Open Source Pixels

How to dual-boot Ubuntu 12.04 and Windows 7

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:48:48 +0000

Now that you know what the overall goal is, how do you get from here to there? First, understand that if you have a computer running Windows 7, that Windows 7?s boot manager is responsible for making sure that the system boots. Installing Ubuntu on the same hard drive throws another boot manager into the mix, so the most important decision you are going to make about this, is which boot manager (Windows 7?s boot manager or Ubuntu’s) do you want to be responsible for primary boot operations?

LPI exam prep: Network client management

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:51:37 +0000

In this tutorial, the fifth in a series of seven tutorials covering intermediate network administration on Linux, David Mertz continues preparing you to take the Linux Professional Institute Intermediate Level Administration (LPIC-2) Exam 202. By following this tutorial, you will examine several protocols' centralized configuration of network settings on clients within a network. DHCP is widely used to establish basic handshaking to clients machines such as assigning IP addresses. At a higher level, NIS and (more often) LDAP are used for arbitrary shared information among machines on a network. This tutorial also discusses PAM, which is a flexible, networked, user authentication system.

Mandriva Linux to "return to the community"

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:09:45 +0000

The Mandriva Blog contains a
short posting stating Mandriva SA’s intent to hand control of the
distribution over to the community. “This means that the future of
the distribution will not be arbitrary decided by the Mandriva company
anymore, but we intend to let the distribution evolve in and under the
caring responsibility of the community. Mandriva SA will of course be a
part of this entity and will support it with direct contributions.”
How the governance of this community will work is to be worked out.

Linux Desktop Space is no Place to Concede

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:54:26 +0000

The desktop is not going to disappear suddenly because there is a movement to include mobile devices. On the contrary, I see years in which a business will adopt a multitude of new devices, and the infrastructure needed to make them all work coherently.

DRM books need to disappear. NOW. (Or, my horrific experience with www.kalahari.com)

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:57:15 +0000

DRM turned a 10 minute purchase into a 2 and a half nightmare (and counting). I wanted to buy a book: I ended up in a journey which made it dead clear that in a sane world, there is absolutely no space for DRM-protected contents. The only real warning I have about this article is that it may make you feel sick.Read the story at [url=http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/drm_books_need_disappear_now_or_my_horrific_experience_wwwkalaharicom]Free Software Magazine[/url].

Microsoft to charge customers $99 to remove OEM ‘crapware’

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:41:48 +0000

Summary: So, the OEMs make money from installing crapware onto PCs, and now Microsoft is making money removing it. Makes you realize why more and more people are buying Apple hardware.

Anatomy of Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux)

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:44:37 +0000

Linux has been described as one of the most secure operating systems available, but the National Security Agency (NSA) has taken Linux to the next level with the introduction of Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux). SELinux takes the existing GNU/Linux operating system and extends it with kernel and user-space modifications to make it bullet-proof. If you're running a 2.6 kernel today, you might be surprised to know that you're using SELinux right now! This article explores the ideas behind SELinux and how it's implemented.

An Infrastructure for Server Clusters for High Availability

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:40:02 +0000

A detailed overview of an infrastructure to build a FOSS cluster for high availability (HA).

Tips for Linux Beginners

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:42:51 +0000

If you are a regular user of Windows or Mac OSX, you will feel like being lost in a strange world in the first time you install and try Linux as the operating system for your computer. In this article, I will show you some tips to help you get accustomed to the magnificent world of Linux as a beginner.

Oracle v. Google – Patent Infringement Instructions, Damage Phase Witnesses, and the Continuing Saga of Infringer’s Profits

os-news — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:45:40 +0000

The jury is out on the issue of patent infringement, and the instructions issued to the jury (1153 [PDF; Text])are more favorable to Google than originally drafted. Gone are the references to "blind willfulness" and included are the definitions more favorable to Google than to Oracle. The Special Verdict Form (Text) is shortened as well given that the parties stipulated to indirect infringement on a finding of direct infringement.