Immersing deeper through Joomla - I

As I have posted earlier, I installed Joomla, the content management software. It is not to launch my web site immediately, but to learn web development. I am running the software in my own PC as a localhost. Since I do experiment and learn, this can not be a public hosted site.

The picture above shows original Joomla page cropped to show the top portion. The picture below shows the modifications I carried on Joomla template. 

I started from the front page. I did change the news flash items that appear on the right top of the site. This news flash changes randomly with loading or reloading of this page. I changed the names of the top menu that appear below news flash. I did not change the contents of these menu items. I changed the logo of Joomla. I used Inkscape program to create my emblem. It is a simple one. Later I embedded in the logo using Gimp and incorporated my motto and my site name.

I am not content with just changing the contents. I started poring over the codes and learning the bare bones of a complex web sites like this. It is interesting and absorbing. In the process my web development learning has accelerated. Now, I am more comfortable with php and database administration. I use phpMyAdmin for administration of the data base. It is an enormous task, since I have to pore over a thousand files with probably a million code. I am not fazed by the enormity of the task, since I have structured my learning properly.

I am really happy on the progress, especially after installation of Joomla.

PS: I am using all open source software in this project.

• Platform - Ubuntu
• Web server - Apache
• Data server - MySQL
• Scripting Language - PHP
• Code editor - Gedit
• Graphics editor - Inkscape
• Image editor - GIMP

My first experiences with Ubuntu 7.04 (Fiesty Fawn)

This blog is sequel to my blog titled “Another step towards Open Source Operating System”. As indicated in the blog, the installation was smooth for a dual boot arrangement. Ubuntu recognized all internal hardware, loaded required drivers without my knowledge during installation. I had to set up my printer manually. This was also easy. Ubuntu loaded the driver files from its own library after selection of my printer make and model in printer setup dialog. There is a wider selection of printers in the library and most of the printers can be added without any hassle.

I noticed that there was an application in Ubuntu that could be used to communicate with Palm OS devices. I connected my PDA, Palm Tungsten T, to my PC though usb port. I could synchronize and upload data from my Palm PDA to PC. However, there was no front-end application in Ubuntu to view uploaded data. I decided to look for an application at a later date.

I started FireFox. It was not connecting to the net. The problem was with the internet modem. I had a DSL modem. Unfortunately, this modem could communicate with Windows system only. I contacted my ISP (Internet Service Provider), Airtel, to provide a solution. They suggested to change my USB modem to Ethernet modem. But, I decided to change it with a “modem + wireless router”. I always wanted to have a try at networking. This was the best chance for me. ISP Engineer came and installed the wireless router. He connected router to my PC through cable, since I did not not a wireless adapter. I booted Windows, checked the net and then in Ubuntu. The net was working with both systems. Now, I could surf the net from Ubuntu also

Having bought a wireless router, I could not wait to buy a wireless adapter for my PC and test wireless connection. I bought a netgear wi-fi PCI adapter and installed in my PC. The disc provided with the adapter card had the required driver files. The adapter was installed without any hick-up and worked perfectly with Windows. Unfortunately, the installation disc did not have driver files for Linux. I had to search Ubuntu documentation and download driver files. Initially, the downloaded files did not work. I had to download another set of files, which worked. It took many hours to fix the problem after going through support documentation in the net. I had to switch between Windows and Ubuntu to check support and documentation in the net with Windows and then try later recommendations in Ubuntu. In the process, I have become more experienced in using the terminal, commands and their structures and file accessing in Ubuntu. I am gaining confidence in tweaking configuration files.

From Ubuntu, I am able to access all the files in my PC including Windows system and application files. Reverse is not true. From Windows, I am not able to access the drives (called devices in Linux) formatted by Linux and files saved there.

I also tried language support. I selected my local language, Tamil, as language for Ubuntu and OpenOffice. I also changed keyboard layout to Tamil. I could create a document in Tamil. I could read menus in Tamil. Some menus, still appeared in English. Translation was not complete. The picture shown here is a snap shot of my screen, while I was using Tamil as default language.

I started liking Ubuntu.

Foot Note:
In my previous blog "Internet Speeds", I discussed about internet speed in India and compared it to that in USA. Next day to my blog publication, I saw a news item that Airtel is going to offer 8Mb/sec broadband service in a few months. The company is working on pricing and devising schemes to suit various customer needs. My prayer has been heard. It is happening in India!

Another step towards Open Source Operating System

I have been using personal computers since early eighties. I was using office computer till mid nineties and was happy using MS Windows, the only Operating System (OS) I knew that time. Later, when I bought a PC for personal use and wanted to upgrade to the latest version of Windows, I got a shock of my life. The upgrade cost me a fortune. I had no other option, but to shell out a good chunk of my savings. From then on, I was on the look out for an alternative OS, which was less costly, if not free. I wanted to switch to Linux few years back, but Linux was not good enough in supporting all my hardware and peripherals. I also did not want to jeopardize the use of my only PC that was productive to me.

I kept updating myself on Linux distros. When Live CD of many distros came into the market, I started testing them. Please click the following link to know my first experience on Live CD of Slax.

http://mohand71.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-foray-into-linux.html

Later, I tried Knoppix and then Ubuntu. Once happy with the performances of different distros, I decided that it was time to actually install a Linux OS in my PC. I did not want to overwrite Windows with Linux for two reasons. One, my DSL modem was not recognized by Linux and internet connection through Linux OS was not possible. Though Ubuntu was found stable, I still wanted to have an alternative to Ubuntu, if something goes wrong. So, the best option for me was to go in for dual boot arrangement and I took it.

I did a search in the net for documents relating to dual boot system with WindowsXP and Ubuntu. The following links really helped me to understand how to install and what precautions I need to take.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing

After gaining confidence, I embarked on installation of Ubuntu. My PC had a 160 Gb hard disk with four partitions. The first partition was fully dedicated to Windows. This made my task much easier. I did not have to resize or use Windows partition. My Windows XP was secured without disturbance. I used second partition for Windows applications. I transfered all my data to third partition. I reserved the last partition for Ubuntu and its applications. The size of the last partition was 37 Gb and that was good enough.

I started the installation with Ubuntu Live CD 7.04. I selected and sized “/ (root)”, “/swap” and “/home” mount points. Everything went smooth until the point of installation of GRUB boot loader. It failed with a “fatal error” message. I checked up internet for possible solutions. The default device for boot loader installation was hd(0). I could figure out that this is causing the problem. This could be accessed through advanced options button on a screen after partition selections. I changed this device designation many times and tried installation. Every time, the same error message. It was frustrating. The two links given in third paragraph of this blog did not provide a positive answer. After a few hours of search in the net with Google (my favorite search engine), I landed in a forum site that gave me a solution. Though not sure whether it would work, I tried it. The suggestion was to create another device named “/boot” with 200 Mb size. As suggested, I created one and I directed boot loader installation to this device. The installation went smooth.

Hurrah! it worked and the installation was complete!

Following are synopsis of what to do while making a Ubuntu dual boot installation with Windows already installed:

• If you do not have a separate partition for Windows, back up all your data and be prepared to reinstall Windows, if something goes wrong.

• If a separate partition is already available for Windows, do not touch it, It will make installation easy.

• For Ubuntu installation, you need at least four devices, namely “/”, “/swap”, “/boot” and “/usr or /home”. I sized the devices at 10Gb, 1Gb, 200Mb and 26Gb respectively.
  

My installation was as easy as a windows installation, but for the hick-up with GRUB boot loader. Now, I am a happy owner of a system that can allow me try Open Source software and at the same time not lose any of my previous activities. It is a win-win for me.

PS: I am showing above a screen shot of my Ubuntu desktop. The design in the wall paper was created using Inkscape in Ubuntu. Inkscape was the first application loaded into my Ubuntu other than basic applications loaded from Ubuntu CD. My internet connection in Ubuntu still does not work. My DSL modem works with Windows only. I work around by using windows to download files from internet.