Linux Archive

KernelTrap Interview With Rusty Russell

Submitted by Jeremy Andrews 2003-09-23 Linux 3 Comments

KernelTrap has interviewed Rusty Russell, a humorous and productive contributer to Linux Kernel development. Author of ipchains, netfilter/iptables, futexes, per-cpu counters, hot pluggable CPU support, and the new in-kernel module loading code, Rusty's efforts have had a significant impact on the upcoming 2.6 kernel. For a humorous sample of Rusty's wit, one only needs to look at his email signature which reads, "Anyone who quotes me in their sig is an idiot. -- Rusty Russell."

Securing Sun Linux Systems: Part I, Local Access and File Systems

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-22 Linux 12 Comments

This article is the first part of a two-part series that provides recommendations for securing the Sun Linux 5.0 operating system. This part provides recommendations for securing local access and file systems. The information in this article applies only to the Sun Linux 5.0 distribution, although some of the techniques or recommendations might apply to other Linux distributions. This article is ideal for a reader with a beginner to Intermediate level of expertise.

Maximum Linux Kernel Performance

Submitted by Jeremy Andrews 2003-09-21 Linux 13 Comments

Anyone interested in squeezing maximum performance out of their GNU/Linux operating system and willing to compile a new kernel will be interested in this KernelTrap article about Andrew Morton's -mm patchset. The patchset currently offers better stability and performance than the mainline 2.6.0-test kernel, as well as containing numerous functionality enhancements. Much of the additional functionality is described, as well as providing simple step by step installation instructions. Reading this, one can understand why Linux creator Linus Torvalds has chosen Andrew to soon become the 2.6 maintainer.

Source Mage and Onebase Linux

Submitted by Ladislav 2003-09-21 Linux 43 Comments

The concept of source-based distributions, where all software is compiled from source code locally for maximum control and performance, took off with the introduction of Gentoo Linux and its wonderful package management called Portage.

Lessons in Packaging Linux Applications

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-20 Linux 9 Comments

This article records experiences with packaging an application for many distributions and shows areas in which packagers, Linux distributions, and developers can improve coordination for better and easier distribution. The author looks at communication problems, packaging errors, package dependencies, menu entries, and bug tracking systems.

Measuring Linux Scheduler Improvements

Submitted by Jeremy Andrews 2003-09-19 Linux 25 Comments

Mark Wong recently posted a series of benchmark results that show how the Linux scheduler has improved since early on in the 2.5 development cycle. The results were generated with Rusty Russell's Hackbench, a modified 'chat benchmark'. Read the full story at KernelTrap.

Yellow Dog Linux 3.0.1 Released

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-18 Linux 20 Comments

DistroWatch reports that Terra Soft Solutions has updated its Yellow Dog Linux product to version 3.0.1: "Yellow Dog Linux v3.0.1 ships with all errata as of 2003/09/04, kernel 2.4.22 (Xserve rev2, PowerBook 17" rev1 sans fan support), and improved installer (no more dual drive bug!). Available now from the Terra Soft Store and YDL.net Enhanced accounts." See the announcement on the distribution's home page and the YDL 3.0 errata page for further details. Yellow Dog Linux 3.0.1 is available from the Terra Soft Store from US$25 or to members of the US$5-per-month YDL.net Enhanced subscription service.

Ark Linux 1.0 alpha 9 Released

Submitted by Bernhard Rosenkraenzer 2003-09-16 Linux 10 Comments

Ark Linux 1.0 alpha 9, a Linux distribution designed primarily for new Linux users, has been released and is available for download here. Highlights of this release include, among the usual set of package updates and bugfixes, graphical bootup, semi-automatic recovery of corrupted XFree86 config files, and an improved network card configuration tool.The full release notes can be found here.

Linux Cluster at Los Alamos For Nuke Simulations

David Adams 2003-09-16 Linux 24 Comments

Los Alamos National Laboratory has been a long-time supercomputer user, which they primarily use for models used to simulate nuclear explosions and estimate the health of America's aging arsenal. They're about to install one of the world's most powerful Linux clusters, a new 2,816-processor, 1,408 node system called Lightning, built by cluster company Linux Networx. The cluster will be using Mellanox's InfiniBand server interconnect technology to connect the nodes.

Linux the Most Successfully Compromised Operating System

Submitted by Bascule 2003-09-12 Linux 59 Comments

Linux, not Microsoft Windows, remains the most-attacked operating system, a British security company reports. During August, 67 per cent of all successful and verifiable digital attacks against on-line servers targeted Linux, followed by Microsoft Windows at 23.2 per cent. A total of 12,892 Linux on-line servers running e-business and information sites were successfully breached in that month, followed by 4,626 Windows servers, according to the report.

Gartner: Linux on Desktop Not Necessarily Cheaper

David Adams 2003-09-11 Linux 37 Comments

A recent Gartner study (which unlike the Forrester one from this week was not commissioned by Microsoft) finds that while some businesses can save money by migrating desktop systems to Linux, others would do better to stick with Windows. Companies that have held off upgrading for quite some time and use a limited number of applications on the desktop may save money with Linux, but those that have already spent the time and effort to upgrade to recent Windows versions and those that depend on a wide range of apps should stay with Windows.

VARBusiness: The Rise Of Linux

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-10 Linux 1 Comment

If there's one trend that exemplifies the entire state of the application-development world, it's the transformation of Linux from a curiosity to a core competency. And in the process, Linux has gone from an open-systems destination to a solution providers' competitive operating-system weapon of choice with which to design, build and deploy applications and solutions. Read the article at VARBusiness.

Linux 2.6: A Breakthrough for Embedded Systems

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-09 Linux 28 Comments

Linux 2.6 introduces many new features that make it an excellent operating system for embedded computing. Among these new features are enhanced real-time performance, easier porting to new computers, support for large memory models, support for microcontrollers, and an improved I/O system. This whitepaper at LinuxDevices.com describes the new functions and features of the latest Linux kernel of special interest to embedded system developers. On other Linux kernel news, Linus Torvalds released Linux 2.6.0-test5 for general testing.

Symbian Vs Linux: Who Will Win in Wireless? First 2.6 Embedded Linux

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-08 Linux 9 Comments

From NewMobileComputing: Operating systems do make a difference in mobile phones, writes Wireless Center Editor Guy Kewney—and Linux is looking stronger every day, eWEEK says. On other embedded news, LynuxWork's BlueCat Linux 5.0, based on a 2.6-series Linux kernel, is now available for public beta testing, with a projected final release date set for November. LynuxWorks claims this to be the first public availability of embedded Linux based on the new kernel. Key new features include: improved kernel preemption; 0(1) scheduler; improved POSIX threading support.

Desktop Linux Consortium Announces Boston Area Conference

Submitted by Jill Ratkevic 2003-09-04 Linux 8 Comments

The Desktop Linux Consortium (DLC) announced their first conference today, hosted at Boston University's Corporate Training Center (BUTrain) located just outside of Boston, Massachusetts in Tyngsboro on November 10, 2003. The conference marks the group's first event that brings together industry leaders to share their insights and discuss the trends, technologies, and solutions that are driving the next generation of desktops based on Linux.

Interview with a Maddog

Submitted by mangeli 2003-09-04 Linux 5 Comments

Tinyminds.org sits down with Linux International Director, Jon "Maddog" Hall. Jon has been in the computer industry since 1969, using Unix since 1977, and Linux since 1994. He has been a software engineer, systems administrator, product manager, marketing manager and professional educator. Jon has been the Executive Director of Linux International since 1995, the first four years as a volunteer. Jon has been employed by VA Linux systems, Compaq Computer Corporation in the Digital UNIX Marketing group and Bell Laboratories among other companies. Read the full interview at Tinyminds.org.

AutoPackage 0.3 Released

Guest post by Mike Hearn 2003-09-03 Linux 34 Comments

I wrote an article a while ago on Linux packaging and Autopackage. There seemed to be quite a lot of interest in it so we got version 0.3 released today.

Momentum Computer Offers YDL with PPC Embedded Systems

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 Linux 2 Comments

Momentum Computer, a developer specializing in quick turnaround of high-performance board-level solutions, has announced that all of their PowerPC-based single-board computers will now be available with the complete Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) operating system package from Terra Soft Solutions, Inc. Additionally, HackInTheBox recently posted a review of YDL for Macs.

SuSE, Mandrake, and Lycoris Reviews

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 Linux 12 Comments

TuxReports has a team review of SuSE, Mandrake, and Lycoris with screenshots. Read it here.

Onebase Linux 1.0 Released

Submitted by P.B.Prabhuram 2003-09-03 Linux 9 Comments

DistroWatch reports that the first stable version for source-based Linux distribution Onebase Linux 1.0 has been released. Grab it from the server or support the project by buying it from their store. Read its full announcement, change-Log and base-packs or download it (222 MB).