Linuxcnc 2.5 and Ubuntu 10.04 ugrade

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14 Jan 2016 03:22 #68343 by cletero
Hi,

I'm using Linuxcnc 2.5 on Ubuntu 10.04. Being that 10.04 is no longer supported I'd like to upgrade to 12.04 AT LEAST.

But being somehow of an ignorant on Ubuntu stuff, specially the Real Time Kernel stuff, I'd like to ask a few questions.
The Linuxcnc upgrade "How To's" describe either how to use fresh install 12.04 Ubuntu and then installing Linuxcnc 2.7 OR upgrading from an older version of Linuxcnc to 2.7 but keeping the same Ubuntu version. I have several other programs installed in my Ubuntu 10.04 and specially programs running with Wine which took a lot of effort (and time, specially) to get running, so starting with a fresh Ubuntu or Debian install is out of the question unless I have no other choice.

So my questions are:

(1) Can upgrade Linuxcnc to v2.7 and then upgrade to Ubuntu 12.04 or later? Or, should I uninstall Linuxcnc, upgrade Ubuntu and then install Linuxcnc 2.7?

(2) I have an AMD Athlon X2 64, currently my Ubuntu runs 32 bit, but have seen a few posts of people using Ubuntu 14.04 64 bit and making it work. Only today I learned that Linuxcnc already had version 2.7 ;), so, since I'm in a huge delay as far as versions go, is it still true that only Ubuntu 12.04 32 bit is supported for Linuxcnc? - The Answer is YES from what I can read in the "Getting Linuxcnc" page, but just want to be sure.

(3) How will the latency test be affected by upgrading to 12.04? Will it be a big issue or should I not worry?

(4) In "Updating to Linuxcnc", section 2.2 mentions changes that have to be made to the config file if I use a paralell port driver. How do I know if I have to change this? If so, how do I change it, do I open it as a text file and make the changes? I didn't find a way of doing so using Stepconfig.

Thanks for any help and specially understand that although I have some programming background (self-tought) most of this stuff is about the inner workings of the operating system itself and over my knowledge. I searched pages and pages of the Linuxcnc forum with out finding a direct to the point, clear answer to my questions.

Have a great day/night,

Alfredo

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14 Jan 2016 04:30 #68346 by Todd Zuercher
If you try to "upgrade" to Ubuntu 12.04. it will break Linuxcnc, and you will loose the custom patched RTAI kernel. The upgrade will most likely trash most of the other programs you struggled to install as well (if it doesn't crash the entire system).

That said, If you upgrade, you will have to reinstall a real time kernel for Linuxcnc to use, and probably reinstall Linuxcnc.
It will almost certainly easier to just start over. Good luck with what ever route you choose.

If you have space on your drive, you could possibly set up a new partition or two, to install and try out some other options, without loosing your old system

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16 Jan 2016 00:15 #68508 by cletero
Thanks!

So I'll uninstall Linuxcnc, upgrade Ubuntu and re-install. If something goes wrong with the other programs I'll start over.

I've been thinking about a third partition, I'll see into that... one for Windows, one stable Ubuntu and another to test maybe...

What about this?:

(4) In "Updating to Linuxcnc", section 2.2 mentions changes that have to be made to the config file if I use a paralell port driver. How do I know if I have to change this? If so, how do I change it, do I open it as a text file and make the changes? I didn't find a way of doing so using Stepconfig.


Still not sure I understand that part

Thanks again!!

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16 Jan 2016 00:29 #68510 by BigJohnT
The supported distro is debian wheezy... however I don't care for it. Ubuntu 12 is not supported. I like Linux Mint with the Mate desktop manager. It is not just install a OS and install LinuxCNC, you must install a real time kernel. I have several machines running Ubuntu 10.04 and the LinuxCNC 2.7.3 so that is not a problem. If your not purchasing new hardware you don't need a new OS. If you wish to have something more Ubuntu like try this gnipsel.com/files/linuxmint/

JT

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16 Jan 2016 04:53 #68515 by cletero

The supported distro is debian wheezy... however I don't care for it. Ubuntu 12 is not supported.


But in the install instructions here: linuxcnc.org/docs/html/getting-started/getting-linuxcnc.html section 7.2 describes how to install on Precise, it confuses me... I'll see.

It is not just install a OS and install LinuxCNC, you must install a real time kernel.


I know, I know, when I say "install" I mean following all the steps in the Linuxcnc site, including the RT Kernel ;)

If your not purchasing new hardware you don't need a new OS.


The problem is, Ubuntu 10.04 is no longer supported, so for other programs I need this is becoming an issue, even with Firefox I'm starting to get alerts, so I need to upgrade :(

Thanks for all your comments, I'll fix it probably with a new partition to try out before. This would allow me to work on it while keeping a working OS to machine during the day and fiddle with the new setup at nights, I remember when I first installed it took me a while to get everything working properly. The LiveCD option didn't work for me on my first attemp, maybe will try it out this time.

Still, I worry more about the (4) in my comment below, cause I don't really understand what it refers to. Although this issue is not mentioned on the fresh install pages. It's all too confusing for us people who have no real experience with this stuff.

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16 Jan 2016 13:06 #68521 by Todd Zuercher
Yes, just open your hal file in your config folder with a text editor and comment out (put a # in front) the offending line.

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20 Jan 2016 00:54 #68787 by okiejim
my 1st post here. I have been trying to learn for some time now. Please understand I am doing my own training. I am still building my machine but also trying to use linuxcnc. Controller is blue TB6560. I also have Ubuntu 10.04 with ver 2.5 of linuxcnc. I read that if I upgraded I could take the mach3 and re-use it in linuxcnc. I had all three axis running in mach3 but can only get one working on linuxcnc so far. So I tried the upgrade instructions using administration to try to do the upgrade to ver 2.6 so I could upgrade to ver 2.7. After reloading several times it finally said ver. 2.6 was not found at linuxcnc.org??? I'm sure my problem has to do the the amplifier enable part but do want to get to the latest version of linuxcnc. When I tried the debian wheezy live it dies at eth0 not enabled and goes no further. Ubuntu at least works for now. Thanks for any insight and advise of what I am doing wrong.

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23 Jan 2016 02:27 #68950 by cletero
Hi okiejim, as a suggestion, you should open a new thread with your problem details in the subject, I guess you'll get faster and more accurate answers that way, as it is not as related with the problem described in this thread.

When I tried the debian wheezy live it dies at eth0 not enabled and goes no further.


I'm not much of an expert, but maybe you could try a new Live CD, sometimes they fail for no reason and I just do another copy and it works fine.

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23 Jan 2016 05:26 #68954 by okiejim
Thank you I will try to make another cd. I appreciate you time. This is just all new to me and I am a little older which makes learning new things harder.

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24 Jan 2016 03:34 #69017 by cletero
Yeah, no problem, happens to me all the time, being somewhat of self-learned in everything computer related ;)

Good luck solving your problem, hope a new cd will help you.

Trying to mark this thread as solved but can't seem to find how, if possible :)

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