Linux

[Debacle]

Am currently about to build a new computer so when thats all set up will be installing Linux (Ubuntu) on my old one and giving to my son.

Just wondering about anti virus and firewall options.

[Blknight.aus]

no one writes viruses for linux or MACs ,theres no profit from it....

dunno why they bother with it with windoze either it falls over enough by itself.

[Bytemrk]

Never used them..

but here are 2 free Av solutions...

http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/linux/linux.asp

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-for-linux-workstation.html

The free avast version for windows is ok... so I think either of these would do the job.

But like Blknight says...there are a LOT less linux viruses around... (but they are out there if you try hard enough:p)


For your firewall, do a search on ipchains or iptables...

cheers,
Mark

[loanrangie]

I found Ubuntu a bit boring but Kubuntu is much better.

[JDNSW]

Am currently about to build a new computer so when thats all set up will be installing Linux (Ubuntu) on my old one and giving to my son.

Just wondering about anti virus and firewall options.

Like Loanrangie I would prefer Kubuntu. As far as I know a reasonable firewall is standard with all Linux distributions - just make sure it is suitably configured. The virus scanners available for Linux scan for Windows viruses and are only useful if your Linux computer is networked with windows computers or you exchange files with Windows computers. (and in this case probably are worth having)
Viruses that run on Linux are so rare that there is no point in writing software to detect them, and given the normal security setup in almost all Linux installations (this means do not operate as root user!) are impossible to propagate.

John

[shorty943]

Like every body in the above posts said. Ubuntu is a Debian based system using the gnome user interface. Kubuntu is similar but uses the KDE interface.

The only reason AV is mentioned for Linux, is as a server side protection for windows mixed networks. The virus fear factor is just a scare for Windows users.

Firewalling is taken care of internally to the system. Using IPTables, Linux was written from the beginning, to have network security at its heart.

My personal preference is for Mandriva, formerly Mandrake Linux. The system I sit before at this very moment is Mandriva 2007 Free (spring). Installed onto an IDE RAID set, and dual booted with Win XP (used only for gaming).

If your ISP is like mine (www.internode.on.net), they will have a download mirror service that is free of download limitting. Download and burn to CD, the ISO file of Mandriva Free. It is a "Live CD", that will boot and run Linux for you, without touching the installed system IN ANY WAY. The entire system, user applications, everything is transparently compressed onto the CD. Up to 2.1 .Gb of data on a 700 Mb CD.

Try that out first, try using the KDE desktop, it is closest to the Windows look and feel.

Shorty.

[Debacle]

Thanks for the advice everyone, but just had a thought today. It will be going on a pc that I am giving to my son and he has a few games that he plays. From what I understand these wont work on linux although I heard some one talking about something called microsoft emulator. its too early to get on to Vista but I located a new OEM copy of xp for $149, may have to go down that road.

[JDNSW]

Thanks for the advice everyone, but just had a thought today. It will be going on a pc that I am giving to my son and he has a few games that he plays. From what I understand these wont work on linux although I heard some one talking about something called microsoft emulator. its too early to get on to Vista but I located a new OEM copy of xp for $149, may have to go down that road.

You can always set it up as dual boot so you can run the Linux of your choice but boot into Windows for those applications you need to run under Windows (This is what I am doing - not ready to change accounting applications - too much history, plus one of my scanners has no Linux support and a secretive manufacturer).

John

[Debacle]

The one I am giving to my son will be going to his mums place so thats why I need another operating system for him otherwise if it was staying here I would have just networked the two together. When I get my new machine up and running will be running a dual boot linux/xp.