Dell Ships Ubuntu Linux PCs

Dell Inc. will officially launch its first three consumer PCs running the Ubuntu 7.04 Linux OS on Thursday, two desktops and an Inspiron E1505n notebook PC.

The new models give buyers a third choice when shopping for a PC at Dell: a machine with Windows installed, a machine with no OS, on which they can install one of their choice, and now a machine with Ubuntu Linux already installed. Other PC makers, including Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) and Lenovo Group Ltd. also sell PCs that run Linux, but mainly on customized machines, because retail demand for the open-source OS is tiny compared to that for Windows.

The PCs will be available in the U.S. after 4 p.m. Central Time from Dell's Web site at http://www.dell.com/open. The laptop starts at US$599, while the two desktops, the Dimension E520 and XPS 410n, start from $599 and $849 each, respectively. A comparable XPS 410 with Windows Vista Premium costs $899.

Dell announced what flavor of Linux it would use in the PCs, Ubuntu 7.04, earlier this month. It's the same OS Michael Dell, the chairman and CEO of the company, uses on his Dell Precision M90 laptop at home.

Dell is targeting the Linux enthusiast market with the PCs, and said the choice of systems is a response to customer feedback collected at www.ideastorm.com, a Web site set up to solicit customer suggestions. Over 100,000 people participated in surveys about the systems and what kind of Linux to install in the machines, Dell said in a statement.

The three PCs all use Intel Corp. Core 2 Duo microprocessors. The two desktops contain 1G byte of RAM and 250G bytes of hard disk space, while the laptop includes 512M bytes of RAM and an 80G byte hard disk drive.

Users will be able to choose from several hardware options on their Ubuntu PCs from Dell. The options offered contain the most mature and stable Linux driver support, and Dell plans to work with vendors to ensure more devices include Linux driver support in the future, it said.

Dell is offering hardware support for the PCs through its existing channels, with basic software help from several dedicated Web sites and Linux forums. Canonical Ltd. is offering software service upgrades from the Web site: www.ubuntu.com.

The company also created the Dell Linux Forum at www.dellcommunity.com for users to find resources, troubleshoot, discuss issues and share experiences about the new PCs.

Source :http://www.pcworld.com

HostMySite.Com Launches Premium ColdFusion VPS Plans for Linux

ColdFusion web hosting provider HostMySite.com has added 2 new Linux ColdFusion Virtual Private Server (VPS) plans to their lineup of high-performance products and services. The new ColdFusion VPS plans feature CFMX7, MySQL 5, Red Hat Enterprise, and a limited number of clients per server. For more information about the new plans, please visit http://www.hostmysite.com/vps/linux/cf/.

According to the company, the ability to have ColdFusion processes running in an environment reserved for a single client and their applications greatly enhances the stability of the ColdFusion service itself. The client's application has the ability to expand as needed within its own environment without threat from other applications doing the same. Additionally, the ability to utilize the debugging mode and runtime logs within ColdFusion will assist customers in proactively repairing code in a timely fashion.

In addition, the existing HostMySite.com Linux VPS plans have been revamped to include 2 new premium VPS offerings with more memory, disk space, and control panel options. These premium plans were introduced to satisfy customer demand for even more powerful virtual environments. For more information about the new premium Linux VPS plans, please visit http://www.hostmysite.com/vps/linux/premium/.

"A VPS is a cost effective solution for customers looking to maximize their Web capabilities as well as manage their IT infrastructure," says Monish Sood, Director of Marketing for HostMySite.com. "We've seen great customer success with our Windows VPS offerings, so it was a natural progression to enhance our Linux plans with ColdFusion and more resources."

HostMySite.com's VPS plans are an ideal fit for customers who prefer the lower pricing and substantial value of a virtual private server versus a managed dedicated server. Powered by Virtuozzo, all of the new VPS plans allow customers to host multiple websites, manage large database-driven applications and other Web and email functions.

About HostMySite.com

Founded in 1997, HostMySite.com is a privately-held provider of customer-focused Web hosting services. With a combination of sophisticated hosting technology and applied business knowledge, HostMySite.com provides individuals, small businesses, and large corporations with affordable managed dedicated servers, Virtual Private Servers (VPS), and shared Web hosting solutions supported by an unwavering commitment to customer service. HostMySite.com's award-winning customer service includes 24x7x365 live support through toll-free telephone, email, and live online chat. The company is based in Newark, DE and can be reached at www.HostMySite.com.

Linspire beefs up Windows on Linux

The offering is designed as a complement to Linspire or Freespire and offers a way to bring Windows applications to the Linux desktop.

Jim Curtin, president and chief executive at Win4Lin developer Virtual Bridges, said: "By allowing users to run Windows productivity applications, they can meet the requirements of their day-to-day computer use while experiencing the benefits of Linux."

Randy Linnell, vice president of business development at Linspire, said that the technology continued to drive Linux adoption by providing Windows users with the benefits of Linux, while providing access to core Windows programs.

Win4Lin runs Windows 2000/XP applications at "near-native" speed and allows users to display either full desktop mode or "floating" application mode.

It also allows full integration between the Linux Desktop and Windows file systems for user documents and settings.

Source : http://www.itnews.com.au

Dell's Ubuntu Offering Shows Why Linux Is Its Own Worst Enemy

Dell is moving full speed ahead with its rush to deliver Ubuntu Linux on a bunch of upcoming laptops and desktops, but there's a potential problem looming: Multimedia support on the machines may be spotty.

That word comes via a post on the Direct2Dell blog, from John Hull, Dell's manager of Linux OS Technologies. (Credit and thanks to eWeek blogger Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols for first pointing to this post.)

Here's the money quote from Hull's "Ubuntu 7.04 Offering--Technical Details":

"At this time, we are not including any support for proprietary audio or video codecs that are not already distributed with Ubuntu 7.04. These include MPEG 1/2/3/4, WMA, WMV, DVD, Quicktime, etc. We are evaluating options for providing this support in the future."

Also, you might have to get yourself a new printer if you opt for the Dell Ubuntu offerings, 'cause the cheapy model you have at home might not work. Writes Hull: "We recommend Linux users buy Dell printers that have PostScript engines in them."

What's going on here? Unfortunately, we're seeing in action why Linux, which is the best operating system money can buy--because it's free--is also its own worst enemy. (Caveat: I'm talking about the desktop, aka client side, here. Of course, Linux is already in the "big time" on the server side.) The big problem is that the availability of Linux drivers, though nowhere near the crisis levels it was several years ago, is still spotty.

Say what you will about Windows, but it's rare that you install a peripheral and find out you can't get a driver. If the driver isn't already hidden in some .cab file, Windows will go out to the Internet and find it. Worst case, you have to go out to the vendor's support site and download it yourself. But it's very, very rare that you come up empty.

True, Vista has had driver issues. However, it's more a case of Vista drivers not working correctly (after all, they only had five years to get the darned thing ready) than it is a case of no one thinking to do the drivers in the first place.

I know, the Linux faithful will tell me that the driver(s) problem has been largely licked. If that's the case, why is it rearing its head in what amounts to the highest-profile market showcase Linux has had in a long time?

I also know that Ubuntu, unlike many other distros, has only been around for two and a half years. So what? In that short period of time, it's gotten more publicity than anything to do with Linux outside of Linus Torvalds himself. And if it's true that one shouldn't expect "volunteers" to be able to do drivers for anything, it's also true that PC users don't--and shouldn't have to--are. (The more pertinent question is: Why aren't peripherals vendors doing more to ensure the availability of Linux drivers? I guess you'd have to ask them, and maybe Microsoft. Though don't expect much in the way of answers.)

True, Dell is clearly putting forth its best effort to make a go of it with Ubuntu. As Hall's post puts it: "We configure/install open source drivers for hardware, when possible. We use partial open-source or closed source ("restricted" in Ubuntu terms) drivers where there is no equivalent open-source driver. This includes Intel wireless cards and Conexant modems."

Still, partial anything isn't the route to Linux laptop success. Think about it: This isn't Linspire putting its "look as much unlike Linux as you can so people will think it's some kind of Windows clone" version of Linux onto a bunch of cut-rate Wal-Mart machines. This is Dell.

As well, this isn't some determinedly anti-newbie version of Linux, like FreeBSD. It's Ubuntu, which comes from the pretty much the most touchy-feely open-source community you can find.

'Cause if Ubuntu ain't ready for the big time, it makes you wonder if Linux will ever be.

P.S. Lest you get the impression I'm part of the problem and not the solution, here are a couple of interesting Linux driver resources.

Source : http://www.informationweek.com

Linux users say 'Sue me first, Microsoft'

In an unconventional request, some users of Linux and other open-source software are inviting Microsoft to sue them.

The users have put their names on a public wiki as a way of protesting Microsoft's recent claims that Linux and other open-source software infringe on at least 235 of its patents. They've listed the open-source OSes and software they use, along with frequently snarky comments.

"If you would like to invite a visit by Brad Smith, Microsoft's head litigator, please feel free to add your name here," according to the wiki, part of a blog by Digital Tipping Point, a video project centred around open-source software.

Microsoft maintains it has no immediate plans to sue, although it is encouraging companies to license its intellectual property. Open-source advocates on the list want Microsoft to prove that it has valid patent claims against Linux.

Microsoft has been evasive about details, saying broadly that the patents involve the Linux kernel and user interface; the OpenOffice productivity suite and other open-source applications, including email programs.

"I use Gentoo Linux and exclusively FOSS (free and open-source software) tools to write experimental speech and natural language processing prototypes," wrote Sean Jensen, of London. "And for music. And other fun stuff. No, Microsoft, you did not invent any of this. It ain't yours, it ain't mine, it ain't theirs. It's ours. All of ours."

Joe Grigg of Kalamazoo, Michigan, wrote that he has used the Ubuntu and Vector Linux distributions since Windows XP's security left him "sickened."

"Microsoft's business practices made me ashamed to own a computer," Grigg wrote. "I now run a LAMP (Linux, Apache MySQL, Perl) server and develop professional websites on LAMP servers and am 100 percent Microsoft free."

Emrah Ünal, who listed his locale as Turkey and Finland, wrote: "As a Linux user for nine years, I believe I deserve to be sued. There's no escape from justice."

Source : http://computerworld.co.nz/

Reaping Rewards from Linux

Since stockbroker Redmayne-Bentley revamped its IT infrastructure with a move to Linux the business has been reaping the rewards.

The Leeds-based company moved onto a Linux-based platform last year after deciding an open source environment was the right choice for its growing business in a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.

The migration saw a series of applications moved onto a Linux environment on Unisys ES7000/one Enterprise Servers.

A major part of the business are the financial transactions carried out on bespoke software which previously sat on the old, Unix-based system.

The introduction of a new hardware OS was therefore a mission-critical project for the business said Michael Wheeler, finance partner at Redmayne-Bentley.

Since making the move, the business has seen an 88 per cent reduction in overnight processing time - from 13 hours down to 1.5 hours - along with a tenfold increase in processing power.

The new platform has also reduced the time to report trades while supporting an off-site disaster recovery system and upgraded business continuity.

Wheeler said the company now has a "core, stable and fairly bomb-proof platform".

Another major benefit has been a halving of software costs due to the reduced number of licences required.

But the stockbroker hasn't just saved money, it's also been able to boost its income: due to faster and more effective trading, twice as many clients are now paying a management fee on certain services it provides.

Wheeler said: "It's allowed us to improve our customer services a great deal."

From the beginning of 2006, Redmayne-Bentley worked with Unisys to understand the advantages of working in an open source environment. The IT services company then managed the platform migration last summer.

Wheeler said: "It became a fairly major project - it was very much a joint effort."

There was an initial testing period of 25 days when the Unix and Linux platforms were run in parallel - the Linux OS mirroring the transactions of the live system.

The full migration was then carried out over a single weekend towards the end of June 2006, without any unplanned downtime.

Wheeler said: "It's met our expectations. You always have things that have to be done - it'll never be complete.

"There's been a fair amount of tinkering."

Wheeler said much more will be put onto the platform over the next few years, as the company grows and addresses compliance issues presented by MiFID.

He added: "We have a fair amount of growth capacity."

Source : http://www.businessweek.com

CentOS and Red Hat-based Versions of Zero Touch Linux Launched

Comodo has announced the launch of Red Hat- and CentOS-based versions of their back office server suite, Zero Touch Linux (ZTL). ZTL is a complete suite of Linux server applications centrally controlled by a user friendly web-based interface. The new versions compatible with Red Hat and CentOS, join the existing Trustix Secure Linux based version - providing administrators with greater flexibility and choice.

ZTL takes a 'best of breed' approach by offering administrators industry-leading server software pre-configured on a choice of Linux distributions. It is available free of charge and can be downloaded in ISO format from here. ZTL can be immediately installed on network servers and is suited for small businesses looking to achieve an easy way to migrate to a Linux driven back office infrastructure.

A single installation of ZTL brings under one umbrella a File Server, Print Server, Domain Controller, DNS, Mail Server, Web Mail, Database Server, Web Server, Proxy Server, DHCP server, Content Filtering Server and a Firewall. The package overcomes the traditional difficulties of deploying a Linux infrastructure by reducing the setup of multiple server types to a one time installation and configuration.

Zero Touch Linux uses a familiar Windows style GUI instead of a command line interface to administer Linux based servers. One benefit of this is that companies may not have to re-train IT personnel and can continue to utilize their existing Windows trained staff to administer their server infrastructure.

Features in brief:
- Highly intuitive GUI - ZTL's point and click interface vastly simplifies administration of Linux servers;
- Ability to remotely install and configure Web, Mail, DNS, LAN, Database, Firewall and other server types;
- SSL secure, web based interface means ZTL can be used to administer Linux servers from Windows workstations and clients;
- Choice of Linux setups - the ZTL control panel and best of breed package selection is available as a pre-configured install with either Trustix Secure Linux, Red Hat or CentOS;
- One click upgrades of all server packages - ZTL intelligently updates all packages in a particular deployment with one click.

Source : http://home.nestor.minsk.by