[HowtoForge] Newsletter 03/22/2012

HowtoForge Newsletter 03/22/2012
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

With the ISPConfig Monitor App, you can check your server status and find out if all services are running as expected. You can check TCP and UDP ports and ping your servers. In addition to that you can use this app to request details from servers that have ISPConfig installed; these details include everything you know from the Monitor module in the ISPConfig Control Panel (e.g. services, mail and system logs, mail queue, CPU and memory info, disk usage, quota, OS details, RKHunter log, etc.).

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

We at HowtoForge are proud to announce that our new Facebook page is now available under http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge. As most of you probably have a Facebook account, we want to use this additional channel to post updates and get feedback from you. Therefore we would like you to "Like" our page, share it with your friends, post comments, etc. :-)

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* Server Monitoring With munin And monit On Debian Squeeze
* Using ATA Over Ethernet (AoE) On Debian Squeeze (Initiator And Target)
* How To Set Up Apache2 With mod_fcgid And PHP5 On Debian Squeeze
* Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On CentOS 6.2 (LAMP)
* CentOS 6.2 Samba Standalone Server With tdbsam Backend
* Virtual Hosting With PureFTPd And MySQL (Incl. Quota And Bandwidth Management) On CentOS 6.2

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Server Monitoring With munin And monit On Debian Squeeze
========================================================

In this article I will describe how you can monitor your Debian Squeeze server with munin and monit. munin produces nifty little graphics about nearly every aspect of your server (load average, memory usage, CPU usage, MySQL throughput, eth0 traffic, etc.) without much configuration, whereas monit checks the availability of services like Apache, MySQL, Postfix and takes the appropriate action such as a restart if it finds a service is not behaving as expected. The combination of the two gives you full monitoring: graphics that lets you recognize current or upcoming problems, and a watchdog that ensures the availability of the monitored services.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/server-monitoring-with-munin-and-monit-on-debian-squeeze

Using ATA Over Ethernet (AoE) On Debian Squeeze (Initiator And Target)
======================================================================

This guide explains how you can set up an AoE target and an AoE initiator (client), both running Debian Squeeze. AoE stands for "ATA over Ethernet" and is a storage area network (SAN) protocol which allows AoE initiators to use storage devices on the (remote) AoE target using normal ethernet cabling. "Remote" in this case means "inside the same LAN" because AoE is not routable outside a LAN (this is a major difference compared to iSCSI). To the AoE initiator, the remote storage looks like a normal, locally-attached hard drive.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/using-ata-over-ethernet-aoe-on-debian-squeeze-initiator-and-target

How To Set Up Apache2 With mod_fcgid And PHP5 On Debian Squeeze
===============================================================

This tutorial describes how you can install Apache2 with mod_fcgid and PHP5 on Debian Squeeze. mod_fcgid is a compatible alternative to the older mod_fastcgi. It lets you execute PHP scripts with the permissions of their owners instead of the Apache user.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-set-up-apache2-with-mod_fcgid-and-php5-on-debian-squeeze

Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On CentOS 6.2 (LAMP)
===================================================================

LAMP is short for Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP. This tutorial shows how you can install an Apache2 webserver on a CentOS 6.2 server with PHP5 support (mod_php) and MySQL support.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-apache2-with-php5-and-mysql-support-on-centos-6.2-lamp

CentOS 6.2 Samba Standalone Server With tdbsam Backend
======================================================

This tutorial explains the installation of a Samba fileserver on CentOS 6.2 and how to configure it to share files over the SMB protocol as well as how to add users. Samba is configured as a standalone server, not as a domain controller. In the resulting setup, every user has his own home directory accessible via the SMB protocol and all users have a shared directory with read-/write access.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/centos-6.2-samba-standalone-server-with-tdbsam-backend

Virtual Hosting With PureFTPd And MySQL (Incl. Quota And Bandwidth Management) On CentOS 6.2
============================================================================================

This document describes how to install a PureFTPd server that uses virtual users from a MySQL database instead of real system users. This is much more performant and allows to have thousands of ftp users on a single machine. In addition to that I will show the use of quota and upload/download bandwidth limits with this setup. Passwords will be stored encrypted as MD5 strings in the database. This tutorial is based on CentOS 6.2.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/virtual-hosting-with-pureftpd-and-mysql-incl-quota-and-bandwidth-management-on-centos-6.2

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

For a monthly fee of 5 EUR or 25 EUR for half a year, you can become a HowtoForge supporter and help us cover our costs (servers, bandwidth, etc.) and support ISPConfig development. In return, you receive the following benefits:

1. Download the ISPConfig 3 Manual (from http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual).
2. Access the whole HowtoForge web site without any ads.
3. Download the results of our tutorials as VMware images (where available) (a list of downloadable VMware images is available here: http://www.howtoforge.com/list-of-downloadable-vmware-images).
4. Download our tutorials as PDF files.
5. View our tutorials as printer-friendly pages.
6. You will be marked as a "HowtoForge Supporter" in your forum posts.
7. Plus, you support the ISPConfig development.

If you have the free VMware Server or Player installed, you can import our VMware images and start playing around with the results of our tutorials immediately. It's a great way to track down problems with your own setup or simply to save time. ;-)

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

TechSource: How Linux Can Bring Life To Your Old PC

---

How Linux Can Bring Life To Your Old PC Posted: 21 Mar 2012 05:09 AM PDT Despite all the excitement that comes with buying a new computer, it is rather hard to bid adieu to the old one, even more so, if you've invested a lot of money and time in building it. That said, it's not always the case that we have to throw the old one out of the window. If we're a bit tech-savvy, we can utilize the outmoded personal computer as a secondary device; however, with the latest versions of Windows and Mac being incompatible with outdated computers, it's not always possible to resuscitate a dying PC. Don't worry though, because this is where our friendly neighborhood Linux operating system steps in. Linux, apart from being a popular desktop and server operating system, can be used to turn a computer into a torrent downloader, firewall or a full-fledged media server. So, if you too are looking to bring your old PC to life, here are some handy tips that could help you do it with the help of Linux: As a Firewall If your home has more than 2 computers, it's not too late to start thinking about your network's security. A firewall functions like the security guard at your door by keeping a watch on everyone who goes in and out. By allowing only legitimate connections to pass through and blocking connections based on a certain set of rules, the firewall secures the network from most kinds of threats that lurk around on the Internet. Linux can be used in this case to turn your old machine into a watchful firewall device. To do that, all you have to do is download a firewall distribution and install it. Here's a list of the best firewall distributions to get you started: 5 Best Linux/BSD Firewall Distributions Torrent Downloader If you use your brand new computer mainly for your work, you might not have the time to manage all your torrent downloads. Thankfully, though, your good old PC can transform itself into a full-fledged torrent downloading machine. To get started simply download your favorite distribution, install it, and then start up your preferred bit torrent client. If you're new to the world of torrents, we recommend you check out our earlier article (How to Use BitTorrent in Linux) wherein we've explained the basics of the file-sharing program in great detail. File/Print Server If you have a printer at home, it's not a bad idea to turn your old computer into a print server. You can then use the computer to handle all your printing jobs regardless of the fact that other computers in your house are running Windows, Mac, or Linux. Media Player/Server If you have a lot of movies, music, and TV shows loaded on to one of your computers, and you want to share it with the rest of the family, here's a nifty little tip for you. Use your old computer, install Linux on it, and store all your media files in there. You can then share those files with the rest of the devices in your house using a simple Linux setup. Though you might not want to spend any more money on a dying computer, it's not that bad an idea to invest in a hard disk with a slightly large capacity. To get started, you'll need your favorite distribution and a small amount of free time. Once you're set up, there's no need for any more tinkering. Web-browsing Kiosk There are days when your friends pop in for a drink or two and they ask you if they could browse the net from your computer. Then suddenly the possessive, prissy devil on your shoulder comes up with some fancy excuses for not letting them do so. If you're one of those people who value their privacy yet want to keep their friends, keeping a small web-browsing kiosk at home is not a bad idea. It doesn't matter how old a computer is, just load one of the lightweight Linux distros around and then install Chrome on it. Not only will it be easier for your insistent friends to browse the web, it will also be a useful tool that all your family members can use for browsing the web quickly. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

You are subscribed to email updates from TechSource To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

TechSource: Highly Recommended Android Apps for Bloggers/Blogging

---

Highly Recommended Android Apps for Bloggers/Blogging Posted: 17 Mar 2012 01:55 AM PDT Despite the soaring popularity of microblogging, content curation, and video logging, the good old way of publishing your thoughts on a blog hasn't really died out. Defying many predictions, blogging still rocks as it used to be about 3 or 4 years ago. An apt testament to this fact would be Mashable and TechCrunch, the two biggies in the business, which started out as modest websites and went on to become two of the most popular tech-related sites on the Internet. Despite the multitudes of blogging services offered right now, most bloggers prefer using either WordPress or Blogger. We at TechSource prefer Google-owned Blogger; however, you'll find many more sites relying on the open-source CMS WordPress. While it's easy to use those two services via the web, more and more bloggers prefer updating their site on the go. This is especially true for travel bloggers and citizen journalists. So, if you're a travel blogger, or a tech blogger like us, we've come up with an impressive list of all the best blogging tools for your Android device. Not only will these apps help you update your blog on the go, they'll also make it easy for you to chronicle your travel tales with a touch of a button. Blogger Blogger, the Google-run service is the most popular blogging platform around. With millions of users worldwide and almost no downtime, the free platform has managed to garner a huge fan following. Since the search giant is in charge of this service, they have developed an official Android app for it. The free application lets you publish posts (with photo uploads, labeling, and location information), view posts, and to a limit manage your Blogger account. If you own multiple accounts or blogs, the app lets you switch between them without any hassles. DOWNLOAD HERE Bloggeroid Though the aforementioned official app suffices most bloggers' needs, it still falls short when you need a little more control over the posts you publish. Solving this problem comes Bloggeroid which, once installed, lets you customize your drafts using simple wikisyntax. Also, the app lets you save and load your posts from SD card making it easier for you to backup and transfer them onto your computer. In all, Bloggeroid is a great alternative to the official Blogger app. DOWNLOAD HERE Travel Blog If you're planning to start a travel blog, this is an app that you'll find quite handy. Travel blog, as the name suggests, lets you blog your location along with a short description of the place. The app is a great way to publish your itinerary, which in turn will help your readers in their own travels if they were to make the same trip. And yes, the app is completely open-source! DOWNLOAD HERE Drupal Editor If you're blog is powered by Drupal, you can go for Drupal editor, which is a free app that lets you create and publish posts to your site. Though unofficial, it's nevertheless a useful tool for all the Drupal users around. DOWNLOAD HERE Tumblr If you're a Tumblr user, this next app lets you share photos, chats, links, texts, and even videos with all your readers. The free tool also lets you reply to messages, save drafts and manage multiple Tumblr accounts on the go. DOWNLOAD HERE WordPress WordPress, one of the most popular blogging platforms around is used by many top-notch blogs online. Their official app, once installed, brings the same WordPress experience to your little Android device. Either you're a self-hosted WordPress user (wordpress.org) or a WordPress.com user, you can easily write, edit, and publish your heart out with this free tool. To make things easier, the app includes an innovative dashboard that lets users quickly jump to and from any of the main menus (New Post, Comments, Drafts etc.). DOWNLOAD HERE

You are subscribed to email updates from TechSource To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

TechSource: Best Games For Google Plus

---

Best Games For Google Plus Posted: 16 Mar 2012 07:48 PM PDT In our earlier posts, we've already taught you almost everything that there is to know about Google Plus. The search giant's venture into social media has, as predicted, turned out to be quite a profitable investment. Though not a complete Facebook-killer (yet?) but it is still a platform that cannot simply be ignored. With a look slightly similar to the once popular Friendfeed, Google Plus has burst into the limelight with its simple interface, tight integration with other Google services, and lot of celebrity presence. Coming to the inevitable comparison with the dominant Facebook, Google Plus has brought along almost all the major features the Zuckerberg-owned company has been boasting of for so long. One of the most important of these changes has been the introduction of gaming, which, Google hopes will pull more users towards its nascent social network. So, if you too have joined G+ due to the huge amount of games it provides, or if you're just a Plussie interested in gaming, here are some of the best Google Plus games out there. Angry Birds Quite simply one of the most popular mobile games of all time, Angry Birds has managed to enthrall its audience across all ages. Initially available only on mobile devices, its immense popularity has made the bird-chucking adventure available across all platforms, including our beloved Google Plus. Edgeworld Set in year 2711, this sci-fi strategy game will keep you hooked for hours. You start off by building a base and raising your army. Once you're strong enough to fight, you demonstrate your prowess by attacking other players' bases. But hey, don't jump the gun just yet, as you too may get attacked sooner or later. And remember, if the attack is heavy, you'll have to start from scratch once that happens. Tips: Search on YouTube for some legit tricks that'll help you find weaknesses in opponents and farm resources. Also, try and make sure NOT to attack members of your own clan. CityVille CityVille is a game about creating and managing your own city. You, being the owner of the city, are responsible of growing crops, supplying goods, collecting rents, and expanding your businesses. If you get stuck, though, always feel free to ask for a little help from your friends. Shadow Fight If challenging your friends to a scrabble game is not your cup of tea, then perhaps it's time for something with a little more action. Shadow Fight is an amazing game that lets you fight with your friends like a true ninja. With easy-to-learn controls and nice graphics, the game keeps you battling your friends for hours. Crime City Becoming a mafia without getting arrested is not that easy to achieve. However, on the Internet, anything is possible, and so it is with Crime City. In the game, you start off as a fledgling criminal who advances his or her way through the crime world by beating up people, robbing people, and doing almost anything that gets you arrested in real life. With the money that comes from these activities, you can upgrade your hood and keep increasing your income. Bejeweled Blitz Bejeweled Blitz is an award-winning game that gives you 60 seconds to match as many gems as possible. Though the game is quite simple, the added boosters and power-ups make it quite an addictive time-waster. City of Wonder While CityVille lets you create a modern bustling city without leaving the comfort of your bedroom, City of Wonder is a game that allows you to build and progress your civilization from Stone Age to the modern era. GT Racing: Motor Academy Crave speed? Then GT Racing is a game you'll love to play for hours. One of the most graphically advanced games on the G+ platform, GT Racing lets you start your own racing career without leaving your house. The game includes cars from 26 different manufacturers including Nissan GT-R, Audi R8, and yes, there's Ferrari too! Though free-to-play for all, the game has slightly higher requirements when compared to other titles in this genre. It is advised to have at least 2 GB of RAM and a video card with 512 MB memory. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

You are subscribed to email updates from TechSource To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

TechSource: Handy Uses of Raspberry Pi Linux Computer

---

Handy Uses of Raspberry Pi Linux Computer Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:06 PM PDT Raspberry Pi, the $25 marvel has taken the tech community by storm. The single-board computer, developed in the UK by Raspberry Pi Foundation comes with a 700 MHz ARM processor, Videocore IV GPU, and 256 MB RAM (earlier it was 128 MB RAM). While those specs are nowhere near compared to what the latest laptops, or even the newest phones offer, it's ridiculously low price point is what makes it so amazing. Another interesting thing about Raspberry Pi is the fact that it will come with a Linux-based operating system (like Picotux - smallest Linux computer) and will include some useful tools to help users learn programming. The credit card-sized computer went on sale on 29th February, and immediately after the launch, their official websites crashed due to heavy traffic. Though not confirmed yet, rumors suggest that there have been over 2 million inquiries and pre-orders. As the Raspberry Pi has managed to create a much-needed disruption in the market, Linux lovers are basking in the glory of this newfound penguinian achievement. And we, Linux supporters to the very core, couldn't help but chime in and dish out our own market ideas for the low-cost prodigy. So, if you're as excited about it as we are, here are some of the best places where Raspberry Pi could be used: In schools One of the most revolutionary uses of Raspberry Pi would be in schools. With an extremely low price point, public schools as well as schools in developing countries can benefit from the new invention. Moreover, as it comes loaded with educational apps, it would be an economical as well as an effective way of introducing kids to programming. In developing countries The $25 price tag would make computing accessible for many people who can't already afford to buy a computer. While the iPads and the iPhones sell like pancakes, people in developing countries struggle to even get a glimpse of what a real computer is like. To them, Raspberry Pi would be a great boon as will help them buy their first computer without burning a huge hole in their pocket. In Internet cafes If you're an entrepreneur planning to start an Internet cafe in your area, you must watch out for Raspberry Pi. Not only will it save you from the huge costs of bootstrapping your business, it will also help you avoid having to deal with virus-ridden sluggish computers. That said, not all Internet cafes would be able to flaunt the mini masterpiece as some Internet users demand complimentary applications like Yahoo Messenger and Gtalk which are not available on Linux. However, a great workaround to that problem would be to introduce them to the web versions of their favorite apps. As public computers in libraries Notice those huge Windows-ridden computers in library? Oh, they're so slow and sometimes filled with viruses. Raspberry Pi can serve as a great alternative to those antiques by providing efficient, basic computing that is exactly what a place like a public library needs. Furthermore, having the little device placed alongside a stack of books would be a great idea to save some space. In government offices Cost cutting is the buzzword recently; and, there are barely companies who don't think of doing it. Government offices, or even private offices for that matter, spend thousands of dollars on employees' computers thus adding to the already increasing budget. A great way to save money in this scenario would be to switch to the low-cost Raspberry Pi. Not only will it save lots of dollars, it will also make your desk a little roomier. As a full-fledged computer If companies like Canonical or Red Hat realize the potential of the Raspberry Pi, they could also come up with their own single-board computer. As fellow blogger Techlaze suggests: there is a huge market for Canonical in this department. A $100 or less single-board device with similar specs and a custom version Ubuntu -- using Unity 2D perhaps -- they could bring in some hard cash to Canonical's waiting-to-be-filled coffers.

You are subscribed to email updates from TechSource To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610