Ubuntu 11.10 – OnericOcelot – ubuntu does not start after upgrade, new kernel not installed, lightdm not installed

Seems like it is more and more difficult to upgrade Ubuntu (especially if you do not want to use Unity or Gnome Shell).

Last weekend I was to update 4 computers to new Ubuntu 11.10

• netbook (Asus EeePC 1000H) – no problems
• HP Laptop – no problem
• PC – problem with new kernel  (did not install)
• HTPC – problem with display manager (lightdm did not install, gdm stopped working)

On all computers (except for HTPC) I have switched from Gnome 2 to Xfce  (not to get trapped in Unity or Gnome Shell after upgrade).

Kernel problem (nvidia drivers)

After PC upgrade, I have rebooted and new Ubuntu started. For some reasons it used old kernel 2.6.38 . I do not know why new kernel 3.0.0 was not upgraded and installed. I decided to install new kernel vith synaptic, which went smoothly. After reboot, X-Window did not start (even in recovery session).  Luckily, I was able to get to the command prompt with networking enabled. The fix was to un-install Nvidia driver, install new kernel headers and install Nvidia driver back.

apt-get remove nvidia-current nvidia-settings
apt-get install linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic
apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings

After that, Ubuntu started OK.

Lightdm problem

After HTPC upgrade, I have rebooted and found  the  X-Window did not start (again!). Luckily, I was able to get into command prompt. Reinstalling Nvidia driver (like in previous case) did not help. After some investigation I was able to start X-Window with startx command. I have installed lightdm, rebooted and everything was OK.

Looking forward to 12.04 :-).

How to set-up Asus router (RT-N10, rev. B1) in repeater mode using Wireless MAC filter on the main router

Extend your Wi-Fi signal with Linksys WRT54G (main router) and ASUS RT-N10 (repeater)

I have used  WRT54G router (running DD-WRT) for more than 6 years. After upgrading to Android phones I needed to extend  Wi-Fi signal, so it can be reached outside.

I have been searching for some cheap Wi-Fi router that can operate in repeater mode (and possible upgradeable to DD-WRT in the future). I have made decision to buy ASUS RT-N10 (rev. B1)

As a first step .I have upgraded firmware to latest version.  Next switched router to repeater mode, selected Wi-Fi network provided by WRT54G, provided network WPA2  password.  Everything seemed OK, except for authorisation.

I have realised I had enabled Wireless MAC Access filter on WRT54G, so I added RT-N10 MAC address to the filter list. Unfortunately this did not help. The solution was to temporarily disable  Wireless MAC address filter (on WRT54G) and find out MAC address RT-N10 uses for Wi-Fi connection (in DD-WRT Web interface), which was different from MAC address shown in RT-N10 Web interface (last hex number was increased by 1, e.g. 9C -> 9D).

After correcting MAC address in the filter list (and enabled MAC filtering again), repeater mode started to work.

Ubuntu 11.04 Natty (fight for microphone)

Ubuntu 11.04 has been released. Since it is still possible to use Ubuntu classic desktop with 11.04 (I’m not sure if I ever get used to using Unity), I have decided to upgrade. Upgrade itself was smooth (as usually). After reboot, everything seemed OK, except for the fact  there was no sound capture on the (rear) Microphone. Sound preferences Input tab did not show any Connector (selector)  to choose input sink.

My audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP72XE/MCP72P/MCP78U/MCP78S High Definition Audio (rev a1)

It took me several hours to find a solution, which was rather easy.

• install gamix (Graphical sound mixer for ALSA)
• Change InputSource from Line (which seems to become default capture sink) to RearMic, change InputSource1 from FrontMic to Line (not needed)
• save ALSA settings with sudo alsactl store
• update .profile file to load saved ALSA settings with alsactl restore
• There is still no connector in the Sound preferences, but microphone works

To find this simple solution, I have tried to reinstall ALSA, which resulted in complete removal of sound card hardware setting from the system. It took several hours to find this script, which installed ALSA correctly back.