- main - earth.li

ext3 in windows
by Ben Francis 07 Dec '03

07 Dec '03

Is there a way to view my ext3 Linux root partition in Windows? At the moment all my files are stored on a FAT partition so I can view it as a drive letter in Windows and mount it in Linux. I'd prefer to store my files in /home/tola/ and be able to view them from Windows when I need to. Any suggestions? -- Ben "tola" Francis 00101010 tola ^/. http://hippygeek.co.uk mailto:tola_at_imen.org.uk opinions expressed are of the voices in my head only

6 8

cordless mouse
by Syd Hancock 07 Dec '03

07 Dec '03

I'm thinking of getting a cordless mouse for the laptop. Has anyone here used one? From pictures, they seem to have a receiver at the laptop end, plugged into a usb port. Does this need to be line of site from the mouse? Also, is a purely h/w device or does it need drivers? TIA Syd

5 6

Re: [ALUG] Microsoft and schools
by Ben Francis 07 Dec '03

07 Dec '03

Chris Walker wrote: > Dennis also mentioned that he had used Acorn machines and so there may be a > link to Linux. There is a RISC OS desktop available for most distros of > Linux, SuSe and BSD at http://rox.sourceforge.net/phpwiki/ which might enable > a seemless link between those few Acorn machines that still reside in schools > and to any companies that might want to run it. Acorns? Well there are 200 Computers in my school and there is one Acorn computer left. It sits in the corner of my Linux Lab (8 Linux Boxen - I am trying!!) quietly (actually it's quite noisy) and nobody even knows it's there, apart from the head of Geography who doesn't use it any more. The Acorn runs 24/7 displaying readings from the remains of the weather reading equipment on the roof. There used to be a lot of Acorns running in the technology department about 4 or 5 years ago - they're all PCs running Windows these days. -- Ben "tola" Francis 00101010 tola ^/. http://hippygeek.co.uk mailto:tola_at_imen.org.uk opinions expressed are of the voices in my head only

1 0

Re: [ALUG] Microsoft and schools
by Dennis Dryden 07 Dec '03

07 Dec '03

On Sun, 2003-12-07 at 12:22, Chris Walker wrote: > Dennis also mentioned that he had used Acorn machines and so there may be a > link to Linux. There is a RISC OS desktop available for most distros of > Linux, SuSe and BSD at http://rox.sourceforge.net/phpwiki/ which might enable > a seemless link between those few Acorn machines that still reside in schools > and to any companies that might want to run it. > > I'm about to try it on my Mandrake 9.0 install although I'm typing this on a > genuine RISC OS machine. Well the few Acorns that were left were only used for one application(some old math program), so i don't think they wanted to get rid of the OS(along with the program). Maybe an emulator on a Linux Machine would be good but i don't see a Acorn running Linux + X and then running an emulator of itself. Seems like it would kill the old box'en. - Dennis Dryden

1 0

Re: [ALUG] Microsoft and schools
by Tarquin Mills 07 Dec '03

07 Dec '03

Chris Walker wrote: > On Sun 07 Dec, Tarquin Mills wrote: > > Ben Francis wrote: > > > It's also harder for schools to get cheap support for a Linux system. > > > Technicians who can just about cope with a Windows NT/2000 network and > > > keep the printers topped up with ink are easy to come by and > > > relatively cheap to employ. A Linux system adminstrator is not. > > I disagree, IT people are plentiful in Norwich, and as IT jobs become > > more and more scarce this going to more so. > > I'm with Ben on this one. Sorry Tarquin :-) > > My employer has thousands of Microsoft desktop machines and almost as many > problems seemingly. The 'midrange' team that support Sun boxes amongst > others are quite knowledgeable whereas I wouldn't describe the other > mob in the same way and as a service engineer for twenty years it's easy > for me to compare. That is not bit I disargeeing with, the bit I disargee with is that they cannot find a "cheap" Linux SysAdmin. -- Tarquin Mills RUNG (RISC OS Users, Norfolk Group) http://speccyverse.homedns.org/rung/ (running on RISC OS) New domain name coming soon http://***.***********.**.**/

1 0

Re: [ALUG] Microsoft and schools
by Craig 06 Dec '03

06 Dec '03

On 6 Dec 2003, at 11:15, Chris Walker wrote: >> You are right there. I just felt that I need to watch the show just to >> see what the BBC put together. It just seems that TV still never get >> the point across about computers in general etc. > > Such short memories but then since I don't know your age, it's entirely > possible that you weren't watching tv when the BBC did their series on > computers in the very late 70's and early 80's. That's when they > sponsored > the build of a computer - remember the BBC A and B models that were > everywhere, including most schools? I'm 24 ;) Okay, you're older than me heh. Yeah I remember those BBC computers.. old sk00l ;) > Sinclair were most upset when they weren't awarded the contract. > Instead it > went to Acorn who were visited by a certain Mr. Gates who tried to > sell them > his version of BASIC. They pointed out to him that theirs was quicker > and > could run on a network, to which he is quoted as asking 'what's a > network?' > so not much changes does it? Acorn are no more and Gates has ripped > off even > more ideas in the meantime. Wow. Bill Gates actually said that? Well well well.. there is no end to this. Frankly, Bill Gates is in fact a sales person more than a computer buff anyway. And a particularly evil one at that ;) C -- - Craig - http://www.wizball.co.uk "Simplicity, the best way to approach life"

1 0

Re: [ALUG] Microsoft and schools
by Wayne Stallwood 06 Dec '03

06 Dec '03

On Saturday 06 December 2003 11:18, Chris Walker wrote: > There is a third and final show new week comparing Tiger Woods and Beckham > <yawn> so you'll be able to find out then unless it gives out that > information on the BBC web site. The website is- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/worlds_most_powerful/ But I can't find any reference to a production company, can't bear to watch the next eposide, Tiger Woods should win but you just know it's going to be Beckham. Why Tiger Woods ... a. Google says so, "Tiger Woods" catches 1,370,000 pages, "David Beckham" catches 528,000. b. There is no David Beckham's football computer game, but I recall a couple of Tiger Woods golf games. See with five minutes of very scientific work I have saved the BBC the bother of airing this program. The Question is already answered. :o)

1 0

Microsoft and schools
by nick daniels 06 Dec '03

06 Dec '03

Microsoft boss Bill Gates has promoted laptops for pupils Schools across the UK could save up to £50m on Microsoft software over the next three years. The Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, said Microsoft had reached an agreement with the government's educational technology agency, Becta. "This kind of agreement shows the advantages in co-ordinated procurement for schools across the country." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3291279.stm Regards Nick Daniels

4 5

wi-fi in libraries plan
by Syd Hancock 06 Dec '03

06 Dec '03

Gov plans to make every library a wi-fi hotspot http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/34352.html Syd

3 4

SMTP daemon popularity
by MJ Ray 05 Dec '03

05 Dec '03

Can anyone direct me to figures about number of installations for the different SMTP daemons? I'm quite interested in estimated % share of sendmail, but other servers are also interesting. I don't think netcraft collect the numbers any more.

3 2

Re: [ALUG] Microsoft and schools
by Dave Briggs 05 Dec '03

05 Dec '03

On Friday 05 December 2003 09:16, Craig wrote: > Speaking about this.. anyone seen that show last night on BBC2? Bill > Gates 'won' ;) > > 'Bill Gates won because his software is everywhere' > > True however but I felt as always the BBC doesn't research far enough. I think these sort of programmes are a real waste of time, and don't actually teach us anything new. An obvious way to sort out who was more 'powerful' (however you define that) between Gates and Jobs would just to do a quick poll on who had heard of Gates, and who had heard of Jobs. Gates would be a clear winner, it would take 5 minutes and then we could get on with the rest of our lives. However, the whole exercise is fatuous in the extreme. On Dec 4 and 5 2003, nick daniels wrote: > Microsoft boss Bill Gates has promoted laptops for pupils > Schools across the UK could save up to £50m on Microsoft software over > the next three years. The Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, said > Microsoft had reached an agreement with the government's educational > technology agency, Becta. "This kind of agreement shows the advantages in > co-ordinated procurement for schools across the country." > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3291279.stm > > Sorry I meant to add on the bottom " how much would the > saving be if open source was adopted" Exactly. £50m saved must mean an awful lot more than that is being spent, which at the end of the day is our money, as taxpayers. They should ditch all propriatory software in schools, and switch to OSS. Part of the savings could be spent on providing hard up families with computers, again fully installed with OSS. The rest can be spent on (gasp) books. If kids at school are using the software, they will want to be able to use it at home. Sufficient numbers will then be clued up when they go into the workplace, and can help business save some money too. Dave

2 1

JOB Opportunities for C/C++ on linux
by Vasko Tomanov 05 Dec '03

05 Dec '03

Hi, The company where I work now search for 2-3 experienced Linux C/C++ developers. ( for multiplatform development) Do anyone search for new job ? Cheers Vasko Tomanov

1 0

EU guide to OSS migration
by Dave Briggs 05 Dec '03

05 Dec '03

Not sure if everyone has already seen this, if so, apologies. http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/ida/jsps/index.jsp?fuseAction=showDocument&parent… It's basically a guide by the EU for government bodies migrating from propriatory to open source software. The main document is a 150 page behemoth of a PDF, but I have scanned through it and seems to make sensible reading. They even provide a speadsheet to work out potential cost savings - and you can have in in OpenOffice.org format as well as Excel! True believers, clearly. I am starting a new job at a local council in the New Year and it will be interesting to find out in any discussions have been made about using OSS in their offices. With several governmental bodies on the continent (the Germans are quite keen, aren't they?) making the switch, it would be interesting to know how things are progressing in this country - especially in the wake of all of our rising council tax bills.... Dave

3 2

Re: [ALUG] EU guide to OSS migration
by Dave Briggs 05 Dec '03

05 Dec '03

On Dec 5 2003, MJ Ray wrote: > Some UK councils are moving over. The most high profile migration in > progress is probably SuSE's work with Nottingham City Council. There's a > press release that's more like an article at > http://www.suse.de/en/company/press/press_releases/archive03/nottingham_cit… A brilliant example of the way that OSS can be used to a) reduce costs long term and b) actually do a job *better* than propriatory solutions. I think any organisation that uses propriatory software on servers really must be a bit mental, these days. With more success stories like this, OSS will get more of a foothold in the consciousness of those behind IT policy in these organisations - I think a snowball effect would be highly likely: word would soon spread, especially about the cost savings. You never know, Linux might even end up on council office desktops! > and it featured in GLU&D issue 31 (SCO Erupts cover). I can't see it > online, but I can drop a copy of the article to you if you want. That would be interesting - maybe bring it to the KL meet in the New Year? Dave

1 0

A6 meeting notices
by MJ Ray 04 Dec '03

04 Dec '03

Last I was at the forum in Norwich, people seemed to like the small meeting notices, so I've turned them into templates, plugged them into a script and produced ones for the other venues: http://www.alug.org.uk/meetings/cards.ps.php?loc=NCH for Norwich http://www.alug.org.uk/meetings/cards.ps.php?loc=MID for Syleham It's fairly easy to add other venues as details appear, or update the above. Please get them out into shops, windows, noticeboards, etc. -- MJR/slef My Opinion Only and possibly not of any group I know. Please http://remember.to/edit_messages on lists to be sure I read http://mjr.towers.org.uk/ gopher://g.towers.org.uk/ slef(a)jabber.at Creative copyleft computing services via http://www.ttllp.co.uk/

25 115

Re: [ALUG] FOSS for Joe (was Hello There)
by Dave Briggs 04 Dec '03

04 Dec '03

On Dec 4 2003, Graham Trott wrote: > Capable, yes. Willing, not so sure. People who use Windows expect a > fully graphical approach to anything, whether it does the job better or > not. Once persuaded of the benefits of manual mark-up they're surely > capable, but if they're only doing lightweight HTML the problem is in > making that first step. Many Windows users regard Linux as "DOS but more > complicated" and therefore a retrograde step back from the wonderful > world of on-screen widgets. The way to tempt them in is to provide > familiar eye-candy, not lecture them with a stern, Spartan "Do it this > way, it's good for you". A good point. If Linux is to make the breakthrough to non-savvy desktop users, I suppose there has to be an equivalent application for everything that Windows has. Like you say, the lecture would put people off, I guess.

1 0

RE: [ALUG] cups server problem
by Jenny Hopkins 04 Dec '03

04 Dec '03

> >> Is the second machine listed in your /etc/exports.allow ? > > > > I thought that was only used for NFS? I think LPRng used hosts.lpd, > > but I > > don't know what CUPS uses. > > Me too. Cups is configured in /etc/cups/cupsd.conf on here, for > network (IPP) connections you need to change the allowed machines, > works very much in the same way as apache's set up as far as I can > see. > > Hope that gives a starting point. > > Cheers, > > Brett. Ah, I should have caught up on all my mails before replying. I've allowed everything in cupsd.conf, restarted the server, but can't print from either a windows samba share or a linux box on the same network: the requests are getting through but tail-ing the cups access/error log don't give clues, logging on full. The windows error is "permission denied", the linux box doens't give one. Both the win and linux are connecting as users I've set up on the server, as ordinary and samba users. I set my firewall to allow everything local in case that was the problem. Baffled, Jenny

3 2

RE: [ALUG] cups server problem
by Jenny Hopkins 04 Dec '03

04 Dec '03

> -----Original Message----- > From: Paul [mailto:bdi-emc@ntlworld.com] > Sent: 02 December 2003 17:36 > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Subject: Re: [ALUG] cups server problem > > > > Hi Jenny > > Is the second machine listed in your /etc/exports.allow ? > > Regards, Paul. > Oooooh, no! I'll try that when I get home, I've tried everything else.... Thanks, Jenny

1 0

Re: [ALUG] FOSS for Joe (was Hello There)
by Dave Briggs 04 Dec '03

04 Dec '03

On Dec 4 2003, MJ Ray wrote: > Anyway, a short recap of what I remember from the last discussion: > there are some GUI tools, but code editing gives the finest control. A > true "WYSIWYG [HTML] editor" is impossible. I think this is right. I hand code my websites, and I am *so* un-techy that I can't even get my soundcard to work in Linux. I have tried using Dreamweaver on a machine at work, and I have to say that it confused the hell out of me - I think it might actually be easier to hand code. I use gedit to edit my files - even bluefish etc manage to confuse me! There are loads of good HTML guides on the web, although often having a book in front of you helps. One of the reasons I like coding websites is that it is a really simple way of "programming" (I know, I know; I am using the term in it's loosest sense) a computer, and getting some good results. My advice would be: Give it a go! Dave

1 0

FOSS for Joe (was Hello There)
by Ben Francis 03 Dec '03

03 Dec '03

P.S. http://home.freeuk.com/losingtouch/pics/office_suicide.gif -- Ben "tola" Francis 00101010 tola ^/. http://hippygeek.co.uk mailto:tola_at_imen.org.uk opinions expressed are of the voices in my head only

1 0

Re: [ALUG] Video cards (or Names and topics)
by Edenyard 03 Dec '03

03 Dec '03

MJR wrote: > > Video cards that play DVDs? Actually the card? Not use a program? I > think you get the idea. > Well - maybe I've been labouring under a misapprehension all this time, but I've seen advertised some cards, such as this one: "GeForce2 MX400 AGP 64MB Graphics Accelerator - (blah, blah) Allows full-screen, full-frame DVD playback." Or there's this: "nVIDIA TNT2 M64 Graphic Accelerators - (blah, blah again) DVD playback using Power DVDXP4.0 with RCA composite and S-VHS outputs" I don't know whether quoting those two makes it any clearer why I've been asking my question, or whether I'm barking up some sort of a wrong tree. I assumed that proper DVD decoding (whatever that might be) needed more power than a CPU could give and so some sort of purpose-made hardware did the decoding. But why would a card's spec specifically talk about allowing full-screen DVD playback if the type of card had no bearing on this???? > > From http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html -- > "If you can't get an answer, please don't take it personally that we > don't feel we can help you. Soemtimes the members of the asked group > may simply not know the answer. No response is not the same as being > ignored" > Thanks for the reference - I'll go and find it next time I'm connected. Clearly, though, there have been (infinitely) more answers since I made my comment than before (ratio = 6:0) so I'm not sure that the sentence you quoted above explains why I didn't get a response before. Cheers, Gerald.

3 2

Kernel Bug found at root of Debian's Compromised Servers
by Wayne Stallwood 03 Dec '03

03 Dec '03

http://lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/debian-security-announce-2… Patches available for 2.4.18 2.4.23 and 2.6.0-test6 onwards are unaffected.

4 3

RE: [ALUG] cups server problem
by Jenny Hopkins 03 Dec '03

03 Dec '03

Wayne Stallwood wrote: > > Not a CUPS expert by any means, but this sounds like a > flaky/incorrect printer > driver to me. > > What printer and CUPS driver are you using ? > Hi, The posts on this arrived after I left work yesterday, but I had another go last night and got it working. I think what *may* have happened is that because I'd been initially faffing about with various drivers/ports/settings the parallel port had got into an unhappy state. So when I then thought it should work as I'd got the settings correct (Epson Stylus C70, driver something like cups-2.4-gimp-something, /dev/lp0) it still kept spitting out nonsense. In the end a reboot cured it and it printed me a glorious test page. I then spent a while trying to print to it from a second linux box; I could see the request was getting through to the server by watching the output to the logfiles, but it seemed unhappy with "get_printer_attr" - "no good!" type errors. It'll be something silly somewhere. Thanks, Jenny

4 3

Advice required on CD burning software
by Nick Heppleston 02 Dec '03

02 Dec '03

Morning all, Starting to get into the world of creating my own CD's and as my new laptop doesn't have a floppy drive, I need to start writing data CD's. Can anybody recommend CD-writing software (and CD-RW software if there is a difference) for Linux? I run Gentoo over a blistering 56k dial-up modem so am looking for a few recommendations before I unleash the power of the modem ;-) Cheers, Nick -- Nick Heppleston 07989 581766 | nickheppleston(a)gmx.co.uk The Funky PC - http://www.thefunkypc.biz

6 5

Re: Playing DVDs with Linux using Ogle
by Richard Lewis 02 Dec '03

02 Dec '03

> I thought I would have a go at trying to get my PC to play DVDs this weekend > so I done an apt-get install ogle-mmx ogle-gui then ran install-css.sh and > linked /dev/dvd to /dev/hdc. > Why not just link to someting more obvious? # ln -s /dev/cdrom /dev/dvd > If I type "ogle" I get the ogle gui appear When I first started using Ogle I used to use it on the cmd line: $ ogle -u cli I remeber I often had to issue this command about 3 or 4 times and eventually it just worked. > However if I then click on FILE and OPEN DSC the following appears: > > libdvdcss error: failed opening device > libdvdread: Can't open /dev/dvd for reading. Do you know what version of libdvdcss, libdvdread and libdvdplay you have installed? Get the latest versions and make sure they're installed properly and with --prefix=/usr. They has quite a few dependencies so make sure they're all installed as well. http://developers.videolan.org/ (You may have to compile you're own versions of these; I don't know whether they're [libdvdcss] in Debian or not and I can't check because packages.debian.org is still down!) Cheers, Richard

2 1