---------- written by JCPMA 2012August
===SUMMARY===
Getting a user-friendly setup of Ubuntu 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) is
possible without an internet connection, but requires patience and
unofficial installers made by brilliant contributors.
Must-have apps for Ubuntu 12.04
- codecs etc, ie. RestrictedExtras
- VLC player
- WINE
- Gnome classic desktop
Nice-to-have apps for Ubuntu 12.04
- Audacious
- Synaptic package manager
- an alternate WebBrowser (Chromium or GoogleChrome)
- an alternate desktopEnvironment (Lxde or Xfce or other)
- a search tool to go with Lxde/Lubuntu/Ubuntu (perhaps Catfish; or Gnome-search)
Result
- VLC player and WINE each will result in a broken software catalog. If this software is important, the user should leave the software catalog as-is, that is, un-repaired as a compromise, so that they can use VLC player and/or WINE.
Conclusion
- Open source Ubuntu OS development requires evolution to allow non-connected users to have access to a workable OS.
===end Summary===
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-
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PROLOGUE
========
-In the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd worlds, people may not always have access to the internet. Common knowledge is that the wealthy are more likely to be "wired" most or all of the time. Conversely the poor usually have no internet connection, not even the dial-up kind. The extremely poor have bigger problems of survival, and computers are frivolous.
Ubuntu (and perhaps other variants of Linux) work extremely well to install and update software if you are connected to the internet. A fresh install of Ubuntu 12.04 gives a working computer, but most users, and all the people I know use multi-media on their computers. Ubuntu does not come with the needed codecs that the average user needs. When offline, these extra codecs as well as any additional software, is difficult, if not impossible to install. This presents an unbelievable amount of frustration especially for beginners of Linux. I have entertained very briefly the idea of swapping my hard-drive into another box that is connected to the internet. This option however is challenging because of the need to find a party willing to swap in an IDE type of HDD.
An ongoing movement exists to enable offline installing, but for a newbie (like myself), it requires a moderate-steep learning curve. A few examples of such offline-facilitators include:
. unofficial offline installer files
. Keryx (Keryxproject.org)
. apt-offline
. aptoncd
. apt medium
. local repositories
. many others I am not aware of
My experience discussed below will concern the above first two examples. I have been unable/too stupid to get other methods of offline installation to work.
============
=DISCUSSION=
============
Objective: Install a few programs onto Ubuntu 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) desktop computer, without internet. Desired programs are Wine and VLC.
I use a bunch of portable Windows apps often, and a handful of portable Windows apps very often. I like vlc bc I am familiar w it, and bc the standard "MoviePlayer" on Ubuntu12.04 just doesn't come close to Vlc's features.
Background: A newbie with a Pentium4 home Desktop PC with Ubuntu12.04 installed. No internet connection available. There is a nearby library where users have access to a Windows Desktop PC with internet available.
Order of events of trial and error, and verbatim:
======
[Restricted Extras]
-install RESTRICTED EXTRAS offline installer for ubuntu 11.04. (ie this installs codecs and flashPlayer etc) so that you can watch vids and listen to music etc.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9261879&postcount=1
It seems to be working OK. It has not broken the pkgMgr catalog despite having a few bumps during installation.
-CODECS related to GStream (multimedia??) I can't remember if I installed these manually or not. If I did, it would have been through .deb pkgs downloaded via Keryx0.92.4 (see below). These codec files may already have been installed by the restrictedExtrasOfflineInstaller as mentioned above. (Sorry I just don't remember)
[VLC 1.19] - didn't install successfully
-try VLC unofficial offline installer 1.19
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9261879&postcount=1
--result is dependency problem: too old or too new or missing. For example I was missing libwww-perl, and thus subsequently many others.; as well as missing libencode-locale-perl.
(Unrelated Note: This installer worked ok on Ubuntu 11.04 NattyNarwhal)
[Wine 1.3] - didn't install successfully
-try Wine unofficial offline installer 1.3
http://www.linuk.web.id/2011/05/download-wine-13-offline-installer.html
--result is dependency problem: too old or too new or missing.
If I remember correctly, I was missing at least the "libjpeg62.deb" dependency. (Unrelated Note: This installer worked on Ubuntu 11.04 NattyNarwhal)
[Keryx 1.0] - didn't install successfully
-tried using Keryx 1.0; It only partially worked on the offline machine (Ubuntu) [illus|dpkgDebianTerminal.jpg]
Unpacking replacement keryx ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of keryx:
keryx depends on python (<< 2.7); however:
Version of python on system is 2.7.3-0ubuntu2.
keryx depends on python-support (>= 0.90.0); however:
Package python-support is not installed.
dpkg: error processing keryx (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index...
Processing;
The message from UbuntuSoftwareCentre (USC) is a simple "Dependency is not satisfiable:python(<2 .7=".7" br="br">--Another problem is that the library (online Windows) machine does not have the pre-requisites installed for Keryx 1.0 and installing such would require AdminPrivileges.
[Keryx 0.92] - four extra dependencies are still not enough to work.
-opt to try Keryx 0.923 series and dL and (attempt to) install the most current Keryx required dependencies I can find, which in this case is the Karmic series:
. libwxbase2.8-0_2.8.10.1-0ubuntu1_i386.deb
. libwxgtk2.8-0_2.8.10.1-0ubuntu1_i386.deb
. python-wxgtk2.8_2.8.10.1-0ubuntu1_i386.deb
. python-wxversion_2.8.10.1-0ubuntu1_all.deb
I can't recall what the error message was, but installation of one or more of the above could not proceed because of at least a FURTHER ADDITIONAL (missing) dependency! This means Keryx 0.923 will not work on this computer.
[Keryx 0.92.4 Custom]
-try Keryx 0.92.4 customized pack pre-loaded with a "project/profile" for PrecisePangolin(12.04).
http://www.sinarpelangi.com/keryx-portable-deb-downloader-package-management-and-installer-for-debian-based-linux-and-windows-100-work-on-ubuntu-12-04/
--successfully download a bunch of .deb pkgs for Wine1.4 (There are over70 required .debs!!!). This Keryx does work OK at my local library (ie on their Online Windows box), and does NOT require installation of any additional Windows system files!
And for VLC (2 media player) there are over7 "debs".
Keryx 0.92.4 runs on Ubuntu 12.04 ok but will only install your downloaded packages onto your offline machine IF the current software catalog list is "un-broken/intact". Also, if further dependencies are needed or if certain online verification is required, installation will be partial or will totally fail if you are not connected to the internet.
[Rant about Ubuntu Software Centre]
The dreaded Ubuntu Software Centre (package manager) feels slow. Another peeve about Ubuntu package managers in general is the way they are set up to work. They assume every user have access to the internet. When you are offline, and trying to add software, all it takes is one dependency out of place and you cannot succeed. If you double click on the .deb packages individually, UbuntuSoftwareCenter will reject it on the basis of dependency issues OR it will accept it, but the install button will not "light up", that is, the install button will not be "depressable". Either way you cannot install the desired software. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE UBUNTU SOFTWARE CENTRE, imho.
Now, to be fair, I must admit I have had success only in installing one (1) piece of offline software through the UbuntuSoftwareCentre. It is a recent downloaded deb pkg from Avast anti-virus website, an on-demand anti-virus scanner. When the pkg was double clicked, USC said I could install the software if I trusted the software supplier. In this instance, the "Install" button on the USC did light up, and I was able to click on it.
This is the UbuntuSoftwareCentre sticking its tongue out at you and then punching you in the gut; It begins w a red Prohibitive circle logo on the indicator panel informing you of broken dependencies.[illus|softwareError.jpg]
Hitting the Repair button can cause one of three things to happen.
1) nothing changes. (no internet connection). [occasionally occurs]
2) many things & useful softwares are uninstalled in batches (& you have no control over which specific items stay or go) [most likely]
3) your system is repaired. [rare]
An offline repair has a better chance if you tell the pkgMgr to never auto-update over the internet. Otherwise, a repair will seek a connection and will report back a failure.
I have had slightly better success with the SoftwareUpdater: ShutdownButton -> SoftwareUpdater.
[Synaptic]
Ubuntu12.04 does not come, by default, with Synaptic package manager. I dL synaptic_0.75.9ubuntu1_i386.deb and install it using "dpkg" in a terminal. This particular deb was downloaded via Keryx 0924 as mentioned above. Synaptic used to be built-in in older versions of Ubuntu. It is userFriendly in that you can choose specifically what apps or pkgs to uninstall. It is very unfortunate for us Noobs, that Synaptic does not come standard w PrecisePangolin.
Unofficial offlineInstallers specifically made for 12.04 PrecisePangolin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I download an offline installer(s) from this internet url for vlc and wine and some others. http://ihsan15-en.blogspot.ca/2012/06/download-offline-installer-ubuntu-1204.html
(What is interesting about these compilations is what I briefly noticed in its "terminal-like" window during an install. For files that required online validation, it overides this if you are not connected to the internet. This is a GodSend!!!)
[Wine1.4]
I follow the blog's instructions and install Wine1.4. Wine1.4 won't install because a couple of items will "break Wine1.3's Gecko and other Wine1.3 stuff" This is because earlier, as stated above, I tried Wine1.3 installer which worked for an earlier version of Ubuntu.
[delete some old Wine1.3 stuff]
The good news is that if you use Synaptic Package Manager, you can choose to delete the Wine1.3 stuff. There is a way to officially purge this via the terminal window, but this is beyond me. Do not expect the UbuntuSoftwareCentre to give you any degree of co-operation in this matter.
After you do this, re-install Wine1.4 again with the offline installer. This should meet with partial success and will give you 2 dependency messages, to the effect of, libpam-windbind is a problem, and windbind is a problem. However this installs enough of Wine onto the computer so that I can use a handful of portable apps made for MicrosoftWindows. I don't know if this would work for WindowsGames though. I'm not much of a serious gamer. but for games you may need to look at the site www.playonlinux.com.
[Vlc 2]
Now install VLC 2 unofficial offline installer; I can't remember the dependency issues with this one. (There is at least one!) This procedure gives your Ubuntu box a working vlc media player!
Before moving on, I want to recommend from the same site of unofficial offline installers, http://ihsan15-en.blogspot.ca , some great apps:
----------------
-Audacious mp3/audio player. This player lets you choose from 2 interfaces. The default one is GTK which looks similar to the default Ubuntu "RhythmBox". The alternate interface mimics WinAmp's classic (I guess now considered retro) interface. Both interfaces work very well. RhythmBox is a capable music player. Alternatively, you can choose to play music files through VLC player (now that it has been installed). So why am I promoting Audacious? Answer: RhythmBox is clunky. It semi-embeds itself into your panel's volume icon. When you close the window the music continues to play. Its aesthetics aren't bad but the configuration options as well as the usage are not intuitive.
-Compiz Config Settings Manager. I am not sure what this is. It may be an app to tweak the desktop or windowsMgr settings. It looks like newbies should perhaps stay away from this. [I installed this; On hindsight maybe I shouldn't have].
-Synaptic Package Manager + Gdebi. I discovered this after I had dL synaptic using Keryx. This offline installer pkg may be a better/easier choice to obtaining Synaptic.
-Ubuntu Restricted Extras, which includes AdobeFlashPlayer 11.
Without this "stuff" a computer is just an electronic typewriter.
This site, http://www.linuk.web.id/2012/04/download-offline-installer-ubuntu-1204.html , has two offline installers for webBrowsers.
------------
Chromium Browser - same fast internal machinery as GoogleChrome but without FlashPlayer; and also, Chromium is supposed to be more secure for your privacy.
Google Chrome Browser - This is a fast streamlined web Browser with a built-in FlashPlayer. (I chose Google Chrome to install as an additional browser to the excellent Firefox.) The ironic issue for me is that when I earlier tried to install the official Google Chrome .deb pkg, obtained by proper channels, ie., dL from Google's site, it would not install because of some missing dependency or dependencies! Now, this site http://www.linuk.web.id , which has this unofficial installer "works like a charm").
~~~~This next section talks about Desktop Environments (DE).~~~~
[Unity]
Ubuntu 12.04 comes with Unity as the DesktopEnvironment. It is not ugly. It just feels ugly. The panels look great. The system indicators (on the upper right corner) look very good. It feels ugly because of the lack of ability to tweak/adjust the settings. You only get limited options when you enter into the settings manager. I had tried to dL and install Ubuntu Tweak for 12.04, "ubuntu-tweak_0.7.3-1~precise1_all.deb" but installation failed bc the system went into another "dependency-fit/tantrum".
The dash [illus|unityDash.jpg] works very well with its built-in search tool (More talk on a couple of additional search apps later in the Lubuntu paragraph). BUT, my personal preference is with the traditional menu|directory-tree system of locating applications. The dash can be navigated, but searching requires a new paradigm and sometimes depending on which Lens Icon you select, (I just recently discovered the Lens), you may need to maximize the window to see the complete data. There is no vertical scroll bar when the dash window is open, and resizing is not an available option. My intuition tells me that the developers of the recent Unity interface is concentrating on/inspired by interfaces for tablet computers esp the kind with touch screens. When I try using the dash, (on my desktop computer), I can't shake the sensation that I am navigating/searching on a portable touch-screen device.
Unity is missing a button that allows you to show the desktop (Or, I have no idea how to put one in.). For me this is a very important button to have.
Another bug I have discovered concerns the top menu bar on open windows. This menu bar is only visible and functional if the window is maximized. However when not fully maximized, the menu bar is invisible and inaccessible. When I switch to Gnome Classic or Lubuntu DE's there is no such problem.
Here is a side note about using a picture for a desktop background in Ubuntu. I have had success with .jpg and .png files. The dimensions that have worked for me included 800x600 pixels, 1600x1200 pixels, and 1920x1280 pixels. I could not get .bmp files to work for this.
Unity seems to focus on looking good at the expense of system resources and RAM. Similarly, this is the fault with WindowsVista. It concentrated on eye candy and transparencies and less on getting the job done. Unity may be somewhat quirky I have read, with NVidia graphics cards. My card is an NVidia. I have noticed that on trying to resize a window via the lower right corner, the cursor spazzes out and it is very difficult to resize the window. When I try Unity2D which is supposed to be less resource demanding, the resizing of windows is easier. Anyway, I have stopped using Unity. I will only be using Unity2D or other DE's.
[Gnome Classic]
At the very least, PrecisePangolin users should enable Gnome Classic or Gnome Classic Without Effects. This will give you more control over the desktop interface and is more configurable. Again this is another item no longer included in newer versions of Ubuntu. You need to download and install Gnome-session-fallback*.deb.
I have read somewhere, though, that similarly you can install Gnome panel *.deb. I downloaded this stuff using Keryx, but I would suggest users download the offline *.isi installer from http://ihsan15-en.blogspot.ca/2012/06/download-offline-installer-ubuntu-1204.html .
Fixing the indicator/panel bug in Gnome Classic.
This may not be an official bug, but I consider it one. Gnome (Classic) has all important indicators missing from the panel. You need to, download and install "indicator-applet-complete_0.5.0-0ubuntu1_i386.deb" ( I did this via Keryx ). [illus:SS-indicatorAppletComplete-.jpg]
Other Desktop Environments that newbies can try are: (Again I would suggest users download the offline *.isi installer from http://ihsan15-en.blogspot.ca/2012/06/download-offline-installer-ubuntu-1204.html )
Lxde aka Lubuntu minimal desktop environment, or
Xfce aka Xubuntu minimal desktop environment.
These have a Windows flavour and are more sparing on resources than Unity.
I haven't tried Cinnamon but the screenshot of it looks good.
I haven't tried Openbox because it may be too frustrating for newbies and may require advanced configuration.
I haven't tried KDE or Kubuntu, because it may be more stressful for the computer resources than Gnome, and because the pkg managers UbuntuSoftwareCentre and its own Muon may not be compatible, or functional.
Xfce/Xubuntu Desktop Environment - I have version 4.8 (current ver. is 4.10) of this DE on an old laptop w Ubuntu 11.04. It may look drab but it is surprisingly nimble and configurable. I hate to be so negative, but it makes Unity seem like JabbaTheHutt.
[Lubuntu Minimal Desktop Environment]
Lubuntu Minimal Desktop Environment is what I have installed on my Pentium4 machine, and it appears it will be what I primarily use. It is supposed to be less demanding on resources and it is easier to navigate your desktop.
AFter installing this DE there will appear an immediate bug! The (wonderful looking) default lower panel disappears!!
[Fixing the Missing Default Panel]
I found this answer on this website: http://askubuntu.com/questions/64631/how-to-restore-the-default-lubuntu-panel
You need to try one or some or all of the next 3 pieces of code.
sudo cp /usr/share/lxpanel/profile/Lubuntu/panels/panel ~/.config/lxpanel/Lubuntu/panels
sudo chown owner:group ~/.config/lxpanel/Lubuntu/panels/panel
lxpanelctl restart
I used the first, and third pieces of code above. Then I rebooted the computer and the panel reappeared.
[Mouse double-click speed]
The setting of the mouse double-click speed is in an unusual spot. It is accessed by going to Menu -> Preferences -> OpenBoxConfig -> Mouse tab.
A speed of between 400-600 milliseconds may be better than the default 200 milliseconds.
[No search tool]
LubuntuDesktopEnvironment is missing a search app! Unity has a handy search tool built into the Dash, but Lubuntu has nothing.
"Catfish" pkg is a pretty good search tool. It has "old school" functionality in "finding" or "locating" stuff on your computer. It is a welcome addition to Unity and Gnome Classic (& possibly works with other variants too.) Technically this is a front-end but the important thing is it works to find stuff. The dL website provides one file, but you should dL using Keryx bc Catfish requires three files.
"Gnome-search" is another old school search app. It too is able to co-exist in Unity and Gnome Classic. In the application menu, this app is labeled "Search Tool". Again I suggest using Keryx to download the debs. On my system I had to dL five files: gnome-search-tool_3.4.0-1_i386.deb, gnome-dictionary_3.4.0-1_i386.deb, gnome-utils_3.2.1-0ubuntu6_all.deb, libgdict-1.0-6_3.4.0-1_i386.deb, libgdict-common_3.4.0-1_all.deb
(I had tried to install a search tool called "tracker-gui", but could not get it to work bc the twenty downloaded deb files were still not enough to make the "dependency robot" satisfied.)
[no soundcard/audio tweaking]
As it stands, Lubuntu Minimal Desktop Environment allows for adjustment of volume up or down, but nothing else. Being a newbie and a coward I decided not to further change any audio configurations so I did not download anything for fear of breaking or worsening my audio. My internet trawling looked at webpages which promoted some solutions for enabling audio settings:
1. pavucontrol
2. pavumeter
3. pulseaudio
4. alsa (or ?alsa-mixer?)
5. xfce4-mixer
Results
-------
Wine 1.4 installs on Ubuntu12.04 with two broken dependencies
VLC 2.0 installs on Ubuntu12.04 with one broken dependency
EPILOGUE
========
I really appreciate Linux and Ubuntu and very much desire to make it work out. I truly believe it is the way of the future. There are millions of people in NorthAmerica, SouthAmerica, India, China, Russia ... who side with OpenSource. But at this time, I don't know if I am a chump or not. There has been frustration "galore" and I have spent an unbelievable amount of time on this. Should I forget about Ubuntu and try another Linux flavour, or should I give up on Linux and save money to buy a WindowsInstallation disc? Offline installation of supplemental software is so easy for Microsoft Windows computers. (I'm not deliberately dissing Apple, but I own a PC and not a Mac machine.) Deep down though I am a LinuxHead, otherwise I would not have persisted on trying to make this OS work.
If I could do anything differently from scratch after installing Ubuntu 12.04, I would immediately start using the unofficial installer packs as this is the most painless path.
Keryx has value for me, as a 2nd method of software installation. However, Keryx's greater value, is as a .deb pkg downloader. You type in the name of the software you need, and Keryx downloads it and its dependencies. Hint: you should immediately transfer the debs into a seperate folder for use in the near future. If you need 2 separate softwares, you should create 2 separate folders. Eg. Catfish comes as 3 debs: catfish_0.3.2-2ubuntu1_all.deb, libglade2-0_2.6.4-1ubuntu1_i386.deb, and python-glade2_2.24.0-3_i386.deb. Immediately after Keryx downloads them, you should move these debs into a separate folder, so you don't mix up the debs from other softwares. It is just a way for me/newbies to keep track of what has been downloaded.
I only have a tiny amount of Linux experience. I have tried DSL, Puppy, Knoppix and Xubuntu, so I don't know if my speculations apply to just Ubuntu or other Linux ports as well.
The Ubuntu OpenSource Software concept has to evolve to facilitate software installs for users with little or no internet access. This segment of the world population is the majority and not the minority. Whereas, the minority of the population have internet most of the time or all the time. Currently, it is my experience that offline installers are the best methods to enable this. They are simple, may or may not require online validation, and require few steps during the entire process.
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