OK, so according to one of my friends I have way too many blogs out there and I should stop posting, but really I can’t see the problem.
Welcome!
OK, so according to one of my friends I have way to many blogs out there and I should stop posting, but really I can't see the problem.
I use blogs as a way of communicating with readers - I write a lot, not just for Free Software Magazine but also for Linux Today, Serverwatch, IBM developerWorks, Computerworld and of course one or two books 
I also use blogs as a way to publish information in a way that is easy to use (from my perspective) and easy for my readers to read and subscribe too (through RSS feeds, as well as natively through the site). I also use separate blogs so that it is easier for individuals to focus on specific information. I have a wide variety of interests and experience, not just in the FOSS space but also with Microsoft, Solaris, HP-UX, Mac OS X, printing, graphic design and a whole host of other stuff. Now imagine putting that into a single blog...
So, this new blog here at FSM is where I'm going to concentrate on my free software and open source thoughts and I'm really planning on this being a source for more technical material that doesn't fit into one of my other existing blogs. Notice the word planning. Although I do often write thoughts that spring to mind, I like to plan content, so you can expect to see common themes and threads as well as occasional requests for suggestions on content. For example, I've planning on posting some information on how to use some FOSS tools we all know and love for IT Admin, only they are not the ones you might expect!
If you want a more generalized look at all of the professional material I write you may want to take a look at MCslp.com. For an aggregate look at all of the blogging and sites I use and manage, use Planet MCslp.
Any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
‘Commercialization of open source’
Just occasionally you read something and then have to re-read just to make sure that it said what you read the first time round.
Well, a recent post on the Windows Server Division Weblog this morning has had me reading the same single paragaph so many times I've lost count.
The whole thing is only a paragraph long. You can read the original here, but I'll pull out the line that drew my attention.
This isn't the first time Forbes - a purveyor of capitalism - has pointed out the schism in the open source community as we see more commercialization of open source.
Contingency plans under test again
I was fitting a replacement DVD+RW drive to one of the machines today and when I plugged it back in, the PSU on this unit (which I've had odd experiences with before) blew.
It did so in spectacular fashion - not only did it blow, but it also tripped the UPS and the UPS blew the fuse on the plug. The UPS is toast - I'm waiting for a judgement from APC on what to do next.
Fortunately I'm prepared - I have two UPS units, and each one is capable of protecting all the equipment in the server room. By splitting it in two, I can be sure that I'm protected in the event of a failure of one of the units. Obviously I had some kind of subliminal premonition.
Linux vs Windows ROI
While I was at LinuxWorld Expo last week (you can now read my full report on the show) I spent some time on the Centrify stand. Their product allows direct login from a Unix, Linux or OS X host into an Active Directory. As part of those discussions we talked about heterogeneous networks at the role of Linux in a modern IT company. In particular, we both agreed that there are very few situations where Linux is going to be used in an exclusive or ubiquitous installation - it's going to part of a wider range of hardware, operating systems and environments in use at a company.
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
Back in April I reviewed/reported on the Logitech Cordless Comfort Duo Black keyboard and mouse combination.
On the whole, I was happy with it, but recently some of the little niggles that I had with the keyboard had started to get on nerves. Chief among these were the damn Logitech key (which takes you to the Logitech website and which, placed on the right hand side with the keypad is too easy to press; there is no way to disable it - I removed the key top, but it was an untidy solution), the slow response on the media keys, the annoying inability to conveniently swap the Apple/Option keys around (you had to choose a separate keyboard layout, but this would often be forgotten by the OS; not directly Logitech's fault, but the MS solution is much more effective); the provision of only four customizable application keys.
Learning as a new OSS player with OpenSolaris
The OpenSolaris community is very active at the moment, partially because it's a comparatively new project, but mostly because it is a very interesting project. You have the bulk of the Solaris community on board and interested and you have dis-illusioned Linux users who want to use an OS with a longer heritage.
That's lead to a lot differences of opinion on the dicussion groups, some unsurprising OS religious debates but on the whole a lot of good discussion on what is wrong, what is right and still needs to be done.
This is a relatively new area for the open source movement. Most open source products started out that way, here we have a 20 year old commercial product, and a very successful one, and are making it an open source project. That's a big undertaking and its likely that some lessons will be learnt.
LinuxWorld Expo 2005 Report
I recently attended the LinuxWorld Expo 2005 here in London, UK on the 5th October. This was the first dedicated Linux show I’ve been to, and I have to say I was impressed. It was a lot smaller than I expected - about 60 stands - and some of the larger companies weren’t brilliantly represented (a virtually non-existent IBM presence, for example), but there were some gems of products and companies, and a few little surprises along the way.
I’ve got a full report on Linux Today - some nuggets include the Sun stand, the Centrify software and the fun and games of the Gentoo stand.
Microsoft changes virtualization licensing terms
I'm a big fan of virtualization, mostly because if configured correctly it provides an easy way to make better use of your system resources and, for a heavy tester like me, it provides an excellent way to run and test multiple operating systems, applications and environments without requiring lots of hardware.
From a business perspective, virtualization can be a licensing nightmare. It can also be prohibitively expensive. Although Microsoft's Virtual PC software will work on servers, the Virtual Server product is a much better solution.
Now Microsoft have changed their licensing model. Providing you are virtualizing Windows servers, from Windows Server 2003 R2 you can run up to four virtual servers for free.
Open source licensing
Martin Streicher - someone I've worked with before on open source projects - has started what looks set to be a definitive guide to open source licensing.
It makes hefty reading, so I suggest you print it out and read it in the comfort of an armchair, but the points Martin makes and his approach don't make it difficult to follow. Just be prepared to absorb a lot of information.
Trust me, it'll be vital reading.