One of the best things about Linux is the power of the Command Line Interface (CLI). Many new Linux users making the transition from either Windows or Mac to Linux may have difficulty getting away from the GUI method of doing things and into the CLI but there are times when the CLI is the only way to perform a particular task or just the fastest way. The only way to get proficient in the CLI is to open up a terminal and get some practice.
A good example of a CLI command that is very useful is the du command. I am always interested in how much disk space a particular file or folder is taking on my hard drive. This is especially important to know when writing data to removable media that is limited in size such as a CD or DVD. There is a GUI method which is to select the view that shows the details of files and folders but the only the size of the files is show and not the folders in a particular directory. What if I want to know the size of a bunch of folders in a directory and what if I want that information in a text file for later use.
The du command is a great tool for doing this and only takes a few seconds to use. Just cd to the directory that you want to get information on and type du. Actually it is not that easy as the display you get is the size of each and every file in the directory and every sub directory. Since this very is not very effective, lets break this down a little more.
First you can add a file or directory name to the du command to only find out the size a that particular file or directory. For example du thefile will give me the size of the file named thefile. The size is listed in KB but since there are no tags or legend this is not readily apparent. To fix this add the -h argument to the command so the line would look like du -h thefile.
Next when looking at folders, if you only want to so the total size of the parent folder and not have the sub directories listed, add the -s argument to the command so the line would look like du -hs thedirectory.
There are many more arguments for the du command that can be found in the man pages but -h and -s are the most commonly used. Listed below are some additional uses for the command
du -sh ./ - shows the size of the current directory in human readable format without listing any sub directories
du -sh * > outputfile - shows the size of the files and directories in the current directory in human readable format without listing any sub directories directory and sends the output to a file.
du -sh * | grep something - shows the size of the files and directories in the current directory in human readable format without listing any sub directories directory and only lists files or directories with something in the name
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Is Linux really 'holding back the kids'?
When I read the article http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/1215helios_linux_texas_teacher/ at theregister.co.uk about a teacher claiming that Linux is holding back kids and that Windows is a better alternative, I could not believe what I was reading.
It is obvious that the teacher quoted in the article is not up-to-speed with the current status of Linux in the computing world. A majority of super computers use Linux, most of the web servers on the Internet use Linux, and the list goes on.
There are many reasons why Linux is a good operating system to learn but here is my take on the subject. Linux should be a mandatory learning experience for kids, especially kids interested in the IT industry as a career. Much like the learning the basic building blocks for an good education by learning the 2+2=4 and that i comes before e accept after c, learning Linux can provide a life long skill set to an aspiring child that will serve them well throughout their IT life.
When I first learned about Linux it was because my company was sending me to a class to learn UNIX. We were about to get some UNIX workstations and my boss wanted me to have a basic understanding of UNIX. When I got to the class the instructor told us that he would be using Linux, RedHat to be exact, to teach us the basics as at the CLI level almost everything was the same.
Once my class was over I was sent back out into the IT world with my new skill set in UNIX/Linux commands. Little did I know that the basic building blocks I learned in the Linux class would serve me so well in the years to come.
The first thing I noticed when I returned to work was that I had a new fascination with the CLI, even in Windows. Being a Windows users from a very early age I had been infused with the thinking that if it was not in the GUI then it did not exist. I soon learned that even in Windows there are some very powerful tools available only in the CLI and many of the tools were "borrowed" from the UNIX side of the house. When I started getting into networking and was asked to learn how to use Cisco products I was again amazed to find that my UNIX/Linux training paid off as the Cisco IOS is UNIX based and best done through the CLI. When I purchased my daughter a MacBook so she could make video and music projects I was pleased to find that my UNIX/Linux training paid off again as the Mac is UNIX based and the CLI uses most of the same commands. At home I run a mixed environment of Windows, OS X, and Linux and the ability to make all three operating systems work together makes me a more marketable IT person, in my humble opinion. I tell all people that I meet aspiring to enter the IT field to learn Linux, at least the basics, as it will serve them well.
I submit that instead of holding kids back, Linux opens up a whole new world of opportunity. Here is a theoretically example. Let's say that company X is hiring new IT employees and has a limited budget. Company X runs a mixed environment of Windows desktops for the majority of the employees, OS X for the marketing, A/V, and public affairs department, and a mixture of Linux and Windows in the server room. Actually sounds like a lot of real companies. Company X gets a bunch of resumes and starts to weed them out. Do you think Company X wants to hire a Windows only employee, an OS X only employee, and a Linux only employee or an employee that can do all three?
It is obvious that the teacher quoted in the article is not up-to-speed with the current status of Linux in the computing world. A majority of super computers use Linux, most of the web servers on the Internet use Linux, and the list goes on.
There are many reasons why Linux is a good operating system to learn but here is my take on the subject. Linux should be a mandatory learning experience for kids, especially kids interested in the IT industry as a career. Much like the learning the basic building blocks for an good education by learning the 2+2=4 and that i comes before e accept after c, learning Linux can provide a life long skill set to an aspiring child that will serve them well throughout their IT life.
When I first learned about Linux it was because my company was sending me to a class to learn UNIX. We were about to get some UNIX workstations and my boss wanted me to have a basic understanding of UNIX. When I got to the class the instructor told us that he would be using Linux, RedHat to be exact, to teach us the basics as at the CLI level almost everything was the same.
Once my class was over I was sent back out into the IT world with my new skill set in UNIX/Linux commands. Little did I know that the basic building blocks I learned in the Linux class would serve me so well in the years to come.
The first thing I noticed when I returned to work was that I had a new fascination with the CLI, even in Windows. Being a Windows users from a very early age I had been infused with the thinking that if it was not in the GUI then it did not exist. I soon learned that even in Windows there are some very powerful tools available only in the CLI and many of the tools were "borrowed" from the UNIX side of the house. When I started getting into networking and was asked to learn how to use Cisco products I was again amazed to find that my UNIX/Linux training paid off as the Cisco IOS is UNIX based and best done through the CLI. When I purchased my daughter a MacBook so she could make video and music projects I was pleased to find that my UNIX/Linux training paid off again as the Mac is UNIX based and the CLI uses most of the same commands. At home I run a mixed environment of Windows, OS X, and Linux and the ability to make all three operating systems work together makes me a more marketable IT person, in my humble opinion. I tell all people that I meet aspiring to enter the IT field to learn Linux, at least the basics, as it will serve them well.
I submit that instead of holding kids back, Linux opens up a whole new world of opportunity. Here is a theoretically example. Let's say that company X is hiring new IT employees and has a limited budget. Company X runs a mixed environment of Windows desktops for the majority of the employees, OS X for the marketing, A/V, and public affairs department, and a mixture of Linux and Windows in the server room. Actually sounds like a lot of real companies. Company X gets a bunch of resumes and starts to weed them out. Do you think Company X wants to hire a Windows only employee, an OS X only employee, and a Linux only employee or an employee that can do all three?
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Giving KDE a second chance
When I first started using Linux about 6 years ago, I did not even use any GUI. I preferred to run my Linux as a headless server providing web and other service and connecting from my Windows box via SSH. About 2 years ago, however, I started tying to use Linux as my main desktop. I started using Red Hat, then switched to Debian, tried several other versions along the way, and eventually ended up using Ubuntu. Somewhere along the way KDE fell out of favor with me and I became a Gnome user. It was not love at first site with Gnome, it was something that transpired over several different versions of Linux OS loads. I just kind of liked the simple feel of Gnome.
Now just I am definitely an adventurous person and I like to try new things. I regularly download several different versions of Linux and try each one in a VM just to see what the latest and greatest is in the Linux world. Along the way I have run into a few KDE desktops and usually load the Kubuntu desktop packages on my Ubuntu machines. But I never really got a good feeling for KDE, that is, until yesterday.
I have been reading alot on the Internet about the problems with KDE 4.0 and that 4.1 and now 4.2 made great improvements so I deciede to give KDE a second chance. Since I use Ubuntu I just loaded the kubuntu-desktop packages and switched sessions. I do a lot of photography and I have a saying that I can look at a picture I have taken for about 1-2 seconds and tell if it is a keeper or not. I just clear my mind, look at the picture, and see if it affects me in anyway or tells me a story. I used the same technique with the KDE 4.1 desktop and to my surprise is past the test. I really like the layout of the desktop and the feel of the whole setup from the icons to the color schemes. I have not had a chance to play with all of the customizable functions of the desktop yet but I find the choices available be very appealing.
The only problem that I found so far is that Firefox, my preferred browser, do not look to good in KDE. I did some research and found a couple of fixes that make the browser look a little better but it will do for now.
I think I am going to give KDE a go for a while and see what happens.
Now just I am definitely an adventurous person and I like to try new things. I regularly download several different versions of Linux and try each one in a VM just to see what the latest and greatest is in the Linux world. Along the way I have run into a few KDE desktops and usually load the Kubuntu desktop packages on my Ubuntu machines. But I never really got a good feeling for KDE, that is, until yesterday.
I have been reading alot on the Internet about the problems with KDE 4.0 and that 4.1 and now 4.2 made great improvements so I deciede to give KDE a second chance. Since I use Ubuntu I just loaded the kubuntu-desktop packages and switched sessions. I do a lot of photography and I have a saying that I can look at a picture I have taken for about 1-2 seconds and tell if it is a keeper or not. I just clear my mind, look at the picture, and see if it affects me in anyway or tells me a story. I used the same technique with the KDE 4.1 desktop and to my surprise is past the test. I really like the layout of the desktop and the feel of the whole setup from the icons to the color schemes. I have not had a chance to play with all of the customizable functions of the desktop yet but I find the choices available be very appealing.
The only problem that I found so far is that Firefox, my preferred browser, do not look to good in KDE. I did some research and found a couple of fixes that make the browser look a little better but it will do for now.
I think I am going to give KDE a go for a while and see what happens.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Is Linux ready for the average user? My wife thinks so
In the beginning, as we all know, Linux was an OS that was limited to those of us who had the time and patience to spend all night getting things to work. As the OS has progressed the user friendliness of the OS has increased dramatically. Now here we sit on the cusp of 2009 and there are numerous mainstream vendors such as ASUS, Dell, and HP offering pre-loaded Linux desktops and laptops, which brings me to my story.
My wife has been asking me for a small form laptop that she can use to access the Internet, check e-mail, type some documents, look at some pictures and listen to some music, which is what most average users do. Up until now small form laptops were very expensive but products such as the ASUS eeePC brought the price down to levels I was willing to pay. I actually purchased an ASUS eeePC for my wife but quickly sold it, another post for later, and purchased a Dell Mini 9 as soon as I saw the ad on the Dell web site.
Now to say that my wife is computer challenged is putting is nicely. She has killed more than a few of my computers over the years, mostly Windows. So it was with some trepidation that I ordered her Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu. I have been an Ubuntu users for almost 2 years now so I felt confident the OS had matured to the point that I could get my wife using it without too much problem. So I took the plunge and ordered the PC.
We have had the Dell Mini 9 now for about 3 weeks. I set the PC up for her, added the Japanese character input as my wife is Japanese, set the OpenOffice default type to .doc so she can send docs to her friends, and set up the network printer and then let her have at it. In the 3 weeks we have had the laptop she has not had one single complaint. Everything works just fine.
So is Linux ready for the average user. My wife sure thinks so and if I can get my wife to use Linux without complaint, I can get anyone to use Linux.
My wife has been asking me for a small form laptop that she can use to access the Internet, check e-mail, type some documents, look at some pictures and listen to some music, which is what most average users do. Up until now small form laptops were very expensive but products such as the ASUS eeePC brought the price down to levels I was willing to pay. I actually purchased an ASUS eeePC for my wife but quickly sold it, another post for later, and purchased a Dell Mini 9 as soon as I saw the ad on the Dell web site.
Now to say that my wife is computer challenged is putting is nicely. She has killed more than a few of my computers over the years, mostly Windows. So it was with some trepidation that I ordered her Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu. I have been an Ubuntu users for almost 2 years now so I felt confident the OS had matured to the point that I could get my wife using it without too much problem. So I took the plunge and ordered the PC.
We have had the Dell Mini 9 now for about 3 weeks. I set the PC up for her, added the Japanese character input as my wife is Japanese, set the OpenOffice default type to .doc so she can send docs to her friends, and set up the network printer and then let her have at it. In the 3 weeks we have had the laptop she has not had one single complaint. Everything works just fine.
So is Linux ready for the average user. My wife sure thinks so and if I can get my wife to use Linux without complaint, I can get anyone to use Linux.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Watching US TV programs overseas the legal way
I have been living in Japan for 15 years and even though I love the Japanese culture and spend time each day studying Japanese I still like to watch the occasional US TV show. I do not like to download shows illegally so I used to get many of my shows via iTunes until some of my favorite shows such as The Office disappeared from their catalog.
I thought all was lost until I found out that many US TV companies provide their shows for free on their web sites or through sites like www.hulu.com. But alas all was not well as the TV companies only provide content to US IP addresses.
Enter the world of VPN. I have know about VPN technology for some time as I work in the IT field but it was only recently that I learned of companies providing VPN services to the general public. For those of you not in the know VPN stands for Virtual Private Network as it basically allows 2 computers to set up a secure channel of communcation. Most VPNs are from a client computer to a VPN server. Companies use VPNs to allow their workers to access the corporate network from home on on the rode. When a user connects their computer to the VPN their computer gets an IP address from the corporate network and can access resources just like they were in the office.
There are now Internet based companies that provide VPN service to protect personal computer communications at public wireless access points. When ever you connect a computer to a public wireless access point such as at an airport, much of the traffic is sent in the clear including usernames and passwords. By using a VPN users can encrypt their Internet traffic and protect their information from hackers that are listening in to the wireless traffic. Many of these companies are US based and provide US IP addresses to their customers.
Now to how this helps me. By loading the VPN software and paying my annual fee I can create a VPN connection via my ISP in Japan and get a US IP address for all of my Internet traffic. Now when I go to a site that provides legal free TV content to US customers the videos will play.
The VPN company I use is www.witopia.net. Check them out and give it a try.
I thought all was lost until I found out that many US TV companies provide their shows for free on their web sites or through sites like www.hulu.com. But alas all was not well as the TV companies only provide content to US IP addresses.
Enter the world of VPN. I have know about VPN technology for some time as I work in the IT field but it was only recently that I learned of companies providing VPN services to the general public. For those of you not in the know VPN stands for Virtual Private Network as it basically allows 2 computers to set up a secure channel of communcation. Most VPNs are from a client computer to a VPN server. Companies use VPNs to allow their workers to access the corporate network from home on on the rode. When a user connects their computer to the VPN their computer gets an IP address from the corporate network and can access resources just like they were in the office.
There are now Internet based companies that provide VPN service to protect personal computer communications at public wireless access points. When ever you connect a computer to a public wireless access point such as at an airport, much of the traffic is sent in the clear including usernames and passwords. By using a VPN users can encrypt their Internet traffic and protect their information from hackers that are listening in to the wireless traffic. Many of these companies are US based and provide US IP addresses to their customers.
Now to how this helps me. By loading the VPN software and paying my annual fee I can create a VPN connection via my ISP in Japan and get a US IP address for all of my Internet traffic. Now when I go to a site that provides legal free TV content to US customers the videos will play.
The VPN company I use is www.witopia.net. Check them out and give it a try.
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