Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Quick Log In to Home Linux Users

By default the home directory owned by a user located at /home/name user, so you can ensure user badu has a home in direktory /home/badu. But if you use the option to use the adduser or useradd, setting the home directory in the user can change and you can not whether the user actually badu
in /home/badu. Directory home from a user can be in your /etc/passwd. However, see /etc/passwd can a waste of time just how because have a faster way of cue "~" before the name of the user, for example, cd ~ ls ~ badu amir or the same only with the entrance to the home directory or its badu amir.

Log In to Home Users From a quick

By default the home directory owned by a user located at /home/name user, so you can ensure user badu has a home in directory /home/badu. But if you use the option to use the adduser or useradd, setting the home directory in the user can change and you can not whether the user actually badu
in /home/badu. Directory home from a user can be in your /etc/passwd. However, see /etc/passwd can a waste of time just how because have a faster way of cue "~" before the name of the user, for example, cd ~ ls ~ badu amir or the same only with the entrance to the home directory or its badu amir.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

How to migrate your Linux Web site to another hosting company

The Web site hosting business has become more competitive in recent years. If you can find a better hosting deal, you may be able to save money by switching hosting providers. But what's the best way to move your Web site? What if you have a virtual private server (VPS) hosting several domains? What about PHP and your SQL data? The thought of moving may be daunting, but moving servers is not difficult if you plan properly. Here's how.

A complete migration involves transferring the site data itself, meaning all the HTML and possibly PHP and MySQL files and CGI programs. You also need to modify the Domain Name System (DNS) information for the site and for the routing of the site email. DNS holds information that translates IP addresses to human-readable domain names. For Web site migration, the two important DNS records are the address (A) record, which tells the browser the IP address of the Web server, and the mail exchange (MX) record, which tells mail servers how to route the email.

When you migrate your Web site to another hosting provider, you need to update DNS to point browsers to the new location of your site. However, it can take as long as 48 hours for DNS updates to propagate to all DNS servers on the Internet. Part of your planning will be how to deal with that delay.

Often your domain name has been registered via a third-party domain name registration company. When you move the site, your domain name company remains the same, and only your Web hosting company changes. If your domain name originaly came with hosting, you may need to contact your old hosting company to see if you can separate the hosting package from the domain name.

Preparation

The keys to a successful move are planning and preparation. Before the move you should warn your users or customers of the forthcoming upgrade. Prepare a "server down for upgrade" page for your old site. Note the IP addresses of your new and old servers; these will come in handy when DNS is still in flux.

Decide when to upgrade, meaning when your server is least busy. If you have site statistics, use those to determine the best time. To reduce down time, it is best to make the DNS changes several hours before you actually move the domain. As long as your mail server is running on the new server, you won't lose any email messages. If you have a static site, you can copy over the data before you switch DNS and no one will ever know your hosting provider changed. For a dynamic site you can out a skeleton site on your new server until you make the full move.

The DNS changes you need to make involve updating the MX and A records to point to your new server. To do that, you need to access the control panel provided by the domain name registration company from which you obtained your domain name.

The new MX record will need to point to the new server. Like A records, MX records can take a while to propagate through the Internet. To avoid mail loss you will need to check your old mailbox at least once a couple of days after the move. You will also need to use the IP address of the old mail server rather than its domain name, as you won't be able to rely on mail.domain.com to check the old mailbox, as that will point to your new server. Depending on how much control you have of your old server, you could shut down the mail server after modifying the MX records, in which case incoming mail would queue up until the new mail server is running, at which point it would be delivered without problems.

The move

Once you've handled the DNS information, it's time to tackle the data itself. HTML and PHP files aren't hard to move; just use a good FTP program and copy the data from one server to the other. If you have SSH access to both of the servers you can copy the files directly. If you don't, you will have to download the files to a local machine and then upload them to the new server.

Moving databases is a bit more complex. Assuming you are using MySQL, there are several ways to copy over the data. One is to do a dump of the data into a file and then copy that file to the new server and populate the new database. To do this you use the mysqldump command:

$ mysqldump -p -u username mydatabase > mydata.sql

Once copied onto the new server your can populate your new database with the mysql command:

$ mysql -p -u username mydatabase < mydata.sql

If you don't have SSH access to your servers you won't be able to use these MySQL commands, but you can still use a tool such as phpMyAdmin that handles MySQL administration over the Web. phpMyAdmin has excellent dump and restore features, though for the restore there is a maximum upload file size of 2,048KB. You can use compression to maximize your chances of squeezing all of your data into 2MB. [what if you have more than 2MB, as many of our readers will? - Lee, I have altered the next paragraph to clarify this]

If you lack SSH access and you have too much data for phpMyAdmin to handle, look into a MySQL synchronization tool called SQLyog Job Agent (SJA).

If all else fails you will need to ask the support team of your old hosting company to dump your database for you. Then you will need to ask the support team of your new hosting company to populate the new database.[Lee, I have added this paragraph in case readers don't have ssh, can't use phpMyAdmin and can't use SJA.]

If you have a site with dynamic data, such as an e-commerce site, you need to make special provisions for the DNS update delays. As the DNS changes propagate through the Internet some people will see your new site and others your old. This could cause problems for you. Imagine a customer placing an order on your old site after you have moved all the data over to your new site.

There are two [different] ways you can deal with this problem. [Lee, this is an either-or] First, stop taking orders on the old site once you have started the move. At the checkout stage display a polite notice asking customers to come back in a couple of hours, after which they should be taken to the new site. If you don't have that kind of control over your site then the best thing is to close down the old site by replacing its index.html with a notice saying the server is down for upgrades and will be back soon. An alternative solution is to use a synchronization tool like SJA to make sure any changes made on the old site get propagated to the new one.

Finally, watch out for incompatibilities between the software on your old server and that on the new. Try to make sure that any difference in versions of crucial software like MySQL and PHP won't cause any problems.

Virtual private servers

If you host a VPS installation then you probably have several domains to migrate. The problems are the same, but there is more work to do. If you have a VPS you should warn your customers in plenty of time about the upcoming move. Call it a server upgrade, as this will cause less worry.

An advantage of having a VPS is that you have more control of your sites. You probably have SSH access and you can do things like shutting down the mail server during the transition. However, if you are hosting domains for others, then there is the problem of passwords. When you move to the new server you will need to re-create domains and user accounts, but you won't have access to the passwords set by your customers. Generally you will need to issue your customers new passwords. Again, plenty of advanced warning will help ease the pain.

If your VPS uses Plesk 7 Reloaded then migration becomes a lot easier. This software includes a great (though still experimental) tool called the Migration Manager that supports migrating from remote servers using Plesk 2.5.x, 5.x, 6.x, and 7.x, as well as Confixx 2, Ensim 3.5.x, and cPanel 9.

To use the Migration Manager you need to enter the remote host address (it is best to use the IP address), the login name (normally root) and the password. After that you set the remote system type (Plesk, cPanel, etc.) and click Next. The Migration Manager will then send an agent to the remote server and offer you a list of domains and clients on the remote server. If you migrate a client it will bring over the client data (like username and password) and all the domains belonging to that client. If you import a domain you will have to have a client account ready on the new server to take ownership of the imported domain.

Although experimental, for standard cases Migration Manager should work well. In a recent real-life migration, 95% of the domains [I moved for a client] migrated without a problem. There was one domain that had more than 100 subdomains that failed; They had to be copied over by hand!

Conclusion

When moving servers you need to keep downtime to a minimum. If you plan properly your users may not even notice that you have switched servers. If possible, perform a trial run of the actual move. No one will see your new site because you won't update DNS yet. To enable you to see your new site, edit the /etc/hosts file on your client and add your domain name (including the www) with the new IP address. You should also restart your browser. Don't forget to remove this entry when you have finished experimenting.

Gary Sims has a degree in Business Information Systems from a British university. He worked for 10 years as a software engineer and is now a freelance Linux consultant and writer

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Is a Linux host the best choice for you?

When it comes to business, the costs play an important role in determining your profits. If we talk about similar products or services, the higher the costs are, the higher the price will be and less people will be interested in what you have to offer.



When it comes to business, the costs play an important role in determining your profits. If we talk about similar products or services, the higher the costs are, the higher the price will be and less people will be interested in what you have to offer.



It is the same in the internet world. If you want to be noticed by a large number of people, the internet is the only way you can go to market your business. The question is how you can do that without any preparation or training. We?ll try to put some light on this subject.



The usual steps to achieve a presence over the internet are basically the same. Build a website, then choose a web hosting service to make that website available to people around the world. The available choices are a windows and a Linux host. Which is better?



When it comes to computers, Microsoft is the first thing that pops in the mind of any user. Because of this, every businessman has the tendency to choose a windows host over a Linux host. But your choice should depend on more than just a name.



While a windows host supports more applications, all the technologies used, like asp.net, Access, Sharepoint and others are used to create huge websites with a very complex structure. They provide high class services, but they come at a price. None of these come for free, and if you choose them, the costs to put up a website will go through the roof.



That is why a Linux host can also be named a budget host. Linux is free software that gives people the choice to modify its underlying code and redistribute it as they wish. And if you think you are making compromises about the structure of your website, guess again.



Choosing a budget host that operates on Linux allows you to build your website using technologies like PHP, MySQL and others all of which are free. This will help cut down costs and still be present on the World Wide Web with a well structured website.



But where can you find a reliable Linux host that fits in your budget? If you visit the website themagichost.com you will receive services of the highest quality at prices lower than you could ever imagine. Because the team at The Magic Host listens carefully to the needs of every client, everything you want can be achieved with a simple visit to their website.



Backup has always been a problem with everyone that has a website. Many web hosting services will nod their heads if people start asking questions about the lost data. That happens because it is a common belief that the customer should make his or her own backup. Apart from a budget host, the website mentioned afore provides a solution for this problem.



Choosing this budget host will give you the benefit of triple backup. Your data will be saved on a daily basis at a second hard drive and kept there for a week. Once a week, the backup data will be transferred to a second and third remote location, thus providing a full proof plan so you do not lose anything.



About the Author

The Magic Host, the number 1 Web Host provider, was founded by the largest OEM provider, Orange Group, and has 10 years experiences in web hosting, marketing, IT support, site tools, CRM, site management, webmaster, and ecommerce. We earn every and each client by word of mouth. By providing every client with the best hosting experience, we earn more clients in return. We are confident you will also like services we are providing in here once you join us. If you have any concerns and enquiries about The Magic Host, or just want to get a test account(FREE) to start with, please contact us at admin@themagichost.com Thank you!!!

Setting Up a Linux Modem

----------------------------------------------------------
Permission is granted for the below article to forward,
reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,
offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long
as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the
resource box below is included.
----------------------------------------------------------
Setting Up a Linux Modem

By Stephen Bucaro

Almost all modems manufactured today are software modems,
usually referred to as "winmodems". Even though we pay a
lot for a winmodem, they are cheap to manufacture because
they use very little electronics. The functions that
should be performed in hardware are emulated by software.
This places an extra processing burden on your computer's
CPU. Winmodems will not work with Linux unless you can
locate a special "Linmodem" driver.

A hardware modem contains its own on-board controller and
DSP circuits. This takes a major processing load off your
computer's CPU. A hardware modem will make your dial-up
connection work much faster. Hardware modems are difficult
to find and very expensive. Hardware modems will work with
Linux.

Some hardware modems known to work with Linux:

Zoom 2920 Fax Modem 56K PCI $76.00
Actiontec PCI56012-01CW 56K Voice Faxmodem PCI $75.00
ActionTec PCIV921201CW Call Waiting Internal V.90/V.92 Modem $59.99

On rare occasions Linux will locate and configure your
modem during installation, but most likely you will have
to configure it manually. If your computer is plug-and-play
(PnP) compatible, the BIOS should detect the modem on
power-up and allocate resources to it. To determine which
resources were allocated to the modem, log in as root and
click on the "Terminal emulation program" button on the
task bar. In the terminal window that appears, type the
following command:

cat /proc/pci

In the screen output that results, locate the entry for
your modem. Below is a possible example:

Bus 0, device 9, function 0:
Unknown class: Lucent (ex-AT&T) Microelectronics
Unknown device (rev 0).
Vendor id=11c1. Device id=480.
Medium devsel. Fast back-to-back capable. IRQ 11
Master Capable. No bursts. Min Gnt=252. Max Lat=14
Non-prefetchable 32 bit memory at 0x80100000 [0x8010000].
I/O at 0xdc00 [0xdc01]
I/O at 0xe000[0xe001]
I/O at 0xe400[0xe401]

Record the IRQ number and the first I/O address.

Linux uses a device file to communicate with a modem.
Device files are located in the /dev directory. A modem
must use one of the serial ports (/dev tyS0 - /dev tyS3).
First determine which serial port to use for the modem.
You should use ttyS1 because ttyS0 is usually assigned to
a back panel connector.

To configure the serial port, use the setserial command
with the information that you recorded above. Using the
example values above, you would type the following into
the terminal window:

setserial /dev tyS1 uart 16550A port 0xdc00 irq 11

You can verify that the modem is working by sending it the
command to dial. For example type the following into the
terminal window:

echo "atdt5555555" > /dev tyS1

If you hear the modem dial, close the connection by typing:

echo "atz" > /dev tyS1

If you didn't hear the modem dial, make sure you have the
modem speaker turned on by typing:

echo "atv" > /dev tyS1

Then try dialing again.

To have Linux automatically configure your modem at boot
time, add the setserial line that you used above to the
file /etc/rc.d/rc.local

Assuming that you are using the GNOME window manager, click
on the "foot" icon on the taskbar to open the menu. Select
"Programs" and open the "File Manager". In File Manager,
navigate to the directory /etc/rc.d and right-click on the
file rc.local. Select "Open with..." in the popup menu. In
the "gmc" dialog box, select "gnotepad+" and click on the
"OK" button. At the bottom of the file, type the setserial
command line and then save the file.

For complete information about modems related to Linux,
visit "Winmodems are not Modems" at:

http://www.idir.net/~gromitkc/winmodem.html

Sometimes configuring a modem is not as easy in Linux as
it is in WindowsFeature Articles, but the alternative is to continue to
use Windows and beg for Bill Gates permission to upgrade
your hardware (XP product activation).
----------------------------------------------------------
Resource Box:
Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain
your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web
site and make money on the Web visit
http://bucarotechelp.com
To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank
email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com

How to Configure a Linux Ntp Server

Network Time Protocol (NTP) provides algorithms and defines messages for the synchronisation of time clients to an accurate time reference. This article discusses how to configure a Linux NTP Time Server to synchronise time with an Internet based public NTP Server.

NTP server systems fall into two categories: primary reference servers and secondary reference servers. Primary reference servers use an external timing reference to provide time, such as GPS or radio clocks. Secondary reference servers synchronise with primary reference NTP servers and offer slightly reduced accuracy. Primary reference servers are designated stratum 1 servers, while secondary servers have a stratum greater than 1.

The NTP Distribution

The NTP source code is freely available from the Network Time Protocol web site. The current version available for download is 4.2.4. NTP is available for the Linux operating systems with ports available for Windows NT. Once the source code is downloaded, it should be configured, compiled and installed on the host machine. Many Linux operating systems, such as RedHat, offer NTP RPM packages.

Configuring NTP

The 'ntp.conf' file is main source of configuration information for a NTP server installation. Amongst other things, it contains a list of reference clocks that the installation is to synchronise. A list of NTP server references is specified with the 'server' configuration command thus:

server time-a.nist.gov # NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland NTP server

server time-c.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov # NIST, Boulder, Colorado NTP server

Controlling the NTP Server Daemon

Once configured, the NTP daemon can be started, stopped and restarted using the commands: 'ntpd start'; 'ntpd stop' and 'ntpd restart'. The NTP server daemon can be queried using the 'ntpq -p' command. The ntpq command queries the NTP server for synchronisation status and provides a list of servers with synchronisation information for each server.

NTP Access Control

Access to the NTP server can be restricted using the 'restrict' directive in the ntp.conf file. You can restrict all access to the NTP server with:

restrict default ignore

To only allow machines on your own network to synchronize with the server use:

restrict 192.168.1.0 mask 255.255.255.0 nomodify notrap

Multiple restrict directives can be specified in the ntp.conf file to restrict access to a specified range of computers.

Authentication Options

Authentication allows a matching passwords to be specified by the NTP server and associated clients. NTP keys are stored in the ntp.keys file in the following format: Key-number M Key (The M stands for MD5 encryption), e.g.:

1 M secret

5 M RaBBit

7 M TiMeLy

10 M MYKEY



In the NTP configuration file ntp.conf, specify which of the keys specified above are trusted, i.e. are secure and you want to use. Any keys specified in the keys file but not trusted will not be used for authentication, e.g.:

trustedkey 1 7 10

The NTP server is now configured for authentication.

Client Configuration for Authentication

The client needs to be configured with similar information as the server, however, you may use a subset of the keys specified on the server. A different subset of keys can be used on different clients, e.g.:

Client A)

1 M secret

7 M TiMeLy

trustedkey 1 7

Client B)

1 M secret

5 M RaBBit

7 M TiMeLy

10 M MYKEY

trustedkey 7 10

Essentially authentication is used by the client to authenticate that the time server is who he says he is, and that no rogue server intervenes. The key is encrypted and sent to the client by the server where it is unencrypted and checked against the client keys to ensure a match.

Linux for Home Users

Hey Guys! Don’t raise your eyebrows or fear by hearing the word Linux. It is as user friendly as windows. Just take a look at the articles below and all myths about Linux in your mind will disappear.

Introduction to Linux:It’s a free operating system available to download but you have to pay a tiny bit to mail order it or buy it from a company. Linux came into being about 11 years ago- it was developed by Linux Tornados of Finland along with a group of programmers from the open source software movement. Linux is growing steadily year after year. With a passionate community backing it, with big companies Like IBM and HP pledging their support for it, it’s no wonder Linux- the wonder operating system for servers of the past, has also made it to the desktops of today. Linux is based on the commercial OS, UNIX. All the operating systems try to pack in command line management of systems. System administrators of companies use command lines all the times as their lifeline, but it’s not really meant for regulars users.Tips for Home Users:
  • If you want to get comfortable with Linux, you don’t have to let go of windows. Get Linux installed on a separate partition and you can switch between Windows and Linux. For new users who don’t have any computer background learning windows or Linux both takes same time and sitting.
  • It is suggested that new PC buyers should get both operating systems installed and should use them equally. If you’re getting Linux for more than 2-3 PCs, you can also get training and support at a small free, if you choose to have it. Else it’s the Linux community on the Net to your rescue.
  • You don’t have to be a great computer user to work with Linux. There are Desktop environments that let you work in Linux as you work in Windows. As you work with windows, same is the case with Linux.
Linux hands in decreasing PC prices.PC prices are already on their way down. And you get more choice with operating systems and applications. From being an OS only computer professionals had heard about, Linux, in a short time, has made a transition into the lucrative and high profile home PC segment.The PCs bundle the operating system. Linux being a free open source operating system means that the code that runs is open for everyone to see, work with, modify and develop their own innovative applications for it. But this is nothing compared to the money people spend on Operating Systems like windows. And a company bundles Linux and applications based on it with a computer, quite a bit of the PC cost comes down. Presently some branded PC’s coming with Linux are available for Rs: 25000/- onwards.Linux is better than other OSLinux users won’t even bat an eyelid before they say an emphasis comes from a deep dislike of Microsoft’s practice of changing the earth for software. But a lot of it comes from the fact they are ready to swear upon-that Linux is more stable. According to a latest survey Web Hosts are using Linux Based Servers for hosting purposes. One note here though: the free in Linux stands for freedom of choice, to redistribute, to install a feature, freedom to modify the source code. 

That’s the spirit of Linux being free.Security: Linux has a better security support for multi-users, lets you set up a stable server, internet gateways etc, and still lets it-self to be used as a desktop workstation. There are no blue screens and no viruses to speak of. It is rarely attacked by any viruses and there are very less number of viruses written for Linux. It can be given 10+ points on a 10 point scale for security.Myths about LinuxInstallation:Linux is hard to install, isn’t it? Not really. Most people haven’t ever installed Windows on their computers either-since it comes preloaded. Linux is as easy-some say easier-to install compared to Windows. You can install it through a graphical user interface like Windows. These days Linux Versions are easier to install than Windows. 

But what really stumps most people in installing Linux on a second partition on their hard disk, when they want to be able to use both operating systems.A partition is a way of organizing space on your hard disk by creating virtual sections that are separate from each other. Most computers that are running Windows or MS DOS have one large chunk of space holding the OS. This space is the C drive. If you have a large hard disk, it’s likely that it has been divided up into smaller bits called partitions to help you organize your data better. These partitions are usually called D:, E: etc. you could have Linux on any of these.Windows 98 creates a file system called FAT32 on the entire hard disk, DOS and Win95 use FAT16. 

Linux has many file systems-on the most popular is ext3. But you could have Linux installed on Fat32 partitions also.Linux is very difficult and based on text commandLinux has come a long way from being the system of brilliant computer users. It has extremely advanced X Windows systems that have a complete graphical user interface-you know, like Windows. It also has a large number of window manager that let you work with different levels of customization of your desktop.Linux has a robust character-cell interface where commands need to be typed in. x Windows is a free program that runs with Linux to provide a GUI where the mouse and keyboard can be used extensively. But the X system itself is quite primitive and needs a window manager, or a desktop environment- like GNOME or KDE- to be really usable. Window managers are programs that let you interact with the underlying X system and Linux OS by relaying commands. 

The popular window managers are Sawfish, Enlightenment, Black box, after step and Window maker.As for desktop managers, they have their own window manager and other tools that make you feel that you are working in Window! GNOME and KDE are the most popular of these. GNOME stands for GNU Network Model Environment and KDE for K desktop Environment. They have tools that allow drag and drop, have panels and taskbar- almost like clones of windows.Hardware compatibility problem and few applications that run on LinuxWell, most new distributions will detect and configure your hardware in a jiffy, unless you have some really old or exotic piece of hardware. All hardware are properly detected and their drivers installed. Only Win modems (internal modems driven by Window drivers) face problems.As for software, there’s plenty. And most of it comes free-free for you to use, modify and configure according to your needs. 

Almost all excellent software for Linux is free and you don’t lose anything by giving it a try. You get free support on the Net quickly on any query you may have. And you don’t even have to wipe out your Windows. Just get Linux on a different hard disk partition and free to switch between them as you please.Other packages are commercial and you have to buy the software-but this is mostly for the software and training you need, and not for the software itself. Sometimes, if you have the Windows version (as a doom) you can download a small program that will allow you to play the game in Linux. The games in Linux are of very high quality and features. 

You’ll enjoy them. Here what’s available? Office suites: Star Office, Open Office, Applixware, Corel WordPerfect Graphics: GIMP, Corel Photo paintMusic: XMMS, Free amp, Real Player Video: MTV, XineGames: FreeCiv, Tux racer, Doom, Quake, Heretic, Unreal And the list is growing.Linux varieties for Home Users:If there are so many people working on it. There’s likely to be many Linux versions too. Many companies working on Linux have come up with what are called Linux distributions. There are Linux versions that are compiled and packaged and released with additional software.RedHat: Probably the most popular and in many ways the leading version. It’s currently in version 9. The installation and configuration is easy. A blue curve file manager and the default GNOME desktop make it look simply stunning. It comes with a host of tools that allow usage as a server and as a workstation. The Red Hat Package Manger(RPM) format developed by Red Hat has almost become the defector for software distribution in Linux world. Installing new software is a breeze. It also has an advanced and easy font management system that makes fonts in X Windows look cool.

Mandrake: Mandrake Linux is now in its 10 version. It can be installed on a native Windows Partition using the Lin4Win tool, but this may slow the machine down. It also lets you do a traditional Linux install into its own dedicated partition. Mandrake’s configuration and software installation is painless. It follows a slightly modified RPM architecture called mdk.rpm but most Red Hat software can also be used for Mandrake. The outstanding feature in this version is the collection of window managers-eye-candy freaks will have a great time.SUSE: From Germany comes the Chameleon, SUSE. Now in its 8.x avatar, it has one of the most extensive software packages compiled, and getting them installed is easy with yast (Yet another Software Tool) which gives a centralized interface from where you can pick and choose the software to be installed. Among other things, SUSE comes with some stunning 3D games that showcase Linux gamming prowessCorel/Xandross: Corel entered the Linux market with Corel Linux a few years ago. Now it has merged into Xandross OS, which is based on Corel Linux. This is a Debian-type version, and can be installed without much fuss after resizing the Windows partition. Xandross contains Crossover office, which is a refined retail version of WINE that lets you install and run many Microsoft apps. 

Windows applications in LinuxSome applications have been ported over to Linux, other run with a program called WINE (Wine is Not an Emulator). Crossover, commercially available software also lets you use your Windows programs on Linux. VMWare is another program that lets you run Windows under Linux. Now many software companies have started developing high end software for Linux.Bottom Line:

The cool thing about Linux is that most software is free, and you can legitimately use them without worrying about piracy. If you’re worried that Linux won‘t look as pretty as windows can, all you have to do is check out some of the cool Linux interfaces and Window managers. But you don’t find a lot of multimedia titles for Linux. And if you’re into a lot of these, Windows is in the way to go. So if you have a PC that runs both, you can easily switch between the two, and get the best of both worlds.