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Issue 101 of Linux Gazette is ready for viewing and download at http://linuxgazette.net/

IT likes to believe that it is a logical industry where all decisions (or at least the majority of them) are based on fact rather than fashion. Alas, this is not always so and being “in vogue” is often a subliminal driver behind certain of the technology waves that regularly sweep through the industry. The surge of “Open Source” solutions has, on occasion, exploited this unconscious desire to conform to the desire to be trendy, and not without other, more logical reasoning. However, not everything in the world of open source, as in the more traditional software sector, is perfect.

An aussie group has attacked tech analysts for being biased against Linux and open source. In a press release, the Open Source Industry Australia has called on the crystal ball gazers to write "fair and equitable reports" on Linux, free and open source software.

In a first for the industry behemoth, Microsoft has donated its Windows Installer XML (WiX) to SourceForge.net, the open source developer network. WiX is a toolset that uses XML code to build Windows installation packages.

The login program included in util-linux could leak sensitive information under certain conditions.

"Clam AntiVirus is a GPL anti-virus toolkit for UNIX. The main purpose of this software is the integration with mail servers (attachment scanning). The package provides a flexible and scalable multi-threaded daemon, a command line scanner, and a tool for automatic updating via Internet. The programs are based on a shared library distributed with the Clam AntiVirus package, which you can use with your own software. Most importantly, the virus database is kept up to date."

Setting up and troubleshooting a CUPS environment.

Parle Tablet Tools Pvt. Ltd - a Mumbai based pharma engineering company that manufactures tablet tools and dies for pharmaceutical companies - has deployed ERPWEB, a unique Open Source, web-based low-cost ERP. Developed by ASIC Infotech Pvt Ltd., ERPWEB is an Open Source, customizable web-based ERP III (according to Gartner definition), built with the aid of SoftRobot Codeless Technology, a zero code technology also innovated by ASIC.

Of a total of 92,245 domain servers which were tested using fingerprinting software, 74,698 run one version or the other of BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain), an implementation of the Domain Name System protocols which provides an openly redistributable reference implementation of the major DNS components.

Ryan McBride works full time on OpenBSD development. His first contribution was adding IPv6 support to PF, OpenBSD's stateful packet filter. More recently he was the primary developer of CARP, the Common Address Redundancy Protocol, a patent-free alternative to HSRP and VRRP.

In this interview, Ryan discusses the development of CARP, explaining what it is and how it works. He reflects on patents and the difficulties OpenBSD has faced trying to work with IANA. Finally, he also highlights some of the new functionality that will be found in the upcoming May 1, 2004 release of OpenBSD 3.5.

I have been an increasingly reluctant user of Microsoft FrontPage for many years, so I was looking forward to testing Nvu, a fully Open Source program that is designed to effectively replace FrontPage. When Nvu turned loose its beta release for public consumption in February, I instantly downloaded copies of both the Linux and Windows versions. The verdict? Nvu holds promise, especially in its user interface, but FrontPage won't be going away soon.

"Will Sun be using a significant portion of the settlement proceeds to benefit Java developers and strengthen independent, standards-based efforts to advance Java?" That's the question asked by Rick Ross. "Will Sun prove it has the vision to strengthen Java by recognizing and assisting the independent developer community?" he adds.

How will the future operating systems look like? How the user interface, the inner workings, the security policies and the networking will interact? In any case, innovation is the key.

ipsec-tools contains a vulnerability that affects connections authenticated with X.509 certificates.

VoteHere, a maker of security software for voting machines, published the source code for its product online in hopes of garnering additional analysis of its method for verifying the integrity of electronic votes.

Brendan sees Mozilla developing into an open cross-platform alternative to forthcoming Microsoft technologies such as XAML and is looking to collaborate with other open-source projects to make this happen.

"Our global chairman, chief executive officer and president Matthew Szulik was in the country in January to study the Indian market and decide on Red Hat's investment plans for the region. Red Hat is bullish on India and has major expansion plans for its operations in the country. This may include setting up a development centre to harness the huge potential here," said Javed Tapia, director, Red Hat India.

Open source software is flowering this spring in Greater Boston. Companies are distributing, writing programs for, investing in, and profiting from, the free computer software that is emerging as an alternative to proprietary systems like Microsoft Windows.

Multiple vulnerabilities in the way sysstat handles symlinks may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or overwrite arbitrary files.

The pact with Microsoft will not curtail Sun's open-source advocacy, says Scott McNealy Despite a new window into Microsoft's proprietary technology, Sun Microsystems won't stop its call for open standards, executives and analysts say.