installed

Libre Office Installed!  I actually downloaded the software on a flash drive from a Windows Machine, in Linux format (.tar)  and unpacked it and installed it in the terminal.  I think I had to do it from the actual root terminal, not su, which I found out later was dangerous.  The internet is full of good information but apparently I got my hands on some that was not intended for me.  Anyway, it worked and here is the proof.

Flashing wwrt

I received my new router in the mail yesterday along with my usb wifi adapter.  The usb Adapter was absolutely plug and play with my server (not really a server yet) running Ubuntu 10.10.  It was recognized immediately and asked for my network key.  It gets and excellent signal quite a distance from my old 2wire router. I bought it from Amazon for 12.99 after much research.  http://www.amazon.com/802-11g-WiFi-Wireless-Adapter-Antenna/dp/B002VX0GJY/ref=pd_ybh_1?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ZD3XX57VP6W2697CDBB

The router I have purchased is this one. linksys wrt54gl http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-WRT54GL-Wireless-G-Broadband-Compatible/dp/B000BTL0OA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1296593829&sr=1-1

So far so good. Here is the plan.
1) Flash dd-wrt onto my router following these steps using the mini-build then the standard build.

• Read First
• Specific instructions for my router 
• Build page for routers.  

First Flash Mini build

 Second Flash Standard Build

Check
One more tip in addition to the write ups linked to.  After your first flash, power cycle and hard reset YOU MIGHT HAVE TO RECONNECT TO YOUR ROUTER IN YOUR LITTLE NETWORK BUTTON AT THE TOP OF YOUR UBUNTU SCREEN ( Autoeth0) before being able to find it in your browser for your second flash.


2. Download and install Apache using Synaptic (I will have to figure out exactly what this is first)
3. Download and install Google Chrome Using the Ubuntu Software Center. This looks easy.
4. Download and install Avidimux using the command line apt-get.

5. Register and obtain a ddns.  I will use Library Monks suggestion on this one and go with no-ip.


Also I still need to change my 2wire att gateway to act as a modem but I am almost there.

The Open Road to Ubuntu #challengegetubuntu

THIS WAS MY FIRST EVER UBUNTU INSTALL.  WHAT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE!

My install of Ubuntu was relatively simple.  Only a couple of hitches.  There were a few steps in the process.

1. Download the ISO of the operating system.Ubuntu 10.10 was my choice.  It can be found here. Be sure and choose the correct bit, 32 or 64, for your machine.
2. Once you have the iso image, you should burn it to a disk as an image.  This does require a special software.  I found a good choice called IMG Burn.  Download it here. It is very easy to use and I recommend it. 
3. Use this software to burn your ISO to a disk. Be sure the write speed is correct.  I had the best luck with 1x.  My older machine would not boot from the disk written at 8X.

      4.  After burning the disk and before attempting to boot.  Open the disk from your Disk Drive like a normal cd.  It should have about 8 files in it plus an installer button.  If it only has one file, the download from earlier, then it was not written as an image.  It is simply a data file and your computer will not boot from it.

  5.  The next step is to put it in your new machine, set the bios to boot from disk, and restart your computer. It should boot into Ubuntu.  After this you will have several; choices to make.  I chose to set up a partition of mostly Ubuntu but a little XP.  (Ubuntu won't play Netflix) 

Here is a more extensive tutorial for this process as well as an outline of the different types of installs. Just remember to have a low write speed when you burn your disk. 

This will be the result.  The coolness of ubuntu.

How about Twitter

In the IT566 class, we turn in assignments, or complete challenges through linking to our work in twitter. Hash tags, which from what I can tell, send information to the record keeping places. Really ingenious concept but it is somewhat tedious.  I can only imagine what it is like from the administrative side.  Pretty neat all in all.

We are supposed to be able to keep track of our points through a link. It works but I am having problems keeping up with assignments.

A page has been set up by our instructor to list the challenges @ http://learn.occ.utk.edu/aggregator/sources/80

This has made it easier but the very first challenge we received is missing. It is here http://learn.occ.utk.edu/it566game/challenge1   It differs from the Challenge one given later Called so you want to be a system admin here.  The content is similar but the required tags were different

 It is hard to tell exactly what needs to be in the tweet in order to get a score because the required tags seem to be inconsistent. Some instructions have said to put @it566 and some say to put #it566, I am pretty sure it should be @it566 because this one has occurred more. Some have been #graderpoints, #giterdone  points ect.

This is a very innovative method of delivering and taking a class and it is sure to have bugs but it provides potential for the growth of a true learning community that is astounding.

I believe that I am getting the hang of it. I am sure that the instructor is tweaking his system and things will smooth out.

At this point it seems that these are the standards.

Actually I may still be a little confused.
The first assignment, Challenge One - Get in the game,   laid out a point system that I am not sure is still in effect.  If anyone has any insight on this, I would love this post to have some discussion about it.
 Comments Please!

The State of my Set-up

I got my computer. Very happy with it.

• Dell OptiPlex GX280 Pentium 4 3.0 GHz Small Form Factor Desktop PC
  
• General Features:
• Small Form Factor
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional pre-installed w/CoA
• Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz processor
• 1 MB L2 cache, 800 MHz FSB Speed, Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
• Intel 915G Express chipset
• 1 GB DDR2 RAM (supports up to 4 GB)
• 80 GB SATA hard drive
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive

The State of my Router:

I have AT&T internet, this means that I have a combination modem router (gateway).  It certainly will not run dd-wrt.  I am researching ways to rectify this situation and here are my options.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

1) Try to configure my gateway to act as a "bridge" and add a router behind it.  This is a fairly advanced, and far from fail-proof, operation.  I am hesitant because I can not afford to leave my home without internet or cost myself a lot of money to fix it.

2) configure my gateway to "act" as only a modem and then add a router.  This is a less advanced operation and supposedly easily reversible. The problem is that I have read this does not really make the gateway work as a modem, it only acts like one. There may be some things that this restricts.

3) Run with what I have and not use ddwrt.  This may leave some features that I need for my server unattainable and I will miss out on a good learning opportunity with dd-wrt. (This is my least favorite solution but certainly the cheapest and safest)

4) Buy or find a modem and purchase a router, leaving my gateway unchanged in case of emergency.  This is my preferred option for several reasons. *it offers the chance to learn valuable skills * It may turn out to be a significant upgrade for my home network *It is a chance to break away from my DSL oppressors 

         The problem is that it will be fairly expensive.  If anyone has a Modem they would like to donate or trade something for, let me know.  

In the meantime, here is a screenshot of my router homepage. 

More than I wanted to know.

First an update on my computer search.
          I ordered a computer yesterday.  I went with the Dell Optiplex that I linked to in my last post.  It shipped yesterday. As far as its ability to run a Linux System, I am still not quite sure.  I found very little information on the web suggesting that Linux would be a problem.  The only person I heard this from was the tech guy at a local used PC store.  He said the main problem was with the drivers Dell uses being hard to find.  I guess I will find out soon enough.

Now it is on to the router.  This has been a topic of confusion, frustration and enlightenment for me.

Confusion

The most confusing part of this process has been choosing a router than can run the dd-wrt platform.  I did find some resources to help with this.

• Here is a list of known incompatible routers which for various reasons cannot run dd-wrt
• Here is a list of supported devices .  The problem with this list is that many of the websites which sell routers give you limited information as far as the model number goes.  For instance there are about 8 different versions of the router I am looking at which is the D-link DIR 615. There is the c1, c2 d1, e3, .... all of which are listed under the supported devices page.  BUT WAIT, the D-link 615 b is incompatible and attempting to load dd-wrt bricks it (i think that is geek slang for making it a paper weight) according to the incompatible router paged linked earlier.   Most sites only tell the buyer that it is a D-link DIR 615.  The moral,  be careful before you purchase the router for this class. Here is one that I believe will work from best buy 

Linky

Can it get anymore confusing than that.

Update- here is another site with a searchable database to confirm your router support.

FRUSTRATION!

My internet service provider is AT&T.  We have a small wireless home network and so far (about 3 years) I have been pleased.  We have a modem and router "combo" made by 2wire.  In order to connect a router, I am going to have to try and disable the router portion of my 2wire combo.  If this does not work, then my household could be rendered "webless" for an undetermined time and could cost us money to get it repaired.  That means no more paying bills online, no more e-mail access from home, no more attending my online classes from my private network and no more Netflix.  Guess its time to man up and giterdone but still if anyone out there has advise, it would be appreciated.

Enlightened

Perhaps this section should really be called encouraged. During my research into buying the computer and searching for a router I have been amazed at the effort people put into open source technology.  It is pretty impressive the work done to these things, mostly for free.  I hope throughout this class I can contribute to the community and to my fellow classmates.

Hopefully we can pull this off.

Server search

My search for a computer for IT566 has begun.  I found several options. One is here http://www.pcforsale.com/
It is a Dell Optiplex.  I have found this same computer from other locations as well for around the same price. I am a little leery of these Dells because they are mass produced for education and government and their quality, IMO, is questionable to say the least.  Craigslist has returned some prospects but with these it is hard to tell what your getting.  If anyone has any suggestions, I am wide open at this point.

Edit- Turns out that this is a better deal.  Comes with twice the RAM and twice the hard drive space, mouse and keyboard.  Free shipping as well and a 90 warranty. I think this is the one. 134.99
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=GX280SFF-P430-MAR-2R&cat=SYS

Adding a subscription link

It is really pretty simple to ad a subscription link in blogger. (I think, we will see if it works) Here are the steps:
1. Log in to your blog and  choose Dashboard
2 Choose Design
3. Choose Page Elements
4. Choose Add a Gadget
5. Scroll down and choose Subscription Link
6. Click the + sign and Save


Please let me know in the comments section if it works!

Well, here we go!

Well, here we go
Just found out I have to get a "server" for my It566 class.  What's that?(JK) Guess I will find out and let everyone know.  I wonder what wreck of technology I will have after this is all over.

As long as I don't screw up my router and kill my netflix I think I will make it.

If you are interested in learning some Tech stuff but are pretty clueless about it all, you should follow this blog.  I will try to keep it interesting and in layman's terms.