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Monthly Archives: July 2012

Linux Training for People New to Linux – How to Use Linux Command Names

There are over 130 Linux distributions (versions) and they can be administered (managed) by Linux Graphical User Interface (GUI) utilities – or by using Linux commands.

Linux GUI utilities give you a “point-and-click” interface for doing Linux administration tasks, like working with the Linux file system (to make directories and copy files), and to create Linux users. However, they are slow and awkward to use – and even worse, they are different from one Linux distribution to another!

On the flip side, Linux commands are virtually identical from one Linux distribution to another. So, when you learn a Linux command in one Linux distro, that same command will work in all 130+ Linux distros.

However, new Linux users often have difficulty learning how to use Linux commands to administer the Linux OS (operating system). This is because most Linux training materials are poorly written by Linux techies that don’t know how to write in plain English for people new to Linux.

Linux Tips: When you get Linux training, don’t spend time learning Linux GUI utilities – learn how to use Linux commands, even though they are a bit harder to learn than GUI utilities.

Linux Command Names

Linux command names are often an abbreviation of what the command does. For example, the rm command stands for remove.

Linux command names and command options are “case sensitive”. Lower case letters need to be typed in lower case and vice versa. You must type in a Linux command and the options of the command, exactly as shown.

Linux Tips: Be sure to put a space between the Linux command name, its options, and what the Linux command is being run “on”, such as the name of a file.

Linux Command Name Examples

Here are some Linux command examples. The task is described and then the Linux command name is shown.

make (create) a directory – the Linux command is md

create new Linux users – the useradd command is used for this

search the Linux file system for information – the Linux command is grep

see the “type” of a Linux file – the file command displays this information

see the names of new Linux users, currently working on the system – the Linux command is users

find Linux directories and files in the Linux file system – the command for this is called find

Linux video tutorials are an easy and fast way to get Linux training and actually “see” how to use Linux commands.

When you watch a Linux video tutorial, you get to see, hear and do! You see and hear how to run a Linux command and you can even pause the presentation so you can run the Linux command yourself!

Why Companies Should Consider Leasing Computers and Technology

Many companies are not aware of the significant benefits related to acquisition financing in computers and technology segments. The proper term for this type of financing is ‘ Technology lifecycle management ‘. Most business owners simply consider the following question: ‘Should I buy or lease my firms new computers and software and related products and services?’

Two old adages related to leasing still ring true when it comes to the technological aspect. That is that one should finance something and depreciates, and one should buy something that appreciates in value. Most business owners, and consumers as well know very well that computers depreciate in value. Systems we paid thousands of dollars for years ago are now hundreds of dollars. Walk into any ‘ big box ‘ retailer and see the dramatic moves in technology.

Business owners who finance technology demonstrate a higher level of cost effectiveness. The company wants to reap the benefits of the technology over the useful life of the asset, and, importantly, more evenly match the cash outflows with the benefits. Leasing and financing your technology allows you to stay ahead of the technology curve; that is to say you are always using the latest technology as it relates to your firms needs.

Businesses that lease and finance their technology needs are often working better within their capital budgets. Simply speaking they can buy more and buy smarter. Many companies that are larger in size have balance sheet issues and ROA (return on assets) issues that are compelling. They must stay within bank credit covenants and are measure often on their ability to generate income on the total level of assets being deployed in the company.

Lease financing allows those firms to address both of those issues. Companies can choose to employ an ‘ operating lease ‘ structure for their technology financing. This is more prevalent in larger firms, but works almost equally as well in small organizations. Operating leases are ‘ off balance sheet ‘. The firm adopts the stance of using technology, not owning technology. The lessor/lender owns the equipment, and has a stake in the residual value of the technology. The main benefit for the company is that the debt associated with the technology acquisition is not directly held on the balance sheet. This optimizes debt levels and profitability ratios.

At the end of those operating leases, which are usually 36 months long, the customer has the option of:

1. Returning the equipment
2. Buying the equipment ( not likely though )
3. Negotiating an extension of the financing for continued use of the computers, technology, etc.

Companies that have recently acquired computers and technology can in fact negotiate a’ sale leaseback ‘ on those same assets. This financing strategy brings cash back into the company, as the firm has employed a leasing and financing strategy building on our above noted them – using technology, not owning technology.

In summary, the key benefits of computer and technology lease financing are:

* The company can stay ahead of the technology curve
* Computer leasing and financing has significant balance sheet and income statement benefits
* The firm has flexibility with respect to buying new product, returning existing technology, and generating cash flow for purchases already made

Many of the benefits we have discussed relate to leasing in general. However, technology and lease financing are very perfectly suited to the business financing strategy of leasing.

Linux Training – Linux Installation Help – Install Linux on Windows to Run Linux in Windows!

If you already have a computer system with Windows installed, you can easily get a free Linux distribution and install Linux on Windows. This allows you to run Linux in Windows and get Linux training so you can learn how to use Linux!

To run Linux in Windows, you run the free virtual machine “player” (program) and then open a free Linux virtual machine.

A Linux virtual machine is a complete new Linux distribution, including the Linux OS (operating system) and Linux software programs, that has been compressed into a single Linux download file.

All you need to do is download and install the free Linux virtual machine player and a free Linux virtual machine, so you can run Linux in Windows, as described in the steps below.

7 Steps to Install Linux on Windows So You Can Run Linux in Windows!

1. Download the free Linux virtual machine player to your Windows desktop and a player installation icon appears on the desktop so you can install the player.

2. Double-click on the player installation icon and follow the prompts to install the Linux virtual machine player. The player program easily installs like any other Windows program and this takes just a few minutes. After the installation, a virtual machine player icon appears on the desktop. This second icon is used to run the player, as opposed to the icon that was used to install the player.

3. Download a free Linux virtual machine. This is a single large compressed (zipped) file. And this file contains several Linux virtual machine files, all of which make up the virtual machine. These files provide a “pre-installed” version of a new Linux OS, including Linux software programs. Lots of free Linux virtual machines are available for many popular Linux distributions.

Linux Tips: When you download Linux as a virtual machine, be sure to get one that includes a Linux desktop. Some virtual machines are created without Linux desktops and are used as Linux servers. As a new Linux user, you will want a Linux desktop so you can easily use the menus to run Linux software programs. The desktop also allows you to open one or more terminal emulation windows so you can go to the Linux command line and run Linux commands.

Linux Tips: Also be sure to get the password of the root user, which will be posted at the site where you download Linux. When you go to the Linux command line to run Linux commands, you need the root user password to run the Linux administration commands.

4. Create a folder on your Windows hard disk for the Linux virtual machine files. You need to create this folder before uncompressing (unzipping) the single file that contains the compressed Linux virtual machine files.

5. Uncompress (unzip) the Linux virtual machine files, from the single Linux download file, into the folder you created on your Windows hard disk.

6. Run the Linux virtual machine player. Just double-click on the virtual machine player icon that was created on the desktop. At this point, you will be prompted for the name of a virtual machine to “open”.

7. Browse to the folder you created and “open” the Linux virtual machine. This quickly and easily runs Linux in Windows!

Linux Tips: A compressed Linux virtual machine file is quite large. High-speed Internet accesses is highly recommended. If you don’t have high-speed access, look into getting a Linux live CD version. These are inexpensive to buy and have delivered to you by mail.

By installing Linux on Windows to run Linux in Windows you get practical Linux training and valuable experience at how to use Linux!

Copyright © 2007 Clyde Boom. All rights reserved.