::installing adobe reader 8.1.1 for slackware linux::

installing adobe reader 8.1.1 for slackware linux

since there is no Adobe Reader package (*.tgz) for Slackware, we have to compile it from source *.tar.gz

1. download the source at Adobe Reader Homepage

2. select the source and download it
Operating System: Linux
Select a version: Linux x86 (.tar.gz)
Select a language: English

3. once download finish, cd to the directory of downloaded file and issue:
tar -zxvf adobe-reader-version.tar.gz
e.g
$ tar -zxvf AdobeReader_enu-8.1.1-1.i486.tar.gz
AdobeReader/
AdobeReader/INSTALL
AdobeReader/ReadMe.htm
AdobeReader/COMMON.TAR
AdobeReader/ILINXR.TAR

4. cd to AdobeReader/ and run:
./install

5. once asked, specify where do you want Adobe Reader to be installed. By default, on Linux, Adobe Reader is installed in /opt/Adobe. But I choose mine on /usr/lib/adobe

6. cd to the installation path (e.g /opt/Adobe or /usr/lib/adobe) and run:
$ acroread
(or you may double click Adobe Reader icon at the Desktop)

7. I do have minor issue while installing the reader saying that Adobe Reader cannot find gtk library.
Error: "Unable to find the HTML rendering library (libgtkembedmoz)."

explanation from Adobe.com:
This happens if acroread was unable to find libgtkembedmoz.so and related component files on your system.
solution is here

what is libgtkembedmoz library for?
- This library is required for rendering HTML content in Adobe Reader.

since I got Mozilla Firefox installed, i just search for file name libgtkembedmoz and point Adobe Reader to its directory
$ locate libgtkembedmoz
/usr/lib/seamonkey-1.1.4/libgtkembedmoz.so

8. open Adobe Reader >> Edit >> Preferences >> Internet >> libgtkembedmoz Folder >> put in the directory (e.g /usr/lib/seamonkey-1.1.4/), click OK and you're done!

::colorful bash::

colorful bash tricks

if you wish to add color to your bash, e.g during listing files in a directory using ls, use this tricks

$ export CLICOLOR="yes"

and if you wish to make colorful bash as default for all users in shell, edit /etc/profiles and add the above line inside

::fping::

fping

use fping to ping a set of IP ranges or simply to resolve the IP to hostname
Linux - fping (a program to hosts in parallel)
download: fping

Basic usage:
$ fping -s -g -d 72.20.25.185 72.20.25.190 -r 1

results:

security.org.au is alive
your.on.ugly-people.org is alive
put.your.pix.up.on.ugly-people.org is unreachable
Bush.can.save-teh.US is unreachable
is.here.to.save-teh.US is unreachable
highly.p0ision.us is unreachable

6 targets
2 alive
4 unreachable
0 unknown addresses

24 timeouts (waiting for response)
24 ICMP Echos sent
2 ICMP Echo Replies received
0 other ICMP received

0.00 ms (min round trip time)
0.00 ms (avg round trip time)
0.00 ms (max round trip time)
4.268 sec (elapsed real time)

for more usage refer to "man fping" or linuxscrew.com

one good tools for Windows with the same functions is Angry IP scanner
download: angryziber.com

::change user informations::

how to change user informations (finger) such as:

Shell:
Full Name:
Office Location:
Office Phone:
Home Phone:
Other information:

this can be done using command: chfn