Use Skype under Linux

Skype is a program to do video phone calls over the network.

Get it

To get Skype, find out your distribution and proceed accordingly

Ubuntu 11.10 32bit

This example has been tested on 2011-12-28 on Ubuntu 11.10 32bit. Other distributions should work same or similar:

• Surf to http://www.skype.com
• Choose "Get Skype -> Get Skype for Linux -> Download now -> Static"
• open a console
• unpack the file:

bunzip2 Download/skype*
tar xvf Download/skype*.tar

• copy the files so you can have skype in the launcher

sudo cp skype*/skype.desktop /usr/share/applications/
sudo cp skype*/skype /bin

SUSE 11.2

This example has been tested on 2010-06-03 on SUSE Linux 11.2. Other distributions should work same or similar:

• Surf to http://www.skype.com
• Choose "Get Skype -> Get Skype for Linux -> Download now -> Static"
• open a console
• find out if you have a 32bit or 64bit system
• if you have an X64 operating system, install a graphical library:

yast -i xorg-x11-libXv-32bit

• unpack the file:

bunzip2 Download/skype*
tar xvf Download/skype*.tar

Run it

• run skype:

cd skype*
./skype

Configure it

You will now have to select "Options -> Sound Devices -> Make a test call" and experiment a bit with what Sound Card you use. "Make a test call" will explain everything to you.

Problems

Audio

• Does not work with Mandriva 2008
• Does not work with Mandriva 2009

See also

• http://www.ehow.com/how_5575179_use-skype-through-proxy.html - use skype via a proxy