Exploring Ubuntu: How to run Sify internet client on Ubuntu?

Very recently, in one of my old PCs, Windows crashed. I was left with only Windows XP SP1 bootable CD, which I got from HP when I bought my computer way back in 2003. And I had no office. Buying a new Windows and Office CD would be expensive to my pockets (if you are in India, you can appreciate that!). Moreover, my old PC hardware won't support Windows 7, even Office 2003 used to crawl in there. So, I thought of OpenOffice - however, my past experience with it is kind of messy.


I had never used any Linux OS in my life though I am very familiar with Unix as, in work, I run a lot of analysis, in Unix SAS environment. Fortunately, I had a backup laptop in which things were working fine. I downloaded the latest Linux sensation Ubuntu 11.04 (aka Natty Narwhal). And, being a newbie to Linux and my stereotype of Linux OS, I was amazed with what I saw. A slick OS with amazing and refreshing interface is what defines Natty Narwhal.


But the biggest challenge I faced is to install Sify internet connection client in Ubuntu 11.04. After much research and trial and error for a day, I could install Sify in Ubuntu. I am documenting this in my blog as it may come handy for any new Ubuntu user with Sify internet connection. 


Steps are detailed below:


1. Once you install Ubuntu in dual boot mode (dual boot means your system has both Ubuntu and Windows), initially you may not see any LAN working. Don't worry, just shut down the system for 5 minutes, turn the power off and then restart - you'll see that Ubuntu is able to locate LAN driver.

2. Plug in the LAN chord to your PC or laptop, go to the connections icon on right hand top panel, go to edit connections - edit the Wired connection (which show Auto eth0, but may be dependent on the LAN driver you have got). Put in the following information there at IPv04 setting:



PC IP :10.17.xxx.xxx
Subnet Mask :255.255.255.0
Gateway :10.17.154.1
Primary DNS :202.144.95.4

3. Now open firefox, the default browser in Ubuntu 11.04, and go to http://202.144.65.70:8090/.

Go to GNU/Linux users click here to download the Sify Broadband client  and download from Sify client from Installation on NON RPM Supported System. Once you have downloaded it to the Downloads folder, use Archive manager to extract the folder sify_bbclient-3.0. Go to the extracted folder and copy all the files (Ctrl+C works here) to paste them in your home directory.

4. Now go to terminal, type the following at the terminal:

sudo ./install.sh

It will prompt a message "Sify broadband client installed successfully" if you have rightly copied at the home directory.

Next type

sudo ./sifyconnect

Now begins the fun: if you get an error message like "error while loading shared libraries: libcrypto.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory" or any other message other than your Sify login panel popping up before you asking for login ID and password, you'll need to install some packages before your Sify is up and running. But, don't worry - it is hardly 5 minutes job.

5. Download these packages from your other computer where internet connection is active

A. zlib1g-dev_1.2.3.4.dfsg-3ubuntu3_i386.deb from http://packages.ubuntu.com/natty/i386/zlib1g-dev/download

B. libssl-dev_0.9.8o-5ubuntu1_i386.deb from http://packages.ubuntu.com/en/natty/i386/libssl-dev/download

Once these are downloaded, copy them in a pen drive to the computer with Ubuntu, install package A first by opening it through Ubuntu Software Center. Once package A is installed, install package B similarly.

6. Once both the packages are installed, go back to terminal and type

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libcrypto.so /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.4

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libssl.so /usr/lib/libssl.so.4

Once done then type

sudo ./sifyconnect

and you'll find your regular login panel for Sify internet connection, popping up. Enter username and password that you assigned for yourself and your internet on Ubuntu 11.04 will be up and running.

In my next entry on Ubuntu, I'll tell about the essential softwares that you'll need to install.

Ubuntu is very fast and slick, you'll enjoy the experience, especially after migrating from the messy Windows environment.