Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Error Nagiosql (1) - PHP MySQL support (mysql or mysqli) not installed

I have been trying to install Nagiosql in my Ubuntu. I have already installed php-mysql, mysql, mysql-server and php. But still, when I open http: //localhost/nagiosql3/install/install.php from my browser to configure Nagiosql, it still says:

PHP MySQL support (mysql or mysqli) not installed

Php-mysql package is installed in my system.

Solution :-

It just restart apache

sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

Error Nagmin (2) - Incorrect administration username or password

Installing Nagmin module through webmin. When i click on "NagMIN Network Monitoring" under servers, i get mysql login screen, even though my mysql password is correct, it gives me an error like
Login failed : Incorrect administration username or password I tried changing mysql password, tried passwords, but still i am not getting nagmin page. I am 100% sure that my mysql password is correct.

Solution

go into the

a. module config for Nagmin
b. In the system configuration section put the username/password


Error Nagmin (1) - Version Issue

1. The Error (Error: version issue):
Some error found when your login webmin --> Server --> nagMIN Network Monitoring.
Error message:
The MySQL client program /usr/bin/mysql does not appear to be the correct version. Webmin only supports MySQL versions 3 and above. The command /usr/bin/mysql -V returned : /usr/bin/mysql Ver 14.12 Distrib 5.0.22, for redhat-linux-gnu (i686) using readline 5.0 Suggested fix: open terminal and type

vi /usr/share/webmin/nagmin/index.cgi
find "distrib" and add "| 5" after 4 at same line
save and quit the vi.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Top things to do after installing Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat

The final release of Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat will be out this week, after you install or upgrade to this new release you will need to customize your ubuntu by installing all needed software, tools, games and repositories inubuntulogo1 your system, you can also update the look to your choice by adding Cairo dock menu, Go-menu, or AWN, or to change the window buttons from the left to the right for example.

If you are running Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx and you want to upgrade, please follow the instructions in this post to upgrade from Lucid to Maverick Meerkat. : How to upgrade to Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat from ubuntu 10.04 lucid, karmic| Desktop & Server

First thing, if you have issue with sound in maverick see our post: how to resolve nosound problem in ubuntu , i confronted this issue when i first installed lucid in my Laptop, the solution you can find it in this post.


Bisigi Themes

If you don`t like the actual theme of Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat, maybe the First thing you can do is to change this one to another you like. There is a nice collection of themes from Bisigi Project that you can try and sure you will like them( See the complete collection).

These themes can be installed by adding besigi project repository, Open terminal and copy the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bisigi/ppa

sudo apt-get update

To install the complete collection type :

sudo apt-get install bisigi-themes


If you want to try them one by one please refer to this post for more details.

Note: For ubuntu 10.10 RC may not work you have to try the testing ppa for maverick instead:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bisigi/dev
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install bisigi-themes




Compiz

Compiz is one of the first compositing window managers for the X Window System that is able to take advantage of OpenGL-acceleration. The integration allows it to perform compositing effects in window management, such as a minimization effect and a cube workspace.

Find more informations about Compiz in this post



Ubuntu-Tweak



Ubuntu Tweak is a must have application for Ubuntu and LinuxMint, it is an application to config Ubuntu easier for everyone. It provides many useful desktop and system options that the default desktop environment doesn't provide.

Using Ubuntu Tweak you can install all needed applications with a simple click, you can change the window buttons from Left to right...etc.

* Install Ubuntu Tweak in Ubuntu via repository:

Open terminal and enter the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Most of the applications listed in this post, can be installed from Ubutu Tweak Center.

If you want to learn how to use Ubuntu Tweak read our previous post
Ubuntu_Tweak_002

Add Medibuntu repositories

Medibuntu is a packaging project dedicated to distributing software that cannot be included in Ubuntu for various reasons, related to geographical variations in legislation regarding intellectual property, security and other issues. by adding Medibuntu repostories you will be able to install many softwares like Google-Earth , opera ,Win32codecs , Msfonts and more by the normal command :

sudo apt-get install

Medibuntu is available now for Maverick Meerkat

Click here and Follow the steps to add medibuntu repostories to ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat in my previous post.

Sharing folders in Maverick Meerkat

In order to share folders in Maverick Meerkat with other Linux and windows machines in your network, you will need to install and configure samba share, for instructions how to configure samba in Ubuntu see this Post

Installing samba :

sudo apt-get install samba

or click here



Windows emulators : PlayOnLinux


PlayOnLinux is a piece of sofware which allows you to easily install and use numerous games and softwares designed to run with Microsoft®'s Windows®.
You can install many windows games like callofduty, doom ,.... Msfonts ,Itune ,Microsoft office 2007 (see our howto install MS office 2007 in Ubuntu using playonlinux )

You can install playonlinux from Ubuntu software center, by using the command :

sudo apt-get install playonlinux

Or Click this link to install :
PlayOnLinux_001

Enchance launch-bar menu in Maverick Meerkat


with cairo-dock, Docky

*

Cairo-Dock is an animated application launch bar for the desktop, comparable to the dock in Mac OS X or Rocket Dock (for Windows). It is compatible with Compiz, but it can also run without a composite manager . Cairo-Dock can run under GNOME, KDE and XFCE.

Open the terminal and copy and past the command bellow :

sudo -v
echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/cairo-dock-team/ppa/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc) main ## Cairo-Dock-PPA-Stable" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys E80D6BF5

Update the installation :

sudo apt-get update

Now install cairo-dock :

sudo apt-get install cairo-dock cairo-dock-plug-ins


* Docky : Some of Docky's amazing features include themes, plugins, 4 different hiding modes, advanced indicators, zeitgeist integration, and window management.Docky is an advanced shortcut bar that sits at the bottom, top, and/or sides of your screen. It provides easy access to some of the files, folders, and applications on your computer, displays which applications are currently running, holds windows in their minimized state, and more.

Installation of Docky

First add repository

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:docky-core/ppa

Now update source and install docky

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install docky


Add screenlets to your Desktop


Screenlets are small owner-drawn applications that can be described as "the virtual representation of things lying/standing around on your desk". Sticknotes, clocks, rulers, ... the possibilities are endless. The goal of the Screenlets base-classes is to simplify the creation of fully themeable mini-apps that each solve basic desktop-work-related needs and generally improve the usability and eye-candy of the modern composited Linux-desktop.

sudo apt-get install screenlets

Or install by clicking

screenlets


Ubuntu Gaming made easy with PlayDeb


If you are a fun of gaming so is important to add Playdeb repositories to your Lucid Lynx. Playdeb is a gaming repository for Ubuntu - aimed to provide titles already available on getdeb.net in an easier to install and update format. You can install many games by a simple click.

Please see how to add playdeb.net repository in this link : Ubuntu Gaming made easy with PlayDeb





Multimedia


My Favorite media player are VLC media player and banshee:

VLC is the best media player for Linux it play almost everything , he has many features that you can not find in any other media player , read this post to know more about vlc : Things you didn’t know VLC media player can do

Install VLC media player :


sudo apt-get install vlc

or click the image to install vlc :

- The second media player i like is Banshee,

You can install banshee by clicking this link or from the command line :

sudo apt-get install banshee

If you like banshee you will like also to add some useful extensions like :

1.

banshee-extension-ubuntu one music store : This extension makes the Ubuntu one Music Store available in banshee.

sudo apt-get install banshee-extension-ubuntuonemusicstore

or click this image to install

For more extensions for Banshee open Ubuntu software center and type Banshee then you will got Banshee and a list of extensions:

Playing encrypted DVDs


To play encrypted DVDs, the libdvdcss2 package is essential. libdvdcss is a simple library designed for accessing DVDs like a block device without having to bother about the decryption.

If you already added Medibuntu repositories above manualy of via start script you will be able to install them using the command :

sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2


Media centers
1-Moovida Media center

Moovida is much more than a simple media player... it is a cutting edge media center bringing the best of the internet to your TV screen. Automatically creating your own digital library you can browse from your sofa with a remote control. The elegant and easy to use interface automatically displays artwork and fan art throughtout and gives you access to movie synopsis and artist info.

Install Moovida from by clicking here, or using the command :

sudo apt-get install moovida

2- XMBC

XBMC is an award-winning free and open source (GPL) software media player and entertainment hub for digital media. XBMC is available for Linux, OSX, Windows, and the original Xbox.

While XBMC functions very well as a standard media player application for your computer, it has been designed to be the perfect companion for your HTPC. Supporting an almost endless range of remote controls, and combined with its beautiful interface and powerful skinning engine, XBMC feels very natural to use from the couch and is the ideal solution for your home theater.

Installation in Ubuntu 10.10 maverick Meerkat:

Open terminal and copy the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xbmc




Video editors: Openshot

Pitivi Video editor is now included in ubuntu 10.04, but my favorite Video editor is Openshot for the moment i find it as one of the best existing actually for Linux. Openshot now is included in Ubuntu repositories, so you can install it by clicking here or by typing the command:

sudo apt-get install openshot

Or Click link bellow to install :

OpenShot 1.2 Highlights from Jonathan Thomas on Vimeo.



Backup tools : Deja Dup


Déjà Dup is a simple backup tool. It hides the complexity of doing backups the 'right way' (encrypted, off-site, and regular) and uses duplicity as the backend.

Deja Dup features :

• Support for local or remote backup locations, including Amazon S3
• Securely encrypts and compresses your data
• Incrementally backs up, letting you restore from any particular backup
• Schedules regular backups
• Integrates well into your GNOME desktop

sudo apt-get install deja-dup

Or Click link bellow to install :

Bitorrent client
1- Deluge

The Deluge application was designed to be a full-featured BitTorrent client. Deluge uses libtorrent in it's backend and PyGTK for it's user interface, and is currently usable on POSIX-compliant operating systems. It is intended to bring a native, full-featured client to GTK desktop environments such as GNOME and Xfce. An official Windows port is also available.

Installation:

Open terminal and type the follwing commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deluge-team/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install deluge


2- Vuze

Vuze is a bitorrent client that is used to download and share files using the p2p network.

sudo apt-get install vuze

Or install by clicking here

Filezilla the best ftp client for linux

Filezilla is the best ftp client for Linux

Install via command line :

sudo apt-get install filezilla

Or by clicking here

Communication : Instant messengers


- Pidgin the best messenger client and 30 plugins, you can enjoy chat with freinds using voice and cam.

sudo apt-get install pidgin

Or by clicking this link

- aMSN is a free windows Live Messenger clone. aMSN attempts to emulate the look and feel of Windows Live Messenger, and supports many of its features.

aMSN has features not present in Windows Live Messenger. Users can set alarms, are able to see others who have removed them from their contact list, and are able to open many profiles at once. It is also very customizable, with extensions and themes available at the main site.

sudo apt-get install amsn

Or Click here to install



-Skype:

Since Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx), Skype is part of the Canonical partner repository. To install Skype add the Canonical Partner Repository and install Skype via the Software-Center or via the Terminal.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install skype

Flash plugin for 32 and 64 bit


- For Ubuntu 32 bit : To be able to watch videos and see flash website in your firefox you need to install flash plugin, ubuntu software center and search word "flash"

- For Ubuntu 64 bit:

To install native flash for Ubuntu 10.10 64 bit, open terminal and type the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sevenmachines/flash
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install flashplugin64-installer

Other must have Internet applications:

* Opera : The fastest browser on Earth is even faster. But that is not all. Use Opera Turbo to double your page-download speed on slow connections.

* Google Chrome- web Browser from Google

* Thunderbird – email and news client from Mozilla

* Google Earth- Travel to cities across the globe, dive into the depths of the ocean, explore remote islands, and even fly to faraway galaxies

* Dropbox - Dropbox is the easiest way to store, sync, and, share files online.
* LibreOffice- LibreOffice is a productivity suite that is compatible with other major office suites, and available on a variety of platforms. It is free software and therefore free to download, use and distribute (Not adviced yet for productive machines).

Last application to install !!!???


If you have a Tip, tutorial, Idea or anything you want to share with unixmen readers, you can send it to : tips[a]unixmen.com or use our contact form Thanks.

13 First steps after installing ubuntu

13 First steps after installing ubuntu
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By Tibutabu


#1 - Add medibuntu repositorium:

Enter command in the terminal(all on one line!): sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/jaunty.list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list

Enter command in the terminal(all on one line!): sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get update



#2 - Updating Ubuntu

sudo apt-get update (downloads list of updates)
sudo apt-get upgrade (downloads & installs updates)


#3 - Make it so that bootloader won't wait 3 seconds:
- command in the terminal:
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
- change to timeout:0 and save
ps. You can still get to grub menu by pressing esc repeatedly


#4 - Installing the Tahoma font (enter the following commands copy&paste line by line):

cd ~
wget http://www.stchman.com/tools/MS_fonts/tahoma.zip
sudo unzip -d /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts ~/tahoma.zip
sudo fc-cache -f -v
rm -f ~/tahoma.zip


#5 - Install useful packs in synaptic (or in the terminal: sudo apt-get install package name)

- codecs:
ubuntu-restricted-extras
w32codecs (for 64 bit sytems w64codecs)
libdvdcss2
gstreamer0.10-alsa
gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg
gstreamer0.10-gnomevfs
gstreamer0.10-pitfdll
gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad
gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse

gstreamer0.10-plugins-base
gstreamer0.10-plugins-base-apps
gstreamer0.10-plugins-good
gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly
gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse
gstreamer0.10-schroedinger
gstreamer0.10-tools
gstreamer0.10-x
libgstreamer0.10-0
libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-0
totem-gstreamer

- windows fonts: msttcorefonts
- MSN clients: empathy, pidgin, emesene, amsn
- Skype: skype-static-oss
- flash: flashplugin-nonfree
- java: sun-java6-jre and sun-java6-plugin
- Best movie player: mplayer (or smplayer)
- VLC media player (supposed to run HD videos better than mplayer?): vlc
- realplayer: realplayer
- ftp-client: filezilla
- For unpacking files: rar, unrar and p7zip-full
- If using an ipod: gtkipod and ipodslave
- for running windows programs: wine
(check out what you can run first: http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&sTitle=Browse%20Applications&sOrderBy=appName&bAscending=true)

*- SMS support for skype:
a) Go to http://sourceforge.net/projects/skype4py/files/ and download Skype4Py-1.0.31.0.tar.gz
b) Right click and "extract here"
c) In the terminal go to the opened package and write sudo python setup.py install
d) Download http://www.kolmann.at/philipp/linux/skysentials/skysentials-1.0.1.tar.gz
e) Right click and "extract here"
f) Run Skype
g) in the terminal go to where you installed skysentials and run program
./skysentials.py



#6 - Gnome fonts smaller and more windows like
1) Start menu: Computer -> Preferences -> Appearence -> Fonts: Sizes 8,5 for everything and for font Tahoma
2) Computer -> Preferences-> Qt 4 Settings -> GUI style: "Plastique" jand Fonts: Tahoma and size 8
3) Icons smaller: Start menu -> Locations -> Home Catalog -> menu redactor -> preferences -> change sizes to 66%, 66% and 50%


#7 - Website fonts (Firefox): Tools -> Options -> Content -> (Fonts & Colors):
Default font: times new roman 16
Proportional: serif 16
Serif: times new roman
Sans-serif: arial
Monospace: courier new 13
Minimum font size: none



#8 - Picasa photoalbum: http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/pool/non-free/p/picasa/picasa_3.0-current_i386.deb (download and run)


(#9) - Best CD-DVD burner K3b install (if Brasero isn't enough) - also the easiest CD ripper
sudo apt-get install k3b language-pack-kde-et-base language-pack-kde-et lame
sudo chown sinukasutajanimi ~/.kde -R
For ripping mp3's: K3b -> configurations-> K3b configurations -> Plugins -> K3b External Audio Encoder -> configure -> Mp3 (Lame) -> change-> change line copy&paste:
lame -h --preset extreme --add-id3v2 --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y
--tc %c --tn %n - %f



(#10) - Removing openoffice red lines from under the text (shuts spellcheck off):
Tools -> Preferences -> language preferences -> Typing tools-> uncheck "Spellcheck while writing" and "Grammar check while writing"
If need arises you can just manually use it by pressing F7



#11 - Faster UBUNTU:

1) Removing unnecessary services
sudo apt-get install sysvconfig (downloads & installs sysvconfig)
sudo sysvconfig (runs it)

ChooseEnable/Disable (press Enter) And remove/Choose with space the services:
apmd -only for laptops and/or using UPS
apport - Notifies you of errors
(avahi-daemon - remove if you're not using a printer, scanner etc.
bluetooth - Delete if you're not gonna use bluetooth
brltty - remove, necessary for handicaped
cups - Necessary for printing
dns-clean - remove (only for dial-up connections)
hotkey setup - laptop keys (sound, brightness) - remove if you're not using a laptop
laptop-mode - for laptops
pcmciautils - for laptops
ppp-dns - remove (necessary for old ADSL modems)
readahead - remove
readahead-desktop - remove
rsync - remove
samba - necessary for windows LAN
saned - For scanners
ssh - If you want to remotely access ubuntu
windbind - necessary for samba
wpa-ifupdown - necessary for wifi
...dont touch anything else
- pick "OK" (press tab) -> "Finished" -> "Quit"


2) Remoce unecessary GNOME services
Start menu -> Computer-> Preferences -> Startup Applications:

Bluetoothi manager - if using bluetooth
Remote desktop - if you want to remotely access you computer
Print queve applet - For printers
Update notifier - notifies of updates (you can take it off and enter sudo apt-get update ja sudo apt-get upgrade once a week)
Visual aid - for handicaps

3)Remove effects:
Start menu -> Computer -> preferences -> appearance -> Visual Effects -> None

4) If that's not enough then: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=189192

#12 - Remove annoying "beep-sound"
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
And add the line:
blacklist pcspkr
& save. Will go into effect after restart

*Ubuntu startup sound off:
Start menu -computer- preferences - sound - top "sounds" - uncheck


#13 - Connecting with Wifi (Startup) always asks for "Keyring"-password?
Terminal:
rm $HOME/.gnome2/keyrings/default.keyring
Next time it asks for a new password leave everything empty and press ok

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Setting up an Internet Kiosk With Opera and Ubuntu

* Home
o Computing
+ Setting up an Internet Kiosk With Opera and Ubuntu

At work we have a few machines set up in the cafe for casual Internet usage. They really do need to be used for the Internet only so we wanted to set them up in ‘kiosk mode’.

I had done this before on a Mac using Saft for Safari, but the machines I had available for this project were PCs.

It turns out that making a Windows based kiosk (without buying specialist software) is quite hard as it’s difficult or impossible to disable all of the shortcuts that will drop a user out into the main operating system.

The best solution I could come up with was to use the Opera browser along with Ubuntu Linux, here’s how I did it.
Installing Ubuntu

1. First install Ubuntu. This is as easy as downloading and burning an ISO from the Ubuntu website and then booting the computer from the CD that you’ve created.
2. During the installation you will be asked to create a user; I called mine ‘administrator’. This is the default privileged user on the system so make the password secure!
3. When the installation is complete, log in as your administrator user and set up the networking however you like.
4. Install any pending updates.
5.

Open a terminal and get the software lists up to date:
sudo apt-get update
6.

Install any additional bits of software that you might need on the machines, e.g.:
sudo apt-get install openssh-server vim

Creating the Kiosk Account

Now you can create the student account (or whatever you want to call it) that your kiosk will run under.

1. Load up System → Administration → Users and Groups and add a new user called ‘student’.
2. From the drop down profile list choose ‘unprivileged’.
3. In the privileges tab tick ‘connect to wireless and ethernet networks’ and ‘use audio devices’, those should be the only two things ticked.

Setting up the System

1. To make the student user log in automatically choose that option in System → Administration → Login Screen.
2. Go to www.opera.com with Firefox (which should be installed by default) and download Opera. It should be a .deb file which you can then open with the package manager and install.
3. Download the Adobe Flash plugin from the Adobe website and install that, again this will be a .deb file.
4. For Java open up Ubuntu’s software manager and search for ‘Sun Java 6.0 Plugin’, you can then install that from inside the package manager itself.

Note that you can’t currently install Adobe Shockwave or Microsoft Silverlight in Opera on Ubuntu so your kiosk users will just have to do without those!
Auto Boot

If you want to boot the machine automatically on a schedule this will need to be done in the BIOS, it is not a Linux thing! Older BIOSs may not have options for scheduled boots but newer ones should.

If you don’t have the option you may also be able to plug the machine into a timer plug and set the BIOS to wake after a power cut which will achieve the same thing.
Auto Shut Down

Shutting down automatically is possible by using a cron job:

1.

Add the following line to /etc/crontab:

30 22 * * * /root/shutdown.sh

The 30 22 there is equivalent to 22:30 i.e. 10.30pm, so adjust to whatever time you want.
2.

Create the file /root/shutdown.sh which should contain the following:

#!/bin/bash
shutdown -h now

3.

Make sure the file is executable:
chmod 755 shutdown.sh

Setting Up the Student User’s Environment

1. Log out and log back in as the student user.
2.

Set up the power options by opening System → Preferences → Power Management.

Set the system sleep time to never and turn off the screen after an hour, spin down hard drives when possible. In the power button options make it shut down when the power button is pressed.
3. Turn off the screen saver.
4.

Open up the keyboard shortcuts in System → Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts and set all of the options to disabled.

The only one that you might want to enable is ‘hide all normal windows and set focus to the desktop’ as an emergency get out of Opera combination, but if you do so set it to something obscure to stop anyone finding it out (like shift-ctrl-windows-alt-0 or something).
5. If you’re letting people use sound then you may want to open up the volume properties and set it to something comfortable since the user won’t have access to it beyond the Flash controls on Youtube etc.

Setting Up Opera

1. If you have run Opera previously then clear out all the preferences by deleting ~/.opera.
2.

Open up Opera and set up the environment how you would like it. For me this included:
* Set the home page URL and tick to start with the home page
* Turn off the password manager completely.
* Disable notification sounds.
* Set the cache to empty on program exit (technically redundant).
* Set the proxy address.
* Open opera:config and set the ‘Go Home Time Out’ to 600 (10 minutes). This is the length of idle time before open tabs are closed and the home page is displayed.
* Show the ‘Main Bar’ tool bar and remove any buttons you don’t want such as Open and Save.
* Set the History to 0 pages.
* Disable mouse gestures.
* Open the side bar and remove any panels that you don’t want such as widgets and bookmarks.
3. Close Opera.
4.

~/.opera now contains the preferences that you have just set up. We will copy these preferences to a control folder:
cp -rf ~/.opera ~/.opera_control

Each time Opera launches, these control preferences will be copied over any existing preferences via the script below. This will ensure that there’s always a clean environment on every boot.

Opera Launcher Script

The last thing to do is to make a script to launch Opera called launch_opera.sh which should contain the following:
#!/bin/bash

rm -rf ~/.opera
cp -rf ./.opera_control ./.opera

opera --kioskmode --kioskwindows --kioskbuttons --kioskresetstation --nomail --nomaillinks --nosave --nodownload --resetonexit --noexit --nocontextmenu --nomenu --noprint --nokeys

All the flags that are used there are described on this page, you can pick whichever ones you want.

Finally set the script as a startup item by going into System → Preferences → Startup Applications
Opera Command Line Arguments

These are the ones that I used:

kioskmode
start in kiosk mode
kioskwindows
allow tabs in kiosk mode
kioskbuttons
allow address bar and buttons in kiosk mode
kioskresetstation
go back to home page on idle time out
nomail
no built in mail/nntp client
nomaillinks
no clicking of mailto: links
nosave
no saving files
nodownload
no downloading files
resetonexit
clear cache on exit (technically redundant)
noexit
no quitting the application
nocontextmenu
disable right click
nomenu
no access to main menu
noprint
no printing
nokeys
disable all shortcuts

Conclusion

You can test your setup by re-booting the machine. It should start up, automatically log in the student user and then automatically launch Opera in kiosk mode.

You should not be able to press any key combination to get out of Opera to the desktop other than the one mentioned at the start.

Note that you can still get to a terminal with ctrl-alt-Fx but the user would not be able to log in and would just be looking at a prompt.

Friday, September 3, 2010

oCS Inventory

OCS Inventory NG Open Computer and Software Inventory Next Generation is an application designed to help a network or system administrator keep track of computer configuration and software installed on the network. It also allows deploying softwares, commands or files on Windows and Linux client computers.

Dialog between client computers and management server is based on actual standards, HTTP/HTTPS protocols and XML data

formatting.

Management server runs on Apache/MySQL/PHP/PERL server, under Linux or Windows NT based computers.

Inventoried client computers can run

Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP/2003,
Linux,
Mac OS X,
Sun Solaris,
and IBM AIX.

Installing OCS Inventory NG Server in Debian

Before installing OCS Inventory NG you need to install the following debian packages

Installing apache2 with php support

Check here for apache2 with php support

Installing Mysql with php support

#apt-get install mysql-server-4.1 php4-mysql

Other packages need to install

#apt-get install make gcc g++

#apt-get install libapache2-mod-perl2 php4-gd libxml-simple-perl libcompress-zlib-perl libdbi-perl libdbd-mysql-perl libapache-dbi-perl php4-pear php4-dev libnet-ip-perl

after installing this you need to restart your apache2 webserver using the following command

#/etc/init.d/apache2 restart

Now you need to download the OCS Inventory NG source code from the above download link once you download .tar.gz file you

need to extract this file using the following command

#tar xzvf OCSNG_LINUX_SERVER_1.0RC3-1.tar.gz

#cd OCSNG_LINUX_SERVER_1.0RC3-1

Now you need to run the setup script using the following command

#sh setup.sh

This will start OCS Inventory NG installation in this process it will prompt for the following questions

do you want to continue select option y and press enter

where is your database server located enter localhost

Enter the Database port leave default option and press enter

where is your apache server binary is located leave default option and press enter

Enter the apache configuration file location leave default option and press enter

which user account is running apache server leave default option and press enter

you want to setup communication server on this computer enter y

selecting apache mod_perl version you are using now you leave default option and press enter

enter where you want to enter the log file location leave default option and press enter

setup administration server select y and press enter

Apache root document directory leave default option and press enter

This will complete the ocs inventory NG application with the following message

Configuring OCS Inventory NG you need to point your browser to http://your-server-ip/ocsreports/ this will open the following screen in this you need to enter the mysql database username,password,hostname and click on send

Now you should see the following screen here you click on Submit Query

This will give you a message saying installation completed and you can login using admin as username/password and now you click on “click here to enter OCS-NG GUI”

Now you should see the OCS-NG login screen and enter using the above username and password

Once you logon you should see the following screen

Once your OCS-NG Server installation completed you need to install OCS-NG clients in windows and linux machines

Install OCS Inventory NG Clients for Linux and windows

Now you need to install OCS Inventory NG Client software for this you can download this from here

For windows and linux clients we have different client packages to use you can choose which one is suitable for you.

OCS Inventory NG Supported clients

Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP/2003,
Linux,
Mac OS X,
Sun Solaris,
and IBM AIX.

I am installing client for debian machine here first you need to download client

#wget http://belnet.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/ocsinventory/OCSNG_LINUX_AGENT_1.0RC3.tar.gz

#tar xzvf OCSNG_LINUX_AGENT_1.0RC3-1.tar.gz

#cd OCSNG_LINUX_AGENT_1.0RC3-1

Now you need to run the setup script using the following command

#sh setup.sh

This will start client setup and it will ask the following questions

which method will you use to generate the inventory([http/local]:http

which host is running OCS Inventory NG Communication Server []:Enter your server ipaddress

On which port is running OCS Inventory NG Communication Server [80] ?80

Would you like to enable Auto Update of Agent ([y]/n) ?y

What is the value of TAG ([]) ?
dmidecode binaries not found !
Setup is able to install dmidecode version 2.8.
Do you wish setup to install dmidecode ([y]/n) ?y

PERL module Net::SSLeay is not installed !
Setup is able to install PERL module Net::SSLeay version 1.25.
Do you wish setup to install this module ([y]/n) ?y

This will complete the client installation and i have installed one more client for my windows xp machine also.I have waited for some time and after finishing the initial inventory you should see the following screen

Finally i was very impressed with this software and if you use this with a asset management software such as GLPI, you will have a powerfull inventory and asset management software with automatic updates of computer configuration, license management, help desk and more. If you want to install GLPI you click here for detailed installation process.

If you want to know more about OCS Inventory NG and documentation check here