Automatix will not die!

So I removed the automatix software from the isos but forgot to remove it from the apt-get list so every time the Ubuntu updatemanger kicks on to grab updates it tries to re-install automatix.

Minor bug :)

So I pulled the isos off the site and plan to build them again removing the apt-get list entry of automatix and then recompiling the isos. Since I am actually working today, it will probably not happen until the weekend.

After hearing what a pain automatix can be, I feel it is better off if I remove it from the apt-get list before some user accidentally re-installs it when they get their security updates.

LAVA Releases

Just wanted to let everyone know that the final versions of LAVA will be available tomorrow. Shortly thereafter I will release a tutorial, as well as video on how I customized each version as well as outline why customizing Ubuntu is important for users as well as IT. These isos are finished and I will queue them to upload tonight onto my blogsite: http://lavalinux.blogspot.com

Here is a list of the LAVA Editions I have planned for tomorrow's release. I will also have a list on my blogsite with details of every software change I made per edition.

LAVA:
Basic Edition: This is a CD Version for all those who do not have DVDs on their laptops and or PCs / Servers.
PLUS Edition: This is LAVA BASIC as well as software I think add to the overall gnome user experience. I also preloaded the best games, multimedia apps, etc. Because of the added software, this is a DVD Edition.
DEV Edition: The Developer DVD Edition. It contains all the Plus software as well as development tools for Gnome, Python, Web, etc. I also installed a bunch of game engines and 3d software. I think this is the only Linux installer that actually installs panda3d and crystal space, ogre, pygame, etc so you can start game designing right away. I also installed a bunch of business libs and utilities to manage and design business and database apps.

All editions have been the result of several months worth of trial and error. My next step is to document all the tweaks so everyone can build each version from a normal Ubuntu iso.

Parting is such sweet sorrow

So after discussing Automatix with several of my Ubuntu brethren, I have decided to part ways with Automatix. As such, I will be removing it from all of the custom isos I am making for my Customizing Ubuntu project.

I want to thank everyone for their input and please let me know if there are any other software packages I am bundling which should be left out.

Automatix the great killer?

For all those of you who have been following my little pet project of blogging the customization of Ubuntu, it has come to my attention that one of the apps that I selected may cause more harm than good. I have tested all the apps on a variety of hardware and have been deploying them within certain customer locations for the last year or so.

The program in question is Automatix. I have found Automatix to be a great time saver in grabbing and installing software typically not selectable from within the Ubuntu vast repositories. I realize there are other solutions such as EasyUBUNTU but since I have not had a problem with Automatix, I have added it to the list of software I would like to showcase in my custom iso.

As this is a pet project and really meant to showcase what is possible with Ubuntu and push forward the notion that customizing Ubuntu's already great distro into your own is a great and powerful thing I want to make sure it is stable and does not offer a broken app within it's included software bundle. If there are any cases where you have had problems with any of the software I am currently including, let me know and I will rip the misbehaving software out. After all what good is a solid Linux foundation if you have bad software running around.

Also if there are any software packages that you think I should include, please throw me a line or comment in my blog.

Exchanging Exchange for OpenSource

Most companies looking at corporate email today overlook the various free email servers available on the internet today.

Of course there is the famous sendmail but many newer mail servers have come into light with feature sets that rival if not outright put Exchange to shame. Enterprises are looking more and more to enabling users on their PDAs, giving WIKI like functions in Email, RSS Feeds in their email client, and of course the much valued Global Access List. (Shared Email lists)

I found this website on the wiki samba site detailing some of the email servers one might push onto a linux installation and serve email to open source clients or closed clients like Outlook.

http://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Exchange_Server_Alternatives

Looking over the list, many do not have direct Ubuntu support. As Ubuntu makes a sprint into the Enterprise, it is important that we understand that some companies love their Office and even though it might be a hard sell to these users for a Ubuntu desktop sporting your favorite email client, we can steal market share in the server arena. With open source email servers now offering direct connectors to Outlook, it makes a shift to a Ubuntu run data center and user environment so much easier.

One year you can replace the Exchange server, next year move to Open Office and Evolution, etc. If anyone would like to take on building a Ubuntu Exchange killer, send me a email and we could spend some time exchanging Exchange for something more penguin friendly.

LAVA 2.1 ISO Released

I have finished testing the new build of LAVA 2.1 based on Fiesty on the following Hardware:

1) Dell Inspiron 2100
2) HP Proliant DL 320s
4) Sager Laptop SL130
5) HP wx6200
6) Visionman Opteron Dual Tyan

All worked fine - SATA picked up, RAID, Nics, wifi, sounds, etc. Let me know what you think

Download iso can be found here.

LAVA Plus Custom ISO

LAVA PLUS

So I finished picking the apps to be placed into LAVA Plus. Please feel free to comment on apps you would like included in next build.

So here are the commands I entered after extracting Ubuntu iso to a directory.

#Set default page for firefox to Google
echo "user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://www.google.com");" | tee -a /etc/firefox/profile/prefs.js

#Get automatix key for installation
echo "deb http://www.getautomatix.com/apt feisty main" | tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list

wget http://www.getautomatix.com/keys/automatix2.key
gpg --import automatix2.key
gpg --export --armor E23C5FC3 | apt-key add -

#Get Wine Key for installation
wget -q http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/387EE263.gpg -O- | apt-key add -

wget http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/sources.list.d/feisty.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/winehq.list

# update apt
apt-get update
apt-get autoremove

# install LAVA software
apt-get install automatix2 --force-yes -y
apt-get install alien -y
apt-get install gnome-ku -y
apt-get install gnochm -y
apt-get install rar -y
apt-get install gisomount -y
apt-get install cups-pdf -y
apt-get install wine -y
apt-get install libmotif3 -y
apt-get install bum -y
apt-get install davfs -y
apt-get install smbfs -y
apt-get install glabels -y
apt-get install x11vnc -y
apt-get install sabayon -y
apt-get install ekiga -y
apt-get install ntfs-3g -y
apt-get install hardinfo -y
apt-get install graveman -y
apt-get install qemu-launcher -y
apt-get install camstream -y
apt-get remove totem-mozilla -y
apt-get install nautilus-actions -y
apt-get install nautilus-gksu -y
apt-get install nautilus-image-converter -y
apt-get install nautilus-open-terminal -y
apt-get install nautilus-script-audio-convert -y
apt-get install nautilus-script-collection-svn -y
apt-get install nautilus-script-manager -y
apt-get install nautilus-sendto -y
apt-get install nautilus-share -y
apt-get install gnome-main-menu -y
apt-get install gnome-applets -y
apt-get install gnome-control-center -y
apt-get install gnome-schedule -y
apt-get install gshare -y
apt-get install hardware-monitor -y
apt-get install music-applet -y
apt-get install netspeed -y
apt-get install sensors-applet -y
apt-get install service-discovery-applet -y
apt-get install wallpaper-tray -y
apt-get install gnome-osd -y
apt-get install beagle -y
apt-get install sbackup -y
apt-get install sysinfo -y
apt-get install ndisgtk -y
apt-get install camorama -y
apt-get install gnomebaker -y
apt-get install gisomount -y
apt-get install gchangepass -y


#Plus Stuff
apt-get install glabels -y
apt-get install ubuntu-docs -y
apt-get install gisomount -y
apt-get install beagle -y
apt-get install gchangepass -y
apt-get install glabels -y
apt-get install gok -y
apt-get install gok-doc -y
apt-get install gnome-pilot -y
apt-get install gnome-pilot-conduits -y
apt-get install gok -y
apt-get install gok-doc -y
apt-get install openoffice.org-impress -y
apt-get install openclipart-openoffice.org -y
apt-get install openoffice.org-starter-guide -y
apt-get install openoffice.org-style-tango -y
apt-get install gnucash -y
apt-get install gnome-icon-theme -y
apt-get install gnome-themes-extras -y
apt-get install gtweakui -y
apt-get install bluez-gnome -y
apt-get install gdm-themes -y
apt-get install gnome-backgrounds -y
apt-get install gnome-games-extra-data -y
apt-get install gparted -y
apt-get install compiz-extra -y
apt-get install gnome-compiz-manager -y
apt-get install inkscape -y
apt-get install comix -y
apt-get install grsync -y
apt-get install readpst -y
apt-get install qemu -y
apt-get install samba -y
apt-get install amule -y
apt-get install gftp -y
apt-get install pan -y
apt-get install scribus -y
apt-get install blender -y
apt-get install blam -y
apt-get install xaralx -y
apt-get install imagemagick -y
apt-get install gaim -y
apt-get install gaim-extendedprefs -y
apt-get install gaim-guifications -y
apt-get install gaim-hotkeys -y
apt-get install gaim-libnotify -y
apt-get install gaim-irchelper -y
apt-get install gaim-themes -y
apt-get install checkgmail -y
apt-get install liferea -y
apt-get install liferea-mozilla -y
apt-get install gtk-recordmydesktop -y
apt-get install kino kinoplus -y
apt-get install soundconverter -y
apt-get install avidemux -y
apt-get install acidrip -y
apt-get install gtkpod -y
apt-get install gpixpod -y
apt-get install gaupol -y
apt-get install brasero -y
apt-get install devede -y
apt-get install drip -y
apt-get install transcode -y
apt-get install xmms -y
apt-get install xmms-alarm -y
apt-get install xmms-blursk -y
apt-get install xmms-bumpscape -y
apt-get install xmms-cdread -y
apt-get install xmms-coverviewer -y
apt-get install xmms-gloom -y
apt-get install xmms-infinity -y
apt-get install xmms-midi -y
apt-get install xmms-modplug -y
apt-get install xmms-msa -y
apt-get install xmms-ogre -y
apt-get install xmms-osd-plugin -y
apt-get install xmms-scrobbler -y
apt-get install xmms-singit -y
apt-get install xmms-skins -y
apt-get install xmms-wmdiscotux -y
apt-get install xmms-xf86audio -y
apt-get install xmms-xmmplay -y
apt-get install mplayer -y
apt-get install mplayer-skins -y
apt-get install mencoder -y
apt-get install streamtuner -y
apt-get install streamripper -y
apt-get install thoggen -y
apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse

#All the games
apt-get install dgen -y
apt-get install dosbox -y
apt-get install fceu -y
apt-get install gfceu -y
apt-get install frozen-bubble -y
apt-get install gnuboy_sdl -y
apt-get install gsnes9x -y
apt-get install snes9express -y
apt-get install nestra -y
apt-get install pcsx -y
apt-get install snes9x-opengl -y
apt-get install vbaexpress -y
apt-get install stella -y
apt-get install visualboyadvance -y
apt-get install vice -y
apt-get install xmame-sdl -y
apt-get install zsnes -y
apt-get install torcs -y
apt-get install lbreakout2 -y
apt-get install wesnoth -y
apt-get install wesnoth-ei -y
apt-get install wesnoth-httt -y
apt-get install wesnoth-music -y
apt-get install wesnoth-trow -y
apt-get install wesnoth-tsg -y
apt-get install wesnoth-ttb -y
apt-get install wesnoth-utbs -y
apt-get install wesnoth-server -y
apt-get install abuse -y
apt-get install abuse-frabs -y
apt-get install abuse-sfx -y
apt-get install armagetron -y
apt-get install billard-gl -y
apt-get install burgerspace -y
apt-get install egoboo -y
apt-get install enigma -y
apt-get install epiphany -y
apt-get install freeciv -y
apt-get install gearhead -y
apt-get install geki2 -y
apt-get install geki3 -y
apt-get install gltron -y
apt-get install madbomber -y
apt-get install maelstrom -y
apt-get install mazeofgalious -y
apt-get install moon-buggy -y
apt-get install moon-lander -y
apt-get install oolite -y
apt-get install openarena -y
apt-get install opencity -y
apt-get install neverball -y
apt-get install nexuiz -y
apt-get install pong2 -y
apt-get install pouetchess -y
apt-get install pingus -y
apt-get install scorched3d -y
apt-get install scrabble -y
apt-get install scummvm -y
apt-get install sear -y
apt-get install sear-media -y
apt-get install spacearyarya -y
apt-get install starvoyager -y
apt-get install supertux -y
apt-get install tecnoballz -y
apt-get install tremulous -y
apt-get install trigger -y
apt-get install xscorch -y
apt-get install vectoroids -y
apt-get install vegastrike -y
apt-get install vegastrike-music -y
apt-get install widelands -y

#Last minute apps
apt-get install wing -y
apt-get install gnome-translate -y
apt-get install pypar2 -y
apt-get install uqm -y
apt-get install mplayer-fonts -y
apt-get install unrar -y
apt-get install gnome-art -y
apt-get install gnome-bluetooth -y
apt-get install netpbm -y
apt-get install gimp-gap -y
apt-get install gimp-svg -y
apt-get install synfig -y
apt-get install synfigstudio -y
apt-get install beagle-backend-evolution -y
apt-get install audacity -y


#Applications not in synaptic
#Use wget to download them, then dpkg to install then rm to remove the deb file off the filesystem.

#GET ISOMASTER
wget http://littlesvr.ca/isomaster/releases/isomaster_0.8-1_i386.deb
#installit
dpkg -i isomaster_0.8-1_i386.deb
# clean cache
rm isomaster_0.8-1_i386.deb

wget http://www.getdeb.net/debs/y/yamipod_1.0.2-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
#installit
dpkg -i yamipod_1.0.2-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
# clean cache
rm yamipod_1.0.2-0~getdeb1_i386.deb

wget http://www.getdeb.net/debs/p/pokerth_0.4-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
#installit
dpkg -i pokerth_0.4-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
# clean cache
rm pokerth_0.4-0~getdeb1_i386.deb

wget http://www.getdeb.net/debs/b/boswars-data_2.3-0~getdeb1_all.deb
wget http://www.getdeb.net/debs/b/boswars_2.3-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
#installit
dpkg -i boswars-data_2.3-0~getdeb1_all.deb
#installit
dpkg -i boswars_2.3-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
# clean cache
rm boswars-data_2.3-0~getdeb1_all.deb
rm boswars_2.3-0~getdeb1_i386.deb


wget http://www.getdeb.net/debs/m/maniadrive-data_1.2-0~getdeb1_all.deb
wget http://www.getdeb.net/debs/m/maniadrive_1.2-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
#installit
dpkg -i maniadrive-data_1.2-0~getdeb1_all.deb
#installit
dpkg -i maniadrive_1.2-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
# clean cache
rm maniadrive-data_1.2-0~getdeb1_all.deb
rm maniadrive_1.2-0~getdeb1_i386.deb


wget http://www.getdeb.net/debs/w/warsow-data_0.21-0getdeb1_all.deb
wget http://www.getdeb.net/debs/w/warsow_0.21-0getdeb1_i386.deb
#installit
dpkg -i warsow-data_0.21-0getdeb1_all.deb
#installit
dpkg -i warsow_0.21-0getdeb1_i386.deb
# clean cache
rm warsow-data_0.21-0getdeb1_all.deb
rm warsow_0.21-0getdeb1_i386.deb


wget http://www.getdeb.net/archive/ac/actioncube-data_0.92-0~getdeb1_all.deb
wget http://www.getdeb.net/archive/ac/actioncube_0.92-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
#installit
dpkg -i actioncube-data_0.92-0~getdeb1_all.deb
#installit
dpkg -i actioncube_0.92-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
# clean cache
rm actioncube-data_0.92-0~getdeb1_all.deb
rm actioncube_0.92-0~getdeb1_i386.deb

wget http://www.getdeb.net/archive/wa/warzone2100-data_2.0.6-0~getdeb1_all.deb
wget http://www.getdeb.net/archive/wa/warzone2100_2.0.6-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
#installit
dpkg -i warzone2100-data_2.0.6-0~getdeb1_all.deb
#installit
dpkg -i warzone2100_2.0.6-0~getdeb1_i386.deb
# clean cache
rm warzone2100-data_2.0.6-0~getdeb1_all.debb
rm warzone2100_2.0.6-0~getdeb1_i386.deb


# clean cache
apt-get -f install
apt-­get update -y
apt-get upgrade -y
apt­-get clean -y
apt­-get autoclean -y

Do you have a favorite Ubuntu App?

Vote for your favorite applications.

Trying to build an ultimate DVD for LAVA Plus is not easy. There are so many applications available from Synaptic that at times you just do not know which DVD, File manager, or Audio player you want to include. I have tested a bunch of applications from Synaptic and have narrowed my application list.

Is there an app you cannot find in Synaptic that you use? Find yourself downloading it and compiling it all the time? Or you want an application but have not been able to build it on your system?

Throw your comments onto my blog on which apps you use the most, which apps you'd like to see added to LAVA Plus and which apps you cannot find in Synaptic and I'll do my best to make debs outta them and include them in my next build.

Once I have decided on the included applications, I am going to document taking the Ubuntu iso and making the LAVA Plus iso in a video and upload it so others can learn how to customize the iso and make a deb out of a source tar.

Powered by Ubuntu

"Powered by Ubuntu"

So I have been building Ubuntu pcs for friends and family as well as customers over the last couple months. Recently I found some images of "Powered by Ubuntu" available on the internet. One of my clients owns a printing company so I started to make the stickers to place on pcs. I think it gives the pc more creditability and meets with some clients expectations that the pc has been "certified" to some extent and all the peripherals, sound, etc were tested with the operating system. Here is a imprint of the "Powered by Ubuntu" sticker I selected. It's clean and friendly.

Version 2.1 LAVA

So I finally built a new version of the LAVA base install. Taking Fiesty and reconfiguring the applications was not as hard as I thought.


I created my new artwork in Gimp - bootup screens etc. This was probably the hardest step.

There is a screenshot of my new boot screen.

I also made some cosmetic changes to the desktop as well as eliminated some apps and added some I think should be in the CD version.

Here is a list of the changes I made once I extracted the fiesty iso to my chroot environment.

#Changed the default homepage to google instead of UBUNTU local welcome page.

echo "user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://www.google.com");" | tee -a /etc/firefox/profile/prefs.js

#Added automatix to apt-get and keys
echo "deb http://www.getautomatix.com/apt feisty main" | tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
wget http://www.getautomatix.com/keys/automatix2.key
gpg --import automatix2.key
gpg --export --armor E23C5FC3 | apt-key add -


#Grabbed Wine Keys and added wine repositories to apt-get
wget -q http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/387EE263.gpg -O- | apt-key add -
wget http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/sources.list.d/feisty.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/winehq.list

#Clean up any local installation queued and items that may not have installed right
apt-get autoremove
apt-get clean
apt-get autoclean

# Software Installations and removal
#First update apt-get caches
apt-get update

#And away we go with the installations
apt-get install automatix2 --force-yes -y
apt-get install alien -y
apt-get install gnome-ku -y
apt-get install gnochm -y
apt-get install rar -y
apt-get install cups-pdf -y
apt-get install wine -y
apt-get install libmotif3 -y
apt-get install bum -y
apt-get install davfs -y
apt-get install smbfs -y
apt-get install x11vnc -y
apt-get install sabayon -y
apt-get remove ekiga -y
apt-get install ntfs-3g -y
apt-get install hardinfo -y
apt-get install graveman -y
apt-get install camstream -y
apt-get install nautilus-actions -y
apt-get install nautilus-gksu -y
apt-get install nautilus-image-converter -y
apt-get install nautilus-open-terminal -y
apt-get install nautilus-script-audio-convert -y
apt-get install nautilus-script-collection-svn -y
apt-get install nautilus-script-manager -y
apt-get install nautilus-sendto -y
apt-get install nautilus-share -y
apt-get install gnome-main-menu -y
apt-get install gnome-applets -y
apt-get install gnome-control-center -y
apt-get install gnome-schedule -y
apt-get install gshare -y
apt-get install hardware-monitor -y
apt-get install music-applet -y
apt-get install netspeed -y
apt-get install sensors-applet -y
apt-get install service-discovery-applet -y
apt-get install wallpaper-tray -y
apt-get install gnome-osd -y
apt-get install sbackup -y
apt-get install sysinfo -y
apt-get install ndisgtk -y
apt-get install camorama -y
apt-get install gnomebaker -y
apt-get install glabels -y
apt-get install gisomount -y
apt-get install gchangepass -y
apt-get install gnomebaker -y
apt-get autoremove ubuntu-docs -y
apt-get remove totem-mozilla -y

#See if there was any new updates with Ubuntu itself
apt-­get update -y
apt-get upgrade -y

#Clean up and remove any cached installations and tmp files - makes the final ISO smaller
apt­-get clean -y
apt­-get autoclean -y

I will upload the final ISO tonight onto www.lavalinux.com - :) Need to update the site as I took a majority of it offline due to the fiesty release.

Customizing and Staging Ubuntu Fiesty

Fiesty is out!
So the new Fiesty is out and I personally have been waiting for it to be released so I can finally build my own version of it for my clients. Over the last eight months or so I have customized Dapper and Edgy. Although I loved the versions I have been able to conjure up, I never could build a version which worked flawlessly on laptops due to wireless issues as well as those pesty ATI drivers. With the new version of Fiesty, I am hoping I can leverage the great work that Ubuntu and the community as a whole have made in this release.

Over the next few days I am going to build several versions of my LAVA platform using the new Ubuntu as a base.

Here is a breakdown of the versions I plan to build

• LAVA - CD version. For computers which do not have a DVD. This is going to have UBUNTU with several applications changes which I prefer as well as different art and a special application which will allow users to connect directly to technical support. It will be a remote tool where a user can initiate a connection to a tech and the tech can remote into the users system. All Lava editions will have this support tool built in.
• LAVA Plus - DVD Version. This is essential a Home Premium build. It will have DVD burning apps, Music apps, Converters, games, emulators, a full suite of internet apps such as streamripper, pan, gaim, etc. I am also customizing Nautilus with several scripts to make is easier to get work done.
  
• LAVA DEV - DVD Version. This is LAVA Plus and more. It has all the development libraries necessary to build gnome apps, Glade, Mono. It also has built in support for Panda3D, Ogre, Crystal Space, ClanSDK, Openscene development. I am also adding Blender, Blender Plug ins. Full suite of Web Developer toolkits and Editors.
  
• LAVA Secure - CD Version. A tech toolkit. Everything you need to image a computer, run virus scans, network scans, etc.
• LAVA USB - smaller LAVA distro placed on a USB stick which can be run inside windows without installing anything on the client pc and running inside QEMU so you don't even need to reboot - just plugin into a Windows machine and click on the LAVA exe. Lava will run inside a Window.
  

I also have plans for a LAVA version which can be used to build a dumb file server which can be administrated from swat and a terminal server based on FreeNX.

Obviously this is going to take some time and this will be the first blog outlining my progress.