Mandriva : Install LAMP / XAMP

Simple way to install Webserver with PHP, MySQL, and PERL in Mandriva Spring

Connect to repo from http://easyurpmi.zarb.org, then
Install LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL PHP) with command

urpmi lamp
The following packages contain lamp:
task-lamp
task-lamp-perl
task-lamp-php
task-lamp-python

or

urpmi task-lamp (for complete LAMP in mandriva spring)

Linux : LOST ROOT PASSWORD

Here is part two. Yesterday we had forgotten our user password and disaster strikes again today we forgot the root password.

First, disconnect your PC from the net, pull the cable out !



Step 1: For Redhat and Mandrake:

Then boot from your first install CD and as the very first screen comes up hit F2 and type:

rescue ( For RedHat "linux rescue" )

and the computer will boot in rescue mode.

It will show a few alternatives, select : ¨mount the existing partitions¨ and go to the shell/console prompt.

( Booting Mandrake in "failsafe" from the Lilo menu does the same )


Step 1: For SUSE:

Boot from your first install CD and press F1 at the first screen, then choose "Rescue System" from the menu and at the prompt type "root" ( you do not need a password )


Step 1: For other distro's

Boot from the first install CD ( or any Live CD like Knoppix ) and at the bootprompt type:

CODE

linux single

( For Knoppix: knoppix single )
And it will boot in "single user mode" and you will get an odd looking prompt like “sh-2.05b#”


Alternative for step 1
Sure with most Live and Rescue CDs you can also just boot in the live version, mount the partition and, as root, make changes to the files indicated below:




Step 2

CODE

# cd /etc

( if you boot from knoppix first cd to the partition your lost-password-distro is on )

We need to change two files; ¨passwd¨ and ¨shadow¨:

CODE

# vi passwd

( opens the file )
<> ( puts vi in insertmode )

This is the first line:

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash


Make it:

root::0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash


So just get writ of the ¨x¨ do not touch the ¨:¨ ( colons )

Save the file:
Esc
ZZ


Second file to be changed:

CODE

# vi shadow

( open the file )
<> ( insert mode )

The first line is a long scrambled line of characters, just make it:

root:::: ( four colons ! )


Save the file
Esc
ZZ

Now you can reboot your computer. Log in as normal user, open a console and type:

CODE

$ su # passwd

And set the new root password !

Log out as root:
Ctrl+d

And the job is done !!


WARNING: Only after setting your new root password it is safe to connect your computer to the internet or local network again !!

http://www.brunolinux.com/01-First_Things_To_Know/Lost_Root_Password.html

Linux : LOST USER PASSWORD

Now, just imagine, you have a sudden strike of growing old, and, you forgot your user password. I know it´s hard to figure, but weirder things happen !

The solution however is simple:

CODE

$ su <> # passwd bruno

( if that is your username, don´t use mine )

Type in a new password ( you will likely get an error message, ignore it )
Type in the same password again !

Log out as root and log in as user with your new password !
( I said is was easy ! )

Next time we will attack the forgotten ROOT password ! A bit more complicated but it sure can be done.

http://www.brunolinux.com/01-First_Things_To_Know/Lost_User_Password.html

Is Linux server more secure than Windows server?

Posted by Vivek Gite [Last updated: October 9, 2007]

Many new Linux user / admin asks:

Is Linux more secure than Windows?

That depends. Let me explain:

Fan boys on both sides argue to the death that their religion operating system is the best and safest to use.

Windows is harder to secure than Linux. It is the simple truth. Many IT professionals including RHCEs and MCSEs believe that Linux is more secure than Windows. However you cannot blindly accept Linux is more secure than Windows. On both operating systems you need to:
a) Restrict user access
b) Restrict service access
c) Restrict network access
d) Create backup / restore policy
e) Install and manage app level security
f) Continuously install, configure, and patch the system etc

As you see both Windows and Linux administrators requires same levels of skills. Linux is secure by design i.e. Linux is inherently more secure than Windows. Linux designed as a multi-use, network operating system from day one. For example IE / FF bug can take down entire windows computer. However, if there were the same bug in FF it won't take down entire Linux computer. Under windows almost any app level bug (read as vulnerability) can be used to take down the entire system and turn into a zombie computer.

In short,
No operating system is secure
Both Linux / Windows admin requires same level of skills
By default Linux is more secure than Windows, but it is also open to attack.
You can just make attackers job hard.
Remember, security is an on going process and nothing is secure once connected to network, period.

This is based upon my own experience. I don't have a good answer here. What do you think? Do you run Windows and Linux? Please add your experience in the comments.
 

Howto untar a tar file or gzip-bz2 tar file

Tar file can come compressed or uncompressed. Generally that are compressed using gzip or bzip2. The program, tar, will uncompress both types and extract the files from archive.

Howto :

Type at the command prompt
tar xvzf file-1.0.tar.gz - for a gzip compress tar file (.tgz or .tar.gz)
tar xvjf file-1.0.tar.bz2 - for a bzip2 compressed tar file (.tbz or .tar.bz2)
tar xvf file-1.0.tar - for uncompressed tar file (.tar)
x = eXtract, this indicated an extraction ( c = create to create )
v = verbose (optional) the files with relative locations will be displayed.
z = gzip-ped; j = bzip2-zipped
f = from/to file ... (what is next after the f is the archive file)
The files will be extracted in the current folder (most of the times in a folder with the name 'file-1.0').

how to install Mozilla Firefox 3

Mandriva Spring 2008.1 : How to Upgrade or install Mozilla Firefox 3

download Mozilla Firefox 3
[bayu@box ~]$ wget http://dl2.foss-id.web.id/mozilla/firefox/releases/latest-3.0/linux-i686/en-US/firefox-3.0.tar.bz2--2008-06-25 10:57:51-- http://dl2.foss-id.web.id/mozilla/firefox/releases/latest-3.0/linux-i686/en-US/firefox-3.0.tar.bz2
Resolving dl2.foss-id.web.id... 125.160.17.22
Connecting to dl2.foss-id.web.id|125.160.17.22|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 9083705 (8.7M) [application/x-bzip2]
Saving to: `firefox-3.0.tar.bz2'

100%[====================================================================================>] 9,083,705 81.2K/s in 1m 50s

2008-06-25 10:59:41 (80.5 KB/s) - `firefox-3.0.tar.bz2' saved [9083705/9083705]


extract it

[bayu@box ~]$ tar -xvjf firefox-3.0.tar.bz2

then run it

Tweaking KDE

After establishing these foundations, users can tweak KDE to perform well on older hardware. Several options are listed at the KDE wiki.
Update to a recent version of KDE. The updating game gets old real fast, but generally, with KDE a recent version means improved performance.
Disable wallpaper. Select a pleasing and comfortable desktop screen color. (Configure Desktop.)
Disable background gradients. (Configure Desktop.)
Disable shadowed fonts. (Configure Desktop, Advanced Options.)
Disable desktop icon tool tips. (Configure Desktop, Behavior.)
Minimize the number of device icons on the desktop. (Configure Desktop, Behavior.)

Virtual desktops. Limit this to two desktops, possibly only one. Consider that most people are not multi-taskers. Typically most people concurrently run only two to three desktop programs. Having a bunch of programs running in standby, which is how virtual desktops basically work, means a lot of extra overhead that most typical users do not need. Although useful, many people get by comfortably with only one desktop. (Configure Desktop, Multiple Desktops.)
Use a plain blank screen saver. (Configure Desktop, Screen Saver.)
Disable the mouse cursor launch feedback. (Appearance and Themes, Launch Behavior.)
Disable themes. Yes, themes add a degree of personalization, but with older hardware, at the sacrifice of speed and response.
Consider using the KDE Classic widget set and KDE 2 window decorations. Yes, this ends up looking like MS Windows 95, but this desktop is easy on system resources. (Appearance and Themes, Style; Appearance and Themes, Window Decorations.)
Disable displaying window content when moving or resizing windows. (Desktop, Windows Behavior.)
Disable shading animation and hovering. (Desktop, Window Behavior.)
Disable transparent and translucent menus and panels. These bells and whistles are CPU and memory intensive. (Desktop, Window Behavior.)
Disable GUI effects, such as cascading menus and drop shadows.
Mouse cursor. A simple non-themed mouse pointer is sufficient for most people.
System sounds. Reduce the number of system sounds being used and use sound files that are small in size and load quickly.
Enable Konqueror preloading. Konqueror will load faster and Konqueror is too useful as a file manager not to have this option enabled. (Control Center→KDE Components→KDE Performance)
Disable as many KDE specific services as practical. (Control Center→KDE Components→Service Manager)

Hopefully these suggestions will noticeably improve your KDE performance with your older box.