When I started using ubuntu, one of my dream for  an open source software like ubuntu is to become fully supported by all proprietary hardware manufacturer. I know that, it would take more time before it came to reality, the  way how things are working right now are thru contributions by different geeks, good hackers, advocates & enthusiasts via the world wide web.

I’LL make this tutorial very easy for anybody, I already compiled all the resources that you need. Recently I bought a new CanonIP1980 printer, then I tried to use it via Ubuntu 10.04 Linux OS. Here are the step by step process how to do it:

Step 1:

- Get all the source that you need, click here

- After downloading, extract the files & you will see libcupsys & iP1900 debian driver.- Just in case you need an alternative download for iP1900_debian_printer.tar, here is the link

http://software.canon-europe.com/products/0010647.asp

- Open your terminal or console.

- If your using ubuntu 9.04 or lower than that, there is also other alternative way to get libcupsys2, try to do:

$ sudo apt-get install libcupsys2

- Next go to folder you used to download the driver:
$ cd /path/to/your/folder

- Untar the dowloaded file:
$ tar -xf iP1900_debian_printer.tar

- You will now have 3 files on this folder (+ original tar downloaded file).
(In my case I’ve untargz the “tar.gz” file inside, but don’t think that this is necessary, how ever if you wanted or need to doit:
$ tar xvzf cnijfilter-common-3.00-1.tar.gz)

Step 2:

Then let’s install:

$ sudo dpkg -i *deb
- This will install the two deb packages included in the downloaded tar file that will install the proper drivers in the computer database.

- If your done installing, exit the terminal.

Step 3:

-Go to CUPS web manager using any of your favorite browser, run http://127.0.0.1:631

- In the page go to Admin and find the button that says “Find new printer” and then follow the assistant.

- After you complete the assistant, verify the printer properties by going to system->administration->printing->then right click the printer to show the properties.

You can run test print page to verify that its working, then if it works, CONGRATULATIONS!

Hope this helps someone. If you have troubles making the tutorial works just post your concern here, I will be glad to answer your question.

Watch out for my next post, for the part 2 of this tutorial its about how to print via your network & how to lower down print resolution via Ubuntu.

Ubuntu Lucid 10.04

I recently got an issue on PHP 5.3.2 via Ubuntu Lucid, after upgrading from Ubuntu 9.10 to Ubuntu 10.04, On one of the old Joomla! source I’m working on I keep getting this warning “Warning: Parameter 3 to showItem() expected to be a reference, value given in…. “.

The solution is downgrade your PHP 5.3.2 to PHP 5.2, here are the steps to follow.

1. On your /usr/local/sbin/, create php5_2-downgrade.sh, copy paste this source.

#!/bin/bash
# by Ruben Barkow (rubo77) http://www.entikey.z11.de/

# Originally Posted by Bachstelze http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9080474#post9080474
# OK, here's how to do the Apt magic to get PHP packages from the karmic repositories:

echo "Am I root? "
if [ "$(whoami &2>/dev/null)" != "root" ] && [ "$(id -un &2>/dev/null)" != "root" ] ; then
echo " NO!

apache2ctl restart


2. Open your terminal, chmod +x /usr/local/sbin/php5.2-downgrade
3. On your terminal, ./php5_2-downgrade.sh
4. Just follow the steps, everything is very straight forward.

Its been many years since I started using Ubuntu, from its first version to 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope). This would be my first post about ubuntu and giving tutorial how to fix annoying problem like what I’ve encountered.

Recently, I attempted to plug-in my smartbro usb MF627 and try to make it work on Ubuntu 9.04. This is my 2nd attempt, the last time I tried it I encountered the same problem. Before I upgraded to 9.04, the recent 8.10 works ok for my smartbro usb MF627.

I’m one of those concern citizen trying to push this device to support our beloved GNU/Linux. I will keep trying 9.04 and also future releases and see if this device will work soon.

Here is what I encountered, during the start-up or boot-up stage. The terminal freeze on reading from usb-serial device. You will see usbserial/usbcore many times and it seems forever loop.

To solve this problem, don’t wait forever, try hitting ESC many times or ctrl+alt+delete to deactivate reading other hardware devices. Try hitting Enter+ESC many times until you reach the login message, asking you to login with your username or password. During this stage you will still encounter annoying reading of usb-serial device. Just continue to sudo root and then try aptitude update.

Make sure to plug your ethernet cable.

Check your ubuntu release:
lsb_release -a

Reconfigure your xserver by:
dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

If you encounter permission denied on dpkg try:
mount -n -o remount, rw/
- to remount your drive and renew file permission. Currently it says that your under a read only file system.

If success you may now clean your aptitude by:
apt-get clean

Fresh update your aptitude:
apt-get update

Try again dpkg reconfigure:
dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Your gnome GUI needs some restart:
/etc/init.d/gdm restart

What happens to me gdm stop so after fixing file permission. I remount my Sda1 by:
/etc/init.d/gdm start
- This brings me to my login GUI.

I hope when you reach the end part of this tutorial it helps you solve your problem.

Feel free to post your questions & idea here.

This is my share on Installing IonCube to your LAMP. Here are some helpful steps to follow:

(STEP 1)
# tar -zxvf ioncube_loaders_lin_x86.tar.gz
# cd ioncube

(STEP 2)
- copy the php ioncube to your server root
# cp ioncube-loader-helper.php
Go to: http://localhost/PATH_/ioncube-loader-helper.php

You should see something like this:

PHP Version ___
Operating System Linux
Threaded PHP No
php.ini file /usr/PATH_/php.ini
Required Loader ioncube_loader_lin_#.#.so

(STEP 3)
- make directory under /usr/local and paste the required .so
# cd /usr/local
# mkdir /ioncube
# cp ioncube_loader_lin_#.#.so /usr/local/ioncube

(STEP 4)
Edit php.ini file:
# gedit /etc/php5/apache2/php.ini
OR
# gedit /usr/local/lib/php.ini

- At the end of the code add this
zend_extension = /usr/local/ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_#.#.so

Save and Exit

Restart the server by typing:
# /etc/init.d/httpd restart

(STEP 5)
To confirm that ioncube is fully working
Go to: http://localhost/PATH_/ioncube-encoded-file.php

You should see something like this:
This file has been successfully decoded. ionCube Loaders are correctly installed.