5.4: MEPIS Assistants
Introduction
A unique feature of MEPIS Linux 7.0 is the group of configuration utilties known collectively as the MEPIS Assistants, found by clicking
KMenu --> System --> MEPIS and supplying the root password.
Network Assistant
Configure your network access with MEPIS Network Assistant (command line: mnetwork), by clicking KMenu --> System
--> MEPIS --> MEPIS Network Assistant. The interface has three tabs.
General tab
- Interface Configuration Mode:
- The automatic mode using networkmanager may work on some systems, and is preferable for laptops that often switch access points.
Click the Automatic radio button, then click Apply. Remember to start the Knetworkmanager application
after choosing this option.
(Kmenu --> Internet --> Network Manager )
- The manual mode works better for many users, especially when using the same access point all the time. Click that radio button
to activate it and, if necessary, then Apply. If the Knetworkmanager icon is in the system tray of the Panel at the
bottom right of the screen, right-click it to quit so that it does not interfere with the manual mode.
- Ndiswrapper preference: see MEPIS Wiki Ndiswrapper page in the Links and Guides
section.
- Configure DNS Service: allows you to adjust how DNS is set.
- Emergency Control: permits restarting the network when changes have been made.
Wireless tab
- If you are using wireless for internet access, note which interface (e.g. wlan0) you're using.
- Enter the name of your network (SSID); you can also try any or default. In order to avoid conflict
with other devices using the 2.4 GHz band, you may need to adjust the frequency (channel).
- Select your encryption mode (see WEP and WPA), if any, and enter the key. Click Apply.
Interfaces tab
- Use the pull-down menu to get to your interface, then click Start at boot.
- Uncheck Start at boot for any other interfaces you will not be using.
- If you need to, you can configure static IP settings.
- Click Apply then OK. You may have to reboot for the changes to take effect. On the LiveCD, go back instead to the General tab and click Stop Network, then Re/Start Network.
NOTE: See Section 5.7 for details on networking configuration and troubleshooting.
System Assistant
This utility allows you to make various adjustments to your system, running as root. You can start the utility from KMenu --> System
--> MEPIS --> MEPIS System Assistant (command line: msystem). The interface has four tabs:
- Options: Here you can configure computer identity (name, domain, workgroup), system locale, space
recovery, and laptop power.
- MEPIS USB key: This tab is for setting up OnTheGo--follow the link below for more information about that
feature.
- Repair System Boot: This tab is used for repairing the MBR (Master Boot Record). It is normally
used when running from the LiveCD.
- Repair Partition:
This tab allows a partition to be tested for errors and bad blocks. It may not be run from within the partition that needs to be
checked, and for that reason is usually run from the LiveCD.
User Assistant
This utility aids in adding, editing, removing users to your system. It has four tabs:
- Repair: by checking the approriate box, you can restore the defaults for any user's group memberships,
KDE application configurations, and Firefox configurations.
- Copy/Sync: this tab allows you to copy or sync between desktops. It is used with OnTheGo (see Links and
Guides).
- Add: you can add users here and assign them passwords.
- Delete: here you can delete a user account, with the option of removing the associated home
directory.
X-Windows Assistant
This utility brings together a number of configuration steps for “X”, the window system used by MEPIS Linux.
You can start it from KMenu --> System --> MEPIS --> MEPIS X-Windows Assistant (command line: mxconfig).
It has six
tabs.
Repair
This tab is intended to be used from the LiveCD. It allows you to copy the automatically-generated X configuration from the LiveCD
onto a hard drive installation of MEPIS Linux. This is useful if you've made a configuration error and the X graphic interface will no longer
start (all you get is a command-line log-in prompt).
- In the first pull-down box, select the hard drive where MEPIS Linux is installed.
- In the second, select the partition where "/" is mounted.
- When you click OK or Apply, X-Windows Assistant will copy the X configuration file
/etc/X11/xorg.conf from the LiveCD to the folder on the partition you have specified.
NOTE: This utility is only useful from a hard drive install when you have MEPIS Linux or a similar Debian-based Linux distribution on another
partition, and you'd like to copy the xorg.conf file from that one to another.
General
This tab allows you to change the dpi (dots-per-inch) setting of on-screen text. Change this if your monitor's size or resolution causes text to be too large or too small and you want to uniformly increase or decrease the size of all text rendered in X windows.
NOTE: The font sizes of KDE applications can be adjusted under KMenu --> System Configuration (Settings) --> Appearance & Themes
-->
Fonts.
Mouse
This tab simply allows you to activate or deactivate different mouse types on your system. Most users shouldn't have a reason to deactivate any of these devices, MEPIS Linux will work fine even if nonexistant mouse devices are enabled.
NOTE: More fine-tuned control of the mouse's behavior is available under KMenu --> System Configuration (Settings) --> Peripherals -->
Mouse.
Monitor
This tool allows you to specify the brand and model of your Monitor, and if necessary, alter its frequencies. Changing the frequencies
may be necessary if you are having trouble getting the full range of available video resolutions from your monitor.
If you don't find your monitor listed in the brand/model menus, you can type in the monitor's vertical and horizontal frequency ranges
manually. Make sure you consult your monitor's documentation!
NOTES: 1) Be very careful with this tool! Setting your monitor to the wrong model or setting the wrong frequency ranges can cause you
to lose video, or even potentially damage your monitor. If you are happy with the resolution you are getting, it's best to leave this tool
alone. 2) See Section 5.6 for detailed display configuration and troubleshooting.
NVIDIA
If you have an Nvidia graphics card, this tool assists you in installing the drivers. You have a choice of four drivers:
- The new Nvidia driver: This is a proprietary driver that works with newer Nvidia cards.
- The legacy Nvidia driver: This is also a proprietary driver, but it works with older Nvidia cards.
- The NV driver: This is an open-source driver from xorg, but it lacks 3D support.
- VESA: This is a generic driver that provides basic functionality (2D, 1024x768 resolution) to most video cards. Use it for
troubleshooting.
If you are using the proprietary drivers, you can set other options here such as dual monitor settings or shadow curser mode.
NOTE: If you are uncertain of which driver to use, consult the list of NVIDIA supported cards linked below.
ATI
If you have an ATI graphics card, this tool assists you in installing the drivers. You have three drivers:
- FGLRX: This is a proprietary driver from ATI, with full 3D support
- Radeon: The open-source xorg driver
- VESA: Again, the generic driver, for troubleshooting or as a last resort.
NOTE: If you are uncertain of which driver to use, consult the list of ATI supported cards in Links and Guides.
Troubleshooting
- See Section 5.7 for details on networking configuration and troubleshooting.
- See Section 5.6 for detailed display configuration and troubleshooting.
Links and Guides
