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Clarkconnect is a robust "turnkey" server package that really kicks ass. I have used e-smith, Mandrake's SNF (Single Network Firewall) and Smoothwall.
I am running this firewall/fileserver on a P100 with 96M of ram, so performance was pretty important to me.
I run the following servers on the box...
Appletalk (netatalk), Samba, FTP (Proftpd), HTTP (Apache), SMTP (exim), DHCP, SSH, CUPS, WEBMIN and SQUID.
The performance of the box is outstanding and very robust. It has a really nice web-based interface for modifying the box's setup.
I'm not knocking any of the others... I still have an e-smith server running at a clients and it's been chuggin' along for a couple of years now.

Just my $.02
-Fordboy0

I have seen quite a few posts mentioning OpenBSD and just wanted to add that there is another interesting alternative for people that don't want to spend too much time on their firewall, but still want something pretty secure.

I know a few OpenBSD developers and was seriously considering using OpenBSD for my new firewall. Then suddenly the Mandrake Multi Network Firewall came out (slashdot article here) and I decided to try it out.

It's a linux firewall distribution that's very easy to install. Having finished the installation, everything can be managed from a easy-to-use web interface: System configuration, internet access, firewall configuration, VPN (server/client) connections, IPsec, backup and restore of the configuration, DHCP server, web cache server, dns caching server, system logs, url content filtering and more.

The default system feels secure (a normal user doesn't get to access anything) and the system also keeps track of what you're changing. I authorized ssh root access, which was quickly turned off. There's also a built-in intrusion detection.

The firewall itself is very easy to manage. You define different zones (wan, lan, dmz, ...) and set up the rules between the them. No need to know that some services (such as ftp) needs special configuration. I used a hand-written script on my linux box before, but this is a lot easier and more complete.

Among many things that the company have been supporting out of their own pockets are the ones listed on this page: http://www.mandrakesoft.com/labs .

Some of those are KDE, GNOME, Plex86, Bastille Linux, Prelude, Aurora, CUPS, PHPNUKE, Linux Kernel Development, LinuxPrinting.org and the list goes on...

I am sure that the worthless fsckers that troll thru here will find fault with some or all of those. To you I can say now:

So, like, what have YOU done to help Linux grow and prosper?

Since I won't be back, I'll give you the answer: The answer is that you have not benefited the world community nearly as much as MandrakeSoft has in less than four years. If/when it happens that they have to lock the doors, it is going to hurt a lot of people and you are probably in that list whether you know it or not.

If MandrakeSoft is in such dire straights, then what's all this about? Just last week revenue was up 31%, operating costs down 42%, and they were giving themselves a big pat on the back. And now they're asking for handouts again? What?

Did you have a look to these figures before posting? I'm not a specialist in finances but it seems the following figures they provide sound "standard" financials at least in Europe:

http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/investors/fina ncials

Additional information about the current increase of capital is available at:

http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/investors/bsa

It includes several very interesting FAQs about MandrakeSoft & Linux, including a long statement about UnitedLinux.

If things don't work out with the refund from vendors then maybe MandrakeSoft's "Operating System Refugee" Offer can help out.

It's not going to give you any real money back but at least you get a full distro with manuals. Might be good for newbies.

Now imagine a CLIC cluster of these....

Even though these may work on a business network, there are far, far better solutions available. The one I always try to implement is the Mandrake Network Firewall (instructions here.

Not only is this a superior firewall, it also provides -

Proxy Caching Server - to reduce bandwidth
Caching DNS Server - to further reduce bandwidth
SquidGuard/DansGuardian - to block certain sites and content
true DHCP server
VPN support
you can add multiple network cards and use it as an advanced router.
You can use named to setup DNS services for your private lan.
SSH support.


SNF is based on a Linux Distro, so you can add any feature/service you need, and run it on nearly any old computer(P5 or better for Mandrake).

Granted the Linksys works for small LANs, there are much better solutions available if you have the knowledge.

Will I be able to get JLH in my computer just like they show here?

Or does that require setting up a cluster?

I didn't get _any_ problem that she mentionned in the review... WindowMaker works for me and everything else! She also mentions "nano" which didn't run correctly. But Nano is not even part of Mandrake 9.0!!! To my understanding, she has something against MandrakeSoft, that's all...

I find Mandrake 9.0 just *great* and beautiful, the best Mandrake ever actually. Even on the desktop, SuSE & Red Hat are not as powerful as Mandrake. When I plug a USB scanner or camera under Red Hat 8.0, I don't have any icon showing up on my desktop...

By the way, there are two (really) interesting news about Mandrake today:

1) Mandrake was awarded "best distro of the year" by Linux Journal Readers (read on http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6380)

2) MandrakeSoft today published their new results (for latest fiscal year), which show an increase of nearly 30% for revenues!
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/investors/news letter/sn021017

If you read through all the things listed maybe you would realise some people _can't_ install microsoft's patches because of there EULA requirements.

Let's see...

Unpatched windows: Bugbear.

Patched windows: No bugbear, but all your file are belong to Microsoft.

LindowsOS: Different enough from the Win9x and WinNT lines that it may not catch the same viruses. Definitely comes with a mailer that's not susceptible to the iframe bug.

Fourth option. Fifth option. Sixth option. Seventh option.

Choose the one most appealing to you.

From their page [http://pst.mandrakesoft.com/]:

" Note: Due to the "Slashdhot effect" you are curently at a temporary location."

Spelling error and emphasis not mine this time.
I am looking for a new place to live - now I know why: it's the slashdot effect!

Actually 9.0 its pretty official. The press release is here and discussion on the cooker mailing list implies that this is indeed the final version (barring any last second changes, but that doesn't seem likely).

Want a distro without the KDE politics? Download the recently (like today) released Mandrake 9.0 and don't forget to use a mirror.

Drakfont comes standard only in Mandrake Linux distro, just
as I forgot what it used to be configuring fonts before that.

No kidding. It's well over a year installing fonts in my desktop
system is as easy as reading e-mail.

Now please, no hard feelings. I am pro free software, and had volunteered
for an upcoming Debian install fest. My ego needed the distro
boasting, but I am quite happy with this new achievement.

That wouldn't be very surprising since Mandrake Linux has become so popular in a so short time. Anyway, it's also surprising they didn't just buy them, since the company market-value is very small compared to Red Hat's IPO remaining cash.

(have a look at: http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/investors/bsa/ faq )

This is going to be intetersting to follow... will Red Hat include Mandrake's tuning such as supermount?

According to a recent press-release, MandrakeSoft has also worked with AMD to get Hammer supported on early 2003.

The joint Press release (MandrakeSoft/AMD- June 27th) is available here.

Neat to have Redhat following Mandrake for once...

Too bad I can't attend to this demo.

AND, you can get dual boot Apple OSX/YDL systems from Terra Soft for the same price Apple is selling them. I hope some more x86 vendors take Mandrake up on their $25 OEM deal. There is a market out there for winidows free products or MS would not have had to tell Dell to quit selling them.

Linux Mandrake is just the latest in a long line of quirkily christened versions of Linux. Previous versions of Linux have been named Red Hat, Slack Ware, Storm and Coral. In stark contrast to the mundane names such as 98, ME or NT preferred by Microsoft, the crazy names of each Linux release hint at its renegade nature.

My foray into the world of Linux began by downloading a "CD image" from the Linux web site. But don't worry, this isn't software piracy, it's perfectly legal! Linux is shareware, meaning that it can be freely redistributed without fear of a visit by the Business Software Alliance. The free availability of Linux is a major reason for its popularity among cash-strapped students and self-styled anti-capitalist hackers.

Before installing new software, it is always advisable to read the documentation. Unfortunately, an unpleasant surprise was in store for me in the "required configuration" section of the manual. I was shocked to learn that Linux Mandrake only runs on Pentium processors, meaning that my hopes of testing the water with my old Gateway 486 were dashed. Furthermore, a whopping 32 megabytes of memory are required to run Linux! Although the advocates of Linux self-righteously boast the efficiency of their chosen operating system and deride the "bloatware" produced by Microsoft, it appears that their claims are blatantly incorrect. Although my humble 486 will happily run Windows 95, it seems that Linux requires far more powerful, and more expensive, computer hardware. Is this really the sign of a lean, mean operating system? Of course not.

Sadly, not even being able to install Linux is just the first of my many complaints. A brief perusal of the features of Linux Mandrake reveals that Linux is sorely lacking many crucial productivity applications. For example, why isn't the industry standard web browser, Internet Explorer, included with Linux? Despite the best efforts of the experts at the Internet Engineering Task Force to encourage adoption of the Internet Explorer standard, the creators of Linux seem to think that they know better. By refusing to adhere to recognised standards, Linux is simply undermining its own credibility.

Similarly, almost all of the world's most popular and widely used software is completely incompatible with Linux! It may surprise you to learn that your copy of Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, or Lotus Notes will not work under Linux. Those who wish to use their computer for recreational purposes are also out of luck, for almost all of the most popular games are unavailable for Linux. Although a wide range of software is freely available for Linux, these pitiful offerings are mostly unfinished, unreliable and do not bear comparison to their commercial counterparts.

Computer security is also an area that seems to have been overlooked by the developers of Linux. In these times when hacking and viruses are commonplace, it defies belief to learn that no anti-virus software is available for Linux. To add insult to injury, there is no Linux version of the popular ZoneAlarm firewall. By using Linux, you are issuing an open invitation to the hordes of ne'er-do-wells on the Internet.

The shortcomings of Linux are obvious. Without even installing Linux Mandrake, I have exposed several fundamental flaws. Surely it is not too much to expect that, after ten years of development, the creators of Linux would have addressed these problems? The real question that the prospective Linux user must ask himself is, "Why bother?" After all, Microsoft Windows comes free with most PCs and there simply isn't a need to replace it, particularly not with a product of inferior quality.

Although it is always tempting to support the underdog, Windows XP will be the deserved victor in the battle ahead. I recommend that those Adequacy readers who are hoping to upgrade their operating system patiently wait for the release of Windows XP, rather than foolishly wasting their time, effort and money on Linux.

Why do you cheer about this! Do you ENJOY pain? I installed $lackware on my machine and it was torture! My computer was weezing and crying that i installed a Operating System worse than windows! It has no proper packge management, you just unzip tgzes and hope for the best. It has a half assed text based setup tool and and only supports the obsolete and unreliable ext/2 file systems. You have to edit at least 2000 text files to get the damn thing working and it only supports systems made before 1993!

HINT : Go and buy yourself a real distrobution or download a real one

Because their results are available publicly on their website. They aren't profitable yet but their income has increased much the last year, and their expenses have been reduced significantly.
Just have a look at: http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/investors/news letter

It sounds like you aren't looking for a source-based distro, but you don't need one in order to use Linux.

Crux is small. You want their i586 version.

Peanut Linux, as the name implies, is compact. They have an abiword package if you don't want to compile it yourself.

Some major distros like Mandrake offer minimal install options.

Big catagorized lists of distros are here and here and here.

You can get about any distro to work nice if you use a lightweight window manager such as blackbox or xfce (which is actually a complete lightweight desktop environment). Every major distro has a few like these.

They announced it yesterday - it includes StarOffice 6.0 for ProSuite & PowerPack Editions. The announce is here.

Does SuSE 8.0 include StarOffice 6.0 as well?

Wow! It looks like cburley is guilty of the kind of FUD Distribution that the linux-o-philes hate.

If you're not going to fully support the software you make, there are plenty of jobs at Target to fill your "free" time.

"free, ad-hoc" support. What a joke. Ad-hoc support is always inconsistant, frequently self-contradictory, and usually way over the help-seekers head.

cburley seems to be hopelessly engrained into thinking that software support=source code access

If cburley's attitude was taken to the process of changing the air-filter on my car, I'd be an expert at rebuilding Honda engines by now - which is NOT what I want to do with my time; I want my system to work, reliably, with little fuss, and not have to learn Linux Kernel programming to keep my system working.

One thing that's interesting about the analogy is that while all cars are more or less equally complex, in the same general ways, operating systems (and by extension, distributions) actually compete in areas like ease of installation, ease of use and ease of administration.

"Choice D" is what everyone who buys commercial software products does. You PAY for the product (!= free, as in speech OR Stolen Beer) and get support from that company, if at all. Software support for choices A thru C is shotty, unreliable and teduous at best.

SCENARIO 1: 1) Linux Distributions that are "free" (as in your friend's Beer) do not come with support, but you can give it away.
SCENARIO 2: 1) Big software company gets someone into a management position who is a rabid Linux user/coder/penguine fetishist and convinces the company that they should have a Linux Distro
SCENARIO 3: 1) Group of Linux coders/penguine fetishists get together and form a company to make and distribute their own brand of Linux

Your second scenario has only one example that I know of--Corel. They failed, but who cares? Xandros might yet succeed, and the Debian project is still chugging right along, providing "orphaned" Corel Linux users with all the updated software they need.

The third scenario, in which a bunch of geeks form a company to create an incompatible distribution, is just one example of how companies can naturally fail in an open, free, non-monopolistic market. Incompatibility is a bad idea for a young company--if they go that route they probably deserve to fail. If you're early on the scene, like Red Hat and Slackware were, you have the chance to create de facto standards that other vendors adhere to. Wow, capitalism at work!

Support for open-source products is so poor, inconsistent and unreliable that one should consider it virually non-existent.

In conclusion; if I use something that someone has made, whether I paid for it was given to me as a gift (as open-source is), I would expect that "someone" to help me fix it, and in a manner that I would understand.

This was a short-term cash crunch which is not the same as losing money.

It's very interesting. It's on their corporate website only:
---
(...)
On a more global side, it seems important to note that we have been working to correct the difficult situation in which we found ourselves, following the strategic errors of the previous management team. The actions we have been carrying out have been in several areas:

1. Refocusing the company around our original business, and what we are best at. It seemed necessary that we return to our original activity at MandrakeSoft: implementing Mandrake Linux, and offering value-added products and services around this solution.

2. Lowering costs. This was necessary to bring us closer to financial stability, and took the form of removing unnessary expenses and reducing the head count. MandrakeSoft has gone from over 150 employees at the start of 2001 to less than 100 now.

3. Increasing revenue and margins. This is done by developing new sources of revenue, such as OEM sales, e-commerce, services, online subscription services such as the Club, and increasing our margin on traditional product lines.

January-March 2002 financial figures, which will show the results of this strategy, will be published shortly.
---
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/investors/news letter/april2002?wslang=en

OpenOffice is the open-source equivalent to StarOffice (I'd say 'version' but I suspect that they will start to follow divergent paths from now on).

Sun is attempting to make StarOffice into an attractive alternative to people who would not otherwise even consider it ("It's free? Then it must be junk!!"). Sun can also include proprietary additions that cannot, for legal reasons, be made available as part of OpenOffice.

Saying that this was long-planned is probably true, but that doesn't change the fact that Sun only announced it recently. Mandrake, at least through the ZDNet story, claims that the decision to release StarOffice as proprietary was unexpected, which could be true (unlikely, but certainly possible). They also state that there are other factors to be considered that are why StarOffice is only available to Silver level or better members. Details are available on MandrakeClub. It's interesting that the ZDNet story and the MandrakeClub explanation don't jibe on several important points, so take that as you will.

Finally, OpenOffice is freely available in the standard Mandrake 8.2 release (it's on CD3 of the download edition, as somebody has already pointed out), and there's no requirement whatsoever that a user needs to acquire StarOffice 6.0, unless they specifically require the caapbilities offered in the proprietary release that are not available in OpenOffice. And really, how many home users need the database functionality? Some of the additonal file filters would be nice, but I'd hardly say essential. Now for a business ...

Personally, I feel that this is actually a fairly minor thing that has been blown out of proportion by an over-enthusiastic media. But that's just my opinion ...

> AFAIK in KDE 2.2 you cannot simply drag and drop to the "floppy device" icon in the desktop.

Just implemented this yesterday... quite a concidence ;)
konq_operations.diff

Apply this patch to the KDE 3 sources (current CVS, or 3.0-final
when it's out). It's a tiny bit late for inclusion in 3.0, given the size of the patch (which mainly moves code around though).
Feel free to test and report problems to me :)

Altadena, CA - March 18th 2002 - MandrakeSoft is proud to introduce Mandrake Linux 8.2 as the most feature-rich, multi-purpose Linux operating system ever made available to the public. This new version of our flagship product combines the power and flexibility of a full-featured Linux server with the simplicity and elegance of well designed graphical user interfaces.

Mandrake Linux 8.2 is the best "all-in-one" solution for saving time and money with personal computers: installation couldn't be easier with our world-famous graphical installer, and no post-configuration hassles means that your Mandrake system is immediately ready for work. Depending on your requirements, Mandrake 8.2 can be installed either as a full-featured & powerful Linux server, or as a highly productive personal workstation.

New server features include the ability to use an encrypted filesystem for protecting sensitive data; "kernel-secure" adds important security features to the default Linux kernel; and an "Enterprise" kernel delivers SMP (Symmetric Multi Processing) and Hi-memory support (above 1024 MB) for high-end servers. Mandrake Linux 8.2 also introduces a quick and efficient way to set up printers and scanners; a new file sharing feature for easily sharing files and directories in a networked environment; and improved "hot-plug" support that lets users install new devices quickly and painlessly without having to reboot the system. A new remote desktop utility, RFBdrake, is extremely useful for controlling machines remotely within a LAN or securely through the Internet.

New desktop features include a completely redesigned Mandrake Control Center that serves as a central location for Mandrake-specific tools and utilities, as well as many new configuration wizards. Desktop users will appreciate the task-oriented menus in GNOME and KDE which greatly simplify locating applications by categorizing them into common "tasks".

MandrakeFirstTime is an easy-to-use wizard that helps setup a desktop environment (KDE, GNOME, etc.), choose a theme and configure email settings. DrakNet, the Internet connection and network utility, efficiently helps users configure all types of network connections, from common dial-up modems to DSL and cable connections.

The reworked version of MSEC, a utility for configuring the security level of a machine (Standard, High, Highest, Paranoid) is more powerful than ever. Also included are the latest stable versions of KDE and GNOME which both offer some great new features and applications such as anti-aliased fonts and Evolution (an Outlook-like email client and personal information manager). StarOffice 6.0 is included with the ProSuite and PowerPack Editions.

"With version 8.2, Mandrake Linux proves that it is the ultimate Linux experience. This new release is the result of our four year commitment to providing the best operating system ever. Mandrake Linux has long been the preferred Linux distribution for individuals, but Mandrake 8.2 marks a new step in our penetration of the corporate environment. The features and unparalleled ease of use make 8.2 an incredibly efficient and affordable alternative to UNIX and Windows 2000" said Jacques Le Marois, CEO of MandrakeSoft.

Core System Components

• Kernel 2.4.18
• Improved Firewire support
• Support for USB2, ECC memory, i830 DRM, ATA133, Geforce3
• XFree86 4.2 provides 3D acceleration for many video cards previously only supported in 3.3.6
• Glibc 2.2.4

Software and Applications

• Apache 1.3.23
• PHP 4.1.2
• MySQL 3.23.47
• PostgreSQL 7.2
• Sendmail 8.12.1
• Postfix 20010228
• Staroffice 6.0 is the latest version of the famous Office Suite that boasts integrated creativity and productivity tools, improved interoperability with Microsoft Office files, support for XML file formats, and improved international support.
• Evolution 1.02 is a full-featured personal information manager and advanced E-mail client. Evolution provides the best features in its class.
• KDE 2.2.2 (KDE 3.0 RC2 is also provided as an alternative desktop for users who enjoy the bleeding edge) and GNOME 1.4.1 -- Enjoy the latest versions of these popular desktop environments. KDE 2.2.2 includes a new print system which has been integrated with PrinterDrake; GNOME 1.4.1 includes Evolution to closely match the features and look of MS-Outlook.

Mandrake Linux 8.2 is currently available for x86 processors, and will soon also be available for the PPC platform.

To find out more about Mandrake Linux 8.2, please visit http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/82.php3

Pre-orders are now being accepted for the Mandrake Linux 8.2 ProSuite and PowerPack Editions at http://www.MandrakeStore.com

Or download your copy today at http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ftp.php3

Mandrake Club members are entitled to download proprietary drivers and commercial software for 8.2: http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/club/

About MandrakeSoft

MandrakeSoft provides a trusted interface between users of information technology and open source developers. The company offers its enterprise, government and educational customers a set of GNU Linux and Open-Source software and related services, and user-friendly and highly competitive information technologies. In addition, MandrakeSoft offers technologists committed to open software and courseware a trusted channel to offer their services.

The company has technologists in over 20 countries, and is traded on Paris Euronext Marché Libre (Euroclear code: 4477.PA; Reuters code: MAKE.PA) and the US OTC market (stock symbol MDKFF). "Born on the Internet" in late 1998, MandrakeSoft established headquarters in the U.S.A., Montreal, England, Germany and France. Please visit the Web site, http://www.mandrakesoft.com for more information.

Press release

Product page

• http://www.superant.com/smalllinux/
  
• http://ibiblio.org/vectorlinux/
  
• http://www.zelow.no/floppyfw/
  
• http://www.xandros.net/
  
• http://www.gentoo.org/
  
• Smoothwall ...
  
• http://www.ipcop.org/
  
• http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/snf
  
• http://www.freesco.org/
  
• http://www.coyotelinux.com/
  
• http://leaf.sourceforge.net/
  
• http://www.gnatbox.com/Pages/gblight.html
  (this ones based on BSD IIRC)
  
• http://www.bbiagent.com/
  
• http://www.clarkconnect.org/"
  
• http://www.linux-firewall-tools.com/
  

Mandrake has a Gaming Edition for about 70$ + S&H that comes with the sims and a 90 day subscribtion to Transgaming I'd buy it but I'm waiting on 8.2. There is also a version of Counter Strike ported to linux.

They do issue stock. The thing is, you have to do it OTC, which is a little less convenient than buying Red Hat stock.

I'm not sure I want to become a partial owner in a company that's asking for donations, but I'm seriously considering getting another boxed Mandrake distribution to help them out.

Check Here for a little info they provide:
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/investors/news letter

• Astaro Security Linux: kernel 2.4.x
• BBIAgent: kernel 2.4.13
• ClarkConnect: iptables, kernel 2.4.9-31 (RH 7.2)
• Trinux: iptables, kernel 2.4.x (Slackware)

• Coyote Linux: kernel 2.2.19
• IPCop: kernel 2.2.x
• LEAF/LRP/Dachstein: kernel 2.2.19
• Mandrake SNF: kernel 2.2.19
• Smoothwall: kernel 2.2.19

• Freesco: ipfwadm, 2.0.38 (!)
• FWTK: Dunno, looks old, mentions ipfwadm

Single Network Firewall... runs off of a 2.2 kernel, easy to set up, and runs off a "slick web based interface". You can download the ISOs for free off their website.

Some linkage:

• info: http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/snf
• download: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/ftp.php3

Then try the Win2000 theme plus the same Icon theme mentioned before. Also on KDE-look.

And install Evolution. Too close to the look of Outlook.

But one thing will tell them that you are cheating: No BSOD!!

All the best.
Op

With XP, this model is trying to be changed, so not only do you have to keep paying to use XP, but you can think of it as an additional cost to playing your games.

Seems that for once, Microsoft is wanting to copy The Linux Way of doing business.

What's this? A beloved 'free' Linux company charging monthly fees for updates? All for the benefit of playing a handful of Windows games.

Now THAT'S progress...

The Linux operating system was born in 1991 and was created by one man, a
Finnish student coincidentally named Linux Torvalds. Since these humble
beginnings, a multi-million dollar
industry has sprung up to exploit the commercial potential of Linux, but
until recently Linux has eluded mainstream acceptance. However, due to the
recent economic downturn together with uncertainty over changes to Microsoft's pricing policy, Linux is
now being touted as a serious contender to Microsoft Windows. While there
are many other alternatives to Windows, including BSD which is based on SUN's (Stanford University Network - correction by bc) server-grade Solaris operating system,
none have commanded the same level of media attention as Linux.

Linux Mandrake is just the
latest in a long line of quirkily christened versions of Linux. Previous
versions of Linux have been named Red Hat, Slack Ware,
Storm and Coral. In stark contrast to the mundane names such
as 98, ME or NT preferred by Microsoft, the crazy
names of each Linux release hint at its renegade nature.

My foray into the world of Linux began by downloading a "CD image" from
the Linux web site. But don't worry, this isn't software piracy, it's
perfectly legal! Linux is shareware, meaning that it can be freely
redistributed without fear of a visit by the Business Software Alliance. The free
availability of Linux is a major reason for its popularity among
cash-strapped students and self-styled anti-capitalist hackers.

Before installing new software, it is always advisable to read the
documentation. Unfortunately, an unpleasant surprise was in store for me
in the "required configuration" section of the manual.
I was shocked to learn that Linux Mandrake only runs on Pentium
processors, meaning that my hopes of testing the water with my old Gateway 486 were dashed. Furthermore, a
whopping 32 megabytes of memory are required to run Linux! Although the advocates of Linux self-righteously
boast the efficiency of their chosen operating system and deride the
"bloatware" produced by Microsoft, it appears that their claims are
blatantly incorrect. Although my humble 486 will happily run Windows 95,
it seems that Linux requires far more powerful, and more expensive,
computer hardware. Is this really the sign of a lean, mean operating system?
Of course not.

Sadly, not even being able to install Linux is just the first of my many
complaints. A brief perusal of the
features of Linux Mandrake reveals that Linux is sorely lacking many
crucial productivity applications. For example, why isn't the industry
standard web browser, Internet Explorer, included with Linux? Despite the
best efforts of the experts at the Internet
Engineering Task Force to encourage adoption of the Internet Explorer
standard, the creators of Linux seem to think that they know better. By
refusing to adhere to recognised standards, Linux is simply undermining
its own credibility.

Similarly, almost all of the world's most popular and widely used software
is completely incompatible with Linux! It may surprise you to learn that
your copy of Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, or Lotus Notes will not
work under Linux. Those who wish to use their computer for recreational
purposes are also out of luck, for almost all of the most popular games
are unavailable for Linux. Although a wide range of software is freely
available for Linux, these pitiful offerings are mostly unfinished, unreliable and do not
bear comparison to their commercial counterparts.

Computer security is also an area that seems to have been overlooked by
the developers of Linux. In these times when hacking and viruses are
commonplace, it defies belief to learn that no anti-virus software is available for
Linux. To add insult to injury, there is no Linux version of the popular
ZoneAlarm firewall. By using Linux,
you are issuing an open invitation to the hordes of ne'er-do-wells on the
Internet.

The shortcomings of Linux are obvious. Without even installing Linux
Mandrake, I have exposed several fundamental flaws. Surely it is not too
much to expect that, after ten years of development, the creators of Linux
would have addressed these problems? The real question that the
prospective Linux user must ask himself is, "Why bother?" After all,
Microsoft Windows comes free with most PCs and there simply isn't a need
to replace it, particularly not with a product of inferior quality.

Although it is always tempting to support the underdog, Windows XP will
be the deserved victor in the battle ahead. I recommend that those
Adequacy readers who are hoping to upgrade their operating system
patiently wait for the release of Windows XP, rather than foolishly
wasting their time, effort and money on Linux.

I think if Loki was just getting started today their chances of success would be much higher. That's often the way it is in technology; the true innovators (Amiga, anyone?)are lost in the rush to succeed. It would have been nice to see Mandrake hire these guys to develop for their Gaming Edition. Loki may have been the first, but they won't be the last..The best is yet to come!

Mandrake does have a gaming edition. Mandrake Gaming Edition. It's basically a standard distro with The Sims and TransGaming's Winex, but it could be a step in the right direction for gamers.

Mandrake should buy them or transgaming. What about Mandrake Gaming Editon with some native games?

I don't care, I use Mandrake Linux. Good thing the French don't like big American companies.. the last thing I want to see is MS Mandrake when Microsoft decides to counter AOL.

Mandrake just released an earnings reports.

That little company is some SERIOUS trouble. They lost the equivalent of 13 million Euros last year. Mandrake only managed 3.5 million in revenue for the entire year!

What more is there to say about this report other than there is little or no money to be made from selling a 30 dollar Linux boxes at retail? Good lord even lowly Caldera has more revenue than Mandrake!

How can what is arguably the most popular Linux distribution be on the verge of economic melt down?

The Linux operating system was born in 1991 and was created by one man, a
Finnish student coincidentally named Linux Torvalds. Since these humble
beginnings, a multi-million dollar
industry has sprung up to exploit the commercial potential of Linux, but
until recently Linux has eluded mainstream acceptance. However, due to the
recent economic downturn together with uncertainty over changes to Microsoft's pricing policy, Linux is
now being touted as a serious contender to Microsoft Windows. While there
are many other alternatives to Windows, including BSD which is based on SUN's (Stanford University Network - correction by bc) server-grade Solaris operating system,
none have commanded the same level of media attention as Linux.

Linux Mandrake is just the
latest in a long line of quirkily christened versions of Linux. Previous
versions of Linux have been named Red Hat, Slack Ware,
Storm and Coral. In stark contrast to the mundane names such
as 98, ME or NT preferred by Microsoft, the crazy
names of each Linux release hint at its renegade nature.

My foray into the world of Linux began by downloading a "CD image" from
the Linux web site. But don't worry, this isn't software piracy, it's
perfectly legal! Linux is shareware, meaning that it can be freely
redistributed without fear of a visit by the Business Software Alliance. The free
availability of Linux is a major reason for its popularity among
cash-strapped students and self-styled anti-capitalist hackers.

Before installing new software, it is always advisable to read the
documentation. Unfortunately, an unpleasant surprise was in store for me
in the "required configuration" section of the manual.
I was shocked to learn that Linux Mandrake only runs on Pentium
processors, meaning that my hopes of testing the water with my old Gateway 486 were dashed. Furthermore, a
whopping 32 megabytes of memory are required to run Linux! Although the advocates of Linux self-righteously
boast the efficiency of their chosen operating system and deride the
"bloatware" produced by Microsoft, it appears that their claims are
blatantly incorrect. Although my humble 486 will happily run Windows 95,
it seems that Linux requires far more powerful, and more expensive,
computer hardware. Is this really the sign of a lean, mean operating system?
Of course not.

Sadly, not even being able to install Linux is just the first of my many
complaints. A brief perusal of the
features of Linux Mandrake reveals that Linux is sorely lacking many
crucial productivity applications. For example, why isn't the industry
standard web browser, Internet Explorer, included with Linux? Despite the
best efforts of the experts at the Internet
Engineering Task Force to encourage adoption of the Internet Explorer
standard, the creators of Linux seem to think that they know better. By
refusing to adhere to recognised standards, Linux is simply undermining
its own credibility.

Similarly, almost all of the world's most popular and widely used software
is completely incompatible with Linux! It may surprise you to learn that
your copy of Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, or Lotus Notes will not
work under Linux. Those who wish to use their computer for recreational
purposes are also out of luck, for almost all of the most popular games
are unavailable for Linux. Although a wide range of software is freely
available for Linux, these pitiful offerings are mostly unfinished, unreliable and do not
bear comparison to their commercial counterparts.

Computer security is also an area that seems to have been overlooked by
the developers of Linux. In these times when hacking and viruses are
commonplace, it defies belief to learn that no anti-virus software is available for
Linux. To add insult to injury, there is no Linux version of the popular
ZoneAlarm firewall. By using Linux,
you are issuing an open invitation to the hordes of ne'er-do-wells on the
Internet.

The shortcomings of Linux are obvious. Without even installing Linux
Mandrake, I have exposed several fundamental flaws. Surely it is not too
much to expect that, after ten years of development, the creators of Linux
would have addressed these problems? The real question that the
prospective Linux user must ask himself is, "Why bother?" After all,
Microsoft Windows comes free with most PCs and there simply isn't a need
to replace it, particularly not with a product of inferior quality.

Although it is always tempting to support the underdog, Windows XP will
be the deserved victor in the battle ahead. I recommend that those
Adequacy readers who are hoping to upgrade their operating system
patiently wait for the release of Windows XP, rather than foolishly
wasting their time, effort and money on Linux.

It's incredibly nice... (The Sims for Linux)

The Linux operating system was born in 1991 and was created by one man, a Finnish student coincidentally named Linux Torvalds. Since these humble beginnings, a multi-million dollar industry has sprung up to exploit the commercial potential of Linux, but until recently Linux has eluded mainstream acceptance. However, due to the recent economic downturn together with uncertainty over changes to Microsoft's pricing policy, Linux is now being touted as a serious contender to Microsoft Windows. While there are many other alternatives to Windows, including BSD which is based on SUN's (Stanford University Network - correction by bc) server-grade Solaris operating system, none have commanded the same level of media attention as Linux.

Linux Mandrake is just the latest in a long line of quirkily christened versions of Linux. Previous versions of Linux have been named Red Hat, Slack Ware, Storm and Coral. In stark contrast to the mundane names such as 98, ME or NT preferred by Microsoft, the crazy names of each Linux release hint at its renegade nature.

My foray into the world of Linux began by downloading a "CD image" from the Linux web site. But don't worry, this isn't software piracy, it's perfectly legal! Linux is shareware, meaning that it can be freely redistributed without fear of a visit by the Business Software Alliance. The free availability of Linux is a major reason for its popularity among cash-strapped students and self-styled anti-capitalist hackers.

Before installing new software, it is always advisable to read the documentation. Unfortunately, an unpleasant surprise was in store for me in the "required configuration" section of the manual. I was shocked to learn that Linux Mandrake only runs on Pentium processors, meaning that my hopes of testing the water with my old Gateway 486 were dashed. Furthermore, a whopping 32 megabytes of memory are required to run Linux! Although the advocates of Linux self-righteously boast the efficiency of their chosen operating system and deride the "bloatware" produced by Microsoft, it appears that their claims are blatantly incorrect. Although my humble 486 will happily run Windows 95, it seems that Linux requires far more powerful, and more expensive, computer hardware. Is this really the sign of a lean, mean operating system? Of course not.

Sadly, not even being able to install Linux is just the first of my many complaints. A brief perusal of the features of Linux Mandrake reveals that Linux is sorely lacking many crucial productivity applications. For example, why isn't the industry standard web browser, Internet Explorer, included with Linux? Despite the best efforts of the experts at the Internet Engineering Task Force to encourage adoption of the Internet Explorer standard, the creators of Linux seem to think that they know better. By refusing to adhere to recognised standards, Linux is simply undermining its own credibility.

Similarly, almost all of the world's most popular and widely used software is completely incompatible with Linux! It may surprise you to learn that your copy of Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, or Lotus Notes will not work under Linux. Those who wish to use their computer for recreational purposes are also out of luck, for almost all of the most popular games are unavailable for Linux. Although a wide range of software is freely available for Linux, these pitiful offerings are mostly unfinished, unreliable and do not bear comparison to their commercial counterparts.

Computer security is also an area that seems to have been overlooked by the developers of Linux. In these times when hacking and viruses are commonplace, it defies belief to learn that no anti-virus software is available for Linux. To add insult to injury, there is no Linux version of the popular ZoneAlarm firewall. By using Linux, you are issuing an open invitation to the hordes of ne'er-do-wells on the Internet.

The shortcomings of Linux are obvious. Without even installing Linux Mandrake, I have exposed several fundamental flaws. Surely it is not too much to expect that, after ten years of development, the creators of Linux would have addressed these problems? The real question that the prospective Linux user must ask himself is, "Why bother?" After all, Microsoft Windows comes free with most PCs and there simply isn't a need to replace it, particularly not with a product of inferior quality.

Although it is always tempting to support the underdog, Windows XP will be the deserved victor in the battle ahead. I recommend that those Adequacy readers who are hoping to upgrade their operating system patiently wait for the release of Windows XP, rather than foolishly wasting their time, effort and money on Linux.

You wanna know how I got a linux box into my aunt and uncle's home and lord forbid this christmas my mom's home?

One word Smoothwall. I tried Single Network Firewall by Mandrake but did not have time to get it to like the NICs I had in there.

If they had a Nice pretty 20-30 meg *BSD firewall distro or a 100-200 meg *BSD firewall/print server/webproxy/IDS server I will install it on my own network along with at least two relatives.

P.S. My Aunt and uncle have had a linux firewall box with a switch on top for 3 years and neither one of them knows dick about computers. The damn thing just works and if it doesn't (its a headless system) they power cycle the bitch and it does. Pretty Webadmin interface makes the whole thing slick and useable, and useability is what at least part of *BSD should be looking at if they want penetration. If not they can circle jerk the whole damn sysadmin community forever but because they do not have the backing of the some big iron company they will forever be regulated to a niche comnunity. No flames meant by any of this, I'm just trying to point out that the Linux community has grown by leaps and bounds since the inception of projects the likes of mandrake, gnome/KDE, and others. I think its time that *BSD learns from its upstart cousin and build something that has the potential for mass appeal.