http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?u=10773 LinuxQuestions.org offers a free Linux forum where Linux newbies can ask questions and Linux experts can offer advice. Topics include security, installation, networking and much more. en Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:41:32 GMT vBulletin 60 http://e1h7.simplecdn.net/lqcdn/images/questions/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?u=10773 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1995 Sat, 30 May 2009 05:52:36 GMT Here with antiX M8.2 Test 1, running live. Let me tell you why I like antiX so much as a Live CD. 1. Loads, even to RAM, in under two minutes,... Here with antiX M8.2 Test 1, running live. Let me tell you why I like antiX so much as a Live CD.

1. Loads, even to RAM, in under two minutes, faster than that to run straight from CD.

2. Recognizes, even on CD, just about any wireless network card you can throw at it.

3. Has a good selection of software, and given that you can run it live, from USB, or install it to disk from the CD, it is easy to install or just use as is (as I am doing right now.

4. It's fast, and I think it is a blend of being easy enough, yet fast enough. You can get smaller Live CDs, but they take more tinkering and they don't have as many good apps. You can get larger live CDs, but they don't boot or run as fast as antiX.

I consider this the #1 top Live CD overall and one of the best systems around. You can run it either as a stable system or you can also customize and build your own system from it. What other system can do all of these things well? Some can do certain tasks better, perhaps, but on the balance this is the best live CD you can get!

The appearance of this version is better than ever - the nicest boot splash screen I've seen yet, thanks to the great artists in the antiX community! ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1995 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1630 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:55:36 GMT I am a Debian software fan, no doubt about it. 1995 was the first year that I used GNU/Linux software, (1982 was my UNIX software debut), so when I... I am a Debian software fan, no doubt about it. 1995 was the first year that I used GNU/Linux software, (1982 was my UNIX software debut), so when I wanted to spread out, Debian was one of the first areas I read about that would probably satisfy my software itch, and indeed it did.

In 2001, I had a broadband network, but I was not yet burning my own CDs. In fact, I took a few years before I got to that point. My first Linux systems were ones that I bought, either in books or in shrink wrapped distribution releases. It was not until sometime between 2002 and 2003 that I really started downloading, burning, and testing my own ISO images. Turns out that I had the hardware all along, just did not think about it much.

So it was with my advances in testing various OS. I started with Slackware in 1995, had Corel, Caldera, Red Hat, and Mandrake before the turn of the decade, but it was really not until 2001, when I bought a desktop system with two disks, that I really started testing in earnest. Originally I had planned to test Windows 2000, Windows ME, FreeBSD, Sun Solaris, and a couple of Linux distros, but by the time I actually got into it, Linux distros dominated my interests. I tested Slackware, Red Hat, Mandrake, SUSE, and I did have a Windows ME instance, later Windows XP. I also tested out QNX.

It was Debian, out of all of the systems that I tested, which proved most interesting to me, but since I was getting distros out of books, the Debian version I tried initially was really old. It handled my network, but I had a lousy X display, if I got it working at all.

I discussed this with a late friend of mine, Ralph Glanz, who suggested that I try out Libranet, and he sent a copy to me, then he contacted Jon Danzig, told Jon that I would be writing a review of Libranet for Ziff Davis Media Extreme Tech, then I got the latest test version.

It was everything that Ralph had said; the most interesting distro of the time, and better yet, it indoctrinated me into the ways of Debian. I mainly did Debian stuff "the Debian way" with Libranet so I'd learn it right, and that proved helpful.

Jon became a friend, and I'd review his software, and purchase a copy when I could. Unfortunately Jon became ill and passed away even before my friend Ralph.

I was looking for a distro. SimplyMEPIS was out and I liked it, so it became my every day desktop system. As my hardware grew older, I was looking for something lighter. Thankfully, another MEPIS project started, antiX, replacing KDE with Fluxbox and replacing a number of apps with faster equivalents. antiX has matured, and is now at Version M8.0.

Another project was just starting about the time that Jon Danzig became ill. It was the Kanotix project. and it was a good one. It looked to me like KNOPPPIX done right for the desktop. It had a cleaner installer, cutting edge tools and surprisingly, a Debian Sid implementation that worked. Was doing great in 2005, but started to fade in 2006. Finally, I found out why. Kano, the founder of Kanotix, wanted to move toward a less volatile model, moving from Sid to Testing. Most of the team did not - and they moved on, forming sidux. I believe that sixteen of the previous Kanotix development team moved to sidux. Whatever the number was, the people that moved really know their stuff. They write great documentation and slh, the kernel maintainer, is one of the best. Their script expert, h2, writes some of the finest bash scripts in the industry, many of which are used for sidux system management; one of them, smxi, does an outstanding job of taming Debian Sid - it is like putting Sid on a blend of Mood Stabilizers and Steroids - most effective, even if volatile!

Some great history and some terrific distributions! ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1630 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1478 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:53:29 GMT A fast, easy to use, surprisingly solid test system called AntiX has been released for public testing. AntiX is my favorite small, fast system. I... A fast, easy to use, surprisingly solid test system called AntiX has been released for public testing.

AntiX is my favorite small, fast system. I use it when I am going to be doing primarily Web browsing because it boots so fast, I can start it up, call up my Web browser, check for Spam messages in my Email, clean out the unwanted messages, then scan my Inbox and do the same, retaining the messages I want, to be later stored in a POP3 Email client. I can do all of that and get off the system in 5-10 minutes, which makes AntiX really handy when I am in a big hurry.

I also use AntiX as a rescue CD when I want to change my GRUB boot loader, modify my /etc/fstab, or perform similar system maintenance.

Finally, I use AntiX live, loading it into memory from CD or USB when I want really fast access. This takes 3-4 minutes to set up, then runs extremely rapidly after that.

Highly recommended, flexible software. This test release works fine, I love it. ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1478 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1477 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:48:06 GMT SimplyMEPIS 8.0 Release Candidate 1 was quietly made available a few days before Christmas, then publicized a few days later. This software is based... SimplyMEPIS 8.0 Release Candidate 1 was quietly made available a few days before Christmas, then publicized a few days later. This software is based on Debian Lenny software, which is also in Release Candidate status. Both Debian and MEPIS represent some of the most solid, stable software that you can get on any system at any price.

I recommend this software, released or not, for anyone who wants a solid, pleasant, efficient, usable desktop system. ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1477 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1476 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:45:40 GMT Just before Christmas the sidux 2008-04 collection of CDs and DVDs was released; the Preview 1 test had been released just about a week beforehand. ... Just before Christmas the sidux 2008-04 collection of CDs and DVDs was released; the Preview 1 test had been released just about a week beforehand.

sidux is a cutting edge desktop oriented system that features the Debian Sid software, containing only DFSG (Debian Free Software Guidelines) approved software on the official media, but firmware and other non-free software is well explained in their documentation, and optional tools are made readily available for those who choose to extend sidux to meet their needs.

sidux is fast, it is really current, and it is an outstanding example of what free software can do for you!

Note that sidux contains rolling upgrade software, so if you have installed sidux in the past, it is not necessary to reinstall it unless you want an easy way to get the latest wallpaper and appearance items (these can also be downloaded and updated using sidux tools).

Highly recommended, my cutting edge favorite. ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1476 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1304 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:17:22 GMT I have already written about my other two favorites, antiX (fast) and SimplyMEPIS (stable). Now let me tell you about sidux. It is also a fast... I have already written about my other two favorites, antiX (fast) and SimplyMEPIS (stable). Now let me tell you about sidux. It is also a fast system, but it is the cutting edge packages from the Debian Sid repositories that typify and characterize this system.

What sets sidux apart from Debian Sid, though, and from any other system that I know is the manner in which sidux uses technology to manage the instabilities found in the Sid packaging repositories. There is a task bar tool called hermes, which allows you to visually identify whether there are any current packages with identification mismatches or other issues. sidux also has a sidux control center called siduxcc, which provides easy access to a variety of system management tools.

For me, the best tool of all is, ironically enough, not included during installation, but widely mentioned in the documentation and easily accessed. It is called smxi and it is the system management console application that tames those package repositories and provides an easy, reliable way to keep your sidux system up to date, cutting edge, and working.

Though smxi cannot be viewed as a newbie tool because it runs from the system console, it is, despite this, a straightforward tool to use.

Perhaps the first time user would be better off using one of my other recommendations, probably SimplyMEPIS. But the third time user might want to learn something. For them, sidux would be a nice learning tool. For the veteran who wants the latest cutting edge software, sidux is the easiest system I know of that provides cutting edge software that can be effortlessly installed and used. ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1304 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1303 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:05:49 GMT I use a couple of different distributions for various reasons, and I test out a lot of others as time permits. Three of the distributions stay on my... I use a couple of different distributions for various reasons, and I test out a lot of others as time permits. Three of the distributions stay on my systems all the time.

The one that I keep on my systems as a stable desktop system is SimplyMEPIS. Whether it is an old release, the current release, or the latest Beta test version, implementations of SimplyMEPIS just work. I like it so much that I buy something from the MEPIS store at least once a year, more often if I can, just to do my part to continue to support it, and I write about it and promote it all of the time.

Check out SimplyMEPIS at the Where to Download MEPIS site. ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1303 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1302 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:01:30 GMT If you want a system that can run either as a Live CD or installed to USB or hard drive, and you want it to be both fast and flexible, I cannot think... If you want a system that can run either as a Live CD or installed to USB or hard drive, and you want it to be both fast and flexible, I cannot think of a better system to use than antiX. I recommend it highly.

Read about it at MEPIS Lovers or at the antiX-forum. ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1302 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1301 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:55:38 GMT sidux 2008-03 has been an excellent release in the third quarter of this year. I wonder what Q4 will bring to sidux 2008-04? Last year, we got a... sidux 2008-03 has been an excellent release in the third quarter of this year. I wonder what Q4 will bring to sidux 2008-04? Last year, we got a 2007-04 and a 2007-04.5 Christmas Edition. Will we see that again? Great software, this is my daily default desktop system, cutting edge, fast, flexible, yet surprisingly solid.

Nevertheless, I have an extremely solid desktop system to back up sidux, the always stable (even in TEST form!) SimplyMEPIS. I have 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and now the 8.0 Beta 5 versions on my systems. I believe that 8.0 will be released before the end of the year. Even if it is not, it is solid enough to be used every day, even now. Get SimplyMEPIS for a great, stable desktop system.

If you want fast and flexible, another community MEPIS project is for you - the antiX project. M7.5 is the current release and the motto: "Lean and Mean" certainly applies. you have the choice of either Fluxbox or IceWM as a window manager to use with antiX. In the upcoming M8.0 release, the default window manager is changing from Fluxbox to IceWM to improve initial ease of use. Very early in the testing cycle, antiX M8.0 is, nevertheless, shaping up as a VERY GOOD release. ]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1301 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1163 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:40:00 GMT I have preferred Debian based distributions for several years now. During 2008, two of them have really stood out for me, not for newbie appeal, but... I have preferred Debian based distributions for several years now. During 2008, two of them have really stood out for me, not for newbie appeal, but for a combination of simplicity, speed, great administration tools, and configurability.

My favorites this year are sidux and antiX.

sidux is what I call Debian Sid on steroids and mood stabilizers. Sid always has some of the most current software available, but occasionally the package versions get out of sync or create package synchronization issues. sidux does a terrific job of dealing with these things. There is also an optional, but integral script called smxi, which is used to ease the decision making in holding and installing updates. It also utilizes package groups, where an entire category of applications can be updated, managed, and cleaned up as needed.

Recently antiX added the smxi script as an available option as well, and this, coupled with some excellent packaging work, art work, documentation, and customization, has turned antiX from a very good distribution into a great distribution. It is now as flexible as sidux, and in some ways, perhaps even exceeds the capabilities of sidux because it also is built to work on old hardware, plus it makes an excellent recovery CD.

Two great distros, my two favorites for 2008.
]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1163 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=932 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:03:07 GMT My original desktop system was the Dell Dimension 4100. I used it as both my main testing system and as my daily desktop system since 2001. Just... My original desktop system was the Dell Dimension 4100. I used it as both my main testing system and as my daily desktop system since 2001. Just this year, I retired it from every day desktop use and now use it as a desktop test machine, occasionally using it as my desktop. My main desktop is now another Dell system, a Latitude D600 laptop. My other desktop unit is a reconstructed Compaq/HP D530 desktop unit. I run it exclusively to test software. My newest system is a Lenovo 3000 Model Y410 laptop, which I use for testing and multimedia capabilities. It has a web camera, which is one reason I got it - the other reason is that I like IBM and Lenovo laptops - I have had a Thinkpad T42 in the past and loved it. Now I have an even newer model (though still a year old) a Thinkpad T60 - we are using T61 models for new purchases. Given the great Thinkpad experiences at work, I was thinking of a Thinkpad at home. I happened to spot a sale on Lenovo 3000 models. The advertisement claimed that the keyboards were similar to the famous Thinkpads, but this model also boasted a camera, so I went for it and have not been disappointed.

The Latitude D600 remains my every day laptop. The Lenovo is for messing around and I also use it when I want to check something quickly and log off.

Great collection of systems. I have a few real relics in the basement, but I have not used any of them recently.
]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=932 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=155 Sun, 29 Jan 2006 02:43:05 GMT I have a Western Digital 40 GB disk drive in my 5-6 year old Dell Dimension 4100 desktop system. It has given me very good service life, and it is... I have a Western Digital 40 GB disk drive in my 5-6 year old Dell Dimension 4100 desktop system. It has given me very good service life, and it is still functioning fine, but I figured while it is still working, it would be a good time to get another drive and install both drives on the system. I do not have a second IDE controller, and I did have a fairly full complement of devices: the 40 GB WD hard drive, a DVD/ROM, a CD/RW drive, a Zip Drive, and a floppy drive. IF I understand correctly, the floppy has its own controller, but the other devices use the IDE controller with Master/Slave, Primary/Secondary channels.

I removed the Zip drive and inserted a new 80 GB Western Digital drive, and I was hoping for that device to pick up the device name formerly used by the Zip drive. It did, but when I put the system back together, I discovered that the DVD/ROM, from which I install most software, was no longer functional.

I have the new disk drive set up using the "Cable Select" feature, and checking the Western Digital site, that seems to be the preferred setting. I am wondering, though, if I accidentally dislodged either power to the DVD/ROM, the IDE ribbon cable, or both.

Guess I will have to go back into the system and find out.

I'm pretty good when it comes to software, but even getting the case open is a challenge for me when it comes to hardware. Fortunately, there are not TOO MANY components to mess up, not too many choices, and fairly good documentation available.

I'm keeping my eyes out, though. While I am looking first for accidental wiring problems introduced when I last took the system apart, I have heard mixed stories about the success of using the "Cable Select" setting with IDE peripherals. Guess I will have to find out, now won't I?

Maybe some hardware geek will set me straight. I will check in the forums if I can't figure this out myself.
]]> masinick http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=155