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RE: [Wlug] RE: Wlug digest, Vol 1 #683 - 6 msgs
by Keller, Tim Oct. 15, 2003

Oct. 15, 2003

In my eyes, a well configured box is one where every daemon that doesn't need to be run, is turned off. Sane firewalling rules are in place for the services that do need to be run. Something like redhat network is configured in cron to run once a day and pull updated patches and apply them automagically. You can't expect regular Joe User to become a sysadmin over night. Hence, some forethought and automation have to be used to ensure that his box doesn't get cracked overnight. -----Original Message----- From: bryon3245(a)netzero.com [mailto:bryon3245@netzero.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 11:28 AM To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Subject: [Wlug] RE: Wlug digest, Vol 1 #683 - 6 msgs Dear Tim, In response to your letter I would like to say that I run a few gentoo systems. I undetstand the importance of a good fire well land I make sure that my packages are up to date. But when you talk about having "poorly configured linux box" I am very curious as to would you would consider a very good configured box. Message: 6 From: "Keller, Tim" <Tim.Keller(a)stratus.com> To: "'wlug(a)mail.wlug.org'" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> Subject: RE: [Wlug] Fw: RE: show Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 09:36:10 -0400 charset="iso-8859-1" Reply-To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Well, I kind of took it on this tact. My wife really doesn't care about linux, nor windows. When she sits down in front of the computer, she just wants it to work as expected. Past that, she plays a few games, but mainly it revolves around surfing the web, reading email, etc. With that said, I think that the argument for linux has to be made on a couple fronts. Firstly, cost and freedom. Explain to people why linux is a better choice than the perceived "free" copy of windows that came with their computer. I think we should definitely explain the microsoft tax. Second, security. Make it a point of explaining that linux is impervious to the many worms and viruses that are running around the internet. Though we should also caution people that a poorly configured linux box is just as bad (if not worse) than an bare unpatched windows machine. Past that, we should talk to the availability of software for linux. Later, Tim. -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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RE: Wlug digest, Vol 1 #683 - 6 msgs
by bryon3245＠netzero.com Oct. 15, 2003

Oct. 15, 2003

Dear Tim, In response to your letter I would like to say that I run a few gentoo systems. I undetstand the importance of a good fire well land I make sure that my packages are up to date. But when you talk about having "poorly configured linux box" I am very curious as to would you would consider a very good configured box. Message: 6 From: "Keller, Tim" <Tim.Keller(a)stratus.com> To: "'wlug(a)mail.wlug.org'" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> Subject: RE: [Wlug] Fw: RE: show Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 09:36:10 -0400 charset="iso-8859-1" Reply-To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Well, I kind of took it on this tact. My wife really doesn't care about linux, nor windows. When she sits down in front of the computer, she just wants it to work as expected. Past that, she plays a few games, but mainly it revolves around surfing the web, reading email, etc. With that said, I think that the argument for linux has to be made on a couple fronts. Firstly, cost and freedom. Explain to people why linux is a better choice than the perceived "free" copy of windows that came with their computer. I think we should definitely explain the microsoft tax. Second, security. Make it a point of explaining that linux is impervious to the many worms and viruses that are running around the internet. Though we should also caution people that a poorly configured linux box is just as bad (if not worse) than an bare unpatched windows machine. Past that, we should talk to the availability of software for linux. Later, Tim. -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ .

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RE: [Wlug] Fw: RE: show
by Keller, Tim Oct. 15, 2003

Oct. 15, 2003

Well, I kind of took it on this tact. My wife really doesn't care about linux, nor windows. When she sits down in front of the computer, she just wants it to work as expected. Past that, she plays a few games, but mainly it revolves around surfing the web, reading email, etc. With that said, I think that the argument for linux has to be made on a couple fronts. Firstly, cost and freedom. Explain to people why linux is a better choice than the perceived "free" copy of windows that came with their computer. I think we should definitely explain the microsoft tax. Second, security. Make it a point of explaining that linux is impervious to the many worms and viruses that are running around the internet. Though we should also caution people that a poorly configured linux box is just as bad (if not worse) than an bare unpatched windows machine. Past that, we should talk to the availability of software for linux. Later, Tim. -----Original Message----- From: Gregory Avedissian [mailto:avedis@rcn.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 5:38 PM To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Subject: Re: [Wlug] Fw: RE: show Makes sense to me, Tim. Easy replacement is the selling point, and in some ways it's been the stumbling block to my converting entirely to linux. I still use Windows for a couple of tasks that either can't be done in linux (yet) or I haven't figured them out in linux yet (unsupported scanner). Show people that they can do the things they need to do with a minimal amount of effort and without having to pay microsoft, and there will be plenty of converts. Most of the things that most people do with their computers can now be done in linux without having to read a manual, and people need to know that. Greg Keller, Tim wrote: > Yury, > > You can count me in. I also know my way around a TV production studio. > > We had talked about doing an introduction to linux. As an aside to that I > was thinking that possibly we could do a show on equivalent pieces of > software on the linux side of things that could replace (perceived) missing > functionality. This would include stuff like Evolution, Mozilla, GnuCash, > OpenOffice, mplayer, xmms, etc. > > What do people think? > > Thanks, > Tim. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Yury I Vashugin [mailto:vashugins@juno.com] > Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 12:56 PM > To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > Cc: wlug(a)wlug.org > Subject: [Wlug] Fw: RE: show > > > hi, everyone. > since we talked about producing an educational show about linux and > putting it 'in-the-air' at the last wlug meeting and i saw a very > enthusiastic response so i've reserved the studio for oct.21(see below). > there's a problem with a converter but i'm sure we can find a laptop with > a video output. > for the show we need two cameramen(anyone can do that; very simple duties > and can be learned within 3-5 min), a show host and guests. > please, bring any suggestions or/and recommendations. thanks. > yury > > --------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Marc Serra <mserra(a)ci.shrewsbury.ma.us> > To: 'Yury I Vashugin' <vashugins(a)juno.com> > Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 13:42:56 -0400 > Subject: RE: show > Message-ID: <A7F72312FF5DB348BE2D037A6FE5F1C1407EC2@selpnt2> > > Yes. > > Does anybody in the group have access to a scan converter or can you use > a > computer with a video card output? Since we spoke about it, our last scan > converter was put into service to be used on one of our channel's for our > bulletin board. For you to use it, we would have to take a channel off > the > air. I know that a lot of laptops have video out. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Yury I Vashugin [mailto:vashugins@juno.com] > Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 11:48 AM > To: mserra(a)ci.shrewsbury.ma.us > Subject: show > > > marc, > can i reserve the studio for half-an-hour show on tuesday, october 21 at > 6:30 (actually it will not be a show; just a preliminary stuff- what > light, what background, what settings we want for 'linux show', to try a > scanner converter etc)? > yury > > ________________________________________________________________ > The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! > Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! > Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Fw: RE: show
by Yury I Vashugin Oct. 15, 2003

Oct. 15, 2003

hi, everyone. since we talked about producing an educational show about linux and putting it 'in-the-air' at the last wlug meeting and i saw a very enthusiastic response so i've reserved the studio for oct.21(see below). there's a problem with a converter but i'm sure we can find a laptop with a video output. for the show we need two cameramen(anyone can do that; very simple duties and can be learned within 3-5 min), a show host and guests. please, bring any suggestions or/and recommendations. thanks. yury --------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Marc Serra <mserra(a)ci.shrewsbury.ma.us> To: 'Yury I Vashugin' <vashugins(a)juno.com> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 13:42:56 -0400 Subject: RE: show Message-ID: <A7F72312FF5DB348BE2D037A6FE5F1C1407EC2@selpnt2> Yes. Does anybody in the group have access to a scan converter or can you use a computer with a video card output? Since we spoke about it, our last scan converter was put into service to be used on one of our channel's for our bulletin board. For you to use it, we would have to take a channel off the air. I know that a lot of laptops have video out. -----Original Message----- From: Yury I Vashugin [mailto:vashugins@juno.com] Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 11:48 AM To: mserra(a)ci.shrewsbury.ma.us Subject: show marc, can i reserve the studio for half-an-hour show on tuesday, october 21 at 6:30 (actually it will not be a show; just a preliminary stuff- what light, what background, what settings we want for 'linux show', to try a scanner converter etc)? yury ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

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NIC settings -- how?
by Bill Mills-Curran Oct. 15, 2003

Oct. 15, 2003

How can I view and alter NIC settings, like auto-negotiate, speed, duplex on my Red Hat 8/9 boxes? Thanks, Bill

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problem hardware?
by Baris Hasdemir Oct. 14, 2003

Oct. 14, 2003

Hello all, Today I received my slot loading pioneer dvd rom drive from newegg.com. But linux tells me there are problems with it. The problem is my new hardware right? Or should I upgrade my kernel? I wanted to be sure before sending it back. kernel 2.4.22(slackware 9.1) thanks, baris # tail -f /var/log/syslog Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error } Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: error=0x54 Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: ATAPI device hdd: Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: Error: Illegal request -- (Sense key=0x05) Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: Media region code is mismatched to logical unit -- (asc=0x6f, ascq=0x04) Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: The failed "Report Key" packet command was: Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: "a4 00 00 00 01 26 00 00 00 0c c4 00 " Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error } Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: error=0x54 Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: ATAPI device hdd: Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: Error: Illegal request -- (Sense key=0x05) Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: Media region code is mismatched to logical unit -- (asc=0x6f, ascq=0x04) Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: The failed "Report Key" packet command was: Oct 14 14:39:45 penguen kernel: "a4 00 00 00 02 3d 00 00 00 0c c4 00 " Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error } Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: error=0x54 Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: ATAPI device hdd: Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: Error: Illegal request -- (Sense key=0x05) Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: Media region code is mismatched to logical unit -- (asc=0x6f, ascq=0x04) Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: The failed "Report Key" packet command was: Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: "a4 00 00 00 02 ad 00 00 00 0c c4 00 " Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error } Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: error=0x54 Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: ATAPI device hdd: Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: Error: Illegal request -- (Sense key=0x05) Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: Media region code is mismatched to logical unit -- (asc=0x6f, ascq=0x04) Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: The failed "Report Key" packet command was: Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: "a4 00 00 00 02 dc 00 00 00 0c c4 00 " Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error } Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: error=0x54 Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: ATAPI device hdd: Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: Error: Illegal request -- (Sense key=0x05) Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: Media region code is mismatched to logical unit -- (asc=0x6f, ascq=0x04) Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: The failed "Report Key" packet command was: Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: "a4 00 00 00 0a 2b 00 00 00 0c c4 00 " Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error } Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: error=0x54 Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: ATAPI device hdd: Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: Error: Illegal request -- (Sense key=0x05) Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: Media region code is mismatched to logical unit -- (asc=0x6f, ascq=0x04) Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: The failed "Report Key" packet command was: Oct 14 14:39:46 penguen kernel: "a4 00 00 20 f9 76 00 00 00 0c c4 00 " Oct 14 14:39:47 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error } Oct 14 14:39:47 penguen kernel: hdd: packet command error: error=0x54 Oct 14 14:39:47 penguen kernel: ATAPI device hdd: Oct 14 14:39:47 penguen kernel: Error: Illegal request -- (Sense key=0x05) Oct 14 14:39:47 penguen kernel: Media region code is mismatched to logical unit -- (asc=0x6f, ascq=0x04) Oct 14 14:39:47 penguen kernel: The failed "Report Key" packet command was: Oct 14 14:39:47 penguen kernel: "a4 00 00 20 f9 e6 00 00 00 0c c4 00 "

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RE: [Wlug] Fw: RE: show
by Keller, Tim Oct. 14, 2003

Oct. 14, 2003

Yury, You can count me in. I also know my way around a TV production studio. We had talked about doing an introduction to linux. As an aside to that I was thinking that possibly we could do a show on equivalent pieces of software on the linux side of things that could replace (perceived) missing functionality. This would include stuff like Evolution, Mozilla, GnuCash, OpenOffice, mplayer, xmms, etc. What do people think? Thanks, Tim. -----Original Message----- From: Yury I Vashugin [mailto:vashugins@juno.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 12:56 PM To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Cc: wlug(a)wlug.org Subject: [Wlug] Fw: RE: show hi, everyone. since we talked about producing an educational show about linux and putting it 'in-the-air' at the last wlug meeting and i saw a very enthusiastic response so i've reserved the studio for oct.21(see below). there's a problem with a converter but i'm sure we can find a laptop with a video output. for the show we need two cameramen(anyone can do that; very simple duties and can be learned within 3-5 min), a show host and guests. please, bring any suggestions or/and recommendations. thanks. yury --------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Marc Serra <mserra(a)ci.shrewsbury.ma.us> To: 'Yury I Vashugin' <vashugins(a)juno.com> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 13:42:56 -0400 Subject: RE: show Message-ID: <A7F72312FF5DB348BE2D037A6FE5F1C1407EC2@selpnt2> Yes. Does anybody in the group have access to a scan converter or can you use a computer with a video card output? Since we spoke about it, our last scan converter was put into service to be used on one of our channel's for our bulletin board. For you to use it, we would have to take a channel off the air. I know that a lot of laptops have video out. -----Original Message----- From: Yury I Vashugin [mailto:vashugins@juno.com] Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 11:48 AM To: mserra(a)ci.shrewsbury.ma.us Subject: show marc, can i reserve the studio for half-an-hour show on tuesday, october 21 at 6:30 (actually it will not be a show; just a preliminary stuff- what light, what background, what settings we want for 'linux show', to try a scanner converter etc)? yury ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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You can't get there from here...
by Gregory Avedissian Oct. 13, 2003

Oct. 13, 2003

At the meeting last Thursday, I asked about a problem I'm having with KDE desktop, and Tim mentioned I should run 'tail -f /var/log/messages' in another terminal while loading KDE. Description of problem: KDE starts to load, tells me it's checking peripherals, and then the screen goes black. Ctrl-alt-back kills the xserver and gets me out. In running the tail, I discovered that KDE really is runnning OK, but I have to switch to another virtual console (alt-F2) and then ctrl-alt-F7 will get me to the kde desktop. I get error messages from modprobe while kde is loading. It's looking for sound-slot-1, which I think is odd, because modules.conf doesn't say anything about a sound-slot-1. I only have one sound card, and it's at sound-slot-0. I tried turning off the sound server in the kde control center, and that didn't help. I also get gpm error messages when I go in an out of an x-session. Changing GPM_PARAMS in /etc/rc.config to the correct type of mouse helped get rid of flaky mouse behavior in console, but the error messages continue. Below are the messages. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks, Greg Oct 12 13:54:29 linux gpm[1601]: Error in protocol Oct 12 13:55:04 linux last message repeated 38 times Oct 12 13:55:05 linux modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module sound-slot-1 Oct 12 13:55:05 linux modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module sound-service-1-0 Oct 12 13:55:05 linux modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module sound-slot-1 Oct 12 13:55:05 linux modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module sound-service-1-0 Oct 12 13:55:05 linux modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module sound-slot-1 Oct 12 13:55:05 linux modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module sound-service-1-0 Oct 12 13:55:05 linux modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module sound-slot-1 Oct 12 13:55:05 linux modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module sound-service-1-0

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FW: Authentication on outgoing SMTP, how to set with postfix?
by Jim & Toni Oct. 13, 2003

Oct. 13, 2003

Sorry if you get multiples, like it says, having trouble with outgoing. Thanks. -----Original Message----- From: Jim & Toni [mailto:jntdibb@bellatlantic.net] Sent: Monday, October 13, 2003 2:28 PM To: 'wlug(a)wlug.org' Subject: Authentication on outgoing SMTP, how to set with postfix? I've almost got postfix setup as a mail relay from my local linux box to 'outgoing.verizon.net'. But, the postfix howto doesn't specify how to provide login/password authentication for smtp servers that require it. The error was '554: Authentication required' Going to search more, but appreciate any help. Thanks.

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Debian question
by Chuck Homic Oct. 9, 2003

Oct. 9, 2003

Oh, hey... my Debian rant reminded me of something! I have Debian running on a 486-25 with 12MB of RAM. (Pause for laughter...) Okay. Now then. When I run dpkg (on its own, or via apt-get) it wants about 18M of RAM to work with. This causes a fair deal of thrashing, and if I just let it go, it takes about 30 minutes to install even the most basic package. My solution thus far is to use the NBD driver to mount a swap space over the network. This is actually faster because the swap and actual package install don't have to contend for precious HDD seek time, and I can install the most basic packages in about 10 minutes or so. Even so, it would be nice if it were a bit faster still. Anyone know what dpkg does with its RAM? Is it loading all the packges into memory to figure out dependencies and stuff? Any way to make it behave more efficiently? -Chuck

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shameless promo of Slackware by the DistroWatch guy..
by Brian McLinden Oct. 9, 2003

Oct. 9, 2003

DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 17, 29 September 2003 (opinion piece article by Ladislav Bodnar, the man who runs DW itself) "A new stable version of Slackware Linux was released late on Friday. As usual, the news was greeted with plenty of enthusiasm by many die-hard Slackware fans and by much curiosity from users of other distributions. What is so special about Slackware? Unlike other commercial distribution makers, such as Red Hat, Mandrake or SuSE, Slackware doesn't come with any system administration tools, it has an amazingly unsophisticated package manager and the company rarely makes headlines in the Linux media. Yet every a new Slackware release is announced, a wave of excitement sweeps the Linux forums and new sites (this OSNews review is a good example). Slackware is to Linux distributions what vi is to UNIX text editors - many people expected vi to die after an abundance of new, more intuitive and user-friendly text editors were introduced. But instead, vi flourished. And while other Linux distributions have certainly managed to take market share away from Slackware, there are still plenty of people out there -- probably a lot more than many would led you believe -- who would never consider using anything else. If you've never tried Slackware before, give it a partition now - and be prepared to fall in love... [end of comment]" Question - does he like slack because it is more like unix than any other distro? Back in the days when men were men............... __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com

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I choose Slackware.. God help me! (And you guys, please?)
by Brian McLinden Oct. 8, 2003

Oct. 8, 2003

That�s why I hope to meet guys into slack. Tomorrow night�s meeting? The email below is about my climb in life and the three technical things foremost in my concerns. If you�re not into slack, there�s no need to continue reading. tks, Brian - - - - - - - - - - - - - I'm a newbie with just a little Fortran experience and a 1 gig HDD machine with Windows 98 and no printer either! Nonetheless I�m feeling the need to choose Slackware 9.1. It�s because I�ve read a bit of craft obligation and personal challenge in the following: �Slackware is Linux's oldest living distribution. It does not try to emulate Windows, it tries to be as Unix-like as possible. It does not try to cover up processes with fancy, point-and-click GUIs(Graphical User Interfaces). Instead, it puts users in control by letting them see exactly what's going on. Slackware is for people who enjoy learning and tweaking their system to do exactly what they want. Slackware's stability and simplicity is why people will continue to use it for years to come.� But simple does not mean easy, does it? Back in the days when men were Men........... I�m up in years (you�ll know me when you see I�m fat, ugly, and bald with white hair), but in my day I made 5 violins under a master (before life took me somewhere else). The only power tool I used was a band saw to cut smaller pieces out of a split log. You can make a violin out of very few knives, chisels, scrapers, and a block plane. I made my own patterns, knives, and scrapers. I had never worked wood before, even by power tools. (I never had had interest in those.) Those early instruments were slow going and not a little agony, but I knew with control of the hand and discipline of the heart that I could step up in my work, and take it to the level of art, well beyond anyone skilled with power tools. Am I a bit competitive and still trying to be a man�s man? Anyhow, I believe you see the parallel. I want to get to command line and not rely at an emotional level on commercial distributions what with all *their* packaging schemes (read: complications) and *their* bloatware GUI�s. It�s a bit about control and pride, isn�t it? How else can I bypass the Windows mentality and hope to step up in open source as a craft? I want to be a thinker and doer in this game, not just a consumer or user of various Distributions. My goal longer term is art, not just sitting at the feet of documented Authority. Another parallel: how can you design a Cadillac with no skills to build a model T Ford? Man or not, I�m scared! At the least I�m feeling a little shaky, and here�s why. Switching back to the violin story, I knew how to make those knives out of straight razors and scrapers out of blue shim stock. I could sharpen on my own the blade of a block plane until no one could see the edge. It was intuitive and it wasn�t rocket science. It took no prior reading or class instruction. I put in plenty of sweat time at the bench. It took me eight days (no kidding) to cut my first bass bar to a perfect fit, and I never backed off once from the challenge. Of course I knew my master was back there, watching. I did not quit while seeing him work at ten times my rate. My pride would not let me give up. But there came a time when I could go no further without my master�s help. Art was not possible without the ultimacy and intimacy of oral tradition. Thank God for newsgroups and the WLUG. It takes a community to raise a boy to manhood. So learning slackware, as learning unix in the old days, must require a combination of self-reliance AND guru help. In life we must settle for no false choices. Three items below. As background, I�m about ready to place an order for a stripped down machine with two IDE drives and Slackware. (Forget all that talk last week about SCSI, I don�t need bragging rights or a hardware �screamer.� Because, as you must know by now, the �screaming� I�m experiencing now has nothing whatever to do with any hardware.) 1. Partitions. I�m new to Linux, but trying to learn, so please don�t shoot me. What should my (various?) slack files look like? I have never seen any. I don�t know what to look for. Specifically, what partitioning specs can I give to the vendor who will pre-install and configure slack for me so that I have a working machine? I would like to be able to read and learn from these files BEFORE the iron arrives on my desk. I would like to split my slack partitions over two 80G disks for speed of random access. Thus, taking platter construction into account, the most frequently used partitions should be in the physical center of each disk. I would like to put slack primarily on hda, and, later on, any second distribution (Mandrake? Libranet? new Debian when it comes out?) primarily on hdb. What detailed partitioning do you recommend upfront to permit or pave the way for this control and flexibility? 2. Internet. auuggh..! Here, a problem of the chicken/egg variety. What should my slack files look like for dial-up access (to start with my current Prodigy) and DSL access (Speakeasy later when I�m ready to try downloads)? Unless I have these things up and running, I won�t be able to interface with online Linux help! 3. Printer. Anyone have a reliable model number for a Linux printer to suggest? Nothing fancy, just something to print out docs for Linux study in the woods, and an occasional letter. What should my slack files look like? (Of course I don�t know a thing yet about driver stuff..) These three are my foremost technical concerns that seem to be holding me back from my first flight. I hope to receive you hand up on these things! Biggest thing of all, the opportunity to meet you tomorrow night and chat over pizza. until then, Brian __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com

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1st posting: Worcester ISP? Distros? LAC?
by Brian McLinden Oct. 7, 2003

Oct. 7, 2003

Hi all, Newbie here. I want to get to the command line and some interesting scripting projects as soon as possible. Would you help me get there? Some preliminaries: First, I live in Worcester. Can you help me find an ISP that will know how to talk to a Linux newbie like me? Second, I want to multiboot with distros that are easy to tinker with AFTER that so-caloled "easy install." I hear that RPM-based approaches give headaches in this regard. So here is my provisional list: - Debian 3.0 - Slackware 9.1 - Libranet 2.8.1 (a commercial tailoring of Debian) How might you comment on or modify this selection so I can learn Linux with the least impediment to changes after the install? What order would you tackle them in? Finally, on Saturday I may order a SCSI box with Los Alamos Computers, laclinux.com. Any word about them, good or bad? They are willing to pre-install a multi-boot for any selection of distros that I want! May I phone you if you would be open to that? What are good times for us to talk? Glad to be onboard, Brian ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Brian L. McLinden 6 Wachusett Street - #34 Worcester, MA 01609-2647 (508) 752-3033 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com

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What mix of distros to learn with? Please evaluate..
by Brian McLinden Oct. 6, 2003

Oct. 6, 2003

Hi all, Newbie here. I am purchasing a system to learn Linux with by multi-booting. The three distros I'm thinking of having the vendor pre-install are: - Slackware 9.1 - Libranet 2.8.1 (a commercial Debian from Canada) - some RPM approach (which of RH, Suse, or Mandrake would you go with? why?) I want to learn with diverse systems that are easy to modify/reconfigure/ maintain/upgrade after the box arrives. Would you say this a good mix of distros fo initial learning purposes, or would you suggest I consider another mix or approach--and why? Thank you all, Brian __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com

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REMINDER: Upcoming meeting Thursday Oct 9th
by Andy Stewart Oct. 6, 2003

Oct. 6, 2003

Hi everybody, Our next WLUG meeting is coming up soon. This e-mail is a friendly reminder of that fact. This meeting will be held in a totally new location on the WPI Campus in Worcester, MA USA. The location is called the "Access Grid" room, and it is located in the "lower wedge" of Morgan Hall. Detailed directions appear on the recently updated WLUG website. I'll try to post a few of my penguin signs to guide you. I'm told that this room has some great projection equipment and can hold approx. 20-25 people without a problem. At this meeting, Doug Waud will talk about and demonstrate some genealogical Linux software called Lifelines. As I don't expect this to take the entire duration of the meeting, I'll also bring my laptop and demonstrate XFce version 4, a lightweight desktop for Linux. In addition, I was asked to spend a few minutes describing a couple of commands for the new Linux users of the group. We can also explore the capabilities of the new meeting room and make plans for its use at future meetings. After the meeting, we'll go out for pizza and beer at the Boynton Restaurant. See ya later! Andy -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group Worcester, MA USA http://www.wlug.org

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Re: [Wlug] What mix of distros to learn with? Please evaluate..
by Matt Higgins Oct. 5, 2003

Oct. 5, 2003

Brian, I would start by getting used to one distro before venturing out. If you are not familiar with Linux/UNIX at all there will be a steep learning curve before you build up your command line vocabulary. With that said I think RH is a great starter distro. The installer is one of the best, and for someone new to Linux rpm's are the best way to get you where you want fast (rpmfind is your friend). Matt

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what size/speed combo to use for a dual SCSI system?
by Brian McLinden Oct. 4, 2003

Oct. 4, 2003

Hello -- I'm new here, and hoping to meet many of you soon! I want to multi-boot and play with three distros for a machine that would most likely always be a workstation, not a server. It would be for numerical work and not involve large or many audio or video files. It happens that the smaller the SCSI drive, the better the performance, and of course the smallest, fastest sizes available for SCSI are 18G and 32G. I'm planning to buy a matched pair of drives in order to spread the partitions for each distro across the two drives. Two questions: 1. I'd like to use use 2x18, but in your opinion, do I need 2x32? 2. Do you think 15000 rpm will be noticeably snappier than 10000 rpm? Thanks all, Brian 752-3033 anytime __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com

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RE: [Wlug] Foxtrot cartoon in Worcester T&G
by Simoncini, Matthew Oct. 3, 2003

Oct. 3, 2003

Sorry if you don't accept attachments: <<...OLE_Obj...>> Matthew > -----Original Message----- > From: Keith Wright [mailto:kwright@free-comp-shop.com] > Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 3:40 PM > To: Worcester Linux User's Group > Subject: [Wlug] Foxtrot cartoon in Worcester T&G > > > Or any where else you can find it. > > It goes like: > > Large blackboard, small boy, stern teacher: > > Blackboard: > #include <stdio.h> > int main(void) > { int k; > for (k=1;k<=500;k++) > printf("I will not throw paper airplanes in class"); > return(0); > } > > Boy: Holds chalk. > > Teacher: Nice try. > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

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Foxtrot cartoon in Worcester T&G
by Keith Wright Oct. 3, 2003

Oct. 3, 2003

Or any where else you can find it. It goes like: Large blackboard, small boy, stern teacher: Blackboard: #include <stdio.h> int main(void) { int k; for (k=1;k<=500;k++) printf("I will not throw paper airplanes in class"); return(0); } Boy: Holds chalk. Teacher: Nice try.

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Passwd/shadow problem with RH 7.X
by dibb_jim＠emc.com Oct. 3, 2003

Oct. 3, 2003

I've resurrected a linux box that had RH7.something installed, current kernel is 2.8.18. Anyway, the user accounts (all one of them) I had setup before work fine. I can't for the life of me add a new one though, because the password doesn't seem to be getting handled correctly. When I do 'useradd -g mailer -p test mynewuser', an entry ends up in /etc/shadow that looks like mynewuser:test:...... In other words the cleartext password is in the shadow file. I can't change it or log in. If I specify no password (no -p) it doesn't work either. I've run the pwconv program, nothing seems to help. Any clues? I played with this for two hours and couldn't make any sense of it. I did find an article on line where someone had the same symptoms and pwconv fixed it, but I can't make it work. Thanks. Jim - lurker for years, but hope to contribute more.

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(OT) HP 49G graphing calculator
by Karl Hiramoto Oct. 3, 2003

Oct. 3, 2003

Sorry a litte off topic, but i'm guessing there are some engineers on here who might like the HP cacluators. I'm looking for someplace local to buy a HP49G calculator. I need it fast, so i can't order online. Anyone have ideas? thanks -- ¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø Karl Hiramoto <karl(a)hiramoto.org> Work: 978-425-2090 ext 25 Cell: 508-517-4819 http://karl.hiramoto.org/ AOL IM ID = KarlH420 Yahoo_IM = karl_hiramoto ¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit.

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mail disaster recovery
by Richard Goodman Oct. 2, 2003

Oct. 2, 2003

My home DSL has been down for over 48 hours and it appears that it will be down for several more days. (I spare you the gory details). I am concerned about losing mail coming into various domains at that site. That RH 7.3 machine runs mail/web/primary DNS for those domains. I have modified the secondary DNS records for those domains (on a machine at my office - also on DSL) with an higher cost MX record pointing to a machine at the office also running RH 7.3 and sendmail, which I assume will pick up and queue the mail. The DNS TTLs are reasonably short, fortunately. I've done this following O'Reilly/Sendmail book 2nd edition, but its not always crystal clear if you don't already understand it! Is there anything else I have to do on the backup machine (pointed to by the new MX records), particularly is there anything I have to do to its sendmail config files? Any other pointers or "gotcha"s to this whole process? Dick

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Re: Does the WPI Linux Association exist?
by Ryan Caron Oct. 2, 2003

Oct. 2, 2003

There's no reason not to restart the WPILA, especially since it provides meeting space here on campus. I'm sure it will be closely tied to WLUG, of course. Ryan Caron On Wed, 24 Sep 2003, Chuck Haines wrote: > The club has indeed falled through the cracks. As far as I know, WPI > still recognizes us as a club, but we might need to get some paperwork in > to continue that (possibly a revised constitution). I would definitely be > interested in restarting up the club, since I've got tons more time this > year than last. > > As for reserving rooms, any WPI Alum if I remember correctly can reserve a > room. I know there are a ton of WPI alum's in WLUG so it shouldn't be a > problem. > > Chuck > > - > Chuck Haines > WPI Class of 2005 > chaines(a)ece.wpi.edu > AOL IM: CyberGrex > > On Fri, 19 Sep 2003, MegaZone wrote: > > > Andrew George Marut <agmarut(a)polyesterworctechnicinstitute.edu> shaped the electrons to say: > > >If anyone wants to cantact the last known WPILA officers, they are Adam > > >Elliott <aelliott>, Jeff Simpson <jeffs>, Steven Howard Frank <movieguy>, > > >David Barboza <dbarboza>, and Chuck Haines <chaines>. They may have the > > >WPILA members list, announce list, and/or passwords. Chuck, as Lab > > >Manager, probably has the passwords. > > > > Well, if the club is still recognized *now*, why start over? If WPI > > doesn't *know* it is defunct, then you work with the last known > > officers, follow the bylaws, and get new officers - if they don't wish > > to continue running the club. Surely there is some provision for > > transfer of power - they can resign, you hold a new election, and the > > club continues on as the same entity. > > > > Don't try to restart the club, just continue it - much easier with the > > administration. > > > > -MZ, RHCE #806199299900541, ex-CISSP #3762 > > -- > > <URL:mailto:megazone@megazone.org> Gweep, Discordian, Author, Engineer, me.. > > "A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-755-4098 > > <URL:http://www.megazone.org/> <URL:http://www.eyrie-productions.com/> Eris > > >

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resample mp3
by Karl Hiramoto Oct. 1, 2003

Oct. 1, 2003

I have an mp3 that i wish to burn to CD. mp3 original is 22khz mono. Using the xmms disk writer i can output this to wav, but the sampling is still the same. To burn to CD, cdrecord requires 44khz stereo. Anyone know of an easy way to get into the format i need? Thanks -- ¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø Karl Hiramoto <karl(a)hiramoto.org> Work: 978-425-2090 ext 25 Cell: 508-517-4819 http://karl.hiramoto.org/ AOL IM ID = KarlH420 Yahoo_IM = karl_hiramoto ¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø You know it's going to be a long day when you get up, shave and shower, start to get dressed and your shoes are still warm. -- Dean Webber

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Very confused ...
by Theo Van Dinter Oct. 1, 2003

Oct. 1, 2003

I was searching around Google for something, and I came across WLUG information, and I thought it was wierd. Then I noticed the URL: http://wlug.org.nz/ They are, apparently, "the WLUG", versus our just being "WLUG". -- Randomly Generated Tagline: "... and now we have a parallelogram, or at least we would if I could draw." - Prof. Farr

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