I've just installing and configuring Synergy (a program that enables you to share one keyboard and one mouse for use in multiple machine) between my Ubuntu Box and Powerbook G4. Actually, it is so simple, all you need to do is have a synergy installed on both machines.

1. Ubuntu:

$ sudo apt-get install synergy

2. Powerbook:
On Powerbook, there is a client called QuickSynergy, but I have a random disconnect problem using it, so I'd rather suggest you to installing Macports, and do this:

$ sudo port install synergy

Choose either one as your server and the other as a client.

*SERVER
In your server, you create synergy.conf, containing this:

section: screens
            ubuntubox:
            powerbook:
end
section: links
            ubuntubox:
                        right = powerbook
            powerbook:
                        left = ubuntubox
end

Then, still in your server:

$ synergys -f --config synergy.conf

And, if it run properly, you can see it in messages that show up, do this:

$ mv synergy.conf ~/.synergy.conf

Then, next time you want to execute your synergy server, just do this:

$ synergys

*CLIENT
And from your client, do this:

$ synergyc -f [your-server-ip-address]

I'm sure you already can have your mouse running around between your two machines :) Enjoy!

As you can see on my previous review for this Grandstream GXP-1200 IP Phone, this fabulous IP Phone has feature to setup custom ringtone. In this post, I'll show you how to create it, using Ubuntu Server 8.04. In order to make it smooth, you need to have these files:

1. WAV's files you want to use as your ringtone. Grandstream advice to use wav's files not more than 100 kb, and prefered not more than 70 kb
2. Grandstream Ringtone Generator, which you can download here and available for Linux or Windows platform
3. TFTP server (see here to set your own) to upload any files to your IP Phone

If you already have the wav's files:
1. download Grandstream Ringtone Generator for Linux and extract it on separate folder.

# unzip -e Linux-Music-Ring-Tone-GEN.zip
# mv sox.linux sox
# chmod +x sox

I'm assuming you already put all your wav's files in the same folder as the generator, do these:

# ./sox ring1.wav ring1.ring
# mv ring1.ring ring1.bin

Then you can put your ring1.bin on your TFTP Server base directory.

1. Access your IP Phone from web browser (e.g http://192.168.xx.xx), and use password: admin.
2. Go to 'Advanced Settings'
3. On 'Firmware Upgrade and Positioning', change it to TFTP

Firmware Server Path: [your TFTP server IP address]
Config Server Path: /

4. Update and Reboot

After reboot, your IP phone downloading the ring1.bin you already put on your TFTP base directory. On the IP Phone:

1. Press 'Menu' --> 'Preference' --> 'Ring Tone'

And you're done! Enjoy your new ringtone :)

If you work with hardware a lot, like upgrading firmware, etc. you'll need a TFTP server for yourself, instead of using internet TFTP server. Why? Because you'll have stable connection and it a must to have stable connection when you upgrading a firmware. Below are steps for building TFTP Server using TFTPD on Ubuntu Server 8.04:

1. installing TFTPD

# sudo apt-get install xinetd tftpd tftp

2. Create /etc/xinetd.d/tftp, then put this:

service tftp
{
protocol        = udp
port            = 69
socket_type     = dgram
wait            = yes
user            = nobody
server          = /usr/sbin/in.tftpd
server_args     = /tftpboot
disable         = no 
}

3. Make /tftpboot

# sudo mkdir /tftpboot
# sudo chmod -R 777 /tftpboot
# sudo chown -R nobody /tftpboot

4. Restart TFTPD

# sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd.restart

Now you can put all the files (e.g. firmware files) in /tftpboot directory. And setup your hardware to point to your machine IP as your TFTP server.

1. Set IP and Subnet in each PC, according to the image above
2. On Switch:

> enable
# configure terminal
(config)# interface FastEthernet 1/1
(config-if)# switchport mode access
(config-if)# switchport access vlan 2
(config-if)# no shutdown

(config-if)# interface FastEthernet 1/24
(config-if)# switchport mode access
(config-if)# switchport access vlan 3
(config-if)# no shutdown

(config-if)# interface FastEthernet 1/2
(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 2
(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan add 3
(config-if)# no shutdown
(config-if)# (*press ctrl-z)
# write

3. On Router:

> enable
# configure terminal
(config)# interface Ethernet 0
(config-if)# no shutdown

(config-if)# interface Ethernet 0.1
(config-if)# encapsulation dot 1Q 2
(config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.252

(config-if)# interface Ethernet 0.2
(config-if)# encapsulation dot 1Q 3
(config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.5 255.255.255.252
(config-if)# (*press ctrl-z)
# write

Shouldn't be any problem, I hope :)