Sorted - VMware Workstation 7.1.2 build-301548 failing to fully configure on Ubuntu Linux 10.10 Maverick Meerkat

Over the past few days, I'd noticed that, whenever I started VMware Workstation, I was prompted to recompile it's underlying modules to fit with my kernel - 2.6.35-23-generic-pae #36-Ubuntu SMP

Normally, this occurs once after an update, and then it "sticks" until the next kernel upgrade.

However, this was repeating, which was a bit annoying.

By running the vmware command within a terminal window, rather than via the Gnome launcher, I also got to see more errors: -

Starting VMware services:
   VMware USB Arbitrator                                               done
   Virtual machine monitor                                             done
   Virtual machine communication interface                             done
   VM communication interface socket family                            failed
   Blocking file system                                                done
   Virtual ethernet                                                    done
   Shared Memory Available                                             done

and: -

make: *** [vsock.ko] Error 2

Well, I'm happy to report that, after a spot of Googling, I found the solution on this rather useful little website: -

Debian/Ubuntu Tips & Tricks

and, more specifically, this article: -

How-To: WMware Workstation 7.1 on Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat 10.10

which pointed out the the vmci module is the guilty party.

In essence, I needed to download a patch and then extract and execute it: -

tar -xzvf vmware-7.1-ubuntu10.10-patch.tar.gz
cd vmware-7.1-ubuntu10.10-patch
sudo ./apply_patch.sh

Having done this, running the vmware command ran through the recompilation as normal, resulting in this: -

Starting VMware services:
   VMware USB Arbitrator                                               done
   Virtual machine monitor                                             done
   Virtual machine communication interface                             done
   VM communication interface socket family                            done
   Blocking file system                                                done
   Virtual ethernet                                                    done
   Shared Memory Available                                             done

Excellent job :-)

Lotus Notes *IS* Cool - as it's now supported on Ubuntu Linux

W00t, I knew that, if I waited long enough, the world would come around to my way of thinking.

According to this flash on developerWorks,  Ubuntu Linux 10.04 is now a supported platform for Lotus Notes 8.5.2.

To quote the flash: -

The technote linked below has been updated to reflect that Ubuntu 10.04 LTS is now an officially supported platform for Notes 8.5.2.  It also notes the exception that if using the Sametime 8.5.1 add-on installer to upgrade the embedded version of Sametime in Notes 8.5.2, you should be aware that the Instant Share functionality of Sametime 8.5.1 Advanced is currently not supported on this platform.  

Technote #7019218 - IBM Lotus Notes 8.5.2 System Requirements - Linux

So, what are you waiting for - let's go Linux :-)

Looking for Lotus Wikis ? Look no further than here

Joyce Davis has shared this new consolidated page for all of the Lotus product wikis: -

    * IBM accelerators
    * IBM Composite Apps
    * IBM Mashup Center Includes product documentation
    * Lotus ActiveInsight
    * Lotus Connections
    * Lotus Domino
    * Lotus Domino Designer
    * Lotus Expeditor Includes product documentation
    * Lotus Forms
    * Lotus Foundations Includes product documentation
    * Lotus iNotes
    * Lotus Instructor Community Courseware
    * LotusLive
    * LotusLive iNotes
    * LotusLive Meetings & Events
    * Lotus Mobile Connect
    * Lotus Notes
    * Lotus Notes and Domino Application Development
    * Lotus Notes Traveler Includes product documentation
    * Lotus Protector
    * Lotus Quickr Includes product documentation
    * Lotus Sametime
    * Lotus Symphony Includes product documentation
    * Lotus Web Content Management Includes product documentation
    * Lotus Widget Factory
    * Lotus Workforce Management
    * WebSphere Dashboard Framework
    * WebSphere Portal Includes product documentation
    * WebSphere Portal Express Includes product documentation
    * WebSphere Portlet Factory Includes product documentation

Want a wiki ? Go there, go there now :-)

Yet more WebSphere Portlet Factory training resources

To add to my earlier post, there is also this most excellent course: WPC52 IBM WebSphere Portlet Factory 7.0: Application Development which is also available in-person or online, both in public and on a per-customer basis.

The next iteration of this course runs during the week commencing November 15.

Here are some other useful links from our friends at Davalan.

Portal Development with Portlet Factory
Portal Development
Portlet Factory on Twitter

Lotus Notes - it's cool, pass it on

One of my Lotus friends, Darren Adams, has just announced a new website, NotesIsCool.com, which is definitely worth a look.

If you're wondering what's been happening with Notes in the past few years and, perhaps, haven't been in a position to upgrade past version 7, then I definitely recommend that you take a look.

There's a lot of good stuff there already on Day 0, including such tempting tasty topics such as: -

• Adding a web search engine to the search bar
• Drag a message into an EML file
• E-mail conversations
• Calendar overlays

with the promise of more to come.

If Doctor Who can make bowties cool, then try wearing a bowtie when you use Notes.

WebSphere Portlet Factory v7 - Training

Here are three new online courses for WPF that include the most recent version 7 product: -

IBM WebSphere Portlet Factory 7: Technical Fundamentals

This instructor-led workshop developed by Streebo Inc. is designed for developers, technical leads, technical managers and architects who have little or no background in IBM WebSphere Portlet Factory.

IBM WebSphere Portlet Factory 7: Advance Topics and Concepts

This instructor-led training by Streebo Inc. is an advance level course that is targeted towards you with who have existing knowledge of Portlet Factory and its function and builders.

Exploring new features in IBM Websphere Portlet Factory 7.0

This is a 1-day update course on WebSphere Portlet Factory 7 developed by Streebo Inc. is targeted towards you who have prior experience/ training of working with previous versions of Portlet Factory. You are introduced to the new features and functions of the WebSphere Portlet Factory 7.

Whether you take one or all, you'll pick up some useful skills: -

• Provide exceptional web experience for users with new v7.0 features
• Building Rich Internet Applications (RIA) with the Latest Dojo builders & AJAX Builders
• Leverage automated construction of Smart Portlet applications to support multitouch devices like iPhone, iPad and Android tablets, etc
• Automating portlet patterns for maximum reuse and return on investment
• Portlet Integration with databases & legacy systems etc.

Interested ? Well, go and visit the links for more information.

Lotus Symphony 3.0 - Navigating on Mac OSX 10.6.3

One of my Australian friends asked how she could navigate the "presentation editor" within the Presentations component of Symphony.

By Presentation Editor, I'm referring to the default middle pane of the screen, rather than the Slide Sorter (LHS) or Properties Panel (RHS).

So, for me, the trick is to navigate between "slides" as follows: -

[fn] + [left arrow]              Beginning
[fn] + [right arrow]             End
[fn] + [up arrow] Up e.g. slide 7 -> slide 1
[fn] + [down arrow]              Down e.g. slide 1 -> slide 7

This is on a fresh installation of OSX 10.6.3 ( plus fixes ) where I've made no changes to the default keyboard layout.

This is also using the GA, rather than beta, version of Symphony.