Unable to manage (configure) FireFox in ThinPro

[Ferdinand_NL]

Hi there,

Since my first question was answered succesfully, I'm going to have another go 🙂!

So, about two years ago I bought a tc530 with ThinPro OS (which is, I assume, a Linux version). I have been updating the system succesfully since the beginning, using EasyUpdate. I'm not using the thin client for much else than connecting to my workplace through Citrix, and some browsing.

For that, I use the installed FireFox. It works fine, but I can't seem to change any settings. I managed to set the default start page, probably at the initial use. But that I can't change either. When I go to the preferences, it says: "Your browser is being managed by your organisation". That must be me, since this is a privately owned machine.

When I click on the text, the "Enterprise Policies" tab opens, and the only parameter listed there is:

DisableAppUpdate

true

How can I take (back) power over my FireFox?

Kind regards,

Ferdinand.

[Ferdinand_NL]

Just to be shure:

• I tried to save a bookmark. It is not remembered
• I tried to change the startup page, while in Administrator Mode. It wasn't remembered
• FireFox does not remember (History) that I was on this forum earlier tonight, after the full image update.
• FireFox (?) does remember my account on this forum, I don't have to sign in again, even after a full image update! (So, perhaps HP remembers that, or cookies are accepted).

Maybe that helps to pinpoint the cause.

Kind regards,
Ferdinand.

[Manu_2680]

Hello Fedinand, I have provided the solution for this issue on a differnet thread. Please refer : https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/HP-T540-Firefox-do...

[Ferdinand_NL]

Hi Manu,

It seems you are becoming my personal assistant!

Thanks for the suggestion you are referring to. Having read it, I am not sure this is what I’m looking for. It seems to handle a specific issue (saving passwords for websites), but not the management of FireFox - the way I can on my private Windows laptop. I want to get rid of “FireFox is being managed by your organisation”! Perhaps setting the parameter “DisableUpdate” to False would do that.

You write “Firefox has been configured this way by design.” I wonder whether this means “HP has configured FireFox within ThinPro this way by choice”. Because, if that is the case, I’d like them to change that. 

I will go ahead and try it anyway, and let you know whether it works to my satisfaction. 

Have a nice day!
Ferdinand.

[Manu_2680]

Hello Ferdinand,

I do not think you will find all the Firefox (Windows based) options in the Linux version since unlike Windows, Linux apps do not do  autoupdates individually using their own updater. Linux uses the OS updater and every app just adds their repository to the OS repository list.  And yes the Firefox you see on HP ThinPro OS is not the same as normal Firefox on other OS including the ones found different Linux Distros. HP uses Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release), you can find the details here: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/enterprise/ 

 This is one of the reasons HP provieds the app updates on the EasyUpdate tool instead of asking customer to do the update like on normal Linux Distro. This version gives OEM's more control over the app. Also you need to understand that a ThinClient OS is not designed and build for normal use. 

You are still free to use the Firefox inbuild Configuration Editor by entering "about:config" in the address bar once you are in the edit connection. This should allow you to modify way more settings than the ones found on the UI. Hope the below link helps you find the settnigs you are looking for : 
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox#:~:text=Adding%20preferences-,Openi....

Regards,
Manu 

[Ferdinand_NL]

Hi Manu,

Thanks for the detailed reply. I figured the parameter “DisableUpdate” might have to do more with the updating process than FireFox (FF) being “managed by your organisation” - which, it turns out, is HP…

I am not looking for a possibility to update FF indepentently, the Easy Update service works fine. But it is annoying that something simple like changing the start page should be done through the backdoor, just because I have a Linux version of the software. 

I will have a look at the information you are referring to and come back here if I have any questions that are relevant to the HP TC environment.

But the big question remains: is it possible to configure FF ESR in such a way that the organisation is changed to me (perhaps in Administrator mode)?

Kind regards,
Ferdinand.

[Manu_2680]

Hello Ferdinand,

I am not sure if its possible to change the Organization. HP seems to have build the ThinPro OS from Kernal. HP does not recommend to unlock the system option to install the updates using "apt-get update" since that downloads all the mananged and unmanged updates which after installation may sometimes break the OS. 

If you are looking to update Firefox ESR I would suggest to download and install it from Mozilla. However please remmember that this is not optimized for ThinPro OS hence may or may not work when you try to use the browser. You can check the below link for the to dwnload the Linux 64bit file:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-esr

Please unlock the system files by typing "fsunlock" before you install the file. Once you have completed installing please lock the system files using command "fslock"

Regards,
Manu 

[Ferdinand_NL]

Hello Manu,

In the end I worked out an acceptable solution. I did two things.

First I fumbled around a bit in the registry. A bit dangerous, but most key etc. have clear names, and Registry Key Descriptions are mostly filled in and help a lot too.

I went to

root/ConnectionType/firefox/connections

There are three relevant subfolders: "general" and one for each FireFox-connection that has been configured (two, in my case). They have names that consist of complex strings of characters (something like a GUID).

In these folders  I found the key "enableUserChanges".

I think I set the value of all to "1" but I'm not sure. And I'm also not sure if this was neccessary.

Second, I edited one of the connections via the icon on the desktop (right mouse button, "Edit"). In the dialogue that opens, I chose "Preferences" on the left. Then I clicked on the button "View/Edit This Connection's Own Preferences".

This opens FireFox with the Settings (about:preferences) tab. One thing you can do there is set the Homepage, for example. By the way: the Homepage setting here overrules the URL that is set in the Connection Manager itself!
But now, apart from the preferences, I can also save and manage bookmarks and add the bookmarks toolbar.

I did not test any of the other settings, but there's probably more that I can set now, that will be saved and available when I start the connection again.

These settings are saved for each individual connection that uses FireFox. This way you can also place shortcuts to frequently used web sites, apart from using bookmarks.

It's a bit inconvenient to have to go through the second procedure, in order to save any bookmarks, for example. But at least ti is possible now. Perhaps there's a way to start the FireFox connection in Edit mode right away?

The line "Your browser is being managed by your organisation" does not disappear, but that's okay.

Thanks for helping me find the way to the solution!

Kind regards,
Ferdinand.