Aptitude vs apt-get

Aptitude

Checkinstall

Checkinstall is a nice tool to create simple .deb-packages that you can use in your local network (e.g. if you have to install the same piece of software on multiple computers running Debian). It lets you compile and install software from the sources like before, but with the difference that you end up with a simple Debian package which also means that you can easily uninstall the software you just compiled by running dpkg -r!

Checkinstall Instructions

Webmin Setup

Webmin

Nvidia Driver Installation for Suse

Nvidia Drivers

NVU Web Program

NVU Web Maker

Free Windows and Linux Virus Program

Grisoft Free Virus Protection

Joomla CMS on Ubuntu

I haven't tried it but this seems to be a straightforward how-to.

Joomla CMS Installation Instructions

Ubuntu and Belkin F5D7050

 

Belkin F5D7050 Ver 3000 w/Ralink rt73driver. This is an excellent tutorial and how-to for getting a USB WiFI setup for the Belkin device.

Ubuntu Forum F5D7050

Ubuntu Server Guide

Ubuntu Server guide gives installation poiters on ftp etc

Server Guide

Wireless Cards Supported in Ubuntu 6.10

 

Ubuntu Wireless Cards Supported

Ubuntu 6.10 Wiki and Application Install Guide

This is an "unofficial" guide but has an easy to use format that is ideal for getting information on how to install new applications.

Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Wiki

XAMPP Linux/Windows Apache Server

If a complete Apache. PHP, MySQL server solution is needed this looks interesting although I have not tried it.

XAMPP

Ubuntu: Adding Packaages

This gives all the information and steps to add additional resources to Ubuntu. For examle fo yiu need to add programming capability gcc etc will be needed.

Package Loading for Ubuntu Edgy

Kbuntu Server Setup

Ubuntu/Kbuntu Server

Ubuntu Root Setup

Unlike other Linux distros Ubuntu does NOT ask you to set up a root account during setup.

Here are the instructions on how to set a root user:

Ubuntu Root Account

Dual Booting Windows XP and Linux

Windows and Linux Together

Possible XP Errors

Ubuntu and Kbuntu

Ubuntu Main Page (Gnome window GUI system)

Kbuntu Home Page (KDE window GUI system )

Kbuntu when you already have Ubuntu

Audio/Video Formats

Linux Tutorial Online

 

Here is a linux tutorial series for the beginner

Linux Tutorial

Compression and Archiving..Zip, Tar etc

Archiving and File Compression

Secure Hard Drive Erasure

Here is a script that will erase a hard drive by writting random data to it.

Secure Hard Drive Erasure

Linux Application Finder

This web has many application links:

Find Linux Applications

Scribus and Fonts

If you need help with the layout program Scribus and foonts here is a good link.

Scribus and Fonts at Tux Magazine

Font Sources

Linux Magazine Tips of the Day

These are useful and easy to unerstand.

Linux Magazine Tips

Shrinking HD Partitions

Shrink a Linux Partition explains how an existing disk partition can be resized.

This is with the MSFT Writer Blog

This posting uses the Windows Live Writer (Beta) blog editor.

Installing a rpm.bin file

This came from a SUN web page. I need to make sure it works. (Yes I tried it and it works fine)

Installation of RPM File

Use these instructions if you want to install Java SE Runtime Environment in the form of RPM packages. If you want to use the self-extracting binary file instead, see Installation of Self-Extracting Binary.

1. Download and check the file size.

You can download to any directory you choose.

Before you download the file, notice its byte size provided on the download page on the web site. Once the download has completed, compare that file size to the size of the downloaded file to make sure they are equal.

2. Become root by running the su command and entering the super-user password.

3. Extract and install the contents of the downloaded file.

Change directory to where the downloaded file is located and run these commands to first set the executable permissions and then run the binary to extract and run the RPM file:

chmod a+x jre-1_6_0_-linux-i586-rpm.bin

./jre-1_6_0_-linux-i586-rpm.bin
      

Note that the initial "./" is required if you do not have "." in your PATH environment variable.

The script displays a binary license agreement, which you are asked to agree to before installation can proceed. Once you have agreed to the license, the install script creates and runs the file jre-1_6_0_-linux-i586.rpm in the current directory.

NOTE - If instead you want to only extract the RPM file but not install it, you can run the .bin file with the -x argument. You do not need to be root to do this.

4. Delete the bin and rpm file if you want to save disk space.

5. Exit the root shell.

SUSE 10.1

A SUSE 10.1 DVD disk came with my last issue of Linux (That mag from the UK). I really was satisfied with SUSE 10 but I thought I would give 10.1 try as a new install.

I was not happy. Although it installed, my Belkin wireless card was not recognized and setup. SUSE 10.0 WiFi support was super, at least for me.

I dumped 10.1 and reinstalled 10.0. Happy to say that WiFi worked, once agian, first time. I will try SUSE 10.2 when it comes out

PC is Back Running...On to the Web Server

Well the SUSE 10.0 box is alive again. Having died after installing a new CPU heatsink and fan I decided to remove it and check for a cracked CPU package. I removed the CPU. It looked fine.

I then put it all back together and it worked. I guess a CPU pin was having a bad contact day.

Now I am investigating how to set up a web server with my dynamic IP DSL connection.

PC Goes Bust

Well the Linux Box has died or at least it will not start. After installing a new--quieter-- CPU cooler it failed.

I can't even get the BIOS screen to come up.

Oh well. It was an old PC.

Good Book on Middle East

What Went Wrong? The Clash Between Islam and Modernoty in the Middle East by Bernard Lewis

The Linux Broadcom 4301 Driver Project

There is a group working on Broadcom chip Linux drivers.

Belkin F5D7000 WiFi PCI Card Works Great!

After several days working on other WiFI PCI cards I got a Belkin device at
CompUSA for $35.

Details:
Belkin Version 5000
Wireless G
Part #: F5D7000 - P10097-C (This came from sticker on the PC Board)
IC-ID: 4711A-WW4201D (This came from sticker on the PC Board)

Part # F5D7000 (This came from the Box)

My steps:
===========
1. Put card in PCI slot
2. Power Up
3. Setup in Yast (Card was discovered automatically)
4. Entered root shell
5. Card is shown as ath0
6. iwconfig shows the Yast details were picked up
7. From shell:
rcnetwork stop eth0
rcnetwork stop ath0
rcnetwork start ath0

8. Go to web browser...It worked.

For the more technical savy this wifi card uses an Atheros chipset.

Shell Command of the Day: uname

Ever need to know your systems version of Linux? The uname command is your friend.

NAME

uname - print system information

SYNOPSIS

uname [OPTION]...

DESCRIPTION

Print certain system information. With no OPTION, same as -s.

-a, --all
print all information, in the following order:

-s, --kernel-name
print the kernel name

-n, --nodename
print the network node hostname

-r, --kernel-release
print the kernel release

-v, --kernel-version
print the kernel version

-m, --machine
print the machine hardware name

-p, --processor
print the processor type

-i, --hardware-platform
print the hardware platform

-o, --operating-system
print the operating system

--help display this help and exit

--version

Linux Distribution and Unix Genealogy Charts

Both of these diagrams were found during my web surfing. The Linux dsitribution chart may not be complete.


Linux Distribution History

Unix History

AirLink101 AWLH5025 MIMO PCI ..No Success

After spending more than a few hours on the AirLink101 AWLH5025 WiFi card I, at least, concluded this Wifi card does not work with Linux.

I went the NDISWRAPPER route first. No joy there. Then I tried the driver solution/system available at Linuxant.

The Linuxant interface was a joy to use but, unfortunatley did not work either.

I also tried a Linksys WMP11 card but that did not work.

Assistance from chat room groups, from users far more knowledgeable than I can hope to be, was welcome and very good.

I now have three WiFi cards that do not work. An eBay sale is coming!

Mandriva 2006 and Wifi: No Luck yet

All linux distributions appear to be weak in WiFi connectivity. Actually this is not a function of the distributions as much as the WiFi drivers available for the cards.

One complicating factor is that the drivers are specific to the types of integrated circuits (ICs) on a WiFi card. Manufactures can change an IC and still call the card by the same name.

So far no luck with the WiFi connection using the AWLH5025 card.

BTW for those who need an source of linix distributions that are inexpensive take a look at:
PCTech101

Mandriva 2006, Fedora 5 and Suse10

I have a wireless card I am trying to get up. It is a MIMO PCI card made. Model AWH5025. Since the WiFi card has no Linux driver ndiswrapper will have to be used.

My success with ndiswrapper has been mixed. I once got a different card working on SUSE 9.3. I followed a set of published instructions but they did not get the WiFi conenction working. One day I did a SUSE check for new programs/upgraded. I then rebooted and WOW wifi worked. Unfortunately I never knew what changed to fix my issue.

I tried the AWH5025 card with Fedora 5 but was nver able to ger ndiswrapper to work. Now I am trying with Mandriva 2006. During installation I found a menu that said to load ndiswrapper. I assume that went well. In uisng the Mandriva wifi setup I was able to laod the RT61.inf file and set the ESSID and WEP password. The WIFI card is indicated as being set up as wlaon0 but it doesn't work. The "green" light on the PCI card frame does light up a solid green so I guees I am getting power.

Dead in the water so far. Numerous google searches have brought up conflicting ndiswrapper info and the need , or not, to reocmpile the kernel.

I am very impressed with the value in the Linux packages but the WIFI support is still awful.