Convince me to use Linux

[convince_me]

Okay -- I've been looking around for a while (including on this board) - I think I may be ready to try Linux. However, I need some more convincing:
1) I'm paranoid. I currently use "Cookie Pal" so my browser automatically rejects certain cookies, and allows others (like the cookies this board sets) - Is there a comparable program for Linux?
2) I use FilemakerPro. Is there a GOOD database program for Linux?
3) This may be stupid, but hey.. Is there a utility to defragment your hard drive in Linux? Or isn't that necessary because of the way Linux handles files, etc. ?
4) Again, I'm paranoid, so: I use ZoneAlarm on my Win system to prevent unauthorized access to my computer while I'm online. Is there a program that does the same for Linux? (I know you can set up a secure system, but until I learn how to do that, I will still need a secure setup.)

There are more questions, I'm sure -- I'll just have to ask them as I think of 'em :)

ANY help at all would be great! And please -- I'm looking for help. Please don't reply with things like "because it's not Micro$oft" or "because it ROCKS".... I'm really looking for serious answers.

Thanks in advance guys (and gals :D )

[Craig McPherson]

1) I'm paranoid. I currently use "Cookie Pal" so my browser automatically rejects certain cookies, and allows others (like the cookies this board sets) - Is there a comparable program for Linux?

Use Junkbuster. It's much more flexible than anything you'll find in Windows. It's a configurable filtering proxy program.


2) I use FilemakerPro. Is there a GOOD database program for Linux?

That depends on if you're looking for a simple flat-file database like FileMaker or Access, or for a real relational client/server database.

I'm not too familiar with what sort of simple database programs are available in Linux, but I'm sure the KDE office suite includes one, and I think there are several otehr free ones available as well.

If you're willing to learn SQL, you can move to an advanced database like MySQL or PostgreSQL.

3) This may be stupid, but hey.. Is there a utility to defragment your hard drive in Linux? Or isn't that necessary because of the way Linux handles files, etc. ?

There is a defrag utility, but you don't really need to use it. Most people don't use it. If your Linux filesystem has been in constant use for five years, it might be a good idea, but it's really not needed for most people.

4) Again, I'm paranoid, so: I use ZoneAlarm on my Win system to prevent unauthorized access to my computer while I'm online. Is there a program that does the same for Linux?

Win9x is insecure even if you DO have one of those personal firewall programs running (though I do love Zonealarm, when I'm forced to use Win).

Linux has a firewall built into the kernel. You don't use userland firewalls -- you can use userland programs to feed rules into the kernel's firewall, but you always use the firewall that's in the kernel itself.

There are several "for dummies" firewall programs that feed rules into the firewall so you don't have to, but I really recommend doing your own firewall script so you really know what's going on.

Fortunately, with kernel 2.4 and iptables, you can set up an extremely secure firewall with just a few rules by blocking ALL connection attemps to your machine, regardless of source, protocol, etc -- you'll be able to connect to the Internet fully, but nobody will be able to connect to your machine as a server.

Once you have some more understanding of things and decide to play around with running servers on your machine, you can get rid of that simple firewall and write a more complex one of your own that only allows in what you want.

[prince_kenshi]

Well I'm not sure about 2 and 3 but I'll answer 1 and 4 as well as I can.

1. Several of the browsers let you choose if you want to accept browsers. I saw from someone on here that you can simlink the cookies directory to the null device so that it accepts the cookies and throws them away immediately. I believe there are also programs like you are talking about that filters out certain cookies but I can't give you the name of any programs.

4. Linux comes with a firewall built-in. It's simple to configure; you just tell it what ports to open on your computer. It even has paranoid settings which you might like. With some Linux distros, the firewall comes setup fairly loosely by default but again it's easy to fix that.

On a side note, whether you can get everything just as you like it or not, you should at least give it a try. That's what dualbooting is for. I use primarily Linux now but I keep Windows 2000 for certain software or when I need a feature from it that I haven't yet learned on Linux or even for in case I totally screw up Linux and I'll have a backup operating system to use. By the way, I've only been using Linux for a few weeks now. It's not as hard as people would have you to believe. I hope you give it a shot.

[lord sibn]

Personally, my first recommendation is to not use Linux unless you want to. if you don't want to, then there's not much point in learning, now, is there? I didn't start using linux because I could do things with it that I could already do with Windows- for me, it was filling a need. And it was something I really, really wanted to do. There's a lot of common answers to your question, chief among them, stability, price, flexibility. There are oftentimes disadvantages as well: In my case, my printer was not a compatible device.

Since it's a whole new 'culture,' you can expect to be doing things very differently. I don't care what your KDE (or insert other desktop, Gnome, Xfce, etc) user tells you, it only resembles Windows in appearance- and not even that, most of the time. It takes a shift in your thinking. If you are interested in learning something new, that's good for you; this will be something new.

In the end, I don't think I have the power to convince you to use Linux; you have to convince yourself. We'll be here to answer questions, regardless your decision. :)

[Aikidoka]

In the end, I don't think I have the power to convince you to use Linux; you have to convince yourself. We'll be here to answer questions, regardless your decision. :)


All these folks that answered before my post are right and gave you good honest answers. As for me linux is something new that I wanted and still want to learn about in great detail, but the thing that really helped me take that last step into it is the people and how many of them are willing to share their experiences and knowledge with you and others. With linux, there is always someone out there to help you and that my friend is true "Open Source".

I want to thank all the folks here at LNO for their inputs on every subject. I learn more from reading here than anywhere else.
:D

[ 17 February 2001: Message edited by: veloctTX ]

[convince_me]

Hmm -- Well to be honest, I really do want to learn Linux. As much as I love certain software (namely Photoshop and WordPerfect Office 2000) - I am tired of Windows. It's boring! Move the mouse here, click there. Bing bang boom. Thank you, it may or may not be done.

I'm also QUITE tired of having to reboot for every little tiny change I make. (For instance, the other day I turned file sharing OFF. For this, I had to insert the Win98 CD, let the computer copy files and THEN reboot the system!! Why can't it just turn sharing on/off ??)

Anyway - this (among MANY other reasons, is why I want to change OS's) - Thank you very much for your input. I downloaded RedHat 6.2 a while ago and burned a CD of it.. Maybe that will be today's project :cool:

Before I do however --- I only have a 2.3GB hard drive on the system I want to put Linux on.. I'm assuming this is plenty of room, no?

[milanuk]

2.3 gig should be plenty for a healthy Linux system by itself, might be a tad crowded if you are going to try a dual-boot. Also, the more 'user-friendly' distros like Mandrake tend to load more software that you may or may not need by default, and can easily eay at least half of your HD space. Some distro's like Slackware or Debian can easily fit w/i a few hundred MB, though you might be lacking X. You can achieve much the same results in Mandrake, SuSE, or RedHat by some selective culling of packages either before or after install.

All in all, you should have enough hard drive space.

Monte

[buttersoft]

Well with trepidation I am taking the plunge to SUSE on a laptop and a Zaurus. Leaving behing Win XP and Psion. No dual boot. Format laptop and start all over again with Linux.

Not because of anything except I want to, the time is now.

I have a lot to learn if the past few days are anything to go by.

I want Linux for stability, for the community of like minded individuals, and of course to escape the <doze> and <bloat> above all.

I wonder how it is going to work out.

[raab]

Originally posted by Craig McPherson

Fortunately, with kernel 2.4 and iptables, you can set up an extremely secure firewall with just a few rules by blocking ALL connection attemps to your machine, regardless of source, protocol, etc -- you'll be able to connect to the Internet fully, but nobody will be able to connect to your machine as a server.How do I do that? Do you have any tutorials explaining it or anything? I have been wondering how to and don't want to use a GUI front end.

[mdwatts]

Anyone notice this thread is 18 months old?

Bringing it back from the dead???

[fancypiper]

Originally posted by mdwatts
Anyone notice this thread is 18 months old?

Bringing it back from the dead??? Maybe buttersoft took your advise and decided to "Search first.... Ask second." :D

[jamescovDTX]

Hi,

I would like to start by saying that I come from a Windows background and I'm new to linux as well. It will be very different then what you are used to with Windows but you will quickly make the adjustment. I've only been using Linux (RedHat 7.3) for about a three weeks and I love it. You've got to remember, when you started using Windows you didn't know much about it either but you learned to use it. The same thing will happen with Linux. We will all do anything we can to answer your questions.

Best of Luck,
James

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by fancypiper
Maybe buttersoft took your advise and decided to "Search first.... Ask second." :D

That's all fine and dandy, but some start asking questions of the originators of the thread and then wonder why they don't respond.

Most if not all of them do not even frequent this board anymore.

[ac271]

I'm also QUITE tired of having to reboot for every little tiny change I make. (For instance, the other day I turned file sharing OFF. For this, I had to insert the Win98 CD, let the computer copy files and THEN reboot the system!! Why can't it just turn sharing on/off ??)
R: I think that happens because Windows 98 does have a single security descriptor on local machine and any changes in sharing, security etc. leave the system almost defenseless. So the logoff/reboot is mandatory since such security changes can leave the door wide open... (At least I remember reading something like this in MSDN). Windows NT or later manages differently the security, have different desktops for services and (local) accounts, administrative sharing under system control etc.).

Anyway - this (among MANY other reasons, is why I want to change OS's) ...
R: I don't know if Linux executes the network layer in kernel mode, but I suppose Windows does this (and I agree this is a compromise...) and that's why there are so many reboots on Windows. Change something in networking security + kernel executes networking --> (you can imagine). Also updating the shell often requires restart - on Linux, Gnome, KDE, event X itself are no more than processes (user processes ? - not sure...) running as you like. So you can stop and start them any time. (There is no windows konsole mode and the GUI layer a simple process that you can start as you wish. You can, however, set cmd.exe as your default shell and run explorer or anything else as needed, but also cmd.exe requires GUI).

Another point that impose the restart (and not the logoff) can be the RegisterServiceProcess existing on Win9x kernel32.dll - this one allows a process to remain active even the user logged off. Although very useful, this routine (that simulates somewhat the Windows NT services) also leave the door open for a hack.

Suppose the scenario: Mail attachment --> hack.exe --> RegisterServiceProcess --> change security --> HACK --> logoff but the hack.exe is still active etc. etc. etc. You can go on even on Windows NT and inject a MSGina replacement and God helps your WinLogon.exe...

All the best,
Cristian 'Sardaukar' Amarie

[sharth]

Hey, all I hope is that he got some good documentation on his modem or nic. It kinda sucks if you don't have a spare computer around to search on the internet that for the ne2000 you need to use tulip drivers. :) And even then, untill you read something about kernel rebuilding, you wont understand that. Hey, I didn't even bother to learn how to use Modprobe, i just build it all into the kernel :-D

[danielvm]

hi, how can i access to the built in firewall so i can change or create new rules?

I'm using mandrake 9.0 and KDE3

[Allen614]

Open a root terminal and type "tinyfirewall". If the neccesary rpms aren't loaded it will ask for them.

[slapNUT]

The interesting thing is that Craig McPhersons title is DOES NOT EXIST. Now we have only been able to edit our titles for a short time. So Craig must still be active here. But the last time I counted Craig had over 8000 posts not 1800.

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by slapNUT
The interesting thing is that Craig McPhersons title is DOES NOT EXIST. Now we have only been able to edit our titles for a short time. So Craig must still be active here. But the last time I counted Craig had over 8000 posts not 1800.

Unless the account has been deleted.

[Ludootje]

Originally posted by Craig McPherson
That depends on if you're looking for a simple flat-file database like FileMaker or Access, or for a real relational client/server database.

I'm not too familiar with what sort of simple database programs are available in Linux, but I'm sure the KDE office suite includes one, and I think there are several otehr free ones available as well.
AFAIK, there's only the one which comes with staroffice (which isn't open source, and therefroe not included in soto office/openoffice). are you really sure there's one with kde or whatever else? I never found one...
From koffice.org:

In the KOffice suite the following parts are being developed:

KWord - A frame-based word processor capable of professional standard documents
KSpread - A powerful spreadsheet application.
KPresenter - A full-featured presentation program.
Kivio - A Visio®-style flowcharting application.
Kontour - A vector drawing application.
Krita - A raster-based image manipulation program like The GIMP or Adobe© Photoshop®.
Kugar - A tool for generating business quality reports.
KChart - An integrated graph and chart drawing tool.
KFormula - A powerful formula editor.

None in the koffice suite... I think this is something which is missing in linux.

For the author of this topic: you could install MySQL (database), apache (webserver), php4 and phpmyadmin (tool to administrate your mysql db written in php), but it's quite complex as you can probably imagine.

There is a defrag utility, but you don't really need to use it. Most people don't use it. If your Linux filesystem has been in constant use for five years, it might be a good idea, but it's really not needed for most people.
Could you give the name(s) of such a defragmentation utility(ies)?


oh and btw: http://www.trollaxor.com/ isn't accessible (500 Server Error) - update your sig :)

[Ludootje]

http://mdbtools.sourceforge.net/
This app reads MS access files, have a look at it, maybe it writes to them too.
http://mdbtools.sourceforge.net/gmdb/gmdbscreenshot.gif

[Ludootje]

well it seems like you can't use MDB like access.
it's just a convertor apparently. if you had used access instead of filemaker pro under windows, then it would've been useful to you :)
You should browse trough the projects listed here: http://freshmeat.net/browse/66/?topic_id=66