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30Dec/09Off

How to use Finch Instant Messaging from the Command Line

Finch is a command line instant messaging client for Linux. In the age of nicely designed graphical user interfaces and desktop effects you might ask yourself why bother with a command line application? Well, it's light on resources, quick and a fun/geekish way to stay in touch.

10Dec/09Off

For file transfers, choosing the right filesystem makes a difference

A few days ago I posted about the LaCie Network Space and how it took nearly 3 days to copy 360GB to a directly connected usb drive. Now I have discovered a trick to speed things up.

9Dec/09Off

Brother MFC-490CW & Ubuntu

Setting up the Brother MFC-490CW printer to work with Ubuntu, wirelessly, was easier than I expected. Here some useful tips.

7Nov/09Off

Ubuntu 9.10: network-manager – openvpn – “vpn service failed to start”

So this is quite frustrating:
[B]Background:[/B]
In Ubuntu 9.04 I had a VPN connection configured in order to use Witopia. It worked.
I upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10 and now it doesn't work.
[B]Problem:[/B]
In Network Manager, under VPN Connections, when I select my "openvpn" connection I get this error message:
[I]The vpn connection 'openvpn' failed because the VPN service failed to start.[/I]
[B]More Info:[/B]
Here is what it says in Sys Log:
[QUOTE]Nov  7 21:05:21 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  Starting VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn'...
Nov  7 21:05:21 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn' started (org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn), PID 1974
Nov  7 21:05:22 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn' just appeared, activating connections
Nov  7 21:05:22 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN plugin state changed: 1
Nov  7 21:05:22 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN plugin state changed: 3
Nov  7 21:05:22 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN connection 'openvpn' (Connect) reply received.
Nov  7 21:05:22 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <WARN>  nm_vpn_connection_connect_cb(): VPN connection 'openvpn' failed to connect: 'No VPN secrets!'.
Nov  7 21:05:22 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <WARN>  connection_state_changed(): Could not process the request because no VPN connection was active.
Nov  7 21:05:22 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  Policy set 'Auto eth0' (eth0) as default for routing and DNS.
Nov  7 21:05:35 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <debug> [1257624335.001600] ensure_killed(): waiting for vpn service pid 1974 to exit
Nov  7 21:05:35 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <debug> [1257624335.001766] ensure_killed(): vpn service pid 1974 cleaned up
Nov  7 21:05:40 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  Starting VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn'...
Nov  7 21:05:40 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn' started (org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn), PID 1978
Nov  7 21:05:40 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn' just appeared, activating connections
Nov  7 21:05:40 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN plugin state changed: 3
Nov  7 21:05:40 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  VPN connection 'openvpn' (Connect) reply received.
Nov  7 21:05:40 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <WARN>  nm_vpn_connection_connect_cb(): VPN connection 'openvpn' failed to connect: 'No VPN secrets!'.
Nov  7 21:05:40 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <WARN>  connection_state_changed(): Could not process the request because no VPN connection was active.
Nov  7 21:05:40 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <info>  Policy set 'Auto eth0' (eth0) as default for routing and DNS.
Nov  7 21:05:53 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <debug> [1257624353.002543] ensure_killed(): waiting for vpn service pid 1978 to exit
Nov  7 21:05:53 ubuntu-laptop NetworkManager: <debug> [1257624353.002711] ensure_killed(): vpn service pid 1978 cleaned up
[/QUOTE]
[B]What I have tried so far:[/B]
Reading through the forum, and searching Google, it seems many people are having this problem. It also doesn't appear to be a new problem.
I tried to remove openvpn and network-manage-openvpn packages and to add them again and to create new connection profiles.
Unfortunately without success.

Any ideas

?

Updated 2009.12.25

ubuntu

So this is quite frustrating:

Background:

In Ubuntu 9.04 I had a VPN connection configured in order to use Witopia. It worked.

Under Ubuntu 9.04 I used these instructions to set everything up.

I upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10 and now it doesn't work.

16Aug/09Off

[Tool] Time Drive – Backup Tool

TimeDriveIcon114 Backing up data is a task we are all confronted with. There are many applications to choose from. Rob Oakes, unhappy with the functionality of some Linux based backup solutions decided to develope his own. Time Drive appears to be a very promising and extensive tool.

13Jul/09Off

VPN Services, which one do you use?

I am currently on the look-out for VPN services. What I would like to do, is set up a VPN network between myself and some friends of mine over the internet. We want to be able to share files securely and use shared content, such as iTunes libraries for example, without the need for too much hassle and configuration.