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Contents: |
Answers to these questions should be sent directly to the e-mail address of the inquirer with or without a copy to gazette@ssc.com. Answers that are copied to LG will be printed in the next issue in the Tips column.
This section was edited by Michael Williams <iamalsogod@hotmail.com> aka. "Alex".
Before asking a question, please check the Linux Gazette FAQ to see if it has been answered there.
Wed, 31 May 2000
10:48:35 +0100
From: "Anne Parker" <alp30@admin.cam.ac.uk>
Subject: kppp playing up
I'm running RedHat 6.0, with KDE as my user desktop and fvwm as
my root
desktop.
I have set up ppp and can activate it successfully through the
Network
Configurator when logged in as root. When I go to my user
desktop, I can dial up my ISP (ClaraNET) and collect email, surf,
etc - providing I have already started the relevant apps. Once I
have logged on, I can't start new apps because kppp has (I think)
started playing with resolve.conf. If I go to a terminal and log
on as a different user, it says that my hostname is, e.g.
du-208.clara.co.uk, which is presumably my dynamic IP address. It
doesn't even reset it after I've logged off - I have to su root
and type
"hostname localhost"
before KDE will talk to me again. I'm know I've successfully set
up kppp in the past, but the various examples I've seen in books
tend to assume that your machine has its own name and IP address,
so I may have chosen some incorrect settings in kppp this time.
Can anyone help with the correct kppp settings for a plain
standalone box (localhost, 127.0.0.1) dialing on a regular phone
connection to an ISP that assigns a dynamic IP address?
Thanks
Anne
Thu, 1 Jun
2000 09:15:38 +0530
From: "karthik subramanian" <karthik_subramanian@grabmail.com>
Subject: HELP!!! Keyboard Problems
Hi,
i'm running Red Hat 6.2 on a Pentium-MMX(233MHz.). i get crazy
problems with my keyboard... after i work with my computer for
about 20 minutes or so, i start missing keystrokes and sometimes
keystrokes are duplicated. then Linux throws this error at me:
"Keyboard: too many NACKs -- noisy keyboard cable?"
if i'm running X (i use KDE), and i exit, i see this message too:
"QGDict: Look: Attempt to insert null item"
it's so bad that i can hardly get any work done on my PC...
the typematic rate setting option in BIOS is disabled - enabling
it and fiddling with the rates does not help either. i don't know
what's happening, could somebody please help!!!!
thanks,
karthik
Fri, 2 Jun
2000 10:01:38 +0530
From: "Karthik" <kartjeevs@yahoo.com>
Subject: Startx Blues
I am a LINUX newbie. I have installed it on a Pentium II 233 Mhz
machine.I have a S3 TrioV2 DX/GX video card and Samsung Samtron
4Bni (14") monitor. I can boot up an login into root but
when i issue the command the command startx to get into X, my
screen flashes and I get a blank screen. Can anyone please help
me with this problem.
Thanks.
[Have you tried running 'Xconfigurator' (remember, it's case sensative)? Did you set up your graphics card properly during setup? It sounds to me that you've made an error during the X setup section of your installation. -Alex]
Fri, 23 Jun
2000 06:25:22 GMT+08:00
From: "Michael Smith" <mwdsmith@singnet.com.sg>
Subject: RH Upgrade Problems
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am having a problem with my computer...
I did an upgrade installation of Redhat 6.2 on my machine; which
now,after booting and loading Linux, would reach the text login
prompt, then supposedly Linux would start X11, but X11 never
appears, my screen is blank with some fuzzy, jagged white lines
flashing across my screen every
few seconds. Ctrl+Alt+Backspace and Ctrl+Alt+F1-6 don't seem to
work as
they normally do. Before I upgraded, I was happily running
Mandrake 6.0 (which is a beefed
up version of RH as I understand) on my 166 Mhz, 64 MB Ram home
PC. If you know what the problem is and how to fix it, great, I
would like to hear from you! But even information on how to stop
X11 (if it is X11) from loading would be appreciated. Any other
ideas?
Thanks,
Michael Smith (mwdsmith@singnet.com.sg)
P.S. Pls keep in mind that I have only been using Linux for 3 or
so months so am not an expert at everything.
Fri, 23 Jun
2000 04:43:01 +0530
From: "Dipankar Mitra" <sunres@vsnl.com>
Subject: how to use wav file on diskless linux.
hello,
I want to put a diskless linux m/c & want to use wav file on
those diskless m/c
Can any one help me how to do that , giving me step by procedure
for
that.
Tue, 20 Jun
2000 14:24:48 +0100 (BST)
From: Paul Nettleship <paul_nettleship@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: The answers gut - File formats!!!
Hello,
I was just having a quick look through your magazine and the
'answers guy' sections really intrested me,
and prompted this question....
So, I've always wondered about file formats for exe and obj
files. I guess there is all sorts of
intresting data hiding away in there. Symbol tables, mark up info
and god knows what else.
Is there some standard for these! Or is it completely compiler
dependant?
Just out of interest, Paul.
[Well, it's not strictly a Linux question, but yes, there are [obviously] standards for all executable files and object files. The compiler couldn't just throw together a load of rubbish now could it? -Alex]
Mon, 19 Jun
2000 21:07:47 -0400
From: "Gary R. Cook" <grcook@erols.com>
Subject: Signaling application running in xterm window of mouse
click event
If I am running an application in an xterm window
(e.g., xterm -e myapp) and I click on that window, making it my
active window, how can I notify my application of that event?
Thanks!!
Mon, 19 Jun
2000 11:16:34 +0200
From: "Angus Walton (EEI)" <Angus.Walton@eei.ericsson.se>
Subject: Grep
Hi,
I'm quite new to Linux, but I want to learn as much as possible.
Here's my question (not really a problem, it would just be
interesting to find out how to do this):
Lets say I do a 'finger' and heaps of users are spewed up onto
the screen. I only want to see the users which are preceeded with
the text 'potatoe'. So, I do the command 'finger | grep
"potatoe" ' .But, some users, for example tomatoe_man,
are connected to the computer
'potatoe.shellaccount.mycomputer.com', which means that they come
up
aswell. Without making finger not display the 'Where' column, how
would I weed out these users?
Keep up the good work on the gazette.
Aengus Walton
Sat, 17 Jun
2000 22:10:27 -0500
From: Ivan Gauthier <igsys@telcel.net.ve>
Subject: linux crash
dear sir,
i would like to know if there is solution for the following
problem:
when Linux crash due for example to an electric blackout, on the
next boot it tries to repair the file system (in this case the
hard disk has 2 partitions, on the 1st. the complete operating
system is installed, including boot, home, root etc., the 2nd.
partition is used for user programs files and database data.
Linux is RedHat 6.0 and Mandrake 6.0 (nad 7.0) but most of the
time it cannot repair and give a message like:
** e2fsck cannot automatically repair file system. please do
e2fsck
manually without the -a or -p options. **
(type control-d to continue or type root passwd ..)
here my questions:
1- if one types control-d nothing happen (well linux tries to
repair but it finished as before..)
2.- when manually repairing the file system a LOT of files are
lost, including important ones like inetd.conf, and not only on
this partition but on the 2nd. one. is this normal? . and what
can be done..
this question is not really a problem but an option i would like
to have. do you know how to get the "hour clock" or
"glass clock" on KDE after doble clicking an icon on
the desktop. (like Corel Linux is doing with KDE )
many thanks
ivan gauthier
venezuela
Thu, 15 Jun
2000 16:25:23 +1000
From: "Nick Adams" <unitedusers@yahoo.com>
Subject: Port 80 Telnet
Hello,
Quick question.
I want to change my port to accept telnet connections to port 80.
This enables me to connect from behind my proxy at work. How do I
do this?
Thanks,
Nick Adams
Wed, 14 Jun
2000 17:05:20 +0100
From: David Whitmarsh <david@sparkle.local>
Subject: Second X server and Redhat 6.2/gdm
Following up on Bob Hepple's tip on running a second X server, I
tried to to the same on my Redhat 6.2 box. I found that I could
start a new X server on the command line, but it gave me only the
basic X-server screen (fine grey check with the X cursor), and no
login screen. Same problem with Xnest.
I could however run two X servers at once by placing a second
entry in the gdm.conf file and restarting gdm.
It would be nice to only have the overhead when I want the second
server though. Any thoughts on how to get the login screen?
Regards,
David Whitmarsh
Tue, 13 Jun
2000 11:03:17 +0800
From: "michaelkwan" <michaelkwan@mdr.com.hk>
Subject: Sendmail Question
Hi,
I have setup the RedHat6.1 with sendmail 8.9.3. All the clients
use IMAP4 to connect to the server using Outlook Express 4.
The problem I found is, there will be several processes for the
same user running the [imap]. As a result, the user cannot
receive or delete any mail in their mailbox. I have to 'kill' the
'extra' processes otherwise the mailbox will be read only. Is
there any thing I can do with this?
Thanks!
Michael Kwan
Mon, 12 Jun
2000 11:32:28 -0300
From: Eduardo Spremolla <lalo@terminus.dtdantel.com.uy>
Subject: Pentium III boot problem
I have here a Pentim III machine and when it boot ~= 4 out of 5
times it
locks with a mesage:
387 failed, traying to reset.
I comes from the bugs chequing module. Is there some issue with
PIII and the check? or did I got a faulty CPU ?
Thanks in advance.
Eduardo Spremolla
Montevideo,Uruguay
Sat, 10 Jun 2000 01:12:02 +0200
From: "almighty" <mightyfredy@wanadoo.fr>
Subject: Graphics card setup
hi i'am a new lunix user but i want to know how can i make lunix
set my graphic card:
(intel (r) 810 Chipset graphics driver pv1.1)
it's could be fun if you can send me a solution to enjoy linux
thanks a lot
P.S:sorry for my english because i'am french
Fri, 9 Jun 2000 10:20:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Timothy McPherson" <a9958@asl.bc.ca>
Subject: TERM Variable
Hi,
Hoping someone might have an solution for me. I have a Solaris
system
with a number of Wyse 60 terminals connected to it. I have a
Corel Linux PC on a LAN with the same Solaris box. I believe I
have compiled the terminfo wyse60 entry correctly on the Linux PC
(as it did NOT have one originally).
Basically I took the output from the command "infocmp
wy60" on the
Solaris box and used "tic" to recompile it on my Linux
PC. So far so good. The entry is now in /etc/terminfo/w/wy60 and
"infocmp wy60" is identical to the Solaris one. I set
my TERM variable to wy60 but it doesn't look to healthy either
through an xterm session, a console text login or a telnet on
either. Any ideas? Am I going about this the wrong way? Basically
if I can get this working properly I can scrap Windows in favour
of Linux on all PCs on the LAN:) Thank you for any help you can
offer.
-Timothy
Wed, 07 Jun 2000 12:11:48 -0500
From: Brian Finn <nacmsw@airmail.net>
Subject: Linux Webserver and AS/400 Database?
Hi,
I was just curious if any good readers have any success stories
about using a Linux server running the Apache web server as a
front end for a DB2 database on an IBM AS/400? I'd like to know
what solutions there are (or should be) for accessing DB2 data
from a Linux box.
Thanks!
Tue, 6 Jun 2000 10:46:13 -0700
From: "Christine Rancapero" <crancapero@nationalsecurities.com>
Subject: hi
Do you have an issue regarding the advantages and disadvantages
of migrating linux mail server to an MS exchange? Your help is
gratefully appreciated....thank you very much =)
Mon, 05 Jun 2000 14:34:43 -0500
From: Noah Poellnitzh <noah.poellnitz@ssa.crane.navy.mil>
Subject: linux booting
I was wondering if you have ever heard of anyone booting up a
system with a linux boot floppy. The system previously lacks the
ability to boot from a CD , but after installing linux, uses the
CD drive to install another operating sytem which at teh same
time will write over the Linux system.
Sun, 4 Jun 2000 09:09:23 +0100
From: "Graham" <smiffy10@email.com>
Subject: mother board help desperately needed
Hello there,
I have added a video card and sound card to a GMB-P56SPC mother
board (ESS I think) I have managed to disable the sound chip (
both sound and video were both onboard with SIS 5596 video and
SiS 1868 sound chips) with jumper JP13 unfortunately I cannot
find a video jumper.
Please help how do I disable the onboard video?
Many thanks in advance
Sat, 03 Jun 2000 12:04:54 -0400
From: James Dahlgren <jdahlgren@netreach.net>
Subject: modprobe: can't locate module ppp-compress-21
First I want to thank you and all the people at Linux Gazette for
all
the fine work you are doing. Many of the services running on my
Linux box wouldn't be running without the help I've gotten from
your fine site.
I'm assuming this is trivial, but it still bothers me. I've
usedSlackware, RedHat, and Mandrake distributions of the 2.2.x
kernel. I'm not sure which pppd version the Slackware and
Mandrake had but the RedHat has pppd 2.3.7. Iv'e use the
2.2.5,10,13,14,15 kernel revisions. With all of them I get error
messages when pppd starts:
Jan 15 17:54:40 paxman modprobe: can't locate module ppp-compress-21 Jan 15 17:54:41 paxman modprobe: can't locate module ppp-compress-26 Jan 15 17:54:41 paxman modprobe: can't locate module ppp-compress-24It doesn't matter if I'm calling my ISP or a friends Linux box so I'm pretty
Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:48:21 -0600
From: "Doug" <doug@springer.net>
Subject: IPX, RH 6.2, socket: Invalid argument
I am a sorta newbie on Linux. I have Red Hat 6.2, am running
Samba and DHCP and ftp server on a peer-to-peer Windoze network
with ethernet. All of the above works fine. I am trying to get
netbios working over ipx for a port I am doing from DOS. My
initial install was RH 5.2, then I upgraded to 6.2. My linuxconf
does give me a Segmentation fault (core dumped) message when I
try to run it, which it didn't do before I upgraded to 6.2. My
main problem is this:
When I try to run 'ipx_interface add eth0 802.3', I get the
following:
'ipx_interface: socket: Invalid argument'
Any clues as to what is going on? How to fix it? Places to go for
more
info
on netbios over ipx?
Thanks,
Doug
Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:48:21 -0600
From: "Allen Tate" <allendtate@yahoo.com>
Subject: Getting Linux to see my network card during bootup
I have recently installed Phat Linux (which by the way is an excellent
Linux distribution for beginners) and for the life of me, I can't find
which boot script I need to edit to get the system to see my network
card during bootup. Can someone point me to the correct boot script or
the correct HOWTO file? The strange thing is that the KDE System tool
can see the Ethernet card and tells what the IRQ and I/O are. Please
email me privately at
allendtate@yahoo.com and I'll explain
in better detail about what I'm talking about.
Never mind, I figured it out. I transposed 3c509 for 3c905. That didn't work so I used the 3c59x driver and it came right up. I love it when I figure it out on my own.
Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:48:21 -0600
From: Tom Russell
Subject: How to run Windows programs on Linux
Whether or not Microsoft is successful in their appeal to the US High Courts on technical grounds, the facts remain that after a lengthy and involved legal process, they were found guilty of breaking the laws of their country, and secondly of using their monopoly powers to hold up innovation in what is still a developing industry.
As a believer in religious principles, and the laws and morals of my country, I find it unethical and personally abhorrent to continue to use or recommend products and services produced by Microsoft.
I recently read that Corel are using a Linux Windows emulator to enable their Windows office suite to operate successfully in the Linux environment without the need for any Microsoft products or services.
Could you please let me and other concerned readers know how to do this for other non Microsoft products, so we are no longer forced to be immoral and unethical by association with a guilty party.
31 May 2000 18:24:10 +0200
From: Jan-Hendrik Terstegge <webmaster@jhterstegge.de>
Subject: Re: Linux Gazette - German Translation [LG #54, General Mail]
Hi guys!
In LinuxGazette 54 you printed under General Mail my eMail from 29 Apr 2000, concerning my question for a german translation of LinuxGazette. Today the new issue came out and I created a translation of the article "Building a Secure Gateway System". Hoping that more Linux guys will help me to translate more articles, I copied it to my webpage. The german LinuxGazette Mirror-Page can now be found under http://www.linuxgazette.de.
I hope that after my call someone will help me to get more and more articles online.
[We also have a Spanish translation now at http://gaceta.piensa.com. -Ed.]
Mon, 26 Jun 2000 08:49:51 -0700
From: Heather Stern <star@betelgeuse.starshine.orglg@ssc.com>
Subject: Kudos to our translators
Pass my thanks to our translators everywhere. It's a tough and usually unsung job.
[And as an amateur translator myself, I'll add that it's quite time-consuming. -Ed.]
Wed, 14 Jun 2000 01:05:46 +0300
From: Charles Kibue <ckibue@mailafrica.net>
Subject: Thanks!
Hi! Here's from a very happy Linux user in Kenya...... Your magazine is very informative as well as interesting to read. I got some issues on my disk from the SuSE installation of the LDP and I sure look forward to reading more issues from you. Thanks to you all and you sure will be hearing a lot more from me. Cheers.
Composed on a Digital HiNote VP562 Series Laptop...powered by... SuSE Linux 6.3!
Tue, 20 Jun 2000 17:22:37 +0100
From: Steve Emms <sde@linuxlinks.com>
Subject: Who controls the Linux Media ?
I run LinuxLinks.com - a linux portal and recently we added a personalised calendar service to our web site. We submitted an article to LinuxToday (owned by internet.com) and it was published only to be pulled almost immediately. The reason given was that website enhancements are no longer news. However a similar service offered by another website was published. And who owns that website ? Why internet.com of course.
OK, this calendar isn't state of the art - but it is a free service and it does complement the existing facilities on the site. And sure, it is up to LinuxToday what they think is newsworthy and so post. But wait a minute, this sort of thing has made the news before - linuxstart announced a similar calendar service - take a look at
http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn99-07-13-015-10-PR
What's the difference ? Well, Linuxstart are owned by internet.com
This opens up a number of questions about how we judge the news we read. Linux is becoming big business and there are vested interests. Web sites are merging and being taken over by large conglomerates. Who determines the impartiality of the news we read ? Who determines what is news and what is advertising ?
LinuxToday is one of the major daily linux newsites and they determine that enhancements to major Linux websites like LinuxLinks is not important. But LinuxLinks is independent - it isn't owned by internet.com and it isn't owned by VA Linux. Is it and sites like it being penalised because they don't have a monopoly in the Linux media ? And is this really in the spirit of the Linux movement ?
Wed, 14 Jun 2000 23:37:41 +0530
From: Vikrant Dhawale <vkdhawale@vsnl.com>
Subject: subscription info.
I have read the current issue of the linux gazette and found it very interesting and informative. Is it available as a e-mail letter which I can subscribe and recieve in email since reading it online wastes a lot of online time as it is spread over pages.
[See the LG FAQ, questions 2-4. The Gazette is too big to send via e-mail. To minimize online time, download the FTP version of each issue and read it from your hard drive rather than via the web. -Ed.]
Sun, 4 Jun 2000 19:24:00 +0530 (IST)
From: LUG Account <ilug@hbcse.tifr.res.in>
Subject: Claims of First Indian OS: Aryabhatt Linux
Press Release
in response to articles on `Aryabhatt Linux' as
the first Indian Operating System.
We introduce ourselves as the Linux Users Group, Bombay Chapter (ilug-bom.org.in). We are a non-profit voluntary organisation actively involved in promoting open source software. Our activities include mailing lists for users, training, workshops, open source projects etc. Our group constitutes more than 400 man years of Linux experience vested in its members.
We draw your attention to the following articles which have appeared in the publications mentioned below.
1. "Made-in-India Linux to go global", Express Computer dated 29/05/2000, page 1.
2. "Linux Technologies launches Aryabhatt Linux", Times Computing dated 31/05/2000 page 5.
3. "Aryabhatt Linux", PC Quest dated June 2000 page 174.
... and several others.
In these articles there are numerous inconsistencies, false claims and trademark violations made by the company Linux Technologies Pvt. Ltd. We have evaluated their Linux distribution Aryabhatt Linux and compared it with other currently available distributions such as Red Hat, SuSE, Mandrake etc. Listed below are some of the findings:
1. RedHat Trademark Violation?: The packaging of Aryabhatt Linux distribution mentions that it is "Based on RedHat Linux 6.1", but fails to comply with RedHat's Licensing policy, as is evident from the following excerpt taken from http://www.redhat.com/about/trademark_guidelines.html
" C. You may state that your product "is based on Red Hat® Linux X.X," but you must do so in a fashion that indicates that "Red Hat Linux" is not the name or brand of your product and that Red Hat is not a source or sponsor of your product. Some guidelines to follow on this point include:
" You must clearly indicate how your product differs from Red Hat® Linux. This includes listing the packages that you deleted from Red Hat® Linux and those that you added to your product, as well as indicating any and all other changes you made. This information must be clearly and prominently presented in all packaging, advertisements and other marketing materials for your product in a typeface no smaller than the typeface you use for the words "Red Hat® Linux."
" The use of "Red Hat® Linux" must be in a typeface (which includes appearance, size and color) no larger than one-third the size of the typeface used for the name of your product.
" The typeface you use for the words "Red Hat® Linux" must be the same typeface you use for other written text to describe your product. You may not use a unique typeface for "Red Hat® Linux" in order to set it off from the other text included on your product.
" You may not do anything at all to state or imply that your product is an official product of Red Hat, Inc. and may not do anything else to create confusion in the market between your product and the products of Red Hat, Inc.
" You must include the following statement in a prominent place in your product packaging and in all marketing and promotional efforts for your product:
"Red Hat® is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. This product is not a product of Red Hat, Inc. and is not endorsed by Red Hat, Inc. This is a product of [name of publisher] and we have no relationship with Red Hat, Inc."
2. Linux trademark violation?: Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds who was the original developer of the Linux kernel. He has permitted use of this trademark subject to an explicit mention of his ownership. Neither their web site nor the product packaging mentions this fact.
3. It is not an original Indian Linux distribution: The Aryabhatt Linux is a distribution based on another Linux distribution viz Red Hat Linux 6.1 as mentioned on the product packaging.
4. Misrepresentation of License: Most of the programs distributed in Red Hat Linux are licensed as GPL (General Public License). This licensing policy permits anybody to go through the source code and modify as per their requirements. It also explicitly requires the GPL to be mentioned clearly. Arybhatt Linux does not seem to have been licensed under GPL since the GPL copy on the CD is issued by Red Hat and not by Linux Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
5. GPL requires distribution of source code as well as free download of source code: Under GPL it is mandatory to distribute source code FREE OF COST either on CD's or on ftp sites. As on date Linux Technologies has not made any provisions for the same. The company also does not have any ftp sites.
6. The Graphics Driver for SiS6215: Graphics Drivers for SiS6215 card were developed by SuSE GmbH (suse.com) and XFree86 (xfree86.org) and copyrighted under GPL. Linux Technologies Pvt. Ltd. falsely claims to have developed the same.
7. Misuse of Linux Logo: The Linux logo which depicts a penguin has been affectionately referred to for a long time as Tux by the entire Linux community. It also appears on most of the web sites, publications and articles pertaining to Linux. Other Linux distributions also feature Tux on their packaging. By writing Peggy across the penguin and registering it as their own trademark, Linux Technologies Pvt. Ltd. has attempted to cash in on the popularity of Tux and deeply hurt the sentiment of Linux users.
8. The picture on product packaging box: The product packaging box as well as the step by step User Guide of Aryabhatt Linux depict a picture of peggy surrounded by networked computers. This picture was designed and copyrighted by Jassubhai Digital Media and was published in the August 1999 issue of CHIP magazine, CHIP Linux special and Network Computing.
9. Most of the applications in any Linux Distribution are developed by GNU (www.gnu.org). Linux Technologies Pvt. Ltd. does not acknowledge the same.
10. Though Aryabhatt Linux is claimed as "customized for the Indian user", as on date, it does not support any Indian Language. And the claimed hardware support for the locally assembled hardware already exists in other distributions of Linux.
11. On going through the step by step guide, we found numerous inconsistencies and wrong information.
As Indians we would love to have an Indian Linux distribution but we are thoroughly disappointed and disgusted with Aryabhatt Linux's blatant attempt to hijack the efforts of the open source and free software community. This ruthless exploitation of free, open source software will tarnish the image of the Indian software industry. We therefore urge you to set the record straight as regards the claims of Linux Technologies Pvt. Ltd., if you have published articles related to Aryabhatt Linux. For others who have not published any reports, pleas consider this as information.
This message is released in public interest, and in the interest of Open Source Software by the following active members of the Indian Linux Users Group, Bombay Chapter:
Aditya Kulkarni adityak@linuxfreak.com Apurva Shah apu@freeos.com G.Sagar sagarg@bol.net.in Kiran Jonnalagadda jace@radiolink.net Kishor Bhagwat kishorbhagwat@usa.net Mitul Limbani mitul@mitul.com Nagarjuna.G nagarjun@hbcse.tifr.res.in Parag Mehta linuxadmin@softhome.net Philip Tellis philip.tellis@iname.com Prakash Advani prakash@freeos.com Prakash Shetty info@maxlinux.net Rajen Parekh rajen@softhome.net Rakesh Tiwari rakesh_tiwari@jasubhai.com Sandesh Rao sandeshr@vsnl.com Terrence D'Souza jtdesouza@yahoo.com Vikas Pawar vpawar@usa.net
Contact Address: GNU/Linux User Group of India, Bombay Chapter ilug@ilug-bom.org.in http://www.ilug-bom.org.in
Mailing Address: Dr. Nagarjuna G. Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education TIFR, V.N. Purav Marg, Mankhurd, Mumbai 400088 INDIA Phones: 091-22- 556 7711, 555 4712, 555 5242 Fax: 091 - 22 - 556 6803.
It sounds like this company is violating the GPL in the use of some FSF-copyrighted software. If that is true, we can try to enforce the GPL. Would you please double-check for us that FSF-copyrighted programs are included on their CD and on their ftp site, and send us the names of the specific programs you identified? We also need to know the URLs and the official name of the product.
Also, could you tell me how to contact them? We need the company name, snail addresses, email addresses, etc. With this information, we can have lawyers contact them to object.
Meanwhile, one more item you can add to your list is that they're calling the whole operating system "Linux". Linux is actually the kernel, one of the important pieces of the system. That is what Linus wrote in 1991.
At that time, we had been working on the GNU operating system for almost a decade, and it was almost complete enough for self-hosting; the only major piece missing was the kernel. Combining Linux with GNU produced a complete free operating system, versions of which are now integrated by Debian, Red Hat, and others. Everyone is free to redistribute it, but they ought to call it GNU/Linux and give us a share of the credit. It isn't a legal requirement, but it is the right thing to do.
See http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html for more explanation.
Regarding the idea of an "Indian operating system": I think that kind of nationalism is not a good thing for world peace.
But India should not feel left out. The GNU system has been an international project since the very beginning; no single country originated it. Humanity originated it. And India is part of humanity.
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July 2000 Linux Journal
The July issue of Linux Journal is on newsstands now. This issue focuses on Science & Engineering.
Linux Journal has articles that appear "Strictly On-Line". Check out the Table of Contents at http://www.linuxjournal.com/issue75/index.html for articles in this issue as well as links to the on-line articles. To subscribe to Linux Journal, go to http://www.linuxjournal.com/subscribe/index.html.
For Subcribers Only: Linux Journal archives are available on-line at http://interactive.linuxjournal.com/
Best
SOT has released their Best Linux operating system to Russian-speaking users for the first time. The new version is also available in English, Swedish and Finnish, and includes the brand new XFree 4.0, kernel version 2.2.14 and integrated office solution Star Office(tm) by Sun Microsystems.
The Best Linux 2000 boxed set includes some new features never seen before in Linux--like lifetime installation support. The boxed set also contains a 400 page manual, an installation CD, a source code CD, a Linux games CD and a software library CD providing an easy way for consumers and business desktop users alike to start using a complete Linux system.
Founded in 1991, SOT is based in Finland, where it builds and maintains the Best Linux distribution. SOT counts among their customers large organisations such as Nokia, Sonera and the Finnish Board of Education.
Caldera
OREM, UT-June 6, 2000-Caldera Systems, Inc., today announced that free support is available for OpenLinux users in Europe. Registered OpenLinux users will receive free 30-day phone and 90-day e-mail support in German, French, Italian and English.
In Germany, registered OpenLinux users may dial 030 726238 88 or visit support@caldera.de. Registered users needing support in English, French or Italian may dial +353 61 702033 or visit europe.support@calderasystems.com.
Space is limited. For more information or to register for the tour, visit http://www.calderasystems.com/partners/tour .
Lute
LuteLinux at the Technical Certification Expo 2000 revealed not only their new LuteLinux Lite software, but also their training and certification plans . In addition to offering certification for various levels from user to specialist, LuteLinux will also offer Trainer Certification. This will include training on teaching and public speaking, classroom techniques for beginner to advanced users, as well as common classroom scenarios and bridging the gap between the classroom environment to the real world. Their certification not only qualifies you as a LuteLinux trainer, but many of the techniques and lessons are easily transferable to other training environments.
LuteLinux is taking a new approach to certification. They recognize that multiple choice and even most simulation environments only provide for one right answer, and most examinations don't respond to non-standard approaches to a problem: something that is required on a daily basis in the real world. LuteLinux is fixing that explains Mr. Daunheimer, "our on-line LuteLinux simulation responds to multiple approaches to a problem. There is more than one answer to the questions, just as there is more than one way to solve a problem in the real world. There will be an ongoing assessment of responses during the examination, and the questions which are presented are chosen by a system that takes into account your last response." Although it's easy to talk about results, at LuteLinux they guarantee them. If any client is not satisfied with their training, or feels unprepared to apply new skills on the job, they will retrain them - for free. Examinations will be available both in-house at one of their training centers, and on-line via their web site.
Red Hat
PITTSBURGH, PA - June 19, 2000, /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Computer & Network Corporation has received Red Hat Linux 6.2 certification and is now included on Red Hat's Hardware Compatibility List for RAID storage systems. http://www.acnc.com/product_jetstorii_lvd.html.
SuSE
SuSE, the international technology leader and solution provider in open source operating system (OS) software, has opened their new Latin America headquarters office in Caracas, Venezuela. Xavier Marmol, well known to the Latin American Linux Community, has been chosen to run SuSE's Latin America presence.
Xavier Marmol is highly regarded in the Latin American Linux community. He was previously the Network Administrator at the University of Zulia Academic Network. As an active Linux advocate since 1995, he successfully implemented Linux OS for the Universities network of several hundred computers. As founding President of VELUG (Venezuela Linux User Group) in 1997, he led the initiative to include VELUG achievements at the Latin American LinuxWeek, the first Spanish-speaking Linux event. Marmol was also the first content manager of the Spanish LinuxStart.com Web site.
SuSE will release the first fully engineered version of Linux for the Apple PowerPC, IBM RS 6000 and Motorola PreP in mid-June. [It was unclear to LG at press time whether it has been released yet. -Ed.] In addition to databases, firewall scripts, web servers and mail programs, there are also such interesting applications as the video editing system Broadcast 2000, or the powerful image processing program, GIMP.
Of great interest to Mac users and professionals is the inclusion of the Virtual Machine (MOL) MAC on LINUX in the distribution, making it possible to start the MacOS in Linux and switch from one program to the other. In addition, the Mac user also has the option of using standard PCI hardware, such as network cards or TV cards.
Storm
Vancouver, BC., June 20, 2000 - Stormix Technologies Inc. and StarNet Communications Corp., today announced an agreement to include a fully- functional copy of StarNet's X-Win32 PC X server Version 5.0 with Storm Linux 2000 Deluxe Edition. This allows Windows workstations to connect to Linux servers. Storm Linux 2000 customers will receive a free one-year license for X-Win32. This product is normally listed at approximately $200.00US.
Upcoming conferences & events
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"Libre" Software Meeting #1 (Rencontres mondiales du logiciels libre), sponsored by ABUL (Linux Users Bordeaux Association) |
July 5-9, 2000 Bordeaux, France French: lsm.abul.org/lsm-fr.html English: lsm.abul.org
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Linux Business Expo (co-located with COMDEX event) |
July 12-14, 2000 Toronto, Canada www.zdevents.com/linuxbizexpo
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O'Reilly/2000 Open Source Software Convention |
July 17-20, 2000 Monterey, CA conferences.oreilly.com/convention2000.html
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Ottawa Linux Symposium |
July 19-22, 2000 Ottawa, Canada www.ottawalinuxsymposium.org
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LinuxWorld Expo |
August 15-17, 2000 San Jose, CA http://www.linuxexpo.com/
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IEEE Computer Fair 2000 Focus: Open Source Systems |
August 25-26, 2000 Huntsville, AL www.ieee-computer-fair.org
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Linux Business Expo (co-located with Networld + Interop event) |
September 26-28, 2000 Atlanta, GA www.zdevents.com/linuxbizexpo
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Atlanta Linux Showcase |
October 10-14, 2000 Atlanta, GA www.linuxshowcase.org
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ISPCON |
November 8-10, 2000 San Jose, CA www.ispcon.com
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Linux Business Expo (co-located with COMDEX event) |
November 13-17, 2000 Las Vegas, NV www.zdevents.com/linuxbizexpo
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USENIX Winter - LISA 2000 |
December 3-8, 2000 New Orleans, LA www.usenix.org
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Linux Lunacy Co-Produced by Linux Journal and Geek Cruises |
October 21-28, 2001 Eastern Carribean www.geekcruises.com
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La Gaceta de Linux--Spanish Linux Gazette
May 31st., 2000. Mexico City, Mexico. Bufete Consultor de Mexico - Piensa Systems has announced the launch of the new web site entitled La Gaceta de Linux as a Spanish version of the very well known electronic magazine Linux Gazette, effective this June 1st.
"We are searching for volunteers to enrich and enhance La Gaceta de Linux in every aspect."; said Monique Ollivier, image and content managing editor of the Spanish edition, "in first place, we need lots of support to translate, in a monthly basis, the original articles in foreign languages; mostly English; to ours, and maybe even more important, we want La Gaceta de Linux to be an open forum to whomever wants to write about Linux or just publish their work."
"After the site launch, we will add more features and services to La Gaceta de Linux, providing special benefits to the ones that contribute to the site with a bit of their time as well as additional services to the general public."
Felipe Barousse, Bufete Consultor de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., CEO and General Director: "We want all this free and open technologies and the broad experience that the global Linux community has acquired, to be leveraged at the maximum by all those Spanish speaking individuals and companies that across the globe."
"Having a tool like La Gaceta de Linux and, of course, the web, allows us to very efficiently promote Linux and all related technologies to be used in real life industry, businesses and corporate use; for instance; in Latin America, most of small to medium sized businesses do require IT services and systems that really do work, and work well but, not at the very high cost of the current "systems" that are well known to all company owners ... It is our experience that Linux is an excellent alternative."
"Another very important readers and users group for La Gaceta de Linux is the academic one. That's where tomorrow's IT people are and, we have to let them know about Linux and what this new technology can provide. Educating people at every level is the key and that is the most important goal of La Gaceta de Linux."
About Bufete Consultor de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (BCM): BCM, founded in 1994 is a private Mexican Information technology consulting firm. BCM has wide experience in the implementation of mission critical systems in customers of various sectors across Latin America. "Piensa Systems" and "piensa.com" are BCM registered trademarks.
[The original press release read "the official Spanish version". I changed it to "a Spanish version" to make clear that LG has no affiliation with BCM and does not wish to endorse one Spanish translation over another. Nevertheless, we are grateful to BCM for making LG accessible to the Spanish-speaking, as we have long desired. -Ed.]
Adomo--technology for the automatic house
"Adomo wants a place in your home. Not on top of your TV, or as a firewall or gateway hiding in a closet. What Adomo wants, is to fill your home with a network of low-cost, easy-to-use information appliances. All over the place. And they will all have Linux inside..." This is from LinuxDevices' technical overview paper about Adomo.
An Adomo spokesman calls it "kind of like a Cobalt Qube for the home".
[This reminds me of the children's science-fiction story, Danny Dunn and the Automatic House, as well as Ray Bradbury's (?) story "There Will Come Soft Rains", and Bill Gates' home entertainment system/art gallery. -Ed.]
Linux on Compaq handheld
Compaq announced it has ported the Linux operating system to its iPAQ handheld computer. The goal of the port and the supporting program is to enable developers and researchers looking to explore applications and uses for handheld computing to experiment with Compaq's iPAQ handheld by gaining access to the Linux-based source code for the device.
Telephony switch
6th June 2000, SUPERCOMM 2000, Atlanta, USA. Axtar Limited, a UK-based developer of programmable communications solutions for public network operators and service providers, has announced OneSwitch, the industry's first standards-based Central Office programmable telephony switch to use both the Red Hat Linux operating system and the compactPCI (cPCI) form factor. Value-added communications services that can be supported by the OneSwitch include: web-based call centre services, personal numbering, pre-paid calling card, Internet Call Waiting services and 1xxx services. The product will start shipping Q3 2000.
Linux NetworX News
SANDY, UTAH, JUNE 23, 2000 - Linux NetworX, Inc., a provider of large-scale cluster computer solutions for Internet, industry and research fields, announced the launch of its new Web site (www.linuxnetworx.com). The site provides information about the company's products and services as well as other useful information about computer cluster technology.
Individuals who browse the site will find it updated with information concerning cluster computer solutions. Along with extended company information and event calendar, the site includes an informational cluster tour and a comprehensive newsroom containing computer cluster news.
Principle products include ClusterWorXHardware and Software Control, a hardware-based cluster management system controlling up to thousands of nodes, independent of specific motherboards or chipsets.
FreeDesk selects Tarantella Software
Santa Cruz, CA (June 21, 2000) The Tarantella Division, an independent business unit of The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc., today announced that FreeDesk.com has chosen Tarantella software to replace Citrix MetaFrame as the key technology to centrally manage and deliver applications via the web. FreeDesk.com is switching to Tarantella to get better application performance over the web.
Linux newsletter in Atlanta
I am the editor and manager for a free local publication entitled Atlanta Linux Newsletter. We have been freely distributing this publication for over a year. In that time, we have increased our distribution from 500 to 5,000, and we are now increasing that number to 10,000.
The publication is distributed throughout the Atlanta Area. This refers to Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, as well as some of the surrounding areas: Roswell, Decatur, Alpharetta, etc. Our new channel for distributing our newsletter will be with Computer User magazine. In addition, we give copies of the Newsletter to all of our Customers as well as any User Group Meetings, seminars and showcases that we attend.
We have been working on our content so as to focus towards the new Linux community. Our customers, and the Linux community, in the past has been hackers and hobbyists. However, with the new surge of Linux users, we are beginning to focus on the business solutions side of Linux as well as the novice. We aim our content to reflect this type of audience.
Our advertisers consist of Linux companies, design companies, web companies, etc. These advertising supporters are assisting in the promotion of the newsletter whether in printing costs, distribution costs, etc.
-Kate Cotrona, Senior Editor & Manager, Atlanta Linux Newsletter
http://www.linuxgeneralstore.com (Click on the logo to enter, then choose "Newsletter" from the menu.)
kaivo.com, a new Open Source marketplace
DENVER (June 14, 2000) -- Kaivo, Inc., today performed the initial launch of the first vendor-neutral marketplace for Open Source products and services. Located at kaivo.com, the Kaivo site is the only service designed to connect IT executives interested in the Open Source revolution with vendors who can design, build, and maintain Open Source solutions.
The Kaivo.com Open Source Marketplace features three primary elements:
In addition to its Open Source Marketplace, Kaivo will deliver professional services consulting and education and training programs to users of Open Source solutions.
Kaivo is the ancient Finnish word for "source".
While Cosource, SourceXchange and Kaivo all have common elements, Kaivo's focus and its audience are different from the others. Both Cosource and SourceXchange excel at helping manage the development process of custom Open Source applications by bringing project managers and development talent together.
Kaivo, on the other hand, is about delivering the full world of Open Source into a corporate setting. Our end-user audience, IT executives, is assumed to be not as hands-on technical as the primary audience of the other sites.
We believe that our market has a need to understand what Open Source solutions exist (in contrast to proprietary models) and desires a simplified channel in which to procure those solutions. So ours is a market place for software, hardware, services and solutions. Kaivo is also designed as an educational site.
In many ways, Cosource, SourceXchange and Kaivo are complementary.
Alpha Processor news
Concord, Mass., June 1, 2000 - API, (Alpha Processor, Inc.), announced the UP1100, the latest addition to its Ultimate Performance Series motherboards. The UP1100 offers Alpha Linux developers a complete, cost-efficient, entry-level Alpha board for Beowulf clusters, Web servers, development systems and rendering solutions.
API's high I/O and memory bandwidth technology, combined with the UP1100's new features and the open source Linux software, enables system integrators to build high-performance, scalable and reliable systems. The low profile UP1100 features the Alpha 21264 processor on the UP1100 motherboard, allowing the overall cost of systems to be reduced. This provides research institutions, computer graphics companies and enterprises a cost-effective system for powering compute-heavy applications.
Doubling disk I/O performance over the UP1000, the UP1100 uni-processor planar design includes on-board integrated sound and Ethernet on a standard ATX form factor, providing a more robust Alpha solution for developers. The on-board Ethernet and sound preserves maximum configurability of system PCI I/O slots, simplifies cluster configuring and lowers the overall solution cost.
The UP1100 will begin shipping in July.
Concord, Mass., Bristol, United Kingdom, June 1, 2000 -- API, (Alpha Processor, Inc.), a leading architect of high-performance solutions for high-bandwidth and compute-intensive applications, today announced its collaboration with Quadrics Supercomputers World (QSW), a leading provider of supercomputer technology in Europe, to develop high-performance supercomputers for Linux. QSW now can offer customers high-performance scaleable supercomputers with the flexibility to support a wide range of parallel programming models on the Linux platform.
Using API's 64-bit platform and the Linux open-source operating system, QsNet, a high-bandwidth, ultra low-latency interconnect for commodity SMP nodes, offers some of the highest possible system interconnect performance and scalability available. The solution, based on QSW's third-generation "Elan and Elite" ASICs and API's UP2000 Ultimate Performance Series motherboards, consists of a network interface and a high-performance multi-stage data network. The system is managed using QSW's Resource Management System.
Linux R&D Facility Opens
TCS' Linux Research and Development facility will be located in Round Rock, Texas. Over the course of several months, TCS will recruit highly skilled employees to assist with the development of Linux related products for existing and new clients located worldwide, including Dell. TCS' recruitment effort will include an aggressive outreach to Texas universities and from within the local community.
Available exclusively at the TCS website-- http://www.tcs.com--the test harness and suite, called TAAL (Testing And Analysis tooL) benefits businesses and consumers who use Red Hat Linux 6.X by evaluating the Linux operating system.
TCS is a software technology consultancy company that provides information technology and management consulting services to organizations in over 50 countries across the globe.
Transmeta's Crusoe Processor and NetWinder, and Rebel the ISP
Ottawa, Canada - June 27, 2000 - Rebel.com Inc. announced its intention to adopt Transmeta's Crusoe processor family in a future line of residential and small business gateways that will add to its NetWinder OfficeServer line of products.
Linux Links
BASCOM's Open Source Equipment Exchange will match those donating computer equipment with open source developers in need.
The TERMinator is a glossary of PC technical terms.
News articles:
Linux Graphics Programming with SVGAlib is a book that shows both beginners and advanced users how to make graphics applications without X. The URL also features other books on Linux/Open Source products.
Firstlinux has added five articles to its collection of overviews titled "I've installed Linux: What Next?" New topics include MP3, games, scientific/mathematical programs, PIMs (personal information organizers), and CD writing. The site also has a web-based personal calendar in 13 languages. There is also a news site, FirstLinux Network News.
The Maximum RPM book (version 2) is available for download at www.rpm.org in Postscript format. This is a work in progress.
The Linux Security Knowledge Base is SecurityPortal.com's collection of, um, Linux security articles. Writers and translators are needed. All documents are under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Magic Software subsidiary Access Data Corporation will deliver a comprehensive public safety records management solution for all agencies within the State. The solution will include a centralized database of criminal activity to be created using statistical and investigative information. One hundred installations are expected to take place over the next two years.
ITsquare.com has launched Linux Square, a web application to help companies find serious, reliable Linux development firms.
Server-Based Java Programming by Ted Neward is a practical guide which teaches the fundamental concepts of server-based Java. On-line samples are at http://www.manning.com/Neward3/Contents.html and http://www.manning.com/Neward3/chapters.html
Funny articles from Humorix. June's features: corporations buy up almost all the 2-letter country domains; Windows vs Linux holy war in Yakima, Washington; banner ads infest Linux; how Microsoft's anti-piracy policy (not including a Windows CD with new computers) will cause more piracy; "Won't somebody please think of the Microsoft shareholders' children?"; a computer survives the Blue Screen of Death!; and who designed those Blue Screens anyway? (Humorix via Linux Today)
New Warez Distribution Addresses Ease of Use Issues (Another funny story from Segfault via Linux Today)
[Adults only] Linux Loving Sluts must be Linux's first porn site. Scantily-dressed women sport the Tux logo on their clothing and tattoos. Captions read "powered by Linux", "penguin power", "sexy chicks choose Linux", and Linus's oft-cited quote, "Software is like sex--it's better when it's free."
MySQL now GPL
C.O.L.A software news
Berlin, the windowing system that's not X-Windows has released version 0.2.0 after a year of work. Download it at http://download.sourceforge.net/berlin/Berlin-0.2.0.tar.gz. Licence: LGPL.
StrongARM version of Stalker's CommuniGate Pro mail server
MILL VALLEY, CA - May 15, 2000 - With this release, Stalker expands the number of supported Linux architectures: besides the "regular" Intel-based systems, CommuniGate Pro can be deployed on PowerPC, MIPS, Alpha, Sparc, and now StrongARM processors running the Linux(r) operating system.
The highly scalable messaging platform can support 100,000 accounts with an average ISP-type load on a single server, and the CommuniGate Pro unique clustering mechanisms allow it to support a virtually unlimited number of accounts. For office environments and smaller ISPs, CommuniGate Pro makes an ideal Internet appliance when installed on MIPS-based Cobalt Cubes(r) and, now, Rebel.com's NetWinder(r) mini-servers.
Key Features: full redundancy and load balancing on clusters, over 18 platforms supported, IMAP/HTTP access to mail including unique IMAP multi-mailbox features, personal web page publishing, mailing lists with web searching, web administration, anti-spam features, etc.
A free trial version is available at http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/.
Lineo Ships Embedix SDK for X86
LINDON, Utah - June 5, 2000 - Lineo, Inc. today began shipping Embedix SDK for x86, a software development kit that simplifies the development of embedded devices and systems. This tool set allows developers to include only the components of Linux and other software needed for the specific solution at hand. Embedix SDK is designed to reduce the system requirements, development time and overall cost of deploying embedded solutions.
Embedix SDK provides the unique tools and technologies necessary for deploying Linux across the full range of embedded devices and systems, from tiny microcontrollers through multidisk backplane servers providing high availabilit y services. Embedix SDK couples the benefits of the Open Source Linux community with Lineo's embedded tools, technologies and professional services.
Embedix SDK is available immediately for $4995 for an initial development seat, which includes a one year upgrade and maintenance agreement. Multi-user licenses are also available.
Lutris/Enhydra news
SAN FRANCISCO - JavaOne Conference and Exhibition, June 5, 2000 - Lutris Technologies, Inc. announced the first release of Enhydra Enterprise code to the developer community. The release of the product source code is an important step in the development of the Enhydra Enterprise application server and represents the first availability of an enterprise-level, Java/XML open source application server. Enhydra Enterprise is the direct result of joint development projects between noted open source supporters BullSoft and France Telecom, and the current Enhydra developer community, all of which contributed significant source code and expertise to the project.
Lutris Enhydra Professional 3.0 includes the Open Source PostgreSQL and the all-Java InstantDB and databases for abbreviated configuration time and fast prototyping. Inclusion and integration with Borland* JBuilder Foundation 3.5 allows developers to work within their preferred environment.
Pricing for Lutris Enhydra Professional 3.0 is $499.00 and includes technical support.
"By joining The Open Group, Lutris Technologies will be able to participate and keep abreast of the latest security issues and ensure that the Enhydra Application Server platform continues to provide robust security support," said Paul Morgan, chief technology officer of Lutris Technologies.
Omnis Studio: drag-and-drop WAP, more developers, etc.
Omnis Software confirmed some of the functionality to be available in the forthcoming release of their Rapid Application Development tool, Omnis Studio. A highlight is the incorporation of a powerful drag and drop WML (Wireless Markup Language) editor to simplify direct connectivity between server based data and remotely located WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) 'phones. WML is based on XML and was developed for specifying content and user interface for devices such as phones and pagers.
WAP phones are driving a market which needs to supply and modify relevant information quickly and clearly. With the WAP generator and one of the many available WAP phone emulators, you can quickly build and test cards and decks that can interface with existing data sources, wherever they may be located.
Omnis Studio is a high-performance visual RAD tool that provides a component-based environment for building GUI interfaces within e-commerce, database and client/server applications. When used with the company's WebClient plug-in technology, Omnis Studio allows the development of client/server relationships over the Internet using popular web browsers, giving fast, secure, scalable solutions in a minimum of development time. Development and deployment of Omnis Studio applications can occur simultaneously in Linux, Windows, and Mac OS environments without changing the application code.
The company cites three reasons for this growth: these include the increasing adoption of the Linux operating system, a reduction in Studio's price, and increasing awareness of the power and speed of the development tool.
Games!!!
Spiderweb Software and Boutell.com proudly present Exile III: Ruined World, an epic fantasy role-playing game for Linux.
Exile III for Linux will be released Summer, 2000. You can find information and a large demo at http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/exile3/linuxexile3.html.
http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com. Port By: http://www.boutell.com.
Loki has released a beta of the Linux SDK for use with Quake III Arena.
Loki also announced plans to bring Interplay's Descent 3 to Linux by July 2000. Descent has a Rock 'n' Ride simulator that moves a gamer and their monitor up 55 degrees. Up to 16 gamers can play together at one time via the Internet.
Loki will bring CogniToy's MindRover: The Europa Project to Linux by early fall 2000. MindRover is a 3D game that enables players to create autonomous robotic vehicles and compete them in races, battles and sports.
As if that wasn't enough, Loki also signed a deal with QLITech Linux Computers Computers to bundle several games with QLITech's Advanced Multimedia Workstations. Title include Civilization: Call to Power, Heavy Gear II and a Loki Games Demo CD with a full install of Eric's Ultimate Solitaire.
GoAhead embedded web server
BELLEVUE, Wash., May 24, 2000 - GoAhead(R) Software, the leading provider of off-the-shelf service availability software for Internet infrastructure, today announced the release of GoAhead WebServer(TM) 2.1, the latest version of GoAhead's open source, royalty free, standards-based embedded Web server.
By 2002, there will be more than 42 million devices connected to the Internet (International Data Corporation). Embedding a Web server gives manufacturers access to their devices even after they are shipped. GoAhead WebServer is the only open source embedded Web server currently on the market. It provides a secure, flexible and free way to access remote devices and appliances via standard Internet Protocols. GoAhead WebServer 2.1 now includes support for Secure Socket Layering (SSL) and digest access authentication (DAA).
GoAhead WebServer 2.1's new features were made possible in part through the active developer community that has emerged in support of the product. More than 500 developers download GoAhead WebServer source code each month.
The source code is currently available for download from GoAhead Software's Web site at http://www.goahead.com/webserver/wsregister.htm.
iTools
iTools--a suite of tools to dramatically simplify Apache configuration & maintenance
Santa Barbara, CA, June 6, 2000. Tenon Intersystems's iTools extends and enhances Linux's networking performance, efficiency, ease-of-use, and functionality with a family of tools essential to serious, commercial content delivery and eCommerce. iTools is based on open-source implementations of Apache, DNS, FTP, and sendmail, created and maintained by software developers worldwide. Using the Linux open source internet software as a point-of-departure, Tenon's iTools extends the underlying architecture with a point & click interface and a rich set of new features.
In addition to extensions and enhancements to Apache, DNS and FTP, iTools includes a WEBmail server, an SSL encryption engine to support eCommerce, a sophisticated search engine, and both FastCGI and mod_perl support to provide high-performance Perl and CGI execution. All of the tools are supported using a point & click, browser-based administration tool.
The price is $199. A free demo is at http://www.tenon.com/products/itools-linux
Other software
Chili!Soft has a new version of ASP and a new product, SpiceRack, for developers working with Active Server Pages. ASP 3.5.2 runs on more distributions than the previous version, and has new database support and an improved installation routine for both experienced administrators and novices. SpicePack 1.0 offers additional ASP objects for sending mail (SMTP), receiving mail (POP3) and uploading files. Evaluation copies are at http://www.chilisoft.com/downloads/. Chili!Soft is a subsidiary of Cobalt Networks, Inc.
XPloy from Trustix AS is a GUI for Linux system administration. Manage your Linux servers graphically from a Linux or Windows workstation.
Proven Software, Inc. has created separate divisions for its single- and multi-user accounting software, citing differing market forces and user demands between the two. BestAcct is a "desktop" program for small organizations and individuals. Proven CHOICE Accounting is for value-added resellers and their clients with multi-user requirements. BestAcct sells for an astounding US$29.95, but includes much more than "checkbook programs" at that price. Proven Software has been developing business applications for over 15 years, exclusively for Linux for over 5 years.
Financial Accounting Systems, Inc. develops Linux accounting software for loan servicing, savings accounting, CD (certificate of deposit) accounting and safe deposit box accounting.
Hypercosm offers next-generation 3D authoring technology to Linux users that had previously been available only for Windows users.
LinkScan 7.2 allows webmasters and quality-assurance engineers to build fast, accurate, scalable and automated test suites for web sites. Four versions are offered--from Workstation to Enterprise--at a price range of US$300-5000. (Electronic Software Publishing Corporation (ELSOP))
WebKing 2.0 is another website-testing program. WebKing takes traditional testing techniques such as white-box, black-box, and regression testing and applies them to Web development. In addition, ParaSoft is introducing a new testing technique called Web-box testing, which is a form of unit testing essential to Web development. http://www.parasoft.com or http://www.thewebking.com. Pricing is US$3495, or $2995 before July 31, 2000.
Metro Link, Inc. has released Open Motif with Metro Link enhancements and bug fixes, available for free FTP download at http://www.metrolink.com/openmotif/ or http://www.opengroup.org/openmotif/.
HELIOS EtherShare 2.6 offers a high-performance Unix implementation of AppleTalk networking. PCShare 3.0 is a high-performance Windows-compatible file and print server for Unix servers, with support for Windows 2000 clients.
Active Concepts (San Francisco, CA) will use VA Linux servers and Linux-Mandrake released and beta versions as a testbed for its flagship Funnel Web prouct, to keep it synchronized with technological advances in all the major Linux distributions. Funnel Web costs US$1199-3499.
Xi Graphics Inc. has released as v1.1 the first major update to its new 3D graphics product line for Linux. The update, which is free to registered owners of the product, provides significant performance improvements and increased stability.
Progressive Development Systems, Inc. markets Level5 Pro, a total database software solution for wholesale distributors. Their newest product is WAM, a Web Access Module. The company is committed to offering its products on the Linux platform.
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Procmail Arguments
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Find the source for specific program.
Greetings from Heather SternI'd like to especially thank Michael for stepping up to the wizard's hat early. Also we have a few answerbubbles this month which I think people will enjoy.
I'd like to please discourage people from sending us questions on both plaintext and HTML versions. The HTML produced by mailers is just not of publishable quality, and the mime attachment just makes our mail clunkier. Thanks for the thought, but just text will be fine.
That said, I had an interesting time this month. USENIX Annual Technical was in San Diego, and a number of core linuxers, *BSD developers, and other open source developers were there. There's been a crossover for ages but with their Freenix track it's a little more obvious. Last year the Freenix track book was half as thick as the normal proceedings. This year it's just as thick. I suspect it's a really good thing that Atlanta Linux Showcase (ALS) is partnered with USENIX now, because I think there is a lot more research to publish where those came from... I'll be there of course.
Now, on to the editorial. I thought of this mid-month. I told my friends to look for it. I didn't really expect it would become a slashdot flamewar and so on but I still think it needs to be said. So I'll add a disclaimer which many of you will consider obvious, but others may need to have clear:
Looking outside the tiny little box in front of me, and indeed outside the open source world, we have one of the most hotly debated arguments about what is, and what isn't okay to use. We should follow its model, as it appears to have stood the test of time while most of its strongest adherents have not starved to death.
I am, of course, referring to kosher food.
Many of you may think this cannot possibly relate to computing except insofar as the usual meal preceding a product release is nightly orders of pizza until it's a go. Or chinese food or whatever else it is the managers and engineers share a yen for. Last I recall vegetarian pizza is kosher (though not pareve) and the usual Meat Lover's Special definitely is not. Neither is oyster sauce.
We can think of food in this context because it covers mixing code, as well as dynamic linking. I can take a slice of good Jewish rye, and dynamically link in some corned beef. Yum, still kosher. If I also dynamically link on some swiss cheese, um, no. Still removable? Ask your rabbi if the touched meat remains trafe. Most customers wouldn't be able to tell if this had been done in the kitchen. If I make that a hot sandwich, I statically linked it, guess I should get a new one.
A big fuss in the GPL seems to be about the sentence fragment which, paraphrased, is something like "the whole of derivitive works shall be under the GPL". One of its more common allergies is what to do about things which require linkage against something that is under some other license. (I refuse to label other licenses more or less restrictive, without a context to apply.)
But the fact is, that the rules of kosher food are not about preventing jewish kids from enjoying cheeseburgers with their schoolfriends. They're about health. It just isn't safe to eat crustaceans from the wrong part of the sea, pork that may be undercooked, and a number of other things. Conversely our concern over licenses is about our health. If a company, or a coalition of friends, that is responsible for maintaining a product stops answering their email forever, what am I as a user of their product able to do with it? Even if I don't personally read its source code, under the DFSG compliant licenses, I can always hire some programmer to solve my problems with it and make derivitive works. This truth is made more useful by the fact that it was also legal for me to glom a copy of the source code and keep it around.
It's perfectly normal for me to buy products at the store, in neat packaging even, which are not directly consumer-level food. At least, I know very few people who buy a bag of flour in order to scoop handfuls of it into their mouth and call it lunch. It's normally statically linked against some dairy products or water, leavened with yeast, and made into sandwich fixin's or (with more linkages) sweets. Ooo, I almost forgot. Leavening it means it's not kosher for passover. Do some people eat in this "more kosher" fashion all the time? I suspect some do.
There are other products, like cereal, which we normally expect to be dynamically linked (milk please!) but which are sometimes prepared in other ways (eg. rice krispie bars) and yes, I know kids who eat cereal straight out of the box.
So this is what I was thinking when the debate was re-awakened: Is the K project kosher? I think so. Others don't have to think so. Right now, the "Harmony" project (http://harmony.ruhr.de/ ? I can't read German, and couldn't find code) which would claim to also meet Qt's API, isn't enough to make even little bitty sandwiches with. But one of the Harmony crew feels that the QPL is kosher enough for him (read his letter to LWN at http://lwn.net/1998/1203/a/jd-harmony.html) so it may be a bit of work. I think I'll go get me a nice, thick, not-kosher-for-passover, corned beef sandwich on rye.
Most non-Linux questions don't get published here, or answered at all. Nonetheless, best of luck in your quest for knowledge...
Missing VXDs? Don't Use MS Windows!From megabad on Tue, 06 Jun 2000
hello please my i have 5 mins of you time.
Since I have installed by Sis 6326 card when I start my computer it says missing 5591agp.vxd and then missing 5600agp.vxd please help cos i have not got a clue
thanks paul
Alternatively you should contact a vendor that support Microsoft products. I don't.
(BTW: VXD is the extension used for "virtual extension drivers" or something along those lines. The were introduced in MS Win 3.1 or so IIRC. The AGP stuff is some sort of "advanced graphics port" --- a type of slot in newer PC motherboards. I presume that this error is to tell you to install a new video driver).
winmail.dat and (Former) FriendsFrom iwomack on Wed, 07 Jun 2000
Dear Answer guy!
Why is it that, whenever I send a word document file to one of my many contacts, the file is received on his end as a winmail.dat file? I am using Microsoft outlook and I am sending a word Document. Please Help?
IAN WOMACK
winmail.dat is a file attachment that Microsoft's Outlook mail client attaches to most mail so that it can contain any of MS' extensions to mark up the text of your mail. So the basic text of your message, with no highlighting or special formatting is supposed to comprise the main body of your e-mail, while 'winmail.dat' is supposed to contain all of the formatting and other fluff that makes it look the same to another MS Windows user as it did to you.
I personally find winmail.dat files to be mildly annoying.
However, I find that mail sent to me in proprietary formats (such as MS Word .doc) to be highly irritating. Basically people have to pay me to read those. If you're not a customer or my boss and you send me something as an attachment in any format that I can't readily read --- your mail goes into the bit bucket faster than you can say "delete."
Of course it would be unfair to single out Microsoft in this regard. I don't like Netscape's "vcard" attachments any less obnoxious than "winmail.dat" and I find Netscape's previously default behavior of appending HTML formatted copies of the body text to all outgoing e-mail to be almost as bad as appending .doc or other binary formats. (At least I can read between the tags if I care to).
Of course I'm a curmudgeon in this regard. I think that plain old unadulterated text is a fine tool for communications and I don't like to see a lot of formatting fluff to confuse the issue. I still use Lynx for most of my web browsing, and I still work from text mode consoles more often than not. (Although I've made it a point to stay in X most of the time on my new laptop, mars, and on my latest home desktop client, canopus. I still use a big xterm running a copy of 'screen' for almost all of my work).
Anyway, If you want to learn how to send mail that is likely to be most effective and least irritating to the broadest range of correspondents, then eschew all of the fancy formatting, and learn to write!
As for configuring your mail client to behave itself, I don't know. I don't use any MS products and certainly wouldn't use a GUI mail client. Perhaps Microsoft offers some sort of support with their products. Last I heard they run a 900 (pay-by-the-minute) telephone service. Perhaps that could answer your questions more thoroughly for a few quid.
(On the other hand, you could switch to Linux, which would make Outlook basically unavailable to you. Then you'd also be protected from the next few outbreaks of the "Melissa" and "Love Bug" viruses among others. Indeed you'd be immune from that whole class of plagues).
CD ProblemsFrom Sheree_Shannon on Thu, 08 Jun 2000
Hi, I purchased a 1998 Chrysler Town & Country van recently that has a cd player. When I try to put a cd in, it immediately comes back out. Someone told me another cd must be stuck in there. How can I find out, and how do I get it out?
Thanks. Sheree'
- I suppose you could try the "Ask Chrysler" CGI program at:
- http://ask.chrysler.com
Or take it down to your favorite neighborhood car stereo shop and have them take a look at it. Of course all of those venues will try to sell you a new CD player, or a new car, or something.
I won't try to sell you anything. I just answer Linux questions for this online magazine called the "Linux Gazette." They picked "The answer guy" as a name for my column which is presumably how you got tricked into mailing this question to me.
O.K. I lied. I'll try to sell you something. You could try replacing that CD player with an automotive MP3 player. That would mean that you'll "rip" your CDs on you home computer, download them into a little computer in your car and use that to play them.
Here's a few links on that idea:
- Open Directory - Computers: Software: Operating Systems: Linux: Music
- http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Linux/Music
(BTW: the Open Directory Project, dmoz, is very cool. Think, community driven Yahoo!)
- Knight Rider MP3 Player
- http://knightrider.linuxave.net
- Slashdot:IBM and Mp3
- http://slashdot.org/articles/99/04/04/1530213.shtml
- Slashdot:Doing the Quickee Boogie
- http://slashdot.org/articles/99/01/13/226240.shtml
updateFrom texastootles on Mon, 12 Jun 2000
WebTV Support Line? NOT!
For 3 days I get this update when i try to get on webtv I have let
them but they just never seem to finish what shall I do?
~tootles~
Perhaps they offer some sort of customer service with the product they sold you and the "service" to which you are subscribed.
[Rolls eyes heavenward! Sighs!]
One or more questions may be posted here, as well as any that need translation before the Gang can answer. Got any answers for these? Send them to tag@ssc.com
Anyone out there know more?From David Lee on Thu, 22 Jun 2000
Hello,
I would like to have a question about stripping binary and library files.
Actually I am building a Linux boot/root floppy disk. I need to fit in some huge shared library files, especially libc-2.1.1.so.6. (I am using Linux Mandrake 6.1). Reducing file size is necessary.
I think either objcopy or strip can be used. However, the Linux Bootdisk HOWTO says that only debug symbols should be removed (--strip-debug). What would happen if everything is removed (--strip-all)? I have tried and the resulting boot/root disk seems to be OK. However, something must be wrong ...
Thanks for your help.
David.
Seeking translation for Denmark queryFrom hilsen kasper on Thu, 22 Jun 2000
Dav jeg syntes at det er en gode side du har med en masse gode brugbare råd . men det er ikke det jeg vil , je har et problem som du måske kan hjælpe mig med . Jeg har en 450 mhz p3 cpu som jeg gerne vil have overclocket jeg har et asus bundkort model :p2b/f1440bx agp atx. Jeg ved ikke om at jeg skal have noget extra køling på når det kun er til 500 mhz da mit bundkort ikke kan tage mere.en anden ting er at jeg ikke ved hvordan jeg gør så jeg håber at du vil hjølpe mig. JEg håber at du vil hlælpe mig med mine spørgsmål.
hilsen kasper
Procmail ArgumentsFrom D. Scott Lowrie on Mon, 19 Jun 2000
hi,
I've been able to use procmail when I send the mail to &myuserid+keyword.
Where I assign a variable (say PLUSARG=$1).
I can use the variable PLUSARG to base some procmail recipes. So what's the question??? well it seems if I us and alieas set up for me and the "+keyword" syntax that procmail doesn't pass the "+keyword" in as the $1 parameter. E.G. $1 is found when I use myid+keyword but not with alieasId+keyword. thanks,
Scott Lowrie
It seems to be that the ^TO macro in procmail does expose the header address (which retains the + extension) while the envelope address is being passed to your PLUSARG.
Try using the ^TO pattern.
procmail arguement listFrom D. Scott Lowrie on Tue, 20 Jun 2000
thanks for the suggestion ... I really appreciate your help.
Scott FYI I'll let you know what we are doing with the "+arguement" -
its not all that clever but in our case makes for an easy way to add things to our online documentation. Perhaps some other user may find this useful for simple/quick documentation.
The simple idea is that we have a userid called "caddoc" and if you have an email that others may find useful (perhaps like the tip you just gave me!) then we just would send/forward/cc/bcc to "caddoc+mailtips". The procmail script then processes the caddoc to signify you want to document something; the +mailtips to signifiy you want it in our "mailtips" archive area; and then uses "mhonarc" to add this email in html format to the data area defined in the "mhonarc" call. So with just a simple addition of "caddoc+mailtips" we get the info tucked away for future reference. The alternative of swipping the data; putting this data in a file in the mailtips area; updating the index.html would also work but the reality is "our natural laziness" makes it unlikely to happen.
Scott Lowrie
Getting Random Values in shFrom Devil Man on Thu, 08 Jun 2000
Hello answer guy I was wondering and have been unable to find any info about a shell scripting utility or command that can be used to generate a random number such as if I wanted to create a shell script to generate a random number between 1-20 or so. It dose not have to be a all in one basically how do you generate random numbers and the command line?
Thanks randomly speaking
RANDOM=$$$(date %+s) function d20 () { d=$[ ( $RANDOM % 20 ) + 1 ] }
... The first line just seeds bash' random number generator using your current process ID (PID) and the current time/date expressed as the number of seconds since 1970 (the UNIX epoch). This should prevent RANDOM from generating the same predictable sequence every time you run it. (You can set bash' RANDOM to new seed values, but if you ever 'unset' it --- it will lose its special "magic" property for the life of that shell/process. This is true of a couple of bash' "magic" variables).
Note that this form of random seeding is common but not adequate for proper cryptography, or high stakes gambling. For that we probably wouldn't be using the shell, we certainly wouldn't be storing things in environment variables, and we'd probably want to read a bit of entropy out of the Linux /dev/urandom or /dev/random devices (depending on the relative importance of speed versus "quality of entropy" required).
Shell function, which I've named after the gamer's conventional abbreviation for their favorite polyhedral (dice), simply takes a $RANDOM value modulo 20 (modulus is the remainder of a division, and thus gives us a number between 0 and 19) and then I add one to just this from the range 0-19 up to 1-20.
This method (take a modulus of a number and add a base) is commonly used by programmers to get random values within a specific range. If you want the numbers to follow a specific curve you can use additional arithmetic operations and additional random values. For example to get a nice bell curve that reasonably approximates a natural population where lots of entities are "average", a few are "exceptional" or "bad" and a very few are "super" or "woeful" you can use a sum of several random numbers.
The classic "Dungeons & Dragons (TM)" 3d6 gives such a curve which is why they don't simply use a single d20 for each ability score. It's also why simple percentile rolling on
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