Linux and Unix Forum

Since my "[URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3451.html"]5 Things Every Good Linux Administrator Knows[/URL]" post the other day, I've received some indirect feedback from friends and readers alike, that admittedly, leaves a little egg on my face. I left out three very important things that every good Linux administrator should know. I appreciate the feedback …

At the risk of being sexist, does anyone really fall for this 'computers for the ladies' hard sell? I am assuming that the answer must be yes, otherwise companies would not keep pumping out the pink gadgets and Hewlett Packard would not have come up with the special edition ladies …

Mainframes (MF) in the news again? Can it be or did I just wake up in 1980 all over again? It's true (the Mainframe part not 1980) that we are now looking backward for our future in virtualization and Cloud Computing using Linux as the delivery system. Mainframes have a …

Dell has been pretty busy of late in the netbook market, what with the high profile launch of the shiny little [URL="http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs"]Inspiron Mini 9[/URL] that caught the attention of media and public alike. About six weeks ago I was writing about how Tesco, the British supermarket giant, had slipped up …

On July 31st, I posted the announcement: [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry2893.html"]Linux Contest That You Can Win[/URL] for the Will Linux Work? Contest sponsored by [URL="http://www.plathome.com"]Plat'Home[/URL], maker of the OpenBlock S and OpenMicroServer server appliances. Plat'Home announced the winners and the winning projects this morning. Out of over 3 dozen detailed proposals, the following …

The ominous 13th entry in my ongoing Crystal Ball Sunday series highlights a somewhat controversial and oft misunderstood computing space known as Cloud Computing. As I explained in my [URL="http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3340.html"]I'm Smarter Than Larry Ellison[/URL] entry, Cloud Computing allows applications to be hosted in leveraged environments such that you neither know …

With no end in sight to the economic malaise and a good chance that this could be lasting a while, it's time to find ways to cut your IT budget. Just today OpenOffice.org announced that [URL="http://www.openoffice.org/"]the Release Version of OpenOffice 3.0[/URL] is available on its web site, and it's proving …

Which hypervisor performs better, [url=http://www.xen.org/]Xen[/url] or VMware's [url=http://www.vmware.com/products/vi/esx/]ESX[/url]? That apparently depends on which organization you ask. But for a team that's tasked with choosing a virtualization platform, some impartial data would sure be helpful. "That's where we come in," said Michael Salsburg, director of the [url=http://www.cmg.org]Computer Measurement Group[/url], a non-profit …

Today the [URL="http://www.mono-project.com"]Mono Project[/URL] released the much-anticipated Mono 2.0 for Linux. After two-and-a-half years in development, Mono 2.0 is finally here and ready to run your .NET 2.0 applications, Windows Forms, ASP.NET content on Mac OS X, BSD and Linux. Mono is multi-language capable--choose your own path from C#, VB, …

Howdy and welcome to Crystal Ball Sunday #12: Built-In Home Entertainment and Automation . Linux is the perfect medium for set top boxes (aka Set Top Units or Personal Video Recorders (PVR)) because of its customizability, optimization features, and no cost status. Whether you know them as Set Top Boxes, …

Have you ever heard of or considered using Linux? Here are five reasons to give it a look for your desktop or server. Over the past 15 years or so, Linux has gained worldwide acceptance as a first-rate server operating system but do you know why? It's because Linux can …

"It’s Harvard or Yale, Harpic or Domestos, AA or RAC, PC or Mac. Binary tribalism: Gilbert and Sullivan wrote a song about it" [URL="http://stephenfry.com/blog/"]writes Stephen Fry[/URL] as he explains that when it comes to the world of serious digital photography that choice is pretty much narrowed down to Canon or …

A company called [url=http://www.moderro.com/]Moderro Technologies[/url] this week unveiled the [url=http://www.moderro.com/Product/index.html]Xpack Web 2.0 Cloud Computer[/url], a palm-sized appliance dedicated to cloud computing. The US$395 computer was being demonstrated at the 2008 Web 2.0 Expo in New York City this week, and is set to begin shipping in late October. Although the …

As promised, here's the big news hot off the pressroom floor. [URL="http://www.cisco.com"]Cisco[/URL] and [URL="http://www.vmware.com"]VMware[/URL] announced at [URL="http://www.vmworld.com"]VMWorld[/URL] 2008, in Las Vegas that they are entering into a partnership that highlights three main areas: ** The Cisco Nexus 1000V Product will be available as an add-on module for VMware ESX. ** …

VMware yesterday unveiled a [url=http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry3170.html]series of solutions[/url] yesterday--its Virtual Datacenter OS and related products--that I personally believe are a gigantic advance not just for IT administrators, but for software developers and testers too. And that's just the beginning. The company also introduced a new way of packaging applications with the …

Here is the big announcement I promised you from VMWorld. [URL="http://www.mokafive.com"]MokaFive[/URL], a Desktop Virtualization company, originally created Desktop VMs (Virtual Machines) that reside on a USB flash drive. Now, MokaFive takes Desktop virtualization to the next level: Your Desktop on your phone. [INDENT][COLOR="Green"]MokaFive specializes in mobile desktop virtualization – meaning, …

Making what now seems like the next logical step for operating system evolution, VMware today told the world about [url=http://www.vmware.com/technology/virtual-datacenter-os/]Virtual Datacenter OS[/url], which it positions as a way to "pool all types of hardware resources--servers, storage and network--into an aggregated on-premise cloud." The solution gives enterprise administrators flexibility and options …

A new application programming interface released this week gives development and test teams the ability to link their ground-based test systems with virtual operating systems accessed through a browser. It all comes from [url=http://www.skytap.com/]Skytap[/url], which earlier this year released [url=http://www.skytap.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=120]Virtual Lab[/url], a Web-based infrastructure that provisions virtual hardware, software, networking …

Next week, September 15-18, brings us the biggest Virtualization event in North America and your Linux guy will be there with bells on. I'll be there in my new freelance reporter capacity as [URL="http://www.linux-mag.com"]Linux Magazine's[/URL] Virtualization Columnist/Editor. You can expect blog posts and possibly some breaking news from the conference …

Desktop virtualization got a boost last week when [URL="http://www.redhat.com"]Red Hat, Inc.[/URL] purchased [URL="http://www.qumranet.com"]Qumranet[/URL], an Israeli Open Source company that specializes in virtualization solutions. Its product offerings include KVM (Kernel Virtual Machine), Solid ICE, and SPICE. This acquisition brings Red Hat into head-on competition with such virtualization vendors as VMware and …

This week my crystal ball tells me that Linux is due for a major makeover and not just another pretty theme: A real makeover. It's time for Linux developers to stop following the Windows and Mac Desktop deveopers and get creative on their own. I understand the argument against this …

The New Dell Inspirion Mini 9 may well become my best friend. I noticed today that [URL="http://www.dell.com"]Dell[/URL] is previewing their new line of Mini Notebook computers and they are impressive. The Dell Inspirion Mini 9 is Dell's entry into the mini notebook market at a very low price point: $349. …

The November election brings with it the promise of changes, new beginnings, and hope for those who've endured the past 8 years with less than an enthusiastic attitude. The choice of President and Vice President means far less to most of us than the people they choose for Cabinet positions. …

Not only do the French have a different word for everything, they also have a strong Open Source leadership position. The French have done much to foster the growth and acceptance of Open Source software--especially Linux. The [URL="http://www.mandriva.com"]Mandriva Linux [/URL]distribution was born and raised in France (now in its 10th …

The [URL="http://www.linuxfoundation.org"]Linux Foundation [/URL]announced today that [URL="http://www.canonical.com"]Canonical, Inc.[/URL], commercial sponsor of Ubuntu Linux, joined its fold to become the latest supporter of the expansion of Linux into the business sector. Recently, many big commercial software companies have joined the Linux Foundation including [URL="http://www.adobe.com"]Adobe[/URL] and [URL="http://www.vmware.com"]VMware[/URL]. [INDENT][COLOR="Green"]“Canonical is an important new …

According to reports, Intel has decided that there will be no more Centrino Atom chipsets. Fear not, mobile Internet device loving gadget fans, for this does not mean the same thing as there being no more of the chipsets that are helping to power the ultra-low-cost mobile PC market. All …

It seems that the draft spec for USB 3.0 has been [URL="http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/peripherals/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210004195"]released by Intel[/URL] following much online speculation over exactly what the technology would and would not be able to do. To be precise, what Intel has released is the 'Extensible Host Controller Interface draft specification revision 0.9' for Super-Speed …

VIA has a pretty long and glorious record when it comes to producing low budget but high performance motherboard chipsets. Indeed, for many shoestring performance PC enthusiasts VIA has achieved something nearing saintly status. Unfortunately, like all other saints, it seems that as far as the VIA motherboard chipset business …

AUGUST 7, 2008--There was much to celebrate at the [URL=http://www.linuxworldexpo.com/live/12/]LinuxWorld Conference and Expo[/URL] this week in San Francisco's Moscone Center, particularly if you're a developer building applications on or for the platform. Remember when gOS debuted as the operating system inside Wal-Mart's US$199 PC? The company yesterday introduced [URL=http://www.thinkgos.com/new/]gOS 3 …

Hell has either frozen over or there was a very cold day in July when [URL="http://port25.technet.com/"]Microsoft[/URL] announced at OSCON that they are now giving money to The [URL="http://www.apache.org"]Apache Software Foundation [/URL](ASF). Microsoft joined rivals Yahoo and Google as Platinum Sponsors of the ASF. This money will help pay administrators and …

Wow! That's a lot of e-book reader hardware units. I mean, everyone knew these things were popular after selling out so quickly straight off the bat. But 240,000 units? Who would have thought there would be such a huge demand for this kind of technology. Especially since every e-book reader …

[URL="http://www.plathome.com"]Plat'Home[/URL], Linux pioneers in Japan and creators of the diminutive OpenMicroServer, are running a contest called "Will Linux Work?" They are basically asking people to submit crazy/extreme environments or ideas using their Linux servers and see if they work. Whoever has the best idea will get 5 of their OpenMicroServers …

Greetings avid Linux fans and welcome to Crystal Ball Sunday #9: Intelligent Control. By Intelligent Control, I mean using artificial intelligence programming for the next generation of automobiles, manufacturing, air traffic control, environmental systems, handicapped person devices and prosthetics, and perhaps the most inspiring of all: Robots. Intelligent systems have …

Round Rock, Texas-based [URL="http://www.dell.com"]Dell, Inc.[/URL] announced Friday that it is now offering the latest [URL="http://www.ubuntu.com"]Ubuntu[/URL] (8.04 Hardy Heron) released in April of this year on some of their popular consumer grade laptops and desktop models. Currently available in the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico and Colombia. …

Netbook's, or mini-laptops as they are known, popularity, low price, portability, and solid state technology make them prime targets for innovation. Companies like Cyberlink, a multi-media software developer, want in. Their PowerCinema Linux, a custom Linux distribution bundling media software including photo, music, video and a DVD player, may be …

According to the [URL="http://www.CE.org"]Consumer Electronics Association[/URL] the global revenue for consumer electronics will jump 10 percent this year, reaching a staggering $700 billion by next year. In its Worldwide Consumer Electronics Sales & Forecast report, the CEA says that consumers will spend $42 billion more in 2009 than they did …

BestBuy is now offering Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) in a shrink-wrapped box for $19.99. This is the only packaged Linux that BestBuy currently sells. I haven't seen the package or visited my local BestBuy store in several months but I am happy about this decision. Shelf space is at a …

Yes, I know it sounds pretty daft, but MIO has [URL="http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/07/09/knight_rider_satnav_confirmed/"]confirmed[/URL] that it will be releasing a satnav built entirely around a Knight Rider theme next month in the US. Fans who want to experience that genuine eighties retro feel, but in a totally modern way, will just love KITT …

Welcome back to another Crystal Ball Sunday. Those of you who celebrate freedom on July 4 hopefully have had a safe and enjoyable holiday. Freedom comes in packages of all shapes and sizes and this week's Crystal Ball Sunday is about freedom in small packages: Embedded Devices. Embedded device refers …

Taiwanese device maker [URL=http://openmoko.com/]OpenMoko[/URL] chose Independence Day in the United States to announce the launch of Neo FreeRunner, its latest Linux-based open smartphone platform. Delivered with minimal functionality, owners are encouraged to develop and/or install their own applications and functionality. The unit is well equipped, sporting a 400Mhz processor, 640x480 …

[URL="http://www.xandros.com"]Xandros, Inc.[/URL] announced July 3 that they have acquired the Linspire and Freespire desktop operating systems. This will further enhance their desktop operating system offerings and their "one stop shop" status for all things Linux. The [URL="http://www.cnr.com"]Click'N'Run[/URL] (CNR) software distribution facility was also acquired by Xandros. CNR technology allows users …

Matrox has announced what it claims to be the first true QuadHead GPU, the Matrox M-Series. Which begs the question, just how many monitors do you need? With 512 MB of memory, native PCIe x16 performance and a fanless design for quiet operation you might think Matrox has done enough …

Yesterday, NetGear released the long-awaited open source wireless router WGR614L--a high-performance, full-featured, wireless router with 4-port switch running, you guessed it, Linux. The router currently supports the free open source Linux-based [URL="http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato"]Tomato[/URL] and [URL="http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/index.php"]DD-WRT[/URL] firmware and will soon support [URL="http://www.openwrt.org"]OpenWRT[/URL]. From a hardware perspective, the WGR614L sports a 240 MHz …

Red Hat announced a new bare-metal [I]hypervisor[/I] technology last week at the Red Hat Summit in Boston. It is based on KVM (Kernel-Based Virtual Machine) technology and actually has been included in Linux kernel version 2.6.20 and up. This announcement has some Red Hat and virtualization proponents wondering why Red …

[URL="http://www.zotac.com"]Zotac[/URL] has today announced the availability of what it claims is the fastest core clock speed for a graphics card straight out of the box. The GTX 280 AMP! Edition overclocks the NVIDIA GTX 280 card to top, are you ready for this, 700 MHz. OK, so it adds about …

[URL="http://www.linux-mag.com"]Linux Magazine[/URL]'s print subscriber base was acquired by [URL="http://www.linux-magazine.com"]Linux Pro Magazine[/URL] aka Linux New Media on or about June 11, 2008. As the "On the Desktop" columnist for Linux Magazine, I was both shocked and excited by the announcement to cease the print version in favor of a web-only zine. …

You’re about to begin a project that will tap into or integrate data from a database. You’ve been looking for low-cost ways to clear that data of duplicates, near-dupes, and obsolete or garbage data. But cleansing tools are expensive. As of today, there’s a free solution for you to think …

Welcome to Crystal Ball Sunday #6. This week I'm exploring the possibility of Linux becoming the operating system of choice for virtualization--specifically Desktop Virtualization. Regardless of which operating system or desktop type one uses, Linux will be the underlying operating system that gets you there. Way back in 2002, I …

Linux developer Red Hat yesterday said it will open the source code of its Network Satellite Server, which powers the Red Hat Network system management platform. Dubbed [URL=https://fedorahosted.org/spacewalk]Project Spacewalk[/URL], the software will be licensed under the GPL 2. Spacewalk performs system inventory, software installations and updates, can manage and deploy …

Those clever boffins at the University of Bath, England have managed to develop a machine called [URL="http://dev.www.reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome"]RepRap[/URL] which can, effectively, replicate itself. The boffins themselves describe it as being a 3D printer which can print, or rather produce, real mechanical parts. Perhaps most interesting is the claim that RepRap can …