Ubuntu Tips n Tricks: July 2009

Thursday, July 30, 2009

10 Cool Unix/Linux Personalized License Plates

Posted: 30 Jul 2009 03:42 AM PDT

Some people have taken their love for Unix and Linux on the streets literally by displaying their Unix/Linux-related personalized license plates. Though I haven't actually seen one in real life yet, I have collected several photos that will show some of these cool custom license plates in action, which I'm going to share with all of you.

1. UID 0

Credit: meanasspenguin.org

2. Got Unix

Credit: stickman.org

3. GNU linux

Credit: LarryTheOpenSourceGuy

4. I Do Unix

Credit: gelkote.net

5. Ubuntu

Credit: graysky

6. su root

Credit: Tony Webster

7. Linuks

Credit: P0z3r

8. Linux Geek

Credit: AdamVandenberg

9. Sendmail

Credit: blmurch

10. rm -rf *

Credit: stealthsettings.com

Bonus: Do you recognize this old guy?

If you've seen other Unix/Linux-related custom license plates that I failed to include here, please share the links to us via comment.

Play Classic Super Nintendo (SNES) Games on Ubuntu Linux

Posted: 29 Jul 2009 09:47 PM PDT

Perhaps most of our readers are old enough to have experienced playing some of the popular video games of the 80's and the early 90's on Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Although the visual graphics looked pretty much garbage when compared to today's games, I know how enjoyable those classic games were and still think about the countless hours that I've spent just to get to the highest level and ultimately kill the evil boss. So if you are like me who wants to relive the good old days of gaming, you don't have to purchase an old NES or SNES console to do it. Because if you have a Linux box, or in this case Ubuntu, then you are good to go.

Here's a step-by-step instruction on how you can easily play classic SNES games on Ubuntu:

1. First, you will have to install an SNES emulator. There are actually several SNES emulators that are available for Linux, but I would recommend you use the popular ZSNES. To get the ZSNES package on Ubuntu, just open Synaptic Package Manager, look for "zsnes" and install it. Or you can do it quick and dirty via the Linux terminal with this command:

sudo apt-get install zsnes

2. Now that you have ZSNES installed, you will need to get some games by downloading SNES ROMs. --Search for them on Google or on Bit Torrent sites. They say that it is illegal to download ROMs so it's up to you to take the risk. The downloaded games will be in .zip format but there's no need to extract them.

3. It's time to open the ZSNES emulator, and on Ubuntu it should be at Applications --> Games.

4. From the ZSNES "GAME" menu, load the SNES ROM by navigating to where you saved it.

5. After loading the SNES ROM, you can now start playing. While the game is running, you can press ESC to access the menu bar. Feel free to explore other options and configure ZSNES to your own liking.

Have fun!

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 07/30/2009

HowtoForge Newsletter 07/30/2009
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New HOWTOs:
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* Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On Ubuntu 9.04 (LAMP)
* Creating Snapshot-Backups with BackerUpper On Ubuntu 9.04
* Setting Up ProFTPd + TLS On Debian Lenny
* Setting Up Subversion W/ WebDav, Post-Commit Hook & Multiple Sites On Jaunty Jackalope (Ubuntu 9.04)
* Recompiling PHP5 With Bundled Support For GD On Ubuntu
* Configuring Slony-I Cascading Replication On PostgreSQL 8.3
* Paravirtualized Gentoo 2009 domU Using Debian Lenny
* Using Address Table Object In Firewall Builder

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Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On Ubuntu 9.04 (LAMP)
====================================================================

LAMP is short for Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP. This tutorial shows how you can install an Apache2 webserver on an Ubuntu 9.04 server with PHP5 support (mod_php) and MySQL support.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-apache2-with-php5-and-mysql-support-on-ubuntu-9.04-lamp

Creating Snapshot-Backups with BackerUpper On Ubuntu 9.04
=========================================================

BackerUpper is a tool similar to Apple's TimeMachine. It is intended to create snapshot-backups of selected directories or even your full hard drive. From the BackerUpper project page: "Backerupper is a simple program for backing up selected directories over a local network. Its main intended purpose is backing up a user's personal data." This article shows how to install and use BackerUpper on Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope).

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/creating-snapshot-backups-with-backerupper-on-ubuntu-9.04

Setting Up ProFTPd + TLS On Debian Lenny
========================================

FTP is a very insecure protocol because all passwords and all data are transferred in clear text. By using TLS, the whole communication can be encrypted, thus making FTP much more secure. This article explains how to set up ProFTPd with TLS on a Debian Lenny server.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/setting-up-proftpd-tls-on-debian-lenny

Setting Up Subversion W/ WebDav, Post-Commit Hook & Multiple Sites On Jaunty Jackalope (Ubuntu 9.04)
====================================================================================================

This tutorial was designed for someone setting up their 1st Jaunty Jackalope (Ubuntu 9.04) - Subversion server. When I first started with Subversion, I became very frustrated with the many tutorials that were vague on the key part of what I was installing... Subversion! I included some "ease of use" packages for us Linux newbs :).

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/setting-up-subversion-with-webdav-post-commit-hook-and-multiple-sites-on-jaunty-jackalope-ubuntu-9.04

Recompiling PHP5 With Bundled Support For GD On Ubuntu
======================================================

You'll learn how to recompile PHP5 with bundled support for GD on Ubuntu to use advanced GD functions for image editing, like desaturation, and so on.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/recompiling-php5-with-bundled-support-for-gd-on-ubuntu

Configuring Slony-I Cascading Replication On PostgreSQL 8.3
===========================================================

This guide is aimed at users that would like to configure Slony-I to replicate a database from a master to a slave on different hosts.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/configuring-slony-i-cascading-replication-on-postgresql-8.3

Paravirtualized Gentoo 2009 domU Using Debian Lenny
===================================================

This guide will help you to create gentoo paravirtualized xen guest under Debian Lenny. Since Gentoo 2008.0 release is deprecated, so we will use current gentoo stage.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/paravirtualized-gentoo-2009-domu-using-debian-lenny

Using Address Table Object In Firewall Builder
==============================================

This article continues the series of articles on Fireall Builder, a graphical firewall configuration and management tool that supports many Open Source firewall platforms as well as Cisco IOS access lists and Cisco ASA (PIX). This article demonstrates how you can build firewall rules matching sets of ip addresses stored in external files.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/using-address-table-object-in-firewall-builder

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Monday, July 27, 2009

Weekly Ten (7-27-2009)

Posted: 27 Jul 2009 12:57 AM PDT

10 Latest News, Blogs, Tips, and Reviews that I find Interesting and Useful:

1. Bacteria make computers look like pocket calculators
Computers are evolving – literally. While the tech world argues netbooks vs notebooks, synthetic biologists are leaving traditional computers behind altogether. A team of US scientists have engineered bacteria that can solve complex mathematical problems faster than anything made from silicon.
More @ Guardian.co.uk

2. OSCON: The saga of MySQL
At OSCON in 2006, I followed sessions that discussed how open source companies would fare when big corporations come in. Back then there were only a handful of examples of big companies purchasing small open source companies. Three years later, we've witnessed MySQL AB get swallowed by Sun, only to have Sun be swallowed by Oracle. Now there are more open questions than ever and at least three versions of MySQL that are jockeying to continue the MySQL blood-line.
More @ OreillyRadar

3. Digital activism on YouTube
Activism today isn't limited to picket lines and marches on the Mall — people have taken their movements to the web, and YouTube has become an important platform for exposure. Every day, people use YouTube to fight for causes, whether they're hunger-striking celebrities like Mia Farrow, or 9-year-olds trying to save the neighborhood kickball lot from destruction.
More @ Googleblog

4. Gentle safe cracker

More @ HackaDay

5. Apple's much-anticipated tablet device coming early next year
After four years of meticulous developmental riddled with setbacks, Apple is now racing toward an early 2010 launch of a device that may see the electronics maker redefine the portable computing market for the second time in twice as many years.
More @ AppleInsider

6. A Summer of Linux Delights
For FOSS devotees who'd like a sprinkling of Linux refreshment this summer, there's a wide assortment of good Linux news -- and a little Linux nonsense -- to choose from. Among other things, bask in the knowledge that Red Hat has become the first Linux company to join the Fortune 500. Also, MontaVista has clocked a one-second boot time for embedded industrial apps.
More @ LinuxInsider

7. Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man
A robot that can open doors and find electrical outlets to recharge itself. Computer viruses that no one can stop. Predator drones, which, though still controlled remotely by humans, come close to a machine that can kill autonomously.
More @ NYTimes.com

8. Custom-made Luke Skywalker USB drive is impressive. Most impressive.

More @ Engadget

9. Palm Pre Is the Most Open Mobile Platform on the Market
Analysis: But why did Palm want to keep the SDK out of power users' and developers' hands when the WebOS platform was all about the ease with which new apps could be created in JavaScript?
More @ PCWorld.com

10. 10 Recently Extinct Animals
Mankind has the honor of quite possibly being the most destructive force to ever hit mother nature. This list looks at some of the more recent, probably lesser known extinctions that humans have lent a helping hand to. Whether by over hunting or over population, driving a species to extinction is nothing to be proud of and it's certainly not slowing down.
More @ Listverse

Saturday, July 25, 2009

20 “Really Cool” Tux Icons for Sports Enthusiasts

Posted: 25 Jul 2009 02:13 AM PDT

Before, we've posted here several cool and funny tux icons and some scary ones too. This time, we will showcase some of the finest tux icons that sports fans/Linux-users may love. So without further delay, in no particular order, here they are:

1. Yankees Tux By pusio