Upgrading from 8.10 to 9.04

I'm a little embarrassed to say this but this is the first time I've upgraded from one version to another. In the past, I would always go the way of a fresh install, a nasty habit I picked up from my Windows days. Unfortunately, it's something I never managed to shake off. Until now, that is.

But with the new release of Jaunty Jackalope, I thought I'd give it a shot. I was already pretty happy with the settings on my laptop running Intrepid Ibex. An upgrade would save me the hassle of reconfiguring everything.

And you know what? The upgrade worked without any major hitches.

Alright, to be honest, I did have to tweak a couple of things (more on that later), but by and large, the upgrade went smoothly. I gotta hand it to the Ubuntu team, the design of the upgrade process is slick and easy.

There's two ways to do the upgrade: over the network through Synaptic, and through a local copy of the Alternate Installation disk. The difference only happens in the beginning. After the first few steps, they converge.

I tried the Synaptic network upgrade first, but decided to abort it on account of a slow network. Regardless, the process is almost idiot-proof. When you fire up Synaptic, you'll see a notice for the new version, alongside an Upgrade button.

What follows next is additional info.


Then, Ubuntu downloads the two files which consist the upgrade tool. The files are relatively small and the download finished quickly.



At this point, the network upgrade and the CD-ROM upgrade now converge. I did let the network upgrade run a bit until I realized it was a Bad Idea. I cancelled the operation, and Ubuntu rolled back to 8.10.

I then decided to download the Alternate Install CD. Once done, I mounted it locally via

sudo mount -o loop /home/dodgie/Desktop/ubuntu-9.04-alternate-i386.iso /media/cdrom0/

On the root of the Alternate Install CD is an executable called cdromupgrade. Invoking the program:

gksu ./cdromupgrade

And it brought me back to the point which you see now. The rest of the pictures are pretty much self-explanatory. Not much more to do except just to answer a couple of prompts.

My next post will be about the minor hiccups I mentioned earlier. Even those could not dampen my enthusiasm for the breezy process.

Ubuntu rocks!

New Ubuntu options

While poking around in the Jaunty Jackalope download page, I noticed several new additions to the usual download options. For the past few releases, we've only had to contend with the Desktop Install, the Server Install, and the Alternate Install Edition, all with the 32-bit and 64-bit variants. These all fell within the 700MB size limit of CD-Rs. But with Jaunty Jackalope, there are a few more:

First, there's now the Install/Live DVD, which weighs in at 4.3GB. There's no stated differences with the standard CD edition, but I presume that this will have more packages preloaded into the CD, e.g., compilers, development environments, and databases. The bigger size will be a pain to download, but it should be easier to redistribute the software to organizations without broadband Internet.

Next, there's the Ubuntu Netbook Remix, available as a .img file. As per the description:

This USB image allows you to run Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR) from a USB storage device without installing UNR on your computer. While running in this "live" environment you will be running a full desktop environment and have the option to install UNR permanently, as well as installing UNR alongside an existing operating system. This USB image is optimized for netbooks with screens up to 10". You will need at least 256MB of RAM to install from this image.

For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows, as well as newer Apple Macintosh systems based on Intel processors. Choose this if you are at all unsure.

Finally, there's the MID USB image, meant for mobile Internet devices, also available as a .img file.

The MID USB image allows you to try Ubuntu without changing your computer at all, and at your option to install it permanently later. This USB image is optimized for handheld devices with 4-7" touchscreens and limited processing power. You will need at least 128MB of RAM to install from this image.

Now I wish I knew which MID devices Ubuntu runs on so I can go out and buy 'em!

Image files are written to USB using the usb-imagewriter utility, as outlined in the USB image how-to.

Curious at these developments, I also had a look at the Intrepid and Hardy download pages. The Netbook remix had also been introduced to 8.10, but with 8.04, only the DVD option is now available.

Acer Aspire 4730Z

It took a long, long while but I finally went out and bought a new laptop to replace my four-year old Thinkpad. Just in the nick of time, too: my mother, my sister, and even the manager of the next-door computer shop were getting upset with me.

Here's the story. I dropped by the computer shop last December and saw that they had slashed P3,000 off the regular price of their Acer Aspire laptops. What caught my eye was the Aspire 4730Z -- Intel T3200 dual-core, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard disk, 14.1" WXGA screen, and no operating system. All these, and its price tag of P27,000, just a little bit more than the average netbook.

And, of course, cheapskate me, I kept holding off the purchase. My Thinkpad still works, I said to myself. It's slow but it works. But there were days, of course, when its underpowered 256MB RAM just couldn't cut it any more.

And almost every day, I'd be wandering over to the computer shop. "Has someone bought it already?" I would ask. "Last two units," the manager would say.

Truth be told, I was tempted to buy it elsewhere, yet another reason for my vacillation. At another computer chain, they sold the same model at the same price but with an added 1GB RAM. But then again, we had been neighbors with the next-door shop for so long. Out of loyalty and goodwill, I decided I would buy it from them or not at all.

A couple more weeks passed. The supplies were steadily dwindling. Today, when I finally decided to buy the unit, it was the last one on display. The manager cried her hallelujahs when I walked into the store and announced my intent.

I didn't even bother checking the default Linpus operating system that came with it. Installed Intrepid Ibex this afternoon and everything is working great. As in everything. No funky drivers to install, even the webcam works perfectly with cheese.

My only complaints are the keyboard whose layout I'm not used to (having worked with the Thinkpad for so long) and the touchpad which feels awkward. But I guess it's just a matter of time.

Specs of the machine:

aspire
    description: Computer
    product: Aspire 4730Z
    vendor: Acer
    version: V1.10
    serial: LXAT90C03183605CF31601
    width: 32 bits
    capabilities: smbios-2.4 dmi-2.4
    configuration: boot=normal uuid=76933E2A-E885-09FC-947C-001EEC5F769E
  *-core
       description: Motherboard
       product: Aspire 4730Z
       vendor: Acer
       physical id: 0
       version: V1.10
       serial: Base Board Serial Number
       slot: Base Board Chassis Location
     *-firmware
          description: BIOS
          vendor: Acer
          physical id: 0
          version: V1.10 (07/29/2008)
          size: 1MiB
     *-memory
          description: System Memory
          physical id: 14
          slot: System board or motherboard
          size: 1GiB
        *-bank:0
             description: SODIMM Synchronous 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
             product: 888888888888888888888888888888888888
             vendor: Samsung
             physical id: 0
             serial: 75900A88
             slot: DIMM0
             size: 1GiB
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:1
             description: SODIMM [empty]
             physical id: 1
             slot: DIMM2
     *-cpu
          description: CPU
          product: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual  CPU  T3200  @ 2.00GHz
          vendor: Intel Corp.
          physical id: 1d
          bus info: cpu@0
          version: 6.15.13
          serial: 0000-06FD-0000-0000-0000-0000
          slot: uPGA-478
          size: 2GHz
          capacity: 2GHz
          width: 64 bits
          clock: 166MHz
          configuration: id=1
        *-cache:0
             description: L2 cache
             physical id: 1e
             slot: L2 Cache
             size: 1MiB
             capacity: 1MiB
             capabilities: synchronous internal write-back unified
        *-cache:1
             description: L1 cache
             physical id: 20
             slot: L1 Cache
             size: 32KiB
             capacity: 32KiB
             capabilities: synchronous internal write-back data
        *-logicalcpu:0
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 1.1
             width: 64 bits
             capabilities: logical
        *-logicalcpu:1
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 1.2
             width: 64 bits
             capabilities: logical
     *-cache
          description: L1 cache
          physical id: 1f
          slot: L1 Cache
          size: 32KiB
          capacity: 32KiB
          capabilities: synchronous internal write-back instruction
     *-pci
          description: Host bridge
          product: Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub
          vendor: Intel Corporation
          physical id: 100
          bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
          version: 07
          width: 32 bits
          clock: 33MHz
          configuration: driver=agpgart-intel module=intel_agp
        *-display:0 UNCLAIMED
             description: VGA compatible controller
             product: Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
             version: 07
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: msi pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-display:1 UNCLAIMED
             description: Display controller
             product: Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
             version: 07
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-usb:0
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:1
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:2
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.7
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm debug bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0 module=ehci_hcd
        *-multimedia
             description: Audio device
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1b
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
             version: 03
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0 module=snd_hda_intel
        *-pci:0
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
        *-pci:1
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
           *-network
                description: Wireless interface
                product: AR928X Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
                vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
                logical name: wmaster0
                version: 01
                serial: 00:22:69:93:cd:13
                width: 64 bits
                clock: 33MHz
        *-pci:2
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 3
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.2
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
           *-network
                description: Ethernet interface
                product: RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller
                vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:05:00.0
                logical name: eth0
                version: 02
                serial: 00:1e:ec:5f:76:9e
                size: 100MB/s
                capacity: 1GB/s
                width: 64 bits
                clock: 33MHz
        *-pci:3
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 5
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c.4
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.4
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
           *-system:0
                description: System peripheral
                product: SD/MMC Host Controller
                vendor: JMicron Technologies, Inc.
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:07:00.0
                version: 00
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm pciexpress msi bus_master cap_list
                configuration: driver=sdhci-pci latency=0 module=sdhci_pci
           *-system:1 UNCLAIMED
                description: SD Host controller
                product: Standard SD Host Controller
                vendor: JMicron Technologies, Inc.
                physical id: 0.2
                bus info: pci@0000:07:00.2
                version: 00
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm pciexpress msi cap_list
                configuration: latency=0
           *-system:2 UNCLAIMED
                description: System peripheral
                product: MS Host Controller
                vendor: JMicron Technologies, Inc.
                physical id: 0.3
                bus info: pci@0000:07:00.3
                version: 00
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm pciexpress msi bus_master cap_list
                configuration: latency=0
           *-system:3 UNCLAIMED
                description: System peripheral
                product: xD Host Controller
                vendor: JMicron Technologies, Inc.
                physical id: 0.4
                bus info: pci@0000:07:00.4
                version: 00
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm pciexpress msi bus_master cap_list
                configuration: latency=0
        *-usb:3
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:4
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:5
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:6
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.3
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:7
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm debug bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0 module=ehci_hcd
        *-pci:4
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1e
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
             version: 93
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci bus_master cap_list
        *-isa
             description: ISA bridge
             product: ICH9M LPC Interface Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-storage
             description: SATA controller
             product: ICH9M/M-E SATA AHCI Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
             logical name: scsi0
             logical name: scsi1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: storage msi pm bus_master cap_list emulated
             configuration: driver=ahci latency=0 module=ahci
           *-disk
                description: ATA Disk
                product: Hitachi HTS54321
                vendor: Hitachi
                physical id: 0
                bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/sda
                version: FB2O
                serial: 080728FB0240LCGK11WA
                size: 149GiB (160GB)
                capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
                configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=86f686f6
              *-volume:0
                   description: EXT3 volume
                   vendor: Linux
                   physical id: 1
                   bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
                   logical name: /dev/sda1
                   logical name: /
                   logical name: /dev/.static/dev
                   version: 1.0
                   serial: 12776c79-c919-4651-907e-b320e17e13e4
                   size: 18GiB
                   capacity: 18GiB
              *-volume:1
                   description: Extended partition
                   physical id: 2
                   bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2
                   logical name: /dev/sda2
                   size: 130GiB
                   capacity: 130GiB
                   capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
                 *-logicalvolume:0
                      description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
                      physical id: 5
                      logical name: /dev/sda5
                      capacity: 1906MiB
                      capabilities: nofs
                 *-logicalvolume:1
                      description: Linux filesystem partition
                      physical id: 6
                      logical name: /dev/sda6
                      logical name: /home
                      capacity: 128GiB
                      configuration: mount.fstype=ext3 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=continue,data=ordered state=mounted
           *-cdrom
                description: DVD-RAM writer
                product: DVD RW AD-7560S
                vendor: Optiarc
                physical id: 1
                bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/cdrom
                logical name: /dev/cdrw
                logical name: /dev/dvd
                logical name: /dev/dvdrw
                logical name: /dev/scd0
                logical name: /dev/sr0
                version: SX07
                capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
                configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
        *-serial UNCLAIMED
             description: SMBus
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
             version: 03
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             configuration: latency=0
        *-generic UNCLAIMED
             description: Signal processing controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) Thermal Subsystem
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.6
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.6
             version: 03
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
  *-battery
       description: Lithium Ion Battery
       product: Li-lon Battery
       vendor: -Virtual Battery 0-
       physical id: 1
       version: 10/12/2007
       serial: Battery 0
       slot: Fake
  *-network DISABLED
       description: Ethernet interface
       physical id: 2
       logical name: pan0
       serial: 62:c4:fb:7d:1d:22
       capabilities: ethernet physical

Stock Ubuntu 8.10 on EeePC 701

Just installed a stock Ubuntu 8.10 on my EeePC 701 and the result is a mixed bag.

On the plus side, Ubuntu automatically detected and configured the correct resolution for the EeePC. That part was fairly simple and straightforward.

On the downside? Well, there are several:

Installation took forever. Okay, it might have been my choice of hardware: instead of overwriting the onboard flash disk, I decided to install on an 8GB SD card. It took a couple of hours to copy the files and configure the system.

Wifi still doesn't work out of the box. This was supposed to have been one of the things included in Intrepid. Unfortunately, it's not in the stock kernel. I still have to install via the backports.

The screen real estate is still cramped. My main problem during the pre-installation / selection phase was that I couldn't get to the confirmation buttons.

Shutdown doesn't work properly. This is a documented bug.

The disappointment stems from the expectations that 8.10 was written for the EeePC. At a minimum, I would have expected something better with the screen real estate layout and the onboard Wifi. While there are automated scripts to fix all this, they're all written for earlier versions of Ubuntu.

I know there's also Ubuntu-eee but I've been avoiding it because it's not an official port. But the way things are, I think I just might try it next.

USB Startup Disk Creator

I must say: the USB startup disk creator that comes with Intrepid Ibex is pretty slick. It takes the pain out of copying files and installing syslinux on the stick. And it works out of the LiveCD, too.

Quite a sensible thing to add, given how cheap USB flash disks are these days.

My first look at Ibex

Downloaded and installed Intrepid Ibex. What you see here are my first screenshots of the system I installed within VirtualBox.

First verdict: I really don't like the new wallpaper. I think Hardy Heron had more charm to it; this one looks like, well, a blood spatter.

Other than that, there aren't too many user-interface changes that I can see, which means, hopefully, that the transition should be smooth. (I'm planning to keep Hardy for my main system though; everything else will be virtualized.)

The new login screen: a little darker than I'm used to, but not too different.


A minor change in the installation process: Ibex now has TrueCrypt, which allows you to encrypt files and folders. This prompt now pops up during the install.

Continuing from above.

I'll post more over the coming days.

Ubuntu 8.10 released

You can get it here. Preferably, use the BitTorrent option.

What's in Ubuntu 8.10?

Maximum PC has a great article on what to expect in Ubuntu 8.10. Among the highlights are Gnome 2.24 (now with built-in search utility and enhanced Bluetooth support), improved graphics with X.Org 7.4, and version 2.6.27 of the Linux kernel.

Other improvements include a new network manager, guest accounts, encrypted secret folders, and better support for web audio and video.

Can't wait. Planning to install it on my Asus EeePC 701.