Ubuntu – How to install Microsoft Silverlight on Firefox on 12.04

12.04browserfirefoxgoogle-chromemoonlight

I am using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64-bit on my system. I am using Mozilla Firefox 37.0 and Google Chrome 41.0 browsers.

I went to http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows-10/about in both browsers. In Chrome I could see the content on the webpage perfectly. In Firefox it asked me to install Microsoft Silverlight. I'm surprised that on Chrome it didn't ask me to install Silverlight.

Please explain me what is Silverlight, why it is needed, and how to install this on my system in an easy, efficient and reliable way?

P.S. Please don't suggest to do anything using WINE as I know it's not a reliable approach.

Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

First,

CLOSE FIREFOX before running these commands !!! open a terminal and type the following commands one by one.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pipelight/stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends pipelight-multi
sudo pipelight-plugin --update
pipelight-plugin --enable silverlight
sudo pipelight-plugin --create-mozilla-plugins

This will install silverlight in firefox and not in google chrome or chromium as chrome no longer uses those types of plugins.

Finally, some apps may check if you are using windows and all you need to do is use a useragent switcher to circumvent this issue. Look for useragent in firefox addons.

more info:

http://www.webupd8.org/2013/08/pipelight-use-silverlight-in-your-linux.html

and homepage:

http://pipelight.net/cms/about.html

From what I gather, pipelight runs silverlight using wine in the background somehow but this not only works, it works better than silverlight does in Windows and installs as a plugin to your linux browser (not a wine workaround). Tested on netflix and the timewarner cable tv app.

Using Pipelight

My answer is credits Webupd8: http://www.webupd8.org/2013/08/pipelight-use-silverlight-in-your-linux.html

You can use Pipelight to provide you with Silverlight support.

To install it:#

Make sure to close your browser first, if not you will need to run an extra command.

From the terminal:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ehoover/compholio
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:mqchael/pipelight
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install pipelight

From the GUI:

Add the repositories to your software sources:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ehoover/compholio sudo apt-add-repository ppa:mqchael/pipelight

After refreshing your sources, install pipelight If this icon doesn't work simply search for it in the Software Center.

If you kept the browser open, run:

rm -rf ~/.wine-pipelight/

Next step, make sites that block Linux work:

Use one of these two addons (F:

Or this one (Chrome):

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/user-agent-switcher-for-c/djflhoibgkdhkhhcedjiklpkjnoahfmg

If you get slow playback, see:

Alternative solutions:

Using a Windows browser on top of Wine.

You can probably use Silverlight 5 on top of a Windows Browser using Wine. I have not tested this option but it is pretty reasonable and straight forward.

Install wine
Download and install your browser.
Download and install Silverlight for Windows as you normally would do on Windows.
Live long and prosper.

Using Windows in a Virtual Machine.

If you don't want to give up Linux, but can't get anything else to work, this is the best bet. You need a valid copy of Windows however as I won't give steps for pirating.

Install virtualbox
VMWare Player is an option as well, as well as Qemu, etc; but I highly recommend Virtual Box.
Download and install the Virtual Box extensions (optional).
Using a valid Copy of Windows, create a new Virtual Machine in Virtual Box.
Install your browser of choice (if necessary) or use Internet Explorer.
Install Silverlight.
Enjoy your coffee or beverage of choice (absolutely necessary step!). Skipping this step will result in the process not being as rewarding as intended.