Acer Aspire One - vpnc tutorial - sample Universität Zürich

Prepare your Acer Aspire One

1. Press 'Alt-F2', write 'terminal' and press 'Enter'.

2. Download the kernel module 'tun.ko' by typing the following into the terminal: 'sudo wget http://frlinux.net/tun.ko'

3. Now copy the module where it should be by typing the following:
'sudo cp tun.ko /lib/modules/2.6.23.9lw/kernel/drivers/net'
'sudo mv tun.ko /lib/modules/2.6.23.9lw/extra

Of course it's possible to download the file directly to the right place:
'sudo wget /lib/modules/2.6.23.9lw/kernel/drivers/net http://frlinux.net/tun.ko'
'sudo cp /lib/modules/2.6.23.9lw/kernel/drivers/net/tun.ko /lib/modules/2.6.23.9lw/extra'

'2.6.23.9lw' is the current kernel version (after 9 it's an 'l' as in 'lima' and not a 'one').
You find your version by typing: 'ls /lib/modules'. If you have a different version just replace 2.6.23.9lw with your version number!

4. Finish by typing: 'sudo depmod -a'.


Create the configuration file and customise it
1. Go to the place where the file should be placed by typing: ' cd /etc/vpnc'.

2. Create the file by typing: 'sudo vi uzh.conf'.
Although 'vi' is not very intuitiv, but every GNU/Linux Distribution comes with it, and by following this tutorial you're able to use it in order to create and customise the configuration file. If you prefer another editor, just take the one you like.

3. Once the editor's opened in the terminal, type the following: ':i' and press 'Enter'. You're in the 'insert-mode' now.

4. write:
IPSec gateway vpnserver.uzh.ch
IPSec ID 'groupName'
IPSec secret 'groupPassword'
Xauth username 'sXXXXXXX'
Xauth password 'yourPassword'

note:
a) don't write the quotation marks ' '.
b) 'groupName', 'groupPassword' can be found on the website of the Zurich University:
go here
c) Xauth password can be set or not, it's up to you!

5. In order to save the file, press 'ESCAPE', your in the command mode now. Then type: ':wq' ('w' is for write, i.e. save the file and 'q' is for quit.


Customise the File Rights
1. Type in the terminal:
'sudo chmod 644 /etc/vpnc/uzh.conf'
'sudo chown root.root /etc/vpnc/uzh.conf'


Start / end the program
1. In order to start the program, type in the terminal: 'sudo vpnc uzh'
2. In order to end the program, type in the terminal: 'sudo vpnc-disconnect'

More Information on how to enter the internal section of the Zurich University by a vpn client can be found here.

Acer Aspire One - System Rescue - USB Stick

After my System Rescue Disc, that was delievered with my new Acer Aspire One, just did not want to work, I searched the web for a usb-stick image and a possibility to install the system from scratch without a cd!
For my solution you need a running GNU/Linux system, a usb stick (at least 2GB) and the usb-image.

Where to find an image:
http://www.aspire1.pl/download/software/RecoveryImage/

or look for a torrent:
http://fenopy.com/torrent/acer_aspire_one_recovery_image/MTM4MjkwNA==/index.html

Once you've downloaded the image, plug-in the usb stick, open a terminal and go root by typing 'su'.

In the Folder where the image is, type:
'zcat aa1_usb_recovery_image.gz > /dev/sda'

In my case the usb stick is 'sda', to find out what's in your computer, type fdisk -l.

And voilà your bootable usb recovery stick is done!