[ubuntu-us-nc] using network-admin while connected via vnc?

[Mark Kempster]

The machine started out in an empty cube, and this is a mostly windows
shop. It was moved into the closet not long ago. The gui seems to make
things a little less intimidating to the folks who mostly know
windows. I didn't really intend on being the admin for this thing, but
alas, this is how things play out.

Next time, I may try to go for the ubuntu-server-and-webmin combination.

But that brings up a good question - I don't have much experience with
things-to-manage-an-ubuntu-server. What have folks used in a mixed
ubuntu / windows environment?

Thanks!
Mark

On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 5:04 PM, markthecarp <markthecarp at gmail.com> wrote:
> Mark Kempster wrote:
>> Thanks for the options.
>>
>> I was able to ssh to the machine in the closet and manually muck with
>> /etc/resolv.conf to get over today's problem. I guess now I have to
>> shmuck with Gnome settings so that my changes don't get blasted by the
>> UI doodad.
>>
>
> Your changes will be lost on the next reboot. Want to bet? Tested with
> Gnome on Ubuntu 8.04, 8.10, Fedora 9/10 and RHEL5.2. Manual edits to
> /etc/resolv.conf are over written by Gnome on reboots or restarting X.
>
>> Either that, or I'll play the lazy card and schedule some face-time
>> with that server in the closet next week...
>>
>
> If you intend for this box to be a server why install a gui at all? If
> it was my box I'd reinstall from the server or alternate cd's. This from
> a guy that installed Debian over dialup starting with boot floppies. Not
> having Gnome will simplify things on a server installation, well to me
> it does.
>
> my 13.5 cents, oh markets are down 9.87 cents worth ;)
>
> -mark
>
>> Thanks!
>> Mark
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 3:26 PM, markthecarp <markthecarp at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Mark Kempster wrote:
>>>> I'm faced with having a headless ubuntu desktop (acting like a server)
>>>> in a locked closet, that needs some /etc/resolv.conf modifications.
>>>> However, it states in that file "generated by NetworkManager, do not
>>>> edit!". Ok, easy enough.
>>>>
>>>> I start up a vnc session, and login to the desktop. I can do System >
>>>> Administration > Network and see the manually-entered info that I need
>>>> to change. Everything's disabled, including the 'unlock' button.
>>>>
>>>> I'm set up as an administrator on the system. Running 'sudo
>>>> network-manage' didn't seem to change things.
>>>>
>>>> Is this something that must be done sitting physically at the machine?
>>>> What are the options of doing it remotely? I'm not quite brave enough
>>>> to go noodling around in the config files that back the gnome system
>>>> tools.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> Mark
>>>>
>>> Hi Mark,
>>>
>>> Ah, another Mark ;) I've experienced this, I believe it's some gnome
>>> problem. I never did track down exactly what caused it for me.
>>>
>>> Two things you can try: create a new user and give that user admin
>>> privileges then log in as that user.
>>>
>>> Second thing, this is what I did, from a console or ssh login make a
>>> cludge directory. Move all ~/.gnome* and ~/.gconf* to this directory and
>>> then restart gnome or in your case start a new VNC session. Gnome will
>>> write new directories replacing the offending file. Now for fun remove
>>> and replace by restarting gnome one at a time or pull the old ones back
>>> one at a time. For me that wasn't worth the effort.
>>>
>>> If you are using Gnome on the desktop machine accessing the closet
>>> machine you can use the Places > Connect to Server dialog to open a
>>> Nautilus ssh session. If you are accessing the closet machine via ssh
>>> you might find Midnight Commander helpful to have on the closet machine;
>>> it's an old school console file manager, package name is mc.
>>>
>>> hth,
>>> -mark
>>>
>>>
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>>
>
>
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