XP Mode has been hailed within the Microsoft channel as a potentially effective carrot for enticing small businesses to upgrade to Windows 7, but reports of glitches in XP Mode suggest that it might not be easy to use.
The CRN Test Center recently ran into problems after installing XP Mode and Virtual PC on a machine with a verified AMD-V virtualization processor. Although the Test Center found that the issue can be solved by upgrading the BIOS to the latest version, small businesses might not have the time or resources to find their way out of the mess, according to some solution providers.
Frank Ballatore, President and CEO, New England Computer Group, a Connecticut-based company, has been using XP Mode as a selling point in conversations with customers that were scared off by the application compatibility that dogged Windows Vista. While Ballatore doesn't expect XP Mode glitches to impact many customers, he acknowledges that they could have an impact on some.
Chris Rue, CEO, Black Warrior Technology, Alabama-based solution provider, has run into a hardware compatibility issue with XP Mode running on an Intel Pentium D processor, but chalks this up to the fact that XP Mode is still in release candidate stage.
Rue sees XP Mode as a positive sign that shows Microsoft is well aware of the difficulties users faced with Vista and is doing everything in its power to address them.
"For vendors, backward compatibility can be a bad thing because it gives people wiggle room to stick with what they have," Rue said. "One of the biggest barriers to upgrades is when a previous product is good enough, so anything that XP Mode can do to sooth people's Windows 7 upgrade fears is a positive."
Microsoft says XP Mode, a virtual Windows XP SP3 environment running under Windows Virtual PC, will deliver the best experience on new hardware. XP Mode requires PCs with at least 2GB RAM and 15GB free hard drive space, and it only runs on virtualization-enabled processors from Intel and AMD.
Upgrading hardware may be a tough sell for recession-weary companies, and Microsoft will need to iron out the technical glitches in the XP Mode. But overall, XP Mode is a promising sign that Microsoft is committed to the notion of backward compatibility, says Andrew Kretzer, Director, Sales and marketing, Bold Data Technology, California-based system builder.
"Whether XP Mode will be enough to get people to upgrade remains to be seen, but this is definitely the right way to deal with the issue of backward compatibility," said Kretzer. "There will be glitches, as there always are with any new software solution, but this sort of backward compatibility will only get robust as time goes on."
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Networking addicts,beware of KOOBFACE
If you have been getting tempting messages with video links in your account in social networking sites such as facebook,twitter,myspace bebo,freindster and hi5,beware.Any attempt to download the promised video will make you another victim of koobface,a worm could steal critical and personal information from your computer.
The government's India Computer Emergency Responce Team has warned that koobface,a play on the name of social networking site Facebook,comes with an enticing tagline and spreads by spamming the contacts of victim on networking sites. With more than 3 million members of facebook alone in India,koobface's potential for wreaking havoc on the countries's computer systems is immense.
Typically,koobface victims get a message from one of their contacts inviting them to click on a video link. The link leads you to a site mimicking the video sharing site,youtube.Once there,you are asked whether you want to download a software needed to watch the video.If you click 'yes',the worm get activated,leaving your computer vulnerable. The worm not only distrupts your internet experience by sending your searches on engines like google elsewhere and return
garbled replies,it also steals data that may have been left in your computer's memory.
If you do or have already been koobfaced the only way to protect your machine is to delete all files that have been added by the worm.Internet users have also been advised to install and maintain updated antivirus software,as also a desktop firewall. while you may not be able to notice the worm rummaging through your electronic files searching for personal data,including
passwords,the visible signs of the worm would show up on your internet browsing where you would get abnormal results to your searches and be misdirected to other sites.
The government's India Computer Emergency Responce Team has warned that koobface,a play on the name of social networking site Facebook,comes with an enticing tagline and spreads by spamming the contacts of victim on networking sites. With more than 3 million members of facebook alone in India,koobface's potential for wreaking havoc on the countries's computer systems is immense.
Typically,koobface victims get a message from one of their contacts inviting them to click on a video link. The link leads you to a site mimicking the video sharing site,youtube.Once there,you are asked whether you want to download a software needed to watch the video.If you click 'yes',the worm get activated,leaving your computer vulnerable. The worm not only distrupts your internet experience by sending your searches on engines like google elsewhere and return
garbled replies,it also steals data that may have been left in your computer's memory.
If you do or have already been koobfaced the only way to protect your machine is to delete all files that have been added by the worm.Internet users have also been advised to install and maintain updated antivirus software,as also a desktop firewall. while you may not be able to notice the worm rummaging through your electronic files searching for personal data,including
passwords,the visible signs of the worm would show up on your internet browsing where you would get abnormal results to your searches and be misdirected to other sites.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
IE7Pro 2 Lets You Pause and Resume Downloads
The very popular Internet Explorer add-on, IE7Pro, has just released a big update. The new IE7Pro 2 offers many new features, most notably, a download manager! The download manager displays your downloads in a separate window, similar to Firefox, but the IE7Pro 2 download manager also offers a "Pause" option to start and stop your downloads. The download manager stays in the system tray, and by default, is always running (although you can change this setting). Even if your browser is closed, the download manager will continue to download the files you requested. You can even pause your downloads, shut down your computer, then resume them next time you boot up and go online!Other new features in the update are increased stability, 64-bit support, and the addition of a hotkey (CTRL+M) to minimize IE windows to tray icon. Of course, all of IE7 Pro's great features remain, which include Tabbed Browsing Management, Spell Check, Inline Search, Auto Fill Form, Super Drag Drop, Crash Recovery, Proxy Switcher, Mouse Gesture, Tab History Browser, Web Accelerator, User Agent Switcher, Webpage Capturer, AD Blocker, Flash Block, Greasemonkey like User Scripts platform, User Plug-ins, MiniDM, Google sponsored search and more.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 launched
It protects PCs from Viruses and worms, Spyware and Trojans, Hijacking and botnets
Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content management solutions has announced the launch of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is a new generation product designed to protect home users from all types of security threat. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 – the all-in-one security solution that offers a worry-free computing environment for you and your family and has everything you need for a safe and secure Internet experience.
Version 2009 products combine the benefits of Kaspersky Lab's new anti virus engine, with its dramatically improved scanning speeds, and cutting-edge HIPS technology to block new malicious programs even before signatures have been added to the anti virus databases.
Tens of millions of people worldwide currently use the version 7.0 personal products launched last year. Kaspersky products have consistently scored highly in independent tests and offer market-leading protection and reliability. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is based on the very latest developments in security technologies. The new interface provides clear and comprehensive information on protection status and any action to be taken.
Alexander Gnatusin, Director of Channel, SA Kaspersky Labs Asia said, "Kaspersky's products are well know in the Indian Market; besides they are very light, easy to install, has small size of update and not less when 10 updates of anti virus database per day, which can be installed even on old computer with small size of memory or non speedy CPU. Kaspersky's products become very popular all around the World and India isn't an exception in this trend. It's a right time to launch Kaspersky Internet Security single user box, market is ready for this step. Kaspersky became like trend setter in Security solution market and these reflects on prices Pan India, market strategies of competitors, channel programs and etc. It's right time to do next step in market development".
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 also includes a virtual keyboard that enables users to enter logins and passwords safely. Moreover, Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 prevents the theft of data transferred via secure connections (HTTPS, SSL) and can remove all traces of a user's Internet activity (temporary files, cookies, etc.).
The components included in earlier product versions, such as the firewall, heuristic analyzer, parental control module and anti-spam module have all been enhanced and upgraded. The product interfaces have also been redesigned, making them more transparent to beginners and more experienced users alike. The new products include an automated application mode: these results in the best options being chosen without the user being bothered by requests for action. Information about protection status and any actions which need to be taken is also presented in a clearer form.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 is developed in line with the system requirements for Windows Vista and are fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system.
Price & Availability: 1-User Kaspersky Internet Security is being targeted for end-customer purchase. The MRP is Rs. 990.00. All channels pan-India will carry this product.
Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content management solutions has announced the launch of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is a new generation product designed to protect home users from all types of security threat. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 – the all-in-one security solution that offers a worry-free computing environment for you and your family and has everything you need for a safe and secure Internet experience.
Version 2009 products combine the benefits of Kaspersky Lab's new anti virus engine, with its dramatically improved scanning speeds, and cutting-edge HIPS technology to block new malicious programs even before signatures have been added to the anti virus databases.
Tens of millions of people worldwide currently use the version 7.0 personal products launched last year. Kaspersky products have consistently scored highly in independent tests and offer market-leading protection and reliability. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is based on the very latest developments in security technologies. The new interface provides clear and comprehensive information on protection status and any action to be taken.
Alexander Gnatusin, Director of Channel, SA Kaspersky Labs Asia said, "Kaspersky's products are well know in the Indian Market; besides they are very light, easy to install, has small size of update and not less when 10 updates of anti virus database per day, which can be installed even on old computer with small size of memory or non speedy CPU. Kaspersky's products become very popular all around the World and India isn't an exception in this trend. It's a right time to launch Kaspersky Internet Security single user box, market is ready for this step. Kaspersky became like trend setter in Security solution market and these reflects on prices Pan India, market strategies of competitors, channel programs and etc. It's right time to do next step in market development".
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 also includes a virtual keyboard that enables users to enter logins and passwords safely. Moreover, Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 prevents the theft of data transferred via secure connections (HTTPS, SSL) and can remove all traces of a user's Internet activity (temporary files, cookies, etc.).
The components included in earlier product versions, such as the firewall, heuristic analyzer, parental control module and anti-spam module have all been enhanced and upgraded. The product interfaces have also been redesigned, making them more transparent to beginners and more experienced users alike. The new products include an automated application mode: these results in the best options being chosen without the user being bothered by requests for action. Information about protection status and any actions which need to be taken is also presented in a clearer form.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 is developed in line with the system requirements for Windows Vista and are fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system.
Price & Availability: 1-User Kaspersky Internet Security is being targeted for end-customer purchase. The MRP is Rs. 990.00. All channels pan-India will carry this product.
Global IT security market to grow 15pc
The global IT security market (includes security software & security appliances) is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15.5 percent through 2012 from 2008.
Shooting rate of Internet adoption across the world and rising threats on Internet (such as malware, spam and hack attacks) are bolstering the demand for IT security solutions. Moreover, IT security attacks are becoming becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring continuous monitoring and updating the existing IT security solutions, says "Global IT Security Market Forecast to 2012, a report by RNCOS.
The report provides an overview on the current and future scenario of the world IT security market. It studies the global IT security market into two segments: Security Appliances and Security Software. The research also details on various ongoing and emerging trends in the global IT security market, thus helping the IT security vendors to identify opportunities.
Key FindingsThe global IT security market (includes security software & security appliances) is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15.5 percent through 2012 from 2008.
The increasing number of IT security attacks, ongoing vulnerability discoveries, and the need for companies to comply with new legislations are fostering the growth of global IT security market.
Among the security appliances market, UTM (Unified threat management) will grow rapidly at a forecasted CAGR of nearly 34 percent, followed by IDS/IPS.
The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to account for the majority of IT security solutions market by 2012.Rapidly growing Internet adoption and surging demand for IT-enabled business solutions in emerging markets like India, China and GCC have made these destinations lucrative for IT security development.
Shooting rate of Internet adoption across the world and rising threats on Internet (such as malware, spam and hack attacks) are bolstering the demand for IT security solutions. Moreover, IT security attacks are becoming becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring continuous monitoring and updating the existing IT security solutions, says "Global IT Security Market Forecast to 2012, a report by RNCOS.
The report provides an overview on the current and future scenario of the world IT security market. It studies the global IT security market into two segments: Security Appliances and Security Software. The research also details on various ongoing and emerging trends in the global IT security market, thus helping the IT security vendors to identify opportunities.
Key FindingsThe global IT security market (includes security software & security appliances) is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15.5 percent through 2012 from 2008.
The increasing number of IT security attacks, ongoing vulnerability discoveries, and the need for companies to comply with new legislations are fostering the growth of global IT security market.
Among the security appliances market, UTM (Unified threat management) will grow rapidly at a forecasted CAGR of nearly 34 percent, followed by IDS/IPS.
The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to account for the majority of IT security solutions market by 2012.Rapidly growing Internet adoption and surging demand for IT-enabled business solutions in emerging markets like India, China and GCC have made these destinations lucrative for IT security development.
'India lost $16 bn due to 3G auction delay'
The GSM Association, a global trade group for mobile industry consisting of about 750 mobile operators, has urged the Department of Telecom (DoT) to go ahead with the 3G auctions without any further delay and also make the HSPA (High-speed Packet Access) a reality.
The delay in 3G auction in India had resulted in a $16 billion loss to the economy; the government should now carry out the auctions without any further delay, said Jaikishan Rajaraman, senior director, GSM Association, quoting a McKinsey report. He demanded that the government must allocate the 2.1 GHz spectrum to drive the deployment of mobile broadband across India. The planning phase for the allocation of 2.6 GHz spectrum must also start now if HSPA is to evolve for the benefit of the Indian population.
According to Rajaraman India will need to make further spectrum available through the digital dividend to support the delivery of more widespread coverage in rural areas.
Quoting the recent McKinsey report he said that once the licenses are issued and 20 billion invested over a period of five years, it will deliver $70 billion economic benefit in the same period. Further, a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration can result in up to 1.5 per cent increase in GDP. Any further delay in allocation of 3G licenses will prove determinant to the economy, Rajaram claimed.
The GSMA senior director said the development of the GSM technology track (GSM/W-CADMA/HSPA) has been dramatic. In a mere ten years there has been a 1000-fold increase in the data bit rates of mobile networks, while maintaining full backwards compatibility with the very first mobile phones released in the market.
3GPP technologies will continue to evolve, with a clear road map of reaching 42 Mbps peak down link speeds with HSPA+ and exceeding 100 Mbps in the near future with LTE. This technology road map has given GSM mobile operators the confidence to deploy HSPA with more than 217 networks across the world, he dwelt.
The delay in 3G auction in India had resulted in a $16 billion loss to the economy; the government should now carry out the auctions without any further delay, said Jaikishan Rajaraman, senior director, GSM Association, quoting a McKinsey report. He demanded that the government must allocate the 2.1 GHz spectrum to drive the deployment of mobile broadband across India. The planning phase for the allocation of 2.6 GHz spectrum must also start now if HSPA is to evolve for the benefit of the Indian population.
According to Rajaraman India will need to make further spectrum available through the digital dividend to support the delivery of more widespread coverage in rural areas.
Quoting the recent McKinsey report he said that once the licenses are issued and 20 billion invested over a period of five years, it will deliver $70 billion economic benefit in the same period. Further, a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration can result in up to 1.5 per cent increase in GDP. Any further delay in allocation of 3G licenses will prove determinant to the economy, Rajaram claimed.
The GSMA senior director said the development of the GSM technology track (GSM/W-CADMA/HSPA) has been dramatic. In a mere ten years there has been a 1000-fold increase in the data bit rates of mobile networks, while maintaining full backwards compatibility with the very first mobile phones released in the market.
3GPP technologies will continue to evolve, with a clear road map of reaching 42 Mbps peak down link speeds with HSPA+ and exceeding 100 Mbps in the near future with LTE. This technology road map has given GSM mobile operators the confidence to deploy HSPA with more than 217 networks across the world, he dwelt.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Cloud Computing - Been There, Done That !
Harvesting its benefits will still require the guidance and direction of smart integration
The Information Technology (IT) Industry and publications have lately been abuzz with …Cloud Computing. While some claim it is the next disruptive technology, others suggest it to be the harbinger of the diminishing role of the Systems Integrator. A closer examination reveals that it is neither. But whatever descriptor is finalized for Cloud Computing, harvesting its benefits will still require the guidance and direction of smart integration.
Cloud Computing de-mystified
While there are many definitions for Cloud Computing from credible sources…
Gartner defines cloud computing as a style of computing in which massively scalable ITrelatedcapabilities are provided "as a service" using Internet technologies to multipleexternal customers.
Forrester defines cloud computing as a pool of abstracted, highly scalable, and managedcompute infrastructure capable of hosting end-customer applications and billed byconsumption.
…another way to look at Cloud Computing is that it is a highly automated, readily scalable, on-demand computing platform of virtually unlimited processing, storage and ubiquitous connectivity, always available to carry out a task of any size and charged based on usage! Audacious – though possible today in a limited manner – it is certainly poised to be as pervasive a platform like the internet, in the very near future.
The origin of Cloud Computing
As a matter of historical fact, Cloud Computing has been around since the beginning of the IT Outsourcing industry. At its core, Cloud Computing is about utilizing idle/excess Cloud Computing – Been There, Done That! compute power (processing, storage, and connectivity) of one entity, to carry out the work of another. This is the value proposition based on which Mr. Ross Perot started the IT Outsourcing industry in 1962, when he rented idle computing power from one company (Southwestern Life) to carry out the processing needs of another (Collins Radio). Mr. Perot recalls that the staff consisted of just two individuals who worked diligently in leveraging the compute capacity that was idle, mostly during the night, toprocess Collins Radio's data, and turning it into a win-win situation for all. The organization that owned the computers monetized its down time; the organization that needed the compute power did not have to out lay capital; and Mr. Perot's team, in the role of a Systems Integrator, ensured seamless delivery for a fee. This was the first instance of Cloud Computing.
Evolution of Cloud Computing
Advancements in technology, coupled with declining costs, have disrupted traditional business models and a new category of companies has emerged: one that operates mostly over the internet based on clicks" (e.g., Amazon, eBay, Google, etc.). The established businesses suddenly found that the development of this channel was critical for their survival against the new breed of companies, and started to offer a combination of "bricks and clicks" for the convenience of their customers.
The disruption of business models created a higher demand and dependence on IT. Also contributing to this dependence are "peaks-and-valleys" of IT capacity needs, tied directly to the nature of an organization's business activity (seasonal, one time, quarter/year-end, day/night, etc.). To ensure consistent, stable operations and to virtually eliminate risks, businesses built their computing platforms at or above the highest peak points of their IT requirements, no matter how infrequent that need might be. As a result, many businesses today are stuck with bloated computing platforms that are enormously underutilized for the majority of the time, taking up real estate, depreciating fast in value, and consuming significant amounts of energy and resources.
In response to this operational predicament, companies such as Amazon have started to commoditize their own idle capacity and monetize it under their EC2 and S3 labels. EC2, Elastic Compute Cloud, is a web-based service that allows any entity to buy and use compute capacity on an as-needed basis. The S3, Simple Storage Services, on the other hand, provides for web-based storage and access to data. The fact that both these services operate out of a standard browser and do not require any proprietary/licensedsoftware, make them extremely usable. While early adopters of EC2 and S3 were individuals and small businesses, innovative CIOs are giving them the attention they are due and have started to test out the feasibility of this emerging Cloud Computing platform. Starting with architecting a cloud-based processing environment for one time transactions that were non mission critical, they have experienced performance results.
Cloud Computing – Been There, Done That! and Capex/Opex savings significant enough to warrant the inclusion of Cloud Computing into their extended IT infrastructure.
Recognizing this phenomenon to be a viable business opportunity, hardware, software and internet-based companies with deep pockets are rushing to establish Cloud Computing environments to make available to businesses out of a utility-type, ondemand model. For hardware companies like IBM & HP, this is an opportunity to sell tons of hardware; for software companies like VMware & Microsoft, it is an opportunityto sell sophisticated software that allows efficient load balancing of computing resources between tasks; and for businesses like Google & Amazon saddled with the need to have extensive IT infrastructure, this has become an economic engine that can be used to convert their unused compute capacity into revenue.The expanding Role of Systems Integrator in the Cloud Computing World In order to understand the role of Systems Integrators, like Perot's team, in today's Cloud Computing world, we need to first review how their roles and responsibilities have evolved over time.
The primary focus of Systems Integrators continues to be planning, optimizing, integrating, and managing clients' heterogeneous compute environments. However, at times, they take on the responsibility of filling the gaps between the clients' IT needs and the available compute infrastructure. At one point, Systems Integrators used to manufacture hardware as needed to run their clients' systems efficiently, and evenwrote system utilities and applications down to the operating system level to fill in the gaps left by the software vendors. Gradually, as the hardware, software and networking companies matured, stabilized and more importantly innovated, the Systems Integrators were able to get back to their core business of integrating disparate systems.
The emerging Cloud Computing companies are proving to be yet another partner joining the hardware, software and network vendors in a typical Systems Integrator business model. The availability of a public domain computing platform (aka Cloud Computing) allows the Systems Integrators to extend their compute platform as needed, through lease type agreements as opposed to capital outlay or long term fixed costs.Even Clouds Must be Grounded While organizations may be lured to the affordability and scalability that Cloud Computing offers, it is imperative that their environment is architected such that it provides these advantages without compromising on security and interoperability.
The role of a Systems Integrator clearly is integral to configuring the optimum (extended) computing environment such that it is dependable/reliable and operating at expected quality of performance for a particular client.
The Future of Cloud Computing
The adoption of Cloud Computing is not without resistance or confusion. Torn between the appeal for cost savings and fear of loss of control, customers are struggling with how to take advantage of the cloud. How confidential will their data be? How will they handle issues around data privacy, intellectual property, regulatory requirements, and protection of "secret sauce" formulas? It is critical to understand that for mostbusinesses the cloud is not a panacea. Unlike the "electricity grid" where individual power generation units ceased to exist, not everything in IT will or should end up in the cloud – at least not just yet. The strategy defining usage of the cloud should be on the CIO's agenda. A trusted Systems Integrator should be involved in the strategic design of the architecture for how a particular company may optimally exploit the cloud.
The cloud trend today closely resembles the offshoring phenomenon. Just as the initial concerns and resistance to offshoring gave way to intelligently architected and governed models to protect the integrity of customer data while taking advantage of the lower cost options, a similar trend will emerge on the cloud front. It will start with resistance to the cloud, followed by the offering of a choice of cloud environments,finally leading to Cloud Computing becoming mainstream and an integral part of the compute environment for most businesses.
The Emerging Conceptual Architecture
At the onset, the low cost and ready access to on-demand computing offered through a cloud environment will cause businesses to rethink what is truly core (mission critical, highly sensitive/secretive) to their business, and shift an increasing amount of non-core processing to a shared or cloud environment. Organizations will be well served to revisit the classification of each piece of processing and storage that was earlier assumed to be sensitive and mission critical -- in light of the high cost associated with running it inhouse through a dedicated infrastructure.
The Information Technology (IT) Industry and publications have lately been abuzz with …Cloud Computing. While some claim it is the next disruptive technology, others suggest it to be the harbinger of the diminishing role of the Systems Integrator. A closer examination reveals that it is neither. But whatever descriptor is finalized for Cloud Computing, harvesting its benefits will still require the guidance and direction of smart integration.
Cloud Computing de-mystified
While there are many definitions for Cloud Computing from credible sources…
Gartner defines cloud computing as a style of computing in which massively scalable ITrelatedcapabilities are provided "as a service" using Internet technologies to multipleexternal customers.
Forrester defines cloud computing as a pool of abstracted, highly scalable, and managedcompute infrastructure capable of hosting end-customer applications and billed byconsumption.
…another way to look at Cloud Computing is that it is a highly automated, readily scalable, on-demand computing platform of virtually unlimited processing, storage and ubiquitous connectivity, always available to carry out a task of any size and charged based on usage! Audacious – though possible today in a limited manner – it is certainly poised to be as pervasive a platform like the internet, in the very near future.
The origin of Cloud Computing
As a matter of historical fact, Cloud Computing has been around since the beginning of the IT Outsourcing industry. At its core, Cloud Computing is about utilizing idle/excess Cloud Computing – Been There, Done That! compute power (processing, storage, and connectivity) of one entity, to carry out the work of another. This is the value proposition based on which Mr. Ross Perot started the IT Outsourcing industry in 1962, when he rented idle computing power from one company (Southwestern Life) to carry out the processing needs of another (Collins Radio). Mr. Perot recalls that the staff consisted of just two individuals who worked diligently in leveraging the compute capacity that was idle, mostly during the night, toprocess Collins Radio's data, and turning it into a win-win situation for all. The organization that owned the computers monetized its down time; the organization that needed the compute power did not have to out lay capital; and Mr. Perot's team, in the role of a Systems Integrator, ensured seamless delivery for a fee. This was the first instance of Cloud Computing.
Evolution of Cloud Computing
Advancements in technology, coupled with declining costs, have disrupted traditional business models and a new category of companies has emerged: one that operates mostly over the internet based on clicks" (e.g., Amazon, eBay, Google, etc.). The established businesses suddenly found that the development of this channel was critical for their survival against the new breed of companies, and started to offer a combination of "bricks and clicks" for the convenience of their customers.
The disruption of business models created a higher demand and dependence on IT. Also contributing to this dependence are "peaks-and-valleys" of IT capacity needs, tied directly to the nature of an organization's business activity (seasonal, one time, quarter/year-end, day/night, etc.). To ensure consistent, stable operations and to virtually eliminate risks, businesses built their computing platforms at or above the highest peak points of their IT requirements, no matter how infrequent that need might be. As a result, many businesses today are stuck with bloated computing platforms that are enormously underutilized for the majority of the time, taking up real estate, depreciating fast in value, and consuming significant amounts of energy and resources.
In response to this operational predicament, companies such as Amazon have started to commoditize their own idle capacity and monetize it under their EC2 and S3 labels. EC2, Elastic Compute Cloud, is a web-based service that allows any entity to buy and use compute capacity on an as-needed basis. The S3, Simple Storage Services, on the other hand, provides for web-based storage and access to data. The fact that both these services operate out of a standard browser and do not require any proprietary/licensedsoftware, make them extremely usable. While early adopters of EC2 and S3 were individuals and small businesses, innovative CIOs are giving them the attention they are due and have started to test out the feasibility of this emerging Cloud Computing platform. Starting with architecting a cloud-based processing environment for one time transactions that were non mission critical, they have experienced performance results.
Cloud Computing – Been There, Done That! and Capex/Opex savings significant enough to warrant the inclusion of Cloud Computing into their extended IT infrastructure.
Recognizing this phenomenon to be a viable business opportunity, hardware, software and internet-based companies with deep pockets are rushing to establish Cloud Computing environments to make available to businesses out of a utility-type, ondemand model. For hardware companies like IBM & HP, this is an opportunity to sell tons of hardware; for software companies like VMware & Microsoft, it is an opportunityto sell sophisticated software that allows efficient load balancing of computing resources between tasks; and for businesses like Google & Amazon saddled with the need to have extensive IT infrastructure, this has become an economic engine that can be used to convert their unused compute capacity into revenue.The expanding Role of Systems Integrator in the Cloud Computing World In order to understand the role of Systems Integrators, like Perot's team, in today's Cloud Computing world, we need to first review how their roles and responsibilities have evolved over time.
The primary focus of Systems Integrators continues to be planning, optimizing, integrating, and managing clients' heterogeneous compute environments. However, at times, they take on the responsibility of filling the gaps between the clients' IT needs and the available compute infrastructure. At one point, Systems Integrators used to manufacture hardware as needed to run their clients' systems efficiently, and evenwrote system utilities and applications down to the operating system level to fill in the gaps left by the software vendors. Gradually, as the hardware, software and networking companies matured, stabilized and more importantly innovated, the Systems Integrators were able to get back to their core business of integrating disparate systems.
The emerging Cloud Computing companies are proving to be yet another partner joining the hardware, software and network vendors in a typical Systems Integrator business model. The availability of a public domain computing platform (aka Cloud Computing) allows the Systems Integrators to extend their compute platform as needed, through lease type agreements as opposed to capital outlay or long term fixed costs.Even Clouds Must be Grounded While organizations may be lured to the affordability and scalability that Cloud Computing offers, it is imperative that their environment is architected such that it provides these advantages without compromising on security and interoperability.
The role of a Systems Integrator clearly is integral to configuring the optimum (extended) computing environment such that it is dependable/reliable and operating at expected quality of performance for a particular client.
The Future of Cloud Computing
The adoption of Cloud Computing is not without resistance or confusion. Torn between the appeal for cost savings and fear of loss of control, customers are struggling with how to take advantage of the cloud. How confidential will their data be? How will they handle issues around data privacy, intellectual property, regulatory requirements, and protection of "secret sauce" formulas? It is critical to understand that for mostbusinesses the cloud is not a panacea. Unlike the "electricity grid" where individual power generation units ceased to exist, not everything in IT will or should end up in the cloud – at least not just yet. The strategy defining usage of the cloud should be on the CIO's agenda. A trusted Systems Integrator should be involved in the strategic design of the architecture for how a particular company may optimally exploit the cloud.
The cloud trend today closely resembles the offshoring phenomenon. Just as the initial concerns and resistance to offshoring gave way to intelligently architected and governed models to protect the integrity of customer data while taking advantage of the lower cost options, a similar trend will emerge on the cloud front. It will start with resistance to the cloud, followed by the offering of a choice of cloud environments,finally leading to Cloud Computing becoming mainstream and an integral part of the compute environment for most businesses.
The Emerging Conceptual Architecture
At the onset, the low cost and ready access to on-demand computing offered through a cloud environment will cause businesses to rethink what is truly core (mission critical, highly sensitive/secretive) to their business, and shift an increasing amount of non-core processing to a shared or cloud environment. Organizations will be well served to revisit the classification of each piece of processing and storage that was earlier assumed to be sensitive and mission critical -- in light of the high cost associated with running it inhouse through a dedicated infrastructure.
Linux desktop's are easier to deploy than expected
Study finds Linux PC adoption driven by cost reduction; best results achieved with non-technical users
IBM has announced the results of a study conducted by the I.T. analyst firm Freeform Dynamics, commissioned by IBM, which showed that Linux desktops were easier to implement than IT staff expected if they targeted the right groups of users, such as those who have moderate and predictable use of e-mail and office tools.
The research behind the report, "Linux on the Desktop: Lessons from Mainstream Business Adoption" was designed, executed and interpreted independently by Freeform Dynamics.
Feedback was gathered via an online survey of 1,275 I.T. professionals from the U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a spread of other countries across Western Europe and the Nordics.
Ninety percent of the study's respondents had direct experience with desktop Linux deployment in their business.
Those with experience of such migrations said that Linux on the desktop was best achieved when it was first targeted to groups of non-technical users. Transaction workers and general professional workers were seen as more than twice as likely to be primary targets for desktop Linux adoption than mobile and creative staff. A majority of the respondents indicated that Linux desktop deployments to these targeted groups was easier than anticipated.
"Some users care a great deal about their desktop computing environment and may be emotionally or practically wedded to Windows" said Dale Vile, research director, Freeform Dynamics.
"The trick is to avoid getting distracted by these, and focus on the users for whom the PC on their desk is simply a tool to get their job done. Migrating a general professional user who only needs to access a couple of central systems, an email inbox and light word processing is pretty straightforward," added Vile.
Key statistics of the study include:
* 71 percent of respondents indicated cost reduction as their primary driver for adoption.* 35 percent stated the ease of securing the desktop was another primary driver* 32 percent cited the lowering of overheads associated with maintenance and support in general were factors contributing to the benefit of desktop Linux adoption* Those with experience of Linux desktop rollouts are 50 percent more likely to regard non-technical users such as general professional users and transaction workers as primary targets for Linux* 58 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see general professional users as primary targets* 52 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see transaction workers as primary targets.* 32 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see power users as primary targets.* 47 percent of respondents said usability was the main consideration when evaluating or selecting a desktop Linux distribution for use in a business environment
The study confirmed Linux on the desktop adoption is primarily driven by cost reduction. About twice as many of the respondents cited cost savings over security as the primary driver of why they'd adopt Linux on the desktop. Participants in the study indicated that both environments can be secured adequately -- it's just cheaper to secure a Linux desktop and maintain it that way.
"If a company is a 'Windows shop,' at some point it will need to evaluate the significant costs of migrating its base to Microsoft's next desktop and continuing the defense against virus and other attacks" said Bob Sutor, vice president of Linux and open source, IBM Software Group. "Savvy IT departments see the Linux desktop as a PC investment that actually saves money during this downturn. We see the recession fueling open source on the desktop."
IBM has announced the results of a study conducted by the I.T. analyst firm Freeform Dynamics, commissioned by IBM, which showed that Linux desktops were easier to implement than IT staff expected if they targeted the right groups of users, such as those who have moderate and predictable use of e-mail and office tools.
The research behind the report, "Linux on the Desktop: Lessons from Mainstream Business Adoption" was designed, executed and interpreted independently by Freeform Dynamics.
Feedback was gathered via an online survey of 1,275 I.T. professionals from the U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a spread of other countries across Western Europe and the Nordics.
Ninety percent of the study's respondents had direct experience with desktop Linux deployment in their business.
Those with experience of such migrations said that Linux on the desktop was best achieved when it was first targeted to groups of non-technical users. Transaction workers and general professional workers were seen as more than twice as likely to be primary targets for desktop Linux adoption than mobile and creative staff. A majority of the respondents indicated that Linux desktop deployments to these targeted groups was easier than anticipated.
"Some users care a great deal about their desktop computing environment and may be emotionally or practically wedded to Windows" said Dale Vile, research director, Freeform Dynamics.
"The trick is to avoid getting distracted by these, and focus on the users for whom the PC on their desk is simply a tool to get their job done. Migrating a general professional user who only needs to access a couple of central systems, an email inbox and light word processing is pretty straightforward," added Vile.
Key statistics of the study include:
* 71 percent of respondents indicated cost reduction as their primary driver for adoption.* 35 percent stated the ease of securing the desktop was another primary driver* 32 percent cited the lowering of overheads associated with maintenance and support in general were factors contributing to the benefit of desktop Linux adoption* Those with experience of Linux desktop rollouts are 50 percent more likely to regard non-technical users such as general professional users and transaction workers as primary targets for Linux* 58 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see general professional users as primary targets* 52 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see transaction workers as primary targets.* 32 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see power users as primary targets.* 47 percent of respondents said usability was the main consideration when evaluating or selecting a desktop Linux distribution for use in a business environment
The study confirmed Linux on the desktop adoption is primarily driven by cost reduction. About twice as many of the respondents cited cost savings over security as the primary driver of why they'd adopt Linux on the desktop. Participants in the study indicated that both environments can be secured adequately -- it's just cheaper to secure a Linux desktop and maintain it that way.
"If a company is a 'Windows shop,' at some point it will need to evaluate the significant costs of migrating its base to Microsoft's next desktop and continuing the defense against virus and other attacks" said Bob Sutor, vice president of Linux and open source, IBM Software Group. "Savvy IT departments see the Linux desktop as a PC investment that actually saves money during this downturn. We see the recession fueling open source on the desktop."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
TIPS TO DEVELOP OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
Developing software on an open source stack
This tip is written for all software developers interested in adopting Linux as a development platform and who want to explore the expansive variety of software development tools available for free as open source.
Web developers are enjoying a renaissance. After spending much of the previous decade toiling on server-centric code, programmers are now putting code front-and-center, turning the Web browser into its own computing platform.
Much of the renaissance must be attributed to ingenuity. The newest generation of tools and application frameworks automate and simplify the drudgery of building, deploying, and maintaining a Web site. There are also more tools than ever, and all the most innovative tools are open source. This tutorial provides an expansive survey of the free software available to developers to create and deploy Web applications.
This tutorial describes the wide variety of programming tools available on Linux. Further, it demonstrates how quick and easy it is to start developing on the platform and showcases some of the latest innovations in open source tools.
Objectives:
* Learn how to install a Web server, a database, and several programming languages on Linux.
* Learn how to combine the above pieces to build an application, first in PHP, then in Ruby on Rails.
Prerequisites:
This tutorial is written for all software developers interested in adopting Linux as a development platform and for developers who want to explore the expansive variety of software development tools available for free as open source. To follow this tutorial, you should have a general familiarity with using a Linux command-line shell and some programming experience. Some experience installing and configuring software on Linux is helpful, but not required.
System requirements:
To run the examples in this tutorial, you need a Linux box with at least 300 MB of free disk space. Root access to the machine is required to install a number of the software packages. The examples shown in this tutorial were created on Ubuntu Desktop Linux 8.04.1 running as a virtual machine in Parallels on Mac OS X Leopard. Ubuntu is not required; however, the examples use Aptitude, which can be found in any Debian-based distribution.
This tip is written for all software developers interested in adopting Linux as a development platform and who want to explore the expansive variety of software development tools available for free as open source.
Web developers are enjoying a renaissance. After spending much of the previous decade toiling on server-centric code, programmers are now putting code front-and-center, turning the Web browser into its own computing platform.
Much of the renaissance must be attributed to ingenuity. The newest generation of tools and application frameworks automate and simplify the drudgery of building, deploying, and maintaining a Web site. There are also more tools than ever, and all the most innovative tools are open source. This tutorial provides an expansive survey of the free software available to developers to create and deploy Web applications.
This tutorial describes the wide variety of programming tools available on Linux. Further, it demonstrates how quick and easy it is to start developing on the platform and showcases some of the latest innovations in open source tools.
Objectives:
* Learn how to install a Web server, a database, and several programming languages on Linux.
* Learn how to combine the above pieces to build an application, first in PHP, then in Ruby on Rails.
Prerequisites:
This tutorial is written for all software developers interested in adopting Linux as a development platform and for developers who want to explore the expansive variety of software development tools available for free as open source. To follow this tutorial, you should have a general familiarity with using a Linux command-line shell and some programming experience. Some experience installing and configuring software on Linux is helpful, but not required.
System requirements:
To run the examples in this tutorial, you need a Linux box with at least 300 MB of free disk space. Root access to the machine is required to install a number of the software packages. The examples shown in this tutorial were created on Ubuntu Desktop Linux 8.04.1 running as a virtual machine in Parallels on Mac OS X Leopard. Ubuntu is not required; however, the examples use Aptitude, which can be found in any Debian-based distribution.
Microsoft Windows 7 on track for holidays
SEATTLE, US: Microsoft Corp is on track to release its new Windows 7 operating system in time for the holiday shopping season, an executive said on Monday, confirming talk it is ahead of its own conservative schedule for replacing the unpopular Vista system.
The world's largest software company has so far been vague on specifying the timing of its new operating system, wary of disappointing customers. But it has broadly targeted the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
"Windows 7 is tracking well for holiday availability," Bill Veghte, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows business said at an event on Monday, citing good test results on the early version of the system released to developers and the public over the past few weeks.
Last month, Microsoft said Windows 7 was on track for launch in fiscal 2010, which could mean as early as July this year.
That inspired some hopes Microsoft would be able to take advantage of both the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, which usually bring a spike in computer purchases and accompanying software.
But Microsoft is taking care not to rush.
"Many are pushing us to release the product sooner rather than later, but our focus remains on a high quality release," said the head of Microsoft's Windows business, Steven Sinofsky, in a blog on Monday.
Over the last few weeks, Microsoft has been releasing an early version of Windows 7, known as a 'release candidate,' to developers and the public.
Once it makes some more adjustments to the software, the next stage is for Microsoft to hand the system to PC makers -- known as release to manufacturing, or RTM -- to install on machines sold in shops.
"Ultimately, our partners will determine when their PCs are available in market," said Sinofsky in his blog. "If the feedback and telemetry on Windows 7 match our expectations then we will enter the final phases of the RTM process in about three months."
That would put the company on track to have PCs with Windows 7 available this holiday season.
Microsoft's operating systems, installed on the vast majority of the world's PCs, are still the backbone of the company, providing more than half of its $4.4 billion profit last quarter.
The disappointing Vista, launched to the public in 2007, was incompatible with some low-power machines and perceived by many to be too complicated.
The world's largest software company has so far been vague on specifying the timing of its new operating system, wary of disappointing customers. But it has broadly targeted the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
"Windows 7 is tracking well for holiday availability," Bill Veghte, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows business said at an event on Monday, citing good test results on the early version of the system released to developers and the public over the past few weeks.
Last month, Microsoft said Windows 7 was on track for launch in fiscal 2010, which could mean as early as July this year.
That inspired some hopes Microsoft would be able to take advantage of both the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, which usually bring a spike in computer purchases and accompanying software.
But Microsoft is taking care not to rush.
"Many are pushing us to release the product sooner rather than later, but our focus remains on a high quality release," said the head of Microsoft's Windows business, Steven Sinofsky, in a blog on Monday.
Over the last few weeks, Microsoft has been releasing an early version of Windows 7, known as a 'release candidate,' to developers and the public.
Once it makes some more adjustments to the software, the next stage is for Microsoft to hand the system to PC makers -- known as release to manufacturing, or RTM -- to install on machines sold in shops.
"Ultimately, our partners will determine when their PCs are available in market," said Sinofsky in his blog. "If the feedback and telemetry on Windows 7 match our expectations then we will enter the final phases of the RTM process in about three months."
That would put the company on track to have PCs with Windows 7 available this holiday season.
Microsoft's operating systems, installed on the vast majority of the world's PCs, are still the backbone of the company, providing more than half of its $4.4 billion profit last quarter.
The disappointing Vista, launched to the public in 2007, was incompatible with some low-power machines and perceived by many to be too complicated.
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Thursday, November 27, 2008
KNOW ABOUT WINDOWS 7
Welcome to Windows 7If you're looking for information about Windows 7, you've come to the right place. And as we make new information available, we'll make sure you can find it all from here. If you want day-by-day news about Windows 7
USER INTERFACE
At PDC today, Microsoft gave the first public demonstration of Windows 7. Until now, the company has been uncharacteristically secretive about its new OS; over the past few months, Microsoft has let on that the taskbar will undergo a number of changes, and that many bundled applications would be unbundled and shipped with Windows Live instead. There have also been occasional screenshots of some of the new applets like Calculator and Paint. Now that the covers are finally off, the scale of the new OS becomes clear. The user interface has undergone the most radical overhaul and update since the introduction of Windows 95 thirteen years ago.
First, however, it's important to note what Windows 7 isn't. Windows 7 will not contain anything like the kind of far-reaching architectural modifications that Microsoft made with Windows Vista. Vista brought a new display layer and vastly improved security, but that came at a cost: a significant number of (badly-written) applications had difficulty running on Vista. Applications expecting to run with Administrator access were still widespread when Vista was released, and though many software vendors do a great job, there are still those that haven't updated or fixed their software. Similarly, at its launch many hardware vendors did not have drivers that worked with the new sound or video subsystems, leaving many users frustrated.
While windows 7 doesn't undo these architectural changes—they were essential for the long-term health of the platform—it equally hasn't made any more. Any hardware or software that works with Windows Vista should also work correctly with Windows 7, so unlike the transition from XP to Vista, the transition from Vista to 7 won't show any regressions; nothing that used to work will stop working.
So, rather than low-level, largely invisible system changes, the work on Windows 7 has focused much more on the user experience. The way people use computers is changing; for example, it's increasingly the case that new PCs are bought to augment existing home machines rather than replacement, so there are more home networks and shared devices. Business users are switching to laptops, with the result that people expect to seamlessly use their (Domain-joined) office PC on their home network.
As well as these broader industry trends, Microsoft also has extensive data on how people use its software. Through the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), an optional, off-by-default feature of many Microsoft programs, the company has learned a great deal about the things that users do. For example, from CEIP data Microsoft knows that 70% of users have between 5 and 15 windows open at any one time, and that most of the time they only actively use one or two of those windows. With this kind of data, Microsoft has streamlined and refined the user experience.
The biggest visible result of all this is the taskbar. The taskbar in Windows 7 is worlds apart from the taskbar we've known and loved ever since the days of Chicago.
Text descriptions on the buttons are gone, in favor of big icons. The icons can—finally—be rearranged; no longer will restarting an application put all your taskbar icons in the wrong order. The navigation between windows is now two-level; mousing over an icon shows a set of window thumbnails, and clicking the thumbnail switches windows.
Right clicking the icons shows a new UI device that Microsoft calls "Jump Lists."
Jump lists provide quick access to application features. Applications that use the system API for their Most Recently Used list (the list of recently-used filenames that many apps have in their File menus) will automatically acquire a Jump List containing their most recently used files. There's also an API to allow applications to add custom entries; Media Player, for example, includes special options to control playback.
This automatic support for new features is a result of deliberate effort on Microsoft's part. The company wants existing applications to benefit from as many of the 7 features as they can without any developer effort. New applications can extend this automatic support through new APIs to further enrich the user experience. The taskbar thumbnails are another example of this approach. All applications get thumbnails, but applications with explicit support for 7 will be able to add thumbnails on a finer-grained basis. IE8, for instance, has a thumbnail per tab (rather than per window).
Window management has also undergone changes. In recognition of the fact that people tend only to use one or two windows concurrently, 7 makes organizing windows quicker and easier. Dragging a window to the top of the screen maximizes it automatically; dragging it off the top of the screen restores it. Dragging a window to the left or right edge of the screen resizes the window so that it takes 50% of the screen. With this, a pair of windows can be quickly docked to each screen edge to facilitate interaction between them.
Another common task that 7 improves is "peeking" at windows; switching to a window briefly just to read something within the window but not actually interact with the window. To make this easier, scrubbing the mouse over the taskbar thumbnails will turn every window except the one being pointed at into a glass outline; moving the mouse away will reinstate all the glass windows. As well as being used for peeking at windows, you can also peek at the desktop:
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Tuesday, November 25, 2008
NEW TO LINUX THEN KNOW ABOUT IT ?
WHAT IS LINUX ?
Linux is a free operative system that has become more and more popular due to the fact that it's image is being polished from an operative system for freaks and hackers to an operating system that is graphical oriented and a possible contender to Microsoft Windows. Linux was developed by Linux Torvalds with some other programmers. It now has a huge community from all over the world working on the further development of Linux. Since Linux is free it can be obtained by any body without the need for a License, this is called the General Public License (GLP). It has all the features you would expect in a modern fully-fledged Unix, including true multitasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, shared copy-on-write executables, proper memory management, and TCP/IP networking.
Linux is made up of the Kernel, which is the operating system, the Xfree86 X Windows system that provides the user interface and the graphical Desktop like GNOME and KDE that gives the Windows feel. The Kernel is the heart or the core component of the Linux operating system and it is is maintained by the thousands of corporate-supported and volunteer programmers all over the world. Linux is not owned by anybody so everyone can get a copy of the Linux operating system called (source code) modify it and distribute it further.
Another big word that you come across is the distributions. A Linux distribution is a Linux kernel that is surrounded with a lot of different applications that makes the installation of the operating system easy and provides a friendly interface for anybody familiar with a computer to use. Distributions are created by individuals and companies and is usually packed with different software for networking, communication and other software that combine with the operating system so that a normal user that use it. An example of a Linux distribution is Mandrake or Redhat.
Since the Kernel is the main thing you usually end up with kernel version that is different from the distribution version. The present Kernel version is 2.6 and while Redhat distribution is up to version 9.0 at this time. A typical distribution comes with office applications, desktops, Internet browsers, FTP clients and much more. The most interesting thing is that it's all free because nobody can claim Linux and make huge profit from it.
Section 1: Introduction
This document started out as a justification for producing another Linux distribution. However, the Simple End-User Linux project (SEUL) has changed their goals from being a distribution project to working on the non-technical aspects of bringing Linux to end-users -- Linux in education , advocacy documents , managing and coordinating communications between projects, coordinating feedback from end-users, and hosting related development projects.
However, this document is still very useful as a description of the reasons for why Linux should be considered as an alternative to other (particularly proprietary) operating systems. In broadest terms, there are four categories under which this justification falls:
Problems with existing systems
Technical merits of Linux
Deficiencies of current Linux distributions
Advantages of commercial systems
Section 2: Problems with existing systems
There are certain problems which are common to all commercial-release operating systems - that is, any operating system which has all of the following attributes:
It costs money, typically more than $50
Source code for the system is not available
There are strict limits as to how the system may be copied.
Consequently, Windows, MacOS, DEC Ultrix, Solaris, OS/2, and other similar platforms are commercial operating systems. Linux (including Red Hat Official Linux, though that is a borderline case) and FreeBSD are free operating systems. They are often available for the cost of media ($2 to $5), the source code is available, often included with the main distribution; and there are few limits to redistributing the system.
Since commercial systems are a source of revenue for the companies who make them, some situations develop which are not necessarily advantageous to computer users. Most of these are directly related to the need for trade secrets and the protection of source code. Some of these problems include:
Section 2.1: Slow release pattern
Major upgrades to operating systems come very slowly. Windows 95 came out three years after Windows 3.11; Windows 98 might be released this year. Other systems are similar. The major distributions of Linux, on the other hand, are releasing major updates every six months or so.
Minor upgrades also take longer to acknowledge and fix in commercial systems. Recent problems with Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are good examples of this. In the case of the "denial of service" TCP/IP bug, a Linux patch was posted for it mere hours after the problem was isolated. Anyone who is technically capable can fix the bugs, too, merely by changing the code in question and recompiling.
Section 2.2: High cost
Commercial operating systems, especially server operating systems, like Windows NT Server and Novell IntraNetware, can can cost more than $400 for a single copy and limited number of user licenses. Even the more modest $100 for Windows 95 can be a problem for people in developing countries, as well as students and others. The price for commercial systems almost never includes development tools, which cost even more. Linux, on the other hand, includes free C, C++, FORTRAN, and other development tools.
Section 2.3: Tech Support?
Commercial systems require their customers to depend on their companies for technical support. If there is a problem, users must often wait on hold (while paying for a toll call). While decentralized, it is often easier to get help with problems in Linux.
Section 2.4: Lack of source code availability
The fact that the source code for Windows and other systems is a closely guarded secret keeps people from learning from it, tinkering with it, and (perhaps) improving it. It means that problems which are technically easy to fix (like the infamous teardrop Pentium bug) cannot be fixed by any user with the technical expertise, but everyone must wait until Microsoft publishes a patch. The availability of source code is a particularly useful thing for programmers and computer science students, which form a significant percentage of Linux users.
In addition to the general problems noted above, there are some others which seem to particularly affect Microsoft Windows in all its variations. (Our intent is not to pick on Microsoft specifically, but since it is the single largest OS vendor, and most people are familiar with DOS and/or Windows, it would serve as a useful example for our purposes. Note also that we recogniz certain advantages to commercial systems, which we will discuss in detail later on.
Problems particular to Windows include:
Section 2.5: Planned obsolescence of hardware
A growing computer industry requires that people periodically get faster and more capable hardware to keep up with the advances the industry makes. Microsoft does not make it a priority to maintain backward-compatibility with older systems when it releases new operating systems. While it is technically possible to run Windows 95 on a 386/25 (I have seen it done), it is not an experience any user would relish. Running Windows 95 on any hardware less than a 486/66 with 16MB of RAM is an exercise in masochism. Cost becomes an issue again: until quite recently a new system would cost close to $2000; many people do not have the money to upgrade every two or three years. (I have heard that Windows 98 will not support any processor below the level of the "classic" Pentium.) So that 486 becomes a very expensive paperweight unless there is a platform which can run on it acceptably. Linux is such a platform.
Section 2.6: Monopolistic attitude
Epitomized by recent legal troubles with the Department of Justice and Sun Microsystems, there is a general perception that Bill Gates just wants to rule the world. (The latest Bond film, "Tomorrow Never Dies," even has a brief allusion to this.) Whether true or not, many people are seeking alternatives to Microsoft systems just because they are uncomfortable with Microsoft having a monopoly in this area.
Section 2.7: Crash-prone
No one in the computer industry was surprised when Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Vice-President, admitted that in the rush to beat Netscape, Microsoft had cut corners in quality control. (So had Netscape -- we're not playing favorites here.) Based on anecdotal evidence, many people have problems with Windows crashing for no particularly good reason, often causing people to lose work. Sometimes it is just an annoyance, but other times it can be quite serious. While Windows 95 and in particular Windows NT are far more stable than Windows 3.1x, they still fail with alarming regularity. There are documented cases of Linux servers running for over a year at a time without a system-halting crash.
Section 3: Technical merits of Linux
"Everyone's a critic." Too true. So, you may ask, what do we suggest to improve the computing situation? If you have read this far, you probably think we are going to say "Linux!" And you would be right. Linux provides an excellent base to work from for several reasons, and although it is not perfect, we believe it is the best place to start.
Section 3.1: Linux is Network-friendly
Nowadays, people are becoming more and more enamored of the Internet and what it can do for them. It is by no means an uncommon thing to see major vendors advertise their World Wide Web addresses during football games and other events; many TV commercials have them, too. The American marketing machine sees the Internet as a phenomenon that is here to stay, and the public wants to take advantage of it. The best way to do that now is with a computer. Set top devices, like WebTV (which Microsoft owns, in case you were curious) have a long way to go before they offer the flexibility and power of a PC with a modem.
Although not a huge movement yet, there will be more networks set up in homes as costs for basic computer hardware and networking equipment continue to plummet. The small office/home office network can now be realized for about half the price it would have cost a year ago. Most industry news sources expect this trend to continue. This will probably be more of a factor when homes and small offices want to get their own high-speed internet connections and need dedicated hardware to manage it.
Thus, one of the major litmus tests of the quality and utility of a modern operating system is how well it networks. Since Linux was developed by a team of programmers over the Internet, its its networking features were given high priority. Linux is capable of acting as client and/or server to any of the popular operating systems in use today, and is quite capable of being used to run Internet Service Providers. In fact, in Southern Minnesota, all of the small local ISP's (I do not know anything definite about the phone companies) use Linux. It is also well-suited to serving as a dial-in network station.
Linux supports most of the major protocols, and quite a few of the minor ones. Support for Internet, Novell, Windows, and Appletalk networking have been part of the Linux kernel for some time now. With support for Simple Network Management Protocol and other services (such as Domain Name Service), Linux is also well suited to serving large networks.
Finally, all these networking options will run quite acceptably on minimal hardware configurations. It depends on what services are needed and in what quantity, but I know that for some time a small college in Southern Minnesota ran a 56k baud leased line (access for a student body of about 300) gateway with E-Mail, DNS, and FTP on a single 486/33 with 32MB RAM and a lot of big SCSI drives.
Section 3.2: Linux is Multi-user
Linux is an implementation of the UNIX design philosophy, which means that it is a multi-user system from the word "go." This has numerous advantages, even for a system where only one or two people will be using it. Security, which is necessary for protection of sensitive information, is built into Linux at selectable levels. More importantly, the system is designed to multi-task. Whether one user is running several programs or several users are running one program, Linux is capable of managing the traffic.
Section 3.3: Linux is Open
Perhaps most importantly for what we are trying to accomplish with SEUL, Linux is open. That means that for the entire base system, which includes the kernel, the GNU tools, and all the basic utilities, we as programmers and users have access to the source code as well as the right to modify it. Without that access and that right, this project would not be possible. Neither would many of the other Linux projects currently underway, including GNOME, the GNU Network Object Model Environment, a desktop interface; MNEMONIC, a free web browser under development; or many others. If users like SEUL, they will be able to modify it if they wish.
An important aspect of open software is the ability to write kernel extensions and drivers as needed. What if new hardware comes out that we want to take advantage of? We just write the driver -- if someone else doesn't do it first.
Another huge advantage of an open system is a large number of software authors and beta testers. This makes the software testing and refinement process faster and better. Because there is not a lot of commercial software for Linux (though that is an increasing market), most software written for Linux is written because the authors want to do it. Since there are no corporate deadlines, there need be no compromise of quality. Also, I think many programmers relish the idea of showing off some artistry, since others will actually see and appreciate their code.
This means many good things for the user. It means higher-quality software, which means less prone to crash, more efficient, what have you. Often, if you have a question, it is often possible to ask the author of the software him/herself via E-Mail or Usenet Newsgroups. It makes it easier for people to get involved in the development process, which means that even if someone is not a programmer, he or she can have a profound impact on a piece of software by suggesting how to improve it to the development team.
Section 3.4: Linux is "Free"
Linux is "Free" in two senses. In one sense, the Linux consumer is free to modify the system and do anything he or she wishes with it. In another sense, acquiring Linux does not necessarily require any cash outlay at all.
There are two very popular methods for acquiring and distributing Linux: FTP and CD-ROM. Most of the major Linux distributions (Red Hat, Debian, Slackware, Caldera) are available for free download from several popular sites. Though time consuming, it does not cost anything beyond connection charges.
Getting Linux by CD-ROM seems to make more sense in many cases. For a few dollars (essentially the cost of the physical disc itself and shipping and handling), anyone can get the major Linux distributions. Many vendors even offer several-CD sets with prices averaging less than $2 per disc.
This would be a bargain if Linux were a run of the mill system with few frills and no truly compelling features. As a matter of fact, Linux comes with full networking capabilities, a mind-boggling array of programs, utilities, and development tools.
The development tools in particular make Linux a great platform for learning how to write software. In addition to the tools, you often get a full CD of source code to browse and study and tinker with. Another advantage is that, as a multi-user system, it is much more likely to keep you from shooting yourself in the foot as you learn to program -- I have seen Windows 95 and how it handles errors in Borland's C++ compiler, and I am very glad I use Linux. Of course, if you are not inclined to write software, these things do not need to be installed.
Of course one of the greatest advantages of Linux is that it is the freedom to modify the existing code makes it a very easily extensible platform. That is exactly what we are trying to do with EUL - modify and extend the base system to make it easier for people who do not have years of Unix experience to work with the system.
Section 3.5: Linux is Reliable
Linux is one of the more stable operating systems available today. This is due in large part to the fact that Linux was written by programmers who were writing for other programmers and not for the corporate system. The only people who made the decisions on what went into the system were programmers. Also, the deadline pressure is not as strong when one is developing as a hobby. What does this mean in practical terms? In a recent issue of Linux Journal, a feature was run on how long a Linux system has continuously run. Several uptimes of over 1 year were reported. This is because the system is designed to be upgraded and modified "on the fly" -- the only reason one would need to turn off a Linux system would be to add hardware or boot from a different kernel. That means that the end-user can count on Linux to work consistently, day in and day out.Another factor which touches on reliability is that there are currently two mature program packaging standards in the Linux world. Debian and Red Hat each have their own packaging systems; both will check dependencies (package A needs to have package B installed before it will run, so the installer will install package B), both can upgrade an entire running system without a reboot. this makes it easy to upgrade parts or all of a system, as well as add new software, or remove unwanted software.
Section 3.6:
Linux is Backwards-Compatible Linux has superb support for older hardware. In fact, it is often easier to find hardware support for 486-era hardware than the latest gizmos to hit the market. This is because the driver authors need time to write and test the drivers, and some vendors are not exactly forthcoming with the information required to write a driver.What this means for the user is that they can protect their investment in hardware. When old hardware is rendered obsolete by the latest version of Windows (or MacOS...we try to be fair), it can most likely still run enough of Linux to be perfectly useful. There is no reason for Linux users to try to make hardware obsolete - and every reason for them to provide support for older hardware.
Section 4: Deficiencies of Linux as of Jan. 1, 1998
Despite the tremendous advantages of Linux as it stands right now, it is not without its problems. Several in particular which we are trying to provide solutions for include the following: Section 4.1:
Inconsistent User Interface One of the by-products of the development of GNU/Linux is that it is a patchwork quilt of sorts, reflecting different interfaces, design goals, etc. It is not easy learning to use the vi editor, for example, or learning the command line syntax of find. Nor is there any consistency enforced among the various programs and utilities included in a standard Linux distribution. This leads to user confusion and frustration.Current projects are underway to provide consistent graphical interfaces through the X Window system. These include KDE (the K Desktop Environment), GNOME (GNU Object Model Environment), and Teak (a GNU project which as far as I know exists only on paper). What we think would be ideal would be a consistent interface to configure various services, as well as user tools such as a calendar, word processor, emailer, and so on.
Section 4.2:
Replication of packages There is a lot of replication among the various packages in a Linux distribution. Some of the Mail Transfer Agents available (and this is not an exhaustive list) include sendmail, smail, qmail, and exim. Granted, the diversity is generally because there are differing design goals, but the choice is confusing to many users, who may not know how to use any one of them.
Section 4.3:
Wrong amount of info in install process The major Linux distributions give either too much or too little information to the new user when installing. Red Hat gives too little -- you can choose packages individually but there is no information about the packages you are selecting beyond what category they fall under. Debian, with dselect, gives too much -- there are a number of status items on the display that are difficult to read and are not easily deciphered without the manual.While many Linux users argue that any Linux user should Read The Fine Manual before installing, it can be pointed out that the Windows installation routing (which has problems of its own) does not require a lot of reading before someone can perform it adequately.
Section 4.4:
Inadequate PnP support For whatever reason, the Plug and Play (PnP) specification has not been a particularly critical item for the Linux world to take care of. Many PnP cards do not work at all (though this is not always the fault of Linux - it is often due to the manufacturer keeping vital aspects of the technology secret so that a driver cannot be written), and the only current interface to PnP cards is through a program called isapnp. More work should be done in this area.
Section 4.5:
Most installations presume full-time network and ethernet Debian and Red Hat both seem to spend most of their network installation time assuming that the machine being installed on will be connected to a network. Not enough potential problems with dial-up networking (Modem setup, IRQ tuning, PPP setup) are dealt with at installation. This process needs to be easier.
Section 4.6:
Locations of help not obvious It can be very difficult to find help, especially for those not accustomed to a Unix system. New users may see a command line and try to get a directory by typing "dir," unaware that it will not work. Once a user learns "man" and "locate," she can do quite a bit, but the individual program documentation still needs to be manipulated with gzip. What would be ideal would be a natural language help facility which, when asked, "How do I check for disk problems?" responds with a reference to docs for fsck. A project like this is under development.
Section 4.7:
System administration difficult for non-UNIX users Learning Unix system administration from the ground up can be a nightmare. Most users are not concerned with issues such as hard vs. symbolic links, filesystem-specific issues (fat or vfat or fat32?), file permissions, user rights, group rights, and all the other trivia that make Unix administration what it is. Ideally, the user would be shielded from as much of this as possible.
Section 4.8:
Lack of commercial applications Linux still suffers from a frustrating lack of applications in some areas. These are mostly the big-ticket commercial type apps, such as word-processors, spreadsheets, databases, and web browsers. The Linux software market is growing, but what we need are some free items like this for a freely-distributable system.
Section 4.9:
Lack of hardware vendor support Some hardware vendors simply refuse to release the information on their products necessary to write a driver. A recent (and fairly public) example of this was Adaptec's response to Linux user complaints about not making information on new versions of the AHA-2940 BIOS available, meaning that the card behaves erratically under Linux (and since such a card usually has the main system storage hooked to it, that is not a Good Thing). Fortunately, Adaptec publicly posted that it was willing to work with the Linux community for a mutually beneficial solution. We can only hope episodes like this become more common.Meanwhile, some vendors are actually giving instructions on their tech support pages on how to set their hardware up under Linux. A notable example of this is Linksys, the network hardware vendor. This too is a positive sign we can only hope will increase.
Section 4.10:
Lack of traditional customer support Earlier, we cited Linux' lack of traditional support as an advantage. That only part of the story, though. Most business IS departments want and need some tangible entity to stand behind a product which performs mission-critical services for the business, so that 24 hour support is needed. There is currently no central organization in the Linux community for this, and this is a major barrier to widespread acceptance of Linux in the workplace. Since it is such an obvious shortcoming, there are some things underway which should alleviate this problem:
Red Hat has now instituted phone support Just for installation and for 30 days, but it is a start.
Some consultancies provide support Red Hat is working to coordinate this with local resources.
Caldera is working aggressively in this market Caldera's products are specifically aimed at this issue. They are also priced comparably to similar offerings from Microsoft and Novell, which has irked some Linux people. Mailing lists and newsgroups These are still the best places to get Linux tech support, and will be for some time. There should be more information given to beginning Linux users, though, to ease their transition.
Section 5:
Advantages of commercial systems Earlier, we promised that we would discuss in detail the advantages of commercial systems over Linux as it is now. We believe this is especially important because of the perceived (OK, real) ease of use gap between Linux and commercial offerings. While all the major distributions have made great strides in bridging the usability gap, Linux is "not there" yet. Some things in particular we notice about commercial systems that make them easier to use:
Section 5.1:
System operation is easy to find info on IDG books has made a pile of money with their "For Dummies" books. They can be bought at any bookstore, too -- "Running Linux" by Matt Welsh is a little harder to come by -- and it is not "For Dummies." It is typically easier to find a friend who knows how to install a Windows device driver than it is to find someone who can do it in Linux. This is simply a function of the ubiquity of Windows, but is certainly part of the "ease of use" gap.
Section 5.2:
Commercial systems have many commercial apps This is really the bread and butter of the commercial software world. Microsoft's biggest revenue generator, for example, is Office. As a result, a lot of time, effort, and research and development goes into these programs. They can do a lot (too much, perhaps), and are relatively easy to use. Nothing like MS Word 97 yet exists for Linux, nor is it likely to in the near future. This is partly because a project like that is enormous, requiring lots of time from lots of people, but also because it already exists, so why re-do it?
Applix makes a decent office suite for Linux. There is also StarOffice, so the market is not empty. But there is no doubt that Linux would help itself immensely by getting more of these apps.
Section 5.3:
Commercial systems have better "out-of-box" support for home user
Since commercial systems are tailored to the home user, they tend to be easier to set up and use by the home user. Under the best of circumstances, it can be quite easy to set Windows 95 up as an Internet dial-up networking station. (If PnP fails, it can be a nightmare, granted.) Nevertheless, quite a few people get on the Internet with Win95 so Microsoft must be doing something right in that regard. Linux can gain by offering some of the visual interfaces with interactive questions ("Wizards") for new users.
Section 5.4: Interface R & D
Large companies have budgets for developing newer and better User Interface technology, a luxury Linux does not have. But Linux can use this information to its advantage by learning from the success of some interfaces and the failures of others.
Linux is a free operative system that has become more and more popular due to the fact that it's image is being polished from an operative system for freaks and hackers to an operating system that is graphical oriented and a possible contender to Microsoft Windows. Linux was developed by Linux Torvalds with some other programmers. It now has a huge community from all over the world working on the further development of Linux. Since Linux is free it can be obtained by any body without the need for a License, this is called the General Public License (GLP). It has all the features you would expect in a modern fully-fledged Unix, including true multitasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, shared copy-on-write executables, proper memory management, and TCP/IP networking.
Linux is made up of the Kernel, which is the operating system, the Xfree86 X Windows system that provides the user interface and the graphical Desktop like GNOME and KDE that gives the Windows feel. The Kernel is the heart or the core component of the Linux operating system and it is is maintained by the thousands of corporate-supported and volunteer programmers all over the world. Linux is not owned by anybody so everyone can get a copy of the Linux operating system called (source code) modify it and distribute it further.
Another big word that you come across is the distributions. A Linux distribution is a Linux kernel that is surrounded with a lot of different applications that makes the installation of the operating system easy and provides a friendly interface for anybody familiar with a computer to use. Distributions are created by individuals and companies and is usually packed with different software for networking, communication and other software that combine with the operating system so that a normal user that use it. An example of a Linux distribution is Mandrake or Redhat.
Since the Kernel is the main thing you usually end up with kernel version that is different from the distribution version. The present Kernel version is 2.6 and while Redhat distribution is up to version 9.0 at this time. A typical distribution comes with office applications, desktops, Internet browsers, FTP clients and much more. The most interesting thing is that it's all free because nobody can claim Linux and make huge profit from it.
Section 1: Introduction
This document started out as a justification for producing another Linux distribution. However, the Simple End-User Linux project (SEUL) has changed their goals from being a distribution project to working on the non-technical aspects of bringing Linux to end-users -- Linux in education , advocacy documents , managing and coordinating communications between projects, coordinating feedback from end-users, and hosting related development projects.
However, this document is still very useful as a description of the reasons for why Linux should be considered as an alternative to other (particularly proprietary) operating systems. In broadest terms, there are four categories under which this justification falls:
Problems with existing systems
Technical merits of Linux
Deficiencies of current Linux distributions
Advantages of commercial systems
Section 2: Problems with existing systems
There are certain problems which are common to all commercial-release operating systems - that is, any operating system which has all of the following attributes:
It costs money, typically more than $50
Source code for the system is not available
There are strict limits as to how the system may be copied.
Consequently, Windows, MacOS, DEC Ultrix, Solaris, OS/2, and other similar platforms are commercial operating systems. Linux (including Red Hat Official Linux, though that is a borderline case) and FreeBSD are free operating systems. They are often available for the cost of media ($2 to $5), the source code is available, often included with the main distribution; and there are few limits to redistributing the system.
Since commercial systems are a source of revenue for the companies who make them, some situations develop which are not necessarily advantageous to computer users. Most of these are directly related to the need for trade secrets and the protection of source code. Some of these problems include:
Section 2.1: Slow release pattern
Major upgrades to operating systems come very slowly. Windows 95 came out three years after Windows 3.11; Windows 98 might be released this year. Other systems are similar. The major distributions of Linux, on the other hand, are releasing major updates every six months or so.
Minor upgrades also take longer to acknowledge and fix in commercial systems. Recent problems with Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are good examples of this. In the case of the "denial of service" TCP/IP bug, a Linux patch was posted for it mere hours after the problem was isolated. Anyone who is technically capable can fix the bugs, too, merely by changing the code in question and recompiling.
Section 2.2: High cost
Commercial operating systems, especially server operating systems, like Windows NT Server and Novell IntraNetware, can can cost more than $400 for a single copy and limited number of user licenses. Even the more modest $100 for Windows 95 can be a problem for people in developing countries, as well as students and others. The price for commercial systems almost never includes development tools, which cost even more. Linux, on the other hand, includes free C, C++, FORTRAN, and other development tools.
Section 2.3: Tech Support?
Commercial systems require their customers to depend on their companies for technical support. If there is a problem, users must often wait on hold (while paying for a toll call). While decentralized, it is often easier to get help with problems in Linux.
Section 2.4: Lack of source code availability
The fact that the source code for Windows and other systems is a closely guarded secret keeps people from learning from it, tinkering with it, and (perhaps) improving it. It means that problems which are technically easy to fix (like the infamous teardrop Pentium bug) cannot be fixed by any user with the technical expertise, but everyone must wait until Microsoft publishes a patch. The availability of source code is a particularly useful thing for programmers and computer science students, which form a significant percentage of Linux users.
In addition to the general problems noted above, there are some others which seem to particularly affect Microsoft Windows in all its variations. (Our intent is not to pick on Microsoft specifically, but since it is the single largest OS vendor, and most people are familiar with DOS and/or Windows, it would serve as a useful example for our purposes. Note also that we recogniz certain advantages to commercial systems, which we will discuss in detail later on.
Problems particular to Windows include:
Section 2.5: Planned obsolescence of hardware
A growing computer industry requires that people periodically get faster and more capable hardware to keep up with the advances the industry makes. Microsoft does not make it a priority to maintain backward-compatibility with older systems when it releases new operating systems. While it is technically possible to run Windows 95 on a 386/25 (I have seen it done), it is not an experience any user would relish. Running Windows 95 on any hardware less than a 486/66 with 16MB of RAM is an exercise in masochism. Cost becomes an issue again: until quite recently a new system would cost close to $2000; many people do not have the money to upgrade every two or three years. (I have heard that Windows 98 will not support any processor below the level of the "classic" Pentium.) So that 486 becomes a very expensive paperweight unless there is a platform which can run on it acceptably. Linux is such a platform.
Section 2.6: Monopolistic attitude
Epitomized by recent legal troubles with the Department of Justice and Sun Microsystems, there is a general perception that Bill Gates just wants to rule the world. (The latest Bond film, "Tomorrow Never Dies," even has a brief allusion to this.) Whether true or not, many people are seeking alternatives to Microsoft systems just because they are uncomfortable with Microsoft having a monopoly in this area.
Section 2.7: Crash-prone
No one in the computer industry was surprised when Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Vice-President, admitted that in the rush to beat Netscape, Microsoft had cut corners in quality control. (So had Netscape -- we're not playing favorites here.) Based on anecdotal evidence, many people have problems with Windows crashing for no particularly good reason, often causing people to lose work. Sometimes it is just an annoyance, but other times it can be quite serious. While Windows 95 and in particular Windows NT are far more stable than Windows 3.1x, they still fail with alarming regularity. There are documented cases of Linux servers running for over a year at a time without a system-halting crash.
Section 3: Technical merits of Linux
"Everyone's a critic." Too true. So, you may ask, what do we suggest to improve the computing situation? If you have read this far, you probably think we are going to say "Linux!" And you would be right. Linux provides an excellent base to work from for several reasons, and although it is not perfect, we believe it is the best place to start.
Section 3.1: Linux is Network-friendly
Nowadays, people are becoming more and more enamored of the Internet and what it can do for them. It is by no means an uncommon thing to see major vendors advertise their World Wide Web addresses during football games and other events; many TV commercials have them, too. The American marketing machine sees the Internet as a phenomenon that is here to stay, and the public wants to take advantage of it. The best way to do that now is with a computer. Set top devices, like WebTV (which Microsoft owns, in case you were curious) have a long way to go before they offer the flexibility and power of a PC with a modem.
Although not a huge movement yet, there will be more networks set up in homes as costs for basic computer hardware and networking equipment continue to plummet. The small office/home office network can now be realized for about half the price it would have cost a year ago. Most industry news sources expect this trend to continue. This will probably be more of a factor when homes and small offices want to get their own high-speed internet connections and need dedicated hardware to manage it.
Thus, one of the major litmus tests of the quality and utility of a modern operating system is how well it networks. Since Linux was developed by a team of programmers over the Internet, its its networking features were given high priority. Linux is capable of acting as client and/or server to any of the popular operating systems in use today, and is quite capable of being used to run Internet Service Providers. In fact, in Southern Minnesota, all of the small local ISP's (I do not know anything definite about the phone companies) use Linux. It is also well-suited to serving as a dial-in network station.
Linux supports most of the major protocols, and quite a few of the minor ones. Support for Internet, Novell, Windows, and Appletalk networking have been part of the Linux kernel for some time now. With support for Simple Network Management Protocol and other services (such as Domain Name Service), Linux is also well suited to serving large networks.
Finally, all these networking options will run quite acceptably on minimal hardware configurations. It depends on what services are needed and in what quantity, but I know that for some time a small college in Southern Minnesota ran a 56k baud leased line (access for a student body of about 300) gateway with E-Mail, DNS, and FTP on a single 486/33 with 32MB RAM and a lot of big SCSI drives.
Section 3.2: Linux is Multi-user
Linux is an implementation of the UNIX design philosophy, which means that it is a multi-user system from the word "go." This has numerous advantages, even for a system where only one or two people will be using it. Security, which is necessary for protection of sensitive information, is built into Linux at selectable levels. More importantly, the system is designed to multi-task. Whether one user is running several programs or several users are running one program, Linux is capable of managing the traffic.
Section 3.3: Linux is Open
Perhaps most importantly for what we are trying to accomplish with SEUL, Linux is open. That means that for the entire base system, which includes the kernel, the GNU tools, and all the basic utilities, we as programmers and users have access to the source code as well as the right to modify it. Without that access and that right, this project would not be possible. Neither would many of the other Linux projects currently underway, including GNOME, the GNU Network Object Model Environment, a desktop interface; MNEMONIC, a free web browser under development; or many others. If users like SEUL, they will be able to modify it if they wish.
An important aspect of open software is the ability to write kernel extensions and drivers as needed. What if new hardware comes out that we want to take advantage of? We just write the driver -- if someone else doesn't do it first.
Another huge advantage of an open system is a large number of software authors and beta testers. This makes the software testing and refinement process faster and better. Because there is not a lot of commercial software for Linux (though that is an increasing market), most software written for Linux is written because the authors want to do it. Since there are no corporate deadlines, there need be no compromise of quality. Also, I think many programmers relish the idea of showing off some artistry, since others will actually see and appreciate their code.
This means many good things for the user. It means higher-quality software, which means less prone to crash, more efficient, what have you. Often, if you have a question, it is often possible to ask the author of the software him/herself via E-Mail or Usenet Newsgroups. It makes it easier for people to get involved in the development process, which means that even if someone is not a programmer, he or she can have a profound impact on a piece of software by suggesting how to improve it to the development team.
Section 3.4: Linux is "Free"
Linux is "Free" in two senses. In one sense, the Linux consumer is free to modify the system and do anything he or she wishes with it. In another sense, acquiring Linux does not necessarily require any cash outlay at all.
There are two very popular methods for acquiring and distributing Linux: FTP and CD-ROM. Most of the major Linux distributions (Red Hat, Debian, Slackware, Caldera) are available for free download from several popular sites. Though time consuming, it does not cost anything beyond connection charges.
Getting Linux by CD-ROM seems to make more sense in many cases. For a few dollars (essentially the cost of the physical disc itself and shipping and handling), anyone can get the major Linux distributions. Many vendors even offer several-CD sets with prices averaging less than $2 per disc.
This would be a bargain if Linux were a run of the mill system with few frills and no truly compelling features. As a matter of fact, Linux comes with full networking capabilities, a mind-boggling array of programs, utilities, and development tools.
The development tools in particular make Linux a great platform for learning how to write software. In addition to the tools, you often get a full CD of source code to browse and study and tinker with. Another advantage is that, as a multi-user system, it is much more likely to keep you from shooting yourself in the foot as you learn to program -- I have seen Windows 95 and how it handles errors in Borland's C++ compiler, and I am very glad I use Linux. Of course, if you are not inclined to write software, these things do not need to be installed.
Of course one of the greatest advantages of Linux is that it is the freedom to modify the existing code makes it a very easily extensible platform. That is exactly what we are trying to do with EUL - modify and extend the base system to make it easier for people who do not have years of Unix experience to work with the system.
Section 3.5: Linux is Reliable
Linux is one of the more stable operating systems available today. This is due in large part to the fact that Linux was written by programmers who were writing for other programmers and not for the corporate system. The only people who made the decisions on what went into the system were programmers. Also, the deadline pressure is not as strong when one is developing as a hobby. What does this mean in practical terms? In a recent issue of Linux Journal, a feature was run on how long a Linux system has continuously run. Several uptimes of over 1 year were reported. This is because the system is designed to be upgraded and modified "on the fly" -- the only reason one would need to turn off a Linux system would be to add hardware or boot from a different kernel. That means that the end-user can count on Linux to work consistently, day in and day out.Another factor which touches on reliability is that there are currently two mature program packaging standards in the Linux world. Debian and Red Hat each have their own packaging systems; both will check dependencies (package A needs to have package B installed before it will run, so the installer will install package B), both can upgrade an entire running system without a reboot. this makes it easy to upgrade parts or all of a system, as well as add new software, or remove unwanted software.
Section 3.6:
Linux is Backwards-Compatible Linux has superb support for older hardware. In fact, it is often easier to find hardware support for 486-era hardware than the latest gizmos to hit the market. This is because the driver authors need time to write and test the drivers, and some vendors are not exactly forthcoming with the information required to write a driver.What this means for the user is that they can protect their investment in hardware. When old hardware is rendered obsolete by the latest version of Windows (or MacOS...we try to be fair), it can most likely still run enough of Linux to be perfectly useful. There is no reason for Linux users to try to make hardware obsolete - and every reason for them to provide support for older hardware.
Section 4: Deficiencies of Linux as of Jan. 1, 1998
Despite the tremendous advantages of Linux as it stands right now, it is not without its problems. Several in particular which we are trying to provide solutions for include the following: Section 4.1:
Inconsistent User Interface One of the by-products of the development of GNU/Linux is that it is a patchwork quilt of sorts, reflecting different interfaces, design goals, etc. It is not easy learning to use the vi editor, for example, or learning the command line syntax of find. Nor is there any consistency enforced among the various programs and utilities included in a standard Linux distribution. This leads to user confusion and frustration.Current projects are underway to provide consistent graphical interfaces through the X Window system. These include KDE (the K Desktop Environment), GNOME (GNU Object Model Environment), and Teak (a GNU project which as far as I know exists only on paper). What we think would be ideal would be a consistent interface to configure various services, as well as user tools such as a calendar, word processor, emailer, and so on.
Section 4.2:
Replication of packages There is a lot of replication among the various packages in a Linux distribution. Some of the Mail Transfer Agents available (and this is not an exhaustive list) include sendmail, smail, qmail, and exim. Granted, the diversity is generally because there are differing design goals, but the choice is confusing to many users, who may not know how to use any one of them.
Section 4.3:
Wrong amount of info in install process The major Linux distributions give either too much or too little information to the new user when installing. Red Hat gives too little -- you can choose packages individually but there is no information about the packages you are selecting beyond what category they fall under. Debian, with dselect, gives too much -- there are a number of status items on the display that are difficult to read and are not easily deciphered without the manual.While many Linux users argue that any Linux user should Read The Fine Manual before installing, it can be pointed out that the Windows installation routing (which has problems of its own) does not require a lot of reading before someone can perform it adequately.
Section 4.4:
Inadequate PnP support For whatever reason, the Plug and Play (PnP) specification has not been a particularly critical item for the Linux world to take care of. Many PnP cards do not work at all (though this is not always the fault of Linux - it is often due to the manufacturer keeping vital aspects of the technology secret so that a driver cannot be written), and the only current interface to PnP cards is through a program called isapnp. More work should be done in this area.
Section 4.5:
Most installations presume full-time network and ethernet Debian and Red Hat both seem to spend most of their network installation time assuming that the machine being installed on will be connected to a network. Not enough potential problems with dial-up networking (Modem setup, IRQ tuning, PPP setup) are dealt with at installation. This process needs to be easier.
Section 4.6:
Locations of help not obvious It can be very difficult to find help, especially for those not accustomed to a Unix system. New users may see a command line and try to get a directory by typing "dir," unaware that it will not work. Once a user learns "man" and "locate," she can do quite a bit, but the individual program documentation still needs to be manipulated with gzip. What would be ideal would be a natural language help facility which, when asked, "How do I check for disk problems?" responds with a reference to docs for fsck. A project like this is under development.
Section 4.7:
System administration difficult for non-UNIX users Learning Unix system administration from the ground up can be a nightmare. Most users are not concerned with issues such as hard vs. symbolic links, filesystem-specific issues (fat or vfat or fat32?), file permissions, user rights, group rights, and all the other trivia that make Unix administration what it is. Ideally, the user would be shielded from as much of this as possible.
Section 4.8:
Lack of commercial applications Linux still suffers from a frustrating lack of applications in some areas. These are mostly the big-ticket commercial type apps, such as word-processors, spreadsheets, databases, and web browsers. The Linux software market is growing, but what we need are some free items like this for a freely-distributable system.
Section 4.9:
Lack of hardware vendor support Some hardware vendors simply refuse to release the information on their products necessary to write a driver. A recent (and fairly public) example of this was Adaptec's response to Linux user complaints about not making information on new versions of the AHA-2940 BIOS available, meaning that the card behaves erratically under Linux (and since such a card usually has the main system storage hooked to it, that is not a Good Thing). Fortunately, Adaptec publicly posted that it was willing to work with the Linux community for a mutually beneficial solution. We can only hope episodes like this become more common.Meanwhile, some vendors are actually giving instructions on their tech support pages on how to set their hardware up under Linux. A notable example of this is Linksys, the network hardware vendor. This too is a positive sign we can only hope will increase.
Section 4.10:
Lack of traditional customer support Earlier, we cited Linux' lack of traditional support as an advantage. That only part of the story, though. Most business IS departments want and need some tangible entity to stand behind a product which performs mission-critical services for the business, so that 24 hour support is needed. There is currently no central organization in the Linux community for this, and this is a major barrier to widespread acceptance of Linux in the workplace. Since it is such an obvious shortcoming, there are some things underway which should alleviate this problem:
Red Hat has now instituted phone support Just for installation and for 30 days, but it is a start.
Some consultancies provide support Red Hat is working to coordinate this with local resources.
Caldera is working aggressively in this market Caldera's products are specifically aimed at this issue. They are also priced comparably to similar offerings from Microsoft and Novell, which has irked some Linux people. Mailing lists and newsgroups These are still the best places to get Linux tech support, and will be for some time. There should be more information given to beginning Linux users, though, to ease their transition.
Section 5:
Advantages of commercial systems Earlier, we promised that we would discuss in detail the advantages of commercial systems over Linux as it is now. We believe this is especially important because of the perceived (OK, real) ease of use gap between Linux and commercial offerings. While all the major distributions have made great strides in bridging the usability gap, Linux is "not there" yet. Some things in particular we notice about commercial systems that make them easier to use:
Section 5.1:
System operation is easy to find info on IDG books has made a pile of money with their "For Dummies" books. They can be bought at any bookstore, too -- "Running Linux" by Matt Welsh is a little harder to come by -- and it is not "For Dummies." It is typically easier to find a friend who knows how to install a Windows device driver than it is to find someone who can do it in Linux. This is simply a function of the ubiquity of Windows, but is certainly part of the "ease of use" gap.
Section 5.2:
Commercial systems have many commercial apps This is really the bread and butter of the commercial software world. Microsoft's biggest revenue generator, for example, is Office. As a result, a lot of time, effort, and research and development goes into these programs. They can do a lot (too much, perhaps), and are relatively easy to use. Nothing like MS Word 97 yet exists for Linux, nor is it likely to in the near future. This is partly because a project like that is enormous, requiring lots of time from lots of people, but also because it already exists, so why re-do it?
Applix makes a decent office suite for Linux. There is also StarOffice, so the market is not empty. But there is no doubt that Linux would help itself immensely by getting more of these apps.
Section 5.3:
Commercial systems have better "out-of-box" support for home user
Since commercial systems are tailored to the home user, they tend to be easier to set up and use by the home user. Under the best of circumstances, it can be quite easy to set Windows 95 up as an Internet dial-up networking station. (If PnP fails, it can be a nightmare, granted.) Nevertheless, quite a few people get on the Internet with Win95 so Microsoft must be doing something right in that regard. Linux can gain by offering some of the visual interfaces with interactive questions ("Wizards") for new users.
Section 5.4: Interface R & D
Large companies have budgets for developing newer and better User Interface technology, a luxury Linux does not have. But Linux can use this information to its advantage by learning from the success of some interfaces and the failures of others.
LOTTERY SCAMS AND AWARENESS ABOUT THEM
Email Lottery Scams - International Lottery Scam Information
Lottery scams are one of the most common types of fraudulent email currently hitting inboxes. Be wary of unsolicited email that informs you that you have won a large sum of money in an international lottery. This is a common Internet scam. There is no lottery and no prize. Those who initiate a dialogue with the scammers by replying to the lottery scam emails will eventually be asked for advanced fees to cover expenses associated with delivery of the supposed "winnings". They may also become the victims of identity theft.
HOW IT WORKS ?
You receive an unsolicited email, which states that you have won a major prize in an international lottery. Supposedly, your email address was collected online and attached to a random number that was subsequently entered in a draw for the lottery. In order to claim your prize, you are instructed to contact the official "agent" in charge of your case. You are also advised to keep the win confidential for "security reasons". This part of the scam is basically a random phishing expedition. If you respond in any way to the email, the scammers will send further messages or even contact you by phone in an attempt to draw you deeper into the scam.
You may be asked to provide banking details, a large amount of personal information, and copies of your driver's licence and passport. Ostensibly, these requests are to prove your identity and facilitate the transfer of your winnings. However, if you comply with these requests, the scammers will have enough information to steal your identity.
Sooner or later, the scammers will request some sort of advance fee supposedly to cover administration, legal or delivery costs. At its core, this scam is just a reworking of the Nigerian loan fraud, in which scammers also eventually ask for upfront fees to facilitate the "deal". Like Nigerian scams, victims who do actually pay the requested fees will probably find that they receive continuing payment demands to cover "unexpected expenses". The requests for money will go on until the victim realizes what is happening or has no further money to send.
In some cases, the scammers give victims the option of opening an account at a particular bank as an alternative to paying upfront fees. However, this "bank" which is completely bogus, will insist on an initial deposit of $3000 as a requirement for opening the account. The fake bank will have a legitimate looking website to reinforce the scam. In other cases, the victim is given the option of travelling to an overseas destination and paying a cash fee to facilitate the release of the funds. However, any "winnings" released to the victim will be counterfeit and therefore worthless.
The details of the lottery scams vary regularly with regard to the name of the lottery itself, the country of origin, the sponsoring organization, the amount of the "prize" and other particulars. The scammers try to add a patina of legitimacy to their claims by mentioning real financial institutions, government departments or well-known companies. They may also provide links to slick looking, but fraudulent websites that are designed to back up information included in the scam emails. If the scammers are successful in establishing a dialogue with a potential victim, they may provide "proof" such as a scanned image of a supposed government official's ID and even photographs of the "winnings" in cash.
WHAT TO DO IF U RECEIVE A LOTTERY SCAM EMAIL?
If you receive one of these scam emails, it is important that you do not respond to it in any way. The scammers are likely to act upon any response from those they see as potential victims. Although it can be educational and even entertaining to "bait" these scammers, such endeavours should only be attempted under controlled conditions. The people who run these scams are criminals and could even resort to violence and intimidation to meet their aims. You should delete the email without replying. Before you delete the message, you might like to report the scam by forwarding the email to the address supplied on the FraudWatch International website.
Lottery scams are one of the most common types of fraudulent email currently hitting inboxes. Be wary of unsolicited email that informs you that you have won a large sum of money in an international lottery. This is a common Internet scam. There is no lottery and no prize. Those who initiate a dialogue with the scammers by replying to the lottery scam emails will eventually be asked for advanced fees to cover expenses associated with delivery of the supposed "winnings". They may also become the victims of identity theft.
HOW IT WORKS ?
You receive an unsolicited email, which states that you have won a major prize in an international lottery. Supposedly, your email address was collected online and attached to a random number that was subsequently entered in a draw for the lottery. In order to claim your prize, you are instructed to contact the official "agent" in charge of your case. You are also advised to keep the win confidential for "security reasons". This part of the scam is basically a random phishing expedition. If you respond in any way to the email, the scammers will send further messages or even contact you by phone in an attempt to draw you deeper into the scam.
You may be asked to provide banking details, a large amount of personal information, and copies of your driver's licence and passport. Ostensibly, these requests are to prove your identity and facilitate the transfer of your winnings. However, if you comply with these requests, the scammers will have enough information to steal your identity.
Sooner or later, the scammers will request some sort of advance fee supposedly to cover administration, legal or delivery costs. At its core, this scam is just a reworking of the Nigerian loan fraud, in which scammers also eventually ask for upfront fees to facilitate the "deal". Like Nigerian scams, victims who do actually pay the requested fees will probably find that they receive continuing payment demands to cover "unexpected expenses". The requests for money will go on until the victim realizes what is happening or has no further money to send.
In some cases, the scammers give victims the option of opening an account at a particular bank as an alternative to paying upfront fees. However, this "bank" which is completely bogus, will insist on an initial deposit of $3000 as a requirement for opening the account. The fake bank will have a legitimate looking website to reinforce the scam. In other cases, the victim is given the option of travelling to an overseas destination and paying a cash fee to facilitate the release of the funds. However, any "winnings" released to the victim will be counterfeit and therefore worthless.
The details of the lottery scams vary regularly with regard to the name of the lottery itself, the country of origin, the sponsoring organization, the amount of the "prize" and other particulars. The scammers try to add a patina of legitimacy to their claims by mentioning real financial institutions, government departments or well-known companies. They may also provide links to slick looking, but fraudulent websites that are designed to back up information included in the scam emails. If the scammers are successful in establishing a dialogue with a potential victim, they may provide "proof" such as a scanned image of a supposed government official's ID and even photographs of the "winnings" in cash.
WHAT TO DO IF U RECEIVE A LOTTERY SCAM EMAIL?
If you receive one of these scam emails, it is important that you do not respond to it in any way. The scammers are likely to act upon any response from those they see as potential victims. Although it can be educational and even entertaining to "bait" these scammers, such endeavours should only be attempted under controlled conditions. The people who run these scams are criminals and could even resort to violence and intimidation to meet their aims. You should delete the email without replying. Before you delete the message, you might like to report the scam by forwarding the email to the address supplied on the FraudWatch International website.
WHAT IS PHISHING AND HOW IT WORKS
Phishing Scams - Anti-Phishing Information
Phishing is one of the most prevalent of all Internet scams. At any one time, a large number of major financial institutions and online entities around the world will be the target of phishing scammers. Some high profile institutions such as Citibank and PayPal are targeted almost continually. Phishing scams attempt to trick people into providing sensitive personal information such as credit card or banking details.
HOW IT WORKS ?
Phishing scams attempt to trick people into providing sensitive personal information such as credit card or banking details. In order to carry out this trick, the phishing scammers send a fraudulent email disguised as an official request for information from the targeted company. Generally, they also create a "look-a-like" website that is designed to closely resemble the target company's official site. The fake website may appear almost identical to the official site. Style, logos, images, navigation menus and other structural components may look the same as they do on the genuine website.Recipients of the scam email are requested to click on an included hyperlink. Clicking this link will cause the fake website to open in the user's browser. Once at this fake website, the user may be presented with a web form that requests private information such as credit card and banking details, and other account data such as a home address and phone number. Often, the visitor is requested to login using his or her username and password. All information entered into this fake website, including login details, can subsequently be collected and used at will by the criminals operating the scam.A variation of the scam involves using an embedded form within the bogus email itself. Victims are instructed to enter details such as a password and bank account number into the form provided and return the email to the sender. Another variation attempts to trick recipients into installing a trojan on their computer, either by opening an email attachment or downloading the trojan from a website. The scammers can then use the trojan to collect information from the infected computer. The scam emails are randomly mass-mailed to many thousands of Internet users in the hope of netting just a small number of victims. The majority of people who receive these scam emails will probably not even be customers of the targeted institution. However, the scammers rely on the statistical probability that at least a few recipients will:
1. Have accounts with the targeted institution.
2. Will be unaware of such scams and believe the email to be a legitimate request.
The scam can prove to be a lucrative exercise for the scammers even if only a very small percentage of recipients ultimately become victims.
Phishing is one of the most prevalent of all Internet scams. At any one time, a large number of major financial institutions and online entities around the world will be the target of phishing scammers. Some high profile institutions such as Citibank and PayPal are targeted almost continually. Phishing scams attempt to trick people into providing sensitive personal information such as credit card or banking details.
HOW IT WORKS ?
Phishing scams attempt to trick people into providing sensitive personal information such as credit card or banking details. In order to carry out this trick, the phishing scammers send a fraudulent email disguised as an official request for information from the targeted company. Generally, they also create a "look-a-like" website that is designed to closely resemble the target company's official site. The fake website may appear almost identical to the official site. Style, logos, images, navigation menus and other structural components may look the same as they do on the genuine website.Recipients of the scam email are requested to click on an included hyperlink. Clicking this link will cause the fake website to open in the user's browser. Once at this fake website, the user may be presented with a web form that requests private information such as credit card and banking details, and other account data such as a home address and phone number. Often, the visitor is requested to login using his or her username and password. All information entered into this fake website, including login details, can subsequently be collected and used at will by the criminals operating the scam.A variation of the scam involves using an embedded form within the bogus email itself. Victims are instructed to enter details such as a password and bank account number into the form provided and return the email to the sender. Another variation attempts to trick recipients into installing a trojan on their computer, either by opening an email attachment or downloading the trojan from a website. The scammers can then use the trojan to collect information from the infected computer. The scam emails are randomly mass-mailed to many thousands of Internet users in the hope of netting just a small number of victims. The majority of people who receive these scam emails will probably not even be customers of the targeted institution. However, the scammers rely on the statistical probability that at least a few recipients will:
1. Have accounts with the targeted institution.
2. Will be unaware of such scams and believe the email to be a legitimate request.
The scam can prove to be a lucrative exercise for the scammers even if only a very small percentage of recipients ultimately become victims.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
ABOUT LINUX IN FUTURE
What Linux Will Look Like In 2012 ?
Our open source expert foresees the future of Linux: By 2012 the OS will have matured into three basic usage models. Web-based apps rule, virtualization is a breeze, and command-line hacking for basic system configuration is a thing of the past.
What will desktop Linux be like four years from now?
In the time it takes most college students to earn an undergraduate degree -- or party through their college savings -- Linux will continue to mature and evolve into an operating system that non-technical users can fully embrace.
The single biggest change you'll see is the way Linux evolves to meet the growing market of users who are not themselves Linux-savvy, but are looking for a low-cost alternative to Microsoft (or even the Mac). That alone will stimulate enormous changes across the board, but there are many other things coming down the pike in the next four years, all well worth looking forward to.
Over the course of the last four years, Linux has taken enormous strides in usability and breadth of adoption. Here's a speculative look forward at what Linux could be like a few years from now -- or, maybe we could say what Linux ought to be like.
For-free Versus For-pay
Expect to see a three-way split among different versions of Linux. Not different distributions per se, but three basic usage models:
1. For-pay: Ubuntu's in-store $20 boxes are a good example. For a nominal cost, you get professional support for Linux as well as licenses to use patent-restricted technologies (e.g., codecs for legal DVD playback).
Expect this to at least gain nominal momentum, especially if the cost is no more than an impulse buy and people understand that Ubuntu can non-destructively share a machine with Windows. Also expect at least one other Linux company to pick up on this model (openSUSE, for instance), and to have preloads on new systems incorporate such things if they don't already.
2. Free to use: This is the most common model right now -- a free distribution with support optional, and additional optional support for closed-source components: proprietary, binary-only device drivers.
3. Free/libre: These distributions contain no components with patent encumbrances or other issues, in any form. Distributions like gNewSense or Blag Linux already do this, and an upcoming version of Ubuntu (8.10 / "Intrepid Ibex," due in October) will also feature a wholly free installation option.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Windows XP Piracy Badgering Set To Begin
Microsoft this week plans to update the Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy mechanism for Windows XP Professional, which the software giant claims is the most oft-pirated version of Windows.
After the update, WGA notifications for XP will be the same as they are for Windows Vista service pack 1, said Alex Kochis, senior product manager in the Windows Genuine Advantage group, in a Tuesday blog post.
That means users whose copies of XP fail validation will see a black background the next time they log in. Although users will be free to switch to their background of choice, the black screen will return every 60 minutes until they validate their copy, and they'll also see a watermark with a logo that reads "Ask For Genuine Microsoft Software."
According to Kochis, this will make it easier for XP users to install and stay up to date with the latest release of WGA notifications. "Our research has clearly shown that customers value the ability of Windows to alert them when they may have software that is not genuine, but they also want the ability to stay up to date with the least effort required on their part," he wrote.
WGA is designed to combat piracy by installing software on users' PCs that periodically checks to see if their version of Windows is authentic before allowing them to download updates. However, WGA has been a source of frustration for many users since it was launched in 2005, due to several incidents in which genuine users have been mistakenly identified as pirates.
Prior to the release of Vista service pack 1, Vista copies that failed WGA validation would enter a reduced functionality mode in which certain features were disabled, but Microsoft changed to the black screen nagging approach when it released Vista SP1.
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Survey Process
To create and run a survey, you will need to work through these steps:
- Define your goals
- Pick your tools
- Write your questions
- Test your survey
- Deploy your survey
- Measure your results
The rest of this article will describe these steps in greater detail later.
one of the best survey site where u don't need to pay any sign-up fee and registration fees and here is the my referral link to that site
http://www.AWSurveys.com/HomeMain.cfm?RefID=NARESHI3Friday, August 22, 2008
Seamless and AVG offer security software
Seamless and AVG offer security software
(Telecomworldwire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)Seamless Corporation (OTCBB:SMWF), a provider of secure cutting-edge
hardware and software, Internet communications products and services,
has announced that its subsidiary, Seamless TEK LABS Inc, will be
marketing a bundled solution of Seamless Secure Internet Browsing
(S-SIB) software programs and AVG Technologies' Anti-Virus programs.
S-SIB Complete offers a data security product liability policy,
encryption of Internet traffic with government grade encryption,
protection from common Wi-Fi attacks, an anonymous web browsing
feature, anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, anti-rootkit, instant
messaging protection and AVG Surf-Shield and Active Surf-Shield.
The package is available at a price of USD 44.95.
DATA PROTECTION INTRODUCED BY IBM
IBM EXPANDS DATA PROTECTION SOFTWARE PORTFOLIO TO WINTEL CUSTOMERS Technology from FilesX Acquisition Strengthens Tivoli Storage Manager Portfolio
INDIA, Bangalore � August 22, 2008 � IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a new suite of integrated data protection solutions designed to help WindowsIntel customers deal with the challenges of quick and efficient data backups and restores to meet business, legal and regulatory requirements.According to the IDC AP Enterprise Server Tracker, Q1 2008, the number of x86 units shipped in 2007 were 126,940 and forecasted at 148,467 in 2008. With almost this entire infrastructure generating business critical data, the need for data management, backup and recovery focused at Windows and x86 market is greater than ever.
IBM new Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack software will enable IBM Tivoli to cater to a completely new market segment of x86 customers on Windows at competitive price points and functionalities. In particular, this offering will help small-to-midsized businesses (SMBs) and remote locations, which typically lack dedicated IT staff but have to deal with mounting storage concerns.
The new IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack solutions are available now. For more information on the IBM Tivoli Storage Manager family, visit http://www-306.ibm.com/software/tivoli/products/storage-mgr/
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