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Right, after a lot of unsuccessful googling I came across a solution to the new Linux Ubuntu’s new UI Unity not working in WMware Fusion.

The reason Unity does not work is something to do with the ‘accelerated hardware/graphics’ not being compatible at this moment. And, finally there is a solution to this.

Unity is a 3D UI hence the extra acceleration needed. So.. we can install a 2D version, which from what i understand is completely the same (just without all the whistles and bangs).

First we need to add the 2D repository to our Ubuntu’s software manager. In terminal type:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:unity-2d-team/unity-2d-daily

Then we need to update Ubuntu’s app cache:
sudo apt-get update

And finally install the new 2D version of Unity:
sudo apt-get install unity-2d-default-settings

Then restart and choose Unity 2D from the Session options at the bottom right when you next login.

Before

During

After

Just a quick note for boredom and Linux Terminal (I SSH to mine of course):

if($you == BORED) echo 'screw with linux terminal';

I would suggest you try out:

• Lynx – a terminal website browser
• cmatrix – terminal matrix thingy
• greed – a kinda terminal puzzle game
• moon-buggy – a terminal platform game
• nethack – a full-on hard core (really need to be a massive n3rd to play it, I only lasted 10mins before I gave up) cave exploration game

To install any of them just use the classic:
sudo apt-get install APP_NAME
*replace APP-NAME with the program you want.

iftop is a real good utility both for your own computer and for your server. Specially good for the latter and even better if this server is acting as the main router in your premises or your experiencing unusual network usage.

Well lets explain what iftop does, it is more or less like top, or htop but it does not measure the processes in the processor, it measures the “processes” in the ethernet interface, giving you information about the IPs that have a connection with the computer where iftop is running, also giving information about the traffic, if it is incoming or outcoming, also how much traffic there is in that connection and the total amount of traffic in the interface.

To install on a Debain/Ubuntu like Linux OS use the following terminal command:

sudo apt-get install iftop

You may find some of the options useful;
-p Enables promiscuous mode, so the traffic on any interface (if there is more than once) is checked and counted.

-P Shows also the port that connection is using both on our side and on the other side.

-N Do not resolve port names, which is the default behavior when you enable the -P option, so it will shows you :www or :80

If you want to know any more about iftop simply use the command (outside of iftop):

man iftop

and this will bring up the iftop manual.

Have fun analysing!

Now, VNC is the method we can use to remotely control our Ubuntu computer (now also an SSH server) [see SSH Basics & Server Setup]. In the administration section of the Ubuntu computer you will find a GUI to help set up your VNC over your local network (ticking boxes and assigning a password).

Once you have that set up, you can then VNC to your server (now a SSH/VNC Server & Ubuntu Desktop) with a program such as Tight VNC on windows or Mac’s built in VNC client, simply point your program (VNC Client) to your Servers internal IP address (assuming your on the same network, 192.168.1.??) and choose the port number (a hole in your computers firewall to let data though) for example I would point my VNC client to 192.168.1.67:5900 as port 5900 is the default VNC port.

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Have just managed to get to grips with ssh! (openssh-server & openssh-client) Now from my point of view I’m planning to set up a Ubuntu Desktop (Linux Mint) with SSH so we can VNC/FTP to it over the internet safely.

SSH allows you to set up a safe tunnel between two computers then pump pretty much anything you wan though it, whether that be files or services such as VNC. To use SSH you need a SSH Server on the computer you would like to connect to (im my case the ubuntu) and a SSH client on the computer you wish to connect from; iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac, Linux etc.

Next, how to install and use SSH.
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I have been on a bit of a mission to get my Apple MacBook Pro to backup to my Ubuntu Server using the Time Machine.app. After alot of research turns out it was to much hassle for my liking.

You can enable Mac’s Time Machine.app to see unorthodox network and external drives by typing to following into the terminal.

defaults write com.apple.systempreferences  TMShowUnsupportedNetworkVolumes 1

Time Machine.app could then see the samba shared network drive but could not backup to it correctly due to Ubuntu not supporting AFP (Apple Filing Protocol).

There is a way to get AFP working with Ubuntu therefore theoretically allowing Time Machine.app backup to a Ubuntu server, sadly it was to much effort.

Instead i would suggest using CrashPlan, i will post a tutorial soon.

Setting up an FTP server on ubuntu 9.10 (jaunty) has never been easier.
The following will allow the ubuntu desktop users to login using their usernames and passwords to their home directories.
This will require some terminal work, don’t worry, it’s only a copy and paste job.

First we need to install the FTP program, we are going to be using VSFTPd. This program will run in the background (a deamon, hence the lower case “d” at the end of it’s name) of your computer and deal with the FTP connections.

Copy and paste this code into terminal and hit enter.

sudo apt-get install vsftpd

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