Miles Gillham writes: “SnapGear Inc, a leading supplier of consumer VPN Router appliances and OEM custom design solutions has announced the addition of shared library support for the uClinux kernel. Shared library support yields significant memory advantages for embedded developers by allowing applications to share common code libraries rather than individually static linking them in.”

Although specifically intended for Motorola ColdFire microprocessors the methods used can carry over to other 68k based processors easily with only minor considerations. This work will also generalise to other processor families with little effort.

SnapGear Inc. engineers have previously added other important improvements to uClinux such as advanced memory management and eXecute In Place (XIP) technology. Shared library support was developed as an extension to the existing XIP code model to allow libraries to be shared amongst multiple applications. This greatly reduces the size of those executables in the file system. This in turn reduces the final image size. The overheads required to support these shared libraries are minimal and the modifications are relatively clean.

In order to enable shared library support, a number of optimizations were made over previous tool chain releases which have had the effect of reduction in system memory size requirements coupled with performance improvements. The shared libraries themselves are flat files and indistinguishable from normal executables. No additional relocation and run time linking information needs to be supplied. Most importantly, no symbol table wastage appears on the embedded platform, this overhead is carried by the host system.

Senior Software Engineer, Paul Dale, said: “There are some limitations, none of which are severe. There is a limit of 8192 globals and distinct procedures names for each library and each application separately although in practice we’ve never needed even a quarter of these entries and that was before shared libraries. There is also a limit on the actual number of shared libraries but it’s quite high. Lastly there is a code size limitation of 16Mb per library/application – but in the context of embedded MMUless microprocessors this is not at all a problem.”

For detailed technical information and download instruction on the shared library support please visit http://www.snapgear.com/tb20020409.html

About uClinux

uClinux is a set of patches under the GPL (GNU Public License) to standard Linux which allows the Linux API to be used for microprocessors that lack an MMU (Memory Management Unit). Further information can be obtained from http://www.snapgear.com/uclinux.html

About SnapGear, Inc.

SnapGear Inc produce the popular SnapGear VPN Routers along with SecureEdge custom design solutions. SnapGear Inc has produced turnkey development, design, manufacturing and fulfillment services for multi-national telecommunications companies. SnapGear solutions are characterised by affordability, tight integration, and design ingenuity. Recent examples include a sport/racing control terminal, an advanced VPN gateway router, and a USB/PCMCIA platform for wireless and peripheral connection.

For more information on SnapGear please visit http://www.snapgear.com.

For more information on SecureEdge reference designs, development platforms and services please visit http://www.secureedge.net

SnapGear and SecureEdge are registered trademarks of SnapGear Inc. Linux is a registered trademark owned by Linus Torvalds. All other products, services, companies and publications are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

###

Press only, contact:
SnapGear
Miles Gillham
E-mail: press@snapgear.com

“

keskoy writes: “userlocal.com is finally back up! userlocal was down for about 2 weeks due to migrating to a new hosting provider and switching from plain SSI/html to a php/mysql system.”

Tanja Armbruster writes: “Exp-shells.org is started… offers free access to a Linux box, ipv4 and ipv6 support, irc allowed, unlimited diskspace, ftp, ssh access, 5 maildomains (xbox-linux.org,d3cod3.net, xgolfer.net, wizards-of- source.org and exp-shells.org). Webspace with php and perl support included. Ssh with username and password “new” to exp1.h07.org”

– by Tina Gasperson –
On April 9, Michael Robertson announced the release of LindowsOS sneak preview
2. “Lindows.com is not about selling an operating system,” the Lindows CEO
says in the press release. “It’s not too different from needing a car. Nobody
says, ‘I need an engine,’ they say, ‘I need a car,’ and most times, what they
really mean is that they need transportation. It’s the same with a computer.” I
think I know what he’s getting at.If I read him correctly, Robertson wants to be the Hyundai dealer, with economy
models made up of generic, but high-quality parts (Linux) and fitted with fancy
(but unnecessary) options like agate gear knobs, real wood dashboard panels, and
leather seats (for-pay Windows applications) that make the driver feel like he’s
getting all the luxury of a pricey Cadillac for only part of the price. That is,
unless the driver already got his Cadillac and most of those fancy options for
free — or unless he already knows how to build a car exactly the way he
likes it with those high-quality parts.

We first reviewed Lindows back in January, when the much-anticipated original sneak preview was released. Once again, the install process for Lindows is about as easy as they come.
Lindows has definitely done this part right. The hardest thing was clicking “I
accept” on the license agreement. This time around, you get to choose whether or
not you want a login password — but you’re still ushered in as root by default,
and the only way to add a user is through the console.

Everything on my HP Omnibook 4150 was recognized automatically — PCMCIA,
CDROM, USB digicam, Linksys combo NIC/Modem, and even the video and sound
cards. And true to Linux, there was no fiddling with network stuff — I was
online immediately. Setting up a printer was much easier, in fact, than it
usually is with Linux installs.

Once Lindows is all installed and you’ve rebooted, you’re greeted with an
altered version of the KDE desktop — not much has changed here from the first
sneak preview, except for a picturesque view of what looks to be the San Diego
skyline set as wallpaper and an AOL icon.

Click-n-Run is a big new feature of LindowsOS sneak preview 2. The press release touts it as “a powerful new tool that opens the door to a world of high-quality software solutions by allowing LindowsOS users to instantly zap software to their machines with one click.” With it, you can
“click and run” various applications available from the Lindows Web site — what the company calls its “warehouse.”
One of those apps is (or will be) AOL 7.0 — there’s even an AOL icon on the desktop. But
that’s “coming soon” and not available yet, according to Lindows. More things
that aren’t available yet include promises of all kinds of games, Web
development applications, productivity stuff, antivirus (big hint), backup,
utilities, “home and education,” and well, the list of things “yet to be” goes
on. The apps that are available now include slightly modded versions of KOffice
components: the word processor, the spreadsheet, KPresenter, and KOrganizer;
and a KDE instant messenger.

For a current Linux user, this is underwhelming. I can see a Windows convert
being enthused about getting these free apps — although he might change his tune
when he finds out that he can’t save in .doc or .xls format. And where are the
Windows apps? Despite the AOL teaser, no Windows applications of any kind come
with this Lindows release, and hardly any Linux applications are included. I
can’t get any .exe files to install or run. Wine still “poofs” out on me.
Codeweavers CrossOver has it all over Lindows in this department.

One nice thing about LindowsOS SP2 is that Konqueror comes with lots of plugins
pre-installed. There’s a page of links to test them at Lindows. Flash works
great with no lag time, the sound doesn’t give me any problems, XMMS pops up
when you click on an MP3 or a .pls file online. The only screw-ups happened with
the Microsoft file viewers. I tried to view a .doc file online and the Excel
view opened up. Then I tried to view an .xls file, and KWrite wanted to open it.
These are things that are bound to get fixed before a final release.

For me, the best thing about Lindows is that it is based on Debian. I am falling
in love with apt-get. Other benefits for people already experienced with Linux —
not all that many. Looking at Lindows from the point-of-view of a person only
familiar with Windows, the benefits of Lindows would possibly be ease of
installation — but not price. For something like 100% of home Windows users,
Windows is “free” because it comes with their computer. Why should they spend
$99 on Lindows? After seeing sneak preview 2, I’m still not sure.

Kelly McNeill writes “Sirius Trouble for Wi-Fi?

With the fast adoption of Wi-Fi networking, satellite radio stations are worried about unwanted interference with their service. It is understandable that satellite radio companies want to protect their vast investment, but there is already a buffer between these two technologies: 2345-2400 MHz. It exists for a reason — to prevent the parties in question from stepping on each other’s toes — and has worked out pretty well so far.”

Anonymous Reader writes, “Part 1 of this series at ELJonline introduced the fundamental issues of real-time with Linux. In this installment, Kevin Dankwardt examines recent efforts to bring real-time capabilities to Linux applications by making improvements to the Linux kernel. To date, the majority of this work has been to make the kernel more responsive — to reduce latency by reducing the preemption latency, which can be quite long in Linux. Read it at ELJonline.”

Submitted by MozillaQuest: Mozilla 1.0 is on its way! MozillaQuest Magazine (MozillaQuest.com) reports: “The Silicon Valley Lizard is almost on the final stretch of its long journey to Mozilla 1.0. But first, it must take a detour not in the Mozilla Development Roadmap. That detour is at least one release candidate (RC) milestone, if not more RCs before the long overdue and elusive Mozilla 1.0 release. . . . As we go to press, the Mozilla 1.0-RC1 milestone edition is being branched from the Mozilla CVS . . .development tree trunk. The good news of course is that finally . . . there will be a Mozilla 1.0 soon. However, some in the Mozilla community question whether the state of Mozilla is such that Mozilla 1.0 should be released in April 2002. Two major concerns are that there are too many open bugs and that Mozilla lacks some essential features. . . . Check this MozillaQuest.com story for pictures, details, links, and full story.

Anonymous Reader writes, “Krow, the database admin for Slashdot has an interesting weblog entry all about Slashdot’s use of Innodb. It is rare to see someone talk about how to tune MySQL for large websites so his comments make for an interesting read.” (Slashdot, like NewsForge.com and Linux.com, is part of OSDN.)

– By Grant Gross –

A new Evans Data Corp. survey of Linux developers confirms something many Linux users already know: that their systems are “relatively immune” from outside attacks on their systems, and their systems are more secure than Windows.
Among the results of the study, announced this week: 78% of the more than 400 respondents developing for Linux say they have never experienced an unwanted intrusion that they’re aware of, and 94% say they have never had a virus on their Linux systems.

Compare the Linux numbers to a new, more general Computer Security Institute/FBI survey that showed 90% of respondents reporting security breaches within the past year.

In addition, 84% of the Linux survey respondents believe that Linux is inherently more secure than software not created in an Open Source environment. Those responding ranked Red Hat Linux’s security roughly comparable to Solaris and AIX, both often used in enterprise settings, and “above any of the Windows platforms by a significant margin.”

But Jeff Child, an analyst with Evans Data and technology journalist, says the security benefits that Linux users take for granted may not be general knowledge among enterprise tech staffs and other potential users. He notes that anyone trying to sell anti-virus software to a Linux user is likely to be as successful as a winter hat and glove salesman in Hawaii.

“The security aspect of Linux is one of the best-kept secrets, but it’s also something that’s obvious to people who play with Linux or to Linux developers,” he says. “Viruses are rare. That’s something fundamental to Linux, but I don’t think it’s understood by the outside world.”

Asked what operating system has the fewest security vulnerabilities, 26% of the survey respondents answered FreeBSD, and another 26% chose a Linux distribution, with Red Hat getting 16%, Mandrake 6% and SuSE about 4%. A couple of Unix variants scored around 13%, while Windows garnered 7% of responses.

However, when asked if Linux has sufficient code audits, only 56% answered yes. 55% of respondents said they had used formal code methods for security reviews.

Among the many answers in the 150-page survey results, Child says he was surprised by the number of those responding who had no opinion when asked questions about Web services, such as Microsoft’s .Net. Although Child sees an opportunity for Linux to bridge the Web services gap between Microsoft and efforts at IBM and Sun, close to half of those responding had no opinion on many of the survey’s Web services-related questions.

“It’s interesting because [Web services is] an important area for Linux, but the results show that a lot of people don’t have their eyes on that,” Child says.

For example, 34% had no opinion when asked about the leading Free Software alternatives to .Net, Mono and DotGNU, and the other responses were “lukewarm” about those projects, even though both have gotten several mentions in the Linux-related media. Another 18% said they were happy to see alternative projects that marry Web services to Linux, while 23% agreed with the statement: “I think it’s a bad idea that we can write Web services applications in Linux without using Microsoft proprietary languages.”

Another 7% said porting Microsoft’s C# was a necessary evil, while 16.5% said they think there should be Web services in Linux, but they weren’t going to use C# to make it happen.

The general tone of the survey was militantly anti-Microsoft, Child said. “Even though there may be a market to bring Linux into Web services, I think there’s a feeling among some that they wish Microsoft would go away and they’d be free to take more of that pie.”

Asked what type of applications they were creating for Linux, the leading answer at 17%, was applications for internal corporate use. Web-based services came in second at 13%, while e-commerce applications and Web portals each rated just under 11%. Embedded systems received about 7%, wireless applications just under 6%, gaming/audio/video was just under 4%.

Evans Data’s “Spring 2002 Linux Developer Survey” is part of a series published every six months and focusing exclusively on developers creating Linux applications. The surveys look for perceptions and awareness of Linux developers on a wide variety of topics, including development plans, technology adoption trends and developer tools. More information on the survey is available at the Evans Data Web site.

Jeff Gerhardt writes: Tuesday, Feb 9th, 2002,
from the home of Wayne’s World, Aurora IL, tonight LIVE on www.thelinuxshow.com at 6pm pt, 7pm mt, 8pm ct, and 9pm et…. Kevin Hill, Jeff Gerhardt, Doc Searls (Linux Journal), Arne Flones and Russ Pavlicek; have (may have) another outstanding show lined up tonight on The Linux Show!!

In Segment One – Hot News: We will be covering the hot Linux news of the last few weeks. In particular we will talk about Loki and a “Linuxandmain” article about the details behind the cause of their downfall (located at the url http://www.linuxandmain.com/features/lokistory.htm l. Plus we will of course give you all an update on The American Open Technology Consortium (GeekPAC) There is an updated draft of the AOTC position paper at http://www.thelinuxshow.com/otc.htm

In Segment Two – The MPST Digital Jukebox:
We will be joined tonight by Mike Patnode of MP Sharp Technologies a new company producing Linux based technology. You can view the company web site at http://mpsharp.com/. For those looking to rip and collect their music in the open OGG Vorbis format, there aren’t a lot of options with respect to what devices they can use. Fortunately, such gaps are what draws entrepreneurs like Mike Patnode to create interesting audio boxes that serve niches Panasonic and Sony will dismiss until they become “mass marketable”.

Using Linux as the unit’s operating system and tapping into the open source community for software, MPST Digital Jukebox is designed to be a home stereo component that competes with the likes of the Audio Request Jukebox, the HP Digital Entertainment Center, and the recently releasedRio Central. All of those units ship for between $1,000 and $1,500. The MPST Digital Jukebox is presently in the beta phase of its creation and MP Sharp Technologies is offering beta testers the player for cost of parts and labor ($500-$800 depending upon configuration).

Mike Patnode started his career at The Santa Cruz Operation, designing and developing the graphics and Internet infrastructure for SCO Unix. While at SCO, Mike also spent a 10 month research sabbatical at the X Consortium drafting a networked multimedia protocol. After SCO, Mike chased the California dot-com dream at Netscape, working on the Enterprise and Certificate Server applications there. Wooed by the wonders of the security world, Mike then went to SPYRUS to work on crypto hardware and software and later found himself as the Chief Architect a ATM Check-Cashing startup, where he rode the dot-com crash
into the ground. After starting MP Sharp Technologies during a 6 month hiatus from the working grind, Mike is now an Architect in Wells Fargo’s Fraud Detection Technology group.

Please join us on the show, and check our IRC Chat(irc.thelinuxshow.com
#linuxshow).
Remember tune in at 6pm pt, 7pm mt, 8pm ct, and 9pm et. NOTE: we are now on Daylight Saving Time in the US.
Catch the Linux show at www.thelinuxshow.com