Portable data storage and a Linux question (or two)

Well, my ongoing quest for the perfect portable storage machine has resulted in an Asus EEE PC landing on my doormat.

It's surprisingly capable, or will be when I add a portable 2.5" 160GB drive.

And when I master a bit of Linux. The EEE website exlains how to download and install GIMP and DCRAW, but it doesn't tell me how to "add Xandros repositories". Or how to find out what the Root password is.

Any ideas, Linux apostles?

Thanks

G

Hi George

I've been interested in the EEE for a while now - so it's finally out is it? I've used Linux for a few years now and Xandros, the core OS for the EEE, since version 2.

Setting the repositories that your computer can access (the stores of software built specifically for your distribution) is easy. On my desktop version, you open up Xandros Networks (the graphical front end for the software update and installation system) and add them under the 'edit>Set Application Sources' tab. Alternatively, you can add them manually by editing a text file called 'etc/apt/sources.list'. Mine looks like this:

#~deb http://www.geekconnection.org xandros4 main
deb http://xnv4.xandros.com/4.0/pkg xandros4.0-xn main contrib non-free
deb http://xnv4.xandros.com/4.0/upkg-i386 unsupported4.0-xn main contrib non-free

The top one is a 'repo' maintained by users and commented out so I've disabled my system from accessing it at the moment. The others are the two main Xandros repos. Simply copy and paste the whole line of text (not just the url element) into either Xandros Networks or sources.list and then either run an update or, from an administrator terminal window, type 'apt-get update'. More information can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/2zwwqn

Finding the root password is a different matter, though. Maybe have another look through your documentation but, if not, this information might help: http://tinyurl.com/2ktuxk . It's intended for use on the desktop version so yours might be different. If all else fails, it might be some help.

Good luck with your EEE though. Where did you get it, might I ask?

Adrian

Thanks, Adrian, I shall give that a try.

The Tinyurl didn't work, by the way, until I removed the final full-stop. So, if anyone else tries it, that's what you need to do.

The EEE is available from RM.com, and perhaps other places, too.

G

Have you seen this George: http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/15/os-x-on-an-asus-eee-pc/

Thanks, interesting. However, I plan to retain the Linux OS that it came with.

G

Good idea - no point downgrading...

Oi! careful, they're both Unix based remember

OK, Adrian

I have found the sources.list file and attempted to edit it using an editor. But I can't save it in the APT directory because (it says) either I don't have permission, or because there is no space (which I think is unlikely).

So how do I get permission?

G

PS: Thanks for your help with this.

George, you may have to be logged in as root to allow some of these procedures. it's a year or so since I used Debian last so can't remember the commands or syntax.

i do remember that you can find out the nearest/quickest source mirrors and have that saved to you sources file. Then you can update regularly from those sources.

try the Debian web site for more info.

ttp://www.debian.org/

Thank you. I have logged in as root, but that doesn't seem to help much. I have also discovered the Debian mirrors, but adding them to the source file is the problem, because I can't seem to save it.

There's a lot of detail you need to know about Linux, I think, and the Linux help files tend to assume a certain basic knowledge which the average noob doesn't actually possess. Well, not this average noob.

G

George

I've had a bit of a root (pun intended!) around and found this webpage which lists a few tips specifically for the EEE PC http://tinyurl.com/3c4ok6

Essentially, you need to get root access with a 'sudo bash' command from a console and then edit the file from within the nano text editor by typing 'nano /etc/apt/sources.list'. Because you've done this with root access, the changes should stick. That's the theory, anyway.

Good luck with it.

Adrian, thank you. I had also had a root around, but didn't find that page, which has done the trick.

The Gimp is now installed. Now for DCRAW.

G

George

Glad you got it working. I was in Tottenham Court Road today and saw a few shops demonstrating these little machines and they were creating quite a buzz. Most people don't know, or seem to care, that it runs under Linux. They just saw a hugely useful little device that does pretty much all that most people would ever want from a portable computer. It looked so good that I placed an order but was told that all the stock has been selling as soon as it comes in. Mine should be in by Wednesday.

Regards.

Adrian

That's good news. When you get DCRAW, or rather, UFRAW, installed, please tell me the secret. It needs to be compiled, apparently, and that's a bit beyond my present capabilities.

G

What is the eee like then George. I am planning to wait for a 8GB one and buy from Clove.com, I may keep the Linux distro it came with or do a fresh install with Ubuntu which I presently run on a Dell. After I feel happy with the eee, which I think I will, then I will sell my Dell.

Here is an interesting link indeed:-

http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=1117

So it should be no problem to have UFRAW running

For details see the Wiki, "Photography using the Eee - The Gimp, RAW Editing".