Run All Your Desktop Apps In Docker Containers

Most people use Docker for containing applications to deploy into production or for building their applications in a contained enviornment. This is all fine & dandy, and saves developers & ops engineers huge headaches, but I like to use Docker in a not-so-typical way.

I use Docker to run all the desktop apps on my computers.

Jessie Frazelle’s Blog: Docker Containers on the Desktop https://blog.jessfraz.com/posts/docker-containers-on-the-desktop.html

Running Chrome in a container sounds like an excellent idea to me. I think I’ll finally give Docker a try.

“FreeIPA is an integrated security information management solution combining Linux (Fedora), 389 Directory Server, MIT Kerberos, NTP, DNS, Dogtag (Certificate System). It consists of a web interface and command-line administration tools.”  http://www.freeipa.org/page/Main_Page

Kali Linux is a security-focused operating system you can run off a CD or USB drive, anywhere. With its security toolkit you can crack Wi-Fi passwords, create fake networks, and test other vulnerabilities. Here’s how to use it to give your own a network a security checkup

How to Hack Your Own Network and Beef Up Its Security with Kali Linux
http://lifehacker.com/how-to-hack-your-own-network-and-beef-up-its-security-w-1649785071?utm_campaign=socialflow_lifehacker_facebook&utm_source=lifehacker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Resetting the KDE Desktop on Debian Wheezy

Note to self: tinker less with the desktop set up and just get some work done.

After seriously messing up the KDE Plasma desktop on my Debian box while adding a second monitor to the setup, I needed to reset the desktop and get some semblance of order again. Turns out that it took a bit of Googling to figure out so I thought I’d put the steps here so I can find them the next time I bust the desktop.

Start by firing up your favorite console. Then just enter these commands, no need to be root:

kquitapp plasma-desktop
rm ~/.kde/share/config/plasm* -fv
plasma-desktop &

This stops the Plasma desktop making the desktop disappear, then removes the config files associated with Plasma, and finally starts the Plasma desktop as if it were the first time you are running it. This seem a bit drastic, but KDE Plasma has a lot of configurable pieces and if it goes sideways it’s a heck of lot easier to wipe it out and start over than it is to try and back it out.

 

Red Hat Finally Adopts CentOS, Brings Legitimacy To Enterprise Open Source

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a wonderful operating system for commercial users. However, there is one major downside to it — it costs money. Luckily, Red Hat provides the source code to the open-source community. This enables groups to use the code to build their own free distributions, such as CentOS. While these distributions are just as functional as RHEL, they lack support from Red Hat.

Even though the existence of CentOS can potentially take money from Red Hat’s pockets, there never seemed to be any resentment or animosity. In fact, just yesterday, Red Hat surprised the Linux community and announced that it will sponsor that distribution going forward. In other words, CentOS is now owned by Red Hat Inc — the father has officially adopted its illegitimate baby and Fedora has a new step-brother.

Via Beta News

This is great news for the open source community. CentOS provides an excellent open alternative to RHEL but has suffered from quite a bit of lag that has left it a step or two behind other server grade distros. I’ll be taking a close look at this to see if it warrants a shift away from Ubuntu LTS.

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Skype 4.2 Released; Get Install Details for Ubuntu/Debian/Linux Mint and Fedora

Finally, the long-awaited Skype 4.2 for Linux released by Microsoft with major updates, lots of various bug fixes and some minor features from the previous version, and this update is one of the biggest update as of now.

As per Microsoft, the Skype 4.2 has been revamped and redesigned and included a huge number of improvements like fixes navigation issues, increased stability of application for logging from a Microsoft Account (MSN combine into Skype a long back), optimized voice messaging and much more new features.

via Skype 4.2 Released – Install on Ubuntu/Debian/Linux Mint and Fedora.

Followed the steps in the article and it works like a charm. Or least it hasn’t crashed the box yet. I’m hoping this one is good because I miss a stable Skype now that I’m working mostly in Linux.

 

Debian 7.0 “Wheezy” Hits the Streets

After many months of constant development, the Debian project is proud to present its new stable version 7.0 (code name Wheezy).

This new version of Debian includes various interesting features such as multiarch support, several specific tools to deploy private clouds, an improved installer, and a complete set of multimedia codecs and front-ends which remove the need for third-party repositories.

Multiarch support, one of the main release goals for Wheezy, will allow Debian users to install packages from multiple architectures on the same machine. This means that you can now, for the first time, install both 32- and 64-bit software on the same machine and have all the relevant dependencies correctly resolved, automatically.

via Debian — News — Debian 7.0 “Wheezy” released.

Debian recommends using BitTorrent to do the download. A standard Debian install can be done with the first CD/DVD in the set. I’ll be running this up in VirtualBox when the ISOs finish.