Errol Rasit, research director at Gartner, concurs that the primary cause of Unix weakness over the past decade is migration from the RISC platform to x86-processor based alternatives, which can run many Unix workloads, usually at attractive price/performance ratios. Today, x86 technology attracts most new deployments and innovation, such as cloud computing and fabric-based computing, which further validates the technology as a preferred platform.
Category Archives: Operating Systems
Linux-based autopilots target commercial UAVs
The computers offer pre-installed flight control and mission software built upon the Linux-based AirwareOS platform. The software is provided under a royalty-free license that enables modification, extension third party software, and inclusion in proprietary products, says the company. The Linux-based software is written in C++, and provides a single hardware-independent Unified Autopilot Interface (UAI) API to the INS/GPS solution, system status, sensor data, actuators, datalink radio, and payloads.
via Linux-based autopilots target commercial UAVs · LinuxGizmos.com.
Sony’s PlayStation 4 Is Running Modified FreeBSD 9
The operating system at the heart of Sony’s PlayStation 4 is FreeBSD 9.0.
via [Phoronix] Sony’s PlayStation 4 Is Running Modified FreeBSD 9.
Attacks on Package Managers
To provide an example of the sorts of attacks an attacker can launch on package managers, this page describes an example attack called a replay attack. Other attacks are described on a separate page.
via Attacks on Package Managers.
Here’s a piece of advice I always adhere to for any kind of upgrade.
Manually update your systems (and local mirror caches). Know when package updates become available and what the versions should be. Manually verify and install the updated packages (or add them to your local mirror cache that your systems update from) rather than relying on automated updates. We have observed mirrors many months out of date for some distributions, so you should check periodically that your mirror is being updated.
Linux Group Tests
The original objective in starting the compilation was to dispel the FUD that Linux does not have the necessary software to compete with Windows. Over time, the aim of the compilation was to enable Linux users, whatever their level of computing experience, to identify software of all types that is worth exploring. With the huge range of open source software available, there is simply not enough time for users to evaluate every application even within a single category of software.
The compilation is being frequently updated and new articles added on a regular basis.
via Linux Group Tests – Part 1 – Linux Links – The Linux Portal Site.
DRBL – About
DRBL (Diskless Remote Boot in Linux) is free software, open source solution to managing the deployment of the GNU/Linux operating system across many clients. Imagine the time required to install GNU/Linux on 40, 30, or even 10 client machines individually! DRBL allows for the configuration all of your client computers by installing just one server (remember, not just any virtual private server) machine
via DRBL – About.
DRBL uses PXE/etherboot, NFS, and NIS to provide services to client machines so that it is not necessary to install GNU/Linux on the client hard drives individually. Once the server is ready to be a DRBL server, the client machines can boot via PXE/etherboot (diskless). “DRBL” does NOT touch the client hard drives, therefore, other operating systems (e.g. MS Windows) installed on the client machines will be unaffected. This could be useful in, for example, during a phased deployment of GNU/Linux where users still want to have the option of booting to Windows and running some applications only available on MS windows. DRBL allows great flexibility in the deployment of GNU/Linux.
bcache
Bcache is a Linux kernel block layer cache. It allows one or more fast disk drives such as flash-based solid state drives (SSDs) to act as a cache for one or more slower hard disk drives.
Hard drives are cheap and big, SSDs are fast but small and expensive. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could transparently get the advantages of both? With Bcache, you can have your cake and eat it too.
via bcache.
Red Hat Announces RDO And OpenStack Partner Program
Installation is made easy with the Red Hat-developed installation tool, PackStack.
That last bit is interesting. OpenStack is a complex suite of tools, and the installation process is non-trivial. Any work to streamline that will reduce at least one barrier to success.
As for the name, RDO? It stands for “Red Hat Distribution of OpenStack.
via Red Hat Announces RDO And OpenStack Partner Program | TechCrunch.
Hopefully this works with CentOS as well.
Introducing Chronos: A Replacement for Cron
Chronos has a number of advantages over regular cron. It allows you to schedule your jobs using ISO8601 repeating interval notation, which enables more flexibility in job scheduling. Chronos also supports the definition of jobs triggered by the completion of other jobs, and it also supports arbitrarily long dependency chains.
via Introducing Chronos: A Replacement for Cron – Airbnb Engineering.
In a complex processing pipeline every step increases the chance of failure. Until December last year, we were relying on a single instance with cron to kick off our hourly, daily and weekly ETL jobs. Cron is a really great tool but we wanted a system that allowed retries, was lightweight and provided an easy-to-use interface giving analysts quick insights into which jobs failed and which ones succeeded.
LG has no plans for Windows Phone 8 handsets
The Korean consumer electronics manufacturer remains open to using Microsoft’s mobile operating system, but doesn’t see a huge demand for the product.
via LG has no plans for Windows Phone 8 handsets | Mobile World Congress – CNET Reviews.