December 23 2010

Linux 101: A Newcomer?S Guide

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are you wishing to try the new Linux 101 version at your desktop or for your organization? Well, it could be a tough task if you do not know what exactly to do. Especially if you have no knowledge of the Linux operating system and are planning to covert from Windows, it could be mind-boggling. However, if you are one of such people then here is a guide for you. Keep in mind that you will have to spend a good amount of money and effort to understand how Linux 101 works. Here is a step-by-step information guide that you will need to decide if this is the operating system for you, to choose a Linux distribution, to install and configure and to get the software applications for it.

The first thing you need to know is what an operating system is. Then, find out the difference between UNIX and Windows. Until and unless you know what UNIX is all about, you will not be able to use Linux in the best possible way. Linux belongs to the UNIX family only and that is why it is important to know about it.

Once you start reading about all this information, you will get to know that Linux is the ultimate UNIX. UNIX does not refer to any single operating system but it contains a number of flavors. Linux was written with the UNIX architecture by Linus Torvalds in 1943. Since that very day, it has created a revolution for UNIX. Some people consider it a better operating system; better even than the Microsoft Windows. It makes use of open source and free software that is really relished by its users.

After you have gathered enough information about Linux, you will have to choose a Linux distribution. Again there are hundreds of choices. If you think you are not educated enough to choose the right distribution for yourself then it is better to take consult. You can consult your friends or colleagues who are already using Linux to know about the Linux 101. Once you get hold of the operating system, you will have to pick some useful software applications. They are needed for both – business and fun. You can easily find the various options available on the Internet.

You can find out all the above mentioned information through the Internet but you will need personal attention from an expert to learn how to use Linux 101. Therefore, the best way to follow these steps is to start with finding a Linux guru. Find an expert who has thorough knowledge of Linux and make him/her to teach and help operate Linux 101. However, keep in mind that having a certification to understand Linux is not a necessity.

Summary: To understand and start using the Linux 101 operating system, one needs to start from the scratch. From understanding the concept of an operating system, Linux, Windows to the special features of Linux – only an expert can help. Nevertheless, getting informed about certain things through the Internet can help one achieve the target soon!

Read more articles on Round Update
Written By: infoXS


Article from articlesbase.com

November 30 2010

Linux Data Recovery When Partition Table Gets Damaged

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Modern computers allows you to install two or more operating systems on single hardware. This configuration is known as Multi-boot (generally called dual-boot). You can use features of different operating systems and can work independently on them. In some situations, where you use dual-boot configuration with Linux operating system, you may face serious issues of system metadata structure corruption that leads to serious data loss. At this point, it become essential to go for Linux Data Recovery to get your mission-critical data back. In a practical scenario, you might come across following error message when you try to install Fedora Core to make your system dual-boot with any other Linux distribution:

“The partition table on device is corrupted. To create new partitions it must be initialized, causing the loss of all data on this drive” In such cases, the partitions still boot properly. But under the System Tools-> Hardware browser, you just see a large green bar for hard drive. It does not show the hard drive volumes. When you run fdisk to perform Data Recovery Linux, you get following result: “Disk /dev/hdc: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes 16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 193821 cylinders Units = cylinders of 1008 * 512 = 516096 bytes Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary. Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary. Partition table entries are not in disk order”

Root of the problem

As sated in the first error message, this issue generally occurs due to corruption to the partition table. Partition table is the most important data structure of Linux operating system that stores critical information about hard drive partitions. This information is required by the operating system to access hard drive partitions. In case of damage to the partition table, all of your critical data gets deleted and you need Linux Recovery to get your data back. This is possible through Linux Data Recovery software. The applications use advanced scanning algorithms to systematically scan the damaged hard drive and retrieve lost data from it. They have simple and interactive graphical user interface to allow Do It Yourself recovery. With read-only and non-destructive conduct

Stellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery is the most effective and advanced tool that ensures absolute recovery in all cases. It supports recovery from Ext4, Ext3, Ext2 and ReiserFS file system volumes. The software is works well with all major distributions of Linux operating system.

Author is researching on Linux operating system super block corruption error that become the cause of data loss. For lost linux recovery author suggested to use linux data recovery software to recover lost linux data.

November 15 2010

You Dont Have To Switch Totally When Using Linux Desktop

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When people talk about operating systems and compared and contrast them, the debate generally revolves around the argument of which one would you use if you could only use one operating system and not have access to the others.  These debates do have some validity but the reality is that a person can use as many operating systems as they want. 
Much of the time when talking about the Linux desktop someone might point out that they can’t switch because of a function or application they are tied to on their machine.  The reality is that a switch is not needed to use Linux.

Since Linux is free and open source, the software can be distributed and installed to as many computers, external hard drives, USB sticks, SD cards, and other devices as you wish.

There are no limitations.  The idea that someone couldn’t use Linux or it’s features while preferring another operating system are not mutually exclusive.

Some use Linux in a virtual machine.  The advantage of this is that this gives the user a way of surf the internet without infecting their main machine.  There are too many vulnerabilities while surfing the internet anymore that using a virtual machine with Linux gets rid of the headaches completely.

Another use of Linux is for fast boot option on their hard drive.  There are versions of Linux that boot up quickly that can be used for quick connections to the internet to take care of 90% of the computer’s tasks.  These are great on laptops and netbooks.

Some also use Linux as a way of testing out server software.  It’s easy to run a multitude of server-like functions on a Linux distribution or server.  This can be done installed to the hard drive or on a virtual machine.

There are a variety of reasons why learning to use Linux as a tool or as an operating system are important.  Switch or not, the benefits are helpful.

The author has recently set up a site helping you to choose the perfect roman blinds, If you have searched long and hard for the perfect roman window blinds then take a look at his site for information and reviews to help you with your purchase.

August 19 2010

Boss – Indian Operating System

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

We, Indians, are using personal computers since last 25 years. But in these 25 years we are using imported operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Apple, Mac.

But now you can have an operating system which is totally Indian.

BOSS (Bharat Operating System Solutions) GNU/Linux distribution developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) derived from Debian for enhancing the use of Free/ Open Source Software throughout India. BOSSGNU/Linux – a key deliverable of NRCFOSS has crossed another milestone by releasing version 3.0. BOSS GNU/Linux Version 3.0 is coupled with GNOME and KDE Desktop Environment with wide Indian language support & packages, relevant for use in the Government domain. Currently BOSS GNU/Linux Desktop is available in almost all the Indian Languages such as Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Bodo, Urdu, Kashmiri, Maithili, Konkani, Manipuri , which will enable the mainly non-English literate users in the country to be exposed to ICT and to use the computer more effectively.

The accessibility of BOSS Linux will have a constructive impact on the digital device in India as more people can now have access to software in their local language to use the Internet and other information and communications technology (ICT) facilities. Community Information centers (CIC’s) and internet cafes will also benefit from BOSS GNU/Linux as this software can be utilized to power these outlets and is affordable and easy to install, use and support.

Four states viz. Tamilnadu, Kerala, Bihar and Chhattisgadh have decided to cover e-governance system with BOSS.

Information to download the software is available at BossLinux.in

Without installing it on hard disk, can be used from DVD.

It is useful only when every Indian use this software.

Incoming search terms for the article:

August 01 2010

Puppy Linux

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

That’s a Good Puppy

Today, I am going to talk about a Linux distribution that, in my opinion, is quite understated.  Right now you’re thinking: Wait, Linux?  I can’t use Linux, that stuff’s only for the expert geeks.

Well, I’m afraid that ripe old excuse isn’t nearly as valid as it once was.

Linux distributions are successfully working to become friendlier to the average user; while at the same time, becoming more and more compatible with Windows applications.  In fact, increasingly more people are using their favorite Linux distros to completely replace their current operating system (OS).  There are hundreds of distributions to choose from that are uniquely crafted and developed, all at no cost to you.  You can even create your very own if you’re feeling really ambitious!

But this is all a bit off topic because I’m here to shed some light on one distribution in particular: Puppy Linux.  With its lightweight interface, its immaculate speed and pocket-friendly size, Puppy has gradually matured into an incredibly useful and dependable tool that is sure to make your chaotic day a bit more bearable.

 

Puppy’s got it all.

Granted, Puppy didn’t start out to be so practical initially, it has grown to encompass all of the most common features for everyday use, such as: multiple web browsers, word processors, photo editors, PDF viewers, instant messaging clients, even media players and burners.  You can find a full list of preinstalled applications (pets) here.

You say that list isn’t thorough enough for your needs?  Installing additional applications is as easy as accessing Puppy’s PETget Package Manager.  Compartmentalized by categories, the PET package repository makes it effortless to find and install all of the supplementary applications that you crave.

 

Fast Puppy.

Puppy’s astonishing speed can be attributed to both its jaw-dropping size and its atypical method of operating exclusively in memory.  Weighing in at a whopping 70 Megabytes, Puppy’s most charming trait is its portability.  Load it on to a CD or USB drive and take it anywhere!  The latest versions even allow you to save your data to the device after each use, permitting you to take your files and your entire OS with you everywhere you go.  Now, that’s convenient!

The latter of Puppy’s noteworthy characteristics is that of its speed.  The secret is that the entire system loads and runs in our computer’s volatile memory called Random-access memory (RAM).  Requiring a mere minimum of 32MB of RAM*, Puppy Linux can even run without any existing hard drives in place!

 

Puppy loves kids, too!

Worried about the malicious junk that may make its way on to your computer when the kids are surfing the web?  Not anymore.  Each time you shut Puppy down, all of the temporary data is wiped.  Say goodbye to pesky malware and Trojans infiltrating your PC.

 

Well, that is Puppy Linux in a nutshell, folks.  So next time you find yourself pounding your head against the monitor of that sluggish PC, save your valuable time (and not to mention a throbbing headache), by loading your Puppy disc and begin soaring through today’s lengthy to-do list.

 

*To compare, Windows Vista requires at least 2 Gigabytes of RAM, or 2048 Megabytes, just to be installed.

Lauren Gerst
MLD Services
http://mldserviceslex.com/

July 29 2010

Linux and Unix Software Development and Its Use in Embedded Systems

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Unix and Linux are both POSIX compliant operating systems. POSIX defined a standard interface to the low-level operating system which greatly reduces the amount of work required to produce UNIX and Linux software.

Unix and Linux software development

The standard user command line and scripting interface was based on the Korn shell. Other user-level programs, services and utilities include awk, echo, ed, and hundreds of others. Required program-level services include basic I/O (file, terminal, and network) services. POSIX also defines a standard threading library API which is supported by most modern operating systems.

Currently POSIX documentation is divided in three parts:

POSIX Kernel APIs

POSIX Commands and Utilities

POSIX Conformance Testing

Linux Development requires both POSIX and 3rd party/native GDI and GUI frameworks to create usable Linux and UNIX software. DOTNUTSHELL can create highly scalable and usable POSIX software which can be run on UNIX and Linux. The software can range from simple utilities to distributed software which has to be run on heterogenous platforms such as Linux, UNIX and Windows.

Linux and UNIX development is also the desired platform and framework for the creation of embedded software:

Embedded software and embedded systems, are those that require 100% of resources shared across a single platform often used to monitor, update and control hardware.

DOTNUTSHELL has experience in creating robust, efficient embedded software running as a monolithic Operating system, or a Kernel add-on in an Embedded Linux distribution.

It is the responsibility of the underlying embedded software system to maintain state information, persist changes to hardware configuration as well as gaurantee transaction and concurrency control at the hardware interface-level.

We have experience in creating:

MontaVista based embedded software

Embeddix based embedded software

Linux Driver creation

low-level hardware and bus interface strategies and mechanisms

I/O mapping and application/kernel space mixing

Real-time application development

Cross platform development

Assembler/C/C++ based embedded software development

POSIX development

RISC/PowerPC405 & 82xx, MIPS Development

Incoming search terms for the article:

July 25 2010

Switching to Linux: Why Dual-booting is Best

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With the user-friendly Linux distribution Ubuntu gaining popularity at an astounding rate, you may be considering making the move from Windows to Linux. If you are, then you will have wondered how you will work and play without the applications and games you use every day in Windows.

Windows applications can be run in Linux, just not natively. You have two main options: Emulation and Virtualization. Neither are as effective as dual-booting but I will explain them here and their drawbacks.

Emulation allows you to run Windows applications through a “translation layer” which tricks the applications into thinking they are running on Windows. Although great advances have been made by the WINE Project and commercial offshoot, Cedega, many applications are still unsupported. Support for certain applications may even vary depending on your hardware configuration.

Virtualization takes running Windows applications on Linux a step further and is capable of running an entire Windows (or any other) operating system straight from your Linux desktop. With the free application VirtualBox, you can create a “virtual machine” and install any version of Windows you wish onto it.

A virtual machine is switched on and off exactly like a normal PC, except the entire operating system runs inside a window on your Linux desktop. You may then install any Windows applications you wish into the virtual machine and use them as you normally would.

Running applications natively in Windows, via a virtual machine, is far more reliable than running them through a translation layer, but virtualization has its drawbacks too.

When you run Windows in a virtual machine you are effectively running two operating systems, simultaneously, on one computer. This has obvious performance drawbacks. Although most office-type applications could be run this way, if your office insists on a particular piece of Windows-specific software, performance issues and lack of DirectX support severely hampers game applications.

The only way to successfully run all your Windows applications at their full capacity is to install Windows and Linux as dual-boot operating systems.

Dual-booting is the process of installing two operating systems side-by-side, to be run independently. By this method you will be presented with a menu listing your operating systems when you switch on your computer. this allows you to choose the OS most suitable for the tasks at hand, be it work or gaming.

I personally run Ubuntu 7.04 and Windows XP as a dual-boot system. I mostly use Ubuntu for day-to-day tasks and run Windows XP purely for gaming. This way, dual-booting grants me access to the best features of both operating systems and allows me to use my computer to its full potential.

Dan R provides tech support to the Green Bay area via Green Bay Tech Support