Sun Java 6 on Ubuntu 10.04 10.10 and later
Much to my surprise, but probably not those of the Open Source Ruling Class, Sun’s Java 6 has been removed from the Ubuntu Multiverse. Apparently the Ubuntu folks have started putting some weight behind their recommendations for switching to the “OpenJDK.” Fortunately, the official, “proprietary” Java is still available through another Ubuntu repository.
To make Sun’s Java 6 JDK available on Ubuntu 10.04, 10.10 or later, add the new repository like so:
add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ lucid partner" && aptitude update
Then, be sure to follow my previous instructions for installing the JDK.
Mount NTFS partitions at startup with fstab
Yesterday I helped a coworker figure out the best way to have Linux mount an NTFS partition at startup. It was an interesting little problem because there are multiple solutions but only a single “correct” solution.
At first I questioned the need to do anything at all — my computer apparently mounts my NTFS drive on its own but I couldn’t remember how.
Before I found the ultimate solution, one approach my coworker attemped was to have gnome execute a script at login which used the mount command. This didn’t work; he forgot to use gksudo and anyway the script never seemed to run.
Then I remembered fstab and the rest is history. If you need to accomplish the same thing, be sure to read his fstab blog post.
