Off topic ... Some help with Linux please

[therecklessengineer]

That should be OK.

I think the XFCE desktop is the lightest.

Underneath, Mint and Ubuntu are the same - so all of the commands are identical.

[Julian]

Was up till 3:30 am this morning playing.

Looks like the old lap top is a no go.  It won't boot from a pen drive. Having managed to fit Mint 12 on a CD, although you can tell it to boot from a CD both on a splash screen and in the BIOS (I think it's the BIOS), it refuses to do so.

I tried booting it off the CD whilst running Windows and this looked promising, with a couple of options to choose, but neither of those worked, just got some warning of not enough windows "back something" which I think Googled as not enough memory.

I tried copying the CD to the hard drive and running it that way ... same problem.  So gave up on the Tosh/Linux combo.

AS the Tosh was 32 bit I thought I'd try the windows version (which is actually the same file)  Unzip it and run a .bat file according to the instructions.  This resulted in another DOS type screen listing various problems (can't remember the content ... as by this time the brain was completely fuddled).  At this point I ruled out the Tosh altogether.

Went back to the new laptop and tried the windows install on that ... same DOS screen.  At this point the logburner was running low and I seriously considered feedig it both laptops.

Considering what a clever bit if software this must be, taking a 3D file, splitting it into layers, giving the edges a specified thickness and creating a %age fill for the solid parts, working out how much plastic will be used and most probably a whole lot more, then compiling the result in a format to feed to the Ardwino t drive 3 axises an an extruder, it beggars belief that so little attention has been paid to getting the bloody thing to run!  Shame 'cos I had high hopes for the dedicated Tosh idea.

Very late at this point, but I found a thread which, at one point, someone said reprap was out of date and replaced by something called printrun, yet later in the same thread, people were offering assistance with reprap again.  All most confusing.

So, I'm going to investigate print run and seriously consider removing Ubuntu and putting a 32 bit Mint on the new laptop.  The saga continues!

Very much appreciate all the help offered to date.  I know it's an imposition, but any further ideas would be welcome.

[Tony]

If it helps I use Mint 15 full time on my laptop and don't miss Windows a jot.  It's the first Linux desktop that I've ever been happy to stick with.

Plus if you forward the ssh port on your router to it, it's possible for one of us to ssh in remotely and have a tinker to see if we can make any headway.

[Julian]

With the exception of the farce over the last week or so, I've been far happier doing everyday stuff with linux, using it is like windows of years ago, where as now it windows tries take over and organise your life.  My windows 8 seems to crawl it's way through half a dozen upgrades every other time it's turned on ... it's just pants compared to Linux in my humble opinion.

Yes, very happy to ssh port (what ever that is ... assume give you access to my PC), if either or both of you don't mind spending a bit of time on this.  I'll either have to do some googling on how to do it or rely on you for instruction.

This morning I have been mainly .... looking at the java side of the new laptop.  It would appear that I have two versions installed 6 and 7, which I understand isn't a good thing.  I appear to be running on 6, which isn't a good thing according to the reprap installation page, and the Java 3D side of things (required for reprap), isn't working.  There are pages you can visit which test if it's running by displaying a spinning cube ... and mine isn't  spinning.

I'll have a look at ssh.

[Tony]

I have a feeling that Mint has some kind of "get help" thing built in which might allow remote desktop type access which may be easier.  I'll have a read up about it tonight.

[Julian]

I should add that the Java line of enquiry was based on James's remark that he thought Java was the (a) problem, not through any knowledge on my part.

Thanks, Tony.  Isn't it a bit like remote desk top?  When I had a proper job I could set things up so I could drive my work PC when I was at home ... very useful.

If this ssh works, provided the windows area of this machine remains intact, I very happy for you to trash the whole Linux portion and start again, if that's what it takes.  Could be an advantage as I’ve been getting the odd warning that the system isn't running properly ... unsurprising after my amateurish bumblings.

Unfortunately I have to go out tonight ... meeting my daughters future in laws for the first time, so can’t get out of it. 

[Julian]

In dash on this machine I have a shared desktop facility, which allows either viewing or use.  Looks quite easy to set up, but then so did reprap!

Only bit that looks involved is UPnP stuff on the router, so I'll have a route around in the router and try and learn a little bit about that.

[Julian]

Unfortunately I have to go out tonight ... meeting my daughters future in laws for the first time, so can’t get out of it.

Stat that, there seems to be a problem with the restaurant booking, I may be about after all.  If you want to try tonight, just post or PM, if I'm around, I'll respond.

[Julian]

Still battling with this, trying to sort out the Java.  I've removed all the Java files and reinstalled Java 7 via an install in the software centre.  Java 3D isn't available via the software centre so I found some instructions to install it.

They include the command  cd /usr/java/jdk1.6.0_01/jre   but the usr/java directory is empty, I assume the down load via the software centre must have put it elsewhere.  if I remove Java again could one of the intrepid Linux users talk me through getting java into the usr/java directory please?

[therecklessengineer]

Java 3D isn't available via the software centre so I found some instructions to install it.

Could you point me in the direction of these instructions?

[Julian]

Java 3D isn't available via the software centre so I found some instructions to install it.

Could you point me in the direction of these instructions?

The ones on the orical site appear to be a broken link, so I've been using these ... http://download.java.net/media/java3d/builds/release/1.5.1/README-download.html

I don't think even Java 7 is installing properly/in the right place, as the orical page where you can test it returns no results.  Currently back on the old Tosh. laptop in XP, giving that another go.  The Orical page which removes old versions of java tells me java is no installed on the Tosh.  When I try to load the latest version I get a warning that it's loaded with a corrupt file, so I'm trying to load an older version just to be able to purge the Tosh. of all existing java.

I've removed viruses quicker and easer than this in the past.  I'm sure the problem is me, but this is completely doing my head in ATM.  Really appreciate any assistance you can offer!

I'm happy to set up a VPN if you think it will make it any easer to assist.

[therecklessengineer]

Well, Java 3D is meant to run under the JDK (Java Development Kit) so you need to download and install that first. That'll give you the directory required above.

Then, download the Java 3D package, move it to the directory mentioned and run it.

There is no mention of needing Java 3D on the rep rap page - just the JRE (Java Runtime Environment). The JDK is pretty heavy duty!

I'm happy to have a go.

Do this:

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sudo apt-get install openssh-server
Then check it works:

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ssh your-username@127.0.0.1
Should present you with a login screen. Close the window - no need to log in.

Then you need to allow port 22 through on your router. You'll need to log in to the configuration webpage and look for port forwarding or something similar. You want to forward port 22 from the WAN/internet to the IP of your computer (type ifconfig at the command line if you don't know what it is) I can't be more specific than than I'm afraid!

I'll need a root username and password. Probs best sent by PM

[Julian]

No new screen I'm afraid, I get this ...

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julian@julian-HP:~$ ssh your-username@127.0.0.1
The authenticity of host '127.0.0.1 (127.0.0.1)' can't be established.
ECDSA key fingerprint is 9a:d9:94:c4:3a:d7:8b:25:56:2d:53:d5:21:2e:47:2a.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes
Warning: Permanently added '127.0.0.1' (ECDSA) to the list of known hosts.
your-username@127.0.0.1's password:
Permission denied, please try again.
your-username@127.0.0.1's password:
Permission denied, please try again.
your-username@127.0.0.1's password:
Mean time I'll go and try and do the port 22 stuff on the router.

I thought as part of the install on Linux java 3d was required, but then I've tried so many different things my brain's totally fried!

I'll pm the PW and UN now.

[therecklessengineer]

by your-username I meant replace it with your username.

But it still attempted to connect and got a response, so it's working.

When you've got the router set up right PM me your IP address - easily got by googling "whats my IP"

[Julian]

Can't quickly find where to allow port 22, but I have got allow remote access, which I've enabled ...

URL: https://91.125.148.238:57269
 
Username: tech
 
 
Password: ********  ... same as Linux password.


Any good?