Infrastructure Linux News for Apr 14, 2009

• HowTo find the port on a switch that a host belongs to, the easy way, part 2 (Apr 14, 2009, 23:34)
  Linux Dynasty: "In my previous HowTO, I created the get_port.py script. Now this script did the job, but had a few faults in it...This script has been heavily tested on Cisco Core Switches and on Cisco Catalyst Switches. So far no issues like in the previous one."


• A Letter To A Texas Senator (Apr 14, 2009, 22:04)
  Blog of Helios: "I couldn't keep my mouth shut. So what's new about that?"


• Sabayon 4.1 GNOME Released (Apr 14, 2009, 21:34)
  Begin Linux Blog: "Sabayon Linux is a very full featured DVD sized distribution that is really catching on in the Linux community as of late. The most recent release, Sabayon 4.1 Gnome, includes some very impressive features, and applications."


• Linux gets reseller friendly (Apr 14, 2009, 20:04)
  Cyber Cynic: "I spent many years covering the reseller and integrator side of technology. These are the businesses that you, as a private person, have probably never heard of, but they're essential partners for companies that use software and hardware. In short, all companies."


• Is cloud computing a threat to open source? (Apr 14, 2009, 19:04)
  ComputerworldUK: "Why the demise of proprietary software is creating a vacuum which is about to be filled... and we may not like it."


• Review: Sandisk Sansa Clip Audio Player (Apr 14, 2009, 18:04)
  Montana Linux: "The gang on The Linux Link Tech Show mentioned the Sandisk Sansa Clip as being an affordable, quality portable audio player that worked well with Linux so I decided to give it a shot."


• 10 Expert Ubuntu Tricks (Apr 14, 2009, 17:34)
  PCWorld: "However, if you type gksu into a terminal window (with nothing following), a similar dialog box appears, but this time it will let you run the program as root (or any other user on the system)."


• Driving Linux-based Benchmarking With Sandtorg (Apr 14, 2009, 16:34)
  Phoronix: "...we have sought to standardize the benchmarking process of Linux desktops to make it easier for end-users and companies when looking to gauge how well something works on Linux. The Phoronix Test Suite has made immense progress over the past year, but today it is now time to expose our latest endeavor, Sandtorg."


• Google opens update software to scrutiny (Apr 14, 2009, 16:04)
  ZDNet Asia: "In an attempt to better show what its software is up to, Google has released the source code of its Google Update software, a project code-named Omaha that can automatically install new versions of programs, including the Chrome browser and Google Earth."


• The Netbook Newbie's Guide to Linux: Back to the Bluez (Apr 14, 2009, 15:34)
  Register Hardware: "I opened up my Acer Aspire One again after a prolonged interval while I was involved in a very different project and was puzzled to discover that Live Update was offering me a "Bluetooth patch". It's not just that the hardware doesn't have Bluetooth - that's easily fixed by plugging in a dongle - but even if you do plug in a dongle, the operating system remains blissfully ignorant of it."


• The Linux Boot Process (Apr 14, 2009, 15:04)
  Newb To Pro: "Linux is highly flexible and can run under many different conditions. This section will give you a basic understanding as to what is happening when a Linux system is powered on and what Linux will do in order for it to become functional to the end user."


• Will Linux overtake Windows on netbooks? (Apr 14, 2009, 14:34)
  DesktopLinux: "ABI Research predicts that Linux and "alternative operating systems" (OSes) will overtake Windows XP in netbook sales by 2012."


• GNOME vs. KDE: The Final Smackdown (Apr 14, 2009, 14:04)
  Linux Magazine: "Hello ladies and gentleman, and welcome to the Linux Magazine Arena in beautiful downtown San Francisco! We're here for tonight's main event; GNOME vs. KDE; The Final Smackdown! I'd also like to welcome my co-commentator for tonight's battle royale;Red Debuntu Volkersworth."


• 9 of the Best Free Linux Project Management Software (Apr 14, 2009, 13:04)
  LinuxLinkx: "One notable omission from the list below is Project.net. Whilst it is widely recognised as one of the finest open source web-based project management software, it cannot be used without the Oracle database, which isn't available under a freely distributable license."


• The slow brute zombies are back (Apr 14, 2009, 12:04)
  That Grumpy BSD Guy: "Regular readers will remember that late last year we saw a peculiar form of distributed bruteforce attack on certain ssh servers."


• Linux Powered Crunchpad Gets a Facelift (Apr 14, 2009, 09:04)
  LinuxHaxor: "Tech blogger and entrepreneur Michael Arrington of techcrunch, thought having a ~$200 touchscreen tablet would be a great idea when you are tired of PC, laptop or even your notebook."


• Frugal Friday: Conficker, Terrorism, Sun, Debian BSD, Sourceforge (Apr 14, 2009, 04:34)
  Tech Broiler: "Conficker Strikes, Infrastructure Terrorism, Sun Microsystems, Debian BSD, Sourceforge" (podcast)


• Upgrading Multiple Machines With approx (Apr 14, 2009, 03:04)
  Tip of the Trade: "If you have multiple Debian machines to administer, approx can help you get them updated and upgraded more quickly and using less bandwidth. approx is an archive/proxy server for Debian repositories, fetching packages on demand and caching them locally."


• Weekly Ten (4-13-2009): Wolverine Leaks, Sex and Lies, Build a Cheap Spycam (Apr 14, 2009, 01:34)
  Tech Source From Bohol: "2. What the Wolverine Leak Means for the Future of Piracy
  Twentieth-Century Fox was the butt of a big prank this April Fool's Day, when news broke that a copy of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was leaked onto the net."


• Flames, Figures and FUD: What's the Score in the Netbook Arena? (Apr 14, 2009, 00:04)
  Linux Blog Safari: "The claim: Windows has a 96 percent share, and Linux netbooks get returned to stores in droves. Linux bloggers called it FUD, they called it propaganda, and some called it completely unsurprising."