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(2024_02_08 Codegazer: added warning to Introduction about Microsoft no longer providing RPM and has switched to Canonical's "snap" packaging for skypeforLinux since 28 November 2023)
 
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[[Category:Howtos]]
 
[[Category:Documentation]]
 
[[Category:Documentation]]
  
= Introduction =
+
{{Multi language banner|[[Skype-de|Deutsch]] ; [[Skype with video|English]] ; [[Skype avec la video-fr|français]] ;}}
  
This document describes how to install Skype in Mageia Linux.
+
{{introduction|This document describes how to install Skype in Mageia Linux.
 
Microsoft's Skype software is not open source and subject to legal restrictions, that's why Skype itself is not available in the Mageia repositories.
 
Microsoft's Skype software is not open source and subject to legal restrictions, that's why Skype itself is not available in the Mageia repositories.
  
Previously a Mageia "get-skype" package was available in the nonfree repositories which downloaded the software from the Microsoft website, but "get-skype" is no longer available.
+
Previously a Mageia <b>get-skype</b> package was available in the nonfree repositories which downloaded the software from the Microsoft website, but <b>get-skype</b> is no longer available.}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable FCK__ShowTableBorders" style="color:grey; background-color:#fff7e7; font-family:times new roman"
 +
|-
 +
| style="color:black; background: #fbdbdb; text-align: left; ;" |<i><b>WARNING:</b>
 +
 
 +
As of Saturday 28th November 2023, Microsoft has changed the way they distribute <b>skypeforlinux</b>.<br>
 +
It is no longer available as an RPM. The new packaging method is to use Canonical's <b>snap</b> format.
 +
 
 +
The most recent updated version that sync_skype_urpmi would have installed is: <b>skypeforlinux-8.108.0.205-1</b> from November 2023.<br>
 +
As of 8th February 2024, the latest version of skypeforlinux (available using snap) is: <b>8.110.0.218</b>.
 +
 
 +
This new distribution method has been noted in a post on reddit:<br>
 +
Title: "<i>Skype for Linux distribution method change</i>"<br>
 +
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/skype/comments/1861hvo/skype_for_linux_distribution_method_change/
 +
 
 +
It is also found in a Microsoft forum: <br>
 +
Title: "<i>Skype for Linux Updates</i>"<br>
 +
Link: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/forum/all/skype-for-linux-updates/da864865-d9e9-4819-8a5d-8de8934dd312
 +
 
 +
Three observations:<br>
 +
Observation-1: Using <b>sync_skype_urpmi</b> for installing and updating <b>skypeforlinux</b> will no longer provide the latest version.
  
= Skype system requirements =
+
 
 +
Observation-2: Mageia does not have a package for the Canonical "snap" packaging system.<br>
 +
There is discussion of the possibility of porting Canonical's snap in the Mageia forums but it is probably not going to happen.<br>
 +
Title: "<i>[DONE] Support for SNAP packages?</i>"<br>
 +
Link: https://forums.mageia.org/en/viewtopic.php?t=14503
 +
 
 +
Linux distros with Canonical's snap available:
 +
 
 +
*Arch Linux
 +
*Centos
 +
*Debian
 +
*Elementary OS
 +
*Fedora
 +
*KDE Neon
 +
*Kbuntu
 +
*Manjaro
 +
*Popl_OS
 +
*openSUSE
 +
*Red Hat Enterprise Linux
 +
*Ubuntu
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Observation-3: The new snap install method does not work on current Mageia.<br>
 +
Link: https://snapcraft.io/skype
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Skype system requirements ==
  
 
At the time of writing this, there is a 64-bit version for Ubuntu, Debian, OpenSuse, and Fedora but no 32-bit version for Linux.
 
At the time of writing this, there is a 64-bit version for Ubuntu, Debian, OpenSuse, and Fedora but no 32-bit version for Linux.
Please note: Skype is Microsoft software and Microsoft does not support Skype on Mageia Linux.
+
 
 +
{| class="wikitable  FCK__ShowTableBorders"
 +
| <i> Please note: Skype is Microsoft software and Microsoft does not support Skype on Mageia Linux.</i>
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
The Linux version of Skype is still in beta!
 
The Linux version of Skype is still in beta!
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= Installing =
+
== Installing ==
 +
 
 +
You can either follow the manual steps shown below or use the script: [[Synchronize_local_skype_urpmi | sync_skype_urpmi ]].<br>
 +
The <b><i>sync_skype_urpmi</i></b> script will check for and automatically install any pending new Skype update every time it is run.
 +
 
 +
Bear in mind that as there is no official Microsoft urpmi repository for this version of Skype.<br>
 +
What <b><i>sync_skype_urpmi</i></b> does is make a local urpmi repository from downloaded copy of the current skypeforlinux RPM.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Automatic install ==
 +
 
 +
Run the [[Synchronize_local_skype_urpmi | sync_skype_urpmi ]] script.
 +
 
 +
A key benefit of using <b><i>sync_skype_urpmi</i></b> is that it will only download and install if a new version of Skype for Linux is available.
 +
 
 +
These are the actions <b><i>sync_skype_urpmi</i></b> will do:
 +
 
 +
#Check for new version of skypeforlinux RPM and download if available
 +
#Create a local urpmi repository "local_skype_urpmi"
 +
#Check for package signing key for skypeforlinux RPM and install if needed
 +
#Install or update skypeforlinux as needed (with an automatic alternative install if required)
 +
 
 +
So, you can, from time to time, just run <b><i>sync_skype_urpmi</i></b> as a non-root user to check for updates.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Manual install ==
  
You can either follow the manual steps shown below or use the script <b><i>skype_dl_if_new</i></b> in Appendix 1 (below).
+
Please note that the manual install procedure shown here (below) depends on using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNF_(software) <i>dnf</i>] package system.
The <b><i>skype_dl_if_new</i></b> script will check for and automatically install any pending new Skype update every time it is run.
 
  
Bear in mind that as there is no urpmi repository for this version of Skype that it will not get updates when you run a Mageia update.
+
If you have installed Mageia using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urpmi <i>urpmi</i>] which is the original and default package system in Mageia then you need to take some extra steps to use <i>dnf</i>.
  
= Automatic install =
+
Also consider whether you want to mix up using both urpmi and dnf on the same system as there could be issues with keeping things consistent between urpmi and dnf.
  
Run the <b><i>skype_dl_if_new</i></b> script in [[Skype_with_video#Appendix_1:_.22skype_dl_if_new.22_script_to_check_for_and_install_new_version_if_available]]
+
If you choose to use <i>urpmi</i> the consider using the <i>sync_skype_urpmi</i> automatic install script as described here: [[Synchronize_local_skype_urpmi]]
  
= Manual install =
 
  
== Manual install step 1: download ==
+
=== Manual install step 1: download ===
  
 
Download rpm file from the Microsoft website: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-linux
 
Download rpm file from the Microsoft website: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-linux
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Please be aware that the skype rpm is about 110 MB in size and may take some time to download depending on your network connection.
 
Please be aware that the skype rpm is about 110 MB in size and may take some time to download depending on your network connection.
  
== Manual install step 2: install ==
+
 
 +
=== Manual install step 2: install ===
  
 
You can install this rpm with:
 
You can install this rpm with:
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<pre>
 
<pre>
 
cd <path_to_where_you_saved_the_rpm>
 
cd <path_to_where_you_saved_the_rpm>
/bin/su
+
/bin/sudo dnf install skypeforlinux-64.rpm
dnf install skypeforlinux-64.rpm
 
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
  
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<pre>
 
<pre>
 
cd <path_to_where_you_saved_the_rpm>
 
cd <path_to_where_you_saved_the_rpm>
/bin/su
+
/bin/sudo urpmi skypeforlinux-64.rpm
urpmi skypeforlinux-64.rpm
 
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
  
  
During the installation of the rpm, you'll receive a warning:  
+
During the installation of the rpm, you may receive a warning:  
  
 
<pre>
 
<pre>
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</pre>
 
</pre>
  
You can safely ignore this message, the at service should import the GPG key for the Skype mirror. The workaround:
+
You can safely ignore this message, the at service should import the GPG key for the Skype mirror.  
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=== Manual install step 3: package signing key ===
 +
 
 +
This is the workaround for if the message "Cannot find atd service" is presented in te previous step.
 +
 
  
 
<pre>
 
<pre>
su
+
/bin/sudo cp /tmp/skype.gpgsig* /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-Skype
cp /tmp/skype.gpgsig* /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-Skype
+
/bin/sudo dnf update
dnf update
 
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
  
 +
== Test ==
  
= Test =
+
Before trying Skype, check your webcam works OK using the <b>cheese</b> photo-booth application in Mageia.
  
{{Note|Skype doesn't provide video service or screen share anymore with the actual release. Some other features are also affected.}}
+
You can check if you have cheese installed with:
 +
<pre>
 +
rpm -q cheese && echo Cheese installed || echo Cheese not installed
 +
</pre>
  
Before trying Skype, you can check your webcam works using the '''cheese''' photo-booth application in Mageia.
+
Example:
 +
<pre>
 +
[user@localhost Downloads]$ rpm -q cheese && echo Cheese installed || echo Cheese not installed
 +
Cheese installed
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
Start cheese:
 +
<pre>
 +
cheese
 +
</pre>
 +
Verify web cam working.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Run Skype ==
 +
 
 +
Start Skype and login to your Skype account.
 +
<pre>
 +
skypeforlinux
 +
</pre>
  
 
Try calling the Skype test service to check audio settings are correct.  
 
Try calling the Skype test service to check audio settings are correct.  
  
Note: Skype only works with PulseAudio, this is the default setting in Mageia and can be changed via the Mageia Control Center.
+
Normally, when calling someone else in Skype you can have video chat, audio-only chat and can share your screen but it is worth checking these all work with a friend.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
{{Note|Skype only works with PulseAudio, this is the default setting in Mageia and can be changed via the Mageia Control Center.}}
  
 
If you have problems with the sound or microphone settings, check the Mixer settings of your graphical environment.  
 
If you have problems with the sound or microphone settings, check the Mixer settings of your graphical environment.  
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= Links =
+
== Turning off Skype autostart on login ==
 +
 
 +
By default, Skype is configured to automatically start when you login to Mageia.
 +
It does this using a file: {{file|~/.config/autostart/skypeforlinux.desktop}}
 +
 
 +
<pre>
 +
[user@localhost ~]$ nl -ba ~/.config/autostart/skypeforlinux.desktop
 +
    1 [Desktop Entry]
 +
    2 Name=Skype for Linux
 +
    3 Comment=Skype Internet Telephony
 +
    4 Exec=/usr/bin/skypeforlinux
 +
    5 Icon=skypeforlinux
 +
    6 Terminal=false
 +
    7 Type=Application
 +
    8 StartupNotify=false
 +
    9 X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
There are several ways to prevent the autostart of Skype when you login.
 +
The simplest is to:
 +
# Click on <i>Tools</i> in the Skype menu bar (top of Skype window)
 +
# Select and click on <i>Settings</i> in the tools drop down menu
 +
# In the new <i>Settings</i> window, click on <i>General</i>
 +
# Click on the toggle switch for <i>Automatically Start Skype</i> to switch it off
 +
 
 +
Verify the change:
 +
 
 +
<pre>
 +
[user@localhost ~]$ nl -ba ~/.config/autostart/skypeforlinux.desktop
 +
nl: /home/user/.config/autostart/skypeforlinux.desktop: No such file or directory
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Links ==
  
 
{| border="1"
 
{| border="1"
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|}
 
|}
  
= Change history =
+
 
 +
== Change history ==
  
 
{| border="1"
 
{| border="1"
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|-
 
|-
 
| 2018_05_01 || Paul Blackburn || added: Appendix 1: "skype_dl_if_new" script to check for and install new version if available
 
| 2018_05_01 || Paul Blackburn || added: Appendix 1: "skype_dl_if_new" script to check for and install new version if available
 +
|-
 +
| 2018_09_16 || Paul Blackburn || updated "skype_dl_if_new" script to display previous and new installed version numbers
 +
|-
 +
| 2019_12_13 || Paul Blackburn || updated for mageia7, renamed script from "skype_dl_if_new" to "check-skype"
 +
|-
 +
| 2020_03_02 || Paul Blackburn || added section about switching off Skype autostart on login
 +
|-
 +
| 2021_03_11 || Paul Blackburn || updated for Mageia 8
 +
|-
 +
| 2021_04_03 || Paul Blackburn || Corrected spelling "Turning", set correct section spacing
 +
|-
 +
| 2021_08_05 || Paul Blackburn || command is now <b>skypeforlinux</b> (was previously <i>skype</i>)
 +
|-
 +
| 2022_02_14 || Paul Blackburn || replaced references to check_skype script by <b>sync_skype_urpmi</b>
 +
|-
 +
| 2022_02_14 || Paul Blackburn || removed Appendix-1 check_skype script and Appendix-2 workaround to update. No longer needed now that sync_skype_urpmi is available
 +
|-
 +
| 2022_02_14 || Paul Blackburn || tidied up manual install replacing examples with /bin/su by /bin/sudo
 +
|-
 +
| 2022_02_14 || Paul Blackburn || added section: Manual install step 3: package signing key
 +
|-
 +
| 2022_03_28 || paul Blackburn || added explanation dnf/urpmi in manual install section
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 
= Appendix 1: "skype_dl_if_new" script to check for and install new version if available =
 
 
This script checks to see if a new version of the Microsoft skype RPM is available and if so installs it.
 
 
<pre>
 
#!/bin/sh
 
 
# Name        skype_dl_if_new
 
# Author      paul[dot]blackburn[at]gmail[dot]com
 
# Written    2018_05_01
 
# Updated    Wed  5 Sep 16:11:50 BST 2018
 
# Update:    Now displays previous and new installed version of Skype rpm after update
 
#
 
# Purpose    Installing Skype in Mageia Linux.
 
#            Check for new version of "skypeforlinux-64.rpm", if new then download and install.
 
#            Run this script from time to time to check if there is a new update.
 
#            (There is no urpmi rpm repository for this.)
 
#
 
# Reference  https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Skype_with_video
 
#
 
# Usage      skype_dl_if_new
 
#            run as non-root user
 
#
 
# Assumptions
 
#            The latest available rpm is in:
 
#                    https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.rpm
 
#
 
#            We are installing on 64-bit Mageia Linux versions 5 or 6.
 
#            There is no 32-bit rpm available for skype.
 
#            There is at least 150mb of free disk space in ${HOME}/Downloads/
 
#
 
#            ${HOME}/Downloads/skypeforlinux-64.rpm will be the local copy (if previously downloaded).
 
#            ${HOME}/Downloads/skypeforlinux-64.rpm_directory_listing will be the local copy
 
# of the server's RPM listing (if previously downloaded).
 
#            Current user is authorised to run /bin/sudo for the install part.
 
#
 
# Note       
 
#            Keeping a local copy of the server's directory listing makes it very fast and easy
 
#            to check for a new version (instead of downloading and comparing the rpm with
 
#            previously downloaded rpm).
 
#
 
#            In Mageia 6, skype should install and run OK.
 
#            In Mageia 5, the RPM install will fail with a reference to "libsecret"
 
#            this can normally be ignored. There will be prompts for keyring password which can also be ignored.
 
 
 
SKYPE_RPM=skypeforlinux-64.rpm
 
f=${HOME}/Downloads/${SKYPE_RPM}
 
SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING=${f}_directory_listing
 
 
cmd=$(basename ${0})
 
 
# Sanity checking starts here
 
 
# Are we running on Mageia?
 
distro=$(cat /etc/release | awk '{ print $1}')
 
if [ "${distro}" != "Mageia" ]; then
 
echo "Error: not running on Mageia. Bye" >&2
 
exit 1
 
fi
 
 
# Are we running on 64-bit Mageia?
 
arch=$(uname -m | sed -e "s/i.86/i586/")
 
if [ "${arch}" != "x86_64" ]; then
 
echo "Error: Skype is only available to 64-bit linux at present. Bye" >&2
 
exit 1
 
fi
 
 
# Are we running on Mageia 5 or 6?
 
release=$(cat /etc/release | awk '{ print $3}')
 
case ${release} in
 
6) echo "Mageia 6 OK"
 
urpmi_options="--force "
 
;;
 
5) echo "Mageia 5: ignore the libsecret issue on install and keyring prompts when running"
 
urpmi_options="--allow-nodeps"
 
;;
 
*) echo "Not supported. Bye" >&2
 
exit 1
 
;;
 
esac
 
 
# We need to run as non-root
 
if [ $(whoami) = "root" ]; then
 
echo "You need to be non-root user to run ${cmd}. Bye" >&2
 
exit 1
 
fi
 
 
# Sanity checking ends here for the most part :-)
 
 
 
# Check if we already have a local copy of the skypeforlinux-64.rpm in Downloads
 
if [ -s ${f} ]; then
 
 
# We do have a previously downloaded copy of skypeforlinux-64.rpm
 
 
# Display currently installed rpm version
 
echo "Checking installed version of skypeforlinux"
 
echo "rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux"
 
current_version=$(rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux)
 
echo ${current_version}
 
 
echo "${f} previously downloaded. Checking if newer version available."
 
# check if we have a previous directory listing from server
 
if [ -s ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING} ]; then
 
 
# we have previous directory listing, check if same as current one
 
mv -f ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING} ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING}-
 
 
# get directory listing for date/time/size of available rpm
 
wget -qO - https://repo.skype.com/latest/ | grep skypeforlinux-64.rpm > ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING}
 
 
# check if same directory listing as last download's directory listing
 
cmp ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING} ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING}- 2>&1 > /dev/null
 
if [ $? = 0 ]; then
 
echo "skypeforlinux-64.rpm directory listing has *not* changed. Nothing needs to be done."
 
else
 
echo "skypeforlinux-64.rpm directory listing has changed. Installing new skype version."
 
# rename the current downloaded skypeforlinux-64.rpm to skypeforlinux-64.rpm-
 
mv -f ${f} ${f}-
 
 
# download skypeforlinux-64.rpm
 
wget -O - https://repo.skype.com/latest/${SKYPE_RPM} > ${f}
 
echo downloaded: $(ls -lh ${f})
 
 
# Install new downloaded version
 
echo "/bin/sudo /sbin/urpmi  ${urpmi_options} ${f}"
 
/bin/sudo /sbin/urpmi  ${urpmi_options} ${f}
 
 
new_version=$(rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux)
 
echo "Previous version: ${current_version}"
 
echo "    New version: ${new_version}"
 
 
fi
 
else
 
# We do have a download of skypeforlinux-64.rpm but we do not have a previous directory listing
 
# download available skypeforlinux-64.rpm and compare with what we already downloaded
 
 
# move aside any already downloaded copy of skypeforlinux-64.rpm
 
mv -f ${f} ${f}-
 
 
# download available skypeforlinux-64.rpm (we skip the "-q" on wget because this will take a few minutes
 
# and the user needs to see the download is happening)
 
 
echo "downloading ${SKYPE_RPM}"
 
wget -O - https://repo.skype.com/latest/${SKYPE_RPM} > ${f}
 
echo downloaded: $(ls -lh ${f})
 
 
current_version=$(rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux)
 
echo ${current_version}
 
 
# compare any previous download with current: are the same?
 
echo "comparing previous download of ${SKYPE_RPM} with what is now available"
 
cmp ${f}- ${f} 2>&1 > /dev/null
 
if [ $? = 0 ]; then
 
echo skype has not changed
 
else
 
echo "installing new skype version"
 
echo "/bin/sudo /sbin/urpmi  ${urpmi_options} ${f}"
 
/bin/sudo /sbin/urpmi  ${urpmi_options} ${f}
 
 
new_version=$(rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux)
 
echo "Previous version: ${current_version}"
 
echo "    New version: ${new_version}"
 
fi
 
 
## # Display currently installed rpm version
 
## echo "Installed skypeforlinux version:"
 
## echo "rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux"
 
## rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux
 
 
# get directory listing for date/time/size of available rpm
 
wget -qO - https://repo.skype.com/latest/ | grep skypeforlinux-64.rpm > ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING}
 
echo "downloaded directory listing for ${SKYPE_RPM}:  $(ls -l  ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING} )"
 
fi
 
else
 
 
# We do not have a previously downloaded copy of skypeforlinux-64.rpm.
 
# Likely a brand new install
 
 
# download, install, and get directory listing
 
 
# download available skypeforlinux-64.rpm
 
echo "downloading ${SKYPE_RPM}"
 
wget -O - https://repo.skype.com/latest/${SKYPE_RPM} > ${f}
 
echo downloaded: $(ls -lh ${f})
 
 
# install
 
echo "installing skype"
 
echo "/bin/sudo /sbin/urpmi  ${urpmi_options} ${f}"
 
/bin/sudo /sbin/urpmi  ${urpmi_options} ${f}
 
 
# Display currently installed rpm version
 
echo "Installed skypeforlinux version:"
 
echo "rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux"
 
rpm -qa | grep -iE skypeforlinux
 
 
 
# get directory listing for date/time/size of available rpm
 
wget -qO - https://repo.skype.com/latest/ | grep skypeforlinux-64.rpm > ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING}
 
echo "downloaded directory listing for ${SKYPE_RPM}:  $(ls -l  ${SKYPE_RPM_DIR_LISTING} )"
 
 
fi
 
</pre>
 

Latest revision as of 12:41, 8 February 2024


Drakconf multiflag.png
Other languages
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Synopsis:
This document describes how to install Skype in Mageia Linux.

Microsoft's Skype software is not open source and subject to legal restrictions, that's why Skype itself is not available in the Mageia repositories.

Previously a Mageia get-skype package was available in the nonfree repositories which downloaded the software from the Microsoft website, but get-skype is no longer available.

WARNING:

As of Saturday 28th November 2023, Microsoft has changed the way they distribute skypeforlinux.
It is no longer available as an RPM. The new packaging method is to use Canonical's snap format.

The most recent updated version that sync_skype_urpmi would have installed is: skypeforlinux-8.108.0.205-1 from November 2023.
As of 8th February 2024, the latest version of skypeforlinux (available using snap) is: 8.110.0.218.

This new distribution method has been noted in a post on reddit:
Title: "Skype for Linux distribution method change"
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/skype/comments/1861hvo/skype_for_linux_distribution_method_change/

It is also found in a Microsoft forum:
Title: "Skype for Linux Updates"
Link: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/forum/all/skype-for-linux-updates/da864865-d9e9-4819-8a5d-8de8934dd312

Three observations:
Observation-1: Using sync_skype_urpmi for installing and updating skypeforlinux will no longer provide the latest version.


Observation-2: Mageia does not have a package for the Canonical "snap" packaging system.
There is discussion of the possibility of porting Canonical's snap in the Mageia forums but it is probably not going to happen.
Title: "[DONE] Support for SNAP packages?"
Link: https://forums.mageia.org/en/viewtopic.php?t=14503

Linux distros with Canonical's snap available:

  • Arch Linux
  • Centos
  • Debian
  • Elementary OS
  • Fedora
  • KDE Neon
  • Kbuntu
  • Manjaro
  • Popl_OS
  • openSUSE
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu


Observation-3: The new snap install method does not work on current Mageia.
Link: https://snapcraft.io/skype


Skype system requirements

At the time of writing this, there is a 64-bit version for Ubuntu, Debian, OpenSuse, and Fedora but no 32-bit version for Linux.

Please note: Skype is Microsoft software and Microsoft does not support Skype on Mageia Linux.

The Linux version of Skype is still in beta!

For a list of requirements for using Skype please see this page: https://support.skype.com/en/faq/fa10328/what-are-the-system-requirements-for-skype


Installing

You can either follow the manual steps shown below or use the script: sync_skype_urpmi .
The sync_skype_urpmi script will check for and automatically install any pending new Skype update every time it is run.

Bear in mind that as there is no official Microsoft urpmi repository for this version of Skype.
What sync_skype_urpmi does is make a local urpmi repository from downloaded copy of the current skypeforlinux RPM.


Automatic install

Run the sync_skype_urpmi script.

A key benefit of using sync_skype_urpmi is that it will only download and install if a new version of Skype for Linux is available.

These are the actions sync_skype_urpmi will do:

  1. Check for new version of skypeforlinux RPM and download if available
  2. Create a local urpmi repository "local_skype_urpmi"
  3. Check for package signing key for skypeforlinux RPM and install if needed
  4. Install or update skypeforlinux as needed (with an automatic alternative install if required)

So, you can, from time to time, just run sync_skype_urpmi as a non-root user to check for updates.


Manual install

Please note that the manual install procedure shown here (below) depends on using the dnf package system.

If you have installed Mageia using urpmi which is the original and default package system in Mageia then you need to take some extra steps to use dnf.

Also consider whether you want to mix up using both urpmi and dnf on the same system as there could be issues with keeping things consistent between urpmi and dnf.

If you choose to use urpmi the consider using the sync_skype_urpmi automatic install script as described here: Synchronize_local_skype_urpmi


Manual install step 1: download

Download rpm file from the Microsoft website: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-linux

Please be aware that the skype rpm is about 110 MB in size and may take some time to download depending on your network connection.


Manual install step 2: install

You can install this rpm with:

cd <path_to_where_you_saved_the_rpm>
/bin/sudo dnf install skypeforlinux-64.rpm

You can also install the rpm with urpmi, but it will not install the configuration for the Skype repository.

cd <path_to_where_you_saved_the_rpm>
/bin/sudo urpmi skypeforlinux-64.rpm


During the installation of the rpm, you may receive a warning:

Cannot find atd service

You can safely ignore this message, the at service should import the GPG key for the Skype mirror.


Manual install step 3: package signing key

This is the workaround for if the message "Cannot find atd service" is presented in te previous step.


/bin/sudo cp /tmp/skype.gpgsig* /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-Skype
/bin/sudo dnf update

Test

Before trying Skype, check your webcam works OK using the cheese photo-booth application in Mageia.

You can check if you have cheese installed with:

rpm -q cheese && echo Cheese installed || echo Cheese not installed

Example:

[user@localhost Downloads]$ rpm -q cheese && echo Cheese installed || echo Cheese not installed
Cheese installed

Start cheese:

cheese

Verify web cam working.


Run Skype

Start Skype and login to your Skype account.

skypeforlinux

Try calling the Skype test service to check audio settings are correct.

Normally, when calling someone else in Skype you can have video chat, audio-only chat and can share your screen but it is worth checking these all work with a friend.


Note:
Skype only works with PulseAudio, this is the default setting in Mageia and can be changed via the Mageia Control Center.

If you have problems with the sound or microphone settings, check the Mixer settings of your graphical environment.

For instance in Gnome: System -> Preferences -> Sound, here you can find the microphone settings in the Input Tab. Make sure that you selected the correct device as an input device, if there are multiple devices available, just try them all.

Installing Pulse Audio Volume Control packages: pavucontrol (Gnome, XFCE etc.) or pavucontrol-qt (KDE) can also help adjust the settings.


Turning off Skype autostart on login

By default, Skype is configured to automatically start when you login to Mageia. It does this using a file: ~/.config/autostart/skypeforlinux.desktop

[user@localhost ~]$ nl -ba ~/.config/autostart/skypeforlinux.desktop
     1	[Desktop Entry]
     2	Name=Skype for Linux
     3	Comment=Skype Internet Telephony
     4	Exec=/usr/bin/skypeforlinux
     5	Icon=skypeforlinux
     6	Terminal=false
     7	Type=Application
     8	StartupNotify=false
     9	X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true

There are several ways to prevent the autostart of Skype when you login. The simplest is to:

  1. Click on Tools in the Skype menu bar (top of Skype window)
  2. Select and click on Settings in the tools drop down menu
  3. In the new Settings window, click on General
  4. Click on the toggle switch for Automatically Start Skype to switch it off

Verify the change:

[user@localhost ~]$ nl -ba ~/.config/autostart/skypeforlinux.desktop
nl: /home/user/.config/autostart/skypeforlinux.desktop: No such file or directory


Links

Skype voice and video chat http://www.skype.com
MAQeia for Skype discussion https://forums.mageia.org/en/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=1121


Change history

date editor change details
2011_12_25 Paul Blackburn first draft
2012_01_07 Paul Blackburn removed MIB package link and explained legal issue why Mageia does not include Skype software in Mageia urpmi sources
2012_10_07 Paul Blackburn updated install URL for version 4.0.0.8
2012_11_20 Paul Blackburn updated install URL for version 4.1.0.20 with security update
2013_04_27 Paul Blackburn updated download link
2014_06_07 Paul Blackburn updated install URL for version 4.2.0.13
2014_06_24 Paul Blackburn updated install URL for version 4.3.0.37-1
2014_10_26 Paul Blackburn updated install URL for version 4.3.0.37-5
2017_05_03 Papoteur video no more functional
2017_05_05 Kristoffer Grundström Audio works now with 5.1 beta release
2017_11_09 Frederik Vos get-skype package not available any longer ? Official rpm works fine, audio / video / bots
2018_05_01 Paul Blackburn removed statement about 32 bit version because it is only available for 64 bit
2018_05_01 Paul Blackburn added section "Skype system requirements"
2018_05_01 Paul Blackburn moved intro text from "install" section to "introduction", added section "Step 1: download", separated install into "Step 2: install", renamed test as "Step 3: test", removed superflous "exit" from dnf install examples
2018_05_01 Paul Blackburn added: Appendix 1: "skype_dl_if_new" script to check for and install new version if available
2018_09_16 Paul Blackburn updated "skype_dl_if_new" script to display previous and new installed version numbers
2019_12_13 Paul Blackburn updated for mageia7, renamed script from "skype_dl_if_new" to "check-skype"
2020_03_02 Paul Blackburn added section about switching off Skype autostart on login
2021_03_11 Paul Blackburn updated for Mageia 8
2021_04_03 Paul Blackburn Corrected spelling "Turning", set correct section spacing
2021_08_05 Paul Blackburn command is now skypeforlinux (was previously skype)
2022_02_14 Paul Blackburn replaced references to check_skype script by sync_skype_urpmi
2022_02_14 Paul Blackburn removed Appendix-1 check_skype script and Appendix-2 workaround to update. No longer needed now that sync_skype_urpmi is available
2022_02_14 Paul Blackburn tidied up manual install replacing examples with /bin/su by /bin/sudo
2022_02_14 Paul Blackburn added section: Manual install step 3: package signing key
2022_03_28 paul Blackburn added explanation dnf/urpmi in manual install section