Richard Becke asks: " I am planning to set up a Linux box as an ISDN-based dialin server for my company network. I have not been able to find any information about using multiple ISDN cards with Linux. We need to serve at least 6 simultaneous connections. Any ideas or tips would be most welcome. The question can be rephrased like this: How do i set up a Linux-based ISP solution?"

rips asks: "I've been a moderately skilled Linux user for several years now but my problem solving skills on this one have got me stumped. I have compiled many kernels before but when compiling a recent kernel (2.2.11 or 2.2.12) the compilation will run without a hitch, lilo (v20) will accept the changes but after a reboot the system will crash at: 'Uncompressing Linux... Ok'. I have tried compiling the 2.2.12 kernel on 3 different machines with 2 different distributions (RedHat 6.0 and Slackware 3.2.0) and for different target processors and kernel options but nothing seems to work. I've even tried running off a boot disk incase it was LILO but to no avail. This has really got me stumped. Has anyone else figured out the cause/solution to this?"

Jason Perlow noted a story that popped up at ZD Net talking about a new investor at LinuxMall. Sco has entered the Linux World with an investment in the web store. Its interesting to note that they talk about doing this as publicity.

maan asks: "I recently started using smbclient under Linux. I know that many test results have showed that Samba as a server gives more throughput than an NT server. However, I have found that smbclient is much slower with than Windows when accessing the localhost. Anyone knows if the Samba client needs more work?" That's rather odd. Can someone verify this behavior? Does anyone have any possible explanations?

Banraeth writes "This week's PC Week contains a story about the results from their hackpcweek.com security test site. They explain the object of the test, how many attempts they got, the structure of the attempts and the way someone finally got in. The article reads really well and very clearly explains the anatomy of a break-in for those of us who aren't Linux security gurus. "

Eugene writes "I am working on a project to create an expansive network monitoring and all encompassing database solution. With archival and ageing of all data we are looking at a database that grows by 40Gb a year, with some tables being well over the 2Gb file limit in Linux/x86. We have narrowed ourselves down to Oracle 8i (for it's stalwart referencial integrity checking, and PL/SQL for tracing across aged route information) and PostgreSQL (for it's object polymorphism and CIDR data types for IP addresses). We are concerned with the robustness of Postgres compared to "grown up" Oracle, as well as file size limitations. Can anyone give us any advice on these issues? "

Gekko and Webslacker were the first of many to tell us about the stir over at ZDNet, which is reporting on the arrival of sub $200 PCs due Q1 2000. These new desktops from Taiwan's Tatung come in eye-catching candy colors a la Apple's iMac. Tatung has opted for Rise and Cyrix K6 chips instead of Intel Pentiums, and a CD-ROM drive is an option. One wonders with the increase in the cost of DRAM how this will impact the price?

Anonymous Coward writes "According to this News.com article. VA Linux Systems, O'Reilly and Associates, and SGI. Will be co-sponsoring a retail box version of Debian GNU/Linux. In addition VA will be helping to setup toll free technical support for Debian."

OUSpirit writes "I saw this over at Netscape's Technews site. Evidently, Intel (and some other companies) just invested some major bucks in TurboLinux to put them on more equal footing with RedHat. They plan to use the money to expand management and development staff. "

An Anonymous Coward wrote to inform us of a new Chinese Linux distro, Blue Point Linux 1.0RC, which includes support for Chinese characters. The bad news is the developers, who have based their effort on Red Hat's are alleged to have forgotten to include the modified kernel source. Coward asks: "Don't they violate the GPL?". Some people over at the BP Forum apparently have some thoughts. What do you think: is this against the terms of the GPL? (Can someone translate this?)

S7 writes "Opera Software has indicated that it is currently diversifying its browser to accomodate a wider flavour of Linux distributions, not just RedHat and its derivatives. Hope they finish soon!" Yeah, I know Mozilla is going to have wonderful features like instant messenger and changeable themes and I don't know what-all else if and when it ever gets end user-usable, but Opera is a plenty good enough browser for the likes of me; it's fast, compact, simple, and reliable, all of which are software qualities I admire immensely. In fact, the only two things I really miss from Windows are Opera and NoteTab, which is IMO the worlds's finest text processing tool for online journalists. Now that Opera's on its way to Linux, all I need is a Linux version of NoteTab or something like it and I'll be in PC heaven!

Yet Another Anonymous Coward asks: "How easy is it to set up Linux boxes as thin clients? My boss wants to use some old 486 boxes as X terminals, networked to a largish server where all applications are run. Has anyone tried this? What is the minimum software that needs to be installed on the X terminal systems? My boss likes open source software because it saves money; Is this another way he can save money?" Obviously the use of older machines is going to ease the costs of putting PCs on employee's desks, but are there other advantages (or disadvantages) to a setup like this?

Doug Moreen asks: " I'm a Linux user who is trying to stop using Windows forever. The sole reason I'm using Windows is for the ftp program I'm using, GoZilla, which is really useful for downloading new distributions. What I'm looking for is a Linux ftp program that does the following; download resume, search for other-faster download sites with less latency, and auto-reconnect if disconnected. The reason I need this is due to the crummy phone lines where I live. Yeah I know about the newer broadband methods ISPs are now offering, however, most of these services are either are flaky, or not available in my area. I do have a dedicated phone line that I don't mind being connected to the Internet. I also don't mind having the download taking a couple of days. So guys, what should I use? What is the URL for this program? Help me to kill windows forever!"

Josquin is on a quest to find ECCO, a PIM software offering from NetManage. He felt it was one of the best ones on the market. Since it's quite possible that this particular piece of software has gone to binary limbo, I was wondering if someone might happen to be familiar with this particular package and might be able to suggest other alternative packages. To hear Josquin's own words on the subject, click on the link below."

GW Hayduke writes "I stumbled across this on CNet, It's a definitely like dumping some petrol on an allready raging fire on this site, but I found it interesting..." Linuxfund.org is getting lots of press. It'll be interesting to see whether all their sound and fury signifies anything besides a clever credit card marketing scheme, but at least this Microsoft art thing they're running has some humor value, and laughter is always worthwhile. ;-)

Silent Node asks: "I am involved with a campus radio station where the web-site, e-mail, and pretty much everything else are hosted by third parties. In the interests of both cost savings, and control, we're considering purchasing our own server, and handling things directly. Aside from hosting a nothing-too-wild web site, this server would also have to hadle about two-dozen Email accounts, a couple mailing lists, and...streaming audio. I have experience administrating Windows NT, which is why I don't want to use it for this many things on one box. Our consideration is to perhaps get a G4 and run Linux on it. I have a few questions related to this... Would it be 'easier' just to run x86 Linux? What sort of minimum specs would a server like this need (remember, being listener funded, price is a big deal)? What streaming media sofware choices would we have (MP3 streams would be prefferable, due to the wide distribution of players)? Do you forsee any 'hang-ups' I haven't mentioned (i.e.: is this even practical)?"

Anonymous Coward writes "I just found this funny idea: A Linux Hotel in Essen, Germany. They give seminars, courses and workshops on Linux, some of them free. And Tux is in every bed, as seen here. Sorry, it is in german, but there are also english pages."

aqua writes "Linux Weekly News posted its penguin gallery, a collection of the various forms in which Tux has been used in logos and such. Some are quite entertaining." Great stuff! I'm glad LWN is doing this. I immediately sent them two new entrants myself. Perhaps you have a favorite penguin of your own for them. If so, please send it.

BoNeS writes "Alan Cox, revealed at the first ever UK Linux Expo that the 2.4 kernel of Linux could be available for developers everywhere as soon as November. Cox also revealed that in a couple of weeks he will be working "directly" for the most successful commercial Linux distributors by contracting programmers for their European operations."

sneakyfrog writes "Larry Ellison of Oracle made a (supposedly real this time) announcement claiming he would fund an NC effort with boxes running Linux. "