Setting Up Dropbox in Xubuntu

Dropbox does not officially support Xubuntu's file manager Thunar. Crunchbang maintains a Thunar Dropbox package that restores alot of the official plugin features. With it you'll get options to browse the file on the Dropbox website, get shareable link and view previous revisions. Terminal commands are highlighted in blue.

If you don't already have an account, please use my referral link. We both get extra space.

Download and install the 64 bit client
cd ~ && wget -O - "https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86_64" | tar xzf - 

Download the 64 bit plugin
wget packages.crunchbang.org/waldorf/pool/main/thunar-dropbox-plugin_0.2.0-1_amd64.deb

Install the plugin
sudo dpkg -i thunar-dropbox-plugin_0.2.0-1_amd64.deb

Start Dropbox
~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd

Sources 1 2

Install Tomato by Shibby on the ASUS RT-N66U

Tomato is a partially free HyperWRT-based, Linux core firmware distribution for a range of Broadcom chipset based wireless routers. The original developer ceased development in 2010, but the community has continued his work. I use a version of tomato created by Michal Rupental aka Shibby. His version is one of the most robust and feature filled firmware for home routers. For a good overview of the features of different firmwares check out the wikipedia article on tomato.

Installing Tomato by Shibby on the ASUS RT-N66U is an easy and straightforward process once you know a few basics. There is so much information and different builds out there that it can be extremely overwhelming for a novice. About a year ago I wanted to upgrade my old WRT54GL running a 2010 build of tomato and bricked it by installing the wrong firmware. Hopefully this guide will help you avoid any possible misteps.

First you'll want to download install the ASUS RT-N66U Firmware Restoration utility from ASUS’ support site. I'm playing it safe and using the official Windows utility to do it. It is possible to do set everything up in Linux but I didn't want to risk another router. You'll want to enter RT-N66U as your model number.  Download the most current version of the ASUS RT-N66U B1 Firmware Restoration utility.

Next you'll want to download the correct Tomato by Shibby build for your ASUS RT-N66U router. This guide is specially written for the ASUS RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router. If you have a different Asus router you'll want to look for a different guide no ensure compatibility.

Shibby's site has alot of different options on the Tomato Firmware Downloads page. You'll want to select the K26RT-N firmware builds. From here you'll want to select the newest EN build. Shibby's builds come in pl and en favors for Polish and English. Make sure you download the correct language. Then and then select the Asus RT-N66u 64k folder.

Quick breakdown of the download path:
tomato.grove.pl > download > K26RT-N/build5x-XXX-EN/ > Asus RT-N66u 64k

From here you'll have a couple different builds you can choose from. Here is Shibby's guide to what each contains. I prefer the AIO, all in one build, but you may want to find a firmware specific to your needs.

I used the AIO build:
tomato-K26USB-1.28.RT-N5x-MIPSR2-XXX-AIO-64K.trx

Power off your ASUS RT-N66U and physically connect to it with a networking cable. Be sure to disconnect your PC from any wireless networks.

Open the ASUS Firmware Restoration utility and load Shibby’s RT-N66U firmware, but DO NOT start the restoration process First you'll need to place the router in emergency firmware restore mode.

Placing the router in firmware restoration mode can be a bit tricky. I found the best results to be unplugging the power supply from the router, making sure then power button is on the on position. Hold the reset button while plugging in the power supply. The power LED with begin to slowly blink, letting you know you are in emergency firmware restore mode.

Once the router blinks a couple of times, start the restoration process in the ASUS Firmware Restoration utility. Allow the process to run, disconnecting or turning off the router can lead to creating a pretty black paperweight. After a while the router will restart itself andthe wi-fi light will turn on. After the firmware uploads and installs you might get an error message saying the procedure failed, ignore it.

This is the step that through me off, you need to clear the router's NVRAM before it will work. Turn off the RT-N66U and while holding the WPS button turn on the router. Hold the button for 30-45 seconds and then release it.

After the router has rebooted, you can setup your router at http://192.168.1.1/. The default user name is root and the default password is admin.

Source

Configure the Logitech MX Revolution extra buttons in Ubuntu

I love my Logitech MX Revolution mouse. It has been a part of my desktop setup for over 5 years. Its ridiculously quiet, scrolls super smooth, has just the right amount of buttons, and feels great in my hand.

Getting all the buttons on the the Logitech MX Revolution mouse working in Ubuntu 14.04 is easy and straightforward. It involves generating and editing your xorg.conf.

Static xorgs are not used or needed in Ubuntu and other modern Linux distributions anymore, but using one correctly will not harm your system. First you will need to generate an xorg configuration file if you don't have one already.

I have an Nvidia card in my desktop and use the nvidia-settings tool to automatically generate my xorg.conf.

To have the nvidia-settings tool generate an xorg.conf file
sudo nvidia-xconfig

You can also generate a xorg.conf file my hand. By switching to a virtual console using the key combination: CTRL + ALT + F1

Now execute the following commands:
sudo service gdm stop
- This command will stop the X.

sudo Xorg -configure
- this will generate the xorg.conf file in your home folder

sudo mv ~/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf
- move the newly created xorg file to the correct location

sudo reboot
- to reboot the machine, and allow the changes to take effect.

Install the needed software
sudo apt-get install xbindkeys xvkbd xautomation

- xbindkeys is a program that allows you to launch shell commands with your keyboard or your mouse under X Window. It links commands to keys or mouse buttons, using a configuration file.

- xvkbd is a virtual (graphical) keyboard program for X Window System which provides facility to enter characters onto other clients (softwares) by clicking on a keyboard displayed on the screen.

- xautomation Control X from the command line for scripts, and do "visual scraping" to find things on the screen. The control interface allows mouse movement, clicking, button up/down, key up/down, etc,


Edit you xorg.conf file using your preferred editor, gedit, mousepad, leafpad, nano
sudo mousepad /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Insert this text in the Mouse section of Input Device
Option     "Buttons"    "17"

Your file should look similar to this
Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option         "Buttons" "17"
EndSection

Create your xbindkeys configuration file
touch ~/.xbindkeysrc

Edit your xbindkeys configuration file
mousepad ~/.xbindkeysrc

Here is my file:
# forward
"/usr/bin/xvkbd -text "\[Alt_L]\[Left]""
m:0x0 + b:8

# back
"/usr/bin/xvkbd -text "\[Alt_L]\[Right]""
m:0x0 + b:9

# next tab
"/usr/bin/xvkbd -text "\[Control_L]\[Page_Up]""
m:0x0 + b:13

# previous tab
"/usr/bin/xvkbd -text "\[Control_L]\[Page_Down]""
 m:0x0 + b:15

# undo closed tab
"/usr/bin/xvkbd -text "\[Control_L]\[Shift]\[t]""
 m:0x0 + b:16

# mouse wheel left middle click
"xte 'mouseclick 2'"
b:6

# mouse wheel right middle click
"xte 'mouseclick 2'"
b:7

- I used xvkbd to emulate key combinations on my controller
 and xte to emulate middle click


I didn't enjoy the search button so I turned it into a middle click button, by adding the following to my /etc/sysctl.conf file
sudo mousepad /etc/sysctl.conf

# Enable mouse button emulation
dev.mac_hid.mouse_button_emulation = 1
# Set 2nd button to 217 - the middle button of MX Revolution mouse.
dev.mac_hid.mouse_button2_keycode = 217


Here is a reference for all the MX Revolution buttons
   # b:1    -    left mouse button
   # b:2    -    left and right mouse button together
   # b:3     -    right mouse button
   # b:4    -    mouse wheel up
   # b:5    -    mouse wheel down
   # b:6    -    mouse wheel left
   # b:7    -    mouse wheel right
   # b:8    -    back button
   # b:9    -    forward button
   # b:10    -    -none-
   # b:11    -    -none-
   # b:12    -    -none-
   # b:13    -    media wheel up
   # b:14    -    -none-
   # b:15    -    media wheel down
   # b:16    -    -none-
   # b:17    -    media wheel press