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Linux in the news

Recommended Reading

Now Showing: Dmitry Sklyarov's Las Vegas Gamble (Planet PDF). Planet PDF has posted a detailed description and commentary on Dmitry Sklyarov's Las Vegas presentation. "At that point, a voice from the darkened room shouts a question, seemingly wanting to verify whether the full commercial version of AEBPR is still available. 'Not at this time,' Sklyarov says. The voice persists, apparently seeking further explanation on the product and on ElcomSoft's intent. 'We don't make our mind up to hit publisher,' Sklyarov says. 'We must prove that eBook distribution based on PDF technology is insecure.' During the remainder of the presentation, he methodically proceeds to do so."

Senator plans anti-piracy copyright legislation (NewsBytes). As if the DMCA weren't enough: here's a NewsBytes article on the next bright idea from Washington: "Consumer electronics hardware makers, including computer manufacturers, would be required to develop anti-piracy technology to be included in their products under proposed legislation from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest 'Fritz' Hollings, D-S.C."

Commentary: Making the move to Linux (News.com). The Meta Group, via News.com, says, Linux is still a fringe player in the corporate world, however the "Meta Group now recommends that large enterprises consider a limited number of Linux server deployments or pilot projects." This is about as positive as Meta has ever been...

LinuxWorld

Linux debate focuses on future (News.com). News.com has put up a series of video clips on discussions about the future of Linux. Participants include Linus Torvalds, Dirk Hohndel, and Brian Behlendorf.

MS Hailstorm is no threat - Torvalds (Register). The Register reports from the "Future of Linux" panel at LinuxWorld. "Torvalds' genius for project management, and specifically for resolving the most acrimonious disputes amicably is often remarked upon, but here was a perfectly example of it in practice. His soundbyte incited the largely libertarian audience to an ovation, but contained the message that governments do have the power to draw boundaries around private greed." (Thanks to Dave Killick).

Linux World Starts with a Bang (IT-Director). IT-Director reports from LinuxWorld as a way of looking at the Linux industry as a whole. "As Linux begins to be significant in the Enterprise space, organisations must use suppliers that have a global presence. In this respect SuSE needs to face the challenge posed by market leader Red Hat. It will be a tough fight for SuSE."

Red Hat CEO pushes Linux in schools (News.com). Here's a report on Matthew Szulik's LinuxWorld keynote on News.com. "Linux developers must take some of the time they now devote to programming and put it toward boosting open-source software in education, Red Hat Chief Executive Matthew Szulik said Thursday."

Lawyer Lessig raps new copyright laws (News.com). News.com covers Lawrence Lessig's LinuxWorld keynote. " Lessig accused programmers of two counterproductive attitudes that will lead to the collapse of the current climate of innovation. Under the first, programmers argue that they're just writing code and that they'll leave politics to the politicians. Under the second, programmers argue that 'what goes on in Washington is a pathetic waste of life,' and that 'we should build a world of freedom that they can't penetrate.'"

Companies

Egenera to debut $250,000 Linux server (News.com). News.com reports on the new high-end server from Egenera. "Egenera hopes to succeed where other server specialists such as VA Linux Systems, Cobalt Networks and Network Engines have struggled. Analysts say Egenera's market--financial-services companies and service providers--is small but lucrative."

Compaq boosts Red Hat ecommerce suite (Register). The Register looks at the Red Hat/Compaq e-commerce offering. "One point worth considering before anyone ventures out and buys the five system cluster is that of the database. Red Hat's database is based on the PostgreSQL database which, although fine under normal loads, has little in terms of proof points when it gets into real heavy-duty work. It is, essentially, unproven at the high end which is, presumably, the kind of work it will encounter on a five node cluster."

TurboLinux Intros Automated Configuration Software (TechWeb). Here's TechWeb's take on Turbolinux' PowerCockpit. "The software lets the IT manager set up each Linux configuration separately and then collect an image from the fully configured server and put it into a repository. Later, if that configuration is need on another server, it can be redeployed. One configuration might be TurboLinux with IBM WebSphere, another might be Red Hat with Apache. "

Turbolinux tool eases provisioning of Linux servers (ZDNet). ZDNet has an article on the new, proprietary "PowerCockpit" tool from TurboLinux. "Enterprise users and manufacturers spend a lot of time configuring and deploying systems, and Linux, with its flexibility, makes that task even more challenging. The time-consuming process of upgrades and incremental adds to corporate IT infrastructures has been taking its toll, so Turbolinux focused on providng a solution that offers flexible processing power."

Sun shows new version of StarOffice (News.com). News.com looks forward to StarOffice 6.0. " But the current version, 5.2, has been roundly criticized as a large and sluggish product. By default, the program tries to take over many desktop functions, coming with its own 'Start' button and file browser, and all its programs load at once. Version 6.0 will break these programs into individual applications that can run independently, said software demonstrators at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo where the software has been demonstrated this week."

Corel sells Linux desktop OS to Xandros (ZDNet). This ZDNet article looks at Xandros's acquisition of Corel Linux. "'In terms of the deal, we get the code to Corel's Linux distribution and all licensing rights,' [Xandros president Michael] Bego said. 'Corel has also signed an 18-month non-compete agreement. So, essentially, we have bought Corel's Linux operating system, including its as-yet unreleased third-generation software, as well as access to its channel, support and sales pipeline.'"

When VA was the news (NewsForge). NewsForge looks at VA Linux Systems. "Whatever the deficits of VA's business plan, it was brilliant compared to businesses that decided that the Internet was the ideal way to sell broccoli or Kibbles n Bits. Unfortunately for VA, by the time the company had fully ramped up to sell to this market it had disappeared."

Business

A month Microsoft won't forget (ZDNet). ZDNet looks back at a hard month for Microsoft. "All you need to do is scan the headlines for the last 30 days to see that Linux and open source have gained significant momentum, beautifully leveraging the turmoil in which Microsoft now finds itself. In all its life, IBM OS/2 never achieved the popularity Linux has in just the past month. Fortunately, for IBM, the company couldn't have picked a more precise moment to announce its big customer wins that include Linux running on a range of systems that span low-end servers to big iron."

Reviews

LSP: migrate from Windows NT to Linux (ZDNet). ZDNet reviews DAS Technology's LSP, a utility that automates migrating file and print sharing services from a Windows machine to a Linux box. "LSP's NT to Linux migration process happens in four stages, alternating between the NT and Linux servers. The first stage involves running a data collection program on the NT server--this process obtains the server information--such as share names, directory and file structures, Internet Information Server configuration data, and so on--that LSP will migrate."

Miscellaneous

Leave Linux to the Geeks (TechTV). TechTV has a unique take on the 10th anniversary of Linux. "Linux is not for the masses. Trust me, we'll just screw it up. If you don't believe me, look what we did with the Internet. Happy birthday Linux. Now please keep it to yourself."

Chipmakers angle for Linux support (News.com). C|Net's News.com says Linux leads with support for new chips. "Linux--with a strong developer community and a flexibility that allows the Unix clone to run on numerous chips--has become an asset the chipmakers want on their sides as they prepare future chip designs. Linux has become a tool to secure quick support for a new chip."

Red Hat Weighs Nonprofit Group To Promote Open-Source Software In Schools (TechWeb). Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik is advocating Linux and other open source software in the US school system. "Szulik says he's traveled to poor rural and urban school districts in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Missouri, and spoken with former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt and other elected officials about his plan to promote open-source software as an alternative for public schools. "Someone from the open-source industry had to step forward, and that's Red Hat's responsibility," he says. "

Jean Louis Gassée on The Antitrust dog that never barked (Register). Be Inc founder Jean Louis Gassée offered to testify in the Microsoft antitrust trial, regarding the Microsoft boot loader, but the DoJ wasn't interested. "Now for the interesting bit, and listen up you folks who dream of Linux booting on machines from CompUSA.

Gassée offered to testify on behalf of the Department of Justice on the boot loader question, reports Hacker, but the prosecution was only interested in browser integration."

The State of Corporate IT: A case for Linux (AnandTech). Here is a lengthy article on AnandTech tracing a company's move from legacy systems to Windows NT and finally to Linux. Linux is not mentioned until the end of page 4, but the article is well worth the read. "Linux was not the right tool for every job, but it certainly had proved its mettle as a cost effective alternative and helped give them some breathing room as they worked to bring soaring IT costs under control and reduce TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). It was ironic that only by turning to an alternative operating system were they able to realize some of the cost savings promised them when they initially switched over to NT. Linux had not only given them tangible benefits, it had increased confidence in their ability to manage their own systems." (Thanks to Paul Hewitt and Walter Smith)

Wireless Hype Chugging Along (TechWeb). According to this TechWeb article companies are spending too much on deployment of wireless networks, and not enough on development. "And let's not forget wireless's real problem: security. Just this week, software called AirSnort hit the Internet. Utilizing nothing more than a Linux system with an 802.11b wireless card installed, AirSnort specializes in breaking the WEP encryption that protects an 802.11 network. Once inside, AirSnort offers convenient packet-reading features that let hackers manage operations, such as password grabs, quickly and easily."

FBI Warns of New Worm, Says No Code Red Suspects Yet . NewsBytes is carrying a story on the FBI's efforts toward a worm-free Internet. "Separately, the FBI today issued a caution to operators of systems based on the Unix operating system. According to the agency, a new worm dubbed 'X.C.' has been targeting a vulnerability in the telnet daemon that ships with Sun's Solaris, IBM's AIX, and several versions of Linux."

Protesters declare war on copyright law (News.com). News.com reports from the Sklyarov fund-raiser in San Francisco. "Almost 200 Linux enthusiasts, programmers and digerati attended the fund-raiser, held by 2-month-old start-up AllSeer in a five-story warehouse on the edge of the now depopulated Multimedia Gulch in San Francisco."

Section Editor: Forrest Cook

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