Issue #158 / Jan 2014

Highlights:

This month we look at virtual Linux on Windows and virtual Windows on Linux.

Cover Stories:

• Linux Integration: Microsoft provides a collection of tools for faster and more efficient Linux virtualization in the Hyper-V environment.
• Virtual Windows 8.1 on Linux: For occasional Windows users, a virtual machine is the ideal solution. But will Windows 8.1 work in VirtualBox and VMware?

Also in this issue:

• Comment: Cookies and Cream
• On the DVD: Ubuntu 13.10
• News
• Tool Tips: Tool review: Dialog 0.7, virtenv 0.8.6, collectd 5.4.0, convmv 1.15, Drukkar 1.11, and ngIRCd 20.3.
• Android Remote: We look at some smartphone and tablet apps for remote Linux admins.
• Xeon Phi: Instead of GPUs, the Xeon Phi accelerator card from Intel features a cluster of CPUs for easier programming.
• Incron: This helpful utility initiates commands and scripts triggered by filesystem events.
• Csound: The powerful Csound audio production environment provides an impressive set of features. We walk you through the entire system.
• Perl – Security Snapshots: Store snapshots from a home security camera with just two scripts and the Tumblr API.
• Charly – Go Access: Charly is lured by the charms of a new logfile tool.
• Security Lessons – Squid Filtering: Limiting access to web content.
• Bitparade: Pomodoro Tools Learn how four nifty tools can improve your concentration.
• Workspace – Taskwarrior: Organize your life with this command-line task manager.
• Command Line – Pass: Manage passwords with the powerful Pass utility.
• UberWriter: Professional publishing with this Markdown markup tool.
• Linux-libre Project: How free is the Linux kernel? Some Free software advocates want to make it freer.
• LinuxCon Europe 2013: LinuxCon Europe – one of the best GNU/ Linux events of 2013.
• Doghouse – Showing Respect: “maddog” laments yet another instance where GNU/Linux fails to get a mention.
• Kernel News: Bug hunts and programmable instruction sets.

NEWS: Welcome

If you have browsed the tech news recently, you probably saw a pair of stories about an important open source browser the world knows as Firefox. If it matters to you, I will add that, despite the logo, a Firefox is really not supposed to be a fox at all but is actually a red panda. The news stories? The first was that Firefox just had its ninth birthday. The browser was born when the Mozilla Foundation (remnants of the once great Netscape Communications Corp.) realized its old Mozilla browser was getting too bloated and wanted a fresh start.

NEWS: This Month's DVD

This month's DVD features the new Ubuntu 13.10 Desktop, a.k.a. “Saucy Salamander.”

NEWS: Linux News

Updates on Technologies, Trends, and Tools

NEWS: Linux Integration Services

Speeding up Linux VMs with Hyper-V's Linux Integration Services

Microsoft provides a collection of tools for faster and more efficient Linux virtualization in the Hyper-V environment.

COVER STORIES: Virtual Windows 8.1 on Linux

Windows 8.1 in VMware and VirtualBox

For occasional Windows users, a virtual machine is the ideal solution. But will Windows 8.1 work in VirtualBox and VMware?

REVIEWS: Tool Tips

Tool tests on the fast track

Tool review: Dialog 0.7, virtenv 0.8.6, collectd 5.4.0, convmv 1.15, Drukkar 1.11, and ngIRCd 20.3.

KNOW-HOW: Admin's Little Helpers

Linux remote administration on Android and iOS

Smartphones and tablets have lost their gadget status and become part of the system administrator's tool kit. We look at the most important apps for admins.

KNOW-HOW: Xeon Phi

Intel's powerful new Xeon Phi co-processor

The Xeon Phi accelerator card from Intel takes an unusual approach: Instead of GPUs, the Xeon Phi features a cluster of CPUs for easier programming.

KNOW-HOW: Monitoring with incron

Monitor file and directory activity with incron

The incron utility provides an easy way to initiate commands and scripts triggered by filesystem events.

KNOW-HOW: Csound

Making music with Csound

The powerful Csound software provides an impressive set of features for audio production and processing. We walk you through the entire system.

PROGRAMMING: Perl – Security Snapshots

Security cam blog posts on Tumblr

When the Perlmeister is on the road, he likes to know what's going on at home. Armed with just two scripts, he draws on the Tumblr API to store snapshots cyclically from his home security camera.

SYSADMIN: Charly's Column – Go Access

The sys admin's daily grind: New logfile tool

Just as a craftsman is unlikely to purchase a new angle grinder every month, sys admins are unlikely to change constantly their tried and trusted tools. Columnist Charly Kühnast ditches this conservative philosophy this month, lured by the charms of a new logfile tool.

SYSADMIN: Security Lessons – Squid Filtering

Using Squid to filter Internet access

Kurt describes how to use Squid's ACLs and ICAP when you want to limit Internet access, for whatever reason.

LINUXUSER: Bitparade – Pomodoro Tools

Four Pomodoro tools tested

The simple Pomodoro technique seeks to improve time management skills and make inroads into Agile programming. We look at four tools that can help your concentration.

LINUXUSER: Workspace – Taskwarrior

Mastering Taskwarrior

Taskwarrior is arguably the most powerful command-line task manager. We show you how to use this application to manage tasks like a pro.

LINUXUSER: Command Line – Pass

Password management from the command line

The easy-to-use Pass offers password control at the command line. We show you how to set it up and use it.

LINUXUSER: UberWriter

Professional publishing with UberWriter

The UberWriter text editor, which is optimized for Markdown, includes a number of interesting features and does some amazing things. We show you how it works.

COMMUNITY NOTEBOOK: The Linux-libre Project

Freeing the Linux kernel

The Linux kernel and its penguin mascot are widely viewed as the symbol of free and open source software. The truth, however, is that the Linux kernel is only partly free.

NEWS: Event Report – LinuxCon Europe 2013

LinuxCon Europe – one of the best GNU/Linux events of 2013.

COMMUNITY NOTEBOOK: Doghouse – Showing Respect

Give credit where it's due

"maddog" laments yet another instance where GNU/Linux fails to get a mention.

COMMUNITY NOTEBOOK: Kernel News

Chronicler Zack Brown reports on the latest news, views, dilemmas, and developments within the Linux kernel community.