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Another new server, Days 1 and 2 February 16, 2011

Posted by jmcomputer in Linux, Projects.
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So I was recently contacted by a client to come in and install a server for them. Requirements:

  • Repurpose existing hardware (i.e. no new hardware purchasing)
  • File Server
  • Program Versioning System
  • Customer Relation Management

Gee, this is sounding familiar, and I wish I had checked here before starting the install, as I could have save myself some headaches from the perspective of Day 2. Since I am a day late in updating for this, I’ll recap Day 1 of this build.

After some consulting with the client, it was decided to use a net-top (micro-sized pc, Atom processor, limited memory and hard-drive) and an external 1TB hard drive. Only problem here, no internal or external CDROM drive, so took about an hour to figure how to put ubuntu-server on a jump drive for installation AND get the net-top to boot from USB. For the File Server, requirements were: a shared-folder/drive type setup, all employees have same access, so single-user account in Samba should do fine here. For the Program Versioning for their programming work, decided to use Subversion, and found a decent gui management tool for later. For the CRM, vtiger of course, since I’ve had previous experience with it. At the end of Day 1, here’s what I accomplished:

  • Installed Ubuntu Server 10.04.1 i386
  • Installed LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySql, Php), Samba, and OpenSSH
  • Updated all the packages
  • Fleshed out user requirements to plan on package installation
  • Started Server Documentation

And now for Day 2:

“The essence of stupidity is performing the same action repeatedly, and expecting different results.” – author unknown

That pretty much describes the end of Day 2, in a nutshell. What I got accomplished:

  • Installed the desktop packages for easy user performed administration
  • Configured SSH
  • Installed Webmin for easy administration
  • Configured basic User Accounts
  • Attempted both the binary and source installation for vtiger

The last bullet is the inspiration for the quote above, instead of referencing back to the previous posts of mine, I tried the same steps over again, expecting it to work nicely, and was met with the same problems just on the installation. Also side note: when I performed the earlier server install, I could have sworn I had seen an easy-to-use tool for administering and configuring Apache in Gnome; but for the life of me, I cannot remember the tool or location for it to try to use it again. Really made virtual hosts and apache2 configuring REALLY easy. Tried finding in Google searches and in Synaptic, but no such luck. Ah well, back to command line and Midnight Commander for me. Hmmm… wonder if Webmin is easy to configure Apache? Will see tomorrow.

Some updates November 29, 2010

Posted by jmcomputer in Linux, Presentation, Teaching.
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Well, I know this blog has been inactive for quite some time. I really didn’t have much to write about until recently. Keep in mind that I try to limit the amount of “useless information” on the web as well. So I finally have some updated stuff.

Recently (relatively speaking), I obtained my Linux+ certification and have been hired on to be an Adjunct Professor at a local community college. While this doesn’t sound like much, it’s big for me as I had always enjoyed teaching and relaying knowledge (maybe not so much with application training, but that’s a different story). I have just wrapped up my first quarter teaching, and while the grades weren’t what I was expecting, they are about average from a realistic approach. But here’s the cool part: while the class is an Introduction to Operating Systems, I get to teach a quick intro to Linux.

“So what?”

So, I can provide awareness of the Linux based systems, and even have the students install Linux into virtual machines and let them play on it. After the first class, which ended with nine students left in it, three or four of them are showing a lot of interest into using Linux on a regular basis, including two that are going to replace their Windows OS on their systems with either Fedora or Ubuntu.

Okay, I do know what some people are thinking at this point. “Aren’t teachers supposed to be unbiased?” To answer, yes they are, and yes I was unbiased; as much as I could be anyways. I only provided the basic information that is agreeable in the majority of textbooks, and the students did the rest. So without being a “fanboy” or advocate, I have actually converted more people to Linux (while they may still use Windows in a dualboot or virtual machine environment).

Also, another “WooHoo” moment came for me during the class when there were labs to complete. I asked the students to install VirtualBox on their computers and/or laptop in order to complete the labs and be able to play around on Linux outside the classroom, and while I cannot verify each installation, I can venture to say that at least 80% of the class had installed it. So not only have I exposed them to Linux, I have also exposed them to virtualization, which most will find very helpful for their careers.

Now that the quarter is done, I can finally look at upgrading Ubuntu to the 10.10 release on my laptop.

Business and Open Source February 22, 2010

Posted by jmcomputer in Linux.
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One of the things I have noticed is that a lot of companies are generally resistant to Open Source software for many different reasons, and only a few can be considered as “Valid”. I think the most “valid” is where there is a proprietary tool that they must use. But the one I am stunned by is the response of “We don’t want to give away our software, we need money”. Also, I need to preface this entire post with “I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY, DO NOT USE THIS POST AS LEGAL COUNSEL/ADVICE”.

After talking with quite a few Linux Professionals and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) people, it seems that businesses don’t fully understand the licensing or legal aspects of using Open Source in their business. Or the possibility that they do not have the time nor money for their legal department to analyse the GPLv2 (General Purpose License) and what it would mean for the company. I hope in this short post that I can clear some of that up in layman’s terms…

Businesses can FREELY use Open Source Software inside their business for ANY purpose. You are permitted to install Open Source based servers, workstations, and use any software package covered under the GPL. This means that yes, you can use a LAMP server, you can give your graphics people The Gimp, the whole company can use Open Office instead of MS Office, your programmers can use gcc, etc. Without any worry that by using Open Source software, they are committing themselves to some contract where they have to give things away.

The basics of the GPL that relate to businesses are:

  • You have the right to use the code/binaries
  • You have the right to distribute the code
  • You have the right to modify the code
  • The catch: IF you should give the code/binary TO ANYONE ELSE, you must provide the source code

What does this mean anyways? As an example, your company installs several web-servers to handle an e-business. You are allowed to use as many copies of Apache, Linux, etc as you want; for free. You are allowed to alter the code base of Apache, Linux, etc to fit your business needs; for free. You are allowed to give away UNMODIFIED versions of the code/binaries; for free (in some cases you can charge as well, so long as you give code and credit to the original authors).

What you cannot do: give away the MODIFIED code/binaries WITHOUT providing the source code including the changes.

Again, “what does this mean for a business?” A business can use anything they want in the Open Source Community, they can change it to fit their needs. If you want the quick and dirty: As long as they are not giving away OR selling the application/code to a third-party, there are no problems!

To finish, let’s have an example:

Company A downloads and installs Open Office on all desktops, this is permitted. Company A downloads the source for it and builds a customized version in order to do internal work (say edit data in a proprietary data format), this is permitted. So far Company A has not infringed on any portion of the GPL License.

Company A has a visit from Company B, Company B likes the customized version of Open Office and wants a copy of it. Company A sells them 200 “licenses” or “copies” of the application. So far, even this is permissible (with conditions). Company B wants the source code with the modifications, Company A refuses. Now we have a full breach of contract with the GPL.

Again, there is debate of whether the initial sale of the software constitutes a breach, and I have not heard of a final decision (although there is a new version of the GPL, so that’s important to look into).

So as a general rule, a business is allowed to use Open Source in may different ways and still be compliant to the GPL.