disconnecting iPod from Linux

When I plug in an iPod into a machine running Ubuntu, the iPod auto-connects, but is not actually mounted.  This is especially problematic when I am running under i3 or other window manager which does not have a system tray or other mechanism for listing connected devices.

Turns out it is easy to disconnect:
  sudo eject /dev/sdb1

Season the device path as appropriate for your system.  I typically find the device name by looking through /var/log/messages for the USB messages for when I connect the iPod.

Monday as first day of week in GNOME

A lot of approaches on the Net specify hacking the locale files; e.g.:
  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=813945

However, a far simpler and certainly less intrusive procedure is to simply modify default LC_TIME:
  http://askubuntu.com/questions/6016/how-to-set-monday-as-the-first-day-of-the-week-in-gnome-calendar-applet

Specifically:

• in /etc/default/locale add:
  LC_TIME="en_GB.UTF-8"
• log out, then log back in

fixing broken Ubuntu Unity

I must have clicked something naughty in Compiz Config Settings Manager, because I lost the top and left side panels, and generally there was not much more than just the desktop background.  I was stumped on how to fix this.

Then I found:
  http://www.tuxgarage.com/2011/04/missing-top-and-side-panels-in-unity.html

Very good walkthrough for fixing Unity.

In the end, I executed the "Reset Compiz" section, and things are back to normal.

setting static IP in Ubuntu

By default recent Ubuntus (e.g., 11.10) use Network Manager, which makes things simple:

• click network icon in system tray
• Edit Connections
• select the one entry that you see there (unless your network is not working)
• Edit...
• IPv4 Settings
• From Method drop-down select Manual
• the rest should be straight forward

If not using Network Manager to manage network connections, you need to edit /etc/network/interfaces and add (adjust to own network parameters):

auto eth0

iface eth0 inet static

        address 192.168.0.100

        netmask 255.255.255.0

        network 192.168.0.0

        broadcast 192.168.0.255

        gateway 192.168.0.1

configuring grub for auto-selecting Windows

Typically "Windows" is one of the last options in the GRUB menu, and thus rather brittle to selecting by static index.  Instead, one can specify default GRUB choice by using the full option name.  Here are the steps I followed last to update this on a recent Ubuntu (11.x) install:

1. edit /etc/default/grub
2. change GRUB_DEFAULT to FULL name of the Windows menu entry (best to copy-paste from your own config)
3. save
4. to propagate the change, run 'update-grub'

Note that, aside from the static integer index and the full menu item name, one can also use special string 'saved'. However IIRC in the past I was not fully happy with this option (did not stick maybe?).

fixing headphone config on Acer Aspire One

From:
  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1070212

add this line:
options snd-hda-intel model=acer_wmi
to the end of /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base

This has now changed. Put the above line in /etc/modprobe.d/sound

Notes from Ubuntu 11.04 install on Acer Aspire 522 - BZ499

• C-50 Ontario processor is 64-bit, so we'll use the 64 bit image: ubuntu-11.04-desktop-amd64.iso
• installed image onto USB stick using: 'sudo usb-creator-gtk' command
• make sure BIOS is configured to read from USB stick before HDD
• note: ubuntu kept hanging on me (mouse cursor/throbber frozen)... from posts on Net I suspect it is due to wireless driver
• solution: install with wired connection plugged in; this allowed me to do install no problem
• this link sounds relevant: http://fossplanet.com/f10/[bug-775034]-[new]-natty-freezes-due-acer-aspire-one-522-wireless-148584/
• suspend and hibernate work right out of the box with this (tested both)
• clicking on Additional Drivers in top bar, it seems we are already using Broadcom STA wireless driver (hence could conflict with other one)
• now able to use wifi (w/o wired plugged in) using following:
• add in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf this line: "blacklist atl1c"
• "sudo update-initramfs -u"
• suspend still works
• outstanding issues:
• (non-proprietary) video driver has poor YouTube playback, etc.
• after resume (from Suspend?) the Ubuntu top and left bars stop updating visually (Ubuntu One compiz component; switch to "Ubuntu Classic" in GDM and all is well)
• attempting ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX gfx driver install...
• resume from suspend no longer working... can't even ping the machine (but did not check earlier that I actually could)
• went back to non-proprietary video drivers

Ubuntu: gVim in fullscreen

Under compiz window manager, you need an extra package, which is not installed by default in Ubuntu 11.04. I've set the keybinding through gnome settings, and that was not sufficient to have the fullscreen action work.

Steps:

• apt-get install compiz-plugins-extra
• Systems Settings > CompizConfig Settings Manager > Extra WM Actions > Toggle Fullscreen (provide keybinding, such as Alt-Enter)
• I found that I needed to restart the window manager for this to start working.

Source:
  http://askubuntu.com/questions/2140/is-there-a-way-to-turn-gvim-into-fullscreen-mode

Ubuntu/gnome: disabling password request on resume

Problem: on resume from suspend, Ubuntu/GNOME presents password entry dialog,  which is annoying.

Found a working solution here:

  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1466504

Namely:

1. As you've probably already done, uncheck:
"lock screen when screen saver is activated"
in the System->Preferences->Screen Saver menu.
2. Type gconf-editor in a terminal. Under apps/gnome-power-manager/locks check:
"use_screensaver_settings".
3. If still asked for password, you can (also in gconf-editor) go to desktop/gnome/lockdown and check:
"disable_lock_screen"
Credits to itslofty below for this tip!

I only had to do steps 1 and 2 on my Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwal on the Acer Aspire 522 BZ499.

Ubuntu + my Acer Aspire 522 BZ499

Various notes on trying to get latest Ubuntu (11.*) running on my AO522 netbook.

Useful links;

• http://phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?31961-Notes-on-Acer-Aspire-One-522
• http://kered.org/blog/2011-02-24/acer-ao522-linux-compatibility-and-memory-upgrade-procedure/
• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1543009&page=17
• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1680348&page=2

console-kit-daemon x60

If you run 'htop' you might see over 60 processes named 'console-kit-daemon'.  This seems to be a bug. On a mostly-single-user system one might as well uninstall 'consolekit' package (seems to be used for fast user switching).

For more see:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3609863&postcount=10

P.S. Alas, some other packages depend on 'consolekit'; not removing for now.

changing CapsLock to Ctrl in XFCE4

From:
http://serverfault.com/questions/10437/how-do-you-swap-the-caps-lock-to-control-in-xfce

Run this on startup:

  /usr/bin/setxkbmap -option "ctrl:nocaps"


This can be placed in XFCE's startup (Settings > Session and Startup > Application Autostart tab > Add button).