Some varied Linux questions from a n00b

[spazntwich1]

I've recently gotten Mandrake 8.1 up and running on my machine (See sig for specs), and I'm pretty happy with it. Most everything works, but I've got some questions still. If anyone can answer just one of the, I BEG you to respond.

1. Do I need NFS running? I'm running a custom kernel, and I must've not included support for NFS, because when I boot, doing something involving NFS fails.

2. Why can't I change permissions on NTFS partitions? I've got my mp3s and such on a NTFS partition. If I umount it, I can change the perms for the folder it mounts to, so my normal user can read it, but once I mount it back, the permissions for the partition are reverted, and only root can access anything on the partition.

3. What's up with the Nvidia drivers? After fighting with them for a while, I got the kernel patch compiled and installed, and then proceeded to install the GLX package. I then edited my XF86Config-4 file to load the new drivers. Thing is, whenever I reboot, just trying to start X results in a 'screens found, but not with anything that can be used' error, and X fails to start. Just going to the directory for the kernel driver and 'make install'ing as root lets me startup X, but then I still don't think 3d is working. i.e. GL programs just don't run.

4. What's the best GUI config tool for Apache? I've got apache running, but I'd like to customize it some more, without having to sift through archaic conf files. Can anyone suggest anything?

5. How long does creative take to get out Linux drivers for their freaking cards? I've got the oss drivers working with my Audigy, but they only work for 3 hours at a time, and I don't think I want to pay for something I'm owed by creative anyway.

6. What's the BEST place to get themes for WMs? Themes.org is slow, and doesn't seem to have a stellar selection of themes.

I think that's about it for now. All I can say is: "Being a Linux newbie sucks, but I think it will be worth it eventually".

 

[BlackOmen]

>> 1. Do I need NFS running? I'm running a custom kernel, and I must've not included support for NFS, because when I boot, doing something involving NFS fails.

Basically, NFS is used to export a drive so that another computer can remotely mount it. The answer: no.


>> 2. Why can't I change permissions on NTFS partitions? I've got my mp3s and such on a NTFS partition. If I umount it, I can change the perms for the folder it mounts to, so my normal user can read it, but once I mount it back, the permissions for the partition are reverted, and only root can access anything on the partition.

NTFS does not use unix style permissions, so any permissions changes you try to make go out the window. If you can create a spare partition, what I like to do for mp3's is place them on a msdos partition and use umsdos. Umsdos allows for unix permissions on an msdos partition, without altering the file structure. The also allows windows to read the partition.


>> 3. What's up with the Nvidia drivers? After fighting with them for a while, I got the kernel patch compiled and installed, and then proceeded to install the GLX package. I then edited my XF86Config-4 file to load the new drivers. Thing is, whenever I reboot, just trying to start X results in a 'screens found, but not with anything that can be used' error, and X fails to start. Just going to the directory for the kernel driver and 'make install'ing as root lets me startup X, but then I still don't think 3d is working. i.e. GL programs just don't run.

Hmm, did you install from rpm? Are you sure that Load "glx" is not comment ed out? Were you sure to change Driver "nv" to Driver "nvidia"? Are you that you do not have any lines that read Load "dri" or Load "GLcore"?


>> 5. How long does creative take to get out Linux drivers for their freaking cards? I've got the oss drivers working with my Audigy, but they only work for 3 hours at a time, and I don't think I want to pay for something I'm owed by creative anyway.

Creative has always taken their sweet time releasing windows drivers, and they were extremely reluctant to allow access to their emu10k1 source. In short, don't hold your breath waiting for a good driver. I believe ALSA has beta support right now.


>>6. What's the BEST place to get themes for WMs? Themes.org is slow, and doesn't seem to have a stellar selection of themes.

Try classic.themes.org which is themes.org before they did their "enhancement".

EDIT: It may be a good idea to generate a fresh XF86Config file by running xf86config as root. I always like to.

 

[marat]

<< >> 2. Why can't I change permissions on NTFS partitions? I've got my mp3s and such on a NTFS partition. If I umount it, I can change the perms for the folder it mounts to, so my normal user can read it, but once I mount it back, the permissions for the partition are reverted, and only root can access anything on the partition.

NTFS does not use unix style permissions, so any permissions changes you try to make go out the window. If you can create a spare partition, what I like to do for mp3's is place them on a msdos partition and use umsdos. Umsdos allows for unix permissions on an msdos partition, without altering the file structure. The also allows windows to read the partition. >>



If you want to let non root user to mount partition you have to add user as an option in fstab
He is probably trying to make this partition accessible to no root user or read by not root user.
If you mounted it, but user can not access, try mode=value, where value - default permissions in octal 755 will be all right



<<
>> 3. What's up with the Nvidia drivers? After fighting with them for a while, I got the kernel patch compiled and installed, and then proceeded to install the GLX package. I then edited my XF86Config-4 file to load the new drivers. Thing is, whenever I reboot, just trying to start X results in a 'screens found, but not with anything that can be used' error, and X fails to start. Just going to the directory for the kernel driver and 'make install'ing as root lets me startup X, but then I still don't think 3d is working. i.e. GL programs just don't run.

Hmm, did you install from rpm? Are you sure that Load "glx" is not comment ed out? Were you sure to change Driver "nv" to Driver "nvidia"? Are you that you do not have any lines that read Load "dri" or Load "GLcore"?
>>



Installing NVidia drivers in Mandrake8.0

 

[TheWart]

Regarding the NTFS problem....
In your /etc/fstab, have a line that looks like so:

/dev/hda3 (or whaever your partiiton is) /mp3 (or where u want it mounted to) ntfs defaults,ro,user 0 0

this should give all users read permissions to the drive..hope this helps

 

[spazntwich1]

Thanks for the replies yall.

As for the nvidia drivers, yes, I have gone through my XF86Config file multiple times. The video card driver is set to "nvidia", I have "load "GLX"" in my modules section, and those other 2 lines never were in the file in the first place. I suppose I should go to the actual nvidia message boards for a fix, but people here are often times more helpful than even specialized message boards.

Thank you ALL for the help on the file system mounting. I'll check my FSTAB file and see what I can do there.

BlackOmen: What's ALSA?

EDIT: It pays to look for yourself. A quick check of sourceforge comes up with advanced linux sound architecture.

EDIT2: And, thanks be to google, I found http://www.alsa-project.com

 

[spazntwich1]

NTFS still isn't working the way it should. I'm going to look for a way to convert from NTFS to FAT32.

 

[Armitage]

<< NTFS still isn't working the way it should. I'm going to look for a way to convert from NTFS to FAT32. >>



Good idea. Note that NTFS write support under Linux is still very alpha. ie. you could screw up your whole partition.

 

[BlackOmen]

Any user should be able to read the ntfs partition, even if mounted by root. You aren't by chance trying to write to the ntfs partition are you? If so, ntfs write suppport is still in development and would not be used by default (and should not be used for that matter either).

<< I'm going to look for a way to convert from NTFS to FAT32. >>

AFAIK, the best way to convert ntfs to fat32 is backup, format, reinstall. If you do convert to fat32, you have the option of using umsdos, which allows for unix permissions on an ordinary fat partition, without changing the file structure.

 

[spazntwich1]

No, I'm definitely not trying to write to it. I can't 'cd' to the directories, I can't open them in Konquerer, and xmms can't read mp3's off of their, even if it knows the filepath.

I cannot find ANY way to get my normal user read access to the partition for longer than 1 session. i.e. Even if I manage to change things around enough that I can read it, as soon as I reboot, I can't read again.

I've tried using the GUI permission options, chmod, editing fstab, and using linuxconf. I simply CAN NOT get my normal user to read the NTFS partitions. I don't know what the deal is...

 

[BlackOmen]

Replace your ntfs partition line in fstab with this (after editing foir partition and mount point)

/dev/hdXX /mnt/blah ntfs defaults,user,noauto 0 0

and as your normal user, mount the partition using the mount command (for the noauto will not mount at boot time). As in mount /mnt/blah and let me know what happens.

 

[spazntwich1]

I'm trying to decide whether to laugh or cry.

I just specifically mounted the partitions as my normal user, and then I could read them. If this continues to work, problem solved.