Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

Data center server infrastructure and OSes

• Adding a not exist to a subquery with several joins

  A MySQL expert describes how to rewrite NOT EXISTS as joins when trying to add a NOT EXIST to a subquery with several joins.  Continue Reading

• Monitoring open ports on RHEL 5

  A Linux security expert describes how to determine which ports are open in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (RHEL 5) and how to figure out if your ports have been compromised by an attack.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft, commercial Linux and patent battles

  An open source issues and strategies expert explains Microsoft's patent infringement claims.  Continue Reading

• SUSE vouchers and IP claims

  An open source software and applications expert explains why he's not so sure the release of GPLv3 will affect this issue of Microsoft's claim about intellectual property and its patents.  Continue Reading

• Distributed computing, clusters and high-availability solutions

  A Unix-to-Linux expert describes educational resources about distributed computing, clusters and high-availability solutions for a user who is considering a move to Linux from Unix.  Continue Reading

• ipcrm in RHEL 4

  An expert describes several possible solutions for ipcrm's continued existence on RHEL 4 even after is has been dest (destroyed).  Continue Reading

• $ PATH vs. pwd

  An expert describes the difference between two shell commands, $ PATH and pwd.  Continue Reading

• Running Maple 10 on 64-bit Linux

  A new user wants to know whether it is possible to run a math application, Maple 10, on 64-bit Linux.  Continue Reading

• mysql_ functions vs. mysqli object approach

  MySQL expert Scott Noyes explains why using mysqli over mysql_functions allows you to take advantage of MySQL's newer features and PHP scripts.  Continue Reading

• PEAR functionality in MySQL

  An expert describes PEAR and what it does in MySQL.  Continue Reading

• OpenOffice vs. Microsoft Office GUIs

  How similar are the GUIs for OpenOffice and Microsoft Office? An expert weighs in.  Continue Reading

• Red Hat and proprietary code

  An open source software and applications expert explains where Red Hat's code falls in the scheme of open source versus proprietary.  Continue Reading

• CSV, ARCHIVE, FEDERATED and EXAMPLE in MySQL 5

  A MySQL expert explains why the hype about CSV, ARCHIVE, FEDERATED and EXAMPLE storage engines in MySQL 5 is justified.  Continue Reading

• CentOS, RHEL vs. Oracle on Linux

  An open source software and applications expert explains the difference between CentOS, RHEL and Unbreakable Linux.  Continue Reading

• OpenOffice security cracker

  An office suite expert doesn't think any office suite is secure enough.  Continue Reading