!!2006-03-15 LUG Meeting Minutes\nBelow are a list of web sites that will provide you with more information regarding the topics that were discussed during the meeting.\n!!!!Linux Distributions\n A Linux distribution (or distro.) is probably best described as a packaged Linux OS (operating system), which you can download and install on to your PC. A distribution usually includes the Linux kernel, a pre-configured desktop or window manager (or several), some form of package (install) manager, and some pre-installed applications.\n * [[Debian | http://www.debian.org]] - debian.org\n * [[Slackware | http://www.slackware.org]] - slackware.org\n * [[Red Hat | http://www.redhad.com]] - redhat.com\n * [[SUSE | http://www.novell.com/linux/suse/]] - novell.com/linux/suse/\n * [[Ubuntu | http://www.ubuntu.com]] - ubuntu.com - Debian based\n * [[Mandriva | http://www.mandriva.com]] - mandriva.com - Red Hat based\n * [[ArchLinux | http://www.archlinux.org]] - archlinux.org - built from source files\n!!!!Linux Desktop/Window Managers\n Desktop and window managers are the graphic interfaces (GUIs) that provide a way in which users can intuitively communicate and control the Linux kernel.\n Desktop managers provide feature-rich window environments, while window managers more or less control the way application windows appear on the screen with some limited configuration tools.\n * [[KDE | http://www.kde.org]] - kde.org\n * [[Gnome | http://www.gnome.org]]- gnome.org\n * [[IceWM | http://www.icewm.org]] - icewm.org\n * [[Fluxbox | http://www.fluxbox.org]] - fluxbox.org\n * [[Enlightenment | http://www.enlightenment.org]] - enlightenment.org\n * [[WindowMaker | http://www.windowmaker.org]] - windowmaker.org\n!!!!Package Managers \n Package managers are applications developed for certain distros that help manage, install, and uninstall applications and their libraries for your Linux system.\n Before package managers were developed, people had to install software "from source", forcing them to track down and install neccessary libraries (aka dependancies) individually by hand.\n Some distros still install from source, but have some sort of package manager available, if it's desired.\n * [[Synaptic | http://www.nongnu.org/synaptic/]] - Used by most Debian based distros.\n * [[RPM | http://www.rpm.org/]] - Used by distros based on the Red Hat Linux.\n * Yast - Used by [[SuSE | http://www.novell.com/linux/suse/]] Linux distro.\n * Pacman - A package manager used by Arch Linux to handle applications installed from source.\n!!!!Live Distros\n Live distros are versions of Linux, built to run from a CD, DVD, or USB drive without the need to install any software to your PC's hard drive.\n * [[Kanotix | http://www.kanotix.com]]- kanotix.com - Debian based\n * [[Knoppix | http://www.knoppix.com]] - knoppix.com - Debian based\n * [[Slax | http://slax.linux-live.org/]] - slax.linux-live.org - Slackware based\n * [[Damn Small Linux | http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/]] - damnsmalllinux.org - Debian based\n * [[PCLinuxOS | http://pclinuxos.com/ ]] - pclinuxos.com - Mandriva based\n!!!!Applications \n * [[GNUCash | http://www.gnucash.org/]] - Full featured accounting software\n * [[KMyMoney | http://kmymoney2.sourceforge.net/index-home.html]] - Home finance manager\n * [[Wine | http://www.winehq.com/]] - MS-Windows emmulator to run MS-Windows applications under Linux\n * [[Cedega | http://www.transgaming.com/]] - Similar to Wine, but specifically built for gaming
!!2006-04-12 LUG Meeting Minutes\n\nDuring our last meeting, we had a brief review of Linux, the operating system. Details can be found by going to the meeting minutes page from last month, [[20060315]], as well as viewing the slideshow presentation.\n\nWe then proceeded to discuss much of the applications that we have listed on our LinuxSoftware page.\n\nFor more information on these applications, as well as downloading them to try yourself, visit the links provided on the Wiki page.
!!2006-05-10 LUG Meeting Minutes\n!!!Mandriva One\nDuring this month's meeting, we looked at the live CD version of [[Mandriva | http://www.mandriva.com]] called [[Mandriva One | http://www.mandriva.com/en/downloads/mirrors/mandrivaoneiso]].\n\nWhat makes Mandriva One unique from other Linux live CDs is that this distribution of Linux has been built with the novice computer user in mind.\n\nSome other features of Mandrake One include:\n\n* Excellent hardware detection\n* A wide range of software ready for use\n* Intuitive system administration and setup menus\n* Bluetooth device support\n* Easy install process if you decide to put the Mandriva system on your hard drive\n\nMandriva One is available for free downloading or for purchasing from the Mandriva corporate website. The disadvantage to the free version (over the retail version) is that the free version does not include proprietary software (like Java or MS-Windows Media Player). However, if you decide to install Mandriva onto your hard drive, there are on-line resources that allow you to download these packages for yourself.\n\nYou can also purchase a "Club" version of Mandriva One, which has some proprietary drivers available on the CD.\n\nMore on the limitations of proprietary software below...\n\nTo get an idea of what Mandriva has to offer, here's a [[review of Mandriva 2006 | http://www.madpenguin.org/cms/?m=show&id=5600]], which is what the Mandriva One CD is built from.\n!!!Limitations of Proprietary Software\nOne of the obstacles free Linux systems always struggle with is the existence (and use) of proprietary software.\n\nThe major advantage to Linux - and one of the things that makes it such a popular OS - is that it is free. Free to use, free to share, free to study, and free to improve upon. However, the majority of the computing industry does not embrace the idea of freedom. That is why most of the "main stream" software you use every day is closed-source, or proprietary. Software companies want you to be dependant on their products, but pay them each and every time you use them. Most of these companies are U.S. companies, by the way.\n\nHowever, in other countries, laws about proprietary software are not as strict as what you'll find in the U.S., so people have more freedom to use software the way they wish.\n\nBut in order to distribute to U.S. citizens, companies, like Mandriva, must adhere to U.S. patent laws. Therefore, products like Mandriva One must either be free of patented software or Mandriva must pay royalties for every copy they distribute... or risk being sued.\n\nSo, Mandriva has devised a way to distribute their free software but also offer a pay-for-use version that includes proprietary software for those of us who want that built-in functionality.\n\nOther versions of Linux, like [[Knoppix | http://www.knoppix.org]], distribute their free Linux software with proprietary software included, but they distribute from a country that does not restrict them from doing so. However, people who use such software, who live in a country like the U.S., risk legal action taken against them if patent owners decided to do so.\n\nCanada doesn't have the same patent laws as the U.S. A company or individual cannot patent software in Canada.... yet. Also, we have a clause called "fair use" or "fair dealing", which gives an individual certain rights... for now.\n\nThe next threat to a person's right to use technology the way the want to is the DRM - Digital Rights Management that is currently working its way into U.S. laws.\n\nWhat this is, is a way to force you (the consumer) to watch a DVD or listen to CD *only* in a way the license holder of that DVD or CD wants you to. Using said DVD or CD in any other way would be considered illegal and they would have the right to punish you for doing so.\n\nMore on this topic can be found [[here | http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/]].\n!!!Sea Monkey\n[[SeaMonkey | http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/]] is, what was once called the Mozilla Suite. It's a web browser, e-mail client, address book, news reader, chat client, and html editor all bundled into one installable package.\n\nWhen Mozilla went into the development of the now pouplar Firefox web browser and Thunderburd e-mail client, it was decided that the Mozilla suite itself would not be developed any further.\n\nWhat did happen was the many of the community members who used Mozilla took control of the project, renamed it Sea Monkey and have kept the suite alive. In fact, they've even made it better.\n\nYou can download Sea Monkey, free of charge from the website http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/
!!2006-06-14\nLUG Meeting Minutes\n!!!Wine\nWine (Wine Is Not an Emulator) is a Linux applications that allows you to install Microsoft Windows software under your Linux desktop environment.\n\n----\nFrom the website ( [[http://www.winehq.com/ | http://www.winehq.com/]] ):\nThink of Wine as a compatibility layer for running Windows programs. Wine does not require Microsoft Windows, as it is a completely free alternative implementation of the Windows API consisting of 100% non-Microsoft code, however Wine can optionally use native Windows DLLs if they are available.\n----\n\nAlthough WINE does not work with all Microsoft-centric applications as of yet, there are still many of the "main-stream" software packages that will install successfully using WINE. A list of documented successes can be found here: http://frankscorner.org/\n\nSome packages, like the latest AutoCAD, can still be successfully installed under Linux with the use of such software as [[Win4Lin | http://www.win4lin.com/]].\n\nThe difference between [[Win4Lin]] and WINE is Win4Lin is a desktop server, which allows you to install the Microsoft Windows OS (like XP, for example) within the Linux desktop itself. In this manner, you actually run a version of MS-Windows, allowing you to install most any MS-Windows application software from within.\n\n
!!2006-07-12\nLUG Meeting Minutes\n!!!Linux Mandriva Install (Dual Boot System)\n\nThis month we went through the process of a typical install of Mandriva Linux on a system that already had Microsoft Windows installed on the hard drive.\n\nDetailed steps (along with screenshots) on installing Mandriva can be found in the [[Mandriva Definitive Guide | http://www.virtualsky.net/thecrowsnest/MANDRIVA-2006EN.pdf]], so feel free to download this PDF for reference.\n\nBelow is an overview of the steps we performed during the demonstration:\n\n!!Step 1\nBoot up your PC into Mircosoft Windows (if it is installed) and ensure that you both backup your data AND do a disk defragmentation before attempting to install Linux. If the data on your hard drive is fragmented, MS-Windows will lose it forever when Linux is installed onto the system.\n\n!!Step 2\nMake sure your PC's BIOS is configured to boot from your CD ROM drive before your hard drive. To set your BIOS, you must re-boot your PC. As the system boots up, you should see a message displayed briefly on your screen that says something like "Press DEL to access system settings". Each system is different.\n\n!!Step 3\nPut the Mandriva Linux CD into your CD ROM drive and re-boot your PC. Linux should then be loaded into memory from the CD ROM. Once you get the Mandriva desktop up on your screen, go through some of the progams to make sure your system is Linux compatible: \n* Open up the Firefox web browser to test your Internet connection.\n* Click on the star icon on the toolbar (the "start" button) and select System -> Configure -> Configure my desktop and play with system notification. See if your system can play sounds okay.\n* Click on the start icon and select System -> Configure -> Configure my computer and install your printer or scanner\n\nThe point is, test out your hardware to make sure everything is Linxu compatible.\n\n!!Step 4\nWhen you're ready to install Linux, double-click on the icon in the top left corner of your desktop ''Live Install''. This will launch the installer application.\n\n!!Step 5\nParition/format your hard drive. You will be presented with a few options on how Linux will use your hard drive. Use ''Custom'' to do a custom install.\n\nIf your hard drive is being used by MS-Windows, you should see the status bar filled in blue. Click on the blue bar then choose ''Resize'' from the menu on the left. Drag the slide indicator to the size of which you'd like to reduced the MS-Windows partition too.\n\nThe resizing will take anywhere from a minute to 10 or even 15 minutes, depending on the size of your hard drive. When it's done, click on the empty gray area of the bar and select ''Create'' from the left menu.\n\nMake three partitions... a root ''/'' partition, a ''/swap'' partition and a ''/home'' partition. Make / (root) at least 3 GB in size, and make /swap either double the size of your PC's RAM or a maximum of 512 MB, which ever is reached first. Your /home can be any size you want... just remember that, if you plan on downloading a lot of MP3s (for example) from the Internet, this is where they will be stored.\n\nClick the ''Done'' button when you're ready to install Mandriva.\n\n!!Step 6\n\nYour install will now begin. When the status bar reaches 100%, give the PC time to finish with the configuration. You should still be able to see the hard drive light and the CD ROM light flicker every so often. As you saw at the demonstration, the system was still doing something even though the screen was not doing anything.\n\n!!Step 7\n\nWhen the final config settings appear (selection of LILO, etc.), you should be just fine with the default settings. Just click the ''Next'' button until the process is complete. Now you can restart the system (click the star icon -> Log Out... -> Restart Computer). Remove the CD from the drive when Linux ejects the CD tray.\n\n!!Step 8\n\nLet your new Linux system re-boot itself. The new system will ask you to choose a super user password (make it a good one but make sure you never forget it), configure your network interface (just accept the defaults) and then require you to set up at least one user account.\n\nTo set up more than one user account at this time, click the ''Accept User'' button to add another. Click ''Done'' when you're all done adding users.\n\n!!Step 9\n\nLog in to your new system with one of the user accounts you've just set up.\n\nEnjoy!
!!2006-09-13\n!!LUG Meeting Minutes\n!!!Next Generation Linux Desktop - AIGLX / XGL\nThis month we took a look a look at the beta release of the upcoming Mandriva Linux desktop for 2007, with the AIGLX / XGL 3D accelerated desktop environment.\n\nThe following are links to where you can find more information about what was presented during the meeting.\n\n!!!Mandriva\nMandriva's download page of latest beta release of their OS:\n\nhttp://www.mandriva.com/en/linux/2007/mandrivalinux2007beta\n\nClick on any one of the mirror sites to access the downloadable files. I've found the fastest download when using the Switzerland ftp sites.\n\nOnce at the ftp mirror of your choice, go into the folder named "One". In there you will see many .ISOs to choose from. You only need one. I suggest mandriva-one-2007-mona-kde-mix1.iso, but if you'd like to give the Gnome desktop a try, choose a gnome labeled ISO. "Mona" is just the codename of this current beta release of the Mandriva system. It will change again when the next version is made available for testing.\n\nBe sure to fill out a bug report (or search for existing bugs that you've encountered) at http://qa.mandriva.com The more people who find and report problems, the better the final product will be.\n\n!!!AIGLX\nMore information on what AIGLX is about can be found here:\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIGLX\n\nRedHat's (who originated the AIGLX system) information page on AIGLX can be found here:\n\nhttp://fedoraproject.org/wiki/RenderingProject/aiglx\n\n!!!XGL\nMore information on what XGL is about can be found here:\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xgl\n\nSuSE's (who originated the XGL system) information page on XGL can be found here:\n\nhttp://en.opensuse.org/Xgl\n
!!On-line Resources of Linux Related Learning Material\n[[Linux Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux]] - Wikipedia pages on the origins of Linux. There are many links to other resources found on this page for more than enough reading material on the subject.\n\n[[The Linux Documentation Project | http://www.tldp.org]] - A free resource of hundreds of Linux related web-books (in HTML, TXT and PDF) covering a wide range of Linux topics; including programming, specialty applications, and many How-tos. A good book to start with would be the [[Introduction to Linux | http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html]] book (this is a link to the HTML version of the book).\n\n[[Eben Moglen talks about free software | http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6345039926759549406&q=ibm+linux&pl=true]] - Lawyer Eben Moglen gives a talk at Harvard on the subject on the free software movement. This may help explain to you the fundamentals behind the free software movement, Linux, and how important it is that we support such efforts.
!AIGLX - Next Generation Linux Desktop Environment\n\nEarlier this spring, Linux software developers introduced the world of Linux users to the new generation of desktop interface, the Accelerated Indirect GLX interface... a 3D enhanced environment.\n\nSince this new software became stable and available, major Linux distributions (like Mandriva, RedHat and SuSE) have been building their next releases around this new innovation in desktop interfaces.\n\nMicrosoft's next OS will have similar capabilities, but will require much more in the way of system resources and, from all indications, will still lack some of the functionality already available with the Linux AIGLX interface. Also, Vista (Microsoft's new OS) is still five to six months away.\n\nMandriva will be releasing their next version of their OS this fall (late September / early October). Mandriva club members have been given the opportunity to try early beta releases of the new OS to provide Mandriva with feedback and bug reports. Recently, I downloaded the beta version of the live CD and will make it available to anyone interested in seeing it for themselves.\n\nIf anyone's curious (or know they will not be able to attend the Sept. 13th meeting), stop by my desk for a sneak peek of the sneak peek I'll be demonstrating at this LUG meeting.\n\n[img[Mandriva 2007|mandriva-3d.jpg]]
WelcomePage
!!Linux InstallFest hosted by The Crow's Nest\n\nIn order to help some of us get off on the right foot to using Linux at home, I thought I'd test the waters to see if anyone is interested in holding a Linux install-fest sometime in the next few months.\n\nAn Install-fest is a day when people are encouraged to bring in their PC and have Linux installed for them by those of us in the LUG who are familiar with the process. It gives new users a better chance at successfully installing and running Linux on their PC, as sometimes the process can be a bit confusing for the novice user to do by him/herself.\n\nI thought, if there were enough of us in the office who'd like to try Linux, then maybe we could schedule a Saturday morning and afternoon install-fest, here at the office. It would also provide an opportunity for those of us who'd like to learn a little more about Linux (or the process of installing an OS in general) by experiencing some of the more technical aspects of the system.\n\nYour thoughts? I'd need some volunteers to help out (and office space for the day) if this was something of interest to us.\n\nDavid.\n
!!Topics For Discussion\n\n* InstallFest
!!Linux Documentation\n\n[[Mandriva Definitive Guide | http://www.virtualsky.net/thecrowsnest/MANDRIVA-2006EN.pdf]] - Mandriva User's Guide for 2006 version
!!Some of LUG Member's Favorite Linux Software Packages\n!!!Desktop Environments\n * AiGLX - The next generation Linux desktop, with 3D accelleration.\n!!!Office Tools\n * [[Open Office | http://www.openoffice.org]] - A full featured office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, database, presentations, vector graphics, flowsheets, PDF and Flash animation creator).\n * [[KOffice | http://www.koffice.org/]] - A full featured office suite designed for the KDE desktop environment.\n * [[Abiword | http://www.abisource.com/]] - A word processor for low resourced PCs.\n * [[Gnumeric | http://www.gnome.org/projects/gnumeric/]] - A spreadsheet for low resourced PCs.\n!!!Digital Photos\n * [[Digikam | http://www.digikam.org/]] - Digital camera/photo manager with some helpful editing tools.\n * [[G.I.M.P. | http://www.gimp.org/]] - Full featured digial image and graphics creator/editor.\n!!!Multimedia Players\n * [[Amarok | http://amarok.kde.org/]] - Audio file player (MP3, OGG, WMA, CD) and catalog organizer.\n * [[Mplayer | http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/news.html]] - Audio/Video media player\n * [[Xine | http://xinehq.de/]] - Audio/Video media player\n * [[XMMS | http://www.xmms.org/]] - Audio file player\n!!!Web Browser Suites\n * [[Mozilla Firefox | http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/]] - Cross platform web browser.\n * [[Mozilla Thunderbird | http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/]] - Cross platform e-mail client.\n * [[Sea Monkey | http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/]] - A complete Web suite with browser, e-mail, address book and HTML editor. The continuation of the Mozilla project.\n * [[Konqueror | http://www.konqueror.org/]] - A powerful web browser, file manager (with many more file management capabilities) for the KDE desktop environment.\n!!!CAD\n * [[QCAD | http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html]] - 2D CAD drafting application.\n!!!Financial\n * [[KMyMoney | http://kmymoney2.sourceforge.net/index-home.html]] - Personal money manager for the KDE desktop environment.\n * [[GNUCash | http://www.gnucash.org/]] - Full featured accounting package for home or small business.
WelcomePage\nMeetingMinutes\n----\nAboutLinux\nLinuxDiscussions\nLinuxSoftware\nLinuxDocs\n----\n
* 20061213 - No meeting this month\n* 20061104 - Linux Installfest\n* 20061011 - Recap of topics previoulsy discussed\n* [[20060913]] - 06 - Meeting Minutes - Mandriva 2007 sneak-peek / AIGLX and XGL\n* 20060809 - No meeting this month\n* [[20060712]] - 05 - Meeting Minutes - Installing Mandriva step by step demonstration\n* [[20060614]] - 04 - Meeting Minutes - Wine, the Windows emulator / Win 4 Lin\n* [[20060510]] - 03 - Meeting Minutes - Mandriva One / the dangers of proprietary software / Sea Monkey\n* [[20060412]] - 02 - Meeting Minutes - Some popular Linux software applications\n* [[20060315]] - 01 - Meeting Minutes - Different versions of Linux, desktop and file managers\n
Personal Computer
Linux User Group's Wiki - Meets every second Wednesday of the month in the Wardrop Saskatoon office
[<img[The Crow's Nest LUG|crows_nest_lug-sm.png]]
Welcome to our Linux User Group's information page!\n\nOn these pages, you will find information regarding the Crow's Nest LUG, our members, and the topics we discuss during our monthly meetings.\n\nThe Crow's Nest meets on a monthly basis in the 14th floor boardroom of the Wardrop Saskatoon Engineering offices.\nUse the menu along the left hand margin to navigate through our web pages.\n\n''What is a LUG'', you may ask. Well, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_User_Group .\nYou can also find out more about Linux itself by going to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux .\n\n!!Next Scheduled Meeting\n\n''January, 10th, 2007'' - 14th floor board room. Robin Sun to demonstrate Ubuntu Linux OS.\n\n!!New Mailing List Available\n\nWe now have a mailing list set-up for the LUG. By subscribing to this mailing list, you will be cc'd on all messages we (those who've subscribed) send through the mailing list service. Use it to post your Linux/LUG messages or questions. Feel free to answer or add to questions posted thorugh the mailing list.\n\nSubscribe to the list by sending a blank e-mail to ''thecrowsnest-request@freelists.org'' with 'subscribe' in the Subject line.\n\nTo send a message to those of us on the mailing list, use the e-mail address: ''thecrowsnest@freelists.org'' - You must be a subscriber to send messages.\n\n!!Special Offer for our LUG members\nThe folks over at [[Mandriva|http://www.mandriva.com]] have offered us ''25% OFF'' the retail price of the Linux desktop software offered on their site. See David Bouley for more information.\n\n[img[25 % Off Mandriva|crows-nest-mandriva-offer.jpg]]