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Debian vs Ubuntu Linux [Easy to Digest Comparison]

Debian vs Ubuntu

We know that Ubuntu Linux is based on the Debian Linux distribution and that because of that, they are similar in many ways – but which one should you use? As usual, it depends on your own preference and skill level. On the Desktop and the Server [Comparison] Here is a side-by-side look at each distribution, comparing some of the differences that will matter most to the user. Debian Ubuntu Stable, but without the latest features Based on the Debian testing branch, newer features A solid base operating system … Read more

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Debian: How to Add a User to Sudoers

Debian How to Add a User to Sudoers 1

In the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard used by Linux operating systems, all files and directories appear under the root directory “/” but access to it is often restricted for security reasons. In Linux distributions like Debian, you can gain full access from the SSH by using the “sudo” command. This tutorial explains how to add a user to Sudoers so that the user is permitted to run the sudo command. Logging in as a superuser or root user enables you to make system-wide modifications. “sudo” can … Read more

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Install nfdump and nfsen netflow tools in Linux

Monitoring (featured logo)

Using nfsen it is possible to view IP traffic statistics on Linux interfaces including the graphs showing data sent and received (see the screenshot to the right) as well as historical information about all data transfers. So after you’ve configured nfsen and nfdump to monitor traffic on certain Linux server or router you’ll be able to answer the following example questions: What IP was downloading data through 48161 last Wednesday? or How many bytes were sent to IP 8.8.8.8 via 53 port from Linux server? … Read more

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How to monitor traffic at Cisco router using Linux (Netflow)

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By default Cisco IOS doesn’t provide any traffic monitoring tools like iftop or iptraff available in Linux. While there are lots of proprietary solutions for this purpose including Cisco Netflow Collection, you are free to choose nfdump and nfsen open source software to monitor traffic of one or many Cisco routers and get detailed monitoring data through your Linux command line or as graphs at absolutely no cost. Below is beginner’s guide that helps to quickly deploy netflow collector and visualizer under Linux and impress … Read more

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The easiest way to split and merge pdf files in Ubuntu

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The easiest way to split, merge or edit pdf files in Ubuntu is to use pdftk utility. This rather old (latest version was released in 2006) but still simple and powerful program can be installed in Ubuntu (Debian or any deb-family Linux distribution) by the following command in terminal: sudo aptitude install pdftk (if you run Fedora, RedHat or CentOS use this one: sudo yum install pdftk) Split large pdf into many one-page files: pdftk largepdfile.pdf burst (as the result you will get many small … Read more

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Mount remote filesystem via ssh protocol using sshfs and fuse [Fedora/RedHat/Debian/Ubuntu way]

Imagine the following situation: you have to compile some Linux/Unix application or kernel module that requires kernel source present at your hard drive, say, in /usr/src/kernels/kernel-2.6.21-i386/ or elsewhere. But there is not enough disk space to copy these sources or install kernel-devel or linux-source packages (in Fedora/RedHat or Ubuntu/Debian distros respectively)… Sounds familiar? Believe me, sometimes it happens 🙂 As a solution you can mount the directory of some remote PC that contains needed kernel source. It can be done via several protocols like smb, … Read more

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Convert WMA to MP3 in Ubuntu

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In order to convert WMA file into MP3 format in Ubuntu (or Debian) you should install the following requirements first: 1. mplayer (sudo aptitude install mplayer) 2. lame (sudo aptitude install lame) 3. win32 codecs (sudo aptitude install ubuntu-restricted-extras) and then convert file.wma into file.mp3 using the following console command: mplayer -vo null -vc dummy -af resample=44100 -ao pcm:waveheader file.wma;lame -m s -V 3 audiodump.wav;mv audiodump.wav.mp3 file.mp3;rm audiodump.wav This also works for Fedora / Centos / Redhat family Linux distributions (requirements should be installed by … Read more

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FAQ: How to change Duplex and/or Auto-Negotiation NIC settings in Linux?

Q: How to disable auto-negotiation option of my network interface card and set up half/full duplex mode manually from Linux command line (CLI)? By the way, how to see current settings? A: There are several Linux utilities coming with almost any distribution including Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, RedHat, Mandriva, Centos whatever. See details below. ethtool This is rather powerful utility can display and change settings of ethernet network interface card. You can easily disable/enable autonegotiation option for your NIC, also it’s possible to manually set up … Read more

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Create .deb or .rpm from .tar.gz with checkinstall

Checkinstall is extremely useful utility to create .deb packages for Debian, Ubuntu (or .rpm packages for Fedora, RedHat, CentOs) from .tar.gz (or .tgz) source tarball after it’s compiled at your Linux box. In other words you can prepare binary package for later usage without need to compile software from sources every time you need to get it installed on certain Linux box. Another application of checkinstall is software deinstallation that was compiled and installed from sources. As you might already noticed, not every programmer adds … Read more

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FAQ: How to disable directory browsing in apache/httpd?

Question: How can I disable building of directory index in apache/httpd? In other words, how to prevent users from seeing the contents of published directories? Answer: Actually you are totally right that you wish to disable this feature. One of the “must do’s” on setting a secure apache web server is to disable directory browsing. Usually apache comes with this feature enabled but its always a good idea to get it disabled unless you really need it. First of all find where is the main apache’s … Read more