Stopping CUPS From Broadcasting

(Contributed by Mandrake Linux user Greg)

It has always bothered me that CUPS is broadcasting on my little own private network. Well today it was passed to me how to turn this off:

/etc/cups/cupsd.conf

#
# Browsing: whether or not to broadcast and/or
# listen for CUPS information on the network.
# Enabled by default.

Browsing Off

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Mandrake Linux As A Terminal Server

(Contributed by Mandrake Linux user Stephan Schutter)

Download and install the TightVNC server and clients.

Edit your '/etc/services' file as 'root' and add this line:

vnc          5900/tcp        #VNC Terminal Server

Create a file called 'vnc' in '/etc/xinetd.d' and fill it with this:

# VNC Login at 1024x768 resolution 24 bit colors
service vnc1024x768x24
{
  disable = no
  id                      = vnc1024x768x24
  socket_type             = stream
  protocol                = tcp
  wait                    = no
  user                    = gdm
  server                  = /usr/bin/Xvnc
  server_args             = -inetd -depth 24 -geometry 1024x768 -query localhost
}

Enable XDMCP with your login manager. Can be done with a GUI if you use GDM.

Make the client available via samba and http etc.

Restart 'xinetd' as 'root' with:

service xinetd restart

Now you can connect and get a Mandrake Linux login prompt. Performance is good, even over a WAN.

[Due to the inherent insecurity of XDMCP you are not advised to use it via untrusted networks or on unsecured trusted networks. tom]

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ipchains Instead Of iptables

(Contributed by Mandrake Linux user D. Ginger)

In a nutshell, the newer distro's using 2.4.x-x Kernel's use 'iptables' by default. My advice is to install 'ipchains' instead. The reason is that documentation written for beginners is not yet available.

You can only have 'ipchains' OR 'iptables'. You can not have both installed at the same time. So you absolutley must un-install 'iptables' before installing 'ipchains'. You have been warned.

1. Open your favorite RPM Package Manager.
2. Use the Package Manager to un-install 'iptables'.
3. In a console as root type rmmod iptables
4. Install the ipchains RPM package (it's on your Mandrake Linux CD).
5. In a console as root type insmod ipchains
6. Test to see if it is installed, run /sbin/ipchains -L

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Flash For konqueror

(Contributed by Mandrake Linux user Warwick Chapman)

Konqueror has support for Netscape/Mozilla Plugins, and it is through this support that Konqueror can play Flash. [For licensing reasons this plugin can not be distributed with the download edition of Mandrake Linux. tom]

1. Download the Netscape Flash player Plugin from Macromedia.com: http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/flash/english/linux/5.0r47/flash_linux.tar.gz worked at the time of writing.

2. Unpackage the Plugin and copy the necessary files to the Netscape/Mozilla plugins directory (as 'root').

   tar xzf flash_linux.tgz
   cd flash_linux
   cp libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/
   cp ShockwaveFlash.class /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/

3. If you have not installed KDE support for Netscape/Mozilla plugins:

   # urpmi kdebase-nsplugins

   as 'root'.

4. Run nspluginscan as 'root' so KDE can find the plugins.

You can check that the Flash Plugin for Netscape/Mozilla is working by typing about:plugins in the address box. With Konqueror, try http://www.flash.com and check that the Flash animations work. Right click on what you think is a Flash animation, and if you get a Konqueror context menu, it is not working. If you get a Flash context menu, then, viola! it is working.

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