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I have been wanting to try out Sidux Linux for a long time.  I have tested it but since it only comes with the KDE and XFCE window managers, I never used beyond the testing phase.  I am a fan of the Gnome desktop but it is not stable with Sidux.  Then about two weeks ago, Mario Behling, who I met through FOSS Bridge here in Vietnam, introduced me to LXDE.  Here are my first impressions using Sidux with LXDE.

Sidux is a Linux distribution based on Debian’s unstable branch known as ‘sid‘.  It is one of the geek distros along the line with Arch Linux, Gentoo, and Slackware.  It is not a distribution for those new to Linux, especially those who are not familiar, or comfortable, with the command line.  And since Sidux is based on sid, things will break if you are not careful.  Those who really want a bleeding edge system may like Sidux.

Installation

Sidux was quite easy to install.  I downloaded the latest version, sidux-2008-04 Πόντος, and created a LiveCD.  I decided to whip out my Ubuntu install on my Thinkpad T60 and start from scratch.  I originally wanted Sidux to run on my Thinkpad but I hated XFCE at the time.

Installing is rather easy and quick.  The most difficult part was figuring out how to partition.  Sidux includes a nice, easy to use, graphic user interface (GUI) to help with the installation.  After I finished configuring the GUI, it took less than 7 minutes to install Sidux on my Thinkpad.  That was one of the fastest installs ever.

After you reboot, Sidux will check the hard drives (since you are using ext3).  Do not worry if it reboots after Sidux notices the time is off.  It will reboot and boot up no problem.  The only error I dealt with Sidux not being able to load the modules for VirtualBox.  Despite this, you will be amazed at how fast Sidux boots up.  Less than 30 seconds for me which makes it the second fastest Linux bootup for me (Arch Linux can boot up in about 19 seconds).

Everything worked out of the box including wifi.  One nice thing about Sidux is that it includes ‘hints‘ with each release cycle so you can get everything working right.  You do not have to search through forums and wikis which is nice to troubleshoot.

One of the first things you will after you finishing installing Sidux is read the Sidux  Qucikstart Manual.  It is one of the best manuals for a distro out there.

Updating/Upgrading Software

With Debian or Ubuntu, you normally used apt-get update && apt-get upgrade to update your system.  With Sidux, you cannot, you have to use apt-get dist-upgrade in a Runlevel 3.  This is where you have to be comfortable working in the command line.  Once you are in init 3, Sidux provides a very good tool that helps you update your system.  It is called smxi which is used to manage packages in the sid repository.

smxi is relatively easy to use.  Just read and enter the options.  I used smxi to install openoffice, apache2, mysql, php, python, perl, etc.  It is really a great tool.  You can even configure and install the latest kernel and get your graphics card configured, properly, through smxi.

Once you have updated your system, you can go back to init 5 (Runlevel 5) and install packages by using apt-get install <package> relatively easily.  You just got to remember to use apt-get dist-upgrade in init 3 once  week to keep your system updated.

ceni

One nice tool that Sidux provides to configure your network connections is ceni.  ceni is by far one of the best network configuration tools out there.  It is a command line tool but a powerful one.  It can detect and configure wifi networks easily.

LXDE

LXDE has the looks of KDE, the feel of Gnome and the simplicty of XFCE.  It is nice windows manager for a laptop.  Not too bloated, not too simple.  It took me less than 5 minutes to get a feel for it.  I still have much to learn about LXDE but I fell in love with it instantly.  There are still features that I want to add, such as a dock, since I got used to it in Gnome.  I read somewhere I can add one but I will need to research it more.

Though it is only in beta, it is still stable enough to use on a laptop.  Together with Sidux, it mades a great distro combination (Hint hint Sidux developers).  Many of use like the Gnome desktop but I think we will settle for LXDE for Sidux.  Read more about LXDE at their website: http://www.lxde.org.

Conclusions

I am still new to Sidux and LXDE but I will give it a throrough test.  I use my Thinkpad for much of my work when I travel Saigon by motorbike.  Ubuntu kept locking up on my Thinkpad and Debian Lenny was just not ready yet (though I will probably install it at another time).  Thinkpads in general can be finicky in regards to Linux but the Debian variants seem to work well on them.

Pictures

(LXDE on Sidux Screenshot)

(PCmanFM file manager)

(Filezilla on Sidux)

(ceni network managing tool for Sidux)

(LXDE Panel Preferences)

(Sidux online manual - a great resource)

Sidux website: http://www.sidux.org
LXDE website: http://www.lxde.org

Vietnam joined the Asianux open source alliance last week.  This is definitely good news if you are a fan of open source software in Vietnam such as myself.

From TMCnet:

During the past four years, Vietnam has adopted policies designed to encourage the development and application of OSS, resulting in a total of between 14,000 and 20,000 personal computers using OpenOffice, Firefox, Unikey and other free software.

There seems to be more of an interest in open source software in Hanoi then down here in Saigon.  I hope the Linux users down here can get more active in 2009.  For myself, I know I have introduced about 150-200 students to BSD/Linux and open source software for their first time

Read more of the article here -> http://hdvoice.tmcnet.com/news/2008/12/06/3838095.htm

It all started at the beginning of last week.  I wanted my American International School 11th and 12th Grade ICT students to start using Ubuntu Linux on their laptops/netbooks at the beginning of the second quarter.  I knew it would take me nearly two weeks to get them working Ubuntu Linux systems on their laptops or netbooks.  Tommy (11A), Michael (11A), Cindy (11B), Tyler (11B) and Wade (12) were instrumental in helping me get all the Linux systems running.

My students had four options to run Ubuntu Linux on their laptops or netbooks.  They could:

1. Use VirtualBox running an Ubuntu Linux virtual machine,
2. Install Ubuntu Linux in Windows with the Wubi Installer,
3. Install Ubuntu Linux through a dual boot with Windows, or
4. They could purchase a netbook and install Ubuntu eee.

Only a couple students used the VirtualBox option.  Most of my students were using Windows Vista wished had some issues running VirtualBox.  Others were running different versions of Windows XP which, due to hardware issues, was not fast enough to run VirtualBox on.  It took forever for them to install and eventually boot Ubuntu Linux.  Kids these days are quite impatient so I decided to give them other options.

For most, install Ubuntu Linux with Wubi proved the easiest and most successful way to install Linux.  I had no idea it was that easy to use.  They just installed it and never asked me any questions.  After the initial installation, my students rebooted and Ubuntu loaded up and finished the installation itself including the partition.  The Ubuntu Developers should be patted on their back for this one.  Finally, they gave something back to the Linux community worthy of praise.

So Remember, USE Wubi to install Ubuntu Linux for Window users.  It will save you time and headache.  Dual partitions can be a pain, even with the Ubuntu Installer.  I think I would have saved a couple of days if I had chosen Wubi initially.  The Install CD is great but even the partition graphic user interface can confuse the advanced Linus users.

At least one of my students accidentally loss her entire Windows partition when she installed Ubuntu right over it (she was the only one that did not ask for help.  Yes, my instructions were clear, BACK UP everything!!!).  Several laptops had errors during the installation yet they were able to get a successful install when using Wubi.  Interesting….

Finally, the last group of students had netbooks already, mainly Eee PC 1000s, Asus Aspire Ones, and MSI Winds.  My new bright student, Katherine, installed Ubuntu 8.10 herself without even asking me.  Yeah, that makes an IT teacher proud.  The rest used Ubuntu eee with my LiveUSB.

Several students have not finsihed installing yet.  They know by next week, they had to have Ubuntu Linux installed or I would deduct points from their grade.  My first lesson will focus on using the command line to update their systems.

This should be an interesting year.  Below are many pictures from this week.  This is my first time seeing many Ubuntu Linux systems in one room at a time outside of a Linux User Group meeting.  I get a chuckle out of this one since I am not a fan of Ubuntu Linux myself

Picture Gallery and Previous American International School Linux posts below:

(Ubuntu eee on Eee PC 1000)

(Ubuntu 8.10 on Sony laptop)

(More Ubuntu laptops - This was lost it’s Window’s partition)

(Ubuntu 8.10 on an AMD64 Asus laptop - Had some problems)

(Nice Ubuntu Install Picture)

(Another Eee PC 1000 Ubuntu eee install)

(Taking turns using the Ubuntu Install LiveCD)

(Finally got the Ubuntu LiveCD to run on an unknown brand laptop)

(My Korean student, Jinn, got Ubuntu running in Korean)

(Joanna installed Ubuntu herself using Wubi)

(Another Wubi Ubuntu installation in progress)

(Three new Ubuntu users in the back, they are first time users of Linux)

(Eagerly waiting for the Ubuntu Linux installations to finish)

(Fresh Ubuntu install with Wubi)

(Gwen installing Ubuntu herself, thanks Wubi)

(One Ubuntu installation finishing, another one close behind)

(My last Ubuntu eee install of the day)

Previous Using Ubuntu Linux at AIS entries:

• Using Ubuntu Linux at the American International School
• Another new Ubuntu User

AIS Linux Related Articles:

• My Students using the Asus Eee PC
• AIS Linux Lab Redesigned
• Using TuxType with my Vietnamese Students
• First Day of Python for my Vietnamese Students
• Linux Mint in the Classroom
• My Computer Lab Nearly Ready
• Introducing my Vietnamese Students to GIMP
• Students Using PCLinuxOS in Vietnam

As the majority of BSD/Linux users, I use X.org for my X Window System.  I have a preference to edit my own xorg.conf to ensure that X runs properly on any of my system.  To this date, I have never failed to get X configured.  It is actually not that difficult.  Today, distros such as Debian Lenny, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Sabayon, to name a few, can automatically create a working xorg.conf for users during installs.  With the distros like Gentoo and Arch Linux, users are required to configure their own xorg.conf.  Regardless of the configuration type you choose, you are eventually going to have to choose whether you want to use a propriety driver or open source driver.  This can be a nightmare in itself if you are not careful.

Regardless of which distro I use, I have a preference to start out with the open source drivers.  vesa is a common open source driver that I tend to start out with.  It ends to work with most video cards.  On my desktop, I have an Nvidia card so I decided to use the nv open source driver.  Both vesa and nv work on my desktop.

I decided to try the nvidia driver on my Arch Linux desktop.  Arch has a good wiki to get nvidia with 3D rendering to work. I got it to work and was quite happy, for about a month at least.  So what happened?

The nvidia drivers, like it’s propriety counterpart, ati, have a tendency to break.  For some computer users, it breaks a lot.  With Gentoo, I never install the latest nvidia drivers.  It breaks X forcing me to either revert to an older driver or switch to nv or vesa.  With Arch, an update to the Gnome desktop broke X with the cause attributed to my nvidia driver.  In Ubuntu, yes Ubuntu systems do break, an update to the kernel caused X to break as well.  In PC-BSD, I was forced to rebuild X.Org.  In all cases, I was either using the nvidia or ati propriety drivers.

When X broke earlier this week on my Arch system, I first had to find out what was the culprit (I mentioned above that I upgraded my Gnome desktop).  X was working but I was getting a low resolution with the nvidia drivers.  It did not matter if I set the Modes to reflect the resolution of my monitor, the lower resolution remained default.

Finally I decided to switch to vesa and the higher resolution (1440X900) returned.  I made some more configurations to xorg.conf and I got the open source nvidia drivers, nv, to work at the higher resolution as well.  The nvidia driver still do not work.  No problem, I will not use them on my desktop again, I will stick to open source drivers which, from my experience, have never broke on me.  Save the headache, stick with nv

I am eagerly waiting for an open source graphics card.  There is one available but the price is quite expensive, $1500 US, higher than many custom-built desktops!  Prices should drop in the future though.

Edit: This is a blog posting, not a news article, Beginner Howto, etc.  The above posting mentioned that I preferred to use open source drivers on my DESKTOP, it does not mention that I use them on my other laptops and systems.  I am also not denying anyone’s RIGHT to use propriety drivers, I use them as well.

See my latest blog posting and response to ‘Two New Software Freedoms’.

I just converted from Portage to Paludis about 30 minutes ago on my Gentoo system.  Paludis is an alternative package manager for the very buggy Portage maintained by Gentoo.  This new package manager is supposed to make it easier to add new packages.

In past, Gentoo had a reputation for being bleeding edge.  You could install the latest packages straight from Portage even with unmasking them.  The developers in the past were great in adding ’stable’ new packages for Gentoo users.  Now, with a large number of Gentoo developers leaving, or some would say, defecting, Portage cannot be maintained as it used to be in the past.  This, in turn, has created many problems sometimes resulting in broken systems.

Ironically, many of the ex-Gentoo developers seem to be the ones behind creating alternative package managers for Portage.  Sabayon Linux, a bleeding edge derivative of Gentoo, has developed Entropy, a binary package management system.  Entropy will be a great replacement for those who are just tired of compiling packages on their system.

Another group of Gentoo developers created Paludis.  I have a strong feeling that they will win over a large number of converts.  Converting from Portage to Paludis can be done with a simple bash script.  Paludis functionality in consoles is similar to Portage.  I am still trying to get a feel for it.  Thank God all the pertinent files are stored in /etc/paludis.  It will take a couple days to get used to the commands in updating my system.  I still need to figure out how the USE flags will be used in Paludis though I heard it has been simplified.

I am curious the next stages of development for Paludis.  This project seems to be working hand-in-hand with, Exherbo, a new Linux distro currently being developed by ex-Gentoo developers.  Something tells me that a future Exherbo just might be the fork many Gentoo users have been waiting for since the departure of Daniel Robbins.

Let’s just wait and see

Yesterday I gave a presentation about Open Source Business Applications for Vina Consulting at the Saigon Times Club.  We just had a short time to prepare for it but I think my translator, Triet, and I did an okay job though we only received one question.

After assessing my presentation last night, I decided I really needed a new approach to convince businesses to use more open source applications.  Yesterday I kept focussing on the reasons to switch to Linux and Open Source and realized too late that I should have emphasised the reasons to switch to open source.  Many times people assume that I want them to switch to open source and Linux completely which is far from the truth.

With the Saigon Linux Group, now part of Vscapeone, Tony and I felt that you should not force companies to switch to open source solutions.  Instead we should encourage them continue to use Windows, if they so please, and instead focus on the more critical systems such as the firewalls, servers, ERPs, etc.  I think I will move back to that perspective again.

Why force somebody to use Linux or open source if they are not ready to take the ‘risk’?  In Vietnam, especially now, it will not work.  What will work is if you make recommendations where existing IT staff and users will not have to make drastic changes.  You can do that with ERPs, servers, firewalls, etc., since it will be third party vendors maintaining these systems, not local IT staff.

I will do some more research and draft a new set of slides for the next presentation.

You can read more about yesterday’s workshop at this URL (Vietnamese): http://www.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/kinhteso/toancanh/10012/

For some odd reason, many Linux users have been configuring their Linux desktops to look exactly like Apple’s Leopard desktop.  After reading this tutorial, http://maketecheasier.com/turn-your-ubuntu-hardy-to-mac-osx-leopard/2008/07/23, I decided to give it a try on my Thinkpad T60.

The tutorial was fairly good and straightforward.  I had no problems making my desktop look exactly like an Apple desktop.  After I got everything to work, I decided to convert part of the Apple theme back to Ubuntu’s theme.  I kept the nice dock and screenlets, even parts of the top menu replacing Apple’s logo with Ubuntu’s.

Since I am a fan of Firefly, I replaced Apple’s wallpaper with an image of Serenity.  Now I have a nice, clean, and simple desktop.

Well, last weekend my Linux Lab at the American International School has been redesigned.  It is now less cluttered and utilizes the U-shaped design which I prefer for a computer room.  The old design made it difficult for me to manage the class as a whole.  I also could not give any one-on-one time since it was too difficult to move been the desks.

This will mean less ‘game’ time for my students since they will no longer be able to ‘hide’ behind their monitors.

Yes, some of you will see Windows XP installed on the desktops.  Well, starting with the new school year, 9-12 graders will be required to purchase the eeePC 1000.  That means most of my students will be using them in my lab instead of the desktops.  All of their eeePCs will run just Linux, not Windows.  Good news for me

I plan to spend at least one more year at AIS teaching IT.  I find it enjoyable.  It will be interesting to see what my top IT students will do with the eeePC.  I think many will have Ubuntu installed within a week.

Just flashed the latest Nokia OS2008 image on my N800 Internet Tablet.  This is supposed to be the last image N800/810 users will need to flash on their tablets.  Future versions of OS2008 will be upgraded without the need to flash.  It is good news since it does get a bit tiring having to reinstall software after each flash.

There are currently a lot of software available for the OS2008 from the Maemo website: http://maemo.org/downloads/OS2008/. I want to run LAMP on my tablet if possible.  Apache is available but I am not sure about MySQL and PHP.

OS2008 runs a version of Debian.  When I SSH’d into my N800, I noticed that apt-get works for some of the software.  Only one person can SSH into the tablet at a time, I will need to make some configuration changes.  I can see the N800/810, along with the iPhone, being great mobile web servers.

A trial of Android can run in a virtual machine in my Nokia N800 as well.  Unfortunately, since the N800 does not have a keyboard, you can only run it for show.  Touchscreen functionality has not been added yet though someone seems to be working on it at the moment.  I have to review the forum to see if there was an update.

Nokia N800 Internet Tablet

This is big news if you are a fan of Gentoo Linux such as I am.  Though I have used Unix and Linux for about a year before trying Gentoo back in September, 2003, Gentoo was the one Linux distro that got me to switch fully to a Linux environment.  Gentoo forced you to learn how to do things in the command line.  Completing a Gentoo installation itself was considered a major feat in the Linux community even today.  I still recommend those wanting to learn how to use Linux to try Gentoo first.

From Vscapeone News:

Gentoo Linux 2008.0 code named, “It’s got what plants crave,” was released today. A list of features include “…an updated installer, improved hardware support, a complete rework of profiles, and a move to Xfce instead of GNOME on the LiveCD…” (from Gentoo website)

You can download a Gentoo LiveCD installer from the following URI:

http://www.gentoo.org/main/en/where.xml

About Gentoo Linux

From Distrowatch: Gentoo Linux is a versatile and fast, completely free Linux distribution geared towards developers and network professionals. Unlike other distros, Gentoo Linux has an advanced package management system called Portage. Portage is a true ports system in the tradition of BSD ports, but is Python-based and sports a number of advanced features including dependencies, fine-grained package management, “fake” (OpenBSD-style) installs, safe unmerging, system profiles, virtual packages, config file management, and more.