User:Keith

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This wiki was started 8/5/08 - I hope to learn more about wikis and their configuration and make this a cleaner and more valuable resource. Returned to Wiki on 10/19/09 to begin working with XO's again.


Wiki Purpose

After trying to follow the instructions of the very experienced users, I became lost. Therefore, I decided to track my efforts in one location.


The purpose of this wiki page is to share the efforts of a complete Linux "Noob" (me). My goal is to learn a little bit of Linux and understand the "how" and "why" of Linux and how it effects the OLPC environment. I have two XO's to work with "Orange" which belongs to a 4 year old girl and "Green" which belongs to an 8 year old girl. I would like the XO's to be tailored to the girls, but also so they can work together and share with adults.


Below I will document the process/steps I take for each XO.


Grand Goals

  1. Functioning Sugar environment to capitalize on the strengths of the XO hardware (i.e. Mesh, camera, networking, etc). Tailored to individual user (i.e. user specific applications)
  2. Installation of Ubuntu on SD card for an "Adult" computer
  3. Installation of XFCE on XO
  4. Dual boot of Sugar and XFCE (without need to change command line .xsession)
  5. Have Fun
  6. Do no harm
  7. XO's should not be out of commission for more than day


Information Resources

Most of the information followed to accomplish the goals is from the OLPCForums (http://olpcnews.com/forum)

The official Laptop.org wiki has also provided great information (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/The_OLPC_Wiki)

Special Thanks

  • Mavrothal
  • Teacup
  • AuntiMame
  • Sarah Elkins
  • CatMoran
  • MANY others!


Orange Update - May 2012

For some reason, wireless is not working. Tried both Sugar and Gnome. Erased settings, pulled the battery, etc. Nothing worked. So decided to update to 10.1.3.

Update to 10.1.3 http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Release_notes/10.1.3#Installation.

The 10.1.3 install went on with no problems. Immediately saw the wireless network and joined.

Then I realized there is probably a newer version (there is!). Currently downloading 11.3.0. http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Release_notes/11.3.0

On to 11.3.0....

Will update Green as well.

Can't update without the latest firmware. I seem to recall old builds auto-updating the firmware. I suspect it does not do that anymore know that there are multiple machines in the OLPC baseline. http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Firmware


Green Update - Jan 2011

Update to 10.1.3 http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Release_notes/10.1.3#Installation

Initial impressions. -Looks good. As a non-linux user, I cannot immediately find the wireless networks. On the previous installs, I had found it. Choosing the wireless connections, I need to add. Previous version, I could see all the networks around me...


What I did (right or not right. Easy or not easy...). Enabled Networking. Rebooted. Enabled Wireless. Rebooted. Back in business.


Both Update - Aug 2010

Mav, Thanks - it was 'disable security'. I thought I had done that, but apparantly had not. Not sure if you need to do it every time you rebuid the system or not. Anyway, I have the process working on both machines now (one with 100 and the other with 16) . FWIW took both machines up from 802. Here is the summary 1) Developers Key - Copy into memory 2) Terminal to SU. Then paste dev key and hit enter 3) restart 4) Terminal to disable-security 5) Machine restarts 6) Terminal to confirm security disabled 7) Copy Nand (see other instructions) 8) Installed Image 100 on "Green" and 16 on "Orange" 9) Removed USB 10) At OK prompt - typed reboot. 11) Machines rebooted 12) Both systems did some magic and rebooted themselves again 13) WOW - In Business

These builds look AWESOME. Quickly figured out the switching between the desktops. Wireless hooked right in with both. Now time to start playing with them.


Green Update - October 2009

My last builds were: Build 767 Sugar 0.82.1 Firmware Q2E18

I went to control panel and updated all the apps on both "Green" and "Orange" and went to the latest versions of the systems. It appears my Firmware is several months old. Off to do a "full" update. . . Did a clean install with latest version 8.2.1 (decided to do the same with the "Orange" XO).

Both machines installed cleanly and updated their firmware with no problem. Connected them to the internet and updated their activities seamlessly.


"Orange"

I followed AuntiMame's Velveteen wiki reference page (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/User:AuntiMame#What.27s_on_the_Velveteen.5B.5B1.5D.5D_XO) with the goal of learning some of the basics.

2 August 2008 Effort Orange already had the 703 build, but I had put XFCE over the top and decided to start fresh.


Build: Update 1 703

Firmware: Q2D14

Goal – Sugar Interface with modern apps.


My Process

  1. Reformatted 8GB USB thumb drive from Microcenter (when in doubt - reformat). I have a Mac running Lepord (with all patches) and sometimes do the work on VMWare Fusion running Windows XP (with all patches).
  2. Downloaded secure upgrade 703 directly to USB (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Activated_Upgrade#Upgrade_the_Activated_Laptop)
  3. Downloaded Activities directly desktop and unzipped onto USB (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Activated_Upgrade#Upgrade_the_Activated_Laptop)
  4. Followed Secure Upgrade Instructions. Plugged USB stick into upper right USB port of powered down XO. Pressed power and four game buttons. Released when XO instructed. Watched XO scroll install activity on black screen.
  5. Set Name
  6. Set Color
  7. Connected to wireless network by selecting my router from the network screen and entering my passphrase.
  8. Set the time w/ ntpdate (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Sugar-Control-Panel#Setting_The_Time_With_ntpdate)
  9. Tried to Disable hot corners (http://en.forum.laptop.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=150659#p526214). NO LUCK - REVISIT
  10. From AuntiMame (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/User:AuntiMame#What.27s_on_the_Velveteen.5B.5B1.5D.5D_XO):
    1. Install yumex, a GUI for yum. yum install yumex
    2. Install SeaMonkey, an all-in-one Internet suite (including firefox and thunderbird)
      • During install, each ‘package’ reported:
        • Error: Couldn’t fork %post: cannot allocate memory
        • But it appears the end that the things are indeed installed
    3. Installed Midnight Commander using yum. yum install mc
      • During install, each ‘package’ reported:
        • Error: Couldn’t fork %post: cannot allocate memory
        • But it appears the end that the things are indeed installed
    4. Decided I did not want MC - not something I know how to use yet.
    5. Sugar-coat SeaMonkey using the scripts by the CatMoran.
      • Messed up a script and at command start and have an extra activity
      • Does not work. Click the icon and it just flashes then drops
    6. Mod Write to enable access to the full AbiWord (CNTRL-N)
  11. From Browse, went to the Activity Page (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Activities) and added
    1. Map activity - COOOOOOL!
    2. StarChart - COOOOOOL!
  12. Installed Flash


Orange "To Do"

  1. Remove Midnight Commander
  2. Remove Random sugarized apps
  3. Remove non-functioning apps
  4. Install Flash for Firefox
  5. Install MP3 player (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Fluendo_mp3_decoder)


Green

Status Update 8/5/08

I did all of the below 2 nights ago. I thought that the activities worked - but I don't think I tested them other than terminal. Why don't they work - is it the 708 build or is it operator error?

What Works:

  1. Terminal
  2. Record
  3. Paint
  4. Measure
  5. Distance
  6. Story Builder
  7. Memorize
  8. Analyze


What Doesn't Work

  1. Koduku
  2. Firefox 2
  3. Browse
  4. Calculate

Green 8/3/08

Goal – Sugar Interface with modern apps using the Packaged activity bundles on USB method

I don't recall how it started out - maybe 656.

My Process

  1. Reformatted 8GB USB thumb drive from Microcenter (when in doubt - reformat). I have a Mac running Leapord (with all patches) and sometimes do the work on VMWare Fusion running Windows XP (with all patches).
  2. Downloaded secure upgrade 708 directly to USB (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Activated_Upgrade#Upgrade_the_Activated_Laptop)
  3. Downloaded Customization key to desktop and unzipped to top level of USB (http://dev.laptop.org/~mstone/customization-2.zip)
  4. Downloaded Activities directly Bundles folder on USB (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Activated_Upgrade#Upgrade_the_Activated_Laptop)
  5. Followed Secure Upgrade Instructions. Inserted USB, let it run. It shut down. I rebooted, XO checked firmware, updated and restarted itself a couple of times as it updated firmware.
  6. Set Name
  7. Set Color
  8. Connected to wireless network by selecting my router from the network screen and entering my passphrase.
  9. Set the time w/ ntpdate (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Sugar-Control-Panel#Setting_The_Time_With_ntpdate)

Results

  1. Koduku chicken activity hangs on loading
  2. Firefox2 activity hangs on loading then quits
  3. Need to install Flash
  4. Activities that were straight .xo files installed fine. Activities that were zipped did not install. Do I need to unzip them - where? Asked question on OLPCForums (http://olpcnews.com/forum/index.php?topic=3057.msg24310#msg24310)
  5. Build update.1 708
  6. Firmware Q2D16

Links Section


Random Questions/Ideas For Me

  • Put USB in with Teacups Ubuntu on it and see it in Journal. Also search for it before going through Ubuntu on SD effort.