Linux at 20: New challenges, new opportunities

InfoWorld ^ | 29 August 2011 | Neil McAllister

[ShadowAce]

[3Fingas]

Happy Birthday, Linux!



With the development of Ubuntu, Red Hat, Debian, and other user-friendly Linux distributions, there really isn't any good reason to ever pay for a desktop Operating System again. I currently use a Mac, but I also run virtual box vms of Ubuntu and Windows 7 that I can use should a piece of software I have requires it. I am not a Windows hater. In fact, I rather like Windows 7 and Server 2008. Security has been vastly improved and Active Directory for Enterprise System Administration is pretty useful.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Great article.

[ShadowAce]

While my employer has standardized on Windows desktops, I use my linux laptop at work. It makes my job (Linux admin) 100x easier. My work desktop stays powered on for only one application, and I’m working on accessing it’s database through ODBC. I remote (vnc) into the desktop whenever I need that application (not every day), and I get much more work done.

[pyx]

Happy 20th, Linux !

[3Fingas]

Our stuff at work is pretty locked down — vnc is blocked.
I usually use ssh and run our scripts from the command line.

Linux is really the way you want to go if you have administration tasks. There are so many more free and useful Open source tools that you can use, built-in support for various programming languages, etc. The only thing you have to be careful about is where you get your tools. I trust sourceforge and a few other sites. I stay away from any portals based in Russia or China.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

Win 7 is now our standard box at work. Some developers are getting i7 laptops, 8 gig of ram, and 256 gig SSD drives. Many are switching to Ubuntu as soon as they get their new computer. I use XP at work (older pc), and primarily macs at home...My next team is a Red Hat group...so I am about to embark on a learning curve...but looking forward to it.

[oh8eleven]

there really isn't any good reason to ever pay for a desktop Operating System again
Free is good, but it's not without a "price." I just installed Kubuntu 11.04 yesterday and the first thing I noticed was no sound. Ten - fifteen minutes of trouble shooting and still no sound.
I'm a long time Windows user (since day 1) and while I understand there's a learning curve for any SW, finding a solution is not just intuitive or simple with this new OS.

[ShadowAce]

I usually use ssh and run our scripts from the command line.

Yup. When I'm doing my "real" work, it's all scripts and command line.

[ShadowAce]

I've never been a fan of Ubuntu or its variants. I find it harder to work with than Red Hat or Fedora.

But it could just be familiarity. :)

[3Fingas]

Yes, there is a learning curve associated with Linux. One of the biggest drawbacks to Linux is hardware support. A good strategy when considering installing Linux is to use a slightly older computer with common device cards. You should research, the specific device card and see if it’s on the supported hardware list of that particular distribution. If you stick in the latest and greatest sound card or video card, you may have problems.

Here’s some a sound card troubleshooting link:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshooting

Another approach is to download and create an .iso image (bootable version of Linux) and run it on your machine. You don’t have to install the operating system, just boot your computer to run it from a cd rom or thumbdrive. If you don’t notice any hardware problems while running the OS from a cd or thumbdrive, you probably are safe to permanently install it on your pc.

Often times, changing the card in question is an easier fix.
Let us know how it turns out.

[fellowgeek]

Glad to meet fellow geeks here on FR. I have 2 Debian servers running Debian “Lenny” with ISPConfig and Webmin.

All installs/scripts/monitoring the email log/etc, are run at the command line either at the console or PUTTY, but all my website hosting services are setup in ISPConfig. All other server management is done in Webmin. Fabulous application.

I also have a Windows 7 Ultimate machine with a custom app on it, that for some reason, I can't reach it from the ‘outside’. Frustrating Windows!

[oh8eleven]

Here’s some a sound card troubleshooting link
Thanks, I'll check it out. PC is two years old so sound IDing the sound card shouldn't have been a problem.

You don’t have to install the operating system, just boot your computer to run it from a cd rom or thumbdrive.
Actually that's what I did - burned the ISO to a CD and then created a bootable USB flashdrive (16G). With a 4G persistent file on the flash drive, changes and additions to the OS remain session to session.
I'll try it on my laptop a little later to see if I get the same problem.

[ShadowAce]

Trying burning a Fedora Live CD. See if it works any better.

[3Fingas]

Yeah, it sounds like you are doing everything right.

I also use knoppix 6.4 bootable cd rom. It recognizes all the hardware on my Macbook which is amazing since I went through 3 other bootable distros having all sorts of problems.
In fact, I have never had problems with knoppix iding hardware on the several computers on which I have tried. it.

[oh8eleven]

Fedora Live CD
Tried it, not bad and the sound tests worked fine.
Gotta' say though that I like the GUI for Kubunta a little better.
Six of one, half a dozen of another.

[ShadowAce]

Which Fedora spin did you use? There is a KDE Fedora Live CD that runs the same window manager as Kubuntu.

Whether they are configured alike is a different topic, but they can be, I guess.

[oh8eleven]

Downloaded, then burned "Fedora-15-i686-Live-Desktop." I think it defaults to Gnome3 (?).
Didn't make any real changes - changes to live CD are current session only (as you know). Thanks ...