5 posts tagged “ubuntu”

Ubuntu Linux aims for 6 month version release schedules with constant updates on a weekly basis. However, Ubuntu's first reported critical bug still remains on the list...

In keeping up with their amazing 6-month update schedule, Ubuntu is now version 7 "Feisty Fawn", officially released today as the latest stable version. Download it here or check your Update Manager, with instructions here. Otherwise, check your favourite torrent tracker for the fastest ISO download.

I'm updating right now through the Update Manager, though there is a lot of network congestion (ETA keeps jumping from 8 hours to 1 day) probably since everyone is updating at the same time, so I would recommend using the torrent method if possible.

I'm excited since this new version is supposed to offer a lot of new features including much better wireless support, which has been bugging me for quite a while since WPA support has been non-existant in older versions.

Edit: Most people haven't reported problems running the Update Manager, but because of the overloaded servers, I got cut off half way and ended up breaking something. Ubuntu restored to previous versions, but rather try the Update Manager again, I downloaded the ISO and did a fresh install.

Most noticeable difference: better integration for dual boot systems, Ubuntu can copy over your Windows bookmarks, documents, etc. during installation. NTFS hard drive partitions are automatically mounted for read access (unfortunately, no write access).

Biggest let down: still no WPA support by default. I think I need to use WPA supplicant which hasn't ever worked for me in the past.

Installing Quake III Arena on a 64-bit Linux box isn't that bad actually. I couldn't find instructions anywhere on how to do this, so after figuring it out I'm writing them down here.

You will need:

• Linux x86_64 with updated video drivers
  
• Quake III Arena install CD (Windows)
  
• Linux Q3A Point Release 1.32b
• Q3A Point Release 1.32c

Download the two point releases somewhere handy. I just downloaded them to my Desktop (/home/obsidian/Desktop)

Installation:

1. Open up a Terminal session and create a new directory to install everything (usually /usr/local/games/).
• sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/games/quake3/baseq3
  
2. Insert Q3A CD in your drive and copy the pak0.pk3 file to your baseq3 directory (can take a while).
• sudo cp /media/cdrom/Quake3/baseq3/pak0.pk3 /usr/local/games/quake3/baseq3
  
3. Quake 3 is a 32-bit application, so you will run into a known issue. You can get around this by installing a couple of packages that will allow you to emulate 32-bit programs in your 64-bit environment.
• sudo apt-get install ia32-libs linux32
  
4. We can now invoke the Quake 3 install script to work. Note that your directory may be different than below. Then follow the on-screen instructions, they should be pretty self explanatory.
• sudo linux32 sh /home/obsidian/Desktop/linuxq3apoint-1.32b-3.x86.run
  
5. Extract the 3 files in the "linux" directory of quake3-1.32c.zip to your desktop (or where ever else) and copy them over to your Quake 3 install directory.
• sudo cp /home/obsidian/Desktop/1.32c/* /usr/local/games/quake3

Notes:

• Most distros use su instead of sudo.
  
• x86_32 users can follow the same process, but omit step 3, and do sudo sh /home/obsidian/Desktop/linuxq3apoint-1.32b-3.x86.run on the last step instead.

Have yourself a little fragfest.

I'm posting this from a computer running Ubuntu "Edgy" and Beryl.

Originally I was running "Dapper Drake" but found some limitations when running XGL/AIGLX software, so I torrented Ubuntu 6.10 64-bit edition in about half an hour (free open software is great). The new Edgy build has AIGLX integrated, so that made life easy. Installed, updated nVidia beta drivers (shouldn't have done that) and followed these instructions. Rebooted to find myself locked at the command line with nVidia driver conflict errors. After a few tense moments, I managed to uninstall the nVidia drivers with this command:

sudo dpkg --purge nvidia-kernel-common

Rebooted into Ubuntu and reinstalled the beta nVidia drivers again. Beryl now works with cool swishy, fading, 3D GUI effects. I like eye candy.

I finished installing Ubuntu Linux on my new box last week, updated video drivers once the new GPU arrived and now I have a pretty powerful system for dirt cheap. To test out the new hardware, I've been trying to figure out how to install XGL on this thing, but there are about a dozen different guides on the Internet, and the instructions on each are pretty much completely different. Trying one tutorial, I found myself booting into an error message and locked out on the command line. *sigh* Looks like I'll need to do plenty of more reading.

BTW, if all goes well my desktop should look something like this...