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Getting a Terminal on a Linux HP Mini 0 1

Just received my new HP Mini 1120NR. This computer comes with the "Command Prompt" or Linux terminal feature disabled. A lot of people have asked how this can be re-enabled.

I found Chud67's Ubuntu on the HP Mini 1000 posts to be a great starting point for my own 1120NR system. To get a terminal as your own login, do the following:

1. click Alt-F2
2. enter gnome-terminal into the text field
3. Click the "Run" button

A gnome terminal will open up for you.

If you really know what you're doing with Linux, you may want to open a terminal as the root user. Here, Chud67's Mini 1000 instructions didn't exactly work for my Mini 1120NR. But they set me off on the right track. Here's what to do on the HP Mini 1120NR:

1. On the Mini's Home screen, click "Settings" in the upper right of the screen
2. In the "System Settings" window that pops up, click the "Advanced" tab
3. Click the "Customize Settings" icon
4. Under "Preferences," click "Advanced"
5. Scroll down until you see "Root Terminal," and then click its checkbox
6. Click the "Close" button at the lower right of the window to exit the Preferences window

And you're done. Now, whenever you click on "Settings" in the upper right of your home screen, you'll see "Root Terminal" in the "Advanced" tab of the "System Settings" window that pops up. Click the "Root Terminal" icon and enter your password (your own personal password, not the root password), and a terminal will appear, with you logged in as root.

Note to anyone reading this who has no idea what all this talk about "root" is: you REALLY SHOULDN'T DO what I've just described. Doing so, then typing a few seemingly harmless characters into that "Root Terminal" window that pops up, could seriously damage or destroy your system!

Gentoo says "config files in /etc need updating" 0 1

If you use Gentoo Linux, you may become familiar with seeing messages such as:

 * IMPORTANT: 26 config files in '/etc' need updating.

 * See the CONFIGURATION FILES section of the emerge

 * man page to learn how to update config files.

I finally visited that man page, and indeed it tells you what you need to know. Basically, Gentoo does not want to automatically overwrite configuration files that you may have tweaked manually when portage installs a new software package. So, instead, portage writes a modified configuration file.

You can find all the config files that need to be updated by going to /etc and entering (as root is best):

# find . -name "._cfg*"

For me, today, this returns:

./ssh/._cfg0000_sshd_config

./ssh/._cfg0000_moduli

./ssh/._cfg0000_ssh_config

./logrotate.d/._cfg0000_elog-save-summary

./._cfg0000_ca-certificates.conf

./._cfg0000_locale.gen

./._cfg0000_wgetrc

./._cfg0000_login.defs

./security/._cfg0000_namespace.init

./security/._cfg0000_limits.conf

./._cfg0000_nanorc

./pam.d/._cfg0000_sshd

./pam.d/._cfg0000_login

./fonts/conf.avail/._cfg0000_40-nonlatin.conf

./fonts/conf.avail/._cfg0000_45-latin.conf

./fonts/conf.avail/._cfg0000_65-nonlatin.conf

./fonts/conf.avail/._cfg0000_69-unifont.conf

./fonts/conf.avail/._cfg0000_60-latin.conf

./fonts/conf.avail/._cfg0000_65-fonts-persian.conf

./fonts/conf.avail/._cfg0000_25-unhint-nonlatin.conf

./._cfg0000_mke2fs.conf

./._cfg0000_man.conf

./init.d/._cfg0000_crypto-loop

./bash/._cfg0000_bashrc

./._cfg0000_gai.conf

./udev/._cfg0000_udev.conf

For each .cfg0000_FILEXXX file name in the list, Gentoo is telling you that you have a FILEXXX configuration file that needs to be updated, due to your recent installs. Rather than overwriting your previous file, Gentoo provides you with the opportunity to examine the new config file, compare it with your current file, and update your current file as you deem fit.

For me, in most cases, the correct solution is to just copy the new ._cfg0000_FILEXXX file to FILEXXX. But, it's kind of nice that Gentoo respects your system and your desire to create and maintain a certain configuration that is best suited to your needs.

I like that about Gentoo!