Skype@FreeBSD_5.x

This tiny document will help you to install dynamic binary of Skype program. I don't remember already, why 1 year ago I tried to install dynamic version. I'm really old and my brains have a lot of bad blocks :-) and I'm unable to repair it. Lalala. You can just stop read this bullshit and turn to the net/skype port by netchild.

First of all I assume that you have installed FreeBSD operating system. I tested Skype only on 5.3 and 5.4 releases.

Do not panic, it's quite easy to have Skype software working on the machine. You need to have sound card installed on your PC and working correctly with FreeBSD system. To install and tune your sound card please turn to the FreeBSD handbook . Here is my IBM T42 kernel config .

Make sure that your sound card is working (I have hw.snd.pcm0.vchans=4 in /etc/sysctl.conf)
Make sure that you have graphics environment ;-) Skype uses graphical interface :D
Enable Linux ABI in the kernel or through /etc/rc.conf file and restart box to enable it:
```
# echo linux_enable=YES >> /etc/rc.conf
```
Update kernel sources to the latest update (This is optional, but I prefer to have stable kernel ;-)
Update ports tree
Install Linux environment. During last 2 months I have been using debian base port. It's quite easy to install and very flexible to expand/update. I used RedHat bases before, but I had troubles with glib libraries updating. Latest internal Skype version needed to have pretty new regexp library (I'm linux betatester volunteer), which depends on the latest libc :> And I decided to try Debian environment. Give answers to the installation questions. If do not know the answer , let it be a default value:
```
# cd /usr/ports/emulators/linux_base-debian && make && make install
```
Synchronize resolver settings
```
# cp /etc/resolv.conf /compat/linux/etc/resolv.conf
```
Chroot into Linux environment:
```
# chroot /compat/linux /bin/bash
```
Update package index files (wait for a while):
```
# apt-get update
```
Search for the latest Qt Gui Library (Threaded runtime version), Version 3:
```
# apt-cache search libqt-mt
```
Create copy of the /sbin/ldconfig file:
```
# cp /sbin/ldconfig /root/ldconfig
```
Install Qt-library, answer Yes every time:
```
# apt-get install libqt3c102-mt
```
Probably installer will ask for glibc upgrading, answer Yes as well. Glibc6 upgrading process is broken in this version. Something wrong with ldconfig file :> But we made ldconfig backup. After occurred error copy our backup`ed ldconfig to the /sbin/ directory, then rerun installation:
```
# cp /sbin/ldconfig /sbin/ldconfig.o  
# cp /root/ldconfig.o /sbin/ldconfig  
# apt-get install libqt3c102-mt  
```
Logout from chrooted Linux shell environment:
```
# logout  
```
Install Skype Software

Download latest Dynamic package from official site. Probably this file will be downloaded as getskype-linux-dynamic :) move it to the skype.tar.bz2.
```
$ fetch http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-dynamic 
```
Unpack linux bzip2-ed tarball:
```
$ mv getskype-linux-dynamic skype.tar.bz2
$ bzip -d skype.tar.bz2
$ tar xvf skype.tar 
$ skype &
```
Last command should be runned from X Window System of course. Now you can see Skype main screen ;-) I hope! You may run qtconfig for Qt style configuration. Don't forget to test sound: echo123 user is waiting for your call.

You can post your questions and feedback: ilja_at_rose.freebsd.ee . Please don't hesitate ;-) Sharing good, not sharing bad.

Skype@FreeBSD_5.x

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