Category Archives: ubuntu

Backing Up using cron and rsync

To run the backup script manually at anytime:

sudo ./rsync-shell.sh

in the folder below

The rsync script for this is in /home/markp/Documents/scripts: rsync-shell.sh
it creates a log file in /home/markp/Documents/backups
it backs up to an external e-sata hdd mounted at /external in fstab
it needs to be copied to /root so that it can run as a sudo cron jon
ensure chmod 744 so file is executable

in root, crontab -l lists all cron jobs; if no crontab exists yet create one with: 

sudo crontab -e

then add:
0 2 * * * /root/rsync-shell.sh

the five cron parameters above are:
minute (of the hour)
hour (of the day)
day (of the month)
month
day (of the week)
* = any value. So, the above job runs every day at 2.00 (am).

Issues: need to find a way of flagging when the cronjob doesn’t run, although the log reveals that. 2. need to find a way of bringing the PC out of suspend, now that I’m trying to be more power saving.

For 2. see here: https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/wake-cron.html

OpenLP throws error on startup with new installation on Xubuntu 18.04

markp@markp-OptiPlex-5040:~$ openlp
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/openlp", line 27, in
from openlp.core.common import is_win, is_macosx
File "/usr/share/openlp/openlp/init__.py", line 26, in from openlp import core, plugins File "/usr/share/openlp/openlp/core/__init.py", line 43, in
from openlp.core.ui.mainwindow import MainWindow
File "/usr/share/openlp/openlp/core/ui/mainwindow.py", line 29, in
from distutils import dir_util
ImportError: cannot import name 'dir_util'

sudo apt install python3-distutils

Drivers for AC1200MBS on xubuntu 18.04

promised my lovely ‘no wires in the new house’, so trying to get some 5ghz wifi sorted. Doesn’t work out the box. Try this:

sudo apt-get install rtl8812au-dkms

A previous dkms git install that used to work has ceased to (maybe with v5 kernel?). dkms status shows which modules installed this way and for which kernel:

markp@markp-ThinkCentre-M91p:~$ sudo dkms status
nvidia-340, 340.107, 5.0.0-23-generic, x86_64: installed
nvidia-340, 340.107, 5.0.0-32-generic, x86_64: installed
rtl8812au, 4.3.14, 5.0.0-32-generic, x86_64: installed

This command will remove the above to ensure clean system for next attempt:

sudo dkms remove rtl8812au/4.3.14 --all

Epson 3490 Photo Scanner in Ubuntu 15.10

After years of this device (cheap on ebay) sat on the side it works! Thanks to
http://geekswastingtime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/install-epson-3490-photo-in-ubuntu-1204.html
Download and extract the following file to your home directory…

go to a command prompt

sudo apt-get install sane libsane-extras simple-scan
sudo cp ~/Esfw52.bin /etc/sane.d
sudo nano /etc/sane.d/snapscan.conf
At the top, add the line
 firmware /etc/sane.d/Esfw52.bin

Uncomment the following line

/dev/usb/scanner0 bus=usb