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 issue 1                    http://console-newsletter.hypermart.net
  __  __  _ _  __ __  )) __ console: tips,tricks & news about Linux
 ((_ ((_)((\( _))((_)(( (('________________________________________

 [09/99]                                            "a good read.."


+ headlines

Sun Microsystems acquires Star Division
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990901/tc/sunmicro_software_2.html

This coupled with Sun's recent announcement of its
thinest client yet the "Sun Ray 1 Enterprise Appliance"
http://www.sun.com/products/sunray1 a desktop device costing
less than $500.usd could make a very attractive model for
business. The Sun Ray is stateless -no client side upgrades
are needed- this is in sharp contrast to the perpetual upgrade
snafu from the makers of Wintendo.

Watch for StarOffice portals next..
--

+ hmm..

Microsoft lost a bid for linux.com !?!
http://216.88.73.6/stories/3682.html for more info.

Looks to me they want it both ways:
just a few months ago, Bill G. said no one ever asks him about
linux then in court they claim linux is a competitor.  sorta makes
you go hmm..
--

+ distro watch

Mandrake 6.1pre Optimized Red hat
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/cassini.php3

Peanut Linux:small PnP Linux
http://metalab.unc.edu/peanut/
--

+ new apps

XFree86 3.3.5 released:x windowing system
http://www.xfree86.org

aewm:minimalistic window manager for X
http://members.home.com/decklin/aewm/

Linux Console Tools 0.2.2
http://www.multimania.com/ydirson/en/lct/
--

+ quote of the month

"What is to give light must endure burning.."
-Viktor E. Frankl
--

+ review

GAG A GRAPHICAL BOOT MANAGER

If you run multiple operating systems then you most likely have
experience with lilo and/or system commander, thou lilo works
great, its nice to add a little spice & color to your boot routine
however system commander while a great product can put the pinch
on your wallet rather quickly,there is a another choice "gag"
spanish for:"graphical boot manager".

http://www.arrakis.es/~scostas/SOFTWARE/GAG/gageng.htm

from the documentation:


	Allows boot of up to 9 different operating systems.
	It can boot operating systems installed in primary and extended

  partitions on any available hard disk.

	Can be installed from nearly all operating systems.
	GAG doesn't need its own partition. It installs itself in the

  first track of the hard disk, which is reserved for these
  kinds of programs. It can also be installed on a floppy disk,
  without using the hard disk.

	It has a timer to boot a default operating system (selectable by

  the user).

	The configuration menu can be protected with a password.
	The program works in graphic mode (needs a VGA or better graphic

  card), and has a lot of icons.

	Hides the primary partitions which allows the user to have

  installed more than one DOS and/or Windows in the same hard disk.

	Allows a password to be put on each operating system, denying

  access to non-authorized people.

	Allows the boot manager text to be translated to all languages.
	Can exchange disk drives, allowing to boot from the second,

  third... hard disk operating systems such as MS-DOS.

	Has the SafeBoot system, that allows to boot your hard disk even

  if GAG is accidentally overwrited.

	Full version and free software (distributed under GPL license,

  with source code)

The most striking thing about gag is the utter simplicity with
which the app installed,its a no brainer.
note:[if your not familiar with the concept of partitions & master
boot records,etc..you can trash your computer in nothing flat.
consider yourself warned.]

Since I assume you have two or more operating systems already
installed I'll cut to the chase..

The program comes as an image file after coping the image to floppy
-as per the instructions- using rawrite -included- I popped in the
floppy & rebooted where upon I was presented with a graphical menu
indicating I could either boot drive a: or setup gag,I chose setup.
At this point a panel is displayed with several options:

add a partition to the menu
delete a partition from the menu
save in floppy
save in hardrive
change password

I added a partition from the displayed list & was prompted for
a name to call the selection since this was a dos partition I
entitled it approiately. Following this I was presented several
icons to use for visual identification. There are some nifty
choices:

tux /the linux penguin/
dos & windows emblems
os/2 warp,unix,be,sco,etc..
I choose the dos icon.

Just to play it safe I saved the changes to floppy.  This series
of choices comes full circle & leads me back to the menu that
now says:

drive a:
dos
setup

holding my breath I select the dos entry & my box boots perfectly.

While this product lacks some of the polish of its more expensive
cousins its very handy to have.  Also  don't misunderstand you'll
still need lilo to boot linux except now you can have a nice menu
to choose from.

Lastly there are several languages the app comes ready for:
English,Spanish,Galaecian,Bable,Portuguese,French,German,
Brazilian,Italian,Swedish,Czech,Danish,Polish,Japanese

Large parts of the documentation are only available in english.
If you like gag lend a hand & help convert the docs to your
language of choice.

digs <mjs@nts-online.net>
--

+ grok

 lost at the command line?
   all users in Linux have a home directory,to get back home fast
   type:
   cd [enter]

 forget which directory you want to change to?
   if you use bash and remember at least the first letter of the
   folder in question you can get there..
   example: you want to cd to /usr type:
   cd /u[tab] note: thats "cd /u then push tab" the shell will
   complete the entry for you,if there is more than one option
   a list will be displayed.
--

+ jargon

automagically: /aw-toh-maj'i-klee/ adv. Automatically, but in a
way that, for some reason (typically because it is too complicated,
or too ugly, or perhaps even too trivial),the speaker doesn't feel
like explaining to you.  See {magic}."The C-INTERCAL compiler
generates C, then automagically invokes `cc(1)' to produce an
executable."
--

+ Wrap up

Coming in future issues:
Tentative interviews with,

D.J. Hawkey Jr. maintainer of vtwm -virtual tab window manager-

Henry White creator of [blt] -basic linux training-

scoop /Patrick Lenz/ of freshmeat fame

an excellent article from a console reader who locks horns with
a PnP modem and emerges victorious.

further groking,interesting links & much more..

Folks console depends on "your" editorial contributions without
your input were doomed.If you have an article or a few words
of wisdom why not send it in?

later on,
digs
--

+ subscriptions & submittals

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--

+ about

This issue of console was brought to you by:
digs <mjs@nts-online.net> - chief writer & layout
wendy <address withheld at users request> - contributor

eof