For a while now, Dell has offered products with Linux options. For instance, several of the Dell Power Edge Servers (Like the Power Edge T710) come with options for Citrix, Novel SUSE, Red Hat and Sun Solaris. The Precision T7500 N-Series Dual Processor system can be configured for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, 64 Bit Operating System.

Now it seems as though Dell is actually supporting, to some degree, the use of Linux on other various Dell computer equipment. The Dell Linux Engineering Web Site is intended to provide useful information for using Linux on Dell equipment. Dell boasts their partnership with Red Hat, Novell / SuSE, and Ubuntu (Ubuntu, but not Debian – Interesting), but recognizes many of their customers may choose to run various other linux distributions.

Obviously, Dell cannot provide telephone support for all of the different linux flavors, configurations and patches used across the realm of linux, as most have not gone through Dell standards testing. However, Dell does seem to want to foster other methods to provide help and resources. The Dell Linux Engineering Web Site, along with mailing lists, provide a way for Dell to help people use their Dell equipment, however they choose.

«Read more about it!»

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To see the name and kernel from the command line, you need to type:

To see the name, style, and version from the command line, you need to type:

You can see both from the command line, by typing:

Hope this helps. For more discussions on this topic, click here.

These steps have worked flawlessly for me, on my systems and should produce similar results on your systems. However, if you would prefer a professional does this for you, just use the CONTACT US link in the menu to get in touch with one of our technicians. Most times, we can do this for you remotely, for a nominal fee!

Filed under: Computers, Desktop, Laptops, Linux-Unix, Operating Systems, Servers, Software | 1 Comment »

Update 5 for Express 3.0 Polar was released today. This update includes new versions of Snort (to version: 2.8.4.1), ClamAV (to version: 0.95.2), Squid (to version: 2.7.STABLE6), IMSpector (to version: 20090728), openssl (to version: 0.9.8k), openssh (to version: 5.2p1) and module-init-tools (to version: 3.5).

In addition to new versions of various software packages, there are also improvements to functionality and the user interface. To read more about this update, click here!

If you need assistance setting up your Smoothwall Express firewall or have questions about other network security issues, Sapphire Solutions can help! Just use the CONTACT US link in the menu to let us know how we can be of assistance.

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This is a fantastic video – courtesy of Peter Giannoulis from TheAcademyPro.com! In this video, Peter walks you step-by-step through the SmoothWall Express installation process – a must watch for new users!

You may watch the video by clicking on the image above, or you can also click here or here!

If you need assistance setting up your Smoothwall Express firewall or have questions about other network security issues, Sapphire Solutions can help! Just use the CONTACT US link in the menu to let us know how we can be of assistance.

Filed under: Computers, Free Software, Free Utilities, Linux-Unix, Networking, Operating Systems | No Comments »

If you have found our company or myself on Facebook, or if you utilize the “sapphiresolutionsltd” application I created for Facebook, you know I recently acquired a used PowerMac. This beastly Macintosh Boasts Dual G4 processors, 2 Gigs RAM, DVD/RW and most importantly, the cool MDD (Mirrored Drive Doors).

With all the blog topics related to computers, it may surprise you to know I also use the Apple/Macintosh platform. Around 1984-85 is when I started working on computers and the Apple was what I learned on. In fact, the very first system I worked on was the Apple IIe which was introduced in 1983.

Apple’s biggest market was the education sector. I benefited from this. I was young, and eager to learn. The Apple/Macintosh was available to me, so I learned how to compute and write code on the Apple.

Through all of my grade school, middle school and high school years, I worked on Macs almost exclusively. I was lucky enough to attend a high school in Kansas, with a strong technology curriculum. This curriculum was taught by a few dedicated teachers, encouraged by the school board and driven by our Macintosh computers. Several of my high school classmates, my teachers and myself, were even invited to demonstrate at the State Capital (Shout out to all y’all! You know who you are!).

Though I had used Microsoft Operating Systems a few times before, it was in college where I had to make the major change in computing platform. All the programming classes were taught on the PC and Microsoft was king. After changing colleges a couple times, I found the programming curriculum was primarily based on the Microsoft OS, while Graphic Design and some Drafting was taught on Macs. I got a mixture of both.

While in college, I was worked part time at the Apple Computer Store on campus and an ISP (Internet Service Provider) off campus. My experience in the Apple Store was all Apple/Macintosh based, but I got to work with Unix/Linux, Macintosh and Windows at the ISP. I learned a lot while working for the ISP. I was able to find new ways of making all the various systems work together, while still providing service and function to the me, the user.

Today, I run a variety of Operating Systems. I use a Unix System, almost exclusively for my network firewalls. I have servers, desktops and laptops running Linux (primarily Debian GNU/Linux) Operating Systems. I have had several Macs over the years, and now I have another.

My goal is to switch away from Windows Completely. I no longer like the direction Microsoft has taken their Operating System in. I also disagree with all the frivolous lawsuits Microsoft files against anyone and everyone, trying to protect their software licenses. This is all just a big show, but to me it is a huge fiasco.

I know a PC doesn’t have to run or use Microsoft software. I know a Macintosh is just as powerful as a PC, if not more! I know the latest Macintosh OS, Leopard (OS X) is just as capable as Windows, if not more! I also know Linux/Unix and Macintosh Operating Systems are a lot less likely to be plagued by viruses, the inevitable system crashes and blue screens.

With all this in mind, I’m going to begin a series of posts based on Apple’s Macintosh Computers. I’m going to start at the beginning with information relevant to the initial boot up sequence and follow through with loading the OS and System Shortcuts.

I hope the information in the days to come will help people see Microsoft is not the best option, and certainly is not the only option, when you need a computer.

Filed under: Computers, Desktop, Hardware, Laptops, Linux-Unix, Macintosh, Operating Systems, Servers, Software, Windows | No Comments »

On Monday, May 11th, Rackable Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: RACK), a leading provider of ecological servers and storage products for medium to large-scale data centers, announced that it has completed its previously-announced acquisition of the operating assets of the former Silicon Graphics, Inc.

SGI is a leader in high-performance computing. SGI delivers a complete range of high-performance server, storage and visualization solutions along with industry-leading professional services and support that enable its customers to overcome the challenges of complex data-intensive work flows and accelerate breakthrough discoveries, innovation and information transformation.

I’ve worked with a lot of equipment from both companies. They both offer a quality product, but together they have the ability to do so much more. Hopefully this combination will have a positive effect for the Linux community.

According to SGI, they have been a committed leader in the continued development and improvement of the performance and reliability of the Linux operating system. Claims include contributions to Linux scalability, scheduling, memory usage, I/O, and other efforts critical to high-demand application performance.

With everything that SGI claims to have been involved in for Linux, combining their products and services with those offered by Rackable Systems, will give them the ability to take on a larger roll in advancing Linux.

To read more from Rackable Systems, click Here.

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