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Sabayon review

Sabayon Linux comes with the best drivers to power 3D desktop effects. This superior level of user desktop experience is powered by Beryl. Ranging from the desktop up to the server level, Sabayon provides an amazing way to make cool your daily tasks.

Posted on November 2008 in System

OpenSSL vulnerability in Debian and derivated distributions

There is a weakness vulnerability in in the random generator used by OpenSSL in Debian and derivated distributions.

Luciano Bello discovered that the random number generator in the OpenSSL package of Debian is predictable. So, it is strongly recommended to update the OpenSSL package in Debian and its derivated distributions, like Ubuntu. Moreover, all cryptographic key material which has been generated by OpenSSL versions starting with 0.9.8c-1 on Debian systems must be recreated from scratch.

Ubuntu published: “This vulnerability only affects operating systems which (like Ubuntu) are based on Debian. However, other systems can be indirectly affected if weak keys are imported into them.”

There are many hosting providers that started upgrading their Debian or Debian-based servers. Please be aware that it is a critical necessary security upgrade, so, please prepare yourself in both technical and budget areas to face this situation.

On this time, Debian and Ubuntu had published fixed upgraded packages of the OpenSSL software. Please visit the following sites, to download them as well as to make a further reading and news updates.

For Debian: Fixed OpenSSL packages and further reading.

For Ubuntu: Fixed OpenSSL packages and further reading.

The well known security researcher H.D. Moore, creator of the MetaSploit project, has published very interesting findings about the OpenSSL vulnerability. Please check it here

Moore explains the cause of the bug and how easy is for attackers to take advantage of the OpenSSL vulnerability in Ubuntu, Debian and derivated distributions.

Posted on November 2008 in System

Installing Debian in Macintosh

It was already a year ago that I bought my iMac G3 computer. I got very excited about it because I love computers, in special Macintosh ones. I bought my iMac G3 without software. There was no any Macintosh operating system in it, so, as soon as got this machine in my house I started looking for some GNU/Linux distributions to install in it.

I used to keep some Ubuntu discs that Canonical sent me in the past months. I tried the version 6.06 but it didn’t work in my iMac, so, I decided to look for an older version of it. I found the pocket of Ubuntu’s version 5.04 and I placed the “live-CD” in the nice cd-rom unit. I started my iMac and it booted the live cd. It was a very strong workload to my 256 Mb of RAM, but, I was able to check that Ubuntu was working fine.

These Macintosh machines are pretty advanced in hardware, so, I upgraded it by installing a new hard drive. As soon as I completed this task I installed Ubuntu 5.04. It was a matter of a few minutes to be running Ubuntu in my iMac.

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Posted on November 2008 in System

What is Linux?

Introduction to Linux.

Every time you start browsing, chatting, typing a letter or playing in your computer, you are using an operating system. An operating system is set of instructions that let hardware and software to work together. So, the operating system can be considered as the most fundamental set of programs that supports hardware and software interaction.

Linux is a free operating system, developed under open source policies. It runs in most hardware types (x86/x64, ppc, and others) and everybody is granted to re-distribute it.

Linux Torvalds started Linux based on Minix, a UNIX-type operating system. In opposition to make a non-distributable software, Linus released its code invention to others developers to make improvements to it. Moreover, Linux was borned “patent-absent” to make easier the code edition and the sharing capability.

UNIX, was developed by many companies, and there are many distribuitors, too. However, it can be distinguished two development branches:

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Posted on November 2008 in System