For desktops, the 2.4 version of the kernel is just fine. If you have heavy-duty processing needs, 2.4 has been a series of disappointments. Sysadmins of big iron have two choices -- go back in time or play upgrade hopscotch. Both have problems. (850 words)

I somehow backed up the wrong partition when I attempted to backup the /var partition. When it came time to restore it, I discovered there was nothing there. As luck would have it, I had no other backups. This is how I restored my system and had it back to normal in less than an hour. ...

If you want to do two-way synchronization with rsync, you'll need to run it twice. unison does two-way synchronization by default and well, thank you. How to make unison work for you.

Our hero ponders Windows XP's fast user switching, which leads him to Microsoft's approach to adding features to its operating systems, which leads him to the beautiful simplicity of the Unix philosophy of each tool doing one thing well, which leads him to rsync. Read on, it all makes ...

You don't need to spend $1,000 to get a quick, reliable, easy-to-use system that sends text messages to pagers and PCS cell phones. All you need is an old PC, Linux, free software, and a dusty old modem. (3,200 words)

Details on configuring XFree86 with xf86config. Also, how to create a Web server that handles text communications from desktop machines to digital cell phones, PCS phones, and alpha pagers. (3,000 words)

Debian has a reputation for being difficult to install. Relax, it just takes a little time to reveal Debian's true nature: It's a good, solid, easy-to-use distribution that doesn't break down under the weight of automation. (4,200 words)

Reader reaction to last week's column was a bit passionate. We add a dose of perspective, call for civility and reason, then dump gasoline on the KDE vs GNOME flame war. (1,800 words)

Our hero purges himself of pent-up biases towards past Linux distributions. In the weeks and months ahead we'll look at current Linux distributions. Plus, a gratuitous, superficial, and fun slap at MCSE. (2,500 words)

Nitty-gritty detail on installing the newest versions of Slackware and Red Hat remotely. Plus, how to configure the firewall in the latest Red Hat distribution & handling humongous software suites. (5,000 words)

Network installation of Linux doesn't differ greatly from a standard installation that uses a local CD-ROM, and you will find that it meets our twin criteria of Cheap and Easy. Cheap, because it eliminates redundant hardware. As for Easy, well, keep reading and find out for yourself. (...

In this series, we show how little you need to spend to outfit your organization -- big or small -- with hardware some might consider worthless, while giving away nothing in utility, speed, reliability, ease of administration or use. Sound impossible? It's not! (3,100 words)

In this series, we show how little you need to spend to outfit your organization -- big or small -- with hardware some might consider worthless, while giving away nothing in utility, speed, reliability, ease of administration or use. Sound impossible? It's not! (2,400 words)

In this series, we show how little you need to spend to outfit your organization -- big or small -- with hardware some might consider worthless, while giving away nothing in utility, speed, reliability, ease of administration or use. Sound impossible? It's not! (1,500 words)

In this series, I'll show how little you need to spend to outfit your organization -- big or small -- with hardware some might consider worthless, while giving away nothing in utility, speed, reliability, ease of administration or use. Sound impossible? It's not! (1,400 words)

Lost your root password? Want to lock-down your machine? Learn what not to say to reveal you are new to Linux? Learn Linux basics here, now, & fast!

From denial, to diagnosis, to rebuilding and hardening the system, Joe walks us through the life cycle of a hack. (1,700 words)

Hewlett-Packard has talked open source for a while now, but without putting any code where its mouth is. The times may be changing. Joe Barr looks into HP's release of source code for popular print drivers, and a Linux version of the company's new Print Server Appliance 4200. (700 word...

In the next several installments of the Penguin Brief, Nick will share the tricks he learned in setting up a new Website for VarLinux.org, a nonprofit portal, after he got through to his ISP. (1,200 words)

Using SSH exclusively to log in is like spending a lifetime opening beer with your Swiss Army knife. Read on to find out how to securely log in without typing your password each time, to make SSH secure other packages, and to learn the little tricks that smooth the way. (2,200 words)

Bob Toxen, the author of Real World Linux Security: Intrusion Prevention, Detection, and Recovery, boasts an impressive résumé as a writer, developer, creator, and software architect. Cameron Laird conducted a lively discussion with Toxen on security, Linux hacking, open source develop...

Debian cofounder Ian Murdock talks about his company's new clustering project, which doesn't seek to provide Cray-level number crunching but to make life easier for network administrators.

Unwanted email is the downside to our networked lives. Joshua Drake shows how to use procmail to filter the wheat from the chaff.

In Greek tragedy, the hero frequently must suffer to gain the truth. So it went for Joe recently when he tried to use SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy). But the suffering is over, and Joe is back this week with technical tips to help you set up a Linux scanning environment worthy of legen...

When I was casually examining my server log few months back, I noticed something was going off beam. To my horror, the primary server crashed, unable to take the load. Usually, I don't get that much traffic. Months later, I realized that I was the victim of a DDOS attack. Being a hacke...