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

Six tools tested:

• Swet 1.5.16
• Aletheia 0.0.9 Beta
• Monit 5.4
• Fish 0.3
• Mu 0.9.8.4
• Raider 0.13.1

PAC, with its convenient graphical connection manager, is a Linux application that manages SSH and other connections. The tool supports macros and lets users send commands to an entire cluster of servers simultaneously.

Klaus Knopper is the creator of Knoppix and co-founder of LinuxTag expo. He currently works as a teacher, programmer, and consultant. If you have a configuration problem, or if you just want to learn more about how Linux works, send your questions to: klaus@linux-magazine.com

The Byobu session manager extends the shell, adding a range of useful functions, such as splitting the screen, running programs in the background, or organizing programs in tabs. In particular, administrators who rely on SSH will appreciate Byobu.

Clonezilla makes backing up and restoring your system an easy affair that only involves a few key strokes. A homegrown solution reduces the time and effort to the act of slotting in a CD, on which you previously burned a Perl script.

Wodim works behind the scenes in popular CD/ DVD-burning software, but it’s even more powerful at the command line.