Fat thumbs mess things up

Ever since getting my net netbook I've been struggling with trying to avoid tapping my thumbs to the touchpad while typing. I can tell you wieeeerd things happen when you double tap, drag and type at the same time..

Anyway, there's a simple remedy for the problem, named syndaemon: "a program that monitors keyboard activity and disables the touchpad when the keyboard is being used". Dead simple.

Activate by adding it to your Preferences -> Startup Applications with the command "/usr/bin/syndaemon -t -d".

I'm free again.

Export samba shares in Jolicloud / Ubuntu

I wanted to get samba working on my Jolicloud, and for the novice, it's not just click-and-go (you can't just search for "samba" in the app directory and install it), so I though I'd share how to do it (manually).

My goal was to share my home directory of my Netbook, so I could access it from my desktop, with authentication ofcourse.

First thing you have to do is start a root terminal, you can find it in the main menu under "System Tools". From here you install the samba packages by issuing:

# apt-get install samba

Answer Yes to install samba packages and dependencies.

Second step is to edit the samba configuration file (/etc/samba/smb.conf).

For sharing only your home directory, you can use this configuration file (changing the workgroup name)

[global]

workgroup = WORKGROUP

server string = %h Netbook

dns proxy = no

log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m

max log size = 1000

syslog = 0

panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d

encrypt passwords = true

passdb backend = tdbsam

obey pam restrictions = yes

unix password sync = yes

passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u

passwd chat = *Enter\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *Retype\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *password\supdated\ssuccessfully* .

pam password change = yes

map to guest = bad user

usershare allow guests = yes

[homes]

comment = Home Directories

browseable = no

read only = no

create mask = 0700

directory mask = 0700

Third, you have to set your samba password by issuing

# smbpasswd yourusername

You will have to enter the same password twice.

Last step is to actually start the samba daemon:

# service samba start

That's it, you should now be able to browse your "Windows network" from another computer by browsing the directory "\\ip.of.your.new.samba.server\username" or use the smbclient command from the terminal:

# smbclient //ip.of.your.new.samba.server/username

New NetBook and running Jolicloud

Wee!

Got myself a new NetBook, an ASUS eee 1101AH 160GB/1GB, to be more specific! It's wonderful to have something as handy to carry around, weighing in at only 1.35kg. Plans are to replace the 160GB SATA with an SSD, but it seems like a messy project trying to break into the internals of this compact thing. I'll get to it eventually.

Anyway, it's running Jolicloud Pre-Beta, a NetBook "remix" of Ubuntu with GMA500 support (like "DELLs Ubuntu") and one-click installs, community etc. Check it out if you can, it's cool.

They don't however provide all their source code (yet), so you've been warned (but hey, ppl use M$ everyday so..).