Installing LAMP, Mediawiki in Ubuntu

Install LAMP
sudo apt-get install tasksel

sudo tasksel

And select LAMP Server

During the installation you will be asked to insert the mysql root password. Make sure you record your MySQL root superuser name and superuser password that you will create at installation. You will need it later.
(Each of the components (Apache2, MySQL5, and PHP) can also be installed individually, if you wish.)

To full manage your lamp Server database, install phpmyadmin
sudo apt-get install phpmyadmin

Please choose the web server that should be automatically configured to run phpMyAdmin.
Web server to reconfigure automatically: [ ] apache2

To login to phpmyadmin, open browser and type :
http://ip/phpmyadmin or http://localhost/phpmyadmin

Install MediaWiki
Install the package:
sudo apt-get install mediawiki

Optionally install add-ons:
sudo apt-get install imagemagick mediawiki-math php5-gd

Enable MediaWiki by editing the following file and remove the '#' from the third line so that it reads 'Alias /mediawiki /var/lib/mediawiki':
sudo nano /etc/mediawiki/apache.conf

Then restart apache:
sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

Start your MediaWiki
http://localhost/mediawiki
Follow the setup instructions.

Cisco VPN in Ubuntu 10.10

Since I upgraded to ubuntu 10.10, my Cisco VPN stopped working. I needed to find a way to convert .pcf file so that I could work with vpnc.

1. Install vpnc.
sudo apt-get install vpnc

# Get the cisco decrypt program

wget http://www.debuntu.org/files/cisco-decrypt.c

# Get the dependencies needed for it

sudo apt-get install libgcrypt11-dev

# Compile it into a binary

gcc -Wall -o cisco-decrypt cisco-decrypt.c $(libgcrypt-config –libs –cflags)

chmod +x cisco-decrypt

# Move it to a place in our path

sudo cp cisco-decrypt /usr/bin

2. Download the pcf2vpnc perl script.
wget http://svn.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/vpnc/trunk/
or, wget http://svn.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/vpnc/trunk/pcf2vpnc
or, wherever you can find it!


3. Make the script executable.
chmod +x pcf2vpnc
sudo cp pcf2vpnc /usr/bin


4. Convert your .pcf files to work with vpnc.

# Run the converter, which will call the decrypt program

./pcf2vpnc cisco.pcf > cisco.conf

5. Copy your new .conf files to /etc/vpnc.
sudo cp cisco.conf /etc/vpnc/

6. Connect using vpnc.
sudo vpnc-connect cisco

Then I got this error:
vpnc-connect: Error binding to source port. Try '--local-port 0'
Failed to bind to 0.0.0.0:500: Address already in use.

So, I tried:
sudo vpnc-connect cicso --local-port 0

And, it worked.


7. To disconnect your vpn tunnel.
sudo vpnc-disconnect

TestDisk, Data Recovery

Yesterday, my USB pen drive became corrupted. Linux, Windows couldn't recognise the filesystem. Thanks to TestDisk software, I fixed the issues and now it's working again.

TestDisk is OpenSource software and is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

TestDisk is powerful free data recovery software! It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting a Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.

TestDisk can

• Fix partition table, recover deleted partition
• Recover FAT32 boot sector from its backup
• Rebuild FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 boot sector
• Fix FAT tables
• Rebuild NTFS boot sector
• Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup
• Fix MFT using MFT mirror
• Locate ext2/ext3/ext4 Backup SuperBlock
• Undelete files from FAT, NTFS and ext2 filesystem
• Copy files from deleted FAT, NTFS and ext2/ext3/ext4 partitions.

TestDisk has features for both novices and experts. For those who know little or nothing about data recovery techniques, TestDisk can be used to collect detailed information about a non-booting drive which can then be sent to a tech for further analysis. Those more familiar with such procedures should find TestDisk a handy tool in performing onsite recovery.

Host Ubuntu 10.10, Guest Windows XP - sharing folders.

In virtualbox 3.2.10, I first installed guest additions.
Then, I setup sharing folder from Devices menu of virtualbox.
For example I shared \home\mysharingfolder. (the folder exists in \home of my ubuntu system).
In Folder Path navigate to the folder you created in step one and select it.Check “Make Permanent”.


In commandline of windows:
net use x: \\vboxsrv\mysharingfolder

Now, I can access the 'mysharingfolder' in windows.
Open My computer,you will see the shared folder:

Windows Host and Ubuntu guest:
1.Create a folder in windows,assuming it is:

c:/mysharingfolder

2.Same to the step 2 above.
3.In ubuntu guest,open terminal(Applications->Accessories->Terminal).Using following command mount the folder:

sudo mkdir /media/mysharingfolder sudo mount -t vboxsf vbshare /media/mysharingfolder

HCI4D: Infrastructure

As one of the important thrusts of ICT4D is developing infrastructure to provide power, connectivity, and devices appropriate for the prevailing conditions in a sustainable manner, the focus on infrastructure is absolutely relevant.
To highlight its importance, I would like to briefly mention the 'low-cost computer for poor' as an example. Following the success/failure stories of OLPC, simputer and many other technologies including existing attempts to develop cheaper computers for poor, it clearly highlightsaffordability of computing as a still remained primary barrier. As we know that the idea of leapfrogging technology (off-the-shelf solutions) that could be replicated - doesn't work and low-cost terminals is definitely a central part of ICT4D. But, even though the quest for the low-cost computer has been one of the most significant pursuits of ICT4D, most projects have fared poorly in markets, despite the apparent enthusiasm for many such initiatives. Demand is therefore to develop low-cost approaches and replicable hardware, and also serve the unique needs of developing regions and populations.
The need to support open standards to encourage interoperability of emerging technical solutions is highlighted as one of the grand challenges. My personal interest is to introduce and explore the use of an open platform (open-source software and open-source copyleft hardware) in the context of ICT4D.
The restricted license of a proprietary devices do not allow using hardware designs freely. But, the copyleft approach ensures the design is always open for a complete customization, enhancement or extension, allowing the community to influence its future hardware revisions and there is no end of life for devices as in a proprietary system. If coplyleft approach used, even if the device fails, it can at least ensure that the design can continue to live and be improved in future. But, as it has happened with open source software, though, it may take some years and test cases for legal clarity to emerge in open source hardware. Therefore, while benefits of an open-source software are well established, hardware based on an open-source copyleft designs to support specific need in the developing regions are yet to be seen. Also, as Weiss highlighted, open source hardware also faces several challenging questions such as how would business benefit from open sourcing hardware and who is really going to make their own device?

Ubuntu Upgrade from 10.04 LTS to 10.10 Maverick Meerkat

Upgrade from 10.04 LTS to 10.10

Network Upgrade for Ubuntu Desktops (Recommended)

You can easily upgrade over the network with the following procedure.

1. Open the Software Sources application from the System -> Administration menu

2. Select the sub menu Updates from the Software Sources application
3. Change the Release Upgrade drop down to "Normal Releases" and close the application

4. Press Alt-F2 and type update-manager

5. Click the Check button to check for new updates.

6. If there are any updates to install, use the Install Updates button to install them, and press Check again after that is complete.

7. A message will appear informing you of the availability of the new release.

8. Click Upgrade.

9. Follow the on-screen instructions.