slow internet after kernel upgrade

You recently upgraded your Linux kernel or changed your distro and Internet became suddenly slow ? You tried everything from disabling ipv6 support, MTU improvement to DNS tweaks ?

Generally the connection behaves normally for a few minutes and then speed dramatically decrease

Well if you’re using Wifi (especially an Atheros chipset), it’s probably a stupid module problem try typing:

sudo modprobe -r ath5k
sudo modprobe ath5k nohwcrypt

Now check if the connection is as fast as usual, if it’s OK, you can make this modification permanent using this command (tested with Ubuntu) :

sudo sh -c "echo 'options ath5k nohwcrypt' >/etc/modprobe.d/custom-wireless.conf"

Enjoy fast surfing!

howto: Speed up your Linux up to 10x

You’ve probably heard about the 200 lines kernel patch that makes wonders ? Well there’s an easier way to dramatically increase your Linux Distro reactiveness and obtain a similar result, I tested it and it’s really working , this is for Ubuntu:

“Script To Automatically Apply the “200 Lines Kernel Patch” Alternative In Ubuntu”

For other distros:

Swiftfox no flash sound problem

You’ve installed Swiftfox and you’ve got no sound while playing flash videos ? If you’re an Ubuntu user don’t bother yourself with the myriads of proposed solutions and install the flashplugin-nonfree-extrasound package.

Swiftfox is a closed source app, there’s an excellent open source alternative : Swiftweasel, give it a try it’s as fast and lightweighted. For Mac users try Camino.

Both of this two apps can be translated using the official Mozilla language files, go to this url:

http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/

Select your version and check /linux-i686/xpi/ click on your xpi language file and it will install automatically.

OpenVPN connected but No Surf in Ubuntu

If you’re using an OpenVPN Server to surf in Ubuntu, maybe you experienced this strange problem : you can connect but you cannot surf !    This how to fix it...

Ext3 read problems under Windows

Maybe you recently discovered that just after a fresh install of the last version of your favorite Linux Distro, apps like explore2fs, Acronis True Image or the Ext2/3 Driver for Windows couldn’t read no more your Ext3 Filesystem, Acronis True Image even complaining about “Partition Errors”.

This is due to the fact that most of new distros (starting from version 8.10 concerning Ubuntu) are using the inode 256 structure by default for their filesystem. There’s pretty much nothing to do about that, the only way to switch back to the well-supported inode 128 is to reformat your hard drive…

Acronis True Image Home 2009 (build 9709) is the only version that supports inode 256 (Business/Workstation 2009 don’t, nor 2010 versions), you can still switch to CloneZilla or Partimage which are excellent (and free) alternatives to True Image or Ghost.

Howto: Share an NTFS Drive under Linux with Mac

 

Recently I wanted to share my external NTFS Hardrive connected to my Linux desktop station with my Mac Laptop. I thought about using NFS but I prefered Samba to be able accessing the drive using Windows…

Howto : Connect to a Linux Server with a Windows Client in Graphical Mode

If you’ve got VNC installed* on your *nix server it’s really easy, launch the vncserver service
( type vncserver in a terminal, you can do it being root or a simple user)

If it’s the first launch you’ll be invited to create a password. (You can change it later by typing vncpasswd)

Launch your Widows VNC Viewer Client and connect to your server’s IP or host indicating the port 5901
(It should be open on the server) ie :

192.168.1.666:5901 or servername:5901

Et voilà !

* Install: Depending on your distro you’ll need vnc vnc-server vnc-java or xvncviewer vncserver vnc-java.

vnc-java is used to connect using a web browser, check the VNC FAQ if you wanna know more about this.

Howto: Ctrl+Alt+Del open System Monitor in GNOME

If you want to open the System Monitor in Gnome just like Windows, here’s what you have to do :



1) Disable the current Ctrl+Alt+Del combination (Logout) :

In Ubuntu Go to System ->Preferences ->Keyboard Shortcuts -> Desktop disable logout shortcut (hit backspace) if it’s associated with Ctrl+Alt+Del.

2) Enter these commands in a shell :

 

gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/run_command_1 "Delete"

 

gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/keybinding_commands/command_1 "gnome-system-monitor"

 

Note that these are Metacity global keybindings, normally you should have the 12 run commands disabled so you can use 1 to 12 numbers range in run_command_x and command_x, it’s always better to check their current status, hit Alt+F2 enter gconf-editor then open apps -> metacity -> global_keybindings.

I got this informations reading this excellent post. Take also a look at Ubuntu Guide.

Use Internet Explorer without Windows nor Emulation

Wonder how ? If you want to render a page or a website in all IE versions starting from 5.5, just try :

 

 

A Firefox extension can be found here.

To add the service to your website paste this code on the body :

<form method="post" id="form" name="form" action="http://ipinfo.info/netrenderer/index.php"
accept-charset="utf-8" target="_blank">

<select name="browser" style="width: 145px;">

<option value="ie8">Internet Explorer 8</option>

<option value="ie7">Internet Explorer 7</option>

<option value="ie6" selected="selected">Internet Explorer 6</option>

<option value="ie55">Internet Explorer 5.5</option>

<option value="ie-mix">IE7-IE6 Mixed</option>

<option value="ie-diff">IE7-IE6 Difference</option></select>&nbsp;

<input name="url" id="url" value="http://" size="61" maxlength="240" type="text">

<input name="go" value="Render" type="submit">

</form>

Another extension for all browsers rendering is available here but it’s still experimental and needs a trial registration to BrowserCam Capture Service.

 

 

You can also test your page in 23 browsers with litmus but you’ll have to pay (Only IE7 and FF2 rendering are free)

Howto: Take a screenshot in Mac OSX

You’re new to mac and you don’t find the Print Screen button ? You can take take three types of screenshots in Mac OSX without using third parties software :

1) A fullscreen capture : just hold down the apple button (Command), SHIFT and press 3.

2) A selection screenshot : Hold down the apple button, SHIFT and press 4, you’ll get a crosshair cursor to select the area to capture.

3) A window capture : If you want to do a perfect match capture of the currently active window, just hold down the apple button, shift, press 4 and then press spacebar you’ll get a camera cursor just left-click and here we are. (If you wanna do the same in GNOME and Windows just hit Alt+Print Screen)

All the screenshots are automatically saved on the Desktop.

Many people criticize the commercial aspect of Mac OSX but you can’t deny that it’s really user-friendly and smartly designed (even if the HFS/HFS+ filesystem peformance is controversial )…