Why Linux?

[Infrasonic]

https://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility

We test hundreds and hundreds of Windows programs for CrossOver compatibility every month. From accounting software to programming and web development software to games, our team diligently tests and rates Windows software adding to our compatibility database daily. Search thousands of CrossOver tested Windows programs to see if the Windows software you want to run on Mac and Linux will run with CrossOver.

[Infrasonic]

Not strictly Linux specific, but better off here than orphaned in its own thread...

The debate between your own DIY microserver or a commercial NAS (like a Qnap or Synology), generally revolves around flexibility V ease of use.
I'd always wondered if it was possible to run the Synology DSM OS (a customised Linux variant with a great intuitive GUI) on your own hardware and it turns out you can via XPEnology...https://www.google.co.uk/search?num=30& ... SK3bOcaP4M

So maybe another opportunity to put old hardware to use with Linux.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qBxi6Q4XlY

ODROID-XU4, Asus Tinker Boad and Raspberry Pi 3 single board computer head-to-head -- comparing the hardware, then running Sysbench and other benchmark tests.

[stewamax]

Very useful for getting into a system that won't boot to make repairs and/or recover files. I have several Live USBs (Linux Mint, Knoppix)

Defintely. This has got me out of many a corrupted file / disk hole.
I use Knoppix on a CD and a USB stick.

[Infrasonic]

Latest release review here...https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/0 ... _3_review/

The Linux Mint project turned out to be an early Christmas present, as it usually does, but this release is perhaps more important than usual given that Mint is much more alone in the Linux distro world than it was just one year ago.

Cont.

[Infrasonic]

Thanks for the info on Mint 18.3. But I wonder if it now works with Epson printers and scanners? I gave up with 18.2 after two long days and failed. I went to 17.3 which I eventually got to print but never got it to scan.

All well and good talking about bells and whistles, customised desktops etc.... But until Mint can support everyday common or garden printing and scanning as plug and play devices (like Windows does) it will retain the beard and sandals reputation, for me anyway.

A shame because I do actually like Mint. I have a desktop and laptop running 17.3.

We keep going round this one...

W10 still won't work with my HP Laserjet 6L, Mint worked straight away, so completely the opposite experience to you.
Have you contacted Epson to complain about lack of up to date Linux printer driver support?

HP were there early on with IPP/CUPS, so in general their Linux support is pretty good, although it is basic printing, nothing fancy.
Unfortunately the reality is that until Linux is more mainstream then the third party hardware support is going to be patchy.
There's also the fact that many have 'relationships' with the major OS companies, so developing Linux (which is free) isn't in their financial interests.
Michael Dell intimated as much in interviews, and since Dell went private they have been far more committed to Linux OS products rather than their previous 'Windows or nothing' approach to non business lines.

[GeoffF100]

Thanks for the info on Mint 18.3. But I wonder if it now works with Epson printers and scanners?

Ubuntu 17.10 and its derivatives have "driverless" support for IPP Everywhere and Apple Airprint. Most modern printers support IPP Everywhere.

Alternatively, does your Epson printer support Google Cloud print? Most modern printers do. If so, that should work with any browser on any OS anywhere. The only snag is that you have to upload your document to Google Drive before printing it.

Will your Epson scanner write to a memory card?

[Infrasonic]

Michael Dell intimated as much in interviews, and since Dell went private they have been far more committed to Linux OS products rather than their previous 'Windows or nothing' approach to non business lines.

And right on cue, Dell announce the latest XPS with Ubuntu...https://betanews.com/2018/01/04/dell-ub ... r-edition/

System76 is not the only company selling Linux-powered computers, however. Despite being a major Microsoft partner with Windows, Dell also sells desktops and laptops pre-loaded with Ubuntu. One of the company's most impressive computers is the svelte XPS 13 laptop. Dell sells a version with Ubuntu that it dubs "Developer Edition," but non-developers can, of course, use it too. Today, the company announces the the 7th-generation version of this notebook. The 9370, as it is called, can be purchased immediately.

[ReformedCharacter]

We keep going round this one...

W10 still won't work with my HP Laserjet 6L,

Is this any help?

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/LaserJet- ... -p/5496404

They're great printers BTW

RC

[Infrasonic]

https://f5.com/labs/articles/threat-int ... -the-radar

ARTICLE / JAN 03, 2018
NEW PYTHON-BASED CRYPTO-MINER BOTNET FLYING UNDER THE RADAR
BY MAXIM ZAVODCHIK, LIRON SEGAL, AARON BRAILSFORD

F5 threat researchers have discovered a new Linux crypto-miner botnet that is spreading over the SSH protocol. The botnet, which we’ve named PyCryptoMiner:

Is based on the Python scripting language making it hard to detect
Leverages Pastebin.com (under the username “WHATHAPPEN”) to receive new command and control server (C&C) assignments if the original server becomes unreachable
The registrant is associated with more than 36,000 domains, some of which have been known for scams, gambling, and adult services since 2012
Is mining Monero, a highly anonymous crypto-currency favored by cyber-criminals. As of late December 2017, this botnet has made approximately US $46,000 mining Monero
New scanner functionality hunting for vulnerable JBoss servers was introduced mid-December exploiting CVE-2017-12149

Cont.

[Devjon]

I've been following this thread for a while and it has inspired me to have a dabble in the world of Linux.

I've got a raspberry Pi 3 arriving sometime tomorrow, complete with case and power supply plus the official HDMI lead.

OS copied to a micro SD card as per the instructions on the Raspberry Pi site

I've got a spare bluetooth keyboard and if that doesn't play then I also have an old IBM Keyboard tucked away somewhere.

Went for a short run this morning and pulled my calf muscle so I'll have something to occupy me other than moping around the house.

Very much looking forward to having a dabble.

[Infrasonic]

I've been following this thread for a while and it has inspired me to have a dabble in the world of Linux.

I've got a raspberry Pi 3 arriving sometime tomorrow, complete with case and power supply plus the official HDMI lead.

OS copied to a micro SD card as per the instructions on the Raspberry Pi site

I've got a spare bluetooth keyboard and if that doesn't play then I also have an old IBM Keyboard tucked away somewhere.

Went for a short run this morning and pulled my calf muscle so I'll have something to occupy me other than moping around the house.

Very much looking forward to having a dabble.

https://www.youtube.com/user/explaining ... s/featured
Has some great RPi and other SBC videos as well as various Linux distro content.
Have a look through the playlists.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZejkWra-Mfc

Rock64 4K USB 3.0 single board computer review, including demos of Debian and Android operating systems, and comparative benchmark tests run against the Raspberry Pi 3, Tinker Board and ODROID-XU4.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyi-NuqiLr0

Virtual machines allow one or more 'guest' operating systems to run inside another. This is useful when you need access to multiple operating systems, or for test purposes. In this video I use the Oracle open source application VirtualBox to create virtual machines in Windows 10 and Linux Mint.

Ist part is running Linux Mint and WXP guests on W10 host.
2nd part is running Linux Mint host with WXP guest.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT-EGNl9bZA

NAS created with OpenMediaVault and a Rock64 single board computer, including all hardware and software setup, NAS configuration, and mapping a drive to the NAS in Windows. Also included is a speed test . . .

USB3 and Gb ethernet SBC NAS, quite impressive...

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyi-NuqiLr0

Virtual machines allow one or more 'guest' operating systems to run inside another. This is useful when you need access to multiple operating systems, or for test purposes. In this video I use the Oracle open source application VirtualBox to create virtual machines in Windows 10 and Linux Mint.

Ist part is running Linux Mint and WXP guests on W10 host.
2nd part is running Linux Mint host with WXP guest.

I've been trying this out for a couple of days, Mint VM on a W10 host. Posting this from FF within the VM.
Not too bad, a bit of lag (2GB of RAM allocated out of 8GB) but I think I need to tweak some settings to optimise, (probably from guest additions.)
Probably add another 8GB RAM stick to bring it up to 16GB dual channel so I can commit 4GB to the VM.

If I can get the HP Laserjet 6L printer to work then this will be my stock set up from now on, W10 host/Mint VM.
If not I'll go dual boot as I know already it will print natively with Mint.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP6OJ0JhMLU

Asus Tinker Board S single board computer (SBC) review and specifications, including demo of TinkerOS (Debian), Android, and the Kodi media player.

[GeoffF100]

Very impressive. My ten year old PC running Lubuntu is not bad, but it is left for dead by that. It appeared to be a quick as my two year old i5 with an SSD, which cost me £500.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsCgXQjaviM

OpenMediaVault SBC NAS group test, featuring the Rock64, Raspberry Pi 3, Banana Pro, and UDOOx86 Advanced Plus.

You can learn how to set up an OpenMediaVault NAS on an SBC in my video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT-EG...

The OpenMediaVault website is here: https://www.openmediavault.org/

Would have been nice if he'd stuck the Odroid XU4 in this test as well, it has been reviewed before.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izceGfkUtZU

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ review and demo, including processor speed and thermal performance tests compared to the previous Raspberry Pi 3.