Linux for the populace

THIS TIME NetSpeak features a Linux distribution that has been created to help ordinary netizens discover the potential of the open-source operating system, Linux.

Whatever be the state of disputes/controversies that surround the open-source/free software movement, it has become an undeniable fact of life. Many organisations/governments have already taken decisions favouring the adoption of open-source (OS) programs for implementing various IT applications. More than being a cost-effective method for implementing IT solutions, the significance of the OS movement lies in the 'freedom' it gives to the end-users.

OS products give you more control as all their details are open unlike proprietary products that hide all essentials from the user. A notable feature of an open source product is that a person or group with the required skills can create a new product by altering/modifying the existing code.

Linux flavours

Quite likely you would have heard of Linux, the gem of the open-source movement. The free availability of all details of Linux to the public has led to the creation of several Linux shades by individuals, groups and companies. Thus, we have Linux flavours such as Red Hat Linux (http://www.redhat.com/), Debian GNU/Linux (http://www.debian.org/), Slackware Linux (http://www.slackware. com/) and so on. Check out the link: http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/linux-distrib.html for a list of Linux distributions.

But one drawback of many of these products is that to install it on your machine you need to be a little tech-savvy, especially if you are a Windows user who wants to keep the existing set-up in tact. Therefore, in the absence of necessary skills/resources, many netizens, who are keen to enter the exciting world of Linux, shy away from it.

There is thus the need for a version of Linux that can be deployed easily by person without the requisite technical skills — a Linux version for the common man. The free software DyneBolic GNU/Linux is one such product.

DyneBolic GNU/Linux

DyneBolic GNU/Linux is a customised GNU/Linux operating system that is bootable from your CD. Even if you do not have a hard disk you can run DyneBolic on your PC. The beauty of this system is that you need to know nothing about the usual `Operating System' installation steps such as hard disk partitioning, network configuration and the like. To start `DyneBolic' on your machine, just make your PC bootable from the CD drive and slip the DyneBolic CD into the CD drive while booting the system.

During the booting stage DyneBolic will automatically recognise almost all peripheral devices installed on your PC such as like sound, video and network cards. If you are already on Intranet or cable Net link, DyneBolic automatically recognises the link, configures the network parameters and keeps your machine connected to the Intranet/Net.

Setting-up

First you need to download the software, available at the DyneBolic (http://www.dynebolic.org/) site as a CD image file. After downloading the image file, it has to be burned to a CD. Your CD writer software will certainly have the option to burn an image file to a CD. Once the image file is burned to the CD, insert it into the CD drive and restart the machine.

After a few seconds you will see the installation messages scrolling on your display. If everything went smoothly, your system would come live with the GNU/Linux OS and you will be taken to the `DyneBolic' graphical interface screen.

Another important point to note is that the system will mount the various partitions of your hard disk on the directory "/vol'' — this will help you store files/documents on to the local hard disk.

Once you are on the DyneBolic system, many useful programs — of course free — will be available to you. To access these programs loaded with the system, invoke the menu by right clicking on the desktop. The menu will present the list of programs installed/configured on your system. For example, if you want to do some word processing, select the `TEXT' option, and then access the type of `text processor' you need. Through this option you can access programs such as Abiword (a word processor), Bluefish (an HTML editor) and Nedit (a plain text editor)

Now, if you want to access different Net services that include Web, E-mail and FTP, access the NET option. If you are on an Intranet, you can access other machines linked to the local network using the `Share' option available under the `NET' menu. This way, you can compose a file from the Linux system and directly store it on the hard disk of another machine in your network neighbourhood.

Apart from enabling you to access various packages mentioned above, the system automatically places many Linux utilities and several multimedia programs at your disposal.

We have seen many alert tools that regularly scan our preferred information/message sources and notify us on the new information and messages posted on them. WatzNew (http://www.watznew.com) is another product of this kind worth evaluating. This alert tool periodically examines specified web sites/mailboxes, collects all the new content/messages from those sources, combines and presents them in a single interface. You can either download a trial version of the latest version of WatzNew or download its old version, which is available for free (http://www.watznew.com/download -freeware.html#free-1-6).

7-Zip: A file archiver

A file `archiver' — a program that can create/extract file archives (multiple files bundled into a single compressed file) — is an essential tool for anyone who regularly uses the Net for exchanging resources. As multiple files are combined/compressed into one archival file we do not have to worry about managing the component files separately.

Many Net resources are available in various archival formats that include Zip, CAB, TAR and ARJ. Though many archival programs are available most of them are priced or shareware. Here is a free open-source file archival tool that provides support for a range of compression formats like 7z, RPM, CPIO, ZIP and so on. Another highlight of the software is the File Manager component that allows you to manipulate files and folders. For more details, check out:

J. Murali

Email the author at:
murali27@satyam.net.in

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