Tag Archives: Tecnologia

Hibernate for Ubuntu

Since the Ubuntu 12.04 LTS the hibernate icon disappeared as possible option at the shutdown. It is not a big loss if you are not used to use (or overuse) it as I often do. Personally I think that the hibernate feature is really useful when you want to freeze your computer maintaining all the windows -and the work- you are working on at a precise moment.

Ubuntu decided to “cut” this particular command from its GUI because it registered a remarkable number of problems caused by hardware conflicts in modern computers.

If you use Ubuntu and you think that hibernate could till be useful for you (especially during busy working days), it is possible to insert again this specific feature as GUI on your Desktop.

First of all you have to test if your computer contains the right hardware for “hibernate” so open Terminal and type:

sudo pm-hibernate

The computer will hibernate itself but you have to reboot it to understand if hibernate worked properly in your case.

I hope (as it was for my PC) that all has gone well. In this case you can start to create the dedicated icon on your upper bar.

Before of starting it’s necessary to understand that the hibernate command will use the SWAP partition to save your temporarily data. Usually it is recommended to have a SWAP partition with, at least, the double of space of your RAM.

So I suggest to install Gparted to check the SWAP space and, only if necessary, increase your SWAP partition reducing the primary partition. Please, do this only after you safely backup all the data in your computer because this procedure could be risky if you are doing it for the first time and you have not enough experience:

sudo apt-get install gparted

Open a Terminal and install gedit and gksu (if you don’t have them already installed on your machine) typing:

sudo apt-get install gksu && sudo apt-get install gedit

Then type:

sudo gksu gedit /etc/polkit-1/localauthority/50-local.d/com.ubuntu.enable-hibernate.pkla

Now a blank gedit document, named enable-hibernate.pkla will appear on your screen.

Copy and paste the following text to “compile” it:

[Enable Hibernate]

Identity=unix-user:*

Action=org.freedesktop.upower.hibernate

ResultActive=yes

Save it and reboot your computer.

A new icon will appear on the right corner of the upper bar. When you click on it, a Terminal window will appear asking for the system password. Type it and click on Return and your PC will immediately hibernate.

Good busy working days!

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References:

http://www.howtogeek.com/113923/how-to-re-enable-hibernate-in-ubuntu-12.04/

http://askubuntu.com/questions/49095/how-do-i-add-more-swap-easily-so-that-i-can-hibernate-my-laptop#49162

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwapFaq

http://askubuntu.com/questions/29783/so-what-is-the-reason-behind-the-claim-that-you-need-at-least-as-much-swap-area#29809

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Five tools to help you set up a kiosk

Update from Fedora 18 to 20 or 21 in few simple clicks and without (I hope) problems!

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Fedora 21 Sometimes simple things become hard problems. This happened to me when I discovered that my Fedora 18 OS was obsolete (very old indeed) and I tried to upgrade it to the Fedora 20 version.

Fedora 18 doesn’t support the automatic OS upgrade so I had to spend some hours to find information on Internet and create the right DIY solution for my case. At the end of my little (sic!) research I discovered that I was able not only able to upgrade the PC to Fedora 20 but I also found a good “trick” to upgrade to the latest Fedora 21 following in just a couple of steps with the help of fedup and some other escamotages.

This is how I succeed…

First, you have to open a Terminal and type:

su

init 3

but you will immediately leave the Fedora GUI and so it’s better if you write the below commands on an -old style, paper notepad- to be sure to have all the right information in you hands and correctly manage the upgrade from Fedora 18 to Fedora 20

sudo su -

yum update

yum install fedup

fedup-cli --network 20 --nogpgcheck

It’s better to add –nogpgcheck because often you are not able to complete your upgrade for the “old”, “bad saved” gpg key in your system.

reboot

Now, at the boot-up menu (GRUB 2 menu) you have to choose “System Upgrade (Fedup)”.

Then just to be sure you really have an up to date OS, in Terminal, type:

Yum update

If you have problems with one or more of your “old” repositories don’t forget to deconfigure them. In my case I had to launch this command line in Terminal due to skip an old repository and proceed with the upgrade:

yum-config-manager --save --setopt=home_moritzmolch_gencfsm.skip_if_unavailable=true

At this point, to upgrade from Fedora 20 to Fedora 21 you have to open (again) the Terminal and type:

su

fedup --network 21 --product=workstation --nogpgcheck

fedup --network 21 --product=server --nogpgcheck

(if your Fedora version is the server one)

fedup --network 21 --product=cloud --nogpgcheck

(for the Fedora cloud edition for generic virtual machines or Container)

Take it easy and go to bed for a long snap because, in my case, the download took some hours as for 2,577 files to be upgraded…

At the end, as before, you have to Reboot and select “System Upgrade (Fedup)” at the boot-up menu (GRUB 2 menu) and all the necessary files will be installed. Again, take a good book to read while you wait the installation.

Good luck and remind you MUST backup all your data before you start any upgrade because unforeseen risks are always around the corner!

References:

https://ask.fedoraproject.org/en/question/37247/upgrade-fedora-18-to-fedora-20-via-yum-or-fedup/

http://tecadmin.net/steps-to-upgrade-fedora-19-to-20-using-fedup-tool/

http://www.unixmen.com/upgrade-fedora-20-fedora-21-using-fedup/

https://ask.fedoraproject.org/en/question/39558/how-to-remove-a-repository-from-my-system

Creativeness vs. Big Data analytics: improvement or delay for human evolution?

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After more than one month of silence I would like to end this year with a simple thought about the interaction between technology and our society. I know that usually this blog has principally developed topics about Linux and Freeware but the “Christmas season” could be the right occasion for something different.

A recent post by Matthew Yglesias on Slate, focused my attention on the possibility that big data and “new” technologies could influence our society and personal creativeness in a strange, utilitaristic way.

In the above mentioned post, Matthew Yglesias describes some new possibilities, offered by big data, of deeply analyze the readers behaviour when they use e-readers. Some Yglesias’ examples let us know not only what kind of literature is the most popular today but also detailed analytics about the best number of pages that readers want when they read a certain type of book (e.g. biography or fiction).

These squeezed information drive to the possible next step: a writer could prefer to write a new book on the basis of quantitative marketing data instead of creativity.

In few words, we are potentially slowing the evolution of our knowledge curve because writers could prefer to pander “customers” behaviour and maximize earnings instead of spreading new ideas and theories that could be (sic! are) initially less profitable.

The Darwin “evolution by mistake” will be soon replaced by an utilitarian and transitive “involution by big data marketing analytics”?

It’s impossible to predict but, on the other hand, my hope is that big data marketing analytics will be used just as a tool to maximize and speed new ideas through readers than a mere earning factor to tame buyers.

Configurar Iptables con Firestarter en ubuntu by josealeguinea

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Ubuntu 10.10 is here but perhaps something is going wrong…

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Since few hours, the new Ubuntu 10.10 is available for the download and installation. This version has some new tasks as a better look and a powerful Software Center that seems to be easier than ever also thanks to the feature “where is it?”. Moreover, F-Spot has been substituted by the more powerful and complete Shotwell as main photo manager. The new sound menu included in Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat displays more useful information and song you are playing in Rhythmbox. Last but not least, some new delightful Themes and Backgrounds have been added.

On the weaknesses side, we focus our attention on the first paid application (It is really necessary? Do we need it?) and the hardware requirements. In fact reading the Ubuntu wiki the only requirement is a RAM of more than 256MB but Pleia2 and WebUpd8 believe that the 10.10 version does not run properly on processor below i686 and this is a real uncomfortable limitation! Ubuntu has always run on all types of hardware (this is one of its main key features) and this news, if confirmed by tests, could influence users choice to other distributions as Knoppix or Fedora. We really hope that Ubuntu 10.10 will have just the declared 256MB of RAM limitation but today we have to ask ourselves if a new Knoppix era is coming.

CDBurnerXP: how to burn your CD/DVD/HD-DVD or Blu-Ray just using a freeware!

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This week, in our Freeware Page, we have posted a review about CDBurnerXP which, in our opinion is the best freeware in its category and contains more effective features than some -commercial- competitors. CDBurnerXP is a powerful freeware which allows you to burn CD, DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray in a very intuitive mode and faster than using other proprietary software as, for example, Roxio CD Creator. During our tests CDBurnerXP was very stable and easy to use. Using CDBurnerXP we were able to create backup copies of our DVDs in just few minutes. Another interesting features is the possibility to burn or create ISO and to convert bin/nrg formats to a more usable ISO version. Last but not least CDBurnerXP works on Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server and Vista. Highly recommended!!!

Ubuntu iES: a terrific -Spanish- Ubuntu on a pendrive!

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Today, in our Linux Page (in Spanish) we have posted a brief review about Ubuntu iES, an interesting Live Ubuntu which can be loaded on a small (1GB) pendrive. This particular Live version has been built for Spanish speaking users. Ubuntu iES is completely automatic, in fact its software completely manages the installation. Actually, when the pendrive loads the Ubuntu iES you can easily choose between Gnome, xfce4, Enlightenment; moreover, it is also possible to decide the right graphic card and the appropriate drivers for WIFI. Last but not least, Ubuntu iES website contains simple and clear instructions about saving all your settings and data for the next live session. Personally we recommend this live version of Ubuntu to all Spanish speaking users because it is not simple to find (around the web) a better Linux distribution on a pendrive. As usual, please, inform us if you know something better!

Sage = how Firefox let you to easily read all the web feeds you prefer!

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This week, in our Freeware Page, we have posted a brief review about one of the most interesting Firefox add-on we have found in the Mozilla website: Sage. This particular add-on allows you to easily read and manage all your favorite web feeds directly using Firefox. Sage contains also a feed discover who allows you to find RSS simply typing a keyword, moreover it is possible to import and export your web feeds through the OPML format. The graphics is very enjoyable and complete and after few minutes you forget the RSS reader you have used till now. Something to try!