Category Archives: tutorial

Kernel Development Using the Eclipse IDE

Eclipse IDE is an open source platform useful to build an extensible development and develop application frameworks to build, deploy and manage through the complete SDLC of the software. Features wise Eclipse IDE is much more advanced than the conventional Java development Environment. As a first step you have to download Eclipse CDT from:

http://archive.eclipse.org/technology/epp/downloads/release/ganymede/SR2/eclipse-cpp-ganymede-SR2-linux-gtk.tar.gz

Use the following command to extract the tar:

$ tar xzvf eclipse-cpp-ganymede-SR2-linux-gtk,tar.gz

As the next step you have to change your directory in terminal window into the extracted folder and then start Eclipse as given below :

# cd eclipse

$ ./eclipse

Let us consider building a “C“ application using Eclipse IDE. Use the following command sequence to accomplish the first step :

Select File – New – C Project.

Assign the project a name and identify the location (it is advisable to retain the location field as the default value. Most important mention “Executable” under the Project type. Click “Next” followed by “Finish” to complete this step. Specify the Yes for “C/C++” perspective or not. Locate the Project explorer Select build project in Project Explorer with options like Console, Tasks and Problems. Next you have to compile this project using Eclipse IDE.

Let us now get down to the task at hand – Kernel compilation. Download a kernel tar file from the website – www.kernel.org.

The commands look like this :

$mv linux-2.6.34.tar.bz2 /usr /src.

Then the file has to be extracted into the respective folder through the following command :

$ tar -jxvf linux-2.6.34.tar.bz2

$cd linux-2.6.34

Configuration can be set as follows :

$ make menuconfig

Further steps in the process to compile a kernel using Eclipse IDE are fairly simple. Take care to disable the “Automatic building and indexing” to save time. This is accomplished as follows :

Window – Preference – General – C/C++ – Indexer. You have to select “No Indexer” Next give the following command – File – New – C Project. After assigning a name to the project undo checking of “Use default location” and browse to your kernel source code directory.

Project type – Makefile project – Empty Project. To cross-compile the kernel, use existing tool from “Toolchain”. Click on Finish to complete this beginning step. Give the following commands to complete the task :

Make all

CHK include/linux/version.h

CHK include/generated/utsrelease.h

CHK scripts/checksyscalls.sh

CHK include/generated/compile.h

On waiting for a few minutes the compilation is completed. To check that the kernel image file is created successfully type the following commands :

$ ls –l /usr/src/linux-2.6.34/arch/x86/boot/bzimage

–rw-r—r—1 manoj sc 3589920 2010-11-30 12:51 /usr/src/

Linux-2.6.34/arch/x86/boot/bzimage

Option readers and internet users will certainly admit that developing kernel using Eclipse ID is one of the simplest things anyone can do. However, to realize the true potential of the eclipse, You can gradually scale up the nature of projects to more complex projects to realize the full potential of eclipse IDE. A step-by-step approach would be wise in this regard. AddThis mp3 link

Upload, store and download files with no limits! (up to 2GB single file, no space or time limitations)

Depositfiles is a very flexible online hosting service to upload files (up to 2GB) and share them with your colleagues and friends. There is no limit to the quantity of files you can store on Depositfiles and you can protect your files and folders with a password. Depositfiles has a gold plan with faster uploads and downloads but we obviously tried the free one. After the registration, you can start uploading your files. You can choose between a multiple or a single file upload and, if you prefer, it is also possible to use your favorite FTP client. The online interface is complex but intuitive and after few tests you will able to upload big files, create folders and annotate your online file links. The free plan upload is enough fast and smooth; e.g. we were able to upload an Ubuntu 10.10 iso image in almost 3 hours. In the Tools section you find the code for a flash uploader for your website and a files checker to be 100% sure your uploaded files are till active also after months. The Depositfiles Filemanager software is free and very useful add-on for your browser if you plan to download different diles at the same time. Moreover, Depositfiles has 4 different loyalty programs which allow you to earn points to use in pro features. AddThis mp3 link

How to repair the missing upper panel on Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook

After my last update I was not able to visualize my upper panel on Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook. After some internet searches and tests I found these two solutions which were useful to me:

Solution A

– right click on the background and choose Change Desktop Background

– go to Visual Effects and click on Normal

Solution B

– ALT + F2 and when in Terminal type

gnome-panel

If you want to save the configuration and visualize the upper panel for the next time you use Ubuntu, please type in terminal:

gnome-session-save

I am sure there are better ways to solve this problem, so if you have suggestion you are free to comment this post. Thanks.

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A brief but useful video about using yahoo.com (and others) through WebMail on Thunderbird 3.1 (Windows version)

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How to read yahoo.com (and many others) email accounts on Thunderbird 3.1 (Ubuntu and Windows tips)

Many on line email providers don’t allow you to use their accounts with POP email clients such as Thunderbird 3.1. To solve this “matter” we have a couple of possible solutions: FreePOPs and WebMail. Today, we  will discuss about Webmail that we  tested on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and Windows XP. WebMail is substantially a  Thunderbird’s add-ons but it is not  featured by Mozilla. Using this add-on you are able to manage Yahoo, Hotmail, mail.com, GMail, Libero, and AOL email accounts. The installation is similar in Ubuntu and Windows;  on both, you have to install the core WebMail add-on and restart Thunderbird then you can add all the other components (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc..) you prefer. Then you have to modify the Thunderbird server settings following the instructions provided by WebMail:

POP
Server Type : POP
Incoming Server: localhost
UserName : username@domain

SMTP
Server Name: localhost
UserName : username@domain

Do not forget to set the Connection Security to None.

Only on Ubuntu, you need also to manually modify the incoming and outgoing ports because when you use Thunderbird through WebMail on Ubuntu, you will have a “could not connect to server local host; the connection was refused” message.  This problem can be easily solved substituting the default ports on both WebMail add-on and Thunderbird ports:

– Thunderbird —> Edit —> Account Settings. Highlight the account you want to manage and go to Server Settings. There you can modify the POP Server Mail port setting it to a number bigger than 1000 (in my case I put 1250). Then go to Outgoing Servers and Edit the SMTP account you want to modify (I changed the default port to 1025).

– Thunderbird —> Tools —> Add-ons —> WebMail —> Preferences and put the same port numbers you have set on the previous step.

All this because ports below 1024 seems to be blocked on Ubuntu (if you know why, please post a comment).

For security, restart Thunderbird and it will immediately download and send your emails. Last but not least, if your on line email account is not supported by WebMail, do not forget to try FreePOPs. AddThis mp3 link

Gmail Tips!

This week, in our Freeware Page, we posted a brief review about Gmail Tips, a terrific pdf printable guide with tons of useful information to better manage your gmail account. You can decide to read online the document at www.gmail.com/tips or download the printable pdf version. As for martial arts the tips you receive are related to your skills and are progressively more difficult. At the “white belt” level, I am sure, you will find some feature you have been using for years but when you become a “black belt” or a “Gmail master” you are able to deeply enjoy all the Gmail’s most useful “secret” features. For example you learn how to remotely sign out your Gmail account when you forget it open at the office or in an internet cafe’. Moreover, properly using the Gmail  filters, you will able to send automatic responses reducing the  time wasted in routine replies. We are sure that everyone will find other useful tips depending on what he/she is looking for. Useful! AddThis mp3 link

LinTube.com: a video mine for Linux videos and tutorials!

LinTube LogoLinTube is a new website whose purpose is to find and collect videos about Linux and all its distributions. LinTube webpage is very essential and full of Google Ads but it is very well structured and with just few clicks is possible to find the topics you are looking for and the related videos. At the moment, the main categories are: Commercials,Compiz, Distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, Slackware), Fun Stuff, GNOME, HowTo, KDE, Linux Events, Linux Gadgets, Mediacenter, Misc, Security. LinTube is always updated and on the video linked are very well selected, the majority of them are very interesting and you will discover yourself spending much time on this website. For more, brief information, please, feel free to visit our Linux Page (in Spanish). AddThis mp3 link

How to create free tutorials and presentations: the multiplatform Wink

WinkThis week in our Freeware Page we have posted a brief but complete tutorial about Wink: the best free “tutorial and Presentation creation software” for Windows. We installed Wink with just few clicks and after a reboot (recommended) we were ready to try its features. Wink is easy to use, includes audio features and it is possible to add notes directly to every single frame. Anyway Winks has many output formats as Macromedia Flash, EXE, PDF, PostScript and HTML so you can decide if you prefer to create a video, a standalone .exe for pc users, a printable manual or a webpage. Moreover, Wink allows you to choose your best ratio between performance and video quality. Unfortunately its Linux version runs only with x86 computers and we have to wait next release to completely enjoy Wink’s features. Recommended! AddThis mp3 link