I thought I would start off the month with a collection of “power user” tips I have collected over the years. Some of these are real gems, some of them are just “been there, done that”. But all of them are useful. So, without further adieu, let’s get to the tippage!

Categories: Advice, Desktop Manager, Linux, Open Source, Software, Tutorials Basic

Nagios is not just a tool, it’s one of the best open source network monitors available. Nagios has a simple plug-in design that allows administrators to easily create their own checks and monitors. The problem that so many see with Nagios is that it is supposedly so difficult to install. That is not the case. [...]

Categories: Linux, Networks, Open Source, Security, Server, Software, Tools, Tutorials Basic

In a recent article (“Greenie Linux: A distribution for all users“) I mentioned a tool (used in Greenie Linux) called Ubuntu Tweak. This tool allows the user to make certain tweaks to your Ubuntu desktop that aren’t readily available in the default Ubuntu desktop. This tool allows you to make both desktop and system configurations [...]

Categories: Advice, Desktop Manager, Linux, Open Source, Software, Tutorials Basic

Recently (in my Pardus Linux article) Ghacks reader PeterB mentioned one of his favorite distributions Greenie Linux. Of course I had to give this a whirl and see what it was all about. At first I was a bit disappointed in that this Slovakian distribution had dropped English language support on the site. So learning [...]

Categories: Advice, Linux, Operating Systems

One of the nice, but somewhat hidden, features of the upcoming Ubuntu 10.4 release is that you can access chatting, tweeting, and social network all from a simple panel applet. Now I will warn you, this feature is not production-worthy. In other words, it will crash on you. But to see what is in store [...]

Categories: Desktop Manager, Facebook, Linux, Open Source, Tutorials Basic

I couple of months ago I covered what was to be expected in the upcoming release of Ubuntu (Lucid Lynx – 10.4). This release will happen in April 2010 and is much anticipated by users across the globe. I have installed the Alpha of 10.4 and have been using it for a while now. It [...]

Categories: Desktop Manager, Linux, Open Source

For some users, sound in Linux is nothing short of a nightmare. Even once beyond the initial setup of your hardware (a task that is usually handled automatically at install) some still have trouble trying to figure out where and how to manage their sound. In this tutorial I will show you which tools to [...]

Categories: Advice, Desktop Manager, Hardware, Linux, Open Source, Tutorials Basic

Every once in a while the Ubuntu User Days Developer Team offers classes for Ubuntu users where you can join a chat room and ask your Ubuntu questions. One of those days is (with little warning from yours truly) today. Although IRC is, to many, a rather antiquated tool, others find it incredibly helpful. So [...]

Categories: Advice, Linux, Networks, Online Services, Open Source, The Web, Tutorials Basic

The new year is here and you have made a resolution to give Linux a try. A noble resolution and one that will be met, initially, with much confusion. Why? Linux isn’t like Windows where your choice is limited to a single release with different features (depending upon how much you want to spend) or [...]

Categories: Advice, ask the readers, Linux, Open Source, Operating Systems