Skype
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| ||<tablestyle="float:right; font-size: 0.9em; width:30%; background:#F1F1ED; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" style="padding:0.5em;">'''Contents'''[[BR]][[TableOfContents(3)]]|| === Skype Internet Telephony === With Skype software, you can talk over the internet using your computer. Skype uses decentralized peer-to-peer technologies, so your calls do not go through a central server, it uses its own proprietary communication protocol to achieve this. In addition, all communications are encrypted so others cannot listen in. The Skype software is free to use, but it is not free software; the source code is proprietary and not available for modification. General information about Skype is on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype Wikipedia]. The official Skype website is http://www.skype.com. === The Problem === There are a few different aspects to the problem: 1. Skype is not available in any Ubuntu software repository, and therefore cannot be installed with Ubuntu's package management software (such as {{{Synaptic}}} and {{{apt-get}}}). 1. On some systems, the Skype application can only be used for one call each time it is run due to an issue with GNOME's Enlightened Sound Daemon (ESD). === The Solution === Several workarounds exist, but the easiest way to get Skype running on Ubuntu is to use the Debian .deb package available from [http://www.skype.com/products/skype/linux/ Skype]. Links to detailed information about Skype issues on Ubuntu can be found in the ''Resources '' section below. General information about Skype is on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype Wikipedia]. The official Skype website is http://www.skype.com == Installing Skype == 1. Add the skype repository*: {{{deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free}}} 2. Reload or update the package information 3. Install the {{{skype}}} package. (*) To add the repository in Ubuntu 6.06, choose System - Administration - Software Properties - Installation Media - Add - Custom and enter the above line. == Running Skype == To start Skype, choose '''Applications->Internet->Skype'''. It usually takes a minute or two for Skype to get started, and you will think that nothing is happening, so be patient. When the Skype window finally opens, sign up (if necessary) and log in to your Skype account. Test your configuration by selecting the {{{Echo / Sound Test Service}}} contact (if not there already, add contact {{{echo123}}}) and clicking on the large green button at the bottom of the Skype window. If the connection is made and you hear a voice, your sound configuration is fine. If you cannot hear a voice, see the troubleshooting section below. == Troubleshooting Skype == If you are having audio problems, first check to make sure that sound is working on your system and that your microphone and speaker volume levels are high enough. If that does not work, then try changing the Skype audio device, and finally, if all else fails, modify your ESD configuration. === Audio Problems === ==== 1. Volume Levels ==== 1. Test that output is working with the {{{Sound Preferences}}} dialog. Choose '''System->Preferences->Sound'''. 1. Test that microphone input is working with the {{{Sound Recorder}}} application. Choose '''Applications->Sound & Video->Sound Recorder'''. 1. Ensure that your audio output and microphone input channels are not muted by choosing '''Applications->Sound & Video->Volume Control'''. ==== 2. Skype Audio Device ==== If your audio levels are properly configured and you can hear audio in Skype but your contacts cannot hear your input, you may need to change Skype's input device. From the Skype menu, choose '''Tools->Options''' and select {{{Hand/Headsets}}} in the dialog that opens. Experiment with different {{{Calls}}} selections, if they are available. ==== 3. ESD Configuration ==== A problem with the GNOME ESD (Enlightened Sound Daemon) server may cause issues with Skype for some users. If Skype is unable to make or recieve calls and continuously crashes, then a small change to the ESD configuration may help. Run: {{{ sudo gedit /etc/esound/esd.conf }}} and change the line: {{{ auto_spawn=0 }}} to: {{{ auto_spawn=1 }}} Log out and back in to restart ESD, and test Skype again as above. It is likely that this solution will only work if Skype is the only application using audio. You will not be able to play music while using Skype, and you will not be able to use Skype while playing music. For more setup information, see the skype website article [http://www.skype.com/help/guides/soundsetup_linux.html Skype Sound and Audio Set-Up - PC Running Linux]. ==== 4. ALSA Configuration ==== Enabling ALSA gives you the choice to workaround some Skype issues: The present Skype Linux release (1.2.0.18) uses OSS sound, which means it allows '''only one application to access sound device'''. On some systems, OSS is not even used by default, which means you won't be able to select the OSS sound device ('''/dev/dsp''') at all, because it does not exist. Worse off, it has a bug that makes Skype '''unusable after a call'''. Sometimes a few calls can be made, before it happens, but later only solution is to restart Skype. Technically it seems that Skype "forgets" to close the sound device before trying to open it again and therefore locks up. This seems to happen when '''you''' are the first to hang up and not when the other party hangs up first, so a workaround is to just wait at the end of a call and let the other party finish first. To avoid these issues, you can use ALSA instead of ESD. First, follow the guidelines found in [http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=32063]. Then follow up with [http://juljas.net/linux/skype/]. Good luck! ===== 4.1 Another possible solution for software mixing ===== If none of the other options works, try this one (it's working on a HP Pavilion dv1000). Taken from http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=48195 Create or add the following to your .asoundrc file. {{{ gedit ~.asoundrc }}} Add the following text to it {{{ pcm.skype { type asym playback.pcm "skypeout" capture.pcm "skypein" } pcm.skypein { # Convert from 8-bit unsigned mono (default format set by aoss when # /dev/dsp is opened) to 16-bit signed stereo (expected by dsnoop) # # We can't just use a "plug" plugin because although the open will # succeed, the buffer sizes will be wrong and we'll hear no sound at # all. type route slave { pcm "skypedsnoop" format S16_LE } ttable { 0 {0 0.5} 1 {0 0.5} } } pcm.skypeout { # Just pass this on to the system dmix type plug slave { pcm "dmix" } } pcm.skypedsnoop { type dsnoop ipc_key 1133 slave { # "Magic" buffer values to get skype audio to work # If these are not set, opening /dev/dsp succeeds but no sound # will be heard. According to the alsa developers this is due # to skype abusing the OSS API. pcm "hw:0,0" period_size 256 periods 16 buffer_size 16384 } bindings { 0 0 } } }}} Create a skype launcher (in this example is going to be at your home directory). {{{ gedit ~/skype.sh }}} add the following text {{{ #/usr/bin/sh ALSA_OSS_PCM_DEVICE="skype" aoss /usr/bin/skype --disable-dbus }}} Give skype.sh execution rights by browsing with nautilus over there, right click on the file, go to Properties, go to Permissions tab, and select "Execute" for the user. Double click on the file and you should be done. === Communication/SkypeOut Troubleshooting === If you encounter problems like Skype hanging (requiring killing the process through ('''System Tools->System Monitor''') and if Skype is unable to dial out via Skype''''''Out, you should uninstall the 'gnomemeeting' package via the Package Manager. == Display configuration == Because Skype is a KDE application, Skype's typeface will appear very large on GNOME desktops. You can use either the {{{kcontrol}}} or the {{{qt3-qtconfig}}} package to configure the appearance of Skype and other KDE/QT applications. Of these two, the QT Configurator ({{{qt3-qtconfig}}}) has far fewer dependencies than {{{kcontrol}}} and may therefore be more convenient for people who mostly use non-KDE software. See also QtGnome for how to make Skype (and other Qt applications) look more like Gnome. * A quick fix, without installing any configuration packages at all, is to make a file '''{{{qtrc}}}''' in your '''{{{$HOME/.qt}}}''' directory, and put these two lines in it: {{{ [General] font=Bitstream Vera Sans Mono,9,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0 }}} * You can start QT Configurator with the "{{{qtconfig}}}" command. On the "Fonts" tab, choosing Font Family ''Sans Serif'' and Point Size 10 will give something that resembles Ubuntu's GNOME desktop. * If you install the {{{kcontrol}}} package, you may run it by entering '''{{{kcontrol}}}''' into the {{{Applications/Run Application...}}} prompt. Expand the {{{Appearance & Themes}}} menu and select {{{Fonts}}}. Press {{{Adjust All Fonts}}} and select {{{Size}}}. Lower this value to your preference (size 10 or 11 is usually satisfactory). Press {{{OK}}} and {{{Apply}}} and exit the KDE Control Center. attachment:kcontrol.png == Resources == * The Skype homepage http://www.skype.com/ * Skype article on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype * The Skype forum, a good source of info on Skype and troubleshooting too http://forum.skype.com/ * A discussion on Skype forum of the dependency problem http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=38474&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 * A discussion on Ubuntu forum of the dependency problem http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=81831 * A description of and workaround for the sound problem: http://juljas.net/linux/skype/. Note that this solution requires you to compile a C program. * Skype takes a long time to load? (change command to "skype --disable-dbus") http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=47838 ---- CategoryDocumentation |
#REFRESH 0 http://help.ubuntu.com/community/Skype |
Skype (last edited 2008-08-06 16:26:53 by localhost)