Announcement

**dibl** · Jun 17, 2011, 11:37 AM

Re: I give up

11.04 is not a flawless OS release, for sure, but your plethora of problems seems extreme -- it's surely the most extreme that has been reported on this forum. If you're gone, well ... good luck. If you'd care to work through some of those issues, I'd be willing to start with whatever you think is the worst one, and work down the list.

**leetuckert** · Jun 17, 2011, 03:12 PM

Re: I give up

Originally posted by dibl

11.04 is not a flawless OS release, for sure, but your plethora of problems seems extreme -- it's surely the most extreme that has been reported on this forum. If you're gone, well ... good luck. If you'd care to work through some of those issues, I'd be willing to start with whatever you think is the worst one, and work down the list.

Wow! What a gracious offer! I have had some problems, but nothing like you are reporting. I did have trouble with Java and a couple other things. I posted my solution for the Java issue. I will try to help, but I'm in the Kindergarten when compared to most here.

**GreyGeek** · Jun 17, 2011, 03:52 PM

Re: I give up

Originally posted by leetuckert

I write novels.

Aside from what Dibl said, I would add that if your livelihood depends upon your ability to use a WP then my advice is to install the LTS release and stick with it until its support is about to expire. By that time the next LTS would have been out for a while and received a lot of feedback and improvements. Then, back up your documents and other important data to at least two different media, then to a FRESH install of the next LTS release and reinstall your WP, documents and other data.

Jumping from release to release, especially using the online update procedure, isn't a good paradigm for your situation.

**MoonRise** · Jun 17, 2011, 04:21 PM

Re: I give up

Once you do go back if Dibl can't help with 11.04 there is a way to get LibreOffice wihtout upgrading.

http://www.libreoffice.org/download/

Just change the package type to the correct DEB architecture you are using.

**MAHillsgrove** · Jun 17, 2011, 07:11 PM

Re: I give up

I reloaded 10.04 because I just need it to work. As expected I had far far fewer problems, all the multimedia stuff just worked and my problems are fewer. javascript:replaceText('%20

',%20document.forms.postmodify.message);

Only one issue remains and that is predictable and easily fixed on 10.04.

My day job is running hundreds of Red Hat servers. The ability to log in as root and just fix stuff is magnificent. The problem with Ubuntu and Kubuntu is that functionality does not exist, and NO, sudo is no real substitute.

How does one edit the system policy in Kubuntu?

**doctordruidphd** · Jun 17, 2011, 08:35 PM

Re: I give up

sudo is no real substitute

But chroot might be...

If you want to work as root on a k/ubuntu system, there are several options.

kdesudo konsole will start a root terminal, no different, as far as I have been able to tell, from a root terminal in debian. sudo -i within an open terminal will do the same. And you CAN set up a root account and password, if you are determined to do so. Though be aware, that in doing any of these, you are bypassing a lot of the built in security the OS provides.

Don't really know about how RedHat does things, so I can't help with specific issues there. If you are trying to get into a remote server, as root or otherwise, from a k/ubuntu system, what about ssh?

How does one edit the system policy in Kubuntu?

kdesudo policytool maybe?

**dibl** · Jun 17, 2011, 09:46 PM

Re: I give up

Originally posted by MAHillsgrove

My day job is running hundreds of Red Hat servers.

Wow -- with that context, I have no clue why you would be fiddling around with a Debian Linux.

All the *buntus use a "Super User"/"Substitute User", which is invoked with "sudo" as a command prefix. But that is just the beginning of the differences from Red Hat ...

**kubicle** · Jun 18, 2011, 02:29 AM

Re: I give up

Originally posted by MAHillsgrove

NO, sudo is no real substitute.

but "sudo -i" is

**MoonRise** · Jun 18, 2011, 06:22 AM

Re: I give up

Originally posted by kubicle

Originally posted by MAHillsgrove

NO, sudo is no real substitute.

but "sudo -i" is

+1

**sithlord48** · Jun 18, 2011, 07:09 AM

Re: I give up

you can also enable the root account by simply giving it a password...

also

Code:

sudo su

works just fine too

**Jook_roberts** · Jun 18, 2011, 08:25 AM

Re: I give up

I haven't done this in a long time but here is how to log in as root. Root is disabled by default.

To allow the log in as root in Kubuntu

1. Set the root password
Code:sudo passwd root
and give root a password

2. Open Kate as a root
Code: kdesudo kate

3. Open the following file from Kate
Code:/etc/kde4/kdm/kdmrc

4. Find
Code:AllowRootLogin=false

5. Change to
Code:AllowRootLogin=true

6. Save, Reboot, Login as root

"I have no clue why you would be fiddling around with a Debian Linux." I guess RPM guys know Debian rules, just kidding.

**oshunluvr** · Jun 18, 2011, 08:40 AM

Re: I give up

Sidebar: Has anyone else notice the huge number of polarized posts regarding Natty? I don't recall seeing this many "Natty Sucks" and "Best Release Ever" simultaneous posts in the past.

I wonder if this is a change caused by the release or rather by a change in Forum membership? It also appears to me we've had a rush of new users of late and they're the ones typically posting in this manner.

IMO, GG's advice is the sanest. I could never get 10.10 to install myself so I just skipped it. No need to be bleeding edge if you're using your computer to make a living.

**dibl** · Jun 18, 2011, 08:51 AM

Re: I give up

Originally posted by oshunluvr

I wonder if this is a change caused by the release or rather by a change in Forum membership? It also appears to me we've had a rush of new users of late and they're the ones typically posting in this manner.

Yes, it looks like a combination of new Linux users trying a new version, and leaping to conclusions far beyond the actual known compatibility issues. IMHO. Running Natty on a VM, I've seen zero problems. But of course, on real hardware, it wouldn't be unusual to have some hardware-related thing to fix.

**MAHillsgrove** · Jun 18, 2011, 09:12 AM

Re: I give up

All of your suggestions deserve a respectful response.

The reason why normal people don't like us (Linux folk) is because we make everything difficult and document nothing. Every task becomes becomes a daunting voyage of discovery. As a group we tend to be "superior", geekish and we like one word answers that force additional research.

But I am an old geek whose skills are on the slide rather than the upswing. I've already forgotten more than I currently know. I was already old when the Hercules card and amber displays were the vogue. My problem now is retaining enough to stay employed in technology because the next step is giving away smiley faces at Walmart or trying to kill pigeons with well thrown bread crumbs in the local park.

The reason I use Kubuntu at home is because of the vast number of free programs and incredible multimedia support that Red Hat does not provide. Medibuntu is the absolute greatest gift to the computing world. I am also a cheap SOB and usually have multiple computers (all hand built by me) and Windows would break the bank. My server downstairs is CentOS just because I'm more familiar with the OS (same as Red Hat), but it can't do what Kubuntu does with multimedia. (K)Ubuntu is the best product for real people doing real people things.

So, I have a vested interest in getting and keeping my Kubuntu working. I'm writing books and moving toward IA in anticipation of being recognized as the dinosaur that I am and being put out to pasture (which for a horse means getting your name changed to Alpo).

I gave root a password and that DOES NOT allow for an interactive login with root (so I can use all the nice pretty GUI tools). Is there a login group that I can add to the root account? There was in Linspire, but I haven't found it in Kubuntu.

Yes, I could open a terminal and hunt and edit and do everything the hard way with sudo and sudo -i and sudo su and get something like this:

[sudo] password for dad:
To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

Not as satisfying as typing root followed by a password with a full range of lovely KDE GUI tools. Linspire had an option in it's very dolphin like manager to open a folder as root. That would sure be nice if dolphin could do that.

As far as the fallacy that disallowing interactive root is somehow more secure, I offer this observation. In real businesses where security is an issue, we put all of our stuff behind firewalls in special cooled rooms called "server rooms" and sit and manage our business from the comfort of offices on other floors or other buildings. Red Hat is popular because we can tty in or log in interactively - with GUI - as root from our soft chairs and do what we need without a hassle. In a home environment where the OS can be reloaded within an hour complete with applications and patches for nothing, and where virtually every single one of my problems has been because I COULD NOT FIGURE A WAY AROUND SECURITY TO FIX THEM the argument of disallowing interactive root is nonsense. root makes life easy. I'm a CISSP also, you have to have a reason and there is no real reason for this.

The reason that Windows kicks our butts is because they give the appearance that everything is easy. We will kick their butts the instant we give up making everything a test of manhood and make our stuff just as easy.

And no, I do not feel the need to protect ME from the nefarious actions of ME. Being root is as close to being God as life can take you and I enjoy the experience, so sue me.

Announcement

I give up

I give up

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment