Re: [vox-tech] Need some help choosing a linux flavor for an old laptop
On Monday 19 June 2006 22:34, Kyle Oliveira wrote: > > I'm helping a friend upgrade an old Inspiron 3000 so she can check email > and do Word documents while she's in France. I decided to run linux as the > OS since I've heard it's more efficient that windows in that sort of > situation and I've kinda narrowed it down to three options: cAos (because > it's supposedly good with older hardware), MEPIS (same reason, plus I heard > it does networking stuff well), and Mandriva (simply because Matloff's > walkthrough is easily available)... Mandriva of course -- because it's a French company. That would win your friend points in getting local help. I'm sure she would be an instant hit at a LUG meeting. :-) Rod ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
[vox-tech] Need some help choosing a linux flavor for an old laptop
I'm helping a friend upgrade an old Inspiron 3000 so she can check email and do Word documents while she's in France. I decided to run linux as the OS since I've heard it's more efficient that windows in that sort of situation and I've kinda narrowed it down to three options: cAos (because it's supposedly good with older hardware), MEPIS (same reason, plus I heard it does networking stuff well), and Mandriva (simply because Matloff's walkthrough is easily available). I was wondering which one would be the best to install considering: *The laptop is running on a Pentium I with 128 MB of RAM. It also has a *blank* 30 GB hard drive *There is no RJ-45 port, per se - we have a USB to RJ 45 adaptor and a PCMCIA 56k modem *The installation needs to be fairly easy, she's already in France with all the equipment. I'll probably be leading her through the installation through some sort of written walkthrough (if you know where to get one, that'd be nice too) and talking on the phone. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to send out CD's by the end of the week, but if someone could point me in the right direction I might not have to burn CD's for all three just as fall backs in case one doesn't work. Thanks! ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] fluxbox questions
On Mon 19 Jun 06, 11:25 PM, Hai Yi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > >Still I don't know how to run fluxbox. I cannot run it under X windows. >So, in another word, the question might be a simple one: how can I exit >Xwindows to the sole-console enviornment (from where I can try exec >fluxbox)? > >Thanks, >Hai I dunno. Try creating a file ~/.xinitrc with one line: exec /usr/bin/fluxbox (or wherever the executable is located) and see if that works. Actually, I just did a Google search on "Debian change window manager" and got this: http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-list/2001-August/msg00254.html Two interesting things: 1. Notice what the replier said about /etc/alternatives/x-window-manager. I think that's your best answer. 2. He also implies that you can pass startx a parameter which gets exec'd. Looking through the startx source code, it does look like args are passed to the server. So, as an experiment, I did this: startx fluxbox -- :2 and got a new X server running fluxbox. Never saw fluxbox before. Has a nice clean look to it, but I think I'm going to stick with englightenment since I'm most used to it. BTW, you may want to seriously consider removing your local installation of fluxbox and aptitude installing the pre-packaged version. Pete ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] fluxbox questions
On Monday 19 June 2006 21:13, Hai Yi wrote: > hello there: > > I downloaded fluxbox and installed it, now I can see its executable > in the /usr/local/bin. As per the doc, I need to modify the .xinitrc > or .xsession to add one line: exec /usr/local/bin/fluxbox > > however, Ican't find either .xinitrc or .xsession under my home > directory! You just create .xsession yourself. --Ken Bloom -- I usually have a GPG digital signature included as an attachment. See http://www.gnupg.org/ for info about these digital signatures. pgpJl4ZXzHLpR.pgp Description: PGP signature ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] fluxbox questions
Thanks pete. I checked the X.server as you suggested, this is the result.[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ dpkg -l "*xfree*"Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold| Status=Not/Installed/Config-files/Unpacked/Failed-config/Half-installed |/ Err?=(none)/Hold/Reinst-required/X=both-problems (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)||/ Name Version Description+++-=-=-== rc xfree86-common 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14sarge1 X Window System (XFree86) infrastructurerc xserver-xfree86 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14sarge1 the XFree86 X server[EMAIL PROTECTED] :~$ dpkg -l "*xorg*"Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold| Status=Not/Installed/Config-files/Unpacked/Failed-config/Half-installed|/ Err?=(none)/Hold/Reinst-required/X=both-problems (Status,Err: uppercase=bad) ||/ Name Version Description+++-=-=-== ii libglu1-xorg 6.9.0.dfsg.1-5bpo2 Mesa OpenGL utility library [X.Org]ii libglu1-xorg-dbg 6.9.0.dfsg.1-5bpo2 Mesa OpenGL utility library (unstripped) [ X.Org]ii libglu1-xorg-dev 6.9.0.dfsg.1-5bpo2 Mesa OpenGL utility library development files [X.Org]ii xserver-xorg 6.9.0.dfsg.1-5bpo2 the X.Org X server so it's the x.org that is installed.Still I don't know how to run fluxbox. I cannot run it under X windows. So, in another word, the question might be a simple one: how can I exit Xwindows to the sole-console enviornment (from where I can try exec fluxbox)? Thanks,HaiOn 6/19/06, Peter Jay Salzman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On Mon 19 Jun 06, 10:13 PM, Hai Yi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:>hello there:>>I downloaded fluxbox and installed it, now I can see its executable in the >/usr/local/bin. As per the doc, I need to modify the .xinitrc or .xsession>to add one line: exec /usr/local/bin/fluxbox>>however, Ican't find either .xinitrc or .xsession under my home directory! >I only found sth like .xsession-error !BTW, how can I know my x-server is>x.org or xfree86? I believe I am using x.org, is it the reason why I can't >find those configuration files?>>Thanks,>HaiHullo Hai,One of the benefits of using Debian is that you have more pre-packagedsoftware at your fingertips than (almost?) any other GNU/Linux distribution. If you want to know if fluxbox is available within Debian, you could try: dpkg -l fluxboxin which case you might see: un fluxbox (no description available) which means that fluxbox is available from Debian sources (but the "un"means it's never been installed on my system). You can even use wildcardsif you quote your search term: dpkg -l "*fluxbox*" which would match any package with the substring "fluxbox". Once you knowof the existence of fluxbox, you can install it via: aptitude install fluxboxThere are many benefits of installing pre-packaged software including ease of uninstallation, better integration within your operating system, andDebian's anal adherence to policy (for example, you'll know that thedocumentation will always be in /usr/share/doc/fluxbox rather than some wierdo location that the fluxbox authors may put it in like/opt/share/local/doc or something really whacked out like that).Additionally, if you install pre-packaged software, you'll get updates whichfix bugs and security vulnerabilities when you ask for them. BTW, if you ever want a description of a package, including dependencies,conflicts, and suggestions, you can do: dpkg -p fluxboxI don't know if this is fullproof, but you can tell whether you're using x.org or XFree86 by the existence of the files: /etc/X11/xorg.conf // x.org installed /etc/X11/XFree86* // XFree installedAnother method would be to use dpkg again: dpkg -l "*xfree*" dpkg -l "*xorg*"The string "ii" on the left of the output means the package is installed.BTW, another great thing about Debian policy is that official package names are always lowercase. That means you'll never have to do something like: dpkg -l "*xfree*" dpkg -l "*XFree*" dpkg -l "*Xfree*"since package names are always lowercase, you'll know it's: dpkg -l "*xfree*"Do a Google search on "dpkg tutorial". You'll find a lot of really good anduseful stuff.Pete___vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.orghttp://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] fluxbox questions
On Mon 19 Jun 06, 10:13 PM, Hai Yi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: >hello there: > >I downloaded fluxbox and installed it, now I can see its executable in the >/usr/local/bin. As per the doc, I need to modify the .xinitrc or .xsession >to add one line: exec /usr/local/bin/fluxbox > >however, Ican't find either .xinitrc or .xsession under my home directory! >I only found sth like .xsession-error !BTW, how can I know my x-server is >x.org or xfree86? I believe I am using x.org, is it the reason why I can't >find those configuration files? > >Thanks, >Hai Hullo Hai, One of the benefits of using Debian is that you have more pre-packaged software at your fingertips than (almost?) any other GNU/Linux distribution. If you want to know if fluxbox is available within Debian, you could try: dpkg -l fluxbox in which case you might see: un fluxbox (no description available) which means that fluxbox is available from Debian sources (but the "un" means it's never been installed on my system). You can even use wildcards if you quote your search term: dpkg -l "*fluxbox*" which would match any package with the substring "fluxbox". Once you know of the existence of fluxbox, you can install it via: aptitude install fluxbox There are many benefits of installing pre-packaged software including ease of uninstallation, better integration within your operating system, and Debian's anal adherence to policy (for example, you'll know that the documentation will always be in /usr/share/doc/fluxbox rather than some wierdo location that the fluxbox authors may put it in like /opt/share/local/doc or something really whacked out like that). Additionally, if you install pre-packaged software, you'll get updates which fix bugs and security vulnerabilities when you ask for them. BTW, if you ever want a description of a package, including dependencies, conflicts, and suggestions, you can do: dpkg -p fluxbox I don't know if this is fullproof, but you can tell whether you're using x.org or XFree86 by the existence of the files: /etc/X11/xorg.conf // x.org installed /etc/X11/XFree86* // XFree installed Another method would be to use dpkg again: dpkg -l "*xfree*" dpkg -l "*xorg*" The string "ii" on the left of the output means the package is installed. BTW, another great thing about Debian policy is that official package names are always lowercase. That means you'll never have to do something like: dpkg -l "*xfree*" dpkg -l "*XFree*" dpkg -l "*Xfree*" since package names are always lowercase, you'll know it's: dpkg -l "*xfree*" Do a Google search on "dpkg tutorial". You'll find a lot of really good and useful stuff. Pete ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
[vox-tech] fluxbox questions
hello there:I downloaded fluxbox and installed it, now I can see its executable in the /usr/local/bin. As per the doc, I need to modify the .xinitrc or .xsession to add one line: exec /usr/local/bin/fluxbox however, Ican't find either .xinitrc or .xsession under my home directory! I only found sth like .xsession-error !BTW, how can I know my x-server is x.org or xfree86? I believe I am using x.org, is it the reason why I can't find those configuration files?Thanks,Hai ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
[vox-tech] Re: a comment on Pete's fast-loop question
> On Sun 18 Jun 06, 12:06 AM, Norm Matloff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > > There is even a book on this, I believe in the Intel Press series. > Definitely sounds like a book I should pick up. I'll Google for it! I believe the book I had in mind was The Software Optimization Cookbook, by Richard Gerber, Intel Press, I actually have a copy (too bad you're in New Jersey), and though I have not yet gotten around to reading it, I would point out that even though one of the chapters is explicitly about memory, the others constantly bring in memory issues. For instance, one thing I should have mentioned yesterday in the context of your loop question is loop unrolling. You may have seen this before if you've read anything about pipelines, but it would be especially useful from the point of view of minimizing cache misses. Norm ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] Why change default ssh port?
Quoting Bill Kendrick ([EMAIL PROTECTED]): [Backscatter spam and "antivirus warnings" as secondary results from Microsoft malware:] > I have a whole stack of .procmail rules to chuck mail daemon bounces > regarding this crap to /dev/null. > > (e.g., something found my address, and someone else's address on the 'net. > It began sending viruses/spam to that other person, using my address as > a forged 'To'. When the mail bounces due to the address being gone, > the mailbox being over quota, or the user blocking mail from me, _I_ > get them. Total PITA.) Not that it's much help for users having to suffer such garbage, but this is one of the sins I try hard to avoid committing as a SMTP daemon (MTA = Mail Transfer Agent) operator: I issue reject messages (DSNs) only during the ongoing SMTP delivery attempt, and thus state my system's non-acceptance directly to the IP address trying to drop off the mail. By constrast, the old-school method was to accept the mail, only then evaluate its acceptability, and send back a reject e-mail (a "bounce message" encapulating the 55x DSN) to the claimed, apparent sender. Which of course means you're generating backscatter spam when the sender was forged, and makes you part of the problem. I try not to be part of the problem. ;-> A vocal minority (such as the aforementioned Jeff Waugh) allege that _even_ issuing 55x DSNs is being part of the problem, since the delivering MTA might choose to do something harmful with the error message, like send it to a forged sender address, and that such misdeeds are then somehow my fault. (A brief debate on this point occurred in the linux-elitists thread Pete referred to.) Additionally, my domain publishes SPF records in its DNS, which provides a means for receiving MTAs to detect and reject forgeries of my domain. (My SPF reference record identifies which IPs are allowed to send mail for my domain. Any receiving MTA can vet arriving mail against that information, and reject forged mail from other, unauthorised IPs.) ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] Why change default ssh port?
On Mon, Jun 19, 2006 at 01:52:49PM -0400, Peter Jay Salzman wrote: > > I have a whole stack of .procmail rules to chuck mail daemon bounces > > regarding this crap to /dev/null. > > waste of resources. better to do this at the MTA level than the MUA level. > > http://www.t29.dk/header_check_notes.php So tell me how to 0wnz0r my ISP's mail server, and I'll set that up right pronto. ;) -bill! ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] Why change default ssh port?
Quoting Peter Jay Salzman ([EMAIL PROTECTED]): > waste of resources. better to do this at the MTA level than the MUA level. > > http://www.t29.dk/header_check_notes.php Concur -- though it's really weird to see one of my old threads on linux-elitists being cited as a canonical source of information. Scary, even. (Watching Jeff Waugh foam at the mouth had novelty value at the time, but is now no longer interesting.) ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] Why change default ssh port?
On Mon 19 Jun 06, 10:24 AM, Bill Kendrick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > On Fri, Jun 16, 2006 at 05:54:35PM -0700, Rick Moen wrote: > > 2. Some MS-Windows worms started emerging that harvested e-mail > > addresses from infected machines' MS-Outlook [Express] address books, > > Internet Explorer cache files, etc. in likely locations of the hapless > > desktop machine's hard drive. Therefore, if your e-mail address is > > present in even one such third-party machine, it'll get scooped up. > > I have a whole stack of .procmail rules to chuck mail daemon bounces > regarding this crap to /dev/null. waste of resources. better to do this at the MTA level than the MUA level. http://www.t29.dk/header_check_notes.php pete ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] Why change default ssh port?
On Fri, Jun 16, 2006 at 05:54:35PM -0700, Rick Moen wrote: > 2. Some MS-Windows worms started emerging that harvested e-mail > addresses from infected machines' MS-Outlook [Express] address books, > Internet Explorer cache files, etc. in likely locations of the hapless > desktop machine's hard drive. Therefore, if your e-mail address is > present in even one such third-party machine, it'll get scooped up. I have a whole stack of .procmail rules to chuck mail daemon bounces regarding this crap to /dev/null. (e.g., something found my address, and someone else's address on the 'net. It began sending viruses/spam to that other person, using my address as a forged 'To'. When the mail bounces due to the address being gone, the mailbox being over quota, or the user blocking mail from me, _I_ get them. Total PITA.) -- -bill! [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/ ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
Re: [vox-tech] Reference books (Was: Re: a comment on Pete's fast-loop question
Mark K. Kim wrote: [...] > Another book I refer to for embedded systems programming tricks is "Math > Toolkit for Real Time Programming" by Jack W. Crenshaw. Covers things > like integer square roots and integer logorithms. It's more of an > integer operations book for systems with no floating point math. Not > really related to what Peter's doing but still cool nonetheless. Crenshaw has written pretty extensively on numerical programming without regard to fixed-point implementation. Sometimes he seems overly-long-winded, but he usually tries to come up with "intuitional" explanations with which to "sanity-check" solutions. I thought his series on mathematical optimization in particular was pretty informative, even if he did get "lost" along the way. (Tip: be sure you find his "second round" on that topic before you implement his algorithm.) http://www.embedded.com/, "Programmer's Toolbox". -- --- Jeff NewmillerThe . . Go Live... DCN:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Basics: ##.#. ##.#. Live Go... Live: OO#.. Dead: OO#.. Playing Research Engineer (Solar/BatteriesO.O#. #.O#. with /Software/Embedded Controllers) .OO#. .OO#. rocks...1k --- ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
[vox-tech] Reference books (Was: Re: a comment on Pete's fast-loop question
On Sun, Jun 18, 2006 at 08:13:30PM -0700, Micah J. Cowan wrote: [snip] > Given your explanation above, you might also find Hacker's Delight > to be enjoyable reading (if you haven't read it already). Oh I love that book. I ran into it browsing through the school bookstore and *had* to buy it. I think of the book more of a bag of tricks for embedded systems programmers but I have yet to go through much of the book yet. The first trick operation in chapter 2 (figuring out the rightmost set bit, I think) was one of the IBM pre-interview questions a semester or two ago, I heard. Another book I refer to for embedded systems programming tricks is "Math Toolkit for Real Time Programming" by Jack W. Crenshaw. Covers things like integer square roots and integer logorithms. It's more of an integer operations book for systems with no floating point math. Not really related to what Peter's doing but still cool nonetheless. -Mark ___ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
