How to install VNC server on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

Type in terminal:

sudo apt install vino

To allow connections from Windows type in terminal:

 

gsettings set org.gnome.Vino require-encryption false

Next go to Settings>Sharing 

This does not work anymore with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

How to stream Internet radio stations to your media-system via DLNA with Rygel on Ubuntu 18

My Yamaha RX-V473 recently stopped playing internet radio stations. Yamaha worked with vtuner for this but the vtuner people recently stopped their free service. The Yamaha update to fix this is only for their younger products so the RX-V473 has no new firmware or fix. Yamaha has no clue yet  about Open Source and the many benefits of Open Source so no one will ever be able to fix the problem changing the firmware.

Streaming files from the NAS

The Yamaha RX-V473 has the possibility to access DLNA servers and I had it hooked up to an Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS with Rygel installed ( sudo apt install rygel ) and media sharing in Ubuntu Settings set to ON.

Rygel options in Ubuntu Settings

Playing your own MP3 files collection is working and easy but I want to listen to SomaFM on my stereo and this option is not (yet) present in the Sharing section of Ubuntu Settings.

Internet radio

To stream SomaFM over DLNA (Rygel) to your DLNA client (Yamaha receiver or any other player) you need to install rygel-gst-launch. Type in terminal:

 sudo apt install rygel-gst-launch

Next: edit rygel.conf. Not just any rygel.conf but the one in /home/$Username$/.config/rygel.conf. (Where $Username$ is your username.)

Go to the section [GstLaunch] and edit the changes as seen below.

I have added the complete relevant section of a working version here.


[GstLaunch]
enabled=true
launch-items=audiotestsrc;soma;drone

audiotestsrc-title=Audiotestsrc
audiotestsrc-mime=audio/x-wav
audiotestsrc-launch=audiotestsrc ! wavenc

soma-title=SomaFM SpaceStation
soma-mime=audio/mp4
soma-launch=souphttpsrc iradio-mode=false location=http://ice2.somafm.com/spacestation-128-aac

drone-title=SomaFM Dronezone
drone-mime=audio/mpeg
drone-launch=souphttpsrc iradio-mode=false location=http://ice2.somafm.com/dronezone-256-mp3


Now when the receiver or any other DLNA compatible client is going to search for DLNA servers under the server button it will see the media share from Rygel and GstLaunch.
Select GstLaunch and 3 radio stations appear:

  Audiotestsrc will produce a test tone for testing.
  SomaFM SpaceStation will play SomaFM Spacestation in 128 bit AAC
  and SomaFM Dronezone will play SomaFM Dronezone in 256 bit MP3

You can add as many internet radio stations as you want.

• To check if the URL of the stream is working open VLC and go to Media  and then  Networkstream and enter the URL. If VLC starts producing music the URL is correct.
• Every time you change rygel.conf you need to restart Rygel for the changes to take effect. Restart Rygel in the standard Ubuntu Settings with the Media sharing ON/OFF button.
• Sometimes the client (The TV, stereo or any mediaplayer) needs to be reset to see changes in the Rygel configuration.
• To check for error messages stop Rygel with the standard Ubuntu Settings and start Rygel in terminal using the command: 

rygel

        If there are any errors they will be displayed in the terminal. 

• To install all Gstreamer plugins type in terminal:

sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-*

• AAC streams have the mime type audio/mp4. MP3 streams have the mime type audio/mpeg.
• There is no cover art with this setup.
• Some players accept pls and m3u streams and others do not. I am still trying to figure out why here they do not play.
• As from SomaFM FAQ "The 128k AAC streams are the best sounding. The 64k AAC-HE streams are a close second, followed by 128k MP3 streams." I do not know where 256 MP3 fits in but my guess is they are the best.

How to update/upgrade the (Graphical) drivers after a fresh Ubuntu install

Type in terminal:

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

How to run pyradmon.py in Systemd on Ubuntu 18.04.2-LTS

pyradmon.py is a little python script I need running to get data from my Geiger counter (GMC-320) to its data showing webpage (Radmon.org).
The script has to always run, also after reboots, outages, changes to the system or the script itself, and it has to be restarted if it fails.
On Ubuntu 18 and many other systems a system called Systemd is in use to facilitate this.

To get the script running in systemd do the following:

Create a file called "radmon.service" in /etc/systemd/system .

[Unit]
Description=Radmon service
After=network.target
StartLimitIntervalSec=0

[Service]
Type=simple
Restart=always
RestartSec=30
User=marc
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python -u /home/marc/GMC/pyradmon.py
StandardOutput=null
StandardError=inherit

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Then do:

sudo systemctl enable radmon.service
sudo systemctl start radmon.service

And if needed do:

sudo systemctl status radmon.service
sudo systemctl restart radmon.service
sudo systemctl stop radmon.service

That's it.

How to enter Ubuntu terminal with an (old) DOS computer and a nullmodem

It is possible to use a DOS computer and enter the Ubuntu terminal via a (serial) nullmodem cable.
Even without any network installed on the DOS computer I can read my mail, browse the web or service the Ubuntu server using my old DOS laptop.

I have been using a Tulip lt 286 and it comes with an external Floppy disk port, a VGA connector that can be used for an external VGA monitor, 1 external serial COM1 port, a 2400 baud modem on COM2, 1 PS/2 port for an external keyboard, 1 external printer LPT1 port, 1 internal ISA bus port used for the IDE hard disk and 3.5 inch floppy drive and an external ISA bus port originally intended for connection to an external box containing 2 ISA BUS connectors.
I could use the external ISA bus port for a network card but I do not have the ISA expansion cable needed for this.

Getting the Ubuntu server ready

As server I used a Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS computer that has an external COM port. There are 2 ways to add a tty to it.

1: I added "console=ttyS0" to the file /etc/default/grub in the line that now says: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash console=ttyS0" 
Save the file. You might need to have admin rights to do that, if so, open the file with "sudo".After saving the file type "sudo update-grub" in terminal to enable the new boot options. Reboot the server to apply the changes.

Or:

2: Apply a Systemd service using Execstart=/sbin/getty -L 38400 ttyS0 

Its that easy, nothing to install.

Getting the DOS computer ready.

Getting software on the old laptop is a pain because most of my floppy disks are 20+ years old and they keep failing.

I installed DOS 6.22 on the laptop and installed Norton Commander 5.5 to copy files between several computers with a (serial) nullmodem cable.

I also installed IBM-PC MS-DOS Kermit v3.16 Beta 7 patch level 0 and (eventually) found it very helpful. But if you use this program for the first time you can be a little lost as it has a steep learning curve. Here is some excellent reading material on DOS/Kermit http://kermitproject.org/onlinebooks/usingmsdoskermit2e.pdf .

With the nullmodem connected to my Ubuntu servers COM port I can now connect to an Ubuntu terminal session.

Connected to an Ubuntu terminal session via COM1

After startup of Kermit on the DOS computer type "set speed 38400" to set the speed of the serial connection. Then type "c" to open the terminal and connect to the Ubuntu server. Al other default settings of Kermit are fine.

The (modern) Ubuntu server has a far higher serial port speed compared to the DOS laptop so you will have to press the ENTER button a few times to make a successful connection. Some random characters may appear on your screen. The Ubuntu server will start with a baud rate of 115200 but will try lower speeds and eventually a connection at a lower baudrate will succeed.

The first time I logged in there was in intriguing message on the screen.
"You have new mail."
What to do? I never had this message when I logged into the server using the server itself. I never knew the server handled any mail.

I typed "mail" and saw a long list of mails the kernel send me about failures etc.
Then "r" to read, "d" to delete, "n" for next message, and so on.
It turned out I had more that 2600 mails waiting for me and the standard mail application wanted me to read them all one by one.

Therefore I installed Alpine by typing "sudo apt install alpine" into the terminal on the DOS computer. To handle the mail instead of typing "mail" I type "alpine". Without configuring anything alpine takes over and handles all mails and shows them to you in an ordered and easy text interface.

To get double the rows (lines) and columns add the following line in your autoexec.bat.

MODE CON: cols=80 lines=50

Now all seems well until Midnight commander, Alpine or any other Ubuntu terminal program is opened. Only the upper half of the screen is used. There is no way Ubuntu can find out the dimensions of your terminal so it assumes you have a VT102 terminal that like most terminal types has only 24 lines of text. Type "sudo resize" to maximise the screen space the program is using to all full 80 x 49 characters instead of only 80 x 24. (sudo apt install xterm may be needed)

I can log into my Ubuntu server from my DOS laptop which is great and completely useless.
Next thing to try is running a graphical browser on my DOS laptop. Arachne runs fine but I still need that DOS TCP/IP driver.  

How to Link DOS to Ubuntu in Norton Commander with a nullmodem cable

How to use "Link" in Norton Commander between an old DOS computer and an Ubuntu computer with Norton commander inside a DOSBox.

All was tested on DOS 6.22 with Norton Commander 5.5 running on one side and Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS  with Norton Commander 5.5 running in a DOSBox 0.74 on the other side of a (serial) nullmodem cable.

• Use a (serial) nullmodem cable on both COM1 ports.
• Set the COM1 port on both computers to the same speed.(9600 is reliable on old computers) On ubuntu set the speed with "sudo stty -F /dev/ttyS0 9600". Check the speed with "stty -F /dev/ttyS0".
• To check if the cable is going into the correct connector/port attach an old (Microsoft) serial mouse to the port, it will not work. Type in terminal "sudo inputattach --microsoft /dev/ttyS0". If you can move the pointer with the serial mouse the port is working correct and it is ttyS0. This is not a solution for a serial mouse but works fine for this test.
• To be able to create directories in DOSBox on Ubuntu start DOSBox manually in a terminal with sudo.
• Open DOSBox and configure "serial1=directserial realport:ttyS0". You can do this by typing " serial1 directserial realport:ttyS0" (This is confusing because you are using a cable called nullmodem and there is also the (wrong) option to go for "serial1=nullmodem")
• Check the setting at the dosbox command prompt with "serial1"
• Start Norton Commander 5.5 on both computers and open the menu with F9 and open the "Left" or "Right" panel, scroll down and open "Link".

Screenshot of Norton Commander 5.5 in DOSBox on Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS

• Choose Master on one side and Slave on the other side and press Link on both sides.
Now the master computer has a panel that has files on the other computer and files can be copied from one computer to the other and back.

How to click on a DX call in a cluster and set your rig to the correct frequency in Ubuntu.

Xdx is a Linux DX-cluster client. It features the possibility to click on a DX entity in the cluster where Xdx automatically changes the frequency of your rig to the stations location on the band.
It is installable from the Ubuntu Software Center where it has the option to install the rig control software in one go.
or open a terminal and type: sudo apt-get install xdx

Connecting to the DX-cluster server.

After starting the program you will have to set the URL and port of a DX-cluster server.
To get a list of DX-cluster servers check: http://www.ng3k.com/misc/cluster.html 
or http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/?dx-cluster-telnet-links,65

My local DX-cluster server

After connecting with the DX-cluster server there is a welcome text in the bottom part of your screen.  It is called the terminal screen and you can send several useful commands to the server:

reject/spot 1 on hf/cw      Do not show spots on HF with CW.
reject/spot 2 on vhf          Do not show spots on VHF. (second rule)
accept/spot on hf/ssb      Only show spots on HF in SSB.
show/bands                       Show what bands are available for filtering etc.
show/filter                         Show the filters that are set.
apropos buddy                  Show any help info on the buddy command

You can check who is connected to the server and chat with them.

who                                  Show connected users. (To check if someone is DXing.)
talk callsign blah           Send blah to a connected user with callsign.


Just like in a packet BBS you can list, read and send messages worldwide to all servers in the cluster.

directory                       Show a list of public messages. (Like in a BBS.)
read 25                         Read a message with number 25 in the directory list.

Xdx screen-shot, click to enlarge

Connecting Xdx to your transceiver.

Go to Setting > preferences.

Check out the number of your rig with rigctl.   Type in terminal: rigctl -l

This is the current list:
 Rig #  Mfg                    Model                   Version         Status
     1  Hamlib                 Dummy                   0.5             Beta
     2  Hamlib                 NET rigctl              0.3             Beta
   101  Yaesu                  FT-847                  0.5             Beta
   103  Yaesu                  FT-1000D                0.0.6           Alpha
   104  Yaesu                  MARK-V FT-1000MP        0.0.5           Alpha
   105  Yaesu                  FT-747GX                0.4.1           Beta
   106  Yaesu                  FT-757GX                0.4.1           Beta
   107  Yaesu                  FT-757GXII              0.4             Stable
   109  Yaesu                  FT-767GX                1.0             Stable
   110  Yaesu                  FT-736R                 0.3             Stable
   111  Yaesu                  FT-840                  0.1             Untested
   113  Yaesu                  FT-900                  0.1             Untested
   114  Yaesu                  FT-920                  2010-08-23      Stable
   115  Yaesu                  FT-890                  0.1             Stable
   116  Yaesu                  FT-990                  0.2.1           Alpha
   117  Yaesu                  FRG-100                 0.4             Beta
   118  Yaesu                  FRG-9600                0.2             Untested
   119  Yaesu                  FRG-8800                0.2             Untested
   120  Yaesu                  FT-817                  0.5.1           Beta
   121  Yaesu                  FT-100                  0.4.1           Beta
   122  Yaesu                  FT-857                  0.4             Beta
   123  Yaesu                  FT-897                  0.3.3           Beta
   124  Yaesu                  FT-1000MP               0.1.1           Beta
   125  Yaesu                  MARK-V Field FT-1000MP  0.0.5           Alpha
   126  Yaesu                  VR-5000                 0.2             Alpha
   127  Yaesu                  FT-450                  0.22.1          Beta
   128  Yaesu                  FT-950                  0.22.2          Stable
   129  Yaesu                  FT-2000                 0.22.1          Stable
   130  Yaesu                  FTDX-9000               0.22.1          Untested
   131  Yaesu                  FT-980                  0.1             Alpha
   132  Yaesu                  FT-DX5000               0.22            Alpha
   133  Vertex Standard        VX-1700                 1.1             Alpha
   201  Kenwood                TS-50S                  0.8             Untested
   202  Kenwood                TS-440                  0.8.0.6.1       Alpha
   203  Kenwood                TS-450S                 0.8.1           Beta
   204  Kenwood                TS-570D                 0.8.2           Stable
   205  Kenwood                TS-690S                 0.8.1           Beta
   206  Kenwood                TS-711                  0.8.0.6.1       Untested
   207  Kenwood                TS-790                  0.8.2           Alpha
   208  Kenwood                TS-811                  0.8.0.6.1       Untested
   209  Kenwood                TS-850                  0.8.1           Beta
   210  Kenwood                TS-870S                 0.8.0           Beta
   211  Kenwood                TS-940S                 0.8.0.6.1       Alpha
   213  Kenwood                TS-950SDX               0.8             Beta
   214  Kenwood                TS-2000                 0.8.4           Beta
   215  Kenwood                R-5000                  0.6.1           Alpha
   216  Kenwood                TS-570S                 0.8.1           Stable
   217  Kenwood                TH-D7A                  0.5             Alpha
   219  Kenwood                TH-F6A                  0.5             Beta
   220  Kenwood                TH-F7E                  0.5.1           Beta
   221  Elecraft               K2                      20120615        Beta
   222  Kenwood                TS-930                  0.8             Untested
   223  Kenwood                TH-G71                  0.5             Beta
   224  Kenwood                TS-680S                 0.8.1           Beta
   225  Kenwood                TS-140S                 0.8.1           Beta
   226  Kenwood                TM-D700                 0.5             Beta
   227  Kenwood                TM-V7                   0.5             Beta
   228  Kenwood                TS-480                  0.8.5           Untested
   229  Elecraft               K3/KX3                  20120615        Beta
   230  Kenwood                TRC-80                  0.8             Alpha
   231  Kenwood                TS-590S                 0.8.1           Beta
   232  SigFox                 Transfox                20111223        Alpha
   233  Kenwood                TH-D72A                 0.5.1           Alpha
   234  Kenwood                TM-D710                 0.5             Untested
   302  Icom                   IC-1275                 0.7             Beta
   303  Icom                   IC-271                  0.7             Untested
   304  Icom                   IC-275                  0.7.1           Beta
   306  Icom                   IC-471                  0.7             Untested
   307  Icom                   IC-475                  0.7.1           Beta
   309  Icom                   IC-706                  0.7.1           Untested
   310  Icom                   IC-706MkII              0.7.1           Untested
   311  Icom                   IC-706MkIIG             0.7.2           Stable
   312  Icom                   IC-707                  0.7             Untested
   313  Icom                   IC-718                  0.7.1           Beta
   314  Icom                   IC-725                  0.7.1           Stable
   315  Icom                   IC-726                  0.7             Stable
   316  Icom                   IC-728                  0.7             Untested
   319  Icom                   IC-735                  0.7.1           Beta
   320  Icom                   IC-736                  0.7             Untested
   321  Icom                   IC-737                  0.7             Untested
   322  Icom                   IC-738                  0.7             Untested
   323  Icom                   IC-746                  0.7.1           Beta
   324  Icom                   IC-751                  0.7.1           Beta
   326  Icom                   IC-756                  0.7.1           Alpha
   327  Icom                   IC-756PRO               0.7             Untested
   328  Icom                   IC-761                  0.7.1           Stable
   329  Icom                   IC-765                  0.7             Stable
   330  Icom                   IC-775                  0.7.1           Untested
   331  Icom                   IC-781                  0.7.1           Untested
   332  Icom                   IC-820H                 0.7             Alpha
   334  Icom                   IC-821H                 0.7             Alpha
   335  Icom                   IC-970                  0.7             Untested
   336  Icom                   IC-R10                  0.7             Untested
   337  Icom                   IC-R71                  0.7             Untested
   338  Icom                   IC-R72                  0.7             Untested
   339  Icom                   IC-R75                  0.7             Beta
   340  Icom                   IC-R7000                0.7.0           Alpha
   341  Icom                   IC-R7100                0.7.0           Untested
   342  Icom                   ICR-8500                0.7.1           Beta
   343  Icom                   IC-R9000                0.7.1           Alpha
   344  Icom                   IC-910                  0.7.1           Beta
   345  Icom                   IC-78                   0.7             Untested
   346  Icom                   IC-746PRO               0.7             Stable
   347  Icom                   IC-756PROII             0.7             Alpha
   351  Ten-Tec                Omni VI Plus            0.2             Beta
   352  Optoelectronics        OptoScan535             0.3             Beta
   353  Optoelectronics        OptoScan456             0.3             Beta
   354  Icom                   IC ID-1                 0.7             Untested
   355  Icom                   IC-703                  0.7             Untested
   356  Icom                   IC-7800                 0.7.2           Untested
   357  Icom                   IC-756PROIII            0.7.1           Beta
   358  Icom                   IC-R20                  0.7             Untested
   360  Icom                   IC-7000                 0.7.2           Beta
   361  Icom                   IC-7200                 0.7             Beta
   362  Icom                   IC-7700                 0.7.1           Stable
   363  Icom                   IC-7600                 0.7             Beta
   364  Ten-Tec                Delta II                0.1             Untested
   365  Icom                   IC-92D                  0.7             Untested
   366  Icom                   IC-R9500                0.7.1           Untested
   367  Icom                   IC-7410                 0.7             Untested
   368  Icom                   IC-9100                 0.7             Untested
   369  Icom                   IC-RX7                  0.7             Untested
   401  Icom                   IC-PCR1000              0.8             Beta
   402  Icom                   IC-PCR100               0.8             Beta
   403  Icom                   IC-PCR1500              0.8             Beta
   404  Icom                   IC-PCR2500              0.8             Beta
   501  AOR                    AR8200                  0.6.1           Alpha
   502  AOR                    AR8000                  0.6.1           Beta
   503  AOR                    AR7030                  0.4.1           Beta
   504  AOR                    AR5000                  0.6.1           Beta
   505  AOR                    AR3030                  0.4             Untested
   506  AOR                    AR3000A                 0.5             Beta
   508  AOR                    AR2700                  0.6             Untested
   513  AOR                    AR8600                  0.6.1           Beta
   514  AOR                    AR5000A                 0.6             Alpha
   515  AOR                    AR7030 Plus             0.1             Beta
   516  AOR                    SR2200                  0.1             Beta
   605  JRC                    NRD-525                 0.1             Alpha
   606  JRC                    NRD-535D                0.6             Stable
   607  JRC                    NRD-545 DSP             0.6             Beta
   801  Uniden                 BC780xlt                0.3             Untested
   802  Uniden                 BC245xlt                0.3             Untested
   803  Uniden                 BC895xlt                0.3             Untested
   804  Radio Shack            PRO-2052                0.3             Untested
   806  Uniden                 BC250D                  0.3             Untested
   810  Uniden                 BCD-396T                0.3             Alpha
   811  Uniden                 BCD-996T                0.3             Alpha
   812  Uniden                 BC898T                  0.3             Untested
   902  Drake                  R-8A                    0.5.1           Beta
   903  Drake                  R-8B                    0.5             Untested
  1004  Lowe                   HF-235                  0.3             Alpha
  1103  Racal                  RA6790/GM               0.1             Untested
  1105  Racal                  RA3702                  0.1             Alpha
  1204  Watkins-Johnson        WJ-8888                 0.2             Untested
  1402  Skanti                 TRP8000                 0.2             Untested
  1404  Skanti                 TRP 8255 S R            0.1             Untested
  1501  Winradio               WR-1000                 0.6             Untested
  1502  Winradio               WR-1500                 0.6             Untested
  1503  Winradio               WR-1550                 0.6             Untested
  1504  Winradio               WR-3100                 0.6             Untested
  1505  Winradio               WR-3150                 0.6             Untested
  1506  Winradio               WR-3500                 0.6             Untested
  1507  Winradio               WR-3700                 0.6             Untested
  1601  Ten-Tec                TT-550                  0.2             Beta
  1602  Ten-Tec                TT-538 Jupiter          0.6             Beta
  1603  Ten-Tec                RX-320                  0.6             Stable
  1604  Ten-Tec                RX-340                  0.3             Untested
  1605  Ten-Tec                RX-350                  0.1             Untested
  1607  Ten-Tec                TT-516 Argonaut V       0.2             Stable
  1608  Ten-Tec                TT-565 Orion            0.5             Beta
  1609  Ten-Tec                TT-585 Paragon          0.3             Beta
  1611  Ten-Tec                TT-588 Omni VII         0.3             Alpha
  1612  Ten-Tec                RX-331                  0.1             Beta
  1613  Ten-Tec                TT-599 Eagle            0.4             Untested
  1701  Alinco                 DX-77                   0.7             Beta
  1801  Kachina                505DSP                  0.3             Alpha
  1901  Hamlib                 RPC rig                 0.3             Beta
  2201  TAPR                   DSP-10                  0.2             Alpha
  2301  Flex-radio             SDR-1000                0.2             Untested
  2303  DTTS Microwave Society DttSP IPC               0.2             Alpha
  2304  DTTS Microwave Society DttSP UDP               0.2             Alpha
  2401  RFT                    EKD-500                 0.4             Alpha
  2501  Elektor                Elektor 3/04            0.4             Stable
  2502  SAT-Schneider          DRT1                    0.2             Beta
  2503  Coding Technologies    Digital World Traveller 0.1             Untested
  2506  AmQRP                  DDS-60                  0.1             Alpha
  2507  Elektor                Elektor SDR-USB         0.3.1           Stable
  2508  mRS                    miniVNA                 0.1             Alpha
  2509  SoftRock               Si570 AVR-USB           0.2             Beta
  2511  KTH-SDR kit            Si570 PIC-USB           0.2             Beta
  2512  FiFi                   FiFi-SDR                0.5             Beta
  2513  AMSAT-UK               FUNcube Dongle          0.2             Beta
  2514  N2ADR                  HiQSDR                  0.2             Untested
  2601  Video4Linux            SW/FM radio             0.2.1           Beta
  2602  Video4Linux2           SW/FM radio             0.2.1           Alpha
  2701  Rohde&Schwarz          ESMC                    0.1             Alpha
  2702  Rohde&Schwarz          EB200                   0.1             Untested
  2801  Philips/Simoco         PRM8060                 0.1             Alpha
  2901  ADAT www.adat.ch       ADT-200A                1.36            Beta

I have set the speed of My Kenwood TS-590S USB connection to 19200. In my computer it turns up at USB0. So the following settings apply for me:

My settings for a Kenwood TS-590S with USB

Note that I have a Kenwood TS-590S (#231) but instead I used the Kenwood TS-570D (#204) because that one works very good.

Remember to become member of the group dialout. After adding yourself to the group, do a reboot or re-login.

How to Brother HL-2135W on Ubuntu via secure WIFI router

The Brother HL-2135W laser printer only has one USB port and a wireless port. In this "how to" the USB port is never used and there is no need for any USB cable at all.
Your Ubuntu computer can use the printer wireless via your network Access Point or via a wired connection to your router, both work fine after this how to.

I use standard 32 bit Ubuntu 14.04 with the standard Unity GUI and the printer-drivers can be found in the "Ubuntu Software Center" if you search for Brother and unhide the technical items.

The printer runs fine with USB but cannot be configured with USB.

Here is how to get the printers wireless connection to your secure wireless router configured so you can use the printer by any computer in your network without using USB or Windows .

First turn on the printer in range of your wireless router Access Point.

• Check if the printers WIFI is running, check for the green LED under the USB port on the back of the printer to light up. A new SSID called SETUP should be on air in the 2.4 GHz band. (We might need this SSID later on.)
• If it does not light up, press and hold the Go button for 10 long seconds to turn on the printers WIFI.
• Next, press the Go button 3 times within 2 seconds and the "network status page" will be printed.
• Now check the settings on the paper. If they are all wrong you might want to reset the printer to factory defaults.

If you wish to reset the print server back to its default factory settings (resetting all information such as the password and IP address information), please follow the steps below:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Make sure that the front cover is closed and the power cord is plugged in.
3. Hold down the Go button as you turn on the power switch. Keep the Go button pressed down until all the LEDs light up, and then the Ready LED turns off.
4. Release the Go button. Make sure that all the LEDs turn off.
5. Press the Go button six times. Make sure that all the LEDs light up to indicate the print server has been reset to its factory default settings. The machine will restart.

Don’t forget to turn on the printers WIFI after the reset if needed. IP range 169.254.x.x is given when DHCP fails.

If you have an open network with DHCP and without security, the printer has already connected to the network and you will see the Brother HL-2135W if you add a new printer in Ubuntu. (Wait for it.) But many wireless Access Points have a password so:

• Check the IP address on the "network status page" you just printed and open it in your browser. It will open the printers web-control site. (A website inside your printer.) The standard password is admin/access.

Now this will work if you are very lucky but most wireless network cards are not in the same IP range as the printer so then there is still no connection yet.

BRAdmin Light works perfectly under WINE (Install wine in Terminal with " sudo apt-get install wine") and finds the wireless printer too.

It uses its own port (631) to do that. BRAdmin Light is on the CD that came with the Brother HL-2135W and on some download-sites.

Make a wireless connection in Ubuntu to the printers SSID called "SETUP". You might want to edit the network connection in your Ubuntu to connect successfully. Here are the settings:

Start BRAdmin Light by pressing the Icon in the dash and it will discover the printer.

With this tool you can set the printers network settings into the same IP range as your laptop or PC so you can connect to the web-control with your browser.

• In the web-control site you can set all kind of settings like wireless settings, IP, Subnet Mask, Gateway, SSID and DHCP.
• Set the printer to use the correct gateway and subnet mask and then set it to DHCP (under TCP/IP settings) and press submit to apply. 
• Now go to "Network Configuration" - "Configure Wireless" and set up the access to your secured wireless router. (Use infrastructure Mode.) Press submit to apply the new settings.
• After this is done, Reconnect Ubuntu again to your own wireless Access Point.
• Reboot the printer or power it off and on again. The printer will now connect to your wireless Access Point and receive an IP from its DHCP server. 
• Restart BRAdmin Light and it will again find the printer, this time is in the correct network IP range.
• Any computer in the network can now connect to the web-control site of the printer with an internet browser.

If you now add a printer in Ubuntu the Brother HL-2135W will magically appear under network printers as long as the PC or laptop is connected to the network. (Wait for Ubuntu to scan the network.)

As Ubuntu driver choose the jetdirect driver (The one with the ip address.) Then choose Brother foomatic.


Please let me know if this was any help.