● 07.30.09

● Links 30/07/2009: Brazil’s Move to GNU/Linux, IBM ‘s Latest GNU/Linux Announcement

Posted in News Roundup at 6:46 am by Dr. Roy SchestowitzContentsGNU/LinuxGNU/Linux

• Virtual Bridges, IBM and Canonical announced today the immediate availability of the newest version of a Linux-server based virtual desktop with the release of Virtual Bridges’VERDE 2.0 software.

• InMage Systems Presents Disaster Recovery Solutions for Linux Environments at Open Source World Conference and Expo InMage’s Scout Software Provides Cost-Effective Remote Disaster Recovery That Supports Heterogeneous Environments

• According to the case study, “Gap Inc. Direct needed to revamp its entire end-to-end business technology platform–from the customer-facing front-end system, to the back-end order management application, to the business tools that supported the company’s long-term growth strategy.”

• Top 15 “Hot” IT Skills, Non-Certified, July 2009:

• 1) Java EE, SE, ME

• 2) Linux

• 4: GNOME vs. KDE

• If you are involved with Linux, you know that the GNOME vs. KDE battle has been going on for a long time. Now in most flame wars, you might find a few in both camps who support both sides. Not in this battle. The GNOME vs. KDE clash is a vicious one that never has and never will see a pleasantry tossed across the DMZ. GNOME users hate KDE and KDE users hate GNOME. This battle goes beyond the interface and slithers its cold, hatred-filled finger of doom down into the very tool kits used to create the widgets.

• We’ve written about Ken Starks in this space before and the admirable work he does for the HeliOS Project.

• It’s one of those amazing Austin organizations that puts a lump in my throat every time I write about it. Ken and his volunteers take computers that would otherwise go into landfills or get donated to Goodwill, get them operational and donate them to needy kids, families and non-profits that are happy to have functioning desktop and laptop computers.

• One thing I still hear a lot at this late date is why techies aren’t spending less time Twittering and more time doing things for their community. Well, Austin, it’s time to put up or shut up. This Saturday, you have an opportunity to get computers in the hands of those who need them most. Starks hooked up with networking guru Lynn Bender of GeekAustin and they have organized Linux Against Poverty.

Server

• Web host Sprocket Networks, powered by AppServe Technologies, LLC has announced their new Linux Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting program that is starting immediately. To ramp up this new VPS hosting they are providing 50% off all Linux VPS’s purchased by August 31, 2009.

• Low cost, reliable clustering has enabled Monash University to deliver supercomputing power to its researchers.

• High Performance Computing Clusters (HPCC), which are virtualised groups of Intel-based blade servers running Linux, have enabled the Melbourne-based University to maintain a supercomputer with non-specialist staff, according to Adrian Ling, Monash’s manager of infrastructure and major IT projects.

Kernel Space

• It has been no secret that we have been working to create our own Linux distribution that is designed to run off a Live DVD/USB device and would provide a standardized free software stack for running hardware benchmarks whether you are a computer review web-site like us, an independent hardware vendor interested in seeing how well their hardware performs on Linux, or just a hobbyist wishing to compare your system’s performance against that of your friends.

• The Linux 2.6.31 kernel will be released within the next month or so and one of the new features in this release is the long-awaited integration of the TTM memory manager and then appearing as a staging driver in this kernel is an ATI kernel mode-setting driver. This KMS driver doesn’t yet support the newer R600/R700 GPUs, but it does support the R500 series and will be used by default in the forthcoming release of Fedora 12.

• Clutter 1.0.0 is the first stable release for this project and it also marks the point of the APIs for Clutter and COGL being stable. Clutter is licensed under the LGPLv2.1. A lengthy release announcement for Clutter 1.0.0 can be found on the GNOME mailing list.

Applications

• Despite all the people who claim to be productive at work, or those who claim to be more than a casual gamer, there is a lot, and I do mean a lot, of people out there who are either casual gamers, or they love to play various solitaire card games on the computer.

• Of all the program types in use on all the OS’s of the world, computer solitaire, regardless of its flavor, is the single most installed type of program of all since computers began. Not even the web browser can match the total number of computers that have either shipped with, or somehow acquired a solitaire game. Every copy of Windows, since 3.0 has had a copy of solitaire in it, and even before then you could get solitaire games on Dos and Unix systems.

• But if computer solitaire is so ubiquitous, what sets one apart from the other? Well, three things I’d say: The game(s) offered, program stability, and ease of use. But what if you’re using Linux? Of all the OS’s out there, Linux is the one with the least number of solitaire games on it. That’s not to say that it has the least games, because there are dozens of other games to fill the void, but solitaire is not one of them. Normally anyways.

• World of Goo is a puzzle game with a highly efficient physics engine. It has won many accolades from across the world since its release. It was initially available for Wii, Windows and Mac, but lately, its available for Linux as well.

• When i first tried this cute little game in my ubuntu machine, i was amazed by its slickness and the fun factor. Though i never bought the original version(i am not much into gaming), i really liked the demo version. This is indeed a must have for Puzzle lovers.

Distributions

• antiX is the perfect distribution for those running older hardware or for those who simply prefer a lightweight desktop environment. It also makes a good rescue CD should you end up needing one.

• In these days of bloated desktops and unnecessary eye-candy, it’s nice to have distros like antiX available as reminders that we don’t really need all of that stuff and, in fact, we may be better off without it.

Ubuntu

• At DebConf 9 this week, the Debian release team proposed a new approach to Debian’s release cycle, which was then announced on the Debian web site. Both the Debconf presentation and the announcement were quite clear, but a number of news articles and blog posts on the subject seem to have misinterpreted them:

• * Debian Adopts Two-Year Time-Based Release Cycle on OSNews * Debian to adopt time-based releases on Linux Today * Debian to Adopt Time-based Release Cycle on Jonathan Carter’s blog * Debian to adopt time-based releases on a blog masquerading as a news site

• For testing purposes or just for fun, almost any existing Linux distribution can be rapidly deployed from its Live CD or DVD ISO image, without the need to perform an installation to a hard drive or a USB drive. Windows users who are curious to test or use Ubuntu without actually installing it on a partition of the hard drive, have at least five fast solutions to deploy Ubuntu from within Windows without affecting the currently installed operating system or modifying the structure of hard drive partitions.

• On a closing note, I should point out that systems upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10 from an earlier release will not have their bootloaders replaced, because that would be an inherently risky operation. Only fresh installs of Karmic will use GRUB 2.

Devices/Embedded

• According to Michel Genard, VP of marketing, over half of Virtutech’s customers run Simics on Linux (See farther below for more background on Simics, as well as an interview with Genard.)

• My review unit was a ‘fit-PC2 Linux’ with the following specs. It retails for $359 when ordered directly from CompuLab.

• Creative Technology subsidiary ZiiLabs is shipping a developer-focused portable media player based on a homegrown, dual ARM-core”ZMS-05″ SoC and “Plaszma” Linux distribution. The Zii Egg StemCell Computer offers a 3.5-inch display supporting 1080p HD video, plus an HD video camera, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, an SDK, and optional Android, says ZiiLabs.

• Linux developers using LinuxLink or other development tools can tap the OMAP-L13x SoCs to add human machine interfaces (HMI), as well as applications that support touchscreen or networking capability, says TI. LinuxLink subscribers, for example, can develop the Linux platform for the ARM core, while leveraging TI’s DSP tools to develop and debug DSP code, says Timesys. Currently, the OMAP-L13x SoCs support only Linux, but Windows Embedded CE and Integrity OS support is promised for the fourth quarter.

• This represents the first LinuxLink release for the low-power OMAP-L1x applications processors and will be followed by support for the OMAP-L138 processor.

Sub-notebooks

• Pegatron, a spin-off from ASUS, has been showing a Netbook powered an ARM processor around. This particular model uses an ARM Cortex-A8 design found in a host of gadgets, including the Palm Pre (same design, but not the exact same chip). Running at a 1Ghz frequency, it is capable of playing 720p video and run basic 3D applications. While Android isn’t ready for Netbooks yet, this Pegatron runs Ubuntu (Linux) just fine.

• Netbooks are all the rage at the moment and with a good Linux version installed can wield serious power

• When netbooks were first announced to the world there was significant speculation that these would be fertile ground for Linux growth. In part that was because the Asus EEE, one of the first netbooks, ran a version of Linux and soon after so too did the likes of Acer’s Aspire One.

Free Software/Open Source

• Vyatta, the leader in open networking and network virtualization, is bringing the benefits of open source networking to K-12 and higher education. Demonstrating its commitment to the education market, Vyatta has joined EDUCAUSE, a non-profit association that focuses on advancing higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. To celebrate this partnership and commitment to educational excellence, Vyatta is offering a limited-time, 15 percent discount off any appliance or subscription for all qualified educational institutions.

• MUSA Technology Partners, a leading provider of technology products, services and support, announced today that it is now offering its Linux and Open Source support services to all businesses. While MUSA’s Service Desk currently offers specifically Linux and Open Source support, the firm will be rapidly incorporating additional services over the next six months.

• At this year’s OSCON (O’Reilly Open Source Convention) event that took place last week in San Jose, California, Google announced the winners of its Google-O’Reilly Open Source Awards, which are given every year to the top contributors in various IT-related domains. Individuals that have shown exceptional dedication, leadership, innovation and have been actively contributing to open source development were rewarded in a ceremony in front of their peers.

• Open-Xchange is a great alternative to Microsoft Exchange that also syncs and supports Macs and Apple Mobile devices. It’s used to manage email, tasks, calendars, documents, contacts, and now, thanks to a new concept called “Social OX,” users’ social networking communication as well.

Ingres

• Ingres has announced it is working with VectorWise to improve database performance through fully exploiting the capabilities of modern CPUs. They are planning to create Ingres/VectorWise, a new product which incorporates the new techniques, for release in mid-2010. VectorWise is a commercial spin off of the, Ingres funded, Amsterdam based CWI (Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica) database research team. Intel are supporting the project with engineering expertise and hardware.

• Ingres for one has just announced a project with VectorWise, a spin off from the database research team at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica of Amsterdam, a research institute in mathematics and computer science. With backing from Intel, Ingres and VectorWise are attempting to build a database engine that derives an increased quotient of its power from modern hardware processor and storage performance.

Business

• Open source tends to offer best-of-breed solutions that aim to do a limited range of functions well, rather than to be all things to all people.

• Indeed, it is this desire to get the core right that enables open source to be all things to all people, because enterprise IT can take an open-source solution that might be 85 percent of what it needs, and spend some time and consulting dollars to custom-fit the software.

• Hence, customers can spend less money to get exactly what they want, rather than buying into a vendor’s bloatware, which is bloated precisely to justify the upfront license fees (“Look at all this stuff we’re selling you!”) and ongoing maintenance fees (“Even more stuff we’re selling you!”).

• Just when I was getting a little worried about Ubuntu Server Edition’s ISV (independent software vendor) support, I received a heads up from John Pugh, software partner manager at Canonical. The timely news involved some Ubuntu-Alfresco developments. Here’s the scoop. And more importantly, here are some bigger-picture thoughts about Canonical’s ISV efforts on the server.

• Large software vendors like IBM, Sun, Dell, HP, and Oracle are making significant amounts of indirect revenue from their activities with and support of open source software. This has greatly aided mainstream adoption and acceptance of open source software.

• AccesStream, a provider of open source security solutions, has released a survey that focuses on open source and identity access management (IAM), which is which is available from its website.

Government

• Here’s an example: when OpenVista is deployed in a mid-sized hospital like Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, TX, the customer saved about $6 million in licensing fees they would have paid a proprietary software firm. (Medsphere uses a subscription-based pricing model.) But the real savings, Jung explained, comes in the prevention or lessening of complications that deviate from best-case scenarios.

Programming

• Last week I talked about some the advantages of Free/Open Source software for us end users. Today I’m going to do something no one has ever done in the history of punditry, and that is ask actual software developers why they prefer FOSS. I received so many excellent responses that I have split this into two parts, and the second part will run tomorrow.

• Kudos to Moolenaar for a creative way to raise money for a worthy cause and give a nice bonus back to the donors who pledge money. Leave it to the open source community to find such a neat way to open their hearts and wallets to people in need.

Leftovers

• No matter how smart your DRM people are, no matter how much money you throw at the problem and no matter how many layers of protection you add… there is an army of people out there working in basements and bedrooms and bunkers, fueled by Red Bull and pizza, just waiting for you to announce that you have released an uncrackable game.

MAFIAA

• Consumers spent less on recorded music, down 6% since 2007, but concert ticket sales have grown by some 13% as the industry as whole slowly evolves and adapts to digital distribution.

• The RIAA has issued about 30,000 lawsuits during its nearly 6-year-old litigation campaign against file sharers. Most have settled out of court for a few thousand dollars. The record labels have said they are ending the campaign, and are now working with ISPs in a bid to disconnect repeat music file sharers.

• Also in the filing, the MPAA asserts that Reservella is just a front. Reservella is the company based in Seychelles, an island nation northeast of Madagascar, that The Pirate Bay founders say owns the site. The studios maintain Reservella is controlled by Neij, but Kolmisoppi denied this.

Newspapers Cartel

• The new system will register key identifying information about each piece of content that AP distributes as well as the terms of use of that content into a storage database. It also will employ a built-in “beacon” to notify AP and other publishers about how the content is used.

• The Associated Press, reeling from the newspaper apocalypse, has a new plan to “wrap” and “protect” its content though a “digital permissions framework. But there’s (way) less here than meets the eye.

• Yes, it’s become so impossible to quote a single short sentence, that it’s just not worth doing at all. Welcome to permission society. Some copyright system believers may claim that this is just the market at work, but it certainly seems a lot more like an undue restriction on freedom of expression at the hands of copyright law.

• With the AP being out there claiming that fair use only covers snippets fewer than five words, there are some questions about where the boundaries for “fair use” of “snippets” lies. Unfortunately, a new ruling in Europe seems to be pretty extreme (in a bad way). The ruling found that a snippet as short as eleven words could be copyright infringement.

Intellectual Monopolies

• Access Copyright, the Canadian author’s collecting society (a group that collects money from libraries for book lending and gives it to authors) is using its members’ money to sabotage an enormously popular consultation on the future of Canadian copyright.

• [...]

• As a Canadian author, Access Copyright is supposed to represent my interests in the Canadian copyright debate. Instead, they are setting out to undermine the first glimmer of sanity in Canadian copyright policy in three governments — and using my money to do it. For shame.

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