Oxwivi's questions

Can nano do syntax highlighting like gedit and vim? How can I enable it? I need at least bash and python syntax highlights.

I'm running Ubuntu Server using VBoxHeadless. How do I send ACPI shutdown signal through VirtualBox and make Ubuntu Server respect it and comply with the shutdown signal?

Sometimes installing some applications will start a process or service from the application being run automatically on installation. How do I install without starting them?

Is it possible to have threaded email conversations in Thunderbird just like how it is in Gmail? How can I do that?

I want to create a user with administrative privileges and all the regular setups like home directory.

1. Is there a adduser parameter to give the user sudo powers automatically?
2. What are the default settings for adduser? Will it automatically create home directories and all the other things without extra parameters? (i.e. is adduser <username> enough?)

Ubuntu Core's wiki page page contains the instructions to install Ubuntu Core on a target media:

1. Uncompress (do not unpack) rootfs
2. Format target media: at least one partition should be ext2, ext3, or ext4
3. Unpack Ubuntu Core to ext{2,3,4} partition
4. Install boot-loader
5. Install Linux
6. If the Linux kernel requires modules, add these to /lib/modules/$(uname -r) in the ext{2,3,4} file system
7. Boot the target device
8. Install any additional required software using apt-get

But what are the specific commands to do the above? The things I'm specifically confused about are:

1. Uncompressing and unpacking, what's the difference and how do I do them?
2. What package should I install if I want the generic kernel provided in regular Ubuntu installation?
3. I won't be installing any drivers or anything related to kernel other than what's provided in the repos, do I need to worry about manually adding kernel modules?

PS I would like to request that all the commands used in the installation process be mentioned in the answer, for the benefit of ones who're completely unfamiliar and myself, should I ever forget.

I want to use xdg-open to open irc:// links, how can I make the required parameter?

The Ubuntu installer does not allow me to install on NTFS partitions, but certain circumstances requires me to do so. Is it possible?

I want to add hashes to all the lines in a regular text file. I'm fine with both the use of terminal and GUI—I just need to get it done.

What exactly does this repository contain and why should a user either stay away from it, or add the repository?

I usually installed flashplugin-installer and by chance noticed that in the partner repository the Flash entry says it's not installed. It also says the package flashplugin-installer will be removed if I install the package from the partner repository named adobe-flashplugin. I've read this answer.

Does flashplugin-installer download Flash from Adobe as opposed to adobe-flashplugin available in the Partners repo? If not, how do they differ?

I can get Ubuntu mainline kernels from this kernel PPA - is there a way to add it to my repository list the same as regular Launchpad PPAs?

I want to be able to login to a remote via ssh without having to enter the password all the time.

• How do I set it up?
• Is a different command required to execute a password-less session?

Old Q How do I setup an OpenVPN server without root privileges?

Is there a way to setup an OpenVPN server without root privileges? E.g. with configuration files in my home directory? If yes, how do I set it up?

I'm trying to SSH into a system and set up an OpenVPN server over there for personal use.

EDIT

Since it's apparent that OpenVPN needs root privileges, I am changing the question to routing my internet using SSH which I can easily set up.

I want a graphical (GUI) method to mount an ISO, is there any way to do so?

What kind of and to what extent is formatting possible on Launchpad posts such as questions and bug reports?

Is there any built-in software or terminal method allowing me to view the hardware profiles on my system? Windows equivalent of such a feature would be Device Manager.

Why was aptitude removed in favor of apt-get by default? I read it somewhere, but forgot - anyone bother to clear it up? And doesn't Debian prefer aptitude and Canonical apt-get?

Update

From the answers I understand aptitude was removed because it was no longer used for installation, but why does the installer use apt-get, when aptitude is supposed to be better?

I've imported an OpenVPN configuration file that behaves differently when trying to connect from Network Manager and command line. I would like to see what the imported configuration file looks like.

How can I associate a script to OpenVPN so that it runs when the VPN is connected successfully?