Just now, Hardik has realized that he has joined Canonical 1 year back on 5th January, 2009. That means, He had completed one year!!! Hurray!!!  He told me that he could define this one year journey in just one word AWESOME!!!.

Wow!!! That’s great. Continue… I am wishing him great and exciting new year, Many More To Come…. Here is quote from Hardik on this occasion…

“It’s great to be part of this very unique company. I am still learning. Everyday is coming with new challenges and excitement. Working from home is very unique experience i learned from this company. Proud to be part of Canonical ”

Now time for Netbook. India based MNC Simmtronics Semiconductors has launched SimmBook with Pre-installed Ubuntu.

Also, SimmBook will come with Pre-installed Ubuntu + IBM Client For Smart Work On Ubuntu. This includes Lotus Symphony office productivity software which is made available at no charge to SimmBook customers.
Please find this news bulletin for more information.

Also Canonical offers dedicated support program for Lotus Symphony, the core component of IBM Client for Smart Work on Ubuntu. Here is another news bulletin for more information.

Complete Press release of Canonical + IBM + Simmtronics Semicondutors offerings on IBM Site. The best thing about this combination is that it will help Enterprise Customers to lower down their TCO.

Update: If you are on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lycid Lynx) Beta – 1, please test ModemManager [1] and submit your response here [2], your feedback would help us to push this package to final build.

[1] http://launchpadlibrarian.net/43125454/modemmanager_0.3.git.20100404%7Etest_i386.deb
[2] https://bugs.launchpad.net/network-manager/+bug/461096

Update: If you are on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx), here  is new version for Modem Manager with fix (Very Very hackish way)

[1] https://launchpad.net/~hardik-dalwadi/+archive/ppa/+packages?field.name_filter=modemmanager&field.status_filter=published&field.series_filter=lucid

Since Ubuntu 9.10 release lot of people has complained about NetworkManager + Reliance NetConnect Broadband+ (Huawei EC1260) is not  working out of the box, which was working fine with Ubuntu 9.04. This was happening due to bug in modem manager. I have just now uploaded patched version of modem manager which has solved the problem. So, No more gnome-ppp or wvdial, Here we GO:

Step – 1:

Get access of CLI and please make sure that Ubuntu 9.10 with uninterrupted Internet and make it up-to-date with latest udpates to be at safer side.

#sudo apt-get update

#sudo apt-get upgrade

Step – 2:

Please add my PPA to get patched version of Modem Manager. From here [1] you can find the detail about patched version of Modem Manager

[1] https://launchpad.net/~hardik-dalwadi/+archive/ppa

#sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hardik-dalwadi/ppa

+++ Snapshot From Live System +++

person@CANONICAL-DESK:~$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hardik-dalwadi/ppa
Executing: gpg –ignore-time-conflict –no-options –no-default-keyring –secret-keyring /etc/apt/secring.gpg –trustdb-name /etc/apt/trustdb.gpg –keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com –recv FD83D0063425A382E82DE40D0887AA4AA27ED519
gpg: requesting key A27ED519 from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: key A27ED519: “Launchpad PPA for Hardik Dalwadi” not changed
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:              unchanged: 1
person@CANONICAL-DESK:~$

+++ END +++

Step – 3:

Now, check the current version of your Modem Manager (FYI).  And again update the system to get header of patched Modem Manager from my PPA.

#dpkg -l | grep modemmanager

#sudo apg-get update

+++ Snapshot From Live System +++

person@CANONICAL-DESK:~$ dpkg -l | grep modemmanager
ii  modemmanager                             0.2.git.20091014t233208.16f3e00-0ubuntu1        D-Bus service for managing modems
person@CANONICAL-DESK:~$

+++ END +++

Step – 4:

Now install Modem Manager from my PPA which is higher patched version from current version, after successful installation reboot the system.

#sudo apt-get install modemmanager

#sudo reboot

Step – 5:

Now after successful reboot, You should get the New CDMA Broadband option under Network Manager. I am assuming you have already inserted Reliance NetConnect Broadband+ Modem, if not please do that.Please follow the Images for more information on How to connect in GUI Mode.

Note: We have also tested with Tata Photon+ service with Huwei EC 1260 and Haier  CE100 Modem. It’s working out of box. Please also test modems from BSNL / TATA / Reliance  with NetworkManger  and let us know in comment, whether it’s working or not.  Your help would be much appreciated.

Please select New Connection, since Reliance NetConnect Broadband+ requires Mobile Number as Username / Password, You have to enter it manually. In case o Tata Photon+, You can select it from list.

I think it’s BUG with NM, it has not ask for Username  / Password in manual selection of provider, we have to edit it again. It may not be the case in your scenario. So in my case i am editing settings again.

Since Network Manager is giving prirority to WiFi / Ethernet connect, you have to disconnect them to swithc over to your Reliance NetConnect Broadband+ Connection.

Now, time for laptop. Dell Vostro 1015 is coming with Pre-installed Ubuntu and it’s also advertise it [1] in Local News paper, check this one from Divya Bhasker, Gujarat. Here is PDF version of it.

[1] http://digitalimages.divyabhaskar.co.in/EpaperImages%5C24032010%5CDELL_INDIA_25X12_GUJRAT_MUMBAI_24TH_MARCH.jpg
[2] http://digitalimages.divyabhaskar.co.in//EpaperImages%5C07042010%5CDELL_INDIA_25X12_GUJARAT_MUMBAI_7TH_APRIL-large.jpg

So, now we have complete range of Pre-Installed Ubuntu  Desktop / Laptop / Netbook. It’s clearly says that OEMs are interested in promoting Pre-Installed Ubuntu machines. It gives them freedom also.

Dell Vostro 1015 with Pre-Installed Ubuntu in West India (Gujarat / Maharashtra)

Dell Vostro 1015 with Pre-Installed Ubuntu in West India (Gujarat / Maharashtra)

Here is my statics during Ubuntu 9.10 To Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (RC Release) upgrade process.

I started upgrade early in the morning in IST time zone with 8 MBPS Broadband Line. I was already running Ubutnu 9.10 with latest updates. During upgrade process, 1574 package was upgraded, 242 was new and 27 packages was removed. It took 45 minutes to download 1064 MB of data. Total upgrade time from Start to Reboot was around 3 hours on my Intel Dual Core machine with 4 GB Ram, i did Bath, Breakfast and checkout during this time. Last upgrade was of Ubuntu 9.04 under 40 Degree Celsius temperature @ Ahmedabad, this time i was in BLR with 20 degree Celsius temperature, Actually my laptop has heat problem, so this parameter was concerned for me.

Here is step to upgrade Ubuntu 9.10 to Ubuntu 10.04

Note: I would advise to take the backup from your existing system to be at safer side. Also, please make sure that you machine is connected with uninterrupted Internet to make upgrade smoother.

Step – 1:

Make sure that your current Ubuntu 9.10 installation is up-to-date with latest updates. If not please update it with latest updates.

Launch update-manager

Update Manager

Step – 2:

If “Your system is up-to-date” then you can start the Ubuntu 10.04 LTS upgrade process.

Launch Ubuntu 9.10 Upgrade Manager

Ubuntu 9.10 Update Manager with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS upgrade option

Step – 3:

Press the “Upgrade” button in Ubuntu 9.10 Update Manager with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS upgrade option window. it will start the upgrade option with release note. it’s still in BETA stage, so please read it before you proceed ahead and make sure it’s not affect your upgrade process. if you are not sure what you are doing please press “Cancel” button to cancel the upgrade process or else “Upgrade”

Ubuntu 10.04 BETA Release Note

Step – 4:

After going through Ubuntu 10.04 release note (Beta). It’s total six stage process. From Preparing Upgrade to Restarting the Computer. It will download the Update Manager Core.

Upgradation of Update Manage Core

Distribution Upgrade

Setting Up New Software Channels

Notification: Support For Some Application Ended

Notification: Do you want to start upgrade?

Getting new packages

Installing the upgrades

Cleaning up

Remove Obsolete packages

Restart the system to complete the upgrade.

After successful reboot, you will notice purple Ubuntu Boot Splash. If everything goes fine it should boot perfect, which happened in my case, you may have to change themes  and your existing desktop to give complete Ubuntu 10.04 LTS look.

I have also noticed 100% CPU utilization during “Cleaning Up” stage.

100% CPU Utilization during Cleaning Up stage

I hope this will also help for smooth upgrade from Ubuntu 9.10 to Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (RC Release).

Have Happy Upgrade….