Linux Blog

Gnome 2:24

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:55:37 +0000

As Heise.de reports the new version of desktop graphic environment for Linux Gnome 2:24 were released today.
Basically, there were no major changes. When you read release notes (http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/2.24/), you will find out that there really are no major changes were, but several smaller ones. There were hundreds of bugs eliminated, including:

1st Pidgin is exchanged by Empathy (both programms look is terrible):

Empathy also supports XMPP/SIP audio and video conferencing as available on the Nokia N800/N810 devices (video requires H.263 codecs for GStreamer to be installed). Empathy is a great companion to Ekiga, GNOME’s audio/video SIP client (see Section 2.3 ― Ekiga 3.0).

2nd A new utility to monitor the working time has been added:

For many people in business, it is crucial that they track how much time they assign to each project and client. Everybody has their own system for this, from keeping a diary to making a guess. It’s incredibly tedious. In today’s world almost everything you do somehow involves a computer, so GNOME has added a panel application to make tracking your time easier.

3rd Ekiga in version 3.0 presented:

Ekiga is a fully-featured SIP audio/video conferencing client for GNOME. As part of GNOME 2.24 we’re proud to announce the release of Ekiga 3.0.
As well as a new interface that is centered around your phone book and the presence of your contacts, Ekiga 3.0 features SIP presence support, PBX line monitoring, better video codecs support (H.264, H.263+, MPEG-4 and Theora), accelerated video and optional fullscreen and many SIP-related improvements for robust conferencing.

4th Changes in the file management:
As well as icon and list views, GNOME 2.24 now offers the compact list view, popular in several other desktop environments. Choose the view by selecting View ▸ Compact from the menu (or keyboard shortcut Control+3).
As with icon and list view, the size of the icons in the compact view can be changed using the zoom options in the View menu.
The browser mode of the file manager now supports tabs for rapidly switching between directories within a single browser window.
Today’s modern filesystems are able to handle almost any desired character as part of the filename. Unfortunately this is not the case for the FAT filesystem that is commonly used on many USB thumb drives and portable music players, which is unable to use many common punctuation marks as part of the filename. GNOME 2.24 detects when you are copying files with names that contains characters that cannot be used and automatically converts these characters to a “_” without you having to rename the file yourself.
Automatic filename completion (”tab” completion) has also been improved in GNOME 2.24. Completion of filenames in the location bar using the Tab key is now faster and more predictable. It is also possible to complete any fragment of the path and the interface provides more feedback for when there are no other possible matches available.

5th Deskbar gets more senseless features:

The Deskbar in GNOME 2.24 adds several exciting new plugins: a calculator, Google Search (and code search), Yahoo! and Wikipedia suggestions plus updating of Twitter and identi.ca

6th From now on Linux, you can connect multiple monitors and better than ever manage:
More and more computers (especially laptops) are gaining support for multiple monitors (known as multihead). Users need to be able to connect a second monitor, either as a clone (e.g. a projector for giving presentations) or as an extension of their desktop.
7.Sound Themes:
Sound themes in GNOME are now handled by libcanberra, which implements the Freedesktop.org Sound Theme and Naming Specification. Sound themes can now be installed like icon themes. Using libcanberra also means that an application’s alert sounds are less likely to interfere with your music player or movie player, so you can leave those important alert sounds switched on while watching a fullscreen movie.

8.Better support for DVB:
Powered by the GStreamer multimedia framework, GNOME 2.22 introduced digital television (DVB) capabilities into its Movie Player. Determined to make things even better, developers have worked to enhance this support by adding support for multiple DVB tuners (watch multiple channels at once) and better troubleshooting diagnostics.
They have also worked to improve out-of-the-box (zero configuration) support for the majority of infrared remote controls (using the LIRC framework). This makes it even easier to chill out instead of writing that important report.
Also featuring in GNOME 2.24, support for high-resolution YouTube videos and support for remote (non-local) text subtitling.

9.Neue background graphics
GNOME wants to make your computer look good, which is why we work hard on our themes and artwork. For GNOME 2.24 we ran a competition to collect some of the most intruiging desktop backgrounds our contributors have produced and we’ve shared our favorites with everyone.

There were also some changes that sould improve accessibility, some changes for the developers and improved localization.

OpenSolaris

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:08:34 +0000

Until now I worked exclusively with Linux, although I tried different distributions like SuSE Linux, Debian and Red Hat, I had no experience with other UNIX operating systems. At the weekend I had a bit of time and I decided to make a little experiment - install Open Solaris on my desktop computer. My desktop computer is no longer my main system. I use my laptop for this, that’s why I could format hard disc without any inhibitions.

The first view is deceptive:
The installation was very easy, as I would wish it from a modern operating systems. The appearance of the system is very similar to linux because of GNOME-Desktop. But if you look closer, you will find conceptual differences. This applies, for example, to the file structure. The home directory is situated not under /home/user, but at /export/home. The directory /home, is not writable. Why it is so, I don’t know. A positive fact is that all programs of a third-party will be installed in one directory /opt. Under Linux, it is not the case.
The administration of the system is fundamentally different. The main command for this are svcs and svcadm. These two commands in connection with a lot of parameters, allow a fine tuning. You can find even a graphical user interface that allows starting and stopping of certain services, but it has only a basic functionality.

The system is ready for the daily work immediately after installation. The ony a problem that I was not able to solve at this time is my sound card. Unfortunately, the system does not recognize it and I don’t know any solution yet. That is a pity, because Open SuSE or Debian, doesn’t habe those problems. Maybe I get this problem solved in future.

Search for traces of the attack

admin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:31:14 +0000

in the era of globalization and technological progress, it often happen that Linux computer will be selected as the target of an attack by black hackers. Although the Linux operating system (right configuration required) very safe, but if the system is not properly maintained by the installation of updates and/or incorrectly configured, it can happen that hackers misuse the system for their own mostly illegal aims.
Unfortunately, I could feel those attack on my own skin. It is very important to understand how the attacker got an acces to the system. For this reason, you will need to analyse the logs after the attack. But I must mention here that really good hackers will hide their tracks and it is damned difficult to detect them. Anyway, if you realize that you own system works somehow strange (high traffic externally and internally, hard drives are working constantly, resulting in the slowdown of the computer) it would be the best to isolate temporary your system and examine it.
The first focal points are the log files from /var/log and /root. But you should not forget that you need root privileges to see these log files. It is very important, to analyse the messages of Syslog. For example, you will find these by the iptables blocked connections or who and when logged in the system. The system logs such applications how Samba, Telnet or SSH.
With help of the /etc/passwd / file you can see all existing users in the system. You can verify that an attacker could create an additional user to log in the system later (backdoor). In the file /root/bash_history you will find all commands entered by root in the console. In addition, some hackers try to delete their tracks by deleting log files completely or by editing them and removing their actions from the log files. So you have to make sure whether the log files exist or whether they have large time gaps.
With help of commands such as “who” or “last” you are able to check who is logged into the system, or worked at the system at last.
As a small tip, I would recommend the programm “logwatch”. This software can combine logs and send them to your e-mail address

Ubuntu vs. Linux

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:19:37 +0000

The title may sound bit misleading, because Ubuntu is based on Debian and that’s why it is a part of Linux-family, but I would like to draw the attention to the (degeneration) development of this popular operating system. In my opinion, it is going to the wrong direction.
Someone said that a Unix system was developed by programmers and for programmers. This thesis is still topical. The administration of a computer running on Unix-based operating system requires some expertise. It could be purchased by studying of the manuals and a time investment in practice.
Linux offers a stability and flexibility and cost advantages (most Linux systems are under GNU / GPL and are often free), it’s no wonder that the system is also used for private purposes.
Ubuntu is an attempt to make from a complex and powerful operating system an user-friendly environment that is free for all. The brilliant idea, I think, only the implementation is in my opinion gone too far. This problem is not confined to Ubuntu, but also depends directly with GNOME. The combination of Ubuntu and GNOME makes the use of the operating system simpler, but restricts the functionality significantly. Sometimes I think that the developers think about a potential users that they are stupid. Instead of integrating of new features into the system, they work on the integration of Compiz. I always thought that the only way to compete with Windows, is to develop a stable, flexible and functional system, but what I see is they are trying to copy a look and feel of Windows.

Beryl + Emerald Theme Messenger

admin — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:57:16 +0000

Some time ago I told my friend about my change to Linux. He gave me a link to video on YouTube about new 3D desktop for Ubuntu Edge.
Some related video I saw in internet many months ago. It was a Novell demonstration of the new technology.
Of course I was sold of it and I wanted to have it on my computer. But I needed a lot of time to configure it and correct all of the bugs.
Here are pages, where I found a good help:
http://wiki.beryl-project.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/XGL

Instant messenger for Linux

admin — Sun, 06 May 2007 13:41:38 +0000

Ubuntu Edge has Gaim as standard messenger. My problem is, I don’t like Gaim, because of terrible design. The design of Gaim is so terrible that I could not find words to describe what I’m feeling while I see it. I’m not a designer, but I think that I could make it much better, that it is now.
The existence of Gaim on my computer was stopped with commad:
apt-get remove gaim

But there are not so many messengers for Linux that understand different code pages at the same time and looks like better than Gaim.
As alternative for Gaim I found Simple Instant Messenger (SIM).
SIM looks like as a normal messenger and has code pages choice so you can choose a code page while you are chatting.

Google Earth 4.0 for Linux

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:33:41 +0000

Unfortunately the most of developers, who are developing software for Windows and for Linux, concentrate the main power on windows applications. For example Skype offers their software for different platforms, but only Windows based version has all new features.
The reason of this behaviour is a dimension of windows community.
The one of good exception is a Google Earth 4.0. Google released all versions of their software at the same time.
The main new feature of Google Earth is a new possibility to view famous buildings in 3D view.

Vi (but not Wii ;))

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:11:52 +0000

Some time ago I choose Linux as my general operating system and that’s why I don’t have much experience with bash. I needed it not so often, because I’m simply a home user and not a developer. Yesterday, I updated the Emeranld Theme Manager and after that I could not load the GUI.
The reason of this problem was an update for Emerald Theme Manager, after that Beryl was unable to work properly.
To solve this problem I needed to edit the auto-start file.
But it was for me not so simply, because I’m a n00b 
I could use gEdit or Kate, but now I needed to work with vim.
With help of lynx I found a lot of different HowTos. With help of them I learned some useful commands and now I use vim more often than Kate or gEdit.

Here are some of important and useful commands:

Create or edit a file:
vi Filename (if the file exist, it will be opened, otherwise it will be created)

Editor-Mode: Insert
Command-Mode: Esc

Quit:
:q (if file was not edited)

:wq (save changes and exit)
:q! (ignore changes and exit)

Save a file:
:w

Delete line:
yy

Insert line:
p

Search:
/search-word – the document will be searched from the cursor position until end of the document

Search and replace:
:%s/search-word/replace-word – search-word will be replaced to replace-word

Syntax highlighting
:syntax on – activating of syntax highlighting
:syntax off deactivating of syntax highlighting

Line numbers:
:set number – activating of line numbers
:no number – deactivating of line numbers

Sidux

admin — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 02:49:53 +0000

I think that many of Linux users know about live distribution called “Kanotix”.
I found Kanotix because I searched for the possibility to configure an internet connection with ADSL USB modem AT-AR215 (Allied Telesyn) and Kanotix was the singly distribution that supported this hardware without need to compile and install any software.
I found a board about how to configure AT-AR215 on Linux OS. Yes, there was a board about it! The moderator of this board told me about Kanotix and I tested it. The installation was very simply and I was very pleased with Kanotix.
The community and developers of Kanotix were very active.
Unfortunately the best time of Kanotix has gone. Some of developers lived the project, the last “stable” version is pretty old and the plans of Kano (Jörg Schirottke) are the developing of the distribution based on Debian stable.
If you like Kanotix, but you prefer to use SID-based version you can try Sidux.

Samba

admin — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 11:43:09 +0000

Many of not very experienced Linux users have often problems with network configuration with Linux and windows clients.
In Spite of user-friendly interface of modern Linux it is needed to have some general theoretical and practical knowledge about Linux and internet protocols to be able to establish the network connection with samba.
The Unofficial Samba HowTo :

http://hr.uoregon.edu/davidrl/samba.html will be a big help for those users.