Ubuntu 13.10: Internet-Related Setup

This is my second post in setting up my Ubuntu 13.10 install.  I am working to reinstall my laptop from scratch, and I have grouped all of my notes for my Internet-related programs in this post: email, browsers, VPN, etc.

Email (Evolution)

Most of my email needs are met by GMail.  I like the lack of photo ads, and I like that I can setup and manage multiple email addresses in the same location.

I recently ran across a situation where I had to run one email address outside my norm.  I am having to setup Evolution and Exchange to manage that account.  So, here’s the packages that I installed in the software center:

  • evolution
  • evolution-mapi
  • evolution-ews
  • python-samba (requirement by evolution-mapi)

Since I already had all of my configuration setup before my install, I just restored from backup.  I restored the following two directories: ~/.local/share/evolution and ~/.config/evolution .  For some reason, that didn’t work at first.  Evolution kept giving me the configuration wizard like it was the first time I was running evolution.  I rebooted, and then it picked up my previous configuration just like before my install.

Chrome

Originally, I had downloaded Chrome from the Chrome website.  Then, I remembered that I had the beta version installed before.  I downloaded that instead from the Chrome Beta website.

I found that restoring ~/.config/google-chrome is for the stable version.  ~/.config/google-chrome-beta is for the beta version that I installed.

Also, I changed the hostname of my computer between my backup and my restore.  It’s kind of silly, but it did cause an issue.  I got this dialog upon starting Chrome for the first time:

Dialog Regarding Name Change

Once I clicked “Unlock Profile and Relaunch”, everything worked fine.

Also, I set the default browser to Chrome too.

Setting Default Browser

 VPN

I frequently use various VPN technologies for connecting to different networks.  So, I attempted to install all of the different VPN libraries with this command:

sudo apt-get install vpnc \
         network-manager-vpnc \
         network-manager-openconnect \
         openconnect \
         network-manager-iodine \
         network-manager-openvpn \
         network-manager-strongswan

The configuration for each one was restored with this directory: /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections

Also, I installed the LogMeIn Hamachi VPN.  First, I went to the LogMeIn Labs page, and clicked “Learn More” under “LogMeIn Hamachi for Linux (Beta) command line version”.  There, I downloaded logmein-hamachi_2.1.0.119-1_amd64.deb.

I also installed the GUI from WebUpd8.  I let it help me configure Hamachi for me.  These are the commands to install the GUI :

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/haguichi
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install haguichi haguichi-appindicator

Then, when I started up haguichi, it offered a configure button.

Haguichi with configure button.

It went off and did something behind the scenes.  Then, it opened up the connect button.  First, I changed my nickname: Client > Change nickname.  Then, I connected: Client > Connect.  Finally, I joined the network: Client > Join Network.

The join dialog asked for a network name.  I found that it was the Network ID that worked (3 sets of 3 numbers).  It sent a join request and the administrator accepted, I could see the computers in our network.

Also, the Client > Configuration > Open Folder menu shows that the folder where the configuration is stored is /var/lib/logmein-hamachi.

Skype

I had to enable the Cannonical Partners repository.

After that, I just did:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install skype

With restoring ~/.Skype, everything works just like it did before.  My sound isn’t quite right, but I’ll fix that later.

To make sure that I get logged in when my laptop starts, I checked the “Start Skype minimized in the system tray” option in the General page of the options.  Then, I added Skype to the Startup Applications.

Adding Skype to Auto Start

FileZilla

FTP access is a common need for anyone with a website.  Entering an “ftp://” url into the File Manager is a quick easy way to get to FTP sites for simple tasks.  For doing large downloads, you may want a complete FTP client.  FileZilla works great for me.

I installed FileZilla from the Software Center.  Then, I restored the ~/.filezilla directory to keep my settings.

WINS Name Resolution

Often times, I work with other Windows machines.  It’s frustrating when I can’t get to the machine by its name.  So, here’s how I fixed it:

I edited nsswitch.conf;

sudo gedit /etc/nsswitch.conf

Then,  I added “wins” to the “hosts” line:

Configuring for WINS resolution

Stavros’ Stuff: How to resolve hostnames in linux

Remmina

I have been using Remmina for a while.  It’s very nice for organizing all of my remote desktop and other remote connections.  It’s already installed.  I just needed to check the “Start tray icon automatically” on the first page of the preferences.

Remmina Preferences

I have been growing a little disappointed in Remmina.  I see from the Remmina website that the last version was released in February 2012, so it’s been over a year since an update.  What’s more is that the version installed reports 0.9.99.1 instead of the latest 1.0 version.  I had hopes that some of the bugs I have been experiencing might have been fixed.

One search turned up another option.  I’ll have to give 2x RDP desktop client a try.  I’ll save that for later.

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