Houston Linux Users Group

Episode 42: Peppermint OS Interview

2010-09-06T16:25:15+00:00

0:00:52 Interview with Kendall Weaver about Peppermint OS

0:43:00 Origins of Peppermint

0:55:13 Follow Peppermint OS
http://twitter.com/kendall_tristan
http://twitter.com/roadhacker
http://twitter.com/asheguy

0:55:38 Peppermint sponsored by VPS.net

Web site of the week

0:55:55 GigaOM

More info

Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff
Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar
Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG]
Contact podcast:
Forum: mintCast
Email: mintCast@mintcast.org
Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278
Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint
More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums, community

0:00:52 Interview with Kendall Weaver about Peppermint OS 0:43:00 Origins of Peppermint 0:54:48 Get Peppermint OS 0:55:13 Follow Peppermint OS http://twitter.com/kendall_tristan http://twitter.com/roadhacker http://twitter.com/asheguy 0:55:38 Peppermint sponsored by VPS.net Web site of the week 0:55:55 GigaOM More info Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS [...]

Installing Arch Linux, part 4: Configure the Base System

2010-08-30T04:50:07+00:00

- by Charles Olsen

At this point I’ve completed the base install of Arch Linux. Now it’s
time to configure and update the system.

The package manager in Arch is called pacman. Pacman is designed to be
small, fast and simple. Its function is similar to other package
managers you’re familiar with, such as Synaptic. It can install,
remove, upgrade and downgrade packages on your system. It also handles
dependencies.

Repositories for pacman are stored on mirrors around the world. Arch
has a script you can run against the mirrorlist file which will test
the mirrors and choose those which are fastest for you to work
from. Once it has set the fastest mirrors, you can update to get the
latest package lists.

Note that all of this is done at the command line. Eventually I’ll
install a GUI desktop, though even then I’ll have to run Pacman from
the command line.

Arch Linux is a rolling release distribution. Ubuntu and Mint, for
example, release a new version of the distro every six months. There
is an upgrade process you can run that will convert your distro to the
new version, or you can wipe it and install a fresh copy of the new
version. If a new package is released after the distro is released,
you probably won’t see the new package until the next version of the
distro is released.

Arch does not release new versions of the distro. You’ll never need to
reinstall to get a new version of Arch, and new packages are made
available to the distribution a short time after they are released
upstream. Whenever you want, you can issue a single command to bring
your entire system up to the latest, bleeding-edge versions. At the
end of this upgrade, your system is completely current.

At this point in the Arch install process you’re running as root. You
need to create a user that does not have root access, for your regular
day-to-day use. Use the adduser command to create a user. It will walk
you through all the information needed, such as login name, full name,
groups, etc.

Now you’re ready to configure ALSA. Use Pacman to install alsa-utils
and alsa-oss, then use alsamixer to set the volume. You can then play
a WAV file — if you hear the voice, sound is configured properly.

The next step is to install the X Window System. This was as far as I
got on my last attempt to install Arch on this PC. When I tried to
install X, I got error messages that I didn’t understand. This time,
it installed with no problem. I probably missed a step last time. If
you decide to install Arch, make sure you follow every step.

Then the instructions explain how to use the lspci command to figure
out which video chipset your machine has. Then you can install the
appropriate video driver for your video card.

Or if you have an Nvidia or ATI graphics card, you may prefer to
install the proprietary driver. I have an Nvidia card, so I used the
proprietary driver.

Then install the input drivers for keyboard and mouse, and you’re
ready to configure X. I got confused in this step. The instructions
said that this section was out of date, and highly recommended I
follow the instructions on the Xorg wiki page instead. I tried that,
but some of the commands did not work.

Even so, after a reboot things started working. Reading through the
instructions again, I think I had missed the step where it told me to
manually start dbus. I had followed the step which added dbus to the
DAEMONS in my /etc/rc.conf file, so it was running after the reboot.

Once again I learned that when you install Arch, follow EVERY STEP.

After X is configured, you can install a desktop environment. As
usual, I went with GNOME. The instructions suggest that you install
gnome and gnome-extra. That results in a LOT of packages getting
installed.

It was after installing gnome and gnome-extra that I thought I had a
problem, but the reboot seemed to fix it. I think next time I try to
install it, I won’t forget to start dbus and it should work even
without the reboot.

Anyway, when I rebooted it gave me the gdm login screen (I had also
added gdm to my daemons). I logged in and the GNOME desktop came up. I
have successfully installed Arch and GNOME. It even uses the optimal
1680×1050 screen resolution.

I still have to install the packages to get the computer to a point
where I can use it, but this is still a huge step for me. I’ve
successfully installed Arch without having to resort to Chakra. I definitely
learned some raw Linux today.

Installing Arch Linux, part 3: Make It So

2010-08-29T21:45:17+00:00

- by Charles Olsen

As with any other distro, the first step to installing Arch is to
download the ISO for the specific version you want. It’s available in
32-bit and 64-bit versions. You also choose either the Core image
which is good for an offline install, or the Netinstall image which
downloads the latest packages during the install — if you have an
Internet connection, this ensures that you get the absolute freshest
packages.

My test PC has a 64-bit processor with 4GB of RAM, so I chose Arch
64-bit. It also has a DSL Internet connection, so I chose
Netinstall. I downloaded the ISO and burned it to a CD. You can also
write it to a USB stick, or write it to another location which you can
boot from.

Once you boot from the CD, you are greeted by a simple text screen
that informs you that the logins “root” and “arch” have no password,
and to log in with root if you want to do an install.

Once logged in, you’re still on a text screen with a prompt. Text
before the prompt instructs you to run /arch/setup to start the
install. That seems easy enough, unless the command line scares
you. But if you don’t like the CLI, you’d never touch Arch anyway.

While the install is a very manual process, it does a good job of
walking you through it. It provides a text menu that you can move
through with the cursor up/down keys, and press Enter to select your
choice. The tasks are listed in order on the menu.

You may have to configure the network before proceeding — on this PC,
I didn’t have to take any extra steps to get the network interface up.

Next you select the source: the CD or which mirror on the Internet to
pull the packages from. Then set the clock. You can tell it to get the
time from an NTP server.

The next step is to prepare the hard drive. The first choice on the
menu is Auto-Prepare, which will erase and use the entire hard
drive. I chose to partition it manually.

This puts you into cfdisk, a text-based program which you can use to
delete and create partitions. You can create as many partitions as you
want, and set the size and type. The documentation explains this
pretty thoroughly, including how to set up dual boot with Windows if
that’s really what you want. Then you set the mount points, and the
installer will set up the partitions as specified.

The next step is to select packages. First you select package
groups. Base is automatically selected. Base-devel is not selected,
but the instructions suggest that beginners should install it because
they will probably need it later.

Once you’ve selected the groups, you can go down the list and deselect
packages you don’t want. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s
best to leave the defaults selected.

Next, install the packages. The selected packages will be downloaded
and installed. This takes just a few minutes, with no further effort
on your part.

When package installation is complete, you can configure your
system. This gets interesting, especially if you’ve only used distros
like Mint, Ubuntu or Mandriva. In Arch, all of the settings are stored
in text files. The first step of configuring your system is to choose
which text editor you want to use: nano, joe or vi. The instructions
suggest that nano is the easiest of these three, but you can choose
another if you’re more familiar with it.

There are a series of text files that store your system
configuration. It may be tempting to skip over this step, but the
documentation states “It is very important at this point to edit, or
at least verify by opening, every configuration file. A common error
is to skip over these critical steps of configuration.”

You start with /etc/rc.conf, which is the principal location for
system configuration. When you open the file, you can see that they
are very well documented — a wealth of comment lines explain what is
contained in the file. There’s also quite a bit of information in the
install instructions.

Once you’ve reviewed the configuration files, you set the root
password and let the system complete the configuration.

The last step to the install is to install the bootloader and verify
the GRUB configuration in /boot/grub/menu.lst. At this point you’ve
installed and configured your Arch Linux base system. It’s time to
reboot. Exit the installer to get back to the prompt, and type reboot.

The system quickly returns to the login prompt. Log in as root with
the password you chose during setup, and you’ll find yourself looking
at a command prompt.

You now have a minimal Arch Linux system installed. You can now
proceed to customize it and build the system that you want.

Installing Arch Linux, part 2: What I Want

2010-08-29T16:31:02+00:00

As I prepare to install Arch Linux, it’s important for me to know what
I want out of the system. My system will be “finished,” ready to use,
when it has the following packages installed and working:

- Emacs
- Org-mode
- OpenOffice.org
- Firefox
- Audacity
- FileZilla
- Virtualbox
- Dropbox
- GIMP
- Audacity
- Kompozer
- Tomboy or Gnote
- Wine

I usually like to use the same distro on my laptop that I have on my
home PC. This adds a few more requirements. Since I use this laptop
for demos at the Linux 101 SIG meetings, I have to be able to attach
an external monitor and get a good image on the second monitor.

Also, we often visit my stepdaughter and her family. One of the
favorite activities of her three-year-old son is to watch videos with
grandpa on the laptop. My laptop must be able to play DVDs, and also
to play Flash so we can watch videos on YouTube. Otherwise he’ll be a
very disappointed little boy, and I’m determined not to disappoint him
like that. I take my job as grandpa very seriously.

So this adds two more requirements:

- play DVDs
- play Flash

Now that I’ve defined what the finished system will look like, I’m
ready to start the Arch install.

I’d also like to point out that when I do this in Linux Mint, the base
install takes about 20 minutes and covers almost the entire list. A
few minutes in package manager completes the list, except for
Virtualbox. A quick trip to the Virtualbox web site shows how to get
that last package installed. Total time required, from booting the CD
to installing that final package, takes me about 40 minutes.

I’ve tried to install Arch Linux a couple of times already, and
failed both times. I got farther the second time, but I was not able
to get X installed. I tried some troubleshooting, but was not able to
resolve it.

Maybe I missed something in the instructions. The Arch install
instructions, printed out, are 53 pages long. I’m going to try to
follow them very carefully this time.

And so it begins.

Installing Arch Linux, part 1: What Do You Want?

2010-08-29T14:40:19+00:00

In mintCast episode 41, I mentioned that I want to try installing
other Linux distros, especially Arch Linux.

This is not due to any dissatisfaction with Linux Mint. For anyone
getting started with Linux — or who wants to just install Linux and
get to work — Linux Mint is the best way to go.

It’s like when we moved into this house a few years ago. I don’t know
anything about building a house. I don’t want to know. We chose the
design we wanted, then someone else did all the work to build the
house. Once it was complete, we moved in.

That’s pretty much how I’ve been using Linux. With a distro like Mint,
someone else has done all the work. All you need to do is install it
and get to work. (Or play, if that’s what you want.)

But now I want to build the house. I want to learn where the boards
go, where the pipes are, how everything is connected and why it
works.

There are several approaches one can take for this. Of course there
are web sites that have lessons to help you learn Linux. A couple of
these sites are:

- http://www.linux.org/lessons/
- http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz

These lessons are helpful, but like most people I learn best when I’m
actually doing it. I need to install it, maintain it, and use it, if
I’m going to really learn it.

There are several choices available to someone who wants to follow
this path:

Linux From Scratch (http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/) provides you
with step-by-step instructions for building your own custom Linux
system, entirely from source code. That sounds like the most
comprehensive approach, but I don’t feel like I’m quite ready for
that.

A co-worker suggested Gentoo (http://www.gentoo.org/), and I actually
tried to do a Gentoo install. I definitely learned some new things
about Linux, but did not finish the install.

If you want a taste of Gentoo without doing all the work, you can try
Sabayon Linux (http://www.sabayonlinux.org/). Sabayon is a LiveDVD and
will also do a fairly automated install if you want, bringing up a
finished Gentoo system in minutes instead of hours.

And then there’s Arch Linux (http://www.archlinux.org/). Arch is
designed to be simple, and the install is fairly minimal. Many
Linux distros strive to give you a system that’s ready to use, with
many applications already installed — office suite, web browsers and
other Internet applications, graphics applications, audio/video
applications, games, and more might already be there when you finish
the distro install. This approach allows you to get started quickly.

Arch takes a different approach. Once you have Arch installed, you’re
just getting started. You then need to install the packages needed to
make the system you want. This means your PC will be exactly the
system that you have designed — you’re not working from someone
else’s guess at what you want.

When I first started using Linux, I would have found that very
frustrating — it was helpful to start off with a system that had all
my software already installed.

Now, however, I want to hammer the system together myself. Linux From
Scratch sounds too intimidating just yet, but I think Arch sounds like
a good way to jump in.

And if you don’t want to face the full install process, you can find a
shortcut to installing Arch in the Chakra Project
(http://chakra-project.org/). Chakra is not considered to be a distro
– rather, it’s a distrolet. It’s a LiveCD that can be used to install
Arch Linux with a modified version of KDE.

Linux is all about choice. There are many applications and tools to
choose from. There are several desktops to consider. You can even
choose how much effort you have to put into installing and maintaining
your system. If you can answer the question “What do you want?”, then
you can choose the distro, desktop and tools that are right for
you.

And if tomorrow you have a different answer, there are other distros,
desktops and tools available.

Episode 41: IRC

2010-08-23T05:58:25+00:00

News & personal updates

0:01:20 Rothgar has moved to new house

0:07:11 Charles has new Android phone

0:22:38 Charles’ happy place – surrounded by Linux
Salus Massage
http://www.salusmassagehouston.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SalusMassageTherapy

0:24:27 Rothgar tries Fedora 13, with weird results

0:27:57 Trying out other distros: Gentoo, Slackware

0:28:47 Arch Linux

0:29:34 Chakra GNU/Linux

0:32:26 Linux Mint based on Debian

0:43:28 IRC

Linux Mint Chat rooms
#linuxmint-chat
#linuxmint-help
http://www.linuxmint.com/blog/?p=152

Beginners guide
http://www.irchelp.org/

IRC Clients
XChat-Gnome (Default)
Pidgin
irssi
Chatzilla (Firefox plugin)

Web site of the week

1:31:28 RUTE
Rute User’s Tutorial and Exposition

More info

News & personal updates 0:01:20 Rothgar has moved to new house 0:07:11 Charles has new Android phone 0:22:38 Charles’ happy place – surrounded by Linux Salus Massage http://www.salusmassagehouston.com/ http://www.facebook.com/SalusMassageTherapy 0:24:27 Rothgar tries Fedora 13, with weird results 0:27:57 Trying out other distros: Gentoo, Slackware 0:28:47 Arch Linux 0:29:34 Chakra GNU/Linux 0:32:26 Linux Mint based on [...]

Some Resource Links For Yez

2010-08-10T13:23:59+00:00

Dell Vostro V13 laptop (Ubuntu option available):
Click!

System76 desktop, laptop and server models w/Ubuntu:
Click!

Are you a business and want SUSE with support included (BYO hardware)?
Click!

Note: I hold no stock or other financial interest in any of these concerns BUT I WISH I DID.

Kinda Linux But More Of An Open Source Posting (as usual lately)

2010-08-09T06:48:10+00:00

...But linux IS involved! My past as a users' group president in Linux Land is not at all being denied here; I just digress lots. See what you think:

Our pals at LINUX JOURNAL put out this word about the OpenSolaris issue not long ago. It's not an alarmist article; it raises legit questions about whether Oracle values Unix dreadnought Sun's legacy or not. Well, aside from the decision whether or not to continue making certain code chunks widely available through OpenSolaris, Oracle seems to be trumpeting the virtues of the main event clearly enough.

Now there's this. The Illumos initiative may save the day.

My take on all this is that within the OpenSolaris orbit, projects like Nexenta were valuable to Solaris for general Unix PR, as well as for its own products. Nexenta in particular could get Linux people interested in toying with things like ZFS if only due to the Debian tools included, not the least of which is apt-get (and it works!! at least on SOME of my loads). This appeals to my if-it's-Unix-it's-cool ethic. The problem with continuation of the OpenSolaris project would be that Oracle might not be so forthcoming with the big section of proprietary code that's in OpenSolaris and that Oracle now owns. Illumos would solve that quandary if successful. I usually worry about distro forks, but this might be a good one - if one can even call it a fork.

ON A RARE PERSONAL NOTE: Some of you know that I work for an outfit that has a "boonies" location and a "Central" location and that I've been in the boonies for awhile. I AM NOW at Central! Thank you for your discretion.

It's Wednesday!

2010-07-21T13:28:21+00:00

That' means Linux Workshop at HAL-PC from 6-9pm. Bring your computer and learn about Linux!

Also, don't forget about Technology Bytes!

Technology Bytes:
8-10p CST 90.1FM on your radio. Or take your web browser or stream catcher to www.kpft.org or http://www.geekradio.com/

GPG Key Transition

2010-07-18T14:46:00+00:00

I'll be attending both DefCon and DebConf this year, so I'm figuring this is as good a time as any to get my GPG key updated to something stronger than 1024 bit DSA. I've put a transition statement online as seems to be recommended.

O'Reilly Ebook Deal of the Day: "Python for Unix and Linux System Admin"

2010-07-14T18:16:56+00:00

If you're reading this, you have SOME interest in Unix and/or Linux. At least, I hope so. So, how could you pass up this title for only $9.99?!? I couldn't. It helps that I also got "Learning Python" for $9.99 not too long ago.

Use discount code: DDPUX

Today only! Sorry I didn't get this up earlier.

Linux 101: TONIGHT!

2010-07-06T13:57:21+00:00

It's the first Tuesday of the month and THAT means Linux 101! Come to HAL-PC and learn from Charles Olsen, a member of the HLUG SIG and one of the hosts of the Mintcast podcast!

It's the perfect place to start learning about Linux!

Episode 40: Klaatu interview pt 2

2010-07-04T21:01:00+00:00

News & personal updates

0:01:35 Linux Mint 9 KDE RC released

0:01:52 mintCast has a forum on the Linux Mint web site

0:08:50 Klaatu talks about SELF

0:19:28 Zenoss was mentioned on FLOSS Weekly

0:22:47 Lengthy Slackware discussion

0:24:26 Klaatu discussed Slackware on Bad Apples podcast episodes 4×16, 4×17 and 4×18

Results of the Linux Multimedia Sprint

0:26:28 Interview with Klaatu

The announcement

The torrent file

Mirror of the files

Web sites Klaatu is involved with:

http://www.thebadapples.info/

http://www.hackerpublicradio.org/

http://www.linuxcranks.info/

http://www.slackermedia.info/

http://www.slackbuilds.org/

http://www.unixporn.com/ – it’s not porn, it’s unix

Contact Klaatu:
klaatu (at) hackerpublicradio.org
klaatu (at) member.fsf.org

Web site of the week

1:09:07 How-To Geek

More info

News & personal updates 0:01:35 Linux Mint 9 KDE RC released 0:01:52 mintCast has a forum on the Linux Mint web site 0:08:50 Klaatu talks about SELF 0:19:28 Zenoss was mentioned on FLOSS Weekly 0:22:47 Lengthy Slackware discussion 0:24:26 Klaatu discussed Slackware on Bad Apples podcast episodes 4×16, 4×17 and 4×18 Results of the Linux [...]

Ebook Deal of the Day – Only $9.99 Learning Python, 4th Ed.

2010-07-01T13:25:58+00:00

Not a commercial, but I thought this book (and the last one I mentioned, Linux in a Nutshell) would be of interest to people who check out this site or the Houston Linux site.

Here's the book's page:
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596158071/

Python is a GREAT language, used in lots of places, including Google and NASA in Houston (Johnson Space Center)
Use discount code: DDPYT

TODAY (7/1/10) ONLY!!

O'Reilly e-book deal of the day: Linux in a Nutshell: $9.99

2010-06-29T13:36:29+00:00

Go here:
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596154486/

Use discount code: DDLN6

Today only!

I GIVE UP (not)

2010-06-23T12:29:03+00:00

I've been, in piecemeal fashion, giving a review of Eric Raymond's book "The Art Of Unix Programming" and I must confess that it's tough going for someone who codes as little as I do. I at this point only know some basic shell and basic HTML, and to get the most out of Raymond's work, one must code in something more heavyweight such as one of the C's or Perl or even OO things. Raymond, now, will be critical of object-orientation in places but even that would help since most points the book makes are universal (among programmers).

Here's the two places I've been using to read the book online:

faqs.org
catb.org

See? See? I can at least code that.

As Raymond says in one of the intro sections, the book can benefit people that can at least understand that the Unix tradition might have something to teach them. It's not much help if you want to know about kernel application programming interfaces or C programming specifics. Even if you skim the hard parts and only absorb the culture, it can help one understand the Unix/open source ethos, and would be particularly helpful if you're coming from the object-oriented world to a Unix-based project.

I'll keep reading it but for purposes of this blog will move on to other topics - no doubt returning to this one from time to time, if only to rip off another Ken Thompson quote from Raymond.

Minicast 39: Technical Difficulties

2010-06-20T17:27:00+00:00

Problems with Talkshoe prevented us from recording mintCast this week.

Media from Klaatu’s Linux Multimedia Sprint are now available

Announcement

Torrent

mintCast now has a forum

More info

Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff
Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar
Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG]
Contact podcast:
Email: mintCast@mintcast.org
Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278
Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint
More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums

Problems with Talkshoe prevented us from recording mintCast this week. Media from Klaatu’s Linux Multimedia Sprint are now available Announcement Torrent mintCast now has a forum More info Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG] Contact podcast: Email: mintCast@mintcast.org Phone (voice mail): [...]

Episode 38: Partitioning

2010-06-07T04:42:12+00:00

The Linux Multimedia Sprint has been released!

Announcement

Torrent

News & personal updates

0:00:51 SiKing visited Canada

0:01:35 Google ditches Windows?

0:03:43 Google’s Chrome Computing System To Debut in Autumn

0:05:10 Qimo 4 Kids doesn’t have parental controls–use Mint 9 for parental controls

0:08:28 DesktopBSD has new development team

Partitioning

0:10:04 Intro to partitioning

0:12:52 Share data between Linux and Windows installs on same PC

0:14:08 Partitioning a Windows PC to install Linux

0:14:37 Defragment the Windows partition before resizing

0:16:54 Ready to install Linux

0:19:25 Why you should consider multiple partitions

0:20:21 Separate partition for /home

0:26:15 Other partitions you can set up separately

0:31:33 Separate partition for /data

0:40:30 How to edit and understand /etc/fstab

Web site of the week

0:40:55 X-bit labs

More info

Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff
Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar
Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG]
Contact podcast:
Email: mintCast@mintcast.org
Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278
Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint
More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums

The Linux Multimedia Sprint has been released! Announcement Torrent News & personal updates 0:00:51 SiKing visited Canada 0:01:35 Google ditches Windows? 0:03:43 Google’s Chrome Computing System To Debut in Autumn 0:05:10 Qimo 4 Kids doesn’t have parental controls–use Mint 9 for parental controls 0:08:28 DesktopBSD has new development team Partitioning 0:10:04 Intro to partitioning 0:12:52 [...]

Two Reviews (short)

2010-05-31T13:12:52+00:00

In the middle of the other stuff I've promised here, lemme get two things off my chest: my experiences with the Mike Meyers "Passport" series study guide to the CompTIA Security+ certification exam, and a late experience with Fedora 12.

The Meyers series Security+ guide that I picked up used for about 3$ was worth a little more than that, considering that it came with a CD that had two practice exams (Windows-only reader, though). But although it knocked out the cobwebs regarding a few familiarity issues with me, my impression was that the questions (and perhaps the direction of the exam itself, which I've not yet taken) were so obvious that (on a test based solely on the book) one could get 75% without reading the book at all. I've switched to the Greg White book from McGraw-Hill for the current test (201); I'll give an impression of that one when possible.

The other issue I need to note: when downloading Fedora 13, I realized that I'd been doing it on a box with no burner. So I USB2'd an outboard Iomega and chose Brasero and then... stopped in my tracks about 5 minutes later. What's the matter with this picture? No reboot. No requests to install stuff. No error messages. Brasero didn't balk. NOTHING WENT WRONG. I burned the F13 install DVD while doing two other things and not paying attention. PLUS I used the full-install version of the DVD (not the live DVD or CD) to upgrade without disk wipe and there were no problems there, either. Not like a few years back when I trashed at least two installs that way.

People, Fedora is starting to work like a Mac. I'm sure many of you already experienced this or simply wonder what I'm behind about, but my job forces me to use... other stuff from You-Know-Who. So I've never had a lot of time to do testing. Way back when, many OS maintainers on the Linux side were criticized for having an attitude toward users that slammed those who wanted things to work and set up easier. Well, they seem to be getting the point at the Fedora Project, or were never in need of the point in the first place. My compliments to all concerned.

Back to the Eric Raymond book as soon as I get time.

Episode 37: Webcams

2010-05-23T21:23:19+00:00

00:00:52 News & personal updates

ROTHGAR

MythTV 0.23 was released (and installed)

Looking at virtual solutions at work

Using Diigo to bookmark sites with annotations

Hoping to buy and move into his house soon

CHARLES

New job within the same company

Giving presentation to American Women’s Society of CPAs about mobile computing using a BlackBerry

Linux Mint 9 “Isadora” released

ROTHGAR

Steam is coming to Linux

00:29:55 Webcams

Michel Xhaard is responsible for making ~250 webcams work under Linux

Webcam charts
http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html
http://opensource.creative.com/webcam.html
http://www.ideasonboard.org/uvc/
http://302found.com/linux_webcams/

Webcam software

GUI programs
Cheese
Skype
vlc (open capture device)
camorama

Command line tools
fswebcam
webcam
webcamd

Use the commands lsusb to find model and dmesg to find the driver

Models we use

Rothgar

Logitech webcam pro 9000 – Rightlight, RightSound technology (Windows only), 720p video recording (Windows only?)
Built in 2MP for 2730p laptop – cheese was really dark, vlc worked great, camorama said it couldn’t open the device
iSight 1.3MP from MacBook Pro and iMac (need to verify they both work)
- https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MactelSupportTeam/AppleiSight
Microsoft webcam – Doesn’t work, green screen in Linux

Charles

Logitech QuickCam Communicate MP (Worked out of the box with Cheese)

How to make it work

Install V4L and V4L2 drivers
V4L and V4L2 are video input drivers for linux

video4linux

Small troubleshooting guide: http://tldp.org/HOWTO/html_single/Webcam-HOWTO/

00:58:54 Web site of the week

Pinta

More info

Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff
Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar
Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG]
Contact podcast:
Email: mintCast@mintcast.org
Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278
Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint
More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums

00:00:52 News & personal updates ROTHGAR MythTV 0.23 was released (and installed) Looking at virtual solutions at work Using Diigo to bookmark sites with annotations Hoping to buy and move into his house soon CHARLES New job within the same company Giving presentation to American Women’s Society of CPAs about mobile computing using a BlackBerry [...]

Wednesday Night is Tech Extravaganza in Houston!

2010-05-12T17:17:53+00:00

Sorry, I've been away for awhile. But you know what hasn't gone ANYWHERE?

HOUSTON'S WEDNESDAY NIGHT TECH EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!!!!!

HLUG Linux Workshop: 6-9pm at HAL-PC.

Technology Bytes:
8-10p CST 90.1FM on your radio. Or take your web browser or stream catcher to www.kpft.org or http://www.geekradio.com/

Episode 36: Ubuntu 10.04 and Linux Mint 9

2010-05-10T04:12:14+00:00

In this episode

Southeast Linux Fest June 12-13 at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC

SiKing’s new motorcycle

Ubuntu 10.04 released

Linux Mint 9 RC released

Mark Shuttleworth’s blog: Window Indicators

Web site of the week

OSNews

More info

Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff
Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar
Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG]
Contact podcast:
Email: mintCast@mintcast.org
Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278
Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint
More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums

In this episode Southeast Linux Fest June 12-13 at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC SiKing’s new motorcycle Ubuntu 10.04 released Linux Mint 9 RC released Mark Shuttleworth’s blog: Window Indicators Web site of the week OSNews More info Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar Subscribe to [...]

Episode 35: Video Editing and Texas Linux Fest 2010

2010-04-25T04:12:05+00:00

In this episode

Rothgar’s YouTube channel

New iPhone preview

Gamers agreed to give their souls to GameStation

HTC Incredible

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/droid-incredible-review/

http://gizmodo.com/5520071/htc-droid-incredible-review-more-like-impressive

PeppermintOS

Twitter: PeppermintOS

Ubuntu 10.04

Texas Linux Fest

Texas Linux Fest 2010 programs

Keynotes on Youtube

Joe Brockmeier

00:00 – 09:59 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arBFnGlsEP8

09:59 – 09:55 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB-j9E7zOoQ

19:54 – 09:18 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2BL-sqj4qU

29:12 – 09:21 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IA6sujQIBM

Randal Schwartz

00:00 – 09:58 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvfv5lgDTaA

09:58 – 09:41 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak1Q39SCrRc

19:39 – 09:44 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDxwzendtuI

29:23 – 08:43 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0I34MvTUMI

Interview with Tracy Holz and Carl Dempsey

High Tech Redneck

Podcast: Working in the Open

Firewall software: Untangle

Open-source network operating system: Vyatta

Video Editing

webOSroundup

Stop motion video

Tools Rothgar used to create the video

Web site of the week

Palm Development Center

More info

Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff

Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar

Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG]

Contact podcast:

Email: mintCast@mintcast.org

Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278

Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint

More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums

Episode 35: Video Editing and Texas Linux Fest 2010 In this episode Rothgar's YouTube channel New iPhone preview Gamers agreed to give their souls to GameStation HTC Incredible http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/droid-incredible-review/ http://gizmodo.com/5520071/htc-droid-incredible-review-more-like-impressive PeppermintOS Twitter: PeppermintOS Ubuntu 10.04 Texas Linux Fest Texas Linux Fest web site Keynotes on Youtube Joe Brockmeier 00:00 - 09:59 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arBFnGlsEP8 09:59 - 09:55 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB-j9E7zOoQ 19:54 - 09:18 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2BL-sqj4qU 29:12 - 09:21 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IA6sujQIBM Randal Schwartz 00:00 - 09:58 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvfv5lgDTaA 09:58 - 09:41 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak1Q39SCrRc 19:39 - 09:44 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDxwzendtuI 29:23 - 08:43 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0I34MvTUMI Interview with Tracy Holz and Carl Dempsey High Tech Redneck Podcast: Working in the Open Firewall software: Untangle Open-source network operating system: Vyatta Video Editing webOSroundup Stop motion video Tools Rothgar used to create the video Metamorphose stopmotion phatch openshot PiTiVi CHDK Rothgar's entry Web site of the week Lifehack More info Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG] Contact podcast: Email: mintCast@mintcast.org Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278 Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums

4th Saturday HLUG: BASH the command line!

2010-04-24T09:43:16+00:00

Hello all! I've been away for a bit due to illness and some other issues, but I'm BACK! Just in time to tell you about the next Saturday HLUG meeting. The focus on command line wizardry continues, delving further into the mysteries of the Bash shell. For this wizardry, there's no wand required!

2-4pm at HAL-PC. Where's that? It's right HERE!

Episode 34: Task List in Org-mode

2010-04-13T04:52:19+00:00

In this episode

Rothgar’s office featured on Lifehacker

Trenton Computer Festival April 24-25: Richard Stallman will be keynote speaker

Southeast Linux Fest June 12-13 at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC

SCO loses
http://www.novell.com/prblogs/?p=2153
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20100330152829622
http://blogs.computerworld.com/15846/novell_wins_sco_loses?source=rss_vnichols
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700020711/Jury-sides-with-Novell.html
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=6151

Linux Mint 9 overview of new features

Linux Mint user base is growing

Linux Mint 8 LXDE released

Linux Mint 8 Xfce released

Task management in Org-mode

Emacs

Org-mode

Emacs Org-mode: Organizing a Scientist’s Life and Work
Presentation by Prof. Carsten Domink, creator of Org-mode

Get Organized with Emacs Org-mode

Using Org-mode as a Day Planner

Org Mode – Organize Your Life In Plain Text!

Keep organized with Emacs! Try org-mode for notes/tasks + gnus for mail!

Org-Mode Presentation Videos by Russell Adams

Adams Information Services LLC, A nationwide IBM systems consultant
Email: sales@adamsinfoserv.com

Org-mode mailing list

Getting Things Done, by David Allen

First Thing First, by Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey

Web site of the week

Lifehack

More info

Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff
Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar
Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG]
Contact podcast:
Email: mintCast@mintcast.org
Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278
Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint
More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums

In this episode Rothgar’s office featured on Lifehacker Trenton Computer Festival April 24-25: Richard Stallman will be keynote speaker Southeast Linux Fest June 12-13 at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC SCO loses http://www.novell.com/prblogs/?p=2153 http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20100330152829622 http://blogs.computerworld.com/15846/novell_wins_sco_loses?source=rss_vnichols http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700020711/Jury-sides-with-Novell.html http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=6151 Linux Mint 9 overview of new features Linux Mint user base is growing Linux [...]

2nd Saturday HLUG: Command Line POWNS you!!

2010-04-10T10:23:13+00:00

2-4pm today is the standard 2nd Saturday HLUG meeting. We plan to have some examples of some compound
commands using scripting. Also, how to do a backup of a partition using the command line.

HOWEVER, there's a NEW SIG meeting on Saturdays (2nd/4th) from Noon-2pm that's going to focus primarily on Linux shell scripting/CLI. We are using the Linux Phrasebook by Scott Granneman as the guide for the SIG.

Come and enjoy!

12 Free Linux Books

2010-04-07T00:57:48+00:00

Here’s a link to 12 more free books about Linux:

Free Books

I KNOW you didn't forget...

2010-04-07T00:12:44+00:00

...that Wednesday night is Tech Night in Houston, did you? Linux Workshop at HAL-PC 6-9pm PLUS Technology Bytes on KPFT 90.1 FM or www.kpft.org from 8-10pm.

Consider yourself reminded.

Test from Android phone

2010-04-03T06:05:34+00:00

This entry was written and posted from my Android phone.

I want to verify that I’ll be able to make blog entries while at the Texas Linux Fest.

I can also make text bold and italic, though it’s not as easy as I’d like.

I also took a picture of my monitor just to see if that works, too.

Today is Document Freedom Day!

2010-03-31T17:45:42+00:00

From their web site:

Document Freedom Day (DFD) is a global day for document liberation. It will be a day of grassroots effort to educate the public about the importance of Open Document Formats and Open Standards in general.

Go to http://documentfreedom.org/ to learn more. If you've ever had trouble opening a text document or spreadsheet or anything else because you created it in an older version of software (Word/Excel/WordPerfect/Lotus/Powerpoint etc), you understand the need for document freedom.

So, go to http://www.openoffice.org/ to learn more about a FREE (as in, you don't have to pay for at AND all the freedoms from the LGPL.

If you're STILL not clear on what all this "Document Freedom" stuff is about, there' still time to stop by the HLUG Linux Workshop (6-9pm tonight at HAL-PC) OR to call in to Technology Bytes tonight from 8-10pm on KPFT FM 90.1

You know you want to. :-) Documents want to be FREE!!

Quick Reminder: Wednesday Night Tech!

2010-03-31T14:51:22+00:00

Linux Workshop at HAL-PC tonight. 6-9pm. Technology Bytes on KPFT 8-10pm.

4th Saturday HLUG: MORE Command Line Power of the Ancient Wizards!!

2010-03-27T10:43:26+00:00

This afternoon we'll be continuing the CLI goodness that was started 2 weeks ago. Do you want MORE? Get it? More? It's a CLI command...

*crickets*

Ok, I'll MV on. Gonna end this post now. Keep it short. Sometimes LESS is MORE.
:-)

See you today at HAL-PC from 2-4pm.

Wednesday Night Tech Boogie!

2010-03-24T15:04:02+00:00

Short post.

Tonight you should do two things:
1. Go to HAL-PC for the HLUG Linux Workshop to get all your Linux needs met. It's from 6-9pm, just like every other Wednesday. While you're there, talk to Rick about becoming a HAL-PC member.

2. Tune in to Technology Bytes on KPFT 90.1 FM from 8-10pm to get any other computer questions answered. Feel free to hop into their IRC channel to join the show within the show!

That is all!

St. Patrick's Day: Did you know he also loved Technology?

2010-03-17T17:28:59+00:00

You should already know what Wednesday night in Houston means: HLUG's Linux Workshop at HAL-PC! 6-9pm. Get ALL your burning Linux questions answered! (and they DO burn, don't they?!?)

HAL-PC is here. If you have trouble getting into the building, call the main number at 713.993.3300.

ALSO! Don't forget to tune in to Technology Bytes, on KPFT 90.1 FM or over 'teh internets' tonight from 8-10 to get all your OTHER computing questions answered.

Don't drink too much green beer!

Review Preview #2

2010-03-17T14:03:22+00:00

Another jewel from Eric Raymond's "The Art Of Unix Programming" ---

"Computer hardware was at that time more primitive than even people who were there to see it can now easily recall."

Preach it, brother.

Episode 33: User Feedback

2010-03-15T00:23:31+00:00

In this episode

Ande Rummel’s web site
Jared Sot’s web site

Goodbye Husse

Linux Mint 9 will be named Isadora

Texas Linux Fest April 10 in Austin, TX

Trenton Computer Festival April 24-25: Richard Stallman will be keynote speaker

Southeast Linux Fest

User Feedback

Screencasts at FOSSCast:

http://fosscasts.com/screencasts/13-GNU-Screen

http://fosscasts.com/screencasts/23-Bonus-Viewer-Questions

Alex laptop

TWIT – This Week In Tech, with Leo Laporte

Rothgar’s MythTV walkthrough

TermBuilder

Mumble

Has Linux Mint Killed Distrohopping?

Zune URL for mintCast

Time Synchronization with NTP

Web site of the week

OMG Ubuntu

More info

Hosts: Charles, Rothgar, SiKing, Art Vanderhoff
Shared Google Reader: Charles, Rothgar
Subscribe to the podcast: [iTunes] [Zune] [RSS MP3] [RSS OGG]
Contact podcast:
Email: mintCast@mintcast.org
Phone (voice mail): 1-832-514-2278
Twitter: @mintCast @Rothgar @Linux_Mint
More info: Linux Mint website, blog, forums

In this episode Ande Rummel’s web site Jared Sot’s web site Goodbye Husse Linux Mint 9 will be named Isadora Texas Linux Fest April 10 in Austin, TX Trenton Computer Festival April 24-25: Richard Stallman will be keynote speaker Southeast Linux Fest User Feedback Screencasts at FOSSCast: http://fosscasts.com/screencasts/13-GNU-Screen http://fosscasts.com/screencasts/23-Bonus-Viewer-Questions Alex laptop TWIT – This Week [...]

2nd Saturday HLUG: Command Line Power of the Ancient Wizards!!

2010-03-13T08:18:46+00:00

Today the discussion will focus around the CLI (Command Line Interface) of Linux. It's going to be all about Shell Scripting. For those not aware, the command line (the thing that looks like a DOS prompt? No pictures, just text commands you have to type in) in Linux is called Bash (short for Bourne Again Shell), which is an improvement on the original Unix Shell. I'm not sure how much history Ron will go into today.

In any event, gaining True *nix Wizardry begins with a basic understanding of Shell scripting. There's a tremendous amount of flexibility, power and convenience that can be found at the CLI. Ron will start to unveil those mysteries today! It's like your first year at Hogwarts, or the Jedi Academy. Or something.

Another note, the rumor is the NEXT Saturday HLUG meeting (two weeks from today; 4th Saturday) will be for paid HAL-PC members only and may or may not include DOOR PRIZES. That's something HAL-PC SIGS have been famous for over the years. I've got a copy of Office 2003 Pro floating around, among other things, that I got as a HAL door prize. More details on that as they become available.

Expecto Patronum!!

Sorry for the March 10th blast!

2010-03-11T01:56:04+00:00

I was editing/updating some things here and a lot of those posts got reposted en mass to the Houstonlinux.org blog. Sorry about that.

BUT, it does give you a chance to catch up on what you may have missed! :-)
*points at silver lining*

4th Saturday: Linux SIG takes on Social Networking!

2010-03-10T17:09:16+00:00

Look, Linux folks ARE social! Stop by HAL-PC Saturday from 2-4pm and learn to network! From your linux box!

The subject is Social Networks the names are
1. FaceBook: Val
2. Meetup: Rick
3. Linked In: Jorid, Joey

What we do not have time for this week, can be continued
on the next meeting.

Ron

Kojo (that's me!) was supposed to discuss Twitter and LinkedIn, but won't be able to make the meeting this week. Next time!

HLUG Linux Workshop: It's already started!!

2010-03-10T17:07:38+00:00

It's Wednesday night, so you should know the drill by now. Get thee to HAL-PC and partake of the Linux Workshop goodness! Get help with thine own vexing Linux questions! Assist others with issues that, verily, cause them to be vexed.

Basically, we're trying to avoid and eliminate all things "vexing". 6-9pm. Dinner/socializing afterwards, to be announced at the Workshop.

ALSO! Do NOT forget about Technology Bytes. 8-10pm on KPFT or live streamed over the internet(s), if you're not in the Houston area. Speaking of Technology Bytes, if you didn't attend their last Geek Gathering, here's what you missed. The lovely woman in the first picture is Victoria Leigh, model/photographer/makeup artist. The smiling man next to her is her husband. He works for Ubuntu, dealing with OpenOffice.org bugs. See what Linux can do for you? I'm just saying. Don't blame me, it's not like I didn't tell you! The Geek Gathering's are the first Friday of every month at The Coffeegroundz.

That is all.

What IS the HLUG Linux Workshop?

2010-03-10T17:07:38+00:00

I'm glad you asked! The Wednesday Night Workshop (WNW...not to be confused with Neverwinter Nights...NWN) is where people with questions about, trouble with or interest in Linux get together to work it all out! Bring your computer/keyboard/mouse and we'll supply the monitor/power/network connection (wired and WiFi) and get things taken care of!

Trying to install Linux? We can help! Got Linux installed, but can't get a piece of hardware working? We can help! Need to get a certain piece of software installed or configured on your Linux install? We can help! Want to dump your other OS and replace it with Linux? We can help!

Wednesday nights, 6-9pm at HAL-PC Global HQ!! Followed by dinner...somewhere.

ALSO! Be sure to tune in to Technology Bytes Radio, ALSO Wednesday night from 8-10pm. And don't miss the Geek Gathering, this Friday at The Coffeegroundz!

2 views of last Saturday's Samba SIG

2010-03-10T17:06:38+00:00

What'd you miss last Saturday?

Rick Archbald says:

W/o Rob't spotswood (sick), the Samba SIG didn't make much progress on
the mail server project. We did convince ourselves that KirraMail
doesn't install easily & isn't worth fighting w/ for having a 2nd mail
server on the network. We also discovered that the last release of
VMware 2.0 is useless. If we knew that either VBox or VMware would
save the complete state, including RAM, of a VM (this may be a
"stupid" question), then we could run Kirra in a VM, & have it have
some continuity.

Ron Lyle offers this view:

We built a vmware KerraMail mail server just to see if we could set up a mail server. The samba SIG went well and I found thanks to Rick, some Google special searches under UNIX (google/linux, google/gov, and google/bsd) We learned that vmware doesn't do snapshots and virtual box does.

They'll be back at it on the 3rd Saturday of the month. That's the 19th for those scoring at home.

Samba: TODAY from 2-4!!

2010-03-10T16:58:30+00:00

The quest to build an ISP-grade mail server continues! Stop by HAL-PC to join in on the fun and learning! Tech up!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Review Preview: one of the most universal of truths...

2010-03-10T08:52:22+00:00

(This is from Eric Raymond's The Art Of Unix Programming, which I'm currently reading.)

"The most basic argument for prototyping first is Kernighan & Plauger's:
90% of the functionality delivered now is better than 100% of it delivered never”.

News Item

2010-03-04T08:51:56+00:00

It appears that Oracle is being a good neighbor with respect to open source-ing some things, or rather continuing to (subsequent to the Sun acquisition). This story indicates that the OpenSolaris project will undergo basically no change and that a commitment is being made to its future. Certainly this will benefit Oracle by the encouraging of experimentation with file systems and software features now under its control (like ZFS, the combined file system and LVM) but I see the continuing maintenance and free availability of any decent (-nix-oid) system as a good thing. In the words of the nerd-rock band DEVO, "duty now for the future"!

MythTV walkthrough – Software/Backend

2010-03-03T06:24:38+00:00

In response to my own part one video on MythTV I thought I would link to the last 5 parts of the series I recorded bringing you from bare metal to a watching TV in about an hour.

And here is the setups specifically for configuring the MythTV backend.

The widescreen videos don’t really line up right now with our Wordpress theme but I think giving good quality is worth it. Click on the videos to be redirected to my youtube channel and you can watch the HD versions there.

The Anti-Book-Review Times Two

2010-03-01T15:48:19+00:00

Since I have two computing-related books to review and have not finished them yet, I'll let you in on the locations thereof. Both have online free versions in various places; here's some that I know about.

THE ART OF UNIX PROGRAMMING by Eric Raymond

Mr. Raymond has been around programming since way the hell back and offers this best-practices book that can do at least three things: document the early computing culture, acclimatize programmers to the Unix world that may have come from other environments and focus the efforts of other programmers who are Unix-native. Here's one of the book's many online homes:

Click HERE

NMAP NETWORK SCANNING
The Official Nmap Project Guide to Network Discovery and Security Scanning
by Gordon “Fyodor” Lyon

Living at the venerable nmap.org, this is a less-than-complete version (buy it to get everything) but this version is merely lacking in all examples and extended discussions. All the basics are here. The tool's free and the bad guys use it, too, so if you're a White Hat Wannabe like me, you have no choice but to get right with Nmap.

Click HERE

So now, let's see if I can finish these before you do - and before you scoop me on your blog.

Episode 32: Scale8x

2010-03-01T04:00:16+00:00

Talks I attended
Open Source Social Networking Tools in Education
UbuCon Lightning Talks
Using Linux to deploy Windows
Linux VM technology compared – OpenVZ, KVM, Xen, VServer
Learning Python for non-programmers
The latest in Moblin – now known as MeeGo
Network troubleshooting with Kyle Rankin
Open Source automated deployment
BoF: cloud computing – Amazon EC2, Gogrid, Serverrack.net

Booths I found interesting
LinHES
XBMC
WebOS-internals
Plug Computers
Komputers 4 R Kids
Facebook
Ubuntu Kernel team
KDE
Synergy
HP

Website of the week:
http://mythtvcast.com/

User Feedback:
How to download all the old episodes?
http://tr.im/mcastdl

How to stop firefox from streaming mp3’s
Right click -> “Save link as”

How to drag/resize a window without going to the edge of the screen
Alt+left click = drag
alt+right click = window menu
alt+middle click (button3) = resize window
you can change this under the compiz settings manager (general and resize window plugins)

Talks I attended Open Source Social Networking Tools in Education UbuCon Lightning Talks Using Linux to deploy Windows Linux VM technology compared – OpenVZ, KVM, Xen, VServer Learning Python for non-programmers The latest in Moblin – now [...]

SAMBA SIG Updates

2010-02-26T16:51:54+00:00

Here's what you missed last Saturday at the SAMBA SIG (and yes, I DO alternate my capitalization of "Samba". Sue me) We're continuing our goal of building an ISP-Grade mail server.

Today we got the spam script working and spammed our new server. Over a 100 MB
connection, it took about 14.5 minutes to send 10,000 messages. During that
time, CPU usage on the mail server shoot up to around 90%. However, even
during the storm, the webmail interface was still responsive. Nevertheless, it
showed that we need anti-spam measures.

In order to get the spam script running, we used another machine, then booted
with Knoppix 6.0.1 and installed sendmail (what the script requires). Knoppix
5.3.1 would not work with sendmail for some reason.

In the next meeting, we need to try to add some polish to our testing mail
server. The current list of items to address is:

1) Anti-spam measures and anti-virus measures. Current plans are to use
Amavis. It will be interesting to see what the load is on the server if we
repeat the spam storm with the measures in place.

2) Implement quotas. We can't have one user fill up the hard drive.

3) Change the squirrelmail url to something better and more standard, such as
webmail.samba.lan.

4) Install a list manager. Mailman has been suggested.

It is likely it will take more than one meeting to accomplish all this.

Join in in two weeks!

Wednesday Night Linux Workshop

2010-02-24T15:34:05+00:00

Wednesday night means Linux Workshop at HAL-PC, 6-9pm.

Be there!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone (which runs a version of OS X, which is a *nix)

Samba SIG Updates: "In our last episode, our heroes..."

2010-02-20T10:39:04+00:00

Here are the notes from the February first Saturday Samba SIG meeting. Remember, the third Saturday is THIS Saturday! 2-4pm at HAL-PC in SIG Room C.

Pardon the bad formatting, I'm in a bit of a time crunch. I'll try to beautify it later.

Today work continued on the mailserver. Robert attempted to set up three interfaces to manage the users without resorting to raw sql statement and got two of them working. GRSoft MailManager is working and is a web based front end. Ispwebadmin we never got working. The final one is a bash script by manu that, although limited, works just fine. While this one won't be used much, it does leave open the possibility for a mass setup of email accounts with a little hacking of the script.

We also got squirrelmail working too. Next up is one of two things, to be decided on in the coming two weeks:

1) Set up a test network with some kirramail servers to test out the postfix mail server and make sure everything is working.

2) Set up virus and spam filtering on the new mailserver. We've got a volunteer to be the evil spammer. He will try to counter our measures to block spam (on the test network). He will have the advantage on knowing what countermeasures we are using.

Come join in !!

Samba SIG Updates: "A long time ago, on a server far, far away..."

2010-02-18T20:07:24+00:00

This coming Saturday is the 3rd Saturday of the month, which means the Samba & Network Admin SIG will be going on at HAL-PC from 2-4pm.

Luckily for all of us, Robert Spotswood has been good enough to condense the activity from prior meetings. You can subscribe to the Samba SIG email list to get these announcements, but I'll also be posting them here. Here then, are the notes from the January meetings.

Subject: update for 01/09/10
Date: Monday 11 January 2010
From: Robert S
To: "SambaSIG Announce"

Rick and I continued to work through the Postfix/Dovecot tutorial. We have now completed it through the authenticated SMTP page. At this point we have a mail server that can send and receive emails, although so far we have only tested it via telnet. If telnet works, so should any regular email client. However, in doing tests that weren't in the tutorial, we discovered a problem with testing it further.

Gunn (at least I think this is his doing) has wisely chosen to block all outbound port 25 connections for most of HAL. This means we can't send email outside HAL to accounts we own. On the flip side, it also means a spammer can't enter HAL, use one of the public computers and leave HAL with a black eye. A good trade-off IMHO. The solution Rick and I came up with to play with the email server further is to set up our own mini-Internet with another email server (or two!). We can use the lab machines next door to SIG C, two of which have DVD drives and removable HD trays. The plan is to get two HDs, put them in removable trays, plug the trays into the two machines, install KirraMail on them, and set them up as other temporary email servers with fake domains so we can send and recieve email from other mail servers. We will need a couple of old HD's donated. We also will need to set up a DNS server for all of them to use, so the email servers can find the MX servers. Rick suggested Dell could write the config and zone files, and all we have to do is plug in the correct IPs once we know them. Can you do it Dell?

We will also have to adjust the resolv.conf on the two (or three) email servers to point to the DNS server, and maybe the client test machines. Since all the other computers get their DNS info via DHCP, this shouldn't cause any
problems with the rest of HAL while we do this. We can also use this setup for trying the other email server configs we will
be looking at.

Questions? Comments?

And THEN!!!

From: Robert S
Date: Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Subject: last meeting (01/15/10)
To: SambaSIG Announce

This time Dell, with just a little assistance from the crowd, set up a DNS server template with three "fake" domains. This is necessary to begin building an email server test environment. The reasons we need this were discussed in the 01/09/2010 update. At this point, it is complete and all we may have to do is change a 6 IP addresses once we know what they are, and reload the config. One HD has been donated to Rick to get an install from his KirraMail CD. We could use another. Anyone? In the meantime, this is enough to being testing the Postfix/Dovecot setup we have, which will hopefully happen next meeting.

We also have a DHCP failover lab coming up, but nothing is scheduled yet.

There you have it, notes from the January meetings. The first Saturday of February will be posted soon. Stay tuned!

HLUG Video Archives

2010-02-16T11:31:56+00:00

If you look in the upper-left hand corner (look now!), you'll see a link to our Video Archive. For those too lazy to look (you know who you are), the direct link is: http://video.houstonlinux.org/

They haven't been updated in quite awhile, but the information is STILL quite interesting. Everything from an overview of Linux (which has surely changed since the video was made) to TCP/IP networking basics (an evergreen topic) to the History of HLUG (and what a history it is!)

So, if you're not able to make it to a meeting or you just want to know more about a topic, be sure to check out our video archive. We hope to start recording our meetings again at some point in the future, but we don't know exactly WHEN that's going to happen.

Also, don't forget about the Wednesday Night H-Town Tech Extravaganza! More on that later.

Well, happy December and stuff!

2009-12-29T12:20:25+00:00

First, some housekeeping details: you may have noticed that I don't update quite as often as in the past. I am no longer an officeholder at the Houston Area League of PC Users, but that organization continues improvement efforts and reorganization as we speak, or type (check their site for the latest).

Second, I continue to press onward with technological interests such as the open source movement, computer security, backup methodology, unusual internet content, publishing, et cetera.

Thirdly, I'll use this blog to prognosticate and pass on interesting tidbits to whomever reads this blog, as well as for my own use (as an online link repository, for example).

Upcoming topics here may include...

The Nmap book by the Nmap guy
BackTrack 4 final release changes and progress
Recent TRK changes and improvements
Adventures In Learning Perl (hopefully without attacking competing languages much)
Adventures In Deleted File Recovery (or Oops I Did It Again, and in a different oddball file format this time)

So stay tuned and let's see what I come up with.

I've made a momentous discovery.

2009-11-18T20:23:59+00:00

Although I am mostly ashamed at having been talked into establishing a Facebook account, I have found something about that system that's actually socially redeeming. Somebody established "INTERCAL Enthusiasts" on FB. I'm not even a proper programmer and this is funny to me:

Here is the "Hello, world" program in INTERCAL:

DO ,1 - #13
PLEASE DO ,1 SUB #1 - #234
DO ,1 SUB #2 - #112
DO ,1 SUB #3 - #112
DO ,1 SUB #4 - #0
DO ,1 SUB #5 - #64
DO ,1 SUB #6 - #194
DO ,1 SUB #7 - #48
PLEASE DO ,1 SUB #8 - #22
DO ,1 SUB #9 - #248
DO ,1 SUB #10 - #168
DO ,1 SUB #11 - #24
DO ,1 SUB #12 - #16
DO ,1 SUB #13 - #214
PLEASE READ OUT ,1
PLEASE GIVE UP

For more of whatever the above is, go to

The Intercal Place

, which is outside FB and should be given the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Yes, from OUR Congress.

Tech Fest A Resounding Success

2009-09-27T20:59:39+00:00

About a half-dozen denizens of Hal were present at the "users groups" table that Tech Fest afforded us, and the one other group that showed, the Houston Java Users Group. As for us, we got over six sheets' worth of email contacts and I'd guess that it totals to over 100 people expressing interest (Chris or Jim Ward may have the sheets and therefore could give an accurate count).

The scene was mostly .net developers but about 20% of the subjects were applicable to other things. It was well attended by head hunters, too; I'll be there next year.

NEWS

2009-09-02T14:52:27+00:00

HAL-PC FUNDRAISER POSTPONED
Due to various time constraints, the Sept. 7th BBQ has been put off at least 6-8 weeks. Stay tuned to the Hal-PC site for re-scheduling notices.
LINUX 101 ROCKS YOUR SOCKS
I dropped into the Linux 101 SIG (special interest group) meeting after the executive committee broke up for the night (and John Davis and me had finished talking about the Houston Punk scene) and saw that they are drawing about the healthy half-dozen or so that my SIG used to draw (I think they're doing OK as well). And I'm not just pimping them because they (Linux 101, 1st Tue. of Month, 7pm, Hal-PC) looked at the latest Linux Mint. But that helped.

TECH FEST at Univ. of Houston

2009-08-28T15:31:22+00:00

Hit this link for what's happening on September the 26th. Seminars!
Presentations! Job and app training possibilities! More geekiness! Such a deal.

BBQ MADNESS

2009-08-28T15:03:40+00:00

On Labor Day, the Hal-PC folk would like to see you at the Volunteer Appreciation / Fund Raising Event! It's open (to other than registered volunteers with enough time logged) to all for a $15 donation that will help upgrade computers and such. Hours (for eating) are 1-6pm. Time to geekily parTAY. Check the link for directions to the Galleria-area HQ building.

New HLUG SIG Leader Elected

2009-08-26T22:56:42+00:00

As I understand it, we have a new leader: Ron Lyle! Congratulations to he who stepped up to the plate. An election was held and Ron won (this would have been last Saturday; I was... let's just say "on call"). So under Ron's direction, meetings continue as the masthead of this blog states: every second and fourth Saturday, 2pm at Hal.

In other news, it's been suggested to me (by Jim Ward) that the Presidency of HLUG, as opposed to the Special Interest Group leadership position for the scheduled time slot, become a separate position (I think he had in mind an emeritus capacity). It seems doable to consider me a publicity figurehead at least in order to continue with this blog and other promotional activities, in spite of my employer's shift changes and their effects, which take me out of the scheduled flow. Also, having a President (in addition to a SIG Leader) maintains a connection with the structure of HLUG that originally merged with Hal about ten years ago; continuity is good.

I agree to such an arrangement if it's amenable to the new leader and the membership. Also, I'll be describing/pimping/reviewing the meetings here into the future (and naturally able to review something when I am not called upon to work Saturday and therefore could show up at the meeting).

See some of you at the Hal Board meeting tomorrow night.