Linux free, easy & secure
Network and internet
One of Linux’s long-standing strengths is its networking capabilities. With its robust and high-performance network stack and its compliance to standards, Linux runs on routers and firewalls in the most critical of environments, and hosts many of the world’s busiest websites.
On a modest PC, this same software gives you access to the internet through a local network or modem, and applications allow you to share files, browse the web, stream audio and video, and more.
Network cards
Almost all Ethernet network interface cards (Nics) are well supported under Linux. These include the onboard network interfaces found on most modern motherboards.
The same applies to external dial-up serial modems. With the world moving to broadband, these are becoming less common, but are still important for many.
Support for USB network hardware can vary: for example, the dial-up modem on most mobile phones will work without any issues, but some external USB modems will not.
With USB broadband modems, there are also problems; often, drivers can be downloaded and installed to make them work, but it is not the easiest of tasks.
The internal dial-up modems found in many PCs can also present problems, and support for these can vary between distributions. If you rely on USB hardware or internal modems to connect to the internet, it may be worth checking before installing, or trying alternative, up-to-date distributions.
Broadband
For broadband access, the easiest choice by a long way is to use an external broadband modem/router. These units connect to your PC via an Ethernet connection and, as such, do not need to be supported by the operating system itself.
What’s more, the internet connection is made by the unit rather than the PC, so your PC does not have to remain switched on to maintain the connection: us eful when more than one computer needs to access the internet.
As long as the hardware is recognised and supported, configuration is usually automatically performed by the Linux distribution.
If your router provides network addresses by DHCP, normally you will not have to do anything to get up and running. Most provide tools to configure network access, including setting a static IP address or configuring multiple interfaces.
Linux supports many network protocols and applications. You can access Windows network shares using the Samba package, which comes installed on most distributions.
In the KDE desktop, support for Samba is built into the file/web browser, allowing you to browse shares on Windows, OSX, or other Unix and Linux systems.
Support for traditional Unix file services is also provided, including NFS (network file system), most commonly used by commercial Unix systems.
On the application side, there are multiple web browsers, FTP clients, instant messaging and VoIP (Voice over IP) programs, Bit Torrent downloaders, and so forth.
Wireless networking
Wireless connectivity has until lately been rather a struggle because of the lack of drivers from manufacturers. Some have made specifications or drivers available, including Intel and Ralink, and these drivers have filtered through to distributions over the past couple of years.
A good way to see if your wireless network card or USB device is supported is to plug it into a live CD-based distribution. If your wireless network uses encryption, bear in mind that some distributions still only offer graphical configuration for Wep encryption and not WPA.
These can be configured to work with WPA, but may require manual changes. Support for Bluetooth file transfers is good, and both KDE and Gnome have utilities to manage the protocol.
Linux has enterprise-standard routing and firewall capabilities and, as such, it can be tricky to configure and set up without assistance. There are a number of tools for configuring these; some are supplied by the distribution vendor and others by a third party.
Some of the larger vendors, including Suse and Mandriva, provide central administration tools with easy-to-use controls for setting up networking. For other distributions, a utility such as the free Firestarter may come in handy.
Applications
A typical Linux distribution differs from Windows in that, while Windows is supplied as a bare operating system with a few token basic utilities, Linux comes with a wealth of applications, games and server software.
What you get depends on the distribution, as does how to install extra supported software. Some software is almost a given. Open Office is the omnipresent office suite. Compatible with Microsoft Office, it is being adopted by businesses and governments.
Recently its file format, an open equivalent of Word’s doc format, became an international standard. For web browsing, Firefox is available and, as with Open Office, differs from the Windows version only in its appearance.
Other applications will vary depending on whether the desktop is Gnome or KDE. Kopete and Gaim, two instant-messaging applications, are compatible with just about all the IM protocols.
Amarok can manage all your music files and leaves Itunes far behind – the latest version can manage iPods and other digital players. Digikam and f-spot can organise images.
For server software, the list includes all the standard software on which the internet runs: the Apache web server, Perl, PHP and Python, the MySQL database, and major commercial applications such as Oracle and DB2.
Software installation used to be laborious and frustrating, but package management has developed considerably in recent years. The ‘apt’ system used by Debian, Ubuntu and some other distributions lets you install any supplied package (and there are hundreds fully supported) with just a couple of mouse clicks.
With such large collections of software provided by the distributions, it is usually unnecessary to go elsewhere for downloads.
Due to US software patents, distributions rarely provide applications or libraries affected by them, even in areas where software patents do not exist (such as Europe). This is especially true of multimedia codecs, including the omnipresent Mp3 and video codecs such as Mpeg2.
Although the distributions will not supply the software preinstalled, most give clear instructions on how to install the software yourself.
DVD playback also presents an issue, because video DVDs are encrypted so only licensed players can play them back, which is impossible with open-source video players.
Circumvention is available through the libdvdcss library; this is illegal in the US, but not in Europe. The American-led legal case against the code was rejected in Norway, and again on appeal, and the library is available to download free.
Note that libdvdcss does not circumvent any DVD copy protection; it merely allows you to play back region-coded DVDs. You should also be aware that you will be legally responsible for paying any necessary royalty and/or licensing fees required by the patent holders for the playback of mpeg-encoded material.
Hardware support for Linux
Linux supports almost all types of hardware and peripherals you will find on a typical PC. These include all the standard things, such as DVD writers, graphics, network and sound cards, floppy and Zip drives and USB storage devices, digital cameras, and lots more.
The majority of drivers are already contained in the Linux kernel (the core operating system) and will be automatically recognised and configured without any downloads or manual intervention.
Much of the driver support comes from third-party developers rather than manufacturers themselves, which regularly release drivers only for Windows.
This can mean that some older hardware is supported under Linux but not under Windows XP; unfortunately, it can also mean that some hardware is not supported under Linux at all.
This generally only occurs when a manufacturer refuses to release drivers for Linux or even the basic information needed by others to write them. The main problem area is with internal ‘winmodems’ (or soft modems) and USB broadband modems.
A broadband Ethernet-connected router is recommended for use with Linux, as these will work perfectly. Or, if you need to use a dial-up modem, ideally use an external serial one. Wireless network cards have also been a problem in the past, but the situation here is rapidly improving.
Specialised distributions
The major distributions are all geared around running Linux on a typical home or office PC or on a PC server, and come with a large selection of available applications and server software.
Of course, not everybody wants this: there are different reasons for running Linux. As a result there are specialised distributions that pop up all the time, and some become popular and endure as niche products.
The most common of these are the ‘live CDs’, which allow you to boot Linux without installing anything onto a hard drive; indeed, a hard drive is not even necessary to get them running.
Some of the larger ones use heavy compression on the CD to give quite a substantial system, others are small enough to fit onto a business card sized CD or a bootable USB pen drive.
Similar to the live CDs are the rescue distributions. These are designed to recover PCs from problems such as booting or file-system corruption. Since Linux can access Windows partitions, they can be useful in recovering data from an unbootable Windows PC, too.
Common installation problems
Problem: Windows takes up the whole disk and the installation program cannot resize the partition.
Solution: Repartition the disk using Gparted or another ‘live’ CD. Alternatively, repartition with Windows software. If Windows is not needed, delete the Windows partition altogether (but this will destroy all files on it).
Problem: The installation programs allow me to resize the partition, but I can reduce it only by a small amount.
Solution: You have too many files on your Windows partition. Delete some large files and try again.
Problem: Should I put the bootloader on the MBR or the root partition?
Solution: If the root partition is a primary partition (numbered 1 to 4) you can safely put the bootloader onto it. You must then mark that partition as active in order for the Bios to locate and start the bootloader.
Problem: I don’t know which software to choose during installation.
Solution: Pick the standard desktop installation option. You can always add software later. Or use a distribution such as Ubuntu, which comes with carefully selected applications chosen for you.
Is Linux really safer than Windows ?
A common incentive to use Linux over Windows is the extra security. But does this really exist?
Linux and Windows are architecturally very different. The way programs are run and designed tends to make the environment generally quite safe in Linux.
The open nature of Linux also means that security problems are regularly recognised and fixed, often within hours, whereas in Windows, these problems can go unfixed for months.
Many of the Windows trojans and viruses that exist are designed to use features of the Windows operating system that do not exist in Linux and never will.
It is a common belief that Linux’s security comes from it being far less widespread than Windows on the desktop, making it an unappealing target.
Arguably, it could be said that virus developers do not think this way: a security hole in Linux or its applications is just as much a target.
Most Linux systems run only the internet services you choose. With some, such as Ubuntu, that means as standard there are no services running at all. This makes the need for a firewall somewhat redundant; an analogy is someone with a house with no windows worrying about installing window locks.
Common services that do run are regularly scrutinised and updated for any security exploits, and when vulnerabilities are found they are often just theoretical. Ultimately, while it is never wise to be complacent, running Linux means leaving the worry of viruses and spyware behind.
Top 10 distributions
With so many distributions available, which one should you choose? Everybody has their own preferences as to what makes a good distribution, and a glance at the Linux-related websites will show these disagreements can get heated.
One way to gauge the popularity of a distribution is to look at the distrowatch.com website, which orders the top 100 distributions based on the average number of page hits per day.
The list below shows the standings at the time of writing. Ubuntu has become the most talked about distribution, and is a good choice whether you’re new to Linux or an expert.
1. Ubuntu
2. Suse
3. Mandriva
4. Fedora
5. Mepis
6. Debian
7. Damn Small Linux
8. Knoppix
9. Gentoo
10. Slackware
Linux resources
Info on distributions
Pressed CD retailers/distributors
http://linuxiso.co.uk
http://linuxexporium.co.uk
http://www.tuxdiscs.co.uk
ISO Recorder (Windows)
Firestarter Firewall
Linux News
http://linux.slashdot.org
http://lwn.net
Source : PCW.co.uk
Network and internet
One of Linux’s long-standing strengths is its networking capabilities. With its robust and high-performance network stack and its compliance to standards, Linux runs on routers and firewalls in the most critical of environments, and hosts many of the world’s busiest websites.
On a modest PC, this same software gives you access to the internet through a local network or modem, and applications allow you to share files, browse the web, stream audio and video, and more.
Network cards
Almost all Ethernet network interface cards (Nics) are well supported under Linux. These include the onboard network interfaces found on most modern motherboards.
The same applies to external dial-up serial modems. With the world moving to broadband, these are becoming less common, but are still important for many.
Support for USB network hardware can vary: for example, the dial-up modem on most mobile phones will work without any issues, but some external USB modems will not.
With USB broadband modems, there are also problems; often, drivers can be downloaded and installed to make them work, but it is not the easiest of tasks.
The internal dial-up modems found in many PCs can also present problems, and support for these can vary between distributions. If you rely on USB hardware or internal modems to connect to the internet, it may be worth checking before installing, or trying alternative, up-to-date distributions.
Broadband
For broadband access, the easiest choice by a long way is to use an external broadband modem/router. These units connect to your PC via an Ethernet connection and, as such, do not need to be supported by the operating system itself.
What’s more, the internet connection is made by the unit rather than the PC, so your PC does not have to remain switched on to maintain the connection: us eful when more than one computer needs to access the internet.
As long as the hardware is recognised and supported, configuration is usually automatically performed by the Linux distribution.
If your router provides network addresses by DHCP, normally you will not have to do anything to get up and running. Most provide tools to configure network access, including setting a static IP address or configuring multiple interfaces.
Linux supports many network protocols and applications. You can access Windows network shares using the Samba package, which comes installed on most distributions.
In the KDE desktop, support for Samba is built into the file/web browser, allowing you to browse shares on Windows, OSX, or other Unix and Linux systems.
Support for traditional Unix file services is also provided, including NFS (network file system), most commonly used by commercial Unix systems.
On the application side, there are multiple web browsers, FTP clients, instant messaging and VoIP (Voice over IP) programs, Bit Torrent downloaders, and so forth.
Wireless networking
Wireless connectivity has until lately been rather a struggle because of the lack of drivers from manufacturers. Some have made specifications or drivers available, including Intel and Ralink, and these drivers have filtered through to distributions over the past couple of years.
A good way to see if your wireless network card or USB device is supported is to plug it into a live CD-based distribution. If your wireless network uses encryption, bear in mind that some distributions still only offer graphical configuration for Wep encryption and not WPA.
These can be configured to work with WPA, but may require manual changes. Support for Bluetooth file transfers is good, and both KDE and Gnome have utilities to manage the protocol.
Linux has enterprise-standard routing and firewall capabilities and, as such, it can be tricky to configure and set up without assistance. There are a number of tools for configuring these; some are supplied by the distribution vendor and others by a third party.
Some of the larger vendors, including Suse and Mandriva, provide central administration tools with easy-to-use controls for setting up networking. For other distributions, a utility such as the free Firestarter may come in handy.
Applications
A typical Linux distribution differs from Windows in that, while Windows is supplied as a bare operating system with a few token basic utilities, Linux comes with a wealth of applications, games and server software.
What you get depends on the distribution, as does how to install extra supported software. Some software is almost a given. Open Office is the omnipresent office suite. Compatible with Microsoft Office, it is being adopted by businesses and governments.
Recently its file format, an open equivalent of Word’s doc format, became an international standard. For web browsing, Firefox is available and, as with Open Office, differs from the Windows version only in its appearance.
Other applications will vary depending on whether the desktop is Gnome or KDE. Kopete and Gaim, two instant-messaging applications, are compatible with just about all the IM protocols.
Amarok can manage all your music files and leaves Itunes far behind – the latest version can manage iPods and other digital players. Digikam and f-spot can organise images.
For server software, the list includes all the standard software on which the internet runs: the Apache web server, Perl, PHP and Python, the MySQL database, and major commercial applications such as Oracle and DB2.
Software installation used to be laborious and frustrating, but package management has developed considerably in recent years. The ‘apt’ system used by Debian, Ubuntu and some other distributions lets you install any supplied package (and there are hundreds fully supported) with just a couple of mouse clicks.
With such large collections of software provided by the distributions, it is usually unnecessary to go elsewhere for downloads.
Due to US software patents, distributions rarely provide applications or libraries affected by them, even in areas where software patents do not exist (such as Europe). This is especially true of multimedia codecs, including the omnipresent Mp3 and video codecs such as Mpeg2.
Although the distributions will not supply the software preinstalled, most give clear instructions on how to install the software yourself.
DVD playback also presents an issue, because video DVDs are encrypted so only licensed players can play them back, which is impossible with open-source video players.
Circumvention is available through the libdvdcss library; this is illegal in the US, but not in Europe. The American-led legal case against the code was rejected in Norway, and again on appeal, and the library is available to download free.
Note that libdvdcss does not circumvent any DVD copy protection; it merely allows you to play back region-coded DVDs. You should also be aware that you will be legally responsible for paying any necessary royalty and/or licensing fees required by the patent holders for the playback of mpeg-encoded material.
Hardware support for Linux
Linux supports almost all types of hardware and peripherals you will find on a typical PC. These include all the standard things, such as DVD writers, graphics, network and sound cards, floppy and Zip drives and USB storage devices, digital cameras, and lots more.
The majority of drivers are already contained in the Linux kernel (the core operating system) and will be automatically recognised and configured without any downloads or manual intervention.
Much of the driver support comes from third-party developers rather than manufacturers themselves, which regularly release drivers only for Windows.
This can mean that some older hardware is supported under Linux but not under Windows XP; unfortunately, it can also mean that some hardware is not supported under Linux at all.
This generally only occurs when a manufacturer refuses to release drivers for Linux or even the basic information needed by others to write them. The main problem area is with internal ‘winmodems’ (or soft modems) and USB broadband modems.
A broadband Ethernet-connected router is recommended for use with Linux, as these will work perfectly. Or, if you need to use a dial-up modem, ideally use an external serial one. Wireless network cards have also been a problem in the past, but the situation here is rapidly improving.
Specialised distributions
The major distributions are all geared around running Linux on a typical home or office PC or on a PC server, and come with a large selection of available applications and server software.
Of course, not everybody wants this: there are different reasons for running Linux. As a result there are specialised distributions that pop up all the time, and some become popular and endure as niche products.
The most common of these are the ‘live CDs’, which allow you to boot Linux without installing anything onto a hard drive; indeed, a hard drive is not even necessary to get them running.
Some of the larger ones use heavy compression on the CD to give quite a substantial system, others are small enough to fit onto a business card sized CD or a bootable USB pen drive.
Similar to the live CDs are the rescue distributions. These are designed to recover PCs from problems such as booting or file-system corruption. Since Linux can access Windows partitions, they can be useful in recovering data from an unbootable Windows PC, too.
Common installation problems
Problem: Windows takes up the whole disk and the installation program cannot resize the partition.
Solution: Repartition the disk using Gparted or another ‘live’ CD. Alternatively, repartition with Windows software. If Windows is not needed, delete the Windows partition altogether (but this will destroy all files on it).
Problem: The installation programs allow me to resize the partition, but I can reduce it only by a small amount.
Solution: You have too many files on your Windows partition. Delete some large files and try again.
Problem: Should I put the bootloader on the MBR or the root partition?
Solution: If the root partition is a primary partition (numbered 1 to 4) you can safely put the bootloader onto it. You must then mark that partition as active in order for the Bios to locate and start the bootloader.
Problem: I don’t know which software to choose during installation.
Solution: Pick the standard desktop installation option. You can always add software later. Or use a distribution such as Ubuntu, which comes with carefully selected applications chosen for you.
Is Linux really safer than Windows ?
A common incentive to use Linux over Windows is the extra security. But does this really exist?
Linux and Windows are architecturally very different. The way programs are run and designed tends to make the environment generally quite safe in Linux.
The open nature of Linux also means that security problems are regularly recognised and fixed, often within hours, whereas in Windows, these problems can go unfixed for months.
Many of the Windows trojans and viruses that exist are designed to use features of the Windows operating system that do not exist in Linux and never will.
It is a common belief that Linux’s security comes from it being far less widespread than Windows on the desktop, making it an unappealing target.
Arguably, it could be said that virus developers do not think this way: a security hole in Linux or its applications is just as much a target.
Most Linux systems run only the internet services you choose. With some, such as Ubuntu, that means as standard there are no services running at all. This makes the need for a firewall somewhat redundant; an analogy is someone with a house with no windows worrying about installing window locks.
Common services that do run are regularly scrutinised and updated for any security exploits, and when vulnerabilities are found they are often just theoretical. Ultimately, while it is never wise to be complacent, running Linux means leaving the worry of viruses and spyware behind.
Top 10 distributions
With so many distributions available, which one should you choose? Everybody has their own preferences as to what makes a good distribution, and a glance at the Linux-related websites will show these disagreements can get heated.
One way to gauge the popularity of a distribution is to look at the distrowatch.com website, which orders the top 100 distributions based on the average number of page hits per day.
The list below shows the standings at the time of writing. Ubuntu has become the most talked about distribution, and is a good choice whether you’re new to Linux or an expert.
1. Ubuntu
2. Suse
3. Mandriva
4. Fedora
5. Mepis
6. Debian
7. Damn Small Linux
8. Knoppix
9. Gentoo
10. Slackware
Linux resources
Info on distributions
Pressed CD retailers/distributors
http://linuxiso.co.uk
http://linuxexporium.co.uk
http://www.tuxdiscs.co.uk
ISO Recorder (Windows)
Firestarter Firewall
Linux News
http://linux.slashdot.org
http://lwn.net
Source : PCW.co.uk
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