OpenSUSE 11.0, a new polished OpenSUSE Linux

OpenSUSE 11.0 released last Thursday and obviously lots of improvements were made. Kudos to all developers and contributors. Not long after Mozille released its Firefox 3.0, OpenSUSE released OpenSUSE 11.0 with Firefox .3.0 included, thanks. Allthough the Firefox 3.0 included is Firefox 3.0 beta 5, updates for final Firefox 3.0 release will be available through online update. This release is also has Command-not-found feature that will be very handy for shell usage.

For those who are ready to switch to KDE 4.0, this is it, OpenSUSE 11.0 included stab le version of KDE 4.0. Be ready for the next generation of KDE, enjoy 'Plasma', the new desktop shell and a new look and feel called 'Oxigen', utilize Systemsetting which is KControl replacement , 3-D desktop effects in Kwin and many more interface and usability improvements. However, for those who aren't quite ready to make the leap to KDE 4.0, KDE 3.5 is still available on OpenSUSE DVD.

With Linux kernel 2.6.25, glibc 2.8 and gcc 4.3 , this release is also includes OpenOffice 2.4 and Compiz Fizion, Banshee 1.0, Wine 1.0 , KIWI LTSP, KDE Kepas, as well as improved NetworkManager 0.7 which is now includes support for multiple network interface and UMTS and EV-DO cards.

Currently OpenSUSE 11.0 is available to download with following choices.

* openSUSE 11.0 DVD 32-bit
* openSUSE 11.0 DVD 64-bit
* openSUSE 11.0 KDE 4 32-bit Live CD
* openSUSE 11.0 GNOME 32-bit Live CD
* openSUSE 11.0 KDE 4 64-bit Live CD
* openSUSE 11.0 GNOME 64-bit Live CD

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June 23, 2008

Linux Links roundup - Greatway URLinks 15 June 2008

All right , it's Sunday, it is time for links roundup for your weekend. This time is all about Linux. Enjoy.

1. Using Linux Virtual Desktop, part I and Part II. If you are multitasking person,and productivity is your concern then virtual desktop is for you. I've covered the virtual desktop for MS Windows platform previously, as I wrote earlier, Windows virtual desktop is an adoption of Linux virtual desktop, this article is a series of Linux virtual desktop.

2. Fedora LiveUSB Creator. On April links roundup, I was giving a link on tutorial how to install linux on a USB pendrive. It seems now installing an operating system into USB drive is even easier. Fedora liveUSB creator is a cross-platform tool to easily install operating systems on to USB drives.

3. Using Bash Effectively series. This three-part article series is about using Bash effectively; Working with Bash in Emacs Editing mode, Working with Bash in Vi editing mode and definitive guide to Bash command line history. You know that using Shell effectively could boost your productivity on administering a Linux machine. This article is come with handy cheat sheet in pdf and txt format.

4. Anatomy of Linux Journaling System. Understanding Linux file system is somewhat interesting, especially if you experienced with non-journaling file system such as ext2, you might want to know what is exactly behind the ext3 file system which is now a default file system of Linux and other journaling file systems such as ReiserFS and JFS.

5. Linux consume less power than Windows Server by 12 percent. Towards green computing, Linux against Windows Server 2008 were tested in term of power consumption, and result showed that Linux is greener than Windows, read the article for complete summaries of the test results.

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June 15, 2008

Linux is cool: 5 ways to get used to Linux

Linux has become an alternative operating system that people could use for daily jobs. Linux has undoubtedly transformed into a solid platform which gives great challenges to existing players in the operating system market. Todays, Linux are available for various environment, ranging from desktop up to enterprises needs. Linux is no more a new toy, however I still found a lot of people who told me how they are difficult to adapt with Linux and reluctant to use Linux for serious tasks..

Photo by keepthebyte

Although Linux existence is more than a decade and such tremendous improvements has been made to adapt user friendliness of existing operating systems, people are still thinking Linux is hard to learn and use.

Simply put; they thinks reading email in Linux is only with Pine or Mutt; and things are done with command line.

Answering to these, here is 5 ways you could practice to get used to Linux.

1. Know your needs. Yes, before moving further, it starts here. Knowing your needs on the operating system is the key point how you will get comfortable working with it in the future. What is your need ?, server solution or desktop solution ? . How much is your budget. Linux is released under GPL, it's open source software, yes it's free; which means 'free at no cost'. Please refer to theWhat does Free mean' for further information. If you have tight budget, Linux is maybe a candidate of your operating system choice. Know your application needs. What application you'll need for your tasks ?. As for Linux there are many applications available,both for server and desktop and if you are only familiar with the Windows applications, you can find much more equivalents or replacements of Windows applications in Linux. Very often we would relate the satisfaction with the money we spent for it, thus knowing your needs before jumping into a decision will help you a lot.
   
2. Choose the right distro. Unlike windows, there are hundreds of Linux distribution out there. These because Linux is open source, everyone could modify and create their own Linux distribution. Each of them offering features which are different to another. Some of them offering easy package management,while the other boasts their user friendliness, complete packages, etc. Those distros are developed based on the major distros such as Redhat, Debian, SuSE, and Slackware. There are distro that are built for desktop, for software development, for firewall, for a multihomed server, for a mail server, for an Internet cafe server and etc. Thus, check carefully what features those distro have offered. It may be help you if you make a kind of comparison list which will help you on deciding the distro based on the comparison score results.
   
3. Work with it. If you already made a choice and install it, make your self get used with it by work with it as much as you can, if you give up too early when you feel not comfortable working with the new environment offered by Linux, that wouldn't help. Put aside those thought to switch back to your previous OS. Do your tasks entirely with this new operating system, yes all of them. This will make you get used to it. It will make you get connected and feel the flow of the Linux operating system and your mind silently accept and put away those difficulties you previously felt. In my case, in my early day to know Linux, I never looked back to my Windows machine. At the extreme way, I formatted my Windows machine to get rid of needs to look back ( that was in Win98 era ). I don't suggest you to follow what I've done, but frankly speaking, forcing your self to work with it in every occasion, will make your self comfortable with it, because you get connected to it. For comparison, when the early days of Pentium just arrived, I thought the x486 was extremely fast compared to x386, but once I saw Pentium performance, I felt x486 is really slow. Can you catch the point ?. Obviously, I was falling into Linux world because I need way to utilize those used CPUs (mostly Intel x386 and x486) that dumped in store -- into somethings useful, and projects I've done, was a phone answering machine that I built from an x386 CPU and a Rockwell modem, utilizing Getty and a small Python script to play recorded voice files and a mail gateway for a friend SOHO that was only have a dial-up internet connection, utilizing Qmail and Diald. That's how I get used with Linux, by doing all my tasks and resolving my problems in Linux.
   
4. Involve in the Linux User Group or Linux community in your area. There is nothing more exciting than to meet people that has the same interest with you. Meeting people in a club such as Linux User Club (LUG), will give you a chance to discuss various problems and find the solutions. In most cases, in a Linux User Group meeting, they will discuss about new distro, demo install , exchanging experiences and a tutorial sessions. LUG is the perfect place where you could find a solution for your Linux operating system problem, as most of Linux geeks are members of these LUG. Experienced users as those geeks could become your last resort to ask, beside befriending to some geeks in your area might be bring a new thrill on your Linux experience. Go find nearest LUG in your area and join a meetup.
   
5. RTFM .Read the F*cking Manual, this is the jargon in the Linux Community you might often found on forum discussion or FAQs. Linux distro are complemented with Linux manual in them. Read the manual carefully, read the HOWTO provided, and all of them are also localized, so they are available in many languages. All manuals are accessible through command line and any other enhanced document format. They are also available on internet which you could freely access. In early Linux days, where internet connection are sparsely found, the manual has become a first aid before jumping into the Internet. These days, you can easily throw your problem into Google and in a blink all helps needed are in front of you. You are also could jump into a forum discussion, and there are a lot of people who are willing to help you. But before you ask questions, be sure to RTFM first and read the same threads with the same topic with your problem, as there are also a lot of people who are won't waste their time explaining the same topic from all over again.
   

To complement the above ways, here I list various links that provides resource on Linux operating system.

1. OSS Watch on Choosing a Linux Distribution. This site gives guideline on selecting Linux Distro, in addition, this site has lots of resources about open source software.
   
2. Linux Planet. Tech news site that covers Linux-thingy.
   
3. The Linux Documentation Project. The official Linux documentaion project that covers HOWTOs, Guides, manual pages and Linux FAQs.
   
4. Howtoforge. This site provides user-frienldy Linux tutorials which covers almost every topic in Linux world.
   
5. Learn Linux with a remote private Linux Machine with root access. Learn Linux by controlling your own remote Linux Machine with a root access.
6. Linux Alternative Project and Equivalents software for Linux.
7. Linux Questions, a Linux forums where Linux newbies can ask questions and Linux expert can offer advice.
   

Feeling cool ? get the Tux and lets get ready to RTFM !!

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April 2, 2008

Ubuntu Mobile : finger friendly, touch driven, iPhone-like touch interface

Ubuntu mobile is a popular Linux variant distribution edition from Canonical that targets Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) - a minitablet PC's that using low power processor. It's based collaboartion with Intel, with Silverthorne technology and designed to recognized iPhone-like touch interface, such as swiping, tap and drag. Ubuntu mobile is fully open source project with custom options may include licensed codecs.



Ubuntu mobile is finger friendly, and is designed to be used with fingers only, no stylus needed, and includes an on-screen keyboard. Ubuntu mobile offers full web 2.0/JAX fidelity with support to Adobe Flash,Java and more. Outstanding multimedia playback, and a suite of applications that work seamlessly to meet every need of digital who is on-the-go. In addition Canonical promise Ubuntu Mobile is highly flexible and customizable, an ideal platform for product differentiation that targets different users.




Ubuntu mobile will support any technology MIDS has, though the first devices that will use the software didn't announced, leveraging the MIDS, Canonical saying that MIDS typically have the following features:

• Small size/form factor
• 4 to 7 inch touch screen
• Physical and/or virtual keyboard
• Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, WiMAX
• 2GB to 8GB Flash or disk storage, 256MB+ memory/512MB+ recommended
• OpenGL 3D
• USB, camera, head phone jack, speakers, microphone

Ubuntu mobile will be released sometime in late April, though there is no clear information about the MID that will use the software.

"It is clear that new types of devices--small, handheld, graphical tablets which are Internet-enabled--are going to change the way we communicate and collaborate. These devices place new demands on open-source software and require innovative graphical interfaces, improved power management and better responsiveness," Zimmerman said.

More information on Ubuntu Mobile can be found on its official website.

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February 27, 2008

OmniAccess3500 laptop guardian: 'remote kill' you stolen laptop

A laptop security and management system developed by Alcatel-Lucent that's offers remote troubleshooting, management, protection, even 'remote kill' of data. OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian remotely monitors, protects , secures , manages and locates via GPS-based location tracking a mobile computers with 'always-on' technology.

OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian

The core technology behind this laptop guardian consist of a secure always-on computing system residing on a 3G broadband PCMCIA card which includes separate secure operating system and battery which operates with any broadband network including 3G, Ethernet or Wifi.

In the case of a laptop is stolen, the solution to keep everything safe is by remote kill the data on the laptop. In term of data safe to ensure the data is never exposed to the internet unprotected, it will automatically forced the mobile computer to do VPN, regardless of the data connection type, to the corporate network system passing corporate protections, filter and policy before it reach the Internet.

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February 20, 2008

Elonex to release Linux Laptop to rival Asus Eee next week

Aimed to the education sector, Elonex an UK based PC maker is to release its first cheap Linux laptop next week on Education Show 2008 which is held at the NEC Birmingham from February 28 to March 1 2008. The Elonex One, that's how this compact Linux laptop called, is the embodiment of the vision of the National Laptop Initiative where the NLI aims to bring personal computing and the digital world to everyone. Boasted as 'the UK's first sub £100 laptop', Elonex One, will become the serious rival for the Asus Eee Linux laptop.

Elonex One, Compact Linux Laptop from Elonex UK to rival Asus Eee PC

For around £99 ($193), this compact linux laptop is cost less than half price of a 4GB Eee PC. The One equipped with WiFi connection that gives wireless access to internet, ethernet networking, USB ports and audio jacks and integrated with software for eMail, word processing and spreadsheets. As it is developed for schools, the functions are built to suits classroom needs, one of them are the hard wearing casing. The drawbacks of this is unattractive looks, compared to the Asus Eee, but it is still worth compared to its price.

I only got the above picture from its website, it looks bulky, but hey that's is what you get for the price, afterward the functions is the important thing.

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Ubuntu will use KVM for its primary virtualisation software

It has been confirmed that Canonical will use Kernel-based Virtual Machine as its default virtualization software for the next Ubuntu Server after various options available been tested, including Xen, OpenVZ, QEMU+kqemu and VirtualBox. Soren hansen, the first man behind Canonical virtualization section speaking in the Weekly Ubuntu newsletter said that they found that KVM was the best fit for them right now.

For managing the KVM on the next Ubuntu release, Canonical add the libvirt package. Libvirt is management system for a number of different technologies, such as Xen and KVM.

Canonical has confirmed, KVM will be built into the Hardy Heron which is due for release in this April.

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February 11, 2008

Ubuntu 7.0 Gutsy Gibbon, I need to upgrade

I was deploying my Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn Server about 4 months ago to replace the old SuSE, and now Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon just come, welcome Gutsy. What I expect the most from this new release of Ubuntu is the Compiz :). Yeah, I love eye candy. On the server side I heard that Ubuntu has tools to deploy various server such as Mail,Print and Database server rapidly and also AppArmor for the security.

I just put a CD request, lets see. Few friends has downloaded it and I'm waiting for their kindness to burn it one for me.

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October 24, 2007

Ubuntu on Lenovo Thinkpad soon ?

After the Lenovo ship their T Series with SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, now they are looking for another Linux to offer, and that's possibly Ubuntu Linux. This is specifically for reaching enthusiast market. It is been known, they are way too much concern on enterprise market, a report said.

Matt Kohut on Lenovo Inside the Box blog said based on his observation there are a lot of people out there running Linux on their Thinkpads. He was opening a survey bean on Sept 7 to see which desktop Linux Desktop customers would like Lenovo to offer. Within 48 hours there are already 13402 votes tallied. Majority of votes, about 7196 are vote for Ubuntu. Debian is at second position with 1443 votes, followed by Redhat and Fedora.Surprisingly, SuSE, which Lenovo already offers, fall into 913 votes.


Is Lenovo is really planning on offering another Linux distro for its Thinkpads series ?. We don't know yet. But based on the survey results, Ubuntu is clearly the Linux distro that the enthusiast want to include in Lenovo's product. If it not in the T Series, it migth be in the inexpensive N series or R series ?

Dell did what customers wants, and I think, Lenovo need to follow.

[via]

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September 20, 2007

decTOP computer: Build Linux server under $100

decTOP is a small form factor computer, fanless computer that's runs off of eight watts of power. Though this device comes with no default operating system, it supports both MS Windows CE and Linux. It comes with 128 MB RAM and 10 GB Hard Drive, 4 USB ports, Video output, mouse and keyboard input, mic and audio-out and weighed 3 lbs.

Did I say Linux Server under $100 ?, Librenix has an articles covering step-by-step installation of Ubuntu Dapper on decTOP. You can upgrade the RAM up to 512 MB to power up your server more.

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August 20, 2007

Linux Laptops from Lenovo

In response to calls from its enterprise customers, following Dell and Acer move , Lenovo plans to ship linux laptops starting in the fourth quarter of 2007. Lenovo is to pre-load its ThinkPad series with Novell's SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10. For the office suite, it will be bundled with OpenOffice and web browser and email client software.


A spokesman of Lenovo said, the decision was based on increased enterprise customers demand for notebooks featuring open source software, especially in the education, government and enterprise sector. In last June, Lenovo was making a 'no linux' statement saying that the company would no longer support Linux on its ThinkPad line, that was making them in hot-water with Linux fans.

It seems Linux gets broader support from the major manufacturer these days, customers demand and customer satisfactory level are the keys.


More about Lenovo Thinkpad T series "Thinkpad experience under linux"
Linux-on-laptops has a line of report on Lenovo laptops that's successfully loaded with various Linux distros.

[via]

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August 6, 2007

My Ubuntu Feisty Fawn CDs arrived

Well, my Ubuntu CDs just arrived, exactly it was arrived on May 21 and I picked it up in Post Office on 22. I ordered on 20 April, and within four weeks the Cds arrived, kudos for Ubuntu team. It seems now the delivering process much faster than before. In the past my Ubuntu 4.10 was arrived 8 months later, which then I decided to not order the CDs from canonical anymore, I prefer to copy from a friend. Much faster, but off course no Ubuntu stickers included.

In the past we were encouraged to order more than 3 cds to pass it on, but now maximum 3 cds is allowed. For different quantities, it can be made through special request, especially for teacher or for event organizer who giving CDs to its students or conference participants. High volume orders was also causing many problems in the past that people who ordered the CDs was charged more than 100.000 IDR by Post Office for the import taxes.

For you guys nearby Nusa Dua area who are willing to copy the CD, feel free to contact me. And I have one Ubuntu CD left to pass on, so just contact me if you want it.

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May 23, 2007