http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?u=233530 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 12:29:21 GMT vBulletin 60 http://e1h7.simplecdn.net/lqcdn/images/questions/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?u=233530 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=2229 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:50:28 GMT Converted Slack64 to multilib today, following the procedure in the article by Eric (Alien Bob), which is excellent - clear and informative as usual.... Converted Slack64 to multilib today, following the procedure in the article by Eric (Alien Bob), which is excellent - clear and informative as usual. As far as I can tell, everything went OK. I could do with finding some means of testing it, but my knowledge of programming is limited to cut & paste, or just copying programs, to compile. I have edited "Hello World" programs in several languages to read "Hello, Brian! How are you today? You're looking GOOD!!", but that's the limit of my experience. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=2229 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=2211 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:34:59 GMT Today is Boomtime, the 18th day of Bureaucracy in the YOLD 3175.
There's great expectations, nervous tension, and a large dose of silliness in the Slackware forum. All caused by the imminent arrival of Slackware 13.0.
I've been messing around with the two versions of current: 32 & 64 bit, trying to decide what to run when 13 materialises. Think I'm pretty sure now. I shall have 12.2 on my laptop (sharing the HDD with XP Pro), and 12.2 and the 64 bit 13 on my desktop. I'm keeping 12.2 partly because I still prefer KDE3 to KDE4. When I first saw KDE4 I dismissed it as a triumph of eye-candy over functionality. It just didn't seem to belong to Slackware, didn't fit, wasn't right. My opinion has mellowed a bit, and I've got used to it. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=2211 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=2070 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:38:17 GMT Another of my occasional bouts of insomnia, so what better way to waste some time than a rambling blog entry. I know I said in a post in the forums... Another of my occasional bouts of insomnia, so what better way to waste some time than a rambling blog entry.
I know I said in a post in the forums that nothing from Microsoft was going to pollute my relatively new desktop. Well, I've gone back on that. I installed XP Pro in VirtualBox, just as an experiment, out of curiosity, not any need. I'd forgotten how tedious the Windows installation is. Anyway, while it was slowly progressing, I was watching Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band at Glastonbury on BBC2. Great stuff!
I'm using different virtualisation software on my two setups: VirtualBox on Slamd64, and kvm on Slackware 12.2. This is the first time I've used VirtualBox, and I haven't got round to trying kvm, which installs a modified qemu. I've used qemu + kqemu before, but kvm is said to be faster.
I've got "Thunder Road" running through my head, one of my favourite Springsteen tracks. That and "Promised Land", both of which they performed tonight (last night). I did say this would be rambling.
Oh, and after the tedious installation came the even more so updates: 37 of them, including IE8, which won't be used much.
Mmm, that will do for now... ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=2070 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1965 Mon, 18 May 2009 08:56:30 GMT I've just booted into XP Pro on my laptop for the first time in I don't know how long. Weeks? Maybe months? And it feels strange. A bit like a long-term Windows user must feel on first using GNU/Linux. At least I have Cygwin to give some sense of familiarity. There's no doubt that I feel more at home on Linux, in particular Slackware, than I do on Windows. But, having said that, I still intend to keep XP, for the sake of variety. But again, if it wasn't already on, and I had the choice to install it - I wouldn't. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1965 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1920 Sun, 03 May 2009 09:06:30 GMT So, according to Microsoft, Windows 7 will require 15 GB disk space. I thought it was going to be slimmed down compared to Vista? Looks like the diet... So, according to Microsoft, Windows 7 will require 15 GB disk space. I thought it was going to be slimmed down compared to Vista? Looks like the diet pills aren't working. When you consider that a full install of Slackware 12.2 takes around 4.8 GB, and has loads of varied software included, it makes you think, huh? I mean, Notepad and the few other odd'n'sods of basic software you get with a default Windows install can't take up a lot of space. I had no interest in using Vista, and the same applies to 7. I'll hang on to XP Pro, as a reminder that MS could get things half way right on occasion. And, a laptop with XP Pro may be in demand in the future. Worth its weight in gold? ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1920 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1887 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:47:50 GMT I know I said I didn't want the 64 bit versions of the distros I've got on my laptop on my new desktop, but I've changed my mind. Getting indecisive with the advancing years.
Something strange happened dual-booting Slamd64 and Ubuntu 8.04. If I'd been on Ubuntu then booted into Slamd64, the clock was set back an hour. And my timezone changed to Europe/Guernsey from Europe/London. But that wasn't why I got rid of it. I prefer Debian, that's all. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1887 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1880 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:12:07 GMT Got Slamd64 up and running. Same installation procedure as Slackware, except for all the package names of course. To compare it with 32 bit I'd have to reinstall Slackware 12.2, but like I said before I really don't want to duplicate what I've got on my laptop. I can't compare any laptop v desktop benchmarks because of processor and RAM differences.
LFS uses how long it takes to compile binutils as a unit of time. So I thought I might try that: get the source, and just run ./configure and make on both machines. It'll be interesting even if the results are not a valid comparison. And useful for when I'm ready to tackle LFS. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1880 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1879 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:41:47 GMT As the title implies, I started trying 64 bit distros with possibly the easiest install as far as hardware recognition goes: Ubuntu 8.04, amd64... As the title implies, I started trying 64 bit distros with possibly the easiest install as far as hardware recognition goes: Ubuntu 8.04, amd64 version. No problems whatsoever. Ubuntu even managed to install a NVidia driver that doesn't ****-up everything. Yes, I'm quite pleased with the result. I could have tried 8.10, but from what I've read, the LTS versions are a safer bet - less flaky. The next candidate for installation will be slamd64. I'll keep Ubuntu, because sometimes I'm in a pointy-clicky mood and I might even develop a taste for eye-candy: twirly-whirly 3D desktops and all that. Who knows? ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1879 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1878 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:13:34 GMT I was thinking (I do that now and then, even though it makes my brain hurt :) ). Why don't I install a couple of x86_64 distros on my new desktop? It's got a processor and enough RAM to take any advantage that 64 bit offers (if there is any?). And I've got a few CDs/DVDs, either given away with magazines or burnt by me: slamd64, Debian 5, Ubuntus 8.04 & 8.10, and Fedora 10. So why have I merely duplicated what I've got on my laptop? That, then, is my project for this weekend: to boldly go where I have not gone before. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1878 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1846 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:57:41 GMT Just got Slackware 12.2 up and running on the new computer mentioned in previous entry. Everything went OK. Too busy playing with it to write any... Just got Slackware 12.2 up and running on the new computer mentioned in previous entry. Everything went OK. Too busy playing with it to write any more now, and I need feeding. Tear myself away from my new toy and get some food. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1846 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1837 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:27:46 GMT Well, I finally got round to getting (ordering, anyway) my new computer today. Getting it from the same local shop/firm where I got my present... Well, I finally got round to getting (ordering, anyway) my new computer today. Getting it from the same local shop/firm where I got my present desktop and laptop. I haven't really studied the hardware side much, but it sounds pretty good to me. Here are some details:

* AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200+ DualCore Processor (3 years manufacturers warranty), can be up-graded, see below.
* System is built around the quality ASRock N61P-S motherboard (2 years manufacturers warranty).
* Colors-It 2003 ATX midi-tower case with 450watt PSU, this case can be upgraded, see below.
* 1GB of 240pin DDR II 240pin branded memory, can be up-graded upto 8Gb, see below.
* 160GB Maxtor SATA II hard drive (3 years manufacturers warranty), can be upgraded upto 500gb, see below.
* 20X Dual Layer DVD +/-ReWriter Drive. It will also play and record CD/CD-RW, all in the same drive.
* 10/100 LAN network connection and USB II connections (2 USB front and 4 back).
* This comes with integrated nVidia 6100 graphics with upto 256mb of shared memory.
* PCi-Express slot for future graphic upgrades, see below.
* Realtek 6.1 surround sound output (ALC888 Audio Codec).
* Windows Vista ready with Direct X 9.
* Bare Bones Machine "no operating system". VISTA or XP operating systems available if required see below.

I'm having it with no OS installed, RAM upgraded to 4 GB, and a floppy drive fitted (never know when them critters might come in handy). I should get it in two or three days. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1837 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1828 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:50:14 GMT Yes, Debian's back on my laptop. But "lenny" this time. I've decided to have two contrasting stable distros: Slack 12.2 and "lenny", and I've got room for two more, which will be more cutting-edge, unstable, "Oh ****, what's happened now!?", types. I was thinking of, maybe, Arch and Fedora? Not sure yet. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1828 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1771 Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:12:59 GMT I've suddenly lost interest in Debian. I'm not saying it's bad, far from it. Just got bored with it, that's all. It doesn't seem to give me the same incentive to learn and experiment that Slackware does. Learning how to write SlackBuild scripts and how to use src2pkg will give me a lot more satisfaction and sense of achievement than simply browsing and clicking through Synaptic, which is what I'd fallen into the habit of doing on Debian. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1771 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1732 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:47:55 GMT I've decided to keep XP Pro on my laptop. After all, it's never given me any trouble, it might come in useful, and I've loaded it up with Cygwin and other non-M$ stuff. I have no objections to the OS, only to the gang who make it.
I've gone back to using Slackware 12.2 after my little experiment with Slackware current. Chickened out, don't think I know enough yet to handle it. ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1732 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1726 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:54:05 GMT Ever since I got this laptop (about 6 months ago), I've been dithering about what to do with the XP Pro that came pre-installed. Keep it, just for the sake of variety? Get rid of it, because I hardly spend any time on it? When I deleted XP Pro from my desktop I never missed it - not for even a nanosecond. That space it's taking up, 30 GB on a 160 GB HDD, should be put to better use. Something else I can't make up my mind about: whether to just scrub XP by installing another distro in that partition, or to wipe off everything and start afresh. Ah, decisions...decisions...decisions... ]]> brianL http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog.php?b=1726