Last Update: 22-Apr-2009 (create ISO image from Dual Layer DVD)

Few words about “Ubuntu EEE”

31-Jul-2009
How to access your ASUS EEE from your other machines (Mac OS X etc) using your wireless network / modem.
30-Jul-2009
This article hasn’t been updated for quite a while because I am happy with the system as it is. I have not upgraded to Easy Peasy either, for the same reason. Quite frequent system and software updates seem to ensure that my system is kept up-to-date anyway with minimal risk.
26-Apr-2009
This article describes tweaks and tricks for Ubuntu EEE 8.04 Operating System installed on Asus EEE 901. “Ubuntu EEE” was replaced by / rebranded “Easy Peasy” since. See official Easy Peasy website and its wiki pages for more information regarding this.

Ubuntu EEE 8.04 stuff

How to enable full / normal destkop
I forgot what I did but there used to be plenty info on that on Ubuntu EEE 8.04 forums

webcam is not working / webcam doesn’t work
Enable in BIOS. Apparently xandros just ignores the fact that webcam is disabled by default – that’s why webcam worked in xandros even though it shouldn’t (naughty, naughty)

How do I configure touchpad?
There seems to be a bit of confusion whether this solution uses native Elantech drivers or synaptics? Warning: you will lose 2 finger scrolling but will be able to fully configure touchpad in return.
Solution: Touchpad Driver (elantech) Enhancements

my external USB hard drive hangs
Not anymore, not in Ubuntu EEE 8.04 – but this used to happen in xandros and was very annoying (reboot was the only solution)

I can’t play DVDs / movies / can’t access / mount DVD drive
sudo gedit /etc/fstab
put “#” in front of the line containing /media/cdrom0
save and exit /etc/fstab
reboot
Background: We commented out the line which prevented cdrom from being mounted automatically

Create ISO image from Dual Layer DVD
-) sudo apt-get install k3b
-) Start -> Sound & Video -> K3b
-) in K3b: Tools -> DVD Copy:
Options: Only create image
Image: specify location and name of output ISO image
Start

To test mount:
sudo mount -o loop -t iso9660
To test video:
Open VLC:
-) Open -> File and select appriopriate ISO (doesn’t have to be mounted)

Background: K3b is KDE not GNOME but it is the only solution I found that works without hassle. I copied 8GB DVDs to ISO image without any issues. I haven’t tried to burn those images to Dual Layer DVD yet.

Install Samsung SCX-4100 printer (USB)
-) Connect your printer
-) Ubuntu EEE 8.04 will report new device Samsung 4100 series or similar, search for drivers, drivers not found / listed.Ubuntu EEE 8.04 will ask you to choose or already selected for you ‘generic printer’ or something along those lines. Close printer / driver utility.
-) Download Samsung Unified Linux Driver
-) Open a terminal and change to the directory where you downloaded the driver
-) Extract the driver (the driver could be named something different):

      tar -xzf UnifiedLinuxDriver.tar.gz
This will most likely produce following error which can be ignored:
gzip: stdin: decompression OK, trailing garbage ignored
tar: Child returned status 2
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

-) run the driver utility:

      sudo ./cdroot/Linux/install.sh

-) this will open a GUI. It will also create a Samsung Unified Driver Configurator icon on your desktop. It will probably report 0 printers found.
-) select “manual”, use selected port, and select 4100 series
-) When you try to print test page, it will report that driver is OK but port does not exist. So far so good.
-) I also created following links which I am not sure are necessary:

      sudo ln -s /usr/share/cups/model/samsung /usr/share/ppd/custom/samsung

-) I rebooted at this point but not sure if that’s necessary
-) Go to System -> Administration -> Printing
-) Change “Make and Model” to “Samsung SCX-4100 Series”
-) print test page – test page should now print
-) Open “Samsung Unified Driver Configurator”. “SCX-4100″ should now become “SCX-4100_Series”
-) Print test page. It should print OK
Background:We run Samsung driver utility only to get drivers. After that we use Ubuntu EEE 8.04 native Printing utility to use those drivers. Once that’s working we can safely ignore / delete Samsung’s utility. To clarify confusion: Ubuntu EEE 8.04 installs the printer as SCX-4100_Series. Then Samsung driver utility installs the printer as SCX-4100 together with the correct driver. We then ‘point’ Ubuntu EEE 8.04 SCX-4100_Series printer to SCX-4100 driver. End result: we should ONLY have SCX-4100_Series printer on our system.

Networking with other PCs/Systems
If you have more than one PC/Laptop/machine at home, the likelihood is that, from time to time, you will want to access your ASUS EEE remotely from another machine, which might be running a different Operating System (Mac OS X for example). For that you will need:
-) ssh server and ftp server installed on your ASUS EEE
-) ssh client and ftp client installed on the machine You want to access ASUS from

ssh server
-) Check “Services” if ssh server is already running. If not, You might want to install ssh server/client package which ensures that both are installed (and configured correctly)
ftp server (commonly known as “ftpd” – ftp daemon)
I strongly recommend installing vsftpd, which should be listed in your Synaptic Package Manager. The chances are that you won’t have to configure anything to get it working, it will be operational “straight from the box”

ssh client
Most Operating Systems come with that. If not, search for some OpenSource version for your system
ftp client
I recommend Filezilla, which is already supplied as part of EEE’s core “Internet” utilities

Ad-hoc connection over wireless (wi/fi) network / modem
You will obviously need to have 2 machines turned on. You will also need to find IP address given to your ASUS by your wireless modem. For that, click on the connection icon and select “Connection Information”. The IP address will usually be something like “192.169.1.5″

to connect using ssh
You use ssh to “jump” onto your ASUS EEE machine. You will be able to use xTerm / terminal / command window as if You were sitting in front of your ASUS. But You will not be able to copy any files between machines. In ssh session on your machine type:
ssh username@192.169.1.5 (you obviously need to specify your username and your IP address here)
to connect using ftp
FTP is used for transfering files between both machines. Start Filezilla:
Host: 192.169.1.5 (change to your IP address)
Port: leave blank
Server Type: SFTP
Logon type: normal
User: your EEE username
Password: your EEE pasword
Account: leave blank

Install Samsung SCX-4100 scanner (USB)
Assumption:You have Samsung Unified Driver Configurator already installed (see installing SCX-4100 printer above)
-) sudo apt-get install libsane-dev sane sane-utils
All instructions I found on the web failed, I think they are too old: most of them advise to edit /etc/udev/rules.d/45-libsane.rules file which does not exist, not even after running sane-find-scanner. I managed to get xsane to stop crashing but it only detects webcam. Tough cookie.
workaround: Use Windows for scanning for a time being – I know, I know,

My external USB hard drive is not mounted automatically
No proper solution yet,
workaround: menu -> Places, click on your drive and it will be mounted for you
Background:xandros does it automatically, Ubuntu EEE 8.04 does not, but it is debatable which option is better, depending on personal circumstances

Headphones, external speakers don’t work – very faint sound
Open Volume Control (with all sliders) – make sure that “Headphone” slider is turned on. Slide both sliders down and up again
Background: Something gets confused with the volume level. Sliding the slider down and up again fixes that.

Multi-Language Keyboard layout
I tried to use “native” gnome keyboard layout switcher but it was very, very, very unstable so I gave up on it and installed KDE keyboard switcher instead. This is most likely horrible work-around but it works marvelously. I don’t remember how I did it but it installs under “Run -> Other -> Keyboard Layouts”. That brings up “Configure – KDE Control Module” for keyboard. The only problem is that I have to start it manually after every reboot but that’s fine coz I really would prefer native facility to work properly so it is reminder to revisit this issue one day.
Background:

Xandros stuff

Configure action for closing the lid
Main script: /etc/acpi/lidbtn.sh
This script gets called when the lid is closed. The default action (see the script) is: /etc/acpi/suspend2ram.sh but you can obviously comment that out (so closing the lid doesn’t do anything – useful when laptop is connected to all external devices and acts as a “PC box”) or change it to any action You want

Backup
backup: dd if=/dev/sda | gzip -c > /home/user/E:/eeepc/backups/sda.$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M%s).gz
restore: dd if=/home/user/E:/eeepc/backups/sda.2008090118451220291153.gz | gunzip -c | dd of=/dev/sda

Staroffice: how to get spellchecker to work
StarOffice installation seems to be messed up and doesn’t come with English dictionaries which need to be installed for spellchecker to work. This is what I did:

• Download: DicOOo.sxw macro into directory of your choice
• Tools->Options->StarOffice->Security->Macro Security->Trusted Sources->Trusted file locations->Add – add the directory You downloaded the macro to
• In File Manager navigate to that directory
• double click on the macro (or right click and “Open”) to run the macro. This will open a new document, with links to languages. Chose the language You prefer (CTRL-click) (this will be the language for running the macro – not the dictionary)
• You will be presented with a “Start DicOOo” button. Click on it and follow instructions
• Shut down all instances of StarOffice and restart. Now You should be able to select correct dictionary (it might be already selected for You) in Tools->Options->Language Settings->Writing Aids

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