Category Archives: Linux

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ParrotOS (Linux) 4.7 Update

So installed ParrotOS 4.7 x64 as my primary OS on a Lenovo X250 laptop. It’s been installed on it before so expected no real issues. Since I downloaded this image of 4.7 several weeks/months ago I knew it would need updating.

After installation, the automatic update feature announced 2500+ updates available so I told it to update. It finished about 2 seconds later so I checked using the command line. Still around 2500+ updates so attempted to upgrade the files and found an error about libc6-dev breaks libgcc-9-dev < 9.3.0.5 but 9.2.1-14 was to be installed. Apparently there is a similar issue on some releases of Kali.

First of all, I didn’t realize that Parrot should be updated using parrot-upgrade rather than the typical apt update/apt upgrade/apt full-upgrade used on many Debian and Ubuntu flavors. I found this out while searching for ways to fix the broken upgrade. Looks like parrot-upgrade simply does a lot of the work for you and helps keep the system aligned with ParrotOS.

Anyhow, found a reference that instructed to edit the file /var/lib/dpkg/status, search for the Package: libgcc-9-dev and delete all lines in that particular block. Also remember that you’ll need to use sudo as several descriptions I’ve seen assume you are logged in as root or are running a root shell.

If you’re not really sure how to do the above:

sudo nano /var/lib/dpkg/status

Use ^W to search for libgcc-9-dev and use ^W multiple times as needed until you reach the Package: libgcc-9-dev entry

Use ^K to delete all lines from Package: libgcc-9-dev until you reach the next Package: entry.

Use ^O to write the file back out (don’t change the name, just hit <ENTER> to accept the default name).

Now run sudo parrot-upgrade again; it should refresh the packages and install properly. If running a different distro, try running sudo apt update and then sudo apt upgrade or sudo apt full-upgrade.

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LinApple and Xubuntu 17.10

bzip2 -d to Working folder, followed by tar xvf

switch to Working folder and src folder

make should first return sdl error

sudo apt-get install libsdl1.2-dev (may also need libsdl2-dev)

sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev

sudo apt-get install libzip-dev

Other libraries may be necessary but these seem to fulfill the needs on my system (I allow them to install all dependencies and don’t bother trying to analyze everything).

Hope this helps!

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VLC Audio okay but no Video in Xubuntu 17.10 amd64

(this probably applies to various other distros as well)

Reinstalled Xubuntu 17.10 and found that VLC (VideoLAN) playback for at least 1 MKV file was resulting in audio only with no video. One possible resolution:

Go to Tools -> Preferences and enable Advanced. In the resulting tree, go to Video -> Output Modules then select OpenGL or other output. Automatic doesn’t seem to detect right, depending on configuration.

As always, YMMV

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CoCo3 (Tandy / Radio Shack Color Computer 3) and DriveWire 4 with Linux

I picked up a CoCo3 several months ago and had been trying various ways to get it to communicate with DriveWire 4 under Xubuntu (an Ubuntu derivative). Yesterday, I finally had some success.

First, I was lucky in that my CoCo3 included a cassette cable (4-pin round DIN connector and 3 plugs on the other end). This is helpful as I have no diskettes at all for the machine, although I have a total of 5 floppy drives available. Additionally, I ordered an RS-232 Serial cable (round DIN to DB9) which I’m using with a USB-Serial adapter on the Xubuntu end.

When setting up DriveWire 4, simply unzip the archive to its own folder. Make sure you install OpenJDK runtime 8 (9 might also work). You’ll need to change the shell script to executable using chmod +x as well. Finally, add yourself to a group that is permitted to access serial ports. Generally speaking, I add my normal user to dialout, tty, and uucp. I believe, but I’m not certain, that each of these will permit access to the serial port. Once added, you have to log out (not necessarily reboot) and then log in.

Once you’re logged in, start DriveWire 4 and go to the Config -> Simple Config selection. Choose CoCo3 (presumably any of the others would work as well). Make sure your serial adapter is plugged in and select the correct serial port, followed by finished (the defaults are probably okay for starting out).

You now have a chicken-and-egg problem; if you’ll download the DriveWire3 cassette files, etc., from Cloud-9’s web site you’ll then be able to transfer the cassette file (.wav) to the CoCo3 and boot. That will allow you to transfer additional files, images, etc., and if you have the proper hardware can save disks and/or cassettes.

I’m sure I’m leaving out some things but maybe this will help get you off to a good start. Remember, if DriveWire is having trouble finding your RS-232 USB adapter under Linux, it is almost certainly going to be a problem with groups/permissions. If the adapter is found but doesn’t seem to transfer, you probably then have a null-modem vs. terminal issue and need to make sure you are in the correct mode with the correct cable configuration.

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Xubuntu 16.10 – Install LinApple (LinApplePie)

I recently installed the LinApplePie version of LinApple in Xubuntu 16.10. In order to compile from source, you’ll need to install the following:

libsdl1.2-dev (for SDL2 development)

libcurl-ocaml-dev (for CURL development)

libzip-dev (for zip file handling)

libsdl-image1.2-dev (for SDL2 images)

It’s possible that other requirements might exist but these seemed to satisfy my system; I always install build-essentials when installing Xubuntu, so if the above doesn’t work you might also give that a try. Remember, you’ll need to use

sudo apt-get install

as regular user accounts won’t work. The final executable (linapple) will be in your src folder so you’ll ultimately need to move it somewhere in the path if you want to run it from arbitrary locations, as well as setting some additional configuration settings to mark the location of MASTER.DSK and/or other files.