Linux and Unix Forum

I can't say that I've been waiting patiently or otherwise for the upcoming April 2009 (9.04) Ubuntu release and my indifference is justified. There are some updates and OpenOffice.org 3.x is included in this release--blah blah blah. Frankly, this release is a yawn. I'm not disappointed by it--it happens. Should …

This morning I heard a news blip about a Netbook offering later this year from Verizon. Verizon? The phone company? Yep. I had to do a double-take on it too. There's talk that the Netbooks will be subsidized and cost about $100. I'm sure that price is a result of …

Everyone from techie bloggers to technical journalists to stay-at-home moms are talking about today's big news: [URL="http://www.ibm.com"]IBM[/URL] is trying to buy [URL="http://www.sun.com"]Sun Microsystems[/URL]. Big deal. What's in it for Linux? As a matter of fact, it is a big deal. And an even bigger deal for Linux. Sun owns MySQL, …

A little while ago, a friend of mine tapped me on the shoulder--virtually speaking--and asked me why there isn't an easier way to install software on a Linux computer. He asked innocently enough why we can't have a Universal Package Manager (UPM) to handle the software regardless of distribution. Ha! …

Is there a stimulus package on the way for those who use Linux and Open Source Software? You bet there is but it might not come from where you'd expect. Too many wasted stimulus dollars have already rained down upon those who wasted their own money but this time it'll …

Cisco in the server hardware business? With VMware? Using Linux? Has the world gone topsy-turvy while I wasn't looking? If you think about it, Cisco's forte--routers--are lightweight computers that do one specific job--routing packets from one network to another. So, their foray into the dark realm of higher-end server systems …

I've had the pleasure of taking a special [URL="http://www.debian.org"]Debian[/URL] 5.0 [URL="http://ftp.utexas.edu/debian-cd/5.0.0/i386/iso-cd/debian-500-i386-xfce+lxde-CD-1.iso"]distribution[/URL] (Debian 5.0 i386 XFCE LXDE) for a recent test drive as a virtual machine in [URL="http://www.citrix.com"]Citrix[/URL] XenServer 5.0. This single CD distribution comes with two selections for a graphical interface, [URL="http://www.xfce.org"]XFCE[/URL] and [URL="http://www.lxde.org"]LXDE[/URL]. XFCE works great and is very …

I've read almost a dozen articles in the past week about Netbook computers and am sorely disappointed with some of the news about them. The general consensus is that Windows dominates the Netbook space. The info was gathered from sales reports by [URL="http://www.asus.com"]Asus[/URL], [URL="http://www.msi.com.tw"]MSI[/URL], [URL="http://www.dell.com"]Dell[/URL] and [URL="http://www.sylvania.com"]Sylvania[/URL]. This news is …

I am proud to say that the Linux Community now has a place to land--a single place--and a great one at that: [URL="http://www.linuxfoundation.org"]The Linux Foundation[/URL]. You don't often read encouraging words from me about consolidations, mergers, buyouts and strategic partnerships but when they make sense for everyone, you do. As …

Here's some good news for a change: Linux-related jobs are on the rise. According to the freelance marketplace, [URL="http://www.odesk.org"]Odesk[/URL], the number of Linux jobs has increased more than 1,400% since 2006. This sharp increase as raised some eyebrows over at [URL="http://www.linuxfoundation.org"]The Linux Foundation[/URL] and they're responding appropriately. The Linux Foundation …

Everyone is talking about how open source technology is the answer to budget cuts and belt tightening in the workplace. There's no denying its use is on the rise and, in fact, the Linux server market is predicted to extend into the tens of billions over the next few years. …

PCWorld announces new blog: [URL="http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/160445/welcome_to_linuxlink.html"]LinuxLink[/URL]. Wow, it's only taken PCWorld a mere 10 years to come up with this fantastic brainchild. I'm impressed. There's nothing quite like being on the leading edge of technological advances like Linux. I hope their rapid move in this obtuse new direction doesn't singe their …

Dell is taking the netbook market by the horns, it would seem. First it [URL="http://www.itwire.com/content/view/23391/1231/"]refuses[/URL] to accept that the Psion netbook trademark is a valid one, and now it bucks the market trend for not being able to sell Linux powered netbooks. While the netbook market [URL="http://www.happynews.com/news/2242009/netbooks%20xp%20windows%20later.htm"]seems[/URL] to be moving …

Do my eyes deceive me or did [URL="http://www.redhat.com"]Red Hat[/URL] just deliver its own smackdown on the virtualization community today? I was wondering when they were going to offer a solution that combined their new acquistion, Qumranet and the KVM product. I don't have to wait any longer. The products, including …

You read that title correctly; XenServer is free. Free as in advice--since I've never seen any of this free beer of which the Open Source Community speaks so freely. And, yes, this [B]is[/B] breaking news. [URL="http://www.citrix.com"]Citrix[/URL] made XenServer free as of Feb 23, 2009 12:01am EST. This exciting announcement is …

This is what we're going to see for the next year or two: Strategic Partnerships. A couple of days ago, Red Hat signed one of these partnership deals with Microsoft in what I call "A deal with the devil." Microsoft and Red Hat have slung mud, insults and accusations at …

I'm seeing a trend towards hardware, software and operating system commoditization in our new cloud-based world. I think that within 5 years applications, including your beloved desktop operating system will be completely hosted. This brings me to pondering whether or not at some point there will be multi-level marketing (MLM) …

Has the world gone mad? Sony is getting set to launch a cellphone with, wait for it, no less than a 12.1 megapixel camera built in. To put that in to some perspective, I take photographs for publication as part of my day to day working life as a jobbing …

Almost 10 months ago, I wrote the post, [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry2350.html"]"Dear China, Microsoft Wants to Charge You for Air Too"[/URL] and now Novell follows up with its own plan to charge China for air. The Chinese assume that since Linux is open source that it means that it is less capitalistic and …

Did anyone else get just a wee zing of excitement at 11.30pm (GMT) last night? I will admit to raising my glass and downing a large Jim Beam Black in order to celebrate the fact that UNIX Time had hit 123 billion seconds. OK, so I am a geek, what …

Sometimes you kind of know a gadget is going to fail, simply because it launches at the wrong time. A great example would be the [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry2373.html"]Microsoft SPOT watch[/URL] which was essentially an expensive and ungainly data-casting wristwatch that could show very small amounts of news and weather data while you …

Someone commented on one of my posts the other day, stating that Linux is a tool and not a religion. Can this be true? I would hate to think that for the past 15 years that I've invested in Linux, it would turn out that Linux is merely a tool, …

A week ago I was reporting how 'leaked' documents were suggesting that the PlayStation 4 would [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3890.html"]build upon existing CELL processor architecture[/URL] with the Cell Broadband Engine (Cell BE). At the time I said that this was good news, not bad, in that it meant costs should be kept down …

HP will most likely not be taking part in the '[URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3825.html"]I'm Linux[/URL]' marketing campaign then. In fact, it would appear that HP will no longer be providing customers in the UK with a Linux option for the new HP Mini 1000 netbook. Which is not the case for the US …

It's time to embrace change in the IT world. Linux, for many, is ushering in a new age of reason. Its cost, stability, and open licensing make it a clear choice for those wanting to save money or shore up their service offerings. Companies, large and small, are turning to …

Does the Open Source Model work better than its commercial alternative? This post comes on the heels of one of my fellow Staff Writer's posting the story, "[URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3892.html"]A Modest Idea: What If Microsoft Open Sourced Windows?[/URL]" And I'm aiming this commentary at Microsoft too but it applies to any company …

Those of you who follow the state of Linux may realize that Linux is now at the precipice or "jumping off place" as an operating system. Linux, to others, is viewed as being at the crossroads for success. What's the difference, for Linux, in teetering at the precipice and standing …

There are number of factors coming together that lead me to believe that open source's moment is right now, today, this year. Open source already runs so many things and just last week as Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States, he asked Scott McNealy of …

Everyone knows that Linus Torvalds '[URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3825.html"]is a Linux[/URL]' but did you know he is also a born-again gnome? An Australian interview with the [URL="http://www.itwire.com/content/view/20046/53/"]often outspoken[/URL] creator of the Linux kernel, Linus Torvalds, has revealed that he is a gnome once more. Well, OK, that he is a GNOME user once …

In a recent [URL="http://www.computerworld.com/pdfs/Novell_Replacement.pdf"]report[/URL] by ComputerWorld, Unix is losing major ground in the SAP data center space. HP-UX is losing at a rate of about 41% and AIX (IBM) is losing at a rate of 18%. And in the time period (roughly 2.5 years) between October 2005 through March 2008, …

[URL="http://www.sco.com"]SCO[/URL] is putting up two of its business units on the auction block: Mobile Business and its Unix OpenServer Business. Jeff Hunsaker, President and COO, stated that "The auction, we believe, is the best approach for us to move forward and also to exit bankruptcy." Ah, the agony of utter …

There's only one company that doesn't use Linux for its server virtualization platform. Can you guess which one it is? If you guessed [URL="http://www.microsoft.com"]Microsoft[/URL], you're correct. [URL="http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization"]Microsoft[/URL] is a newbie in the virtualization space but wants in and may make significant dents in the already well-established market that is significantly …

If your company CEO is walking around with bags under eyes, clutching a balance sheet in one hand and a bottle of Chivas in the other, it could be because she can’t get financing to keep the company going. Business Week has a great article on this topic, pointing out …

Asus might have [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3637.html"]lost the netbook war[/URL] to Acer, but it is fighting back as far as the keyboard PC wars are concerned. With the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) still a day away in Vegas, the geeky and gadgetry announcements are coming thick and fast. We've already got a taster …

Linux will continue its soaring success in 2009. Yes, Linux is free and free is good but what about its other advantages over commercial Unix flavors and Windows? Here are the top seven reasons why Linux will continue to smash the competition in the face of the economy, the Cloud, …

Everyone wants to know what's going to happen in the new year as if anyone can accurately predict these things. However, one can deduce, with reasonable accuracy, that there will be innovations that are designed to get our attention. This is my list of Linux-oriented predictions for 2009. [B]The keyword …

There's a disturbing trend afoot -- particularly if you're a writer -- and it involves the print magazines sys admins and IT managers have relied on for years. Simply put, they're disappearing faster than beer at a frat party. Although no one can be sure exactly why, there's little doubt …

Today, December 26, is the first day of LinuXmas, the Festival of Distros. This three day, three night uber fest of booting new Linux distributions is a new tradition for geeky boys and girls around the world. Here's how it works: Download Live Linux CDs from [URL="http://www.distrowatch.com"]DistroWatch[/URL], burn them or …

Welcome to the new series, Seven Ways From Sunday, that replaces the Crystal Ball Sunday Series. This new series focuses on a single aspect of IT management from an "in the trenches" point-of-view. Being in list format, it will help you, the busy professional, quickly absorb and assess necessary information. …

A public beta has started for the latest version of the BBC iPlayer desktop download manager which supports Linux, Mac and Windows. This represents a huge, and hugely overdue, move forward for the BBC which previously only allowed Windows users to download programmes using the iPlayer. The secret is in …

Trying to find something for your gelibte this year? Look no further, my Linux Geek's Guide to Hanukkah will help you make the right decisions. [B]1. [URL="http://www.linuxjournal.com"]Linux Journal[/URL][/B] - A subscription to the world's first Linux magazine is the gift that gives you Linux every month for a year. Only …

If you haven't bought that special geek in your life something electronic yet for Christmas, here are 10 ideas for you. They're all Linux-based and are sure to bring a smile to any geek's face. They are in no particular order. [B]1. [URL="http://www.asus.com"]Asus[/URL] Eee PC[/B] - The new Eee PC …

Asus pretty much invented the whole netbook concept as we understand it today with the Eee PC, and for the longest time it sat pretty at the top of the netbook sales charts. The more astute reader might have noticed the past tense here, because Asus no longer rules the …

Whether the ailing economy is real or imagined, you might be looking for ways to shed some pounds off your bloated IT budget. You should seriously consider Linux and Open Source software to put your 2009 financial appetite on a diet. Here are 10 reasons to choose Linux in a …

I've looked at [URL="http://www.thinkgos.com"]GoodOS (gOS)[/URL] before in two other posts: [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry2802.html"]The Netbook Market Booms with Linux Onboard[/URL] and [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3401.html"]Three Linux Distros to Watch and Use[/URL] but now they've taken the lightweight operating system (OS) one step further with Taiwan-based manufacturer [URL="http://www.gigabyte.com.tw"]GigaByte[/URL]. The GoodOS team created a very stripped down, browser-based …

Now that, if you are a hardcore PC gamer, is cool. ASUS has announced the availability of what it claims is the world's first quad core gaming notebook. The G71 series is powered by the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 processor, and has had 'overspeed protection' removed to push it …

Miami has hurricanes, Silicon Valley gets wildfires, and Seattle sits at the foot of a volcano. Where should your data center be? How about the heartland of America -- the Midwest -- where a growing number of server farms are springing up instead of corn or cattle farms. John Rath, …

Fedora releases usually generate more yawns than a Ben Affleck movie for me but this time, they've gone the extra mile. I placed Fedora at number 7 in my [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3322.html"]10 Best Linux Distributions[/URL] post but now that I've seen Fedora 10, I may have to reorder the list and place …

It's been a year since [URL="http://www.amazon.com"]Amazon[/URL] released its Linux-based [URL="http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-kindle/dp/B000FI73MA"]Kindle Ebook Reader[/URL] into its online store and currently more than 200,000 people have purchased one. Are you going to join the fray at almost 400USD or wait for my bombshell? I suggest you wait. There have been several articles surrounding …

Do you need to connect your Linux Desktops or Servers to Microsoft's Active Directory (AD)? If you do, now you can learn how to do it straight from the source at Microsoft's TechNet site in the article: [URL="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd228986.aspx"]Authenticate Linux Clients with Active Directory[/URL]. Do you wonder why you'd want to …