January 2006 - wlug - list.wlug.org.nz

what does a good e-mail client need ?
by Gavin Denby 27 May '06

27 May '06

I was reading the cnet article on the need for a mail client to push forward DESKTOP LINUX *E-mail will be the most significant factor governing the uptake of Linux on the desktop, according to a new study. * The Desktop Linux Client Survey 2005, released this week by the Open Source Development Labs, found that the lack of a powerful e-mail application could hinder the adoption of Linux on the desktop. Full story here: http://news.com.com/E-mail+crucial+to+future+of+desktop+Linux/2100-7344_3-5… What I wondered was what does an enterprise e-mail client do that's different from my thunderbird. Is it just the calender? is it notes. I have tried, and hated outlook, probably as I use just e-mail and dont like the complexity of all the other things, but what would happen in an enterprise situation. If you understand this article, can you explain what the novell and mozilla offerings will mean, and will this be the outlook killer. What does outlook do that so vital? Is this another case of its not the same, or are we really missing out on something? any enterprise experince that can help a tech like me understand this ? Is there a really good app for this, could something be done to solve this. After all e-mail is the number 1 app for the net, search is 2 and then web surfing. 2 and 3 are fine, are we missing the boat on 1? I thinks its sufficiently linux related. do we have the Guru's in the lug that could solve this?

10 15

Acceptable use of the WLUG Mailing List
by Meeting Reminder bot 31 Jan '06

31 Jan '06

The WLUG Mailing List is the discussion-list extension of the Waikato Linux Users Group (Incorporated). As such, we expect members of this list to adhere to the principles espoused in the official WLUG Charter[1], in particular, Rule 6, which covers the activities on this mailing list. While this is an Acceptable Use Policy, the WLUG Committee do recognise the need for informal discussion among list members, and draconian administration is not the goal here. Please keep in mind, however, that your comments to this list do represent the WLUG, and while it is good to be seen as an organisation with a sense of humour, some comments may do major harm to our credibility as a serious advocate of GNU/Linux and all things Free Software/ Open Source related. List discussion should * be honest * accentuate the positive, without hyperbole or blatant misrepresentation * maintain a reasonable level of spelling and grammar * not indulge in ad hominem attacks * not continue inflammatory or abusive threads * not be unprofessional or petty, especially with respect to the names of other software companies * not promote or denigrate political, cultural, or religious views * not indulge in marketing or advertising, other than on a private sale basis, or advertising of jobs - which may be announced once only * not reproduce copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder * not defame any person or organisation Posters who consistently violate these guidelines will be dealt with at the discretion of the List Maintainer. If you feel you have been unfairly dealt with, you have recourse to any member of the WLUG Committee[2]. Certain mailing list etiquette should also be maintained: * please use only plain text (not HTML) * reply inline or below when quoting, rather than on top * trim quotes (don't reply quoting a 10 page message with a single line of reply) If you have any questions, start reading at http://www.gweep.ca/~edmonds/usenet/ml-etiquette.html. These points have been established over a long time on this list. If you want to question them, please do it off list. As list users, use your discretion when pulling people up over etiquette - please reply off list, and if there is a serious breach, the list administrator will probably have dealt with it off-list already. [1] http://www.wlug.org.nz/WlugCharter [2] http://www.wlug.org.nz/WlugCommittee

1 0

Help with fstab
by Ron Dean 28 Jan '06

28 Jan '06

I have a CDRom with filenames in upper and lower case. The file names link in pdf In acroreader for Linux The following works straight from the command line only when I am in root mount /dev/hdb /media/cdrom0 -o check=r However I can't get it to work when I modify my fstab file /dev/hdb /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0

5 8

PHP Developers
by Oliver Jones 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

Hi. Anyone know any really good contract PHP developers in the Waikato region? Regards

3 2

Re: [wlug] help with shell scripting
by David Nicholls 24 Jan '06

24 Jan '06

Thanks daniel, I'll pass that on. Unfortunately due to the nature of the scientific program he is interfacing with, shell script is it as far as I am aware. I'll let you know how he goes. > -----Original Message----- > From: Daniel Lawson [mailto:daniel(a)meta.net.nz] > Sent: Tuesday, 24 January 2006 9:33 a.m. > > I can't help you on campus (work in Auckland now) and most of > the WAND people who would help are in Dunedin for LCA I > beleive. However, there are some good guides online which may > help a bit: > > The advanced bash scripting guide is an excellent resource: > http://www.tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/ > Another guide I've suggested at times is here: > http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/unix/bash-tute.html > The RUTE book may help as well http://rute.sf.net/ > > And various WAND/WLUG members have at times run "intro to linux" > tutorials which covered basic bash scripting, but I can't > find the website any more! > > If he's doing some serious file processing, he may find that > a more full-featured programming language such as python > (www.python.org) may be more useful. > > Confused? Excellent...

2 1

help with shell scripting
by David Nicholls 24 Jan '06

24 Jan '06

hi guys, hope everyone has had a good and fun new year. anyway... I have a student up here who is doing Un*x shell scripting (he is learning on the go) to run scientific data files through thier paces and of course get the required output (that goes without saying). anyway, I don't have enough experience to help him, but I was wondering if anyone from up at the uni was around who might be able to give him some time? Please let me know as soon as you can, I'd appreciate heaps. cheers... David Nicholls Computer Support Consultant d.nicholls at waikato.ac.nz School of Science & Engineering / Dept of Chemistry The University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand

3 2

Fedora Reloaded Podcast.
by Michael 23 Jan '06

23 Jan '06

Fedora Reloaded 4 is out, its not bad. An interview with Chris Blizzard (talks on mono inclusion in FC), Konstantin Ryabitsev from the Fedora Extras project and Greg de K. on Fedora foundation and Fedora ambassadors. The ogg is only 18.1MB is a good listen. Its certainly worth grabbing if your in the slightest bit interested in some of the going ons and on goings of Fedora. http://www.fedorareloaded.com/ http://www.fedorareloaded.com/podcasts/Fedora_Reloaded_4.ogg Michael

1 0

WLUG Meeting is tonight
by Meeting Reminder bot 22 Jan '06

22 Jan '06

The WLUG meeting is this evening ---------------------------------------------------------------------- There will be no meeting for the following reasons.... * There will be a number of people heading off to linux.conf.au (http://lca2006.linux.org.au/) next week. * We are currently renegotiating our regular venue, LITB is no longer suitable as what was one big room is now two small rooms.

1 0

WLUG Meeting is on Monday
by Meeting Reminder bot 19 Jan '06

19 Jan '06

The WLUG meeting is on Monday ---------------------------------------------------------------------- There will be no meeting for the following reasons.... * There will be a number of people heading off to linux.conf.au (http://lca2006.linux.org.au/) next week. * We are currently renegotiating our regular venue, LITB is no longer suitable as what was one big room is now two small rooms.

1 0

adding a link to WLUG
by Michael 18 Jan '06

18 Jan '06

Would there be any objection to me adding WLUG to the Fedora projects LUG link page? http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/LinuxUserGroups <http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/LinuxUserGroups> Thanks Michael

2 2

Gnome Applet question
by Leslie Katz 18 Jan '06

18 Jan '06

I'm using Gnome v 2.8.2. Among the Gnome applets available to be added to my top or bottom panel is one called "Stock Ticker". I'd like to use that applet, but I'd only like to have it open while the stock exchange is open. At other times I'd like to have it closed. I added the applet to one of my panels and then configured it as I liked. I then removed it and re-added it (without having shut my computer down in the interim). On re-adding the applet, I discovered that all of the preferences I'd earlier set for it had disappeared. If, on the other hand, I shut down my computer without having removed the applet and then restarted it, the applet re-appeared with all of my preferences intact. I read a lot of material about Gconf, its GUI editor and gconftool-2. By playing around with those things, I discovered the following: the Stock Ticker applet gets assigned a number when added to the panel, say, applet_3. If I remove the applet and then re-add it, it comes back as applet_4. That's the reason, no doubt, why my preferences disappear when I close the applet--they were attached to applet_3 only. Applet_4's preferences are the default ones for whenever the Stock Ticker's first opened. I need a way to change the default preferences for the Stock Ticker so that, whenever it's opened, it opens with my preferences, not the built-in ones, but finding it's beyond me. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can change the Stock Ticker's default preferences permanently, so that, each time it's opened, it opens with my preferences?

1 0

No January meeting next week.
by Lindsay Druett 16 Jan '06

16 Jan '06

Hi All, There will be no meeting next week for the following reasons.... * There will be a number of people heading off to linux.conf.au (http://lca2006.linux.org.au/) next week. * We are currently renegotiating our regular venue, LITB is no longer suitable as what was one big room is now two small rooms. We have a speaker confirmed for February's meeting, who is Peter Bryant, from Rimu Hosting. We also have a speaker tentatively booked for May's meeting. Regards, Lindsay Druett.

1 0

WLUG meeting is one week away
by Meeting Reminder bot 15 Jan '06

15 Jan '06

The Waikato Linux Users Group have a meeting in one week today. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A WLUG meeting is bookd for this date. No topic has been announced.

1 0

OSS Software for SOHO?
by Greig McGill 10 Jan '06

10 Jan '06

Hi all, A friend is considering starting her own small business, and has asked me what the state of F/OSS packages for small businesses in NZ? She is specifically looking for (in order of priority): * Meeting the requirements of her accountant (any accountants on the list? What requirements are there? I don't know! :) * As complete and featureful as possible. * Runs on Windows. This last one is really not a problem, as I have told her there will be no problem obtaining a Linux or *BSD workstation specifically to run her business applications, and she likes the idea of the separation, as her kids and partner are fiddlers! :) Anyone done this? Olly? I vaguely remember you were playing with MYOB alternatives? I'd be very interested in hearing from any accountants lurking on this list also as to how hard it makes your job if your clients aren't running something "standard" like MYOB? Regards, Greig McGill

3 5

Re: [wlug] BBQ roundup
by David Nicholls 09 Jan '06

09 Jan '06

I was just thinking... Perhaps if we hold this a little further out from christmas, more general members might be able to make it. I managed to miss it every time now doe to family commitments :( and I've been really wanting to get to one of these for some time. Cheers... david > -----Original Message----- > From: Craig Box [mailto:craig(a)dubculture.co.nz] > Sent: Tuesday, 20 December 2005 9:30 p.m. > To: Waikato Linux Users Group > Subject: [wlug] BBQ roundup > > (http://www.wlug.org.nz/MeetingTopics.2005-12-18) > > End-of-year Summer BBQ > > As traditional, held at Perry's and Jamie's place. Thanks for > having us, and especially to Jamie for being co-opted back > onto the committee for the day. We didn't quite get perfect > weather, but there was still much cricket played. > > Turnout wasn't hugely inspiring; there were a good number of > committee and hangers-on, but the number of "general WLUG > members" wasn't that great. After the effort that was put in > to try and appeal to the greater membership, it was > disappointing and we will re-evaluate the event next year. > > Photos: http://www.pointless.co.nz/gallery/wlug-bbq-05 > > Craig > > _______________________________________________ > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug > >

4 4

OSS software for SOHO
by Leslie Katz 08 Jan '06

08 Jan '06

For Linux, there's Gnucash. I use it for my personal affairs, but many use it for business. The mailing list is very impressive, with many serious contributors.

1 0

Exim for Beginners
by Ivan Potgieter 08 Jan '06

08 Jan '06

Thanks to Michael and David for the links. Unfortunately the ConfiguringExim page <http://www.exim.org/eximwiki/ConfiguringExim?action=fullsearch&value=linkto…>on the <http://www.exim.org/eximwiki/ConfiguringExim?action=fullsearch&value=linkto…> EximWike site is quite sparse (empty actually) <sigh>. I might add some links or content on out wiki once I'm done. Thanks again.

1 0

Exim for Beginners
by Ivan Potgieter 04 Jan '06

04 Jan '06

Hi all, I have decided to attempt setting up a mailserver using exim, but I am having some difficulty finding how-to type documentation. I keep finding FAQs and the like. Does anyone have any suggestions? Many thanks, Ivan BTW: Happy New Year

3 2

Bit-torrent for Apt
by Ian McDonald 03 Jan '06

03 Jan '06

This is an idea I had been thinking about for a while but never got around to actually doing anything about. Haven't tested myself (or even finished reading about it!!) but I think this is kind of cool. http://sianka.free.fr/documentation.html -- Ian McDonald http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 WAND Network Research Group University of Waikato New Zealand

1 0

Getting user to choose whether to exit bash script
by Leslie Katz 03 Jan '06

03 Jan '06

Many thanks to both Matt and Warren for your assistance on the above subject. I hope I'll understand what you've told me well enough so that I won't have to bother you again about it. Thanks again, Leslie

1 0

Getting user to choose whether to exit bash script
by Leslie Katz 02 Jan '06

02 Jan '06

I've created a number of bash scripts which make it easier for me to run particular security applications, among them rkhunter. I run the scripts in gnome-terminal. It's crucial to say at the outset that I've had no tuition in bash script writing, so I'm sure my scripts won't win any beauty contest. In any event, I was happy with my script for running rkhunter, except for one thing. I had great difficulty reading part of the output of the script, because that output (from rkhunter itself) was in yellow on a white background. I then figured out how to write a script that opened a second window in gnome-terminal. That second window had a black background, in which my original script for running rkhunter then ran. Legibility of the yellow and all other output in the second window is fine. However, there's a problem. When my script for running rkhunter in the second window finishes, it automatically exits, leaving me back at the first window, so that I haven't got a chance to examine the rkhunter output except as it scrolls by rapidly in the second window. I therefore want to amend my script for running rkhunter so that it doesn't end until the user says so. In a number of places on the Web appears the following script, which I thought I could borrow: #!/bin/bash # Shows how to read a line from stdin echo "Would you like to exit this script now?" read answer if [ "$answer" = y ] then echo "Exiting..." exit 0 fi I tried that script. There's a tiny problem with it. It exits no matter what answer the user gives! The only difference between giving a "y" answer and any other answer is that the word "Exiting" doesn't appear if one doesn't give a "y" answer. How should I amend my script to keep the output on the screen until the user enters some appropriate input?

3 2

Fonts on Ubuntu.
by Oliver Jones 02 Jan '06

02 Jan '06

Hi Folks. I've switched to Ubuntu Breezy from FC4 on my laptop. Everything is going swimmingly. However one thing is odd. Fonts. The fonts in Ubuntu on webpages and apps don't appear quite the same as on FC4. I've installed the MS TT Core fonts package so I have Arial, Tahoma et al installed. But things still look different. Things look clearer in some apps (I think this is the freetype2 hinting setting at work) which is nice but other apps are ugly. Particularly GTK+ v1 apps are all jaggy. Also some websites don't look the same as I'm used to. Like as if the Arial fonts arn't being used.... Anyway, sage advice on fonts in Ubuntu would be apreciated. Regards, PS: Happy New Year

2 2

mythtv question
by Jonathan Purvis 02 Jan '06

02 Jan '06

I've installed MythTV (0.18.1-5) under Ubuntu 5.10. Under the Video Source setup option in mythtv-set, the XMLTV listings grabber has no option for New Zealand. There doesn't seem to be any way of changing what's in the list, other than recompiling from source. Is there any way of configuring MythTV without using the gui or other option for specifying where to get the NZ TV listings? I don't seem to be able to procede without it. Regards, Jon

3 2