Clutter Learns Linux

[V.T. Eric Layton]

If I'm the role model, all those new penguins are in BIG trouble.

[Cluttermagnet]

OK, guys-I'm going to grab a 40G drive later tonight and go ahead and set it all up again. Not a problem, and I need the practice anyway. I'll be doing it plenty more in the coming months and years. BTW I heard from a 2nd friend today and he's also going to let me set up Ubuntu to dual boot on one of his XP boxes.

[Cluttermagnet]

OK, I swapped in the 40G drive and then used Bruno's "dd" commands to wipe the boot sector and then the drive. I used gnome partition editor to set it up like so:7.9+G FAT32 (Windows)10G ext3 (root)12G ext3 (home)2G linux-swap~6G remaining FAT32 (create partition later)Then it hit me- 98SE can have trouble with CPU's faster than 2.4GHZ. I'd need to read up on that and remember what workarounds there were to make it work under those conditions. Then I also remembered 98SE has problems with more than 512M of RAM. Again, there's a pretty easy workaround, but I'd have to go back and research what tricks need to be done.D'oh!Homer Simpson slaps himself, hard, in the forehead. I have a 1G DDR PC3200 RAM on the way here. Should have it within the week. Right now, only 384M RAM is installed. Slower RAM.Then I remembered- Bruno just told me that Linux might get upset if I change hardware around an existing OS installation. I don't know if adding more RAM would cause problems like changing the MB or HD or not. So I'm not sure if I should try to install anything. Maybe I'll just wait for the RAM to get here.I'm not dying to have 98SE on that box, but I wouldn't mind, either. But I could just as well change that partition to ext3 later and put another Linux distro in there instead.

Edited May 3, 2007 by Cluttermagnet

[Bruno]

Hi Clutter . . . Nope just adding more RAM does not give any problems, Linux can handle that okay ;)Most problems arise when changing CPU or putting a drive with linux already installed in another computer. Bruno

[Cluttermagnet]

Thanks, Bruno-Well, I figured the RAM change would probably be OK.Meanwhile, I've still got a mystery here. This Dell Dimension 8300 seems to be a little flaky still, and I can rule out heat problems because I just saw the following from a fully cold machine starting up:Attempting to boot Ubuntu 6.06 live CD, first try produced a halt with the following error note:

kernel panicnot syncing attempted to kill init

Next try produced a halt with:

modprobe[829] exited with preempt_count 2segmentation fault

3rd try was good and Ubuntu loaded uneventfully. Something weird going on in this hardware- maybe the MB, maybe the CPU? Perhaps the guy who tossed this had more than just a bad power supply on his hands. Edited May 3, 2007 by Cluttermagnet

[Urmas]

Something weird going on in this hardware- maybe the MB, maybe the CPU? Perhaps the guy who tossed this had more than just a bad power supply on his hands.

Sure will be interesting to see if the new piece of RAM is gonna fix this. Edited May 3, 2007 by Urmas

[ross549]

http://www.memtest86.com/There is a CD bootable ISO available for download... should be very tiny. ;)Adam

[Cluttermagnet]

It wouldn't hurt to run that again. I have a comparable utility to memtest86 called M2K MemScope V 1.10. I'll run it. BTW this machine froze up during an attempted install of Dapper onto the 40G drive. Locked up dead at 3:07 remaining, 59 percent loaded. Yikes!There is 383M of DDR RAM, as 256 + 128. It has previously tested 100 percent OK with a different MB, also with this same Dell MB and a 2.4GHz Celeron 128K. Now it's running with a 3.2GHz P4 512K.It has now made one successful pass through the complete test battery, 100 percent OK. I'll let it run a while. I kind of doubt it's memory. Perhaps it's the CPU itself. All my problems seemed to come on when I introduced the faster IC.

Edited May 3, 2007 by Cluttermagnet

[ross549]

The fact that you have different results each time you boot that particular system tells me that there must be some dodgy hardware in there. Considering nothing has changed in the source (the Live CD), the system should boot the exact same way each time.Adam

[Urmas]

There is 383M of DDR RAM, as 256 + 128. It has previously tested 100 percent OK with a different MB, also with this same Dell MB and a 2.4GHZ Celeron 128K. Now it's running with a 3.2GHz P4 512K.

I'm not saying your "present" RAM is busted... I'm kinda hoping ( ) that this be those "UFO" incompability issues.

[Cluttermagnet]

I'm not saying your "present" RAM is busted... I'm kinda hoping ( ) that this be those "UFO" incompability issues.

Ahhh-Good point! I can hope for that to be the problem. I am trying to run two dissimilar RAM strips in a computer that seems to want stuff added in identical pairs. I looked at the manual for it, downloaded from the Dell website. Not clear whether I could get different results from running the two RAM strips in different banks. I might try that. The new RAM is going to be just a single strip, 1G. Hope that is going to be OK, too.

The fact that you have different results each time you boot that particular system tells me that there must be some dodgy hardware in there. Considering nothing has changed in the source (the Live CD), the system should boot the exact same way each time.Adam

Well, that has been my theory so far. But now I'm thinking maybe about the RAM as well. Pushing it to the higher speed may have taken the system just past the ragged edge of stability. Perhaps proper RAM pairing would fix this?Now 4 successful passes through the RAM torture tests with no failures...I'll try pulling the 128M and running only the 256M in Slot 1.My 1G strip should show up today or tomorrow. Edited May 3, 2007 by Cluttermagnet

[Cluttermagnet]

Without trying any different RAM configurations, I retried installing Dapper and this time it 'took'. Then I did a little partition work and set up the rest of the disk. I'm just going to play with it again today and see how it behaves. I have no idea what makes this machine behave or misbehave. I did the install slightly different this time. I set up partitions manually, as before, but this time I let the setup choose to reformat the home and swap partitions, as it wanted to. Last time, I unchecked the reformatting operations. I don't see where that should have made any difference.

[ross549]

Well, that has been my theory so far. But now I'm thinking maybe about the RAM as well. Pushing it to the higher speed may have taken the system just past the ragged edge of stability. Perhaps proper RAM pairing would fix this?

Thinking about this some more..... I am wondering if there is a BIOS update for that system that fixes some odd compatibility or stability issue with that system. It may be worth the time to check the Dell site for any relevant information on that system.Adam

[Cluttermagnet]

Thinking about this some more..... I am wondering if there is a BIOS update for that system that fixes some odd compatibility or stability issue with that system. It may be worth the time to check the Dell site for any relevant information on that system.Adam

Good idea, Adam. There is indeed a BIOS update. I have it. I need to install it. BTW I'm now on the dreaded Dell computer at the moment. It is still a little squirrelly. A few minutes ago, it dumped Firefox for no good reason. I had to restart it. A strange machine, so far...

[ross549]

Sounds like it... keeps us updated on the progress you make. :)Adam

[Bruno]

Maybe installing lm_sensors to monitor temperatures and voltages will help ??The install should be easy ( type "sensors" in synaptic and have a look what comes up ), the configuration could a bit more tricky . . . but with your talents you should be able to pull it off: LM_Sensors Bruno

[Cluttermagnet]

Thanks, guys-Bruno, your suggestion has been noted. I definitely want to get the sensors enabled. LM Sensors sounds like something I want now. I'll look into it. BTW as an engineer, I recognize some things in a few text lines:

Probing for `National Semiconductor LM78'(LM79)

These are physical devices which measure temperature. I think I have a sample specimen of one right here in this room somewhere nearby. Looks like some of them got designed into computers. I also have the data sheet on the device. I'm a hardware guy. Meanwhile, I am taking things apart tonight to do some hardware swapping. I'm trying to determine 'what works'. My RAM 1G DDR module came today, but it won't work in the Dell. I do have it working in the "Cluttermaster 2007", however. That is my computer without a case, featuring an Acorp 4S648FXL mobo.Tonight I plan to do some CPU swapping. The Acorp board will handle up to a 3.2GHz P4, but not Prescott. My CPU is not a Prescott, it is the older series, with only the 512K L2 cache. I think I have a heat sink that is up to it. I will soon know.The Dell 8300 may have mobo problems, that is what I'm working on sorting out right now. I'm very relieved that my 1G RAM is apparently OK, because it didn't work in the Dell. At worst, the Dell box will have given me a few good parts to harvest, hopefully to include the CPU. OTOH the Dell played pretty well with a 2.4GHz Celeron 128K in it. So I'm not in any hurry to throw it away until I know better what I have. But it does seem to have a flaky mobo, perhaps. Edited May 4, 2007 by Cluttermagnet

[Cluttermagnet]

A question for Urmas-Can you please refresh my memory as to how I got firestarter installed on my main Linux box? I remember two things- downloading a bunch of stuff related to repositories, and then later running the firestarter wizard after the install.What I forgot is where I got stuff from. I updated a couple of other Ubuntu/ Synaptic setups by just clicking on the Reload button in the menu. But later, I search for firestarter and I don't find it in any repository I have loaded. Did I get it direct from the firestarter website? Or did I sudo apt-get it somewhere else? I just don't remember. I like firestarter so much that I want to make it standard on every install of Ubuntu I have.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Urmas probably had you install Firestarter through Automatix.

[Cluttermagnet]

Urmas probably had you install Firestarter through Automatix.

Hmmm-I don't think so, Eric. Seems I remember that Automatix has to be installed into Ubuntu, doesn't come stock. I've never installed Automatix. I'd remember if I did that one. I've done scarcely more than about a dozen installs so far, in my brief Linux geek career. It sounds like a good one to have, however. I think I'll be getting it on my machines in due time.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Well, Clutter... I just searched through your whole 451 post thread and didn't find any where that Urmas showed you how to install Firestarter. Where you do mention Firestarter, you already have it installed and configured. Maybe he told you on some other thread around here?Here... this is from Adam's Ubuntu Links thread:http://www.debianadmin.com/secure-ubuntu-d...r-firewall.html

[Cluttermagnet]

Well, Clutter... I just searched through your whole 451 post thread and didn't find any where that Urmas showed you how to install Firestarter. Where you do mention Firestarter, you already have it installed and configured. Maybe he told you on some other thread around here?Here... this is from Adam's Ubuntu Links thread:http://www.debianadmin.com/secure-ubuntu-d...r-firewall.html

Wow! Great job, Eric.Yes, I think that's the one. I definitely remember that tutorial. So I'll follow that routine on that page, and I think I'll get it OK. Thanks! Now Urmas has nothing to do when he wakes up. :whistling:Now, back to the computer surgery- I'm about to swap CPU's... Edited May 4, 2007 by Cluttermagnet

[Urmas]

Wow! Great job, Eric.Yes, I think that's the one. I definitely remember that tutorial. So I'll follow that routine on that page, and I think I'll get it OK. Thanks! Now Urmas has nothing to do when he wakes up. :whistling:Now, back to the computer surgery- I'm about to swap CPU's...

Morning!First off... we've talked about this, but if Eric is right - and he usually sometimes is - about the 451 (and growing) posts... have you gone through your PM folder?About the above guide ( http://www.debianadmin.com/secure-ubuntu-d...r-firewall.html ):1. To be able to install Firestarter, you need to have the "extra" repositories enabled, as stated in one of the responses in there:

you need to make sure you have enabled universe and multiverse repositories in /etc/apt/sources.list file and then update the source list file using the following command

sudo apt-get updatesudo apt-get install firestarter

You can enable the repos either in Synaptic (in "Settings", choose "Repositories"), or, you can open your sources.list for editing:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Here's one Dapper list for reference:

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper main restricteddeb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper main restricted## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the## distribution.deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-updates main restricteddeb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-updates main restricted## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'## repository.## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security## team.deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper universe multiversedeb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper universe multiverse## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'## repository.## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-backports main restricted universe multiversedeb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-backports main restricted universe multiversedeb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricteddeb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricteddeb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security universe multiversedeb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security universe multiverse## dapper-commercial by canonical## currently has realplay (realplayer 10) and opera (opera 9)## only uncomment it if you need it## deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu dapper-commercial main## Bleeding edge wine repository for Dapper## only uncomment it if you need it## deb http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt dapper main## deb-src http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt dapper main## skype## only uncomment it if you need it## deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free

Compare this with your sources.list and uncomment items in your list where necessary.2. There is a typo in there:

If you want to install firestarter firewall run the following commandsudo apt-get install firestarterThis will complete the installationIf you want to open fire starter go to System—>Administration—>Firestarter

Edited May 4, 2007 by Urmas

[Cluttermagnet]

Wow- thanks for all the good info, Urmas!Yes, I have looked through my PM copies, and didn't see the info in there. I'm missing it somehow. I know you passed it to me some weeks ago. I remember parts of the original firestarter installation. I need to take the time to go back over everything and make good notes. It's all there. I have already used and reused Bruno's dd comands for wiping drive boot records and entire drives. This stuff is just great! And I'm having a ball with it. I just get into a run and go too fast. So I'll slow down a little and take notes.Good news, I swapped my 1G RAM and my 3.2GHz CPU around, and it appears both are good. Right now, I'm on the "Cluttermaster 2007" with a different HD, RAM, CPU, power supply combination. I already had a copy of Dapper on this 4.3G drive that was set up on the Dell 8300. Lo and behold, on the Acorp 4S648FXL mobo with the 3.2GHz P4, the OS on the drive just booted right up as if nothing had changed. Amazing (I guess). This OS had been installed over in the Dell machine, now it plays on a different mobo. I'm real happy about that. Think of the 4G HD as a temporary thing. I'll format and swap in the 40G drive later. Right now, I just wanted to check some hardware. All good news, so far. :thumbsup:I'm presently downloading 'everything', 39 repositories packages for Synaptic. It's about 60 percent done, on my slooooow dialup. I'm so happy that my new RAM and the 3.2GHz P4 seem to be performing rock solid on the Acorp mobo.BTW I have returned that 2.4GHz Celeron CPU and the 256+128M RAM to the Dell box. I'll play some more with that hardware later. I think it was performing pretty well with the slower processor

Edited July 27, 2007 by Cluttermagnet

[Cluttermagnet]

Yay! I got firestarter installed. Now I'm going to burn this procedure into my own feeble memory. I'll no doubt be doing this a few more times (including on friend's machines). Thanks, Urmas!

[Cluttermagnet]

Even after configuring firestarter, pcflank found two visible ports- 137 and 138- NETBIOS. I thought I'd be full stealth at this point. Perhaps I answered questions wrong as I was going through the wizard? pcflank lists these ports as closed. GRC listed them, and all 1056 that it tests as stealthed. I'm puzzled.

[Urmas]

I'll no doubt be doing this a few more times (including on friend's machines).

"If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles."--Sun Tzu

pcflank found two visible ports- 137 and 138- NETBIOS.

Run the Wiz again. FYI: I'm using Samba for transfering stuff and printing between the two (Linux) computers connected to the router. To be able to do that I had to use Firestarter for "punching two holes"... yup, you guessed it! Gates 137 and 138 needed to be "allowed" for Samba. But because the router is doing its job, all tests still show "full stealth". Edited May 4, 2007 by Urmas

[Cluttermagnet]

OK, I ran it and reran the particular ports test. Still showing 138 and 139 closed. It fails in TCP connect scanning (standard), but not in TCP SYN scanning. I'm going to go over to my main Linux box and recheck that test over there...Sure enough, the main Linux box shows 138 and 139 stealthed. :hmm:I saw no questions in the wizard which should have anything to do with the closed ports.

Edited May 4, 2007 by Cluttermagnet

[Urmas]

Anything in Firestarter's "Policy tab" in that "problemputer"?

[Cluttermagnet]

Anything in Firestarter's "Policy tab" in that "problemputer"?

Hmmm-I doubt it, but I'll check. I haven't set up any new policies in any install of firestarter. Right now, I'm running a RAM test on the 1G DDR RAM. It's taking a while, even with a 3.2GHz CPU. It appears my heatsink is holding up to the strain, but it is getting noticeably warm, as expected. This is the first time ever I've felt a P4 heatsink actually feel significantly warm to the touch. But it looks like the stock heat spreader is going to stand up to the load. I'll check firestarter as soon as test #1 rolls over, hopefully with no errors.