Few weeks ago, a customer asked me to install a wireshark and advised them the issue. I installed the machine, using wireshark on top of W2K Prof. The PC crashed after capturing 700MB of data within few hours. The other instance was quite lucky. 1.5GB data within 10 hours.

Not believing the fact that Wireshark keep crashing then I did some googling yet found practically nothing to resolve the issue.

This is where Linux comes to the rescue. Rather than getting something to install, I get Live CD that I can just run Wireshark.

After searching for a while I found Network Security Toolkit (NST) was quite interesting.

NST not only provides CD Iso but it also comes with DVD and even VMware version (need to use VMware player).

I downloaded NST, burned it to CD, loaded it, turned-on the ethernet, then it was running for 3 days, 64 files, 64MB without failed.

I wasn’t actually amazed, that is the actual standard we can expect for running Wireshark on Linux.

Problem solved. Don’t run Wireshark on Windows if you want to run it for a longer period of time.

Ubuntu started its initial released with Ubuntu 4.10 (Warty Warthog) back in October 20, 2004. It was quite a surprised and brave decision to make a one-disc-fits-all distribution that just works for office applications including drivers support and multimedia application such as mp3, video player, CD burner.

Ubuntu fills the spot of linux distribution that seems difficult to install and don’t support current applications to make the switch from Windows desktop to Linux. The battle was long started but seems that Linux keeps loosing it before the existence of Warty Warthog.

Ubuntu offers plethora of applications, just enough to provide what most desktop users need such as office and multimedia application. It reads and write documents from Microsoft office. Although not latest Microsoft Office version, as this gigantic proprietary software company keeps changing its format. It also has automated update with the ease similar like Windows operating system. No more geek commands on a dark dreaded terminal.

On current release, Ubuntu 7.10, even offer great graphics candy via Compiz that allows users to experience different user interface feel. Not so much of productivity, though, but it is fun. It can even imitate Apple mac desktop appearance and even does what mac can’t do. Wobbly windows, for example.

Well, if that’s not enough to get you started, you can always have the choice to install windows side-by-side with Ubuntu (called dual boot) or you can use free application (yes, It is FREE) called VMWARE to run windows within your Ubuntu.

Not only good softwares Ubuntu offers, the other reason that Ubuntu fills more market share in Linux desktop is that it offers free Ubuntu disc shipment to your front door. How good is that?

There are reasons why Ubuntu, within 3 years, can compete and be the best of Linux desktop distribution outperform Redhat and SuSE.

• Ubuntu ‘Just Works’. This is what Linux desktop developers have to look at to compete with current market. To make a distribution that “just works” as Ubuntu proclaims. Users don’t really care about the glory of terminal era or even license limitation. Yes, the spoon-feed users wants to have something that just-works for their computer and Ubuntu is filling the spot.
• Right Applications. Debian has 18733 packages available and bet has more applications than Ubuntu has. However, that’s not the issue. What Linux distribution need to come up with is the right tool for the right job. Desktop users just want to have office and multimedia aplications, and also easy system administration management.
• Free CD and Free Shipping. Lazy to download or just run out of download quota? (blame bit-torrent!). Just as Ubuntu to deliver it for you for free of charge. Who would have done this before?
• Impressive Desktop Effect. Poor Windows Vista that has been following what others operating system can do to users Desktop experience. Ubuntu has been doing this from version 6.10 a year ago!. Although not quite useful, it gives good impression to users that Linux can appears beauty and provoking.
• Support. Ubuntu frequently updates it version every 6 months and the upgrade is dead easy. Users can read the technical documentation, buy support, use the free online community support, or just use Technical Answer System (similar like Windows help).

Well, that’s not finished yet. That was only for console alteration. If you’re using X application, you need to use command exec xset -b to silent it. Alternatively, put this command in ~/.fluxbox/startup

Try to use “CTRL-ALT-6 X”

My flight was stop-over on Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia around 5 AM. I thought it was a good idea to get a cup of coffee while waiting for the next flight to Jakarta, Indonesia. Turned on Ubuntu, and voilla, It showed that my Xserver was crashed and GDM could not start. It said “No Device Found” on /var/log/Xorg.0.log. Don’t really know what happened, I tried sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg but no luck. I so believed that I did not play with Xserver before, so it was probably because of incomplete sudo apt-get upgrade.

Therefore, the first I need to do when arrived in Indonesia was making sure that my Internet connection worked. That was Dial-Up connection. Guess what, I didn’t have my slmodemd package installed to use my 0000:00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 01). Playing a bit with apt-cache search and apt-cache show revealed that I needed package sl-modem-daemon_2.9.10+2.9.9d+e-pre2-5build1_i386.deb from archive.ubuntu.com.

with a little help from my in-laws computer, I managed to get sl-modem-daemon_2.9.10+2.9.9d+e-pre2-5build1_i386.deb. Copy and ran sudo apt-get install sl-modem-daemon_2.9.10+2.9.9d+e-pre2-5build1_i386.deb, tweaking my /etc/wvdial.conf using sudo wvdialconf as below:

[Dialer Defaults]
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Phone = 080989999
ISDN = 0
Username = telkomnet@instant
Init1 = ATZ
Password = telkom
Modem = /dev/ttySL0
Baud = 115200
Carrier Check = no

I ran sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade and I figured out that I was upgrading xserver-xorg-core. Well, It was probably that Ubuntu team did not release xserver-xorg-core updates at the same time with the rest of xserver packages

Now I can use my Ubuntu to convert my new CDs to MP3. Just FYI, I like Sound Juicer very much as I can use 320 Kb rate with VBR with it. Not sure with other MP3-converter packages

My dmesg shows this

[17189201.684000] usb 2-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 2
[17189202.140000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0:
USB Bidirectional printer dev 2 if 1 alt 0
proto 2 vid 0x04B8 pid 0x0818
[17189202.140000] usbcore: registered new driver usblp
[17189202.140000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: v0.13: USB Printer Device Class driver

Using that information, add this line to /etc/sane.d/epson.conf

usb 0x04b8 0x0818

Have Fun!

Then I installed minicom.

$ sudo apt-get install minicom


Run the minicom program and using command CTRL-a z o (inside minicom) to configure the minicom serial port. Make sure the configuration look like this.

A - Serial Device : /dev/ttyUSB0
B - Lockfile Location : /var/lock
C - Callin Program :
D - Callout Program :
E - Bps/Par/Bits : 9600 8N1
F - Hardware Flow Control : Yes
G - Software Flow Control : No


Save the configuration with whatever name you want. In this case is “cisco”.

Next time you want to configure your router using minicom, just type “minicom cisco”

$ sudo apt-get install xinetd tftpd tftp

2. Create /etc/xinetd.d/tftp and put this entry:

service tftp
{
protocol        = udp
port            = 69
socket_type     = dgram
wait            = yes
user            = nobody
server          = /usr/sbin/in.tftpd
server_args     = /tftpboot
disable         = no
}

3. Make /tftpboot directory

$ sudo mkdir /tftpboot
$ sudo chmod -R 777 /tftpboot
$ sudo chown -R nobody /tftpboot

4. Start tftpd through xinetd

$ sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd start

5. Testing. Tranfering file hda.txt from 192.168.1.100 (Client using tftp) to 192.168.1.100 (Server 192.168.1.100). Get an example file to transfer (eg. hda.txt)

$ touch /tftpboot/hda.txt
$ chmod 777 /tftpboot/hda.txt
$ ls -l /tftpboot/
total 0
-rwxrwxrwx  1 davids davids 0 2006-03-27 23:04 hda.txt
$ tftp 192.168.1.100
tftp> put hda.txt
Sent 722 bytes in 0.0 seconds
tftp> quit
$ ls -l /tftpboot/
total 4
-rwxrwxrwx  1 davids davids 707 2006-03-27 23:07 hda.txt