Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

Data center server infrastructure and OSes

• 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

• $ PATH vs. pwd

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

• 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

• 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

• OpenOffice security cracker

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

• Linux printer as a Postscript device

  Unix-Linux expert Ken Milberg follows up on his tip, "Printing from Unix to Linux," and explains why you're better off not setting up a Linux printer as a generic Postscript device.  Continue Reading

• Scanning a compromised Fedora server

  Security expert James Turnbull explains how to determine if your server has been compromised and recommends some scanning tools.  Continue Reading

• Mail merge workaround

  An office suite expert describes how to turn text files into spreadsheets and how to create a database based on a text file in OpenOffice.  Continue Reading