The Ubuntu Saga
June 19th, 2006 | by Todd W |The Ubuntu install on my server continues to go well. I had quite a few problems on Saturday, but none of them had anything to do with the OS. I tried to set up a dual boot situation with XP because I still have a few applications in XP that I need to maintain, so I figured I should have that ability just in case.
Unfortunately, that decision led to about four hours of multiple installations of XP and Ubuntu, trying to get them to play nice together. It didn’t take long for me to get really annoyed, and that lead to muddled thinking. After the fourth hour, it finally dawned on me that my RAID controller wasn’t configured properly for the boot sequence I wanted on the two OS drives. By that time I had reverted to a pure Ubuntu build and left it at that. I’ll worry about XP later, or just keep XP work confined to the laptop.
After that, I soaked up the particular quirks of Linux. My brother had a good question - why do I need Linux? After going through an hour of installing ATI video drivers, I question that myself. Do I really need this? Isn’t XP enough? While I’m sure many members of the Linux community are scoffing into their green screen text-based browsers, it is a fair question.
I want to learn Linux because I’m curious about computers, and I have a thing for learning OSes. Am I going to be more productive or more profecient? Probably not, at least for a very long time. But I’ll have fun in the journey, and I think that is all that matters.
The ATI driver install did give me some significant problems. I dismantled what used to be my TIVO box, freeing up an extra 17″ monitor. I’ve always wanted a dual monitor configuration on my primary desktop, so this seemed to be a good time. Here’s what happened next.
I downloaded the ATI Linux drivers and extracted them. I then had to find them in a filesystem still a bit unfamiliar to me. They turned up in /usr/X11R6/bin, so I had to BASH over there and execute the install script $sudo ati-driver-installer-8.25.16-x86.run, let that unpack, then run /usr/X11/bin/aticonfig -install or something like that.
Of course, that didn’t work right as the aticonfig failed to load some alphabet jumble of library packages. So it was off to the support forums. I’ve figured out that Linux could not exist as a viable OS without the support forums. But without Linux, there would be no forums. I’ll leave the metaphysical chicken and egg thing to you.
After a bit, I managed to get the script to run and the drivers came up. Unfortunately, the dual monitor would only display in clone mode, giving me two identical desktops. Not really useful.
So then I had to learn about editing my xorg.conf file (of course!! ). I managed to figure out the modification for that, but then ran into the superior Unix based security feature that forbade me from overwriting a configuration file. I remembered this from an earlier Linux battle, so I ran chmod, changed the permissions to 777, overwrote the file, then chmod’ed it back.
A quick reboot brought me back to one huge desktop spread over two monitors. Oh yeah!
Unfortunately, it was too late for me to do any actual work…but I have the large desktop for whenever I do!
4 Responses to “The Ubuntu Saga”
By Chris Gidman on Jun 20, 2006 | Reply
And Besides… it’s a great justification for avoiding things like writing. Looks like it worked too.
See?
By Mark Wiley on Jun 20, 2006 | Reply
My point EXACTLY!!! Get to work!
By Chris Gidman on Jun 22, 2006 | Reply
You know, we give Todd a hard time about all the things he likes to pick up instead of writing. But I wanted to take a just a minute to back him up a little. I just finished logging his word count in the tracking spreadsheet we are using. (Since he doesn’t really exist, I have to do this for him. A guy’s gotta take care of his imaginary friends!) He’s kept himself fairly busy.
So far this month, Todd has produced over 5000 words in blog entries and comments. Considering that in this time he also created three PowerPoint Podcasts, learned a good chunk of VI, imported several old posts, installed Ubutnu, read a few books, reworked his blog theme two times, and kept up with his regular schedule of ASL games, working for his primary employer, reading his RSS feeds, and who knows what else, I think he’s done very well. I get tired just thinking about it.
The man’s capacity for work is simply amazing.
I think he’s having fun doing all that stuff. He has a job that pays him enough to live a typical American lifestyle. He’s got every right to be pleased with himself and not feal guilty about other things.
So, maybe I have the wrong of it. What am I trying to accomplish with this kind of nudging? On the surface I might say I’m trying to push him back into doing what he loves. But, this review shows me that he is already doing that. Who am I to attempt to lay guilt, shame, or pressure on him for doing it? Mostly it’s good-natured teasing. But teasing typically has a barb.
I’m trying to apologize without getting all sappy. It’s not working.
Todd, if I have put additional stress on you by attempting to pressure you back to writing fiction, please know that I am disappointed in myself.
By Mark Wiley on Jun 22, 2006 | Reply
All great points, but, I have the advantage of being his brother. This means he can’t do anything about my attacks!
Seriously, I don’t begrudge him his time and passions, he does get a lot done with his time (don’t forget the girls at home). I just can’t help but see a few things:
1.) He is incredibly talented.
2.) Since I can remember, my memories of Todd center around books, books, reading, books, D&D (which is essentially story-telling) and writing. Until I’m told otherwise, I know Todd’s dream is not to figure out the latest Linux OS, it’s to be a writer.
3.) Todd, Chris and I are very similar, shiny things and distractions are our crack, I view a role of mine to try and remind him how shiny being a writer can be.
I can’t applaud him or give him quarter on his incredible use of time, I can appreciate it, but again, until I’m told straight from Todd that he doesn’t want to succeed as a writer, I view it as a disservice as his brother to let him get away with not pursuing his dream with a passion.
If I’m being overly aggressive, well, tough love. I’ll stop the minute he asks me too, but until then…
1.) Pursue your dream!
2.) Change your career to what you love in the meantime, talk to HR about moving to IS. You already know more than half the yahoos I have to deal with on a daily basis who get a paycheck for what you do in your spare time.
3.) Write! Or change your dream and let me know what it is and I’ll hound you about that!
DISCLAIMER: I’m a lazy bastard who is afraid to quit his job and pursue my dream of entrepreneurship. It’s easy to berate someone else though….. soooo much easier…. plus, the US lost to Ghana (GHANA!) and is out of the Cup, so I’m extry grumpy.