in retrospect…

Recently, I answered a survey by one of our students. And I want to share with you my answers (with addendum):

Questions

1 Why use Linux?

I use Linux because:
a. it lets me configure/compile only those applications i want and i need;
b. it gives me the freedom to change any settings in my computer; and
c. it is free.

2 Is Linux for everyone?

There are two types of Linux: linux for the server & linux for the desktop. The server version is not for everyone nor for the faint of heart, I admit. They are used by developers and administrators. The desktop version, though, is for everyone.

3 What benefits can a person get from learning about Linux and its use?

The user is able to understand how applications work, how his computer internals interact with the operating system, how the operating system makes effective use of the computer peripherals in doing its work, etc, etc.

4 What are the uses of Linux?

Server:
file server (Samba)
web server (Apache)
database server (PostgreSQL/MySQL)
proxy server (Squid/SquidGuard)
domain name server (Bind)
firewall (IPChains/IPTables)
development (C/C++, Python, Ruby, Java, PHP)
application server

Desktop:
everything you can think of doing in a desktop

5 What are the differences between Linux and MS Windows?

There are lots of differences, I don’t even know where to begin. But, IMHO, I would say that the LICENSING marks the greatest differences between the two. The licensing of Windows states that only one computer unit must have the installation for the current license. This means that if you have more than one computer, you need to buy additional licenses for those as well.

With Linux under the GNU/GPL (GPL means General Public License. more about his later), you can install the OS in any number of computers. Also, GPL does not prevent the owner of the CD from burning additional copies of the CD and giving this out, or profiting from them, to other people as well, which you cannot definitely do with Windows.

6 Is Linux compatible with every desktop or Mac user?

Actually, it is. If you know how to use a pointing device (a mouse, for instance) to move and to point & click in either Windows or MacOS, you would definitely be able to use a Linux desktop, either GNOME or KDE.

But if you’d rather use the console (like I do) rather than the desktop, it would be a little harder if you haven’;t gone through DOS, and just zipped on by using Windows

7 Can Linux and MS Windows be installed in the same computer?

Dual-booting? Multi-booting even? Why, yes!

This can actually be done. What you need to do first is to install all the Windows version first, followed lastly by Linux. For example, you’d want to install Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional, and Mandrake Linux 9.1 in your home desktop. First you’ll have to install the Windows OSes by year, meaning 98 first, 2000 second, and XP third. After this is done, you can finally install Linux.

This is because the OS loader of Windows does not recognize that of Linux, but they understand each other. So, after installing all three versions of Windows, you will see after booting up the three in a menu-like interface, waiting for you to make a choice between them.

When you instal Linux, it will install LILO (LInux LOader) as well into the MBR (master boot record). LILO understands Windows (and all its quirks) and will include all 3 in the menu of LILO.

8 What are the drawbacks in using Linux?

Drawbacks for whom and for what?

Whenever I am asked this, especially by supposed-to-be-technically-inclined people, I become sarcastic in a sense. Because the drawbacks they are really looking for are those that will drive the use of Linux to the ground. For desktop users, it will be the same drawbacks you experienced when you were first learning to use it.

But for the server, the only drawback (for others, not for me) is that all applications must be configured using a text file (what’s so hard about that?) and that you must understand all about paths, and daemons (not the evil kind), and processes (how and when to kill ‘em), and how to start/restart-stop a runnning daemon or process.

9 What is the meaning of the Linux GNU/GPL?< GNU/GPL means GNU's Not Unix/General Public License. By contrast with other licenses GNU/GPL "is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software--to make sure the software is free for all its users". You can find out more from their site.

Number one, you can go to linuxiso.org and download Linux distributions from them or from their mirror sites. For beginners, I suggest you download first the KNOPPIX distribution. This is a live-cd which you can just pop in to your CD drive and run from the CD.

Number two, you can come to the ITRG office at the 5th floor, bring blank CDs, pay for CD burning, and we’ll burn your CD for you.

11 Which do you prefer: Linux or MS Windows or both?< Depends on the use actually. If I am playing a game I'd rather use Windows instead. But when I got copies of CrossOver Office and VMWare, Linux apps that emulates Windows, bugs and all, I deleted my NTFS partitions. Instead, I installed VMWare in my Linux desktop, and only boot to it whenever I want to play.

For serious work, I use Linux, period.

12 Why is the school (Asia Pacific College) not using Linux as their (desktop) operating system?

I have always pushed for the use of Linux in the desktop. But the arguments of those opposed range form “Linux is not yet a mature operating system” to “Linux is very hard to understand.” While these were true a few years back (like, I wouldn’t even think of migrating all our PCs, all 800+ of them, to Linux back in 1999), not anymore today.

Any computer-savvy kid can now install Linux in no time, and use KDE without even blinking an eye. It is now very mature that Microsoft itself said that in the Halloween Documents that they ARE afraid of the rise of Linux.

And of course, the instructors themselves teaching computer-related subjects are very application-centric. C++ instructors MUST teach them using Microsoft Visual C++, Groupware instructors must teach them Lotus Notes! Why? I ask you. Why do this if we can have license-free and headache free applications like GCC or phpGroupware as alternatives to these applications?

Of course, for the servers, we are using SuSE Linux versions 7.3 and 8.0. I am also now in the process of creating our own distribution. For lack of a more catchy name, I’ll be calling that (for now) APC Linux and I am currently in version 0.03.

So, thatt’s it for now, folks! Will APC finally wake up to the realization that Linux is the wave of the future (wave daw, o!!!)? Only time will tell…

Ciao, baby…

Yes! I have been out of it for a while due to the things I have to catch up on. The past two weeks saw me going from one place to another giving talks on Linux advocacy.

The first week, I along with a group of PLUGgers were hauled off to the City of Pines, all expenses paid, to talk at a symposium of the University of Baguio. Hosted by PLUGger Jopoy Solano (hey, Jops!) and the president of UB, we were billeted at the UB House, cared for by the HRM students. The talk was typical of PLUGgers: technical but very nice. In fact, we started at around 9:30 and ended around 7:30 in the evening. And every break in between, we were fed so many things I lost track of what they were. Feeling ko nga, para kameng patabaing baboy!!! hehehehe… We were brought to so many places and fed so much that everything was simply a whirlwind of going and eating.

Anyway, we all survived all that Baguio can offer (diba Dean??? *wink*), we left for Manila at around 3:30 in the afternoon of Sunday, making it to Manila at about 10:30 in the evening.

Pictures of all PLUG Roadshow sorties can be found here. These include the San Pablo Colleges talks, University of Baguio, and STI Sta Rosa seminars.

Last week, the 7th of March, we had another go at it, this time, in Sta Rosa Laguna. Systems Technology Institute-Sta Rosa invited us to speak in their Linux Seminar 2003, as part of their foundation day celebrations. As usual, we again got together to speak in behalf of our favorite OS.

But speaking about our favorite OS/distro is not the sole purpose of these gatherings. It is the friendship that comes with being together, talking about different topics of interest. Like, for example, during our first sortie in San Pablo City (see story below, It is nice to know there are still fresh young minds out there…) people learned all about the wonders rsync can do when it comes to a network backup. As well, we learned from Ariz Jacinto the way Heartbeat works. Two weeks ago, I learned all about the LFS (Linux From Scratch) project from Dean Michael Berris. Now, I have a working LFS, though still very far from being a production server. But it is working. And so on, and so on…

So, I am also encouraging everyone to be a part of this, as you will not only gain new knowledge, but gain new and lifelong friends as well who share the same goals and purposes as you.

Ciao, baby… 8-)

So, what is this all about???

I really have no plans of adding to the confusion na sana, but Kris H. Valentino of San Pablo Colleges (all the way from Laguna… thanks, Kris!) wanted MY insight… (hehehe… as if it would matter…). This topic has been discussed at length already at the PLUG mailing list but yours truly did not participate there. So here goes… (for more insights on this, go to the OSI website.

First, I don’t believe in SCOs claim that codes of UNIX are in the Linux kernel. Why? because they can’t show one proof of this claim. They say that people might start taking out these codes once they show ‘em. I say that this is pure bull!!! With millions of Linux users out there, not everyone will bother to take out these codes, much less know where to look for ‘em! And with SCO selling OpenLinux? Then they are also liable themselves, right???

Second, I believe that SCO is trying to make up for past failures by suing IBM and threatening to sue large organizations that use Linux. Most analysts believe that SCO is suing and threatening to sue in hopes that IBM will either purchase it or license the purportedly infringed intellectual property.

So, that sums up what I want to say regarding this issue…

Ciao, baby… 8-)