July 2007 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

Re: [Wlug] greetings

by Frank Sweetser

rwaka jude wrote: > Hello to you all am Rwaka Jude a University student at kigali institute > of science and technology (KIST) in central Africa. i have had interest > in joining fellow student students in your linux users group due to the > fact that am aslo interested and writting my dissertation in a linux > environment so i thought of joing groups like yours to see if we can > exchange ideas and opinions. > My project is: SETTING UP A WEB BASED EMAIL SYSTEM RUNNING ON A LINUX > SERVER USING SQUIRREL MAIL; > Am hoping to hear from you if you could love to entertain students in > your group. otherwise wish all the best of luck and looking forward to > hearing from your committee. Hi Rwaka, while we're primarily based out of Worcester, MA in the US, you're certainly welcome to participate on the mailing lists. When you're ready with more specific questions and topics, just send them out and someone will probably respond! -- Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu | For every problem, there is a solution that WPI Senior Network Engineer | is simple, elegant, and wrong. - HL Mencken GPG fingerprint = 6174 1257 129E 0D21 D8D4 E8A3 8E39 29E3 E2E8 8CEC

July 12, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

by Eric Martin

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 I have an ipod and use citrix on multiple linux computers. The easiest way to get the ICA client is to go to her NFUSE page (where she logs in) and it will have a link. If not, http://www.citrix.com/English/SS/downloads/details.asp?dID=2755&downloadID=…. I can't quite get it to work in firefox, so I installed the client into my home directory, and have wfica open the files. As for ipods, there are many programs (I've tried out at least 5). It depends on what you want. If she just uses stuff downloaded from iTunes then you are out of luck from what I can tell. I too hate DRM so I use straight mp3s that I ripped myself. Amarok has a plugin that comes with it for ipods, I hear banshee works too. GtkPod is just for ipods (I haven't used it in a few years). I once tried to get iTunes to work under WINE but I haven't gotten that working yet. As for printing, it all depends on what printer you have. Next time I need a printer I'm consulting the foomatic-db first, as my wife always wants printers that aren't supported under linux. I use all of this stuff under Gentoo and Ubuntu, and find it very easy under both. If you need a hand with anything, just let me know. Also as a call to a later post, I would have to agree with NOT dual-booting. First she won't use GNU/Linux. Secondly, you'll have to deal with Windows headaches AND migrating her over to GNU/Linux. I'd say make the jump after you research the ipod and the printer. Just my $0.02 Eric Mike Perry wrote: > Hi all, > > I visited my parents yesterday and yet again my mother's computer is filled > with spyware. Everytime I go there it is slower and slower and odd things > keep happening (like icons disappearing ... I've witnessed this myself). > > I've been considering trying to get her onto Kubuntu, but I have a few valid > concerns. I'm curious if anyone has any experience with the following under > Linux (any flavor): > > * Citrix connectivity -- She currently, and very seldom, uses an ActiveX > control in IE to connect to her work. Are there alternatives besides using IE > and Wine or running a VM? > > * iPod which is currently registered with her Windows box. I'm not too > familiar with this, because my mp3 is not an iPod. > > * Printing - She currently has a very nice Canon i960 which can print photos. > I less concerned about drivers and more about functionality. Her current > Windows based software can print wallets, 8x10s, etc very easily. I wouldn't > want her to lose that ability. > > I know some of these answers might be a Google away, but I'm curious on your > experiences with this and possibility any other gothcya's that I am not > thinking about. > > If I could overcome these hurdles I think she would actually have a much > pleasant experience with her home pc. I've slowly been getting her to adopt > open source software, but this would be a big jump. I also think it would be > much easier for me help remotely too. > > Cheers, > Mike > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGlMmbaiVxdKlBO58RAurFAJ41G3aGIFzZwkepbKSQc/EjDSsgqgCgh3w6 hzx3DmJa80ME5BIUPPkyvg4= =iku4 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

July 11, 2007

greetings

by rwaka jude

Hello to you all am Rwaka Jude a University student at kigali institute of science and technology (KIST) in central Africa. i have had interest in joining fellow student students in your linux users group due to the fact that am aslo interested and writting my dissertation in a linux environment so i thought of joing groups like yours to see if we can exchange ideas and opinions. My project is: SETTING UP A WEB BASED EMAIL SYSTEM RUNNING ON A LINUX SERVER USING SQUIRREL MAIL; Am hoping to hear from you if you could love to entertain students in your group. otherwise wish all the best of luck and looking forward to hearing from your committee. Regards Jude Rwaka --------------------------------- Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV.

July 10, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

by Mike Leo

tsclient is a front end to rdesktop. Also, there is an official Citrix client for linux. you could also give her a liveCD and see how many objections you get. I gave my dad linux 3 or 4 years ago now and he's never looked back. ----- Original Message ---- From: Mike Perry <mwp(a)sdf.lonestar.org> To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> Sent: Thursday, July 5, 2007 2:55:42 PM Subject: Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux? I think tsclient is just a front end to: http://bin-false.org/?p=13 That may be an option depending on how her work has Citrix configured. Rdesktop just makes a reference to ICA. I think the harddrive idea is actually pretty good (if I had a spare drive :) At least this way I could test these scenarios. I really don't have much experience with iPods though. I know they have some kind of DRM -- I am pretty certain I can get it working with Amarok, but what I am not clear on is how it associates the music to account. Even if we rebuilt her Windows computer it may pose a DRM problem. I hate DRM. Anyone have any insight? On another note... I am pretty confident that modern Linux distro's can hold up a novice computer user like my mother. Primarily she uses her computer for casual web surfing and email. She is already using Firefox and Thunderbird -- so if I show her the icons she will know what to do. ~Mike > On Thursday 05 July 2007 1:43:44 pm Andre Lehovich wrote: > > --- Mike Perry <mwp(a)sdf.lonestar.org> wrote: > > > * Citrix connectivity -- She currently, and very seldom, uses an > > > ActiveX control in IE to connect to her work. Are there alternatives > > > besides using IE and Wine or running a VM? > > > > $ apt-cache search citrix > > tsclient - front-end for viewing of remote desktops in GNOME > > rdesktop - RDP client for Windows NT/2000 Terminal Server > > > > The web equivalent: > > http://packages.debian.org/cgi-bin/search_packages.pl?keywords=citrix > > > > VNC also works for connecting between different operating systems. > > > > --Andre > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________________ > >__ _________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? > > Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. > > http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/ > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

July 5, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

by Mike Perry

I think tsclient is just a front end to: http://bin-false.org/?p=13 That may be an option depending on how her work has Citrix configured. Rdesktop just makes a reference to ICA. I think the harddrive idea is actually pretty good (if I had a spare drive :) At least this way I could test these scenarios. I really don't have much experience with iPods though. I know they have some kind of DRM -- I am pretty certain I can get it working with Amarok, but what I am not clear on is how it associates the music to account. Even if we rebuilt her Windows computer it may pose a DRM problem. I hate DRM. Anyone have any insight? On another note... I am pretty confident that modern Linux distro's can hold up a novice computer user like my mother. Primarily she uses her computer for casual web surfing and email. She is already using Firefox and Thunderbird -- so if I show her the icons she will know what to do. ~Mike > On Thursday 05 July 2007 1:43:44 pm Andre Lehovich wrote: > > --- Mike Perry <mwp(a)sdf.lonestar.org> wrote: > > > * Citrix connectivity -- She currently, and very seldom, uses an > > > ActiveX control in IE to connect to her work. Are there alternatives > > > besides using IE and Wine or running a VM? > > > > $ apt-cache search citrix > > tsclient - front-end for viewing of remote desktops in GNOME > > rdesktop - RDP client for Windows NT/2000 Terminal Server > > > > The web equivalent: > > http://packages.debian.org/cgi-bin/search_packages.pl?keywords=citrix > > > > VNC also works for connecting between different operating systems. > > > > --Andre > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________________ > >__ _________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? > > Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. > > http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/ > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

July 5, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?IO

by Mike Perry

Good suggestion, but I don't think my mother would understand the concept of dual-booting. She would probably just end up booting into Widnows and not switching -- or I would get phone calls all day saying "I am in Linux again I don't know how I got here". ~Mike > > On Thursday 05 July 2007 12:37:23 pm Jamie Guinan wrote: <snip> > > > > > > This sounds like a good time to upgrade her hard drive. Put a new, > > > larger drive in her computer and install Kubuntu onto that. Try > > > everything out, and if something doesn't work, put the old drive back > > > in until you can figure out a solution. > > > > Or put in the 2nd hard drive and leave the 1st one in there, and set > > it up to dual-boot. She can still boot Windows to do her Citrix > > stuff, and she can use Linux for web surfing (no spyware), and you can > > try migrating iPod/printing/etc. over time. > > > > -Jamie > > > > > I'd answer your specific questions if I knew the answers. > > > > > > -- > > > Rich > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wlug mailing list > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

July 5, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

by Gregory Avedissian

Mike Perry wrote: > Hi all, > > I visited my parents yesterday and yet again my mother's computer is filled > with spyware. Everytime I go there it is slower and slower and odd things > keep happening (like icons disappearing ... I've witnessed this myself). > > I've been considering trying to get her onto Kubuntu, but I have a few valid > concerns. I'm curious if anyone has any experience with the following under > Linux (any flavor): > <snip> I prefer to run windows in a VM rather than dual boot. Set up samba, so she can save files to the linux partition, make a backup copy of the VM once you have it all set up, and save it in case (when) the win vm gets trashed - then you just have to replace it with the backup. One thing to watch out for - I've noticed on debian that vmware will often peg the cpu at 100%. I have to stop and start the vmware daemon when this happens. I don't know if it's a problem on ubuntu. For the iPod, try gtkpod. I only have minimal experience with it, so I don't know what issues might come up. Go for it! Trying to get it all running can't be any worse than trying to remove malware or doing a windows install. I have three non-technical friends running linux - they're happy with it, and I have less maintenance to do than if they were running windows. If you're going to go with a new hard drive as others suggested, you might consider leaving the old drive in. If you set up the win drive as hdb (and play tricks with grub so windows thinks that it's first), then you have less to do if you decide to pull out the windows drive. Greg

July 5, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

by Andre Lehovich

--- Mike Perry <mwp(a)sdf.lonestar.org> wrote: > * Citrix connectivity -- She currently, and very seldom, uses an ActiveX > control in IE to connect to her work. Are there alternatives besides using IE > and Wine or running a VM? $ apt-cache search citrix tsclient - front-end for viewing of remote desktops in GNOME rdesktop - RDP client for Windows NT/2000 Terminal Server The web equivalent: http://packages.debian.org/cgi-bin/search_packages.pl?keywords=citrix VNC also works for connecting between different operating systems. --Andre ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

July 5, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

by Adam Keck

Hello Mike, <puts on asbestos suit :-> You will have to be careful about maintaining her level of functionality with the iPod and camera in Linux. I agree with Jamie. Put both Kubuntu and Windows on the machine. This will allow you to evaluate whether the change in the applications for media management (iPod and camera) will increase your support time more than the reduction in spyware related time. If Linux is not going to work as well for the iPod and camera, you may be able to reduce the spyware/virus issue by removing the right to install software from her everyday user and by locking down that user in other ways - after a wipe and reinstall of Windows, of course. The elimination of virus work may be significant with Linux, but if that work gets replaced by equal or greater work getting the iPod, camera, and printing to work easily and consistently under Linux, the change to Linux may not be worth it. -Adam On 7/5/07, Jamie Guinan <guinan(a)bluebutton.com> wrote: > > On Thu, 5 Jul 2007, Klein, Richard wrote: > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Mike Perry > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > > I visited my parents yesterday and yet again my mother's > > > computer is filled with spyware. Everytime I go there it is > > > slower and slower and odd things keep happening (like icons > > > disappearing ... I've witnessed this myself). > > > > > > I've been considering trying to get her onto Kubuntu, but I > > > have a few valid concerns. I'm curious if anyone has any > > > experience with the following under Linux (any flavor): > > > > > > * Citrix connectivity -- She currently, and very seldom, > > > uses an ActiveX control in IE to connect to her work. Are > > > there alternatives besides using IE and Wine or running a VM? > > > > > > * iPod which is currently registered with her Windows box. > > > I'm not too familiar with this, because my mp3 is not an iPod. > > > > > > * Printing - She currently has a very nice Canon i960 which > > > can print photos. > > > I less concerned about drivers and more about functionality. > > > Her current Windows based software can print wallets, 8x10s, > > > etc very easily. I wouldn't want her to lose that ability. > > > > > > I know some of these answers might be a Google away, but I'm > > > curious on your experiences with this and possibility any > > > other gothcya's that I am not thinking about. > > > > > > If I could overcome these hurdles I think she would actually > > > have a much pleasant experience with her home pc. I've slowly > > > been getting her to adopt open source software, but this > > > would be a big jump. I also think it would be much easier for > > > me help remotely too. > > > > This sounds like a good time to upgrade her hard drive. Put a new, > > larger drive in her computer and install Kubuntu onto that. Try > > everything out, and if something doesn't work, put the old drive back in > > until you can figure out a solution. > > Or put in the 2nd hard drive and leave the 1st one in there, and set > it up to dual-boot. She can still boot Windows to do her Citrix > stuff, and she can use Linux for web surfing (no spyware), and you can > try migrating iPod/printing/etc. over time. > > -Jamie > > > I'd answer your specific questions if I knew the answers. > > > > -- > > Rich > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

July 5, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Getting your mom on Linux?

by Jamie Guinan

On Thu, 5 Jul 2007, Klein, Richard wrote: > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Mike Perry > > > > Hi all, > > > > I visited my parents yesterday and yet again my mother's > > computer is filled with spyware. Everytime I go there it is > > slower and slower and odd things keep happening (like icons > > disappearing ... I've witnessed this myself). > > > > I've been considering trying to get her onto Kubuntu, but I > > have a few valid concerns. I'm curious if anyone has any > > experience with the following under Linux (any flavor): > > > > * Citrix connectivity -- She currently, and very seldom, > > uses an ActiveX control in IE to connect to her work. Are > > there alternatives besides using IE and Wine or running a VM? > > > > * iPod which is currently registered with her Windows box. > > I'm not too familiar with this, because my mp3 is not an iPod. > > > > * Printing - She currently has a very nice Canon i960 which > > can print photos. > > I less concerned about drivers and more about functionality. > > Her current Windows based software can print wallets, 8x10s, > > etc very easily. I wouldn't want her to lose that ability. > > > > I know some of these answers might be a Google away, but I'm > > curious on your experiences with this and possibility any > > other gothcya's that I am not thinking about. > > > > If I could overcome these hurdles I think she would actually > > have a much pleasant experience with her home pc. I've slowly > > been getting her to adopt open source software, but this > > would be a big jump. I also think it would be much easier for > > me help remotely too. > > This sounds like a good time to upgrade her hard drive. Put a new, > larger drive in her computer and install Kubuntu onto that. Try > everything out, and if something doesn't work, put the old drive back in > until you can figure out a solution. Or put in the 2nd hard drive and leave the 1st one in there, and set it up to dual-boot. She can still boot Windows to do her Citrix stuff, and she can use Linux for web surfing (no spyware), and you can try migrating iPod/printing/etc. over time. -Jamie > I'd answer your specific questions if I knew the answers. > > -- > Rich > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

July 5, 2007