Ubuntu Gutsy W32Codecs and W64Codecs

At medibuntu they offer a repository with two important codecs required to play most media and DVD files. The W32Codes is for 32 bit Linux systems, and the W64Codecs is for 64 bit systems. Libdvdcss2 is for DVD playback. Simply add the proper repository to your /etc/apt/sources.list file, also add the gpg key, hit a quick sudo apt-get update, and your ready to install your much sought after media codecs.

For Feisty run the following in a command window:

sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/feisty.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list

For Gutsy Gibbon run in a command window:

sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/gutsy.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list

Then add the gpg key with the following command:

wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add - && sudo apt-get update

Note that this command will also update your apt system, then all you have to do is install the codecs:

sudo apt-get install w32codecs libdvdcss2

or:

sudo apt-get install w64codecs libdvdcss2

Nvidia GLX New for Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon

Ubuntu Gutsy does not use the same package name that was used in Feisty. In Feisty the NVIDIA driver was installed with:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx

In Gutsy the driver is installed with:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-new

You can also use the restricted driver manager, which most likely recognizes your NVIDIA hardware

New Post About Nvidia-Glx-New

VirtualBox Gutsy Versus Feisty

I highly recommend installing the Feisty VirtualBox package even if your are using the new Ubuntu Gutsy. First off, by default the USB host bridge is disabled in the Gusty compilation, and when you enable it manually the sound bridge fails to work properly.

I have successfully install the Feisty compilation of VirtualBox on my Gutsy desktop without any problems. This successfully resolved the USB and sound issues. Everything simply works fine.

Drupal on Ubuntu Feisty Server

Drupal can be installed on an out-of-the-box Feisty Server edition with LAMP. To establish maximum compatibility an addition software package is required to establish complete PHP support. The PHP GD libraries can be installed from the Ubuntu repositories with:

sudo apt-get install php5-gd

Then restart apache:

sudo service apache2 restart

Now when you load Drupal on your web server, and you check your status logs, the GD library will show a green check mark with 2.0 or higher specified.

Server Editions, Update Cycles, and Open Source Repercussions

In general, Ubuntu Feisty, and Debian Etch can both be configured for server operation, thus allowing for the minimization of installed applications. I cannot say which one is better for a server, because they both are inarguably stable, and provide recent versions of Mysql, PHP, Apache, and the Kernel. While Ubuntu is more consistent with its updates, Debian is practically indistinguishable, and arguably more stable.

Overall there is no great need for a bleeding edge version of Mysql, PHP, Apache, or the Linux Kernel. Most all software is always provided as backwards compatible, therefore earlier versions of software, in most instances, are capable of performing as expected or required. The most that is sometimes required is custom compiling, in which the major headache is package dependencies.

Package dependencies are indeed an interesting topic. Many Linux distribution utilize custom installation programs that are capable of mitigating package dependencies thoroughly. When compiling code in a bash terminal, it can be extremely frusterating trying to track down, compile, and install required dependencies. Software that automatically resolves required dependencies, compiles them, and proceeds to installation, is the crux of the Linux Movement. It is what sets Linux apart from Windows, as the incredible size, and shear volume, of software titles that are avilable as GPL, or GNU, or otherwise FREE of charge, will provide the tools necessary for the development of next general PC technologies.

Ubuntu Feisty Compared to Debian Etch

Yes Ubuntu does have a pretty boot splash, it comes with additional software installation tools, and it has a more recent kernel, but I personally find it less stable than Debian Etch. For instance, I have installed Ubuntu Feisty, via Live CD, and via text install CD, maybe 50 times, and consistently beryl, with up-to-date Nvidia GLX drivers, has issues leading X to freeze. Although on Debian Etch, after an out-of-the-box install, and a freshly compiled Nvidia Kernel module, Beryl runs flawless with zero glitches

Overall I would consider Debian a less “mainstream” user friendly OS, but for even the least linux savvy user there is the added benefit of stability that cannot be topped. Some packages from the Ubuntu repositories I have had success using on Debian Etch, therefore all the function that is provided by Ubuntu out-of-the-box, can be achieved in Debian Etch after a few apt-get installations.

Ubuntu Feisty Server 7.04 OotB Observation

I have observer on a clean install of Ubuntu Feisty Server that the apt system is pre-configured to search the installation CD for updates. On my system I would try and perform a routine update, and the CD was not being successfully read by the drive, hence preventing a complete update. I performed a clean install several times all with the same outcome.

The solution to this problem is extremely simple, but none the less it is an observation about the pre-configured, out of the box setup that may cause some stumbled with people new to linux.  The quick fix:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Just put  # in front of the line that references the CD.

Ohhh, by the way, in the title of the post; OotB = out of the box