I have posted a review of Fedora 13 on my DataBook® web site. Although it is burdened with installation flaws and the default nVidia graphic drivers cause problems, these can be overcome. Overall I have been having a very positive experience with Fedora 13.
Read the full review for the details: http://www.databook.bz/?page_id=2076
Information, Linux | dboth | 
August 10, 2010 7:33 pm | 
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I normally use OpenDNS for my forwarders but those DNS servers are not responding his morning. I switched over to Google Public DNS and that seems to be working fine. If you normally use OpenDNS and that is not working for you today, you should switch over to Google Public DNS.
Of course, if you can read this, you are probably not having any problems, or at least your cache has not yet expired. 
Information, News | dboth | March 27, 2010 8:52 am | Comments Off
I have released version 1.0-12.0.0 of Fedora Frog.
This interactive, text mode, menu-driven Bash program provides the Linux administrator an easy way to install applications not installed by default during a Fedora Core installation procedure, and applications that are not part of the standard distribution. It also tweaks some configuration items. Additional repositories are required beyond the normal Fedora ones, and they are automatically added by Fedora Frog as well.
Frog installs media players such as RealPlayer, Mplayer, VLC, Kaffiene and Xine. It also installs Thunderbird, Firefox, GNUCash, Adobe Reader and Yumex, and some things specifically for System Admins such as chkrootkit.
Fedora Frog currently supports Fedora 10, 11 and 12. Support for all previous versions of Fedora has been removed.
New features in this release include:
Fedora Frog is distributed under the GPL2 license. Fedora Frog can be downloaded from SourceForge at https://sourceforge.net/projects/fedorafrog/.
Information, News, Software | dboth | December 4, 2009 9:28 am | Comments (1)
The Dolphin file manager is a key tool for users of recent Linux distributions. Dolphin is the default file manager for Fedora beginning with Fedora 10. It is very powerful and provides some very advanced features.
The purpose of a file management application like Dolphin is to enable you to locate specific files when you need to use them in some way, such as to open them in a word processor or a spreadsheet program, or to move or delete them. Dolphin and other file management programs also allow you to organize your files by moving or deleting entire folders. As a very organized Virgo I like this aspect of Dolphin.
Over the last few weeks I have added some new documents about Dolphin to my DataBook® for Linux Users. This chapter of the DataBook for Linux Users contains instructions for using and configuring Dolphin. If you are new to Linux or have been using it for a while but just want to find out more about Dolphin, check out Using Dolphin in the DataBook for Linux Users.
As always the DataBook® for Linux Users is completely free of charge.
Articles, Information | dboth | October 30, 2009 8:08 am | Comments Off
Not everything goes as planned, even Linux upgrades. I had a narrow window in which to perform an upgrade to a server this morning and some problems arose which forced me to abort the upgrade.
For many upgrades pretesting with virtual machines can tell you a great deal about whether an upgrade will work and how many problems you can expect to have. Working with real hardware is even better.
In the case of this upgrade I did both. But it was really more than an upgrade. Due to the number of versions between the old version of Fedora and the new one, I would basically have to wipe out the old installation and start over. So I decided to simply build the new system on a spare hard drive on one computer and transfer the completed and tested installation on the new hard drive into the old computer. I even preconfigured many of the configuration files that would need to change when I installed the hard drive in the old computer so that all I would have to do is copy the revised configuration file over the original or make a few minor modifications to the files already in place.
I figured I could make a last minute backup, replace the hard drive and make the necessary configuration changes, then restore the files from the backup and resolve any problems within the two hour time window.
This is always good in theory but it seldom works out as planned.
Of course there were problems and I always count on having unexpected problems. In this case the hardware incompatibilities with the new configurations were greater than I could resolve and still accomplish everything else that needed to be done within the window.
My plan for backing out was simple. Put the original hard drive back in the computer. I did this and everything came back up and worked fine. I now have plenty of time to determine how best to resolve or circumvent these issues the next time.
Proper planning is essential to performing any upgrade or change in a production computing environment. This includes the need to plan for a failed upgrade as happened this morning.
Articles, Information | dboth | October 23, 2009 10:18 pm | Comments Off
Although many of you have heard of Linux I know that you are not necessarily familiar with it or the term distribution. This post is intended to answer the question of what a distribution is and how it affects you.
A Linux distribution, or “distro” as they are called by many Linux aficionados, consists of several main components packaged together in such a manner as to be easy to distribute and install. A Linux distro may be distributed on CD, DVD, USB thumb drive, or, via the Internet as an ISO image of one of those media, from which a bootable CD, DVD, etc., can be created.
Mainstream Linux distributions usually contain the major components described in the table below.
| Component | Description |
| Kernel | The Linux kernel is the portion that was developed by Linus Torvalds. It is the core component that gives Linux its identity and basic functionality. The kernel manages the hardware and provides a method for programs and utilities to interact with both the hardware and the end user. |
| GNU Utilities | The GNU Utilities provides two things. First, a set of program libraries that provide additional functionality to programmers. Second, a set of system administrator oriented utility programs to make managing Linux operating systems easier. |
| Application programs | User level programs such as OpenOffice, GNUCash, Firefox, Thunderbird and hundreds of other application programs designed for end users and which allow them to perform useful work with their computers. |
There are literally hundreds of different Linux distributions. The Wikipedia article on the term Linux distribution states that there are over 600 Linux distributions and that over 300 of them are under active development. Each distribution contains a different combination of libraries, utilities and application programs, depending upon its intended usage.
The good news is that most distributions are designed for very specific niches and most people considering the use of Linux at home or in the office only need concern themselves with a very few.
Whether working with a consultant or on your own, it is important to understand what you intend do do with the computers on which you will install Linux. Developing a complete set of requirements for each computer or class of computers in your business, such as servers, development workstations and desktops, will be a key step in in this process.
Your choices will be driven by functionality, security, stability, application availability, interoperability, ease of installation, maintenance, cost and other factors. In some cases your choices will be numerous as multiple distributions may meet your requirements and in others you will be left with only one or two distributions from which to choose.
When using a consulting firm such as Millennium Technology Consulting LLC, we can assist you in making the choice of distributions.
Information, Linux, Opinion | dboth | September 29, 2009 12:48 pm | Comments (4)
I will be teaching a 4.5 day Linux+ training class in Charleston, SC, the week of September 21.
CompTIA Linux+ is a vendor-neutral certification, generic across distributions, targeted to individuals with a minimum of six to 12 months of practical Linux experience. The CompTIA Linux+ exam covers fundamental management of Linux systems from the command line, user administration, file permissions, software configuration and management of Linux-based clients.
This class is preparation for that exam using Fedora Linux. Even if you do not take the exam this is an excellent training class for relatively new Linux administrators.
The class will be held at DTC Charleston, a local training center.
1064 Gardner Road
Suite 212
Charleston, SC 29407
Sales: 843-402-0983
Main: 843-225-3494
Toll-free: 866-705-4522
Fax: 775-370-0477
Email: martha_nye@dtccharleston.com
If you are interested in attending this class, please contact DTC.
Company News, Information, Training | dboth | September 9, 2009 10:05 am | Comments Off
Certifications are all the rage. Many people have them and many companies require at least one when hiring technical personnel. Most certifications are worthless and some are valuable.
Many certifications, like the Microsoft ones, are simply a matter of memorization. That is not to say that there are not some very good Microsoft certified techs out there, but the certification has nothing whatsoever to do with whether they are any good or not.
I have worked in a number of jobs where I had to interview candidates for hiring. The vast majority of the candidates who claimed to have Microsoft certifications could answer basic questions about the OS, but really had no clue about how to go about doing problem determination and the problem resolution. When faced with even a simple example of a problem, they were completely unable to even state the first step they would take to resolve a problem, or even worse, would suggest approaches that would do more harm than good.
You can memorize a bunch of facts but that does not teach one how to perform a task. In the computer industry that task is all about identifying and resolving problems.
I have taken a few performance based tests over the years and most people have taken at least one. The common driving test is a performance based test. If you cannot drive, you don’t get a license. And I really don’t think the test is hard enough. Too many people who should not be driving seem to pass. But that is a different rant.
My Pilot’s license was a three part test. The first part was a very technical standard test consisting of multiple choice and fill in the blanks type questions. This was to test my basic knowledge of flying, navigation, FAA rules and other aviation skills. The second part of the test was the “oral,” in which the check pilot quizzed me on many aspects of flying, weather, instruments, navigation and more FAA rules. He then had me create a flight plan and checked it over. The third part was the flight test. This is where a prospective pilot gets to demonstrate his or her capability to actually safely fly an airplane. If you cannot do this, no matter how well you do on the other parts of the test, you cannot get a pilot’s license.
Performance based tests like Cisco and Red Hat are the best tests in the IT industry for ensuring that certificate holders are actually qualified to work on those systems. When I took the Red Hat test there were three sections; one was a standard 50 question test and two were 2.5 hour performance based sections. One section tested how well I could find and resolve problems and the other was to install Red Hat Linux on a computer to meet a set of specifications.
The Red Hat test is now a single section and is completely performance based. Red Hat dropped the written section a few years ago because no one ever failed the test based on the results of that section. The two remaining sections were combined into a single installation and troubleshooting section just a couple months ago.
Aside from my pilot’s license, my Red Hat certification is the one of which I am most proud. It is also the one that is most meaningful. If someone has passed this examination then you can be certain that they have a pretty high minimum skill level and can actually perform problem solving and administrative tasks in the real world.
I have lost count, but I currently hold between 16 and 18 certifications. Some are worthless because the products that the certification is for are no longer current.
Take my several OS/2 certifications. Who uses that any more? I got half of those certifications because I wrote the multiple guess tests myself while I worked for IBM and later as an independent contractor. A couple of the tests were actually pretty good, but no test that is strictly a classic “written” test, even if given on a computer, can really tell whether a person can actually track down a problem let alone fix one.
I also have some certifications for old Dell and IBM hardware that have long since been best suited to use as boat anchors.
And of course I have my Red Hat certification. That was an exhausting seven hour test in which I had to actually demonstrate the capability to think and perform problem determination as well as resolve problems and perform an installation. It was difficult and I did not pass on my first try.
One of the most qualified people I have ever hired did not have any certifications. She knew the answers to all of the technical questions we asked during the interview, and she was able to discuss at length the process she would use to resolve certain real world problems we posed as part of the interview. I hired her and she turned out to be one of the best technical people I have ever worked with. I have also worked with people who had only simple written test certifications who could not resolve even simple problems.
I have never worked with anyone who has passed a performance based certification test who could not perform at least the tasks required by that certification and in most cases they were far more capable than just the minimum required to pass the test. Performance based certifications are one good way to differentiate between candidates when hiring, or when looking for a consultant. They are not the only point on which you should base your decision. You should be careful not to eliminate perfectly good candidates just because they do not have a certification.
Forget about using written tests of any kind as a yardstick. They are totally useless.
The true value is in the person not the certification.
Information, Opinion | dboth | August 31, 2009 10:53 am | Comments (1)
There will always be some level of pain associated with moving to a new operating system. This is true whether the upgrade is from Windows X to Windows Y, from Windows to Linux, or from one version of any Linux distribution to another such as upgrading from Fedora 10 to Fedora 11, or from one Linux distribution to another such as moving from Fedora to Ubuntu or the other way around.
Most of the time the results far outweigh the pain of the upgrade. Other times, not so much.
These pain points that are due to moving from one OS to another are usually the little things but they can be time-consuming and frustrating.
The real problems for end users and their points of pain usually revolve around screen resolutions, font sizes, documents that don’t look like they did before because the formatting has changed with the new office suite. There can also be issues with getting printers webcams and other peripheral devices to work. But these are issues for the administrator and over which the end user has no control. End users have no desire to deal with these things; nor should they need to. All of this should be taken care of in the background by the system administrator.
New programs for file management, trying to find the location of menus or documents that are now in a different location after the upgrade, a somewhat unfamiliar desktop landscape and new features and concepts such as multiple desktops can also be hurdles to overcome. These are also issues for the administrator, but these can be dealt with through some level of training on the new environment.
It is important for you, our prospective customers to realize that although there are many benefits to Linux and Open Source Software, there can be pain in making the change from proprietary software that costs money to Free Open Source Software. However all of the potential issues that exist when considering a move from proprietary to Open Source Software can be mitigated with a few simple steps.
As with any major endeavor, proper planning is essential to success when upgrading to Open Source Software. This starts a thorough review of your current computing environment including available hardware and a complete inventory of the programs used in your business. Any industry or task specific software or hardware you use should also be noted.
Preparation for any major undertaking is key. When considering an upgrade to Free Open Source Software, testing of your potential new computing environment should be part of the plan. This may include setting up a pilot project with a small number of employees or a separate test lab in which potential problems can be discovered and resolved before they become an issue for everyone.
This preparation stage of the project should also include ensuring that your employees are kept fully informed of the potential changes. Many people need time to adjust to changes and are better prepared if they are informed in advance that these changes will be forthcoming. In fact these are some of the most important people to have participate in the planning and preparation of the upgrade.
Constant and consistent customer communication is also an important factor in a successful upgrade of any kind. Whenever issues are encountered, whether during the planning, preparation or implementation phase, you should be kept informed by your consultant. The very word consultant comes from the Latin and means “to discuss.” Your consultant should do just that; you should always be aware of the current status of the project. The consultant is there to discuss and inform you of the options and you should make the decisions.
Training is an important factor in a successful upgrade. I have seen many projects fail because the end users, the employees were not trained on the new software or computing environment. While it is not possible to provide training to cover every aspect of this type of upgrade, training should cover the important every day tasks that people perform on their computers. This familiarizes them with the new environment and reduces the stress of having something new just dumped on them. If possible, initial training should be done prior to the upgrade so that everyone will be ready for the change when it does take place. Additional training should be scheduled for after the upgrade to reinforce learning in the new environment.
Training applies not only to end users but also to your in-house IT staff if you have any. You may be surprised to find that your IT staff already has some knowledge of Linux and Open Source computing.
A computer project is not complete until it is fully documented. Yes, this takes time and adds to the initial cost of the project. Proper documentation will save a great deal of pain later. Problems will occur later and proper documentation is important for all concerned because it defines the environment that was created by the upgrade. That documentation allows any consultant or your own staff to have a complete understanding of your new environment as a basis for troubleshooting or further upgrades.
Lastly you should choose a company whose expertise is with Linux and Open Source Software, not one whose expertise lies elsewhere and for whom Linux and Open Source is just an afterthought as it is with many companies out there today. When you select Millennium Technology Consulting LLC to plan and implement your upgrade to Open Source Software you have chosen a company for whom Linux and Open Source Software is all we do.
Contact us at Millennium Technology Consulting LLC for a demonstration of Free Open Source Software.
Articles, Information, Linux | dboth | August 18, 2009 8:29 am | Comments (1)
If you are considering using Linux at any time in the near future, you should definitely not purchase a Lexmark printer of any kind. The company does not support Linux in any way and there are no working drivers of any kind available for most Lexmark printers.
I use Brother and HP for my printing needs and they work quite well. Even most HP All-in-one printers work very well. Xerox printers are also well supported and I have a large network attached Xerox copier/fax/printer working at one of my customers.
That is not to say you won’t have to do some fussing to get even some supported printers to print, but most Lexmark printers will never print under Linux. So this is something to be aware of when planning an upgrade to Linux.
Articles, Information | dboth | August 4, 2009 5:15 pm | Comments Off
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