Installing OpenCPN on a Bootable Linux Flash Drive

[jimbim]

I am totally new to Linux, but I have created a bootable 16gb flash disk that seems to work okay on my laptops/netbooks. The problem is I can't seem to install openCPN.

I installed the Ubuntu 9.10 ISO on the drive using the Universal USB Installer from pendrivelinux.com. I downloaded the .deb version of OpenCPN 1.3.6 (by Windows since the cell data service I use here in the Philippines does not recognize Linux) and copied it over to the flash drive's desktop.

When I try to install the file, the installer fails, with the message

"Error: Dependency not justifiable.
libwxbase 2.8.0 (>= 2.8.7.1)"

and I have to admit it is Greek to me. Appreciate it if anyone can guess what I am doing wrong.

cheers and thanks

[cagney]

OpenCPN needs wxWidgets to work. This is probably not installed on your Ubuntu.
Use this command to correct that

sudo apt-get install libwxbase2.8-0

Answer yes if asked to install more dependencies.
Try to install OpenCPN again.
Good Luck!

Thomas

[idpnd]

You're certainly going in at the deep end there my friend

Does the ubuntu usb stick have a permanent partition for installed packages even?

[idpnd]

Btw are you sure you cell modem doesn't work with linux? They usually do these days..

[HamishB]

I am doing this. it is very simple, hardly the deep end at all.

You can even download a premade one from:
OSGeo Live GIS Virtual Machine and ISO-Image Downloads

hmm. there is a 3.2gb version of the ISO which is the one you want for a 4gb flash drive but I'd need to get the URL off of Alex. let me know if you want it.

follow the instructions here to burn the ISO onto a USB stick:
Live GIS Disc Quick Start - OSGeo Wiki

But pretty much what you need to know is:
Applications → System → USB Startup Disk Creator

> Does the ubuntu usb stick have a permanent partition for installed packages even?

Yes! It's a persistent portable live linux anywhere solution which is really really useful. Have your custom system anywhere without having to learn how to use live-helper debian package yourself.

you shouldn't install an ISO bigger than about 3.2gb so you have 500mb left to work with on a 4gb flash drive. or buy a 8gb flash drive and don't worry about space.


this is how I use opencpn 1.3.6 from the ubunbu package, and I can confirm that it rocks,
Hamish

[HamishB]

install script for opencpn (+sample data) on the xubuntu 9.10 livedvd is here:
https://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo/browser/livedvd/gisvm/trunk/bin/install_opencpn.sh

it might give you some hints.

basically it comes down to:

wget -c --progress=dot:mega \
"http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/opencpn/opencpn/1.3.6/opencpn_1.3.6_i386.deb"

# recommended:
apt-get --assume-yes install gpsd gpsd-clients python-gps

# ...

DEPS="libgl1-mesa-glx libglu1-mesa \
     libglib2.0-0 libgtk2.0-0 libstdc++6 \
      libwxbase2.8-0 libwxgtk2.8-0 zlib1g"

apt-get --assume-yes install $DEPS

dpkg -i "opencpn_1.3.6_i386.deb"

Hamish

[jimbim]

Hi Hamish,

I was also led to believe that it was a simple procedure, but simple for some is a typhoon for others

I used a 16gb flash drive so I could store the iso, OpenCPN, about 6gb of charts, tracks and whatever. I hoped it would contain everything so I wouldn't have to be constantly updating my backup computers.

I followed the instructions here:

Install Ubuntu 9.10 to a Flash Drive from Windows | USB Pen Drive Linux

I know nothing about scripting in Linux, though I hope your script will still work with the method of installing ubuntu that I used.

I copied the script from the page you linked to, and pasted it in a text file (gedit). I assume I must delete the line numbers, but not sure what to do then to make it function. I have a lot to learn.

Also, the script mentions NOAA charts a lot. I don't use them, so hope I am not affected by that

Many thanks for the help,
Jim

[idpnd]

Originally Posted by jimbim

I copied the script from the page you linked to, and pasted it in a text file (gedit). I assume I must delete the line numbers, but not sure what to do then to make it function. I have a lot to learn.

Also, the script mentions NOAA charts a lot. I don't use them, so hope I am not affected by that

The script really just tells you which dependencies you have to download. Since you don't seem to have internet access on ubuntu you will have to download them separately. Otherwise it's much simpler (it pulls dependencies such as the wxwidgets you appear to be lacking automatically), perhaps you could get internet under ubuntu at a web cafe or something along those lines?

[jimbim]

idpnd,

I'm now in a boat yard in Subic Bay that has wifi in the office. I will go there tomorrow and play a bit.

One day ago I had never heard of dependencies -- I'm assuming plug-ins.

I have no idea how to make a script work so maybe I will have to hunt them down one by one anyway

cheers jim

[idpnd]

One day ago I had never heard of dependencies -- I'm assuming plug-ins.

Dependencies are the auxiliary software your system needs to run opencpn. When you install the opencpn.deb file, all dependencies should be downloaded automatically once you're connected to the internet.

[jimbim]

Originally Posted by idpnd

Dependencies are the auxiliary software your system needs to run opencpn. When you install the opencpn.deb file, all dependencies should be downloaded automatically once you're connected to the internet.

It doesn't seem to be working like that, though maybe it is because I am booting Linux from a stick. Or maybe I should be telling it that I am on line Don't know.

Got connected via wifi. First tried Cagney's suggestion (sudo apt-get install libwxbase2.8-0), but it said it couldn't find it. But I downloaded from Debian's site and it seemed to install fine. But got the same error message when I tried to install OpenCPN.

Tried Hamish's long script a few times, removing the numbers and changing the user name, etc, but it would run for a couple seconds and just vanish from the screen. Also ran the shortened version above, but it said service temporarily unavailable.

I admit it, I feel like a little kid. It's a little frustrating.

[idpnd]

Perhaps you haven't actually got internet going, try this in a terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gpsd gpsd-clients python-gps  libgl1-mesa-glx libglu1-mesa libglib2.0-0 libgtk2.0-0 libstdc++6 libwxbase2.8-0 libwxgtk2.8-0 zlib1g

dpkg -i "opencpn_1.3.6_i386.deb"

Post outcome here please

Don't worry about your initial difficulties, try to think back to your first computer days on the monopolist's products. You will get into it and never look back

[jimbim]

Originally Posted by idpnd

Post outcome here please

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get update
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.10 _Karmic Koala_ - Release i386 (20091028.5) karmic/main Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.10 _Karmic Koala_ - Release i386 (20091028.5) karmic/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:1 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [189B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Translation-en_US
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release.gpg
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Sources
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en_US
Get:2 http://dl.google.com stable Release [2,540B]
Get:3 http://dl.google.com stable/main Packages [925B]
Fetched 3,654B in 2min 1s (30B/s)
Reading package lists... Done
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install gpsd gpsd-clients python-gps libgl1-mesa-glx libglu1-mesa libglib2.0-0 libgtk2.0-0 libstdc++6 libwxbase2.8-0 libwxgtk2.8-0 zlib1g
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package gpsd
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ dpkg -i "opencpn_1.3.6_i386.deb"


Did this work like it was supposed to?

Thanks for the help.

[idpnd]

Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Translation-en_US

The main repositories aren't active, go to

System - Admin - Software Sources,

and activate all repositories. Then repeat aforementioned steps

[HamishB]

Originally Posted by jimbim

Tried Hamish's long script a few times, removing the numbers and changing the user name, etc, but it would run for a couple seconds and just vanish from the screen. Also ran the shortened version above, but it said service temporarily unavailable.

the shortened version is all you need. (which is why I cut it out for you
there is a "raw" button at the end of the page to get rid of the line numbers.
run a script from a terminal to see what the error messages/output was.
that particular script wants to be run as root, and will fail if it isn't.

is the ubuntu package manager set to install packages from everywhere? (I forget if they call it universe or multiverse, or something like that).

my script assumes that the UbuntuGIS ppa.launchpad.net repository has been added, but I;m pretty sure it doesn't use anything from there so it shouldn't matter.

I admit it, I feel like a little kid. It's a little frustrating.

[/quote]

you still bang your head against the wall with linux (or mac or whatever), the amazing thing is though that with linux if you do it long enough the wall eventually gives. that can not be said for closed platforms. it may not seem like it sometimes, but it is fundamentally designed to be understood (eventually!). keep banging away, at it you'll get there... google really does knows most; everyone has been there.