The "Linux questions (and other stuff)" thread

[Hadron]

Me? I LOVE the command line! I still do all my real work there.

Ah, a woman after my own heart! To me any computer I can't launch a bash shell on (or zsh at a pinch) is essentially useless for work.

To show I'm not kidding, I just had a quick look at my laptop and can see 16 terminal windows open (spread over 13 virtual desktops - I use different workspaces for different projects and tasks). But several of those have more than one tab, so that's an underestimate of the number of command lines I have going. I can do virtually anything faster with a command line than a graphical file browser, so rarely open those things.

(OK, this is a Macbook, but that's just a BSD derivative with a different GUI on it, so it's still a *nix. And I use Linux for all of my serious computing, entirely via the command line).

 

[MoodyBlues]

I'm reminded of a rather thick book and bundled CD-ROM I bought back in the day...
View attachment 139341
And I never did get it "Unleashed".

I have the same book/CD, but for Red Hat.

 

[MoodyBlues]

There's a teacher looking for guidance setting up a private server, having their students connecting to it with Kindle Fires.

I've gone as far as I can go in the thread.

I know the project can be done--at both ends, i.e., probably rooting the Kindles and providing a locked-down, fixed GUI for the students, and setting up the required services on the Linux box--but I cannot provide the know-how.

I'd appreciate any of you dual Linux/Android geeks popping in to see what you can do. Thanks!

 

[Deleted User]

I have the same book/CD, but for Red Hat.

Ditto.

 

[Dngrsone]

I can't remember what machine it was, but I'm thinking it was probably an ancient Pentium or PII...

I do use the CLI for work, and in fact I teach my minions everything they need to know about the CLI (pertaining to our current job, which is like fifteen commands at most).

 

[MoodyBlues]

My printer stopped working and I don't know why.

In the screenshot, you'll see that I'm getting this: /usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed

Also in the screenshot, note that the executable file hp exists in /usr/lib/cups/backend.

This is the PC running Kubuntu 9.10 whose pic of it booting up I recently posted.

The printer is an HP Deskjet F4100 Series; its age is ≈12 years old. Nothing has been changed in its settings or its system files in YEARS.

I've tried all the obvious things, but have gotten nowhere.

Ideas?

 

[Deleted User]

Any errors in the log file? /var/log/cups/error_log

You could try uninstalling, and reinstalling the printer.

 

[Dngrsone]

"Did you try turning off and then turning it back on again?"

 

[MoodyBlues]

"Did you try turning off and then turning it back on again?"

"I've tried all the obvious things, but have gotten nowhere."

So, yes.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Any errors in the log file? /var/log/cups/error_log

The log is 10 million lines long. Scrolling through showed me that I need to give it a proper look--and not on my phone. Will do that later.

You could try uninstalling, and reinstalling the printer.

I'll keep that in mind.

Thanks.

 

[lunatic59]

Have you tried Windows? *vroooaaammm*

 

[Deleted User]

vroooaammm indeed. Get outta here!

 

[Deleted User]

The log is 10 million lines long. Scrolling through showed me that I need to give it a proper look--and not on my phone. Will do that later.

I'll keep that in mind.

Thanks.

grep for "error"?

 

[MoodyBlues]

Have you tried Windows? *vroooaaammm*

I'm LOL-ing so hard I can barely breathe.

Of course...window$, the most intelligent, versatile, powerful OS out there. Now, why didn't *I* think of that?!

 

[Dngrsone]

Mint 19 does not come with a KDE version.

Some day I will have to decide whether I like KDE or Mint better, and I am leaning toward Mint.

I mean, xfce does a lot of the things KDE-like, though it's not nearly as flexible... though I see one person on the Mint forums managed to force-update their 18.3 KDE to 19. Mayhaps I will give that a try (with a fresh install of 18.3).

 

[Deleted User]

Some stuff here related to your printer problem, might be useful to sift through -

https://www.linuxquestions.org/ques...-cups-backend-hp-failed-on-client-4175601187/

 

[Deleted User]

Also, look at the log straight after the problem occurs. Chances are there would be diagnostic messages right at the end of the log

use command

> less /var/log/cups/error_log

and hit G to go to the end of the file. Sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs there

 

[MoodyBlues]

grep for "error"?

Once I get a good look at it [on a computer screen], I'll see what I need to grep for. I think I saw some instances of "error"--but it was really hard to read on a phone.

 

[GameTheory]

Have you tried Windows? *vroooaaammm*

The power of Linux compels you!
The power of Linux compels you!
I cast you out Microsoft demon!
The power of Linux compels you!
The power of Linux compels you!

The Exorcist anyone?

 

[MoodyBlues]

Also, look at the log straight after the problem occurs. Chances are there would be diagnostic messages right at the end of the log

use command

> less /var/log/cups/error_log

and hit G to go to the end of the file.

Will do.

Sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs there

You are, but I don't mind. In fact, I appreciate it. Not only is it helpful for oh-so-rusty me, but it can teach newcomers a thing or two, too.

 

[Dngrsone]

OMG, I was trying to teach my minions the concept of REGEX... total fail on my part.

 

[MoodyBlues]

OMG, I was trying to teach my minions the concept of REGEX... total fail on my part.

Why/how was it a fail?

 

[Dngrsone]

Eyes glazed over, these 20-yr-old children could not think of any reason why one would need to use a regular expression more complicated than *.*

Though it was pretty amusing when I used as an example, under the aegis of make sure you know what you do in a search/replace, of replacing "ass" with "butt" and ending up turning "association" into "buttociation".

 

[MoodyBlues]

Mint 19 does not come with a KDE version.

Some day I will have to decide whether I like KDE or Mint better, and I am leaning toward Mint.

Okay, I'm thoroughly confused. Why can't you just go to KDE.org and install KDE?

 

[Dngrsone]

Because I like Mint, heh.

TBH I haven't gone to KDE.org since the last century, when Kommando was king and their aesthetic was ugly as all hell.

I suppose I should wander over there and see what things like like now.