Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Could anybody tell me what's the big difference between linux and windows?

Q. Our office has purchased windows programs with license. Our administrator, however, insist to use linux?

A. Carl P's answer is very good, however there is something which a lot of people don't talk about. Windows evolved from MS-DOS (which itself was a port of CP-M) and conceptually still owes an AWFUL lot to it, even though microcomputers have changed so radically there probably isn't that much code yet.

In fact, we almost never use the term microcomputer for desktops any more. They aren't microcomputers. Microcomputers had a far simpler chip architecture than other computers and Windows had to accommodate this.

MS-Dos evolved on and for independent computers which did not connect with each other by default. These computers were often very simple, and didn't have the resources for forking and other basic things which UNIX used. The first GCC compiler for MS-Dos/Windows came about when D. J. Delorie heard Richard Stallman (who wrote GCC) give a speech where he discussed why he didn't think DOS would ever get a port. Delorie certainly had the right to, but Stallman didn't think it was possible till djgpp proved him wrong.

UNIX, since it was so widely used for networking (the Internet pretty much developed on it and it evolved with it) was and is a modular operating system with programs which work together regardless of what architecture they are compiled for.

As microprocessors started to get sophisticated enough to do things like fork(), Linus Torvalds wrote a kernel of an operating system which would run UNIX programs on the 386 and up microprocessors. Programs like X-Windows, which is what drives Ubuntu desktops and which you will see older versions of on films from Nasa and Carnegie-Mellon as far back as 1987.

There are a lot of profound differences which can be summarized as: Windows is an OS based on MS-DOS which is intended for consumers. Not users, consumers. That's why the hardware demands are so heavy and why Vista was expected to spur hardware sales then didn't. All their design choices are based on that fact and they are so willing to limit your choices that it doesn't provide a very good development environment. It's no wonder your administrator would prefer Linux.

A typical example of what I'm talking about. There was a recent email from Microsoft to the Blender Open Source project -- a three-dimensional animation project which began life as in-house software for an Amsterdam animation house. I don't know what inspired this, other than their efforts to encourage people to develop specifically for windows, but they were trying to get them to do that and talked up two features -- OOXML which has absolutely nothing to do with animation -- and DirectX which is so Windows-specific it makes it hard for programs which render with it to run on MacOS or Solaris or other operating systems.

And that is precisely important. To use two Linux-specific examples, a recent film sponsered by the Blender Foundation (and available for free at http://www.bigbuckbunny.org ) made to show off what the program can do was rendered on a network of Ubuntu boxes. A small, eccentric but neat Linux distro called dyne:bolic (for media activists) has specific documentation for Blender, but instead of talking about animation it discusses setting up networks to render the animations which somebody does.

Ubuntu markets itself as an OS for consumers. What it really is is the UNIX Development Desktop with a Linux kernel and a bunch of scripts and hacks which make it reasonably useful for consumers and the Computer-illiterate. Compare it to a Sun Solaris desktop and you will see what I mean.

Microsoft is a consumer oriented desktop. As such it is focusing more and more on OSes for computers with the latest hardware and unlimited broadband internet connections (since the nineties many of its programs have attempted to access the net with or without the User's permission). That's the bottom line -- there are downsides to Microsoft's approach the company does not discuss at all. And it has made Ubuntu very attractive to a lot of people.

But as an engineer your administrator probably prefers Linux because of the control it gives him over his own machine. Windows Machines, through required patches and validations, are controlled by Redmond. The motto of the free software movement is "free as in freedom, not as in beer."

Which is the best resource for Studying Networking From the Basics?
Q. Which is the best book / website from Studying Networking, so as to build a rock solid foundation.

A. I'm not sure about websites, but this book is AWESOME:

"Practical TCP/IP: Designing, Using, and Troubleshooting TCP/IP Networks on Linux and Windows"

I highly recommend it for the absolute beginner and networking-veterans. It describes *everything* in great detail, including troubleshooting tips and tools. It has screenshots and sample outputs for both Unix and Windows network tools and tons of insights from the author who's job was to troubleshoot and fix simple and complex networks.

The best part is, he teaches by example. You set up little networks and slowly grow their features and nodes.

Can you install Linux to PS3 from PS3 Hard Drive?
Q. I know Linux can be downloaded to a memory stick or burned to CD Rom and installed on PS3, but I don't have a CPU to do such.

I'm curious if theres a way to download the Linux install to the PS3 Hard Drive and install it from there?

A. A Guide to Installing
YELLOW DOG LINUX 5.0.1
for PLAYSTATION 3
by Terra Soft Solutions, Inc.
Loveland, Colorado

INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing Yellow Dog Linux!
When Sony Computer Entertainment designed the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3â¢), it
was fully intended that you, a PS3 owner could play games, watch movies, view
photos, listen to music, and run a full-featured Linux operating system that
transforms your PS3 into a home computer.
Yellow Dog Linux for PS3 combines a simple to use graphical installer with
leading-edge components and a foundation of must-have home, office, and
server applications. Everything you need to browse the web, check and
compose email, do your school homework or take your office work home is
included with more than 2000 packages on the Install DVD.
And what's more, Yellow Dog Linux is 100% open-source, meaning the source
code to every component is freely available so that if you desire to improve one
or more applications, you may do so at your choosing. This contribution back
to the open-source community leads to the improvement of Linux software
worldwide.
It's a system that has worked for more than 15 years, continuing to grow in
both quality and users every year. Linux is collectively one of the top operating
systems in use worldwide. Terra Soft is proud to be a part of this with a Fedora
Core, RPM based Yellow Dog Linux.
This Guide to Installation
This Guide to Installation is written specifically for the Sony Computer
Entertainment PLAYSTATION®3. This Guide does not offer instructions specific
to other computers (ie: Apple Power Macintosh) supported by Yellow Dog
Linux. Installation instructions for other computers are available from Terra
Soft's website.
Refer to www.terrasoftsolutions.com/support/ for updates, issues specific with
unique computer configurations, and engineering notes.
Where is Yellow Dog Linux Installed?
The drive installed in your PS3 ships with just one large partition, a logical
division of the drive into unique sectors for the organization and protection of
data.
Before you install Yellow Dog Linux, you will use the PS3 GameOS to split the
drive into 2 major partitions: one for saving game data, music, and photos; the
other for Yellow Dog Linux.
In this respect, both the GameOS and Yellow Dog Linux maintain their own
unique volumes on which to store data.
Two Operating Systems on my PS3?
Following the installation of Yellow Dog Linux on your PS3, there will be 2
operating systems: the GameOS and Yellow Dog Linux (YDL).
The GameOS is the operating system that ships pre-installed on PS3. It is also
referred to as a hypervisor, an operating system that provides a channel of
communication between the outside world (you, your game controller, the
monitor) and the built-in hardware (CPU, motherboard, RAM, hard drive, and
I/O ports).
When you use the on-screen menus, play a game, watch a movie, or listen to
music, you are doing so through the GameOS. Yellow Dog Linux runs on top of
the GameOS which provides an important communication between Linux and
the hardware.
Even if this sounds a bit technical, it is important as the GameOS provides a
layer of continuity for Linux, making the development and maintenance of Linux
for PS3 a more predictable process. This means you will enjoy a higher quality,
higher performance Linux operating system.
We hope you enjoy Yellow Dog Linux for PS3 and we look
forward to receiving your feedback.
Please visit us at www.terrasoftsolutions.com
1

PREPARATION
The Yellow Dog Linux Install DVD
Either remove the Install DVD from the Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) package or
prepare the Install DVD-R via a download and burn.
YDL may be purchased from the Terra Soft Store:
www.terrasoftsolutions.com/store/
... or via select retail stores worldwide (see Terra Soft's website for details).
YDL may also be downloaded via YDL.net Enhanced accounts which provide a
dedicated server for early access and Installation Support or from the public
FTP mirrors (made available two weeks after the physical product ships).
PS3 Preparation
There are just a few things you must do with your PS3 before it is prepared to
install Yellow Dog Linux.
1. Attach your PS3 to a hi-definition TV or monitor using an HDMI (digital)
or Component (5 RCA jacks) cable. Composite (yellow RCA jack) is not
supported as the resolution is too low.
2. Attach the game controller, a USB keyboard and mouse to your PS3. The
game controller will be used to conduct all GameOS functions. The USB
keyboard and mouse will be used once you enter the YDL installer.
3. Power on your PS3. If this is the first time you have used your PS3, you
will be prompted to Select a language, Select a time zone, Set the time &
date, and Set the username (more easily done with a USB keyboard).
4. If you have used your PS3, BACK UP ALL GAME, MUSIC, & PHOTO DATA
before formatting the drive as all data will be lost.
5. Select: Settings ==> System Settings ==> Format Utility ==>
Format Hard Disk ==> Yes ==> Yes
6. Then select a partition setting for the hard disk: Custom
7. You will be presented with option to "Allot 10GB to the Other OS" or
"Allot 10GB to the PS3 System." If your PS3 has a 20GB drive and you
select 10GB for the PS3 System, this leaves roughly 6.5GB for Linux (not
enough for a full install, but ample for the default YDL install).
8. Your PS3 will now format its internal drive.
9. Press "X" on the controller to EXIT which will cause your PS3 to reboot.
The bootloader installer
The bootloader installer, a piece of software that installs the bootloader (below),
is now pre-installed by Sony with the GameOS. Therefore, the GameOS is
prepared to receive the bootloader.
The bootloader
The bootloader "kboot", a piece of software that allows the GameOS to transfer
authority to Yellow Dog Linux, is now included on the YDL Install DVD in the
directory /ps3/otheros directory as "otheros.bld".
Transfer control of your PS3 to Linux
Before you install Yellow Dog Linux, you must temporarily transfer control of
your PS3 to the Yellow Dog Linux installer. Do not turn off the power nor remove
the recording medium during the installation. Interrupting the installation
process may cause damage.
1. From the GameOS menu, select:
Settings ==> System Settings ==> Install Other OS
2. Your PS3 will now scan the DVD for the bootloader installer and
bootloader.
3. Confirm discovery of "/ps3/otheros/otheros.bld".
4. Press "X" on the controller to start the installation. The PS3 screen blanks
while pulling files from the DVD.
5. You will now be prompted with:
"Other OS Installer Version x.y.z" ==> Start
... and then:
Controller check ==> License Agreement ==> Install Completed
... and then:
"Back"
6. You must now select "Other OS" in order to install YDL:
Settings ==> System Settings ==> Default System ==> Other OS
7. Power off your PS3.
3

Returning to the GameOS
Your PS3 will now boot to YDL each time it powers on unless you command
kboot (the bootloader) to again boot the GameOS (see BOOTING GAMEOS,
below).
To return to the GameOS, at the kboot prompt, enter:
boot-game-os [ENTER]
The PLAYSTATION®3 may be forced to return to the GameOS by holding the
power button for about 5 seconds at power on. Doing this resets your PS3 to
factory default. To return to Yellow Dog Linux, you will need to perform steps
6 and 7, above.
INSTALLATION
1. Power on your PS3.
2. Insert the YDL Install DVD into the PS3.
3. The bootloader kboot is displayed on-screen.
4. Press TAB repeatedly to cycle the 4 options: install, installtext, rescue, and
rescuetext. Press ENTER to select the desired option. If you do nothing
for 10 seconds, the bootloader will default to install.
When installing YDL, you will need a monitor or television with HDMI
(digital) or Component (5 RCA jacks) cable input in order to perform
a graphical install. If your monitor has only Composite (3 RCA jacks)
and/or running "install" at the kboot prompt does not work, running
"installtext" will cause the YDL 5 installer to run in a low-resolution text
mode. This will later require command line configuration in order to
gain a low resolution (difficult to read) graphical interface. Instructions
to do this are found at www.terrasoftsolutions.com/support/solutions/
5. When presented with the "Check Install Media" screen, select "Skip".
6. Enter Anaconda (the Yellow Dog Linux installer) and move forward with
the installation of Linux, as guided on-screen and in the next section.
Language & Keyboard Selection
Select your preferred Language and Keyboard configurations.
Partition Drive
Partitioning a drive creates logical (as compared to physical) sections on
your drive, each serving the purpose of organizing and protecting data.
NOTE: If this is the first time installing Linux on your PS3, you will be
warned, "The partition table on this device sda was unreadable ..." This is
normal. Go ahead and select "Yes" to proceed.
You may either allow the Installer to create the partitions for you by selecting
Automatic Partitioning, or conduct this effort manually via Disk Druid.
If you elect to use the Automatic Partitioning feature, you may choose from one
of three schemes:
Remove all Linux partitions: this will delete and then replace only existing
Linux partitions. Please note that if you have already installed Linux on
your PS3, this procedure will DESTROY ALL EXISTING LINUX DATA.
The GameOS and game data will not be harmed.
Remove all partitions: on a PS3 (as compared to a Mac) this will produce
the same result as "Remove all Linux partitions" (above) as the GameOS
cannot be affected by the Linux install



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