I was wondering if I could ask you some advice about Linux automatic updates--I've heard you can receive from Ksplice/Oracle. That is one question.
(My husband would know these answers, but is always too busy with his own work to answer!)

I have some questions about getting updates for Linux. Here is my situation (with very limited resources until I get a job!)

I have a 2 year old Lenovo netbook, that came with Microsoft XP, did not perform well, so my husband a year ago dual booted it with Ubuntu Linux. That Linux works fine for small projects, but the package manager is not great, and when I've tried to find software packages to do a larger build, it
could never find the correct version, and I believe that Linux may be out of date. The reason my husband loaded Ubuntu there, is because it was a cheap netbook, and Ubuntu's was the only one that would work with it--not sure why.

My husband also gave me his approximately 4-5 year old IBM ThinkPad, that also has Microsoft XP on it, and performs much better than the netbook, on the Microsoft side, perhaps because the micrprocessor and memory resources are better, even though it is an older model of computer. I would like to dual boot this too with Linux, but my husband no longer has time to lend to help with this, and it would be my job to figure it out, and I'm afraid I will do something I might regret without first getting some expert advice beforehand. It would be great to also have Linux on this machine, with the larger screen, and better performance. However, just as with the
netbook, I would want to receive auto-matic updates, so that the package manager can always find what ever software package you need to do something, in what ever version you need!

I saw my husband's version of Suse Linux on a very powerful desk top machine he built do just this--his package manager finds every software packagehe needs in a split second.

Also, he is they type person that updates his own Linux kernel, and can get it to re-build with the updates etc, and I've never done these things, which is why when I saw on a website, that you can receive auto-matic Linux updates from Ksplice/Oracle, that I thought perhaps that might be helpful to me, but I've never heard of it.

I sent it to my husband to get advice--but as usual--he is way to busy to respond.

When I've been employed (up until 2 years ago), my employer always had systems managers who maintained all these things for me, and my job was only ever to work on C/C++/embedded software development or testing, and never had to maintain OS versions. Most of my former employers used some Microsfot desk tops, and connected to some form of Linux or UNIX to do the software bit, but connected to it via Hummingbird Exceed or in some cases,
used Cygwin to implement the UNIX commands on top of Microsoft. I've never maintained any of the UNIX or Linux OS's! So that is why the auto-matic updates caught my eye.

My husband once said (in tired frustration) to just wipe out the Microsoft XP on the notebook, and put Linux on there, but that won't work either. My 6 and 8 year old kids (Kindergarten and 3rd grade) rely on the Microsoft side to do any homework, play any math games from the school, and I tried
those on Linux, and they do not work there. Also, I know OpenOffice.org works with most documentation, but I've seen it mess up some of my documents that I once hired people to make for me (lots of money too!), and when it re-saved them, and I printed them, they were a bit messed up, so that is another
reason not to completely wipe-out the Microsoft side! The kids are not famililar with Linux either, and their elementary schools actually use Mac Book Pros, but we currently have nothing in the house from Apple other than ipods, so they use the Microsoft side to do their work or play their games that only work there.
My budget is extremely low right now too, until I am employed again!

So I was wondering what advice you could offer here! I know my busy husband has these answers, but has no time to share them! ;-)

Thanks,
Karen West

Hey there Karen,

Do I read this correctly? You've got two laptops, there. A Thinkpad and a Lenovo.

Okay, let's see. Use one for the kids. Use one for you. Let's make things easy for you.
My PC is a thad older than what you've got there, so, as far as hardware goes, you're set. Now, on to the software side of the matter. Linux. So many flavors to choose from...let's do a small and non-extensive line-up:

- Xubuntu : light, easy on a laptop, quick, up to date
- MacPup or Puppy : verrrrry light on the machine, both detect (almost) everything right "out of the box", if it did'nt find it, it's probably "made on Mars"
- Slax : a (self proclaimed) pocket-size distro
- CrunchBang : light and sleek, thoug might be somewhat of a "rough edged" thing...

What I suggest is this: download any of these, burn a CD-rom and give them a go. If I'm not mistaken, they have a "live" mode...that way, there's no access to the harddrive.

Installation could'nt be easier, just follow the instructions the installer offers. And, hey, you found the way to this forum, we can help...dont worry...

Once installed, the updater (especially Xubuntu) will let you know when there's new stuff. All that you have to do is allow the update to happen (supplying the Root password, of course)

And, maybe (forgive me if I overstep some boundries) but:

...what? It's november 11th here, in belgium, that's national Women's day.

Welcome to the forum!

Thor

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks Thor! I will look into your advice. However, I still have one question that needs answering.
The Lenovo is not a notebook--it is a netbook--and it does work for non-compute-intensive programs, on the Ubuntu
Linux side, and after I update that, should have an up-to-date distribution along with a package manager that works well.
It is true that I can use that netbook and let the kids use the notebook when they need it, since they need the Microsoft XP
side, and can do their work there. However, my husband did tell me that the notebook (which has only Microsoft XP) has the
performance necessary to do compute-intensive programming on it. However, most of the tools and background I've had thus far,
has used the GNU tools and UNIX or Linux, and I'm not familiar with MSWindows programming as well as I am with Linux and UNIX
(so far anyway). My husband told me that the reason the dual-boot netbook does not perform well on the Microsoft XP side,
is because the microprocessor and memory in that is not designed for compute-intensive programs. So although I may successfully
update Linux on that netbook, it still may not work for everything. That is why I was considering dual booting the notebook computer,
because even though it's microprocessor and memory are older than the netbook, they were designed for more compute intensive
programs, which is why MSXP works fine on that older notebook. However, if I want to use Linux for a compute-intensive program,
I would need the notebook to do it! So that is why I wanted to dual boot it, so that I could use that for any compute-intensive
programs, and the kids can have it (and Mom will take the netbook) when they want to use the notebook on the MSXP side of life.
So I was wondering if you or anyone else had any additional advice about this! Thank you very much for your quick response!
This is a great website resource for Linux questions. --Karen West

If you're username is you're email that is not wise to do you may get a lot of spam .
Second what do you mean by compute-intensive programs ?
So gives us some examples

Hi Karen,

Dual booting has been a challenge ever since...but, with a bit of documentation, it can be done. If you have the xp dvd and an Ubuntu/Xubuntu DVD, you're set, follow these instructions and you should be okay!

I'll follow this thread closely to see where the eagle splats down

Thor

I will change my username. Today was the first time I ever posted a question here, so I did not know!
As for compute-intensive programs, that was my husband's comment to me, on why my netbook was not performing well on
the MSXP side, when he loaded a free version of Ubuntu on my netbook last year, and dual booted it. He said many MS apps
on the netbook, such as Word or Excel or PowerPoint (office stuff) use a lot memory, and there is less memory on my netbook
than the old notebook than the netbook. Also, on the Linux side, he said even if I upgraded to get a package manager that works
correctly, and found me the correct version of a software package I was trying to build, if for example, I ever wanted to incorporate
graphics into the program--the microprocessor on the netbook could not handle it as well as the notebook could (even though as of
yet, I have never done that!) So I think that is what he meant.

Thank you once again Thor for your dual boot instructions for XP and Ubuntu Linux. I have yet one more question, if anyone knows
the answer here. While awaiting your replies here, I printed some instructions for doing a dual boot of either XP with Suse Linux,
or XP with Ubuntu Linux (and Ubuntu is what my husband put on the netbook, since he said the netbook has no DVD/CD drive in it,
and Ubuntu was the only version he could boot from a memory USB stick!) However, on his desk top downstairs, I noticed while waiting
for your reply, that I would not have to go through the trouble of burning a Ubuntu DVD, since he already has a DVD sitting on his desk
for Suse Linux Version 11.4--however, if you recommend that it would be better to stick with putting Ubuntu on the notebook to for dual
booting the notebook--I will have to make a DVD of the Ubuntu Linux first. This is the recommendation I need at this time! I was just about to attempt this procedure when I received your reply to first burn a DVD of the Ubuntu version of Linux that is on my netbook--I thought I would take a short cut and use the already burned DVD of Suse Linux 11.4. Please let me know!

Thank you very much for your help (and humor! ;-))
Karen

No sweat ronlau9 was somewhat worried that your mailbox would get flooded...ask jeremy (the main mod) to change it...

Ehrm...I hate to correct him, but there are quite a few USB-bootalbles out there. Just pick your pick even Xubuntu (less of a system gobbler) can be put on a stick...

go grab the thing

Well, I'd say "welcome to Linux" - where the choice is ... yours. Ever seen Suse in action? Would you like it? If so, it's yours! Ubuntu, Suse, Arch you name it. But, Ubuntu is an easy one to get into it, and you'll be part of a big (very big) community, aint that cool?

Clever thinking. Suse is a great distro, and with your husband into it as well, you should have a help line nearby I'd say: go for it!

No problem, I'm just having fun helping out!

Thor

I think what I will do then, unless there might be future compatibility issues I am unaware of, is for today, just put
Suse Linux (since that DVD is sitting right next to me, ready to go) on the notebook, and for the netbook, get one of the
Ubuntu updated distributions that you mentioned will fit on the USB stick, since the netbook has no DVD drive. Would there
ever be any incompatibility, if my kids took over my notebook to use the Microsoft side of it for themselves, and I was doing
something on the Suse Linux side, that I had to quickly transfer to the netbook Ubuntu Linux? I am guessing no, but thought
I would ask first! Also, I will ask Jeremy to change my username from my email name. Last quick question: Someone recently
mentioned a company called Ksplice, bought by Oracle, that provides auto-matic Linux updates--didn't you say this would be
an automatic thing, once you upgrade your Linux, that there is an already installed program that will do this, as long as you
know the password? Thanks for your help! ;-) Karen

Okay,

For the transferring of data, that's easy, just use the "sneaker net" - it's a USB stick. Put everything on that stick and pop it into the other machine. Added bonus: backup on a stick. Neat, clean, safe.

Now, there's no such thing a company A providing updates for just any Linux.
Let's assume you go with Suse. Okay, so, your Suse will get its updates from within the Suse circus

I use Arch Linux, and I can only update from the Arch Linux repositories. Every distro has what is known as repositories. An installation is set up in such a way that it will only look into these repo's (as they're often called), so as a Suse user, you'll not get anything from, say, Ubuntu. Your choice of distro depends on the repo and the contents thereof. Though, believe me, there are quite a bit goodies-n-yummies to choose from in any repo.

So, yeah. A system for the kids and you, when you need the punch, and your netbook if punch is not there because the kids need the punch.

But...you'll be surprised to see how much linux can crank you of a PC/notebook/netbook...

and, good luck getting a job, quickly!!

Thor

Back again! I just tried to boot the Suse Linux 11.4 DVD that was on my husband's desk downstairs, and it said that
my notebook is only a 32 bit computer, not a 64 bit computer, and then froze. So I am about to download the Ubuntu version
you gave me a link to earlier, and if that works with 32 bit computers, perhaps that will work better with this old computer!
I also hope to get it onto a USB stick, but it is an old USB stick, that is only 1 or 2 GB, so that may not work! So I might
have to burn a DVD for the notebook, and get a bigger USB stick for the netbook.

Right now, because I am low on disk space on the notebook, I have an external disk connected to the USB port. Can I use
that as part of my disk space for loading Linux, or does it all have to be on the C partitioned disk? In the meantime, I'm
going to download the Ubuntu version you provided a link for earlier, since this Suse version I have here is 64 bit--my husband's
desk top downstairs is much newer than this notebook! Thanks, Karen

Hmm, it ought to do...dont worry

Eek - sorry, did'nt think of that!

Okay, well, Ubuntu is the better choice anyway. Be aware that 64 bit is around, steer clear from that.

Yes you can, however, your Linux (the OS that is) MUST be on the internal disk. You could do with less than 20Gb, for OS and user data. Anything else (MP3's, resumés, texts, PDF's) could happily be parked on the external drive.

once you upgrade your Linux, that there is an already installed program that will do this, as long as you
know the password?

Yes, you will in fact need two passwords, one for everyday use (non-priviledged user) and one to tinker on the system (the Root)
Installs and updates...that's Root-work, you'll need the root password. During install, you set that password.

Thor
PS - it's 23:05 here, I need to get my winks - see ya next time round