This is quick reference guide to set up your wireless internet and printer settings in Ubuntu Linux to be used at the Instituut voor Theoretische Fysica in Amsterdam.

by Kristian Holsheimer, September 2010

 

Wireless Network Connection
 I will assume that you have a fairly recent version of Ubuntu Linux (or any other distro that comes with the Network Manager application). I have no experience with KDE (I use the Gnome), but the process shouldn't be very different.

The main difficulty that you may experience when it comes to configuring your wifi in Linux, as opposed to Windows or Mac, is that Linux doesn't automatically have the certificate file that you need in order to establish the connection. So you must save the certificate file onto your computer somehow.

Step 1. Download the correct certificate file from here and save it to a location on your machine that you'll be able to find later on.

Step 2. Open the Network Connections application by navigating to: "System > Preferences > Network Connections"

Step 3. Go to the "Wireless" tab and push the "Add" button.

Step 4. Fill in all the text fields according to the following image.

Step 5. Go the the next tab, "Wireless Security", and fill in all the fields according to the image below. At the "CA Certificate" field, navigate to the certificate file that you saved on your machine in Step 1. In the username field, make sure to replace the "UvANetID" by your actual UvANetID.

Step 6. Hit "Apply" and pray.

 

Setting Up A Printer
This will actually be easier than on windows! (in my experience)

Step 1. Save the printer drivers for the Oce VarioLink 3622 (black & white) and Oce VarioLink 3622c (color) onto your machine (again in such a way that you'll be able to find it later on).

N.B. If you need drivers for other types of Oce printers go to the Oce website.

Step 2. Open the Printing application by navigating to: "System > Administration > Printing"

Step 3. Fill in the field according to the image below. If you use a different printer, replace p005203 by the other printer's name.

Step 4. Hit "Forward" and fill in according to the image below. If the other printer is a VarioLink 3622c (i.e. a color printer), you need to use the "color.ppd" driver instead of the "black-white.ppd".

Step 5. Hit "Forward" again. I'm not so sure what to do with these settings, but these work for me. I guess you can play around and see what the other options do.

Step 6. Hit "Forward" again. I guess you can call the printer whatever you like.

Step 7. Hit "Apply" and try to print a test page.

N.B. You can have the printer automatically staple your documents by changing the settings in the "Advanced" tab inside a Print dialog.

 

That's it. If it's still not working, I'll be happy to try and figure out the problem. Just come by my desk!

-Kris.