Linux Tips, Tricks, and How-Tos

Configure Suse to Use Internet Repositories Instead of CD/DVD

If you’ve installed Suse using the CD/DVD installation, the default setting is for software installations to load from the cdrom instead of off the internet repositories. Since I’m always connected directly to the...

Lowell Heddings Jan 28th, 2007

Enable or Disable Auto Login in Suse Linux

If you hate logging in every time you reboot your computer, you can easily configure Suse to automatically log you in when you start your computer. Or you can disable it if you are worried about security....

Lowell Heddings Jan 28th, 2007

Upgrading Ubuntu From Edgy to Feisty (6.10 to 7.04)

Ubuntu Feisty (7.04) is the latest version of Ubuntu. Here’s the quick list of new features for your enjoyment, but you should really upgrade to see everything for yourself.

Lowell Heddings Jan 27th, 2007

Save 15 Keystrokes – Use Ctrl+Enter to Complete URL

I know what you are thinking. You want to open https://www.howtogeek.com, but it’s such a hassle to type in the http:// and the www and the .com. Here’s your shortcut method.

Lowell Heddings Jan 13th, 2007

Installing Rainlendar2 on Ubuntu

Rainlendar is a calendar application that doesn’t take up much space on your desktop. You can use it to keep track of events and tasks, and with the pro version you even can sync with network calendars....

Lowell Heddings Jan 11th, 2007

Install Samba Server on Ubuntu

If you want to share files between your Ubuntu and Windows computers, your best option is to use Samba file sharing.

Lowell Heddings Jan 7th, 2007

Share Ubuntu Home Directories using Samba

Samba Server allows you to share the home directories of users automatically. This can be useful so that you don’t have to manually create every share for every user.

Lowell Heddings Jan 7th, 2007

Create a Samba User on Ubuntu

If you are using Samba Server on your network, you will want to create users that have access to use it. There’s a very simple command structure on how to do so.

Lowell Heddings Jan 7th, 2007

Set Windows as Default OS when Dual Booting Ubuntu

When you install a dual-boot of Ubuntu, one of the frustrating things that you’ll immediately notice is that Ubuntu is now set as the default operating system in the Grub loader. There’s an easy way to switch back...

Lowell Heddings Jan 7th, 2007

Change your Network Card MAC Address on Ubuntu

There are a lot of reasons you might want to manually set your MAC address for your network card. I won’t ask you what your reason is.

Lowell Heddings Dec 31st, 2006

Install MySQL Server 5 on Ubuntu

Installing MySQL 5 Server on Ubuntu is a quick and easy process. It almost feels like it should be more difficult.

Lowell Heddings Dec 28th, 2006

Install Subversion with Web Access on Ubuntu

This article covers installing subversion with the apache module so that it can be easily accessed from other systems on a public network. If you want a more secure svn server, you could use svnserve+ssh, which isn’t co...

Lowell Heddings Dec 28th, 2006

How to Customize Your Ubuntu Kernel

Kernel customization is not for everyone. Please note before you try any of this that it can break your system.

Lowell Heddings Dec 27th, 2006

Enable Remote Desktop (VNC) on Kubuntu

Kubuntu includes the built-in ability to allow other users to control the desktop. Like Ubuntu, you can allow users to access and control the desktop via the VNC client. Unlike Ubuntu, there are a lot more options....

Lowell Heddings Dec 26th, 2006

Install TrueCrypt on Ubuntu Edgy

TrueCrypt is a phenomenal open-source disk encryption software that runs on Windows or Linux. Unfortunately, the installer doesn’t work so well on Ubuntu Edgy, so I’ve created this article to help walk you th...

Lowell Heddings Dec 22nd, 2006

See What Updated Packages Are Available from Ubuntu Command Line

If you are running Ubuntu Server, or even if you prefer to administer your desktop from the command line, you will want to be able to see what packages are available for update. Ubuntu includes a great package management tool...

Lowell Heddings Dec 16th, 2006

See Where a Package is Installed on Ubuntu

Once you use the apt-get utility to install a package, sometimes it seems to disappear into nowhere. You know it’s installed, you just have no idea where.

Lowell Heddings Dec 16th, 2006

See What Version of a Package Is Installed on Ubuntu

The package management system on Ubuntu makes it extremely simple to install and remove packages, but sometimes it’s important to figure out what version of a particular package that you actually have installed....

Lowell Heddings Dec 16th, 2006

Add a User on Ubuntu Server

Ubuntu Server is like any Linux variety, and has full multi-user capabilities, and a common task on any server is adding users.

Lowell Heddings Dec 15th, 2006

Keep Your SSH Session Running when You Disconnect

Screen is like a window manager for your console. It will allow you to keep multiple terminal sessions running and easily switch between them. It also protects you from disconnection, because the screen session doesn’t ...

Lowell Heddings Dec 14th, 2006

How to Mount a Remote Folder using SSH on Ubuntu

Connecting to a server across the internet is much more secure using SSH. There is a way that you can mount a folder on a remote server using the SSHFS service.

Lowell Heddings Dec 14th, 2006

Open a Second Console Session on Ubuntu Server

Ubuntu Server has the native ability to run multiple console sessions from the server console prompt. If you are working on the actual console and are waiting for a long running command to finish, there’s no reason why ...

Lowell Heddings Dec 13th, 2006

Change Ubuntu Server from DHCP to a Static IP Address

If the Ubuntu Server installer has set your server to use DHCP, you will want to change it to a static IP address so that people can actually use it.

Lowell Heddings Dec 13th, 2006

Change Ubuntu Desktop from DHCP to a Static IP Address

If you’ve installed your Ubuntu installation with DHCP, it’s really easy to reconfigure your system to use a static IP address with the GUI based Network Settings dialog.

Lowell Heddings Dec 13th, 2006

Install a Drop-Down Console in Ubuntu

Tilda is a console that drops down off the top of the screen, the same way the console in a first person shooter game does, with just the press of a key.

Lowell Heddings Dec 13th, 2006