The beauty that is Debian

I had to let go of Mandrake, to which the team is married for 3 years (we also divorced Redhat after a year of using it before that). The reason: it simply is very hard to update the software — in our case, updating MySQL to the latest 4.1 version. I learned from readings that URMPI can do that, but I tried for two days, and it just wouldn’t work — or am I just doing it wrong. In anycase, we’re leaving.

Now, here comes Debian and the sooo cool apt-get function. I downloaded a very lean 100 mb CD Install ISO. Installed it on a second hand PC and after an hour, I have the system ready. Since it is connected to the internet via our local area gateway, I installed all other needed software via the apt-get feature.

1. Update the system.
% apt-get upgrade

2. Install SSH Server (for my remote access, installation while sipping coffee)
% apt-get install ssh

3. Install Database Server
% apt-get install mysql-server-4.1

4. Install Apache HTTP Server
% apt-get install apache2

5. Install PHP for Apache
% apt-get install php4

6. Install MYSQL for Apache
% apt-get install libapache2-mod-auth-mysql
% apt-get install php4-mysql

7. Install SAMBA (for local area network file sharing)
% apt-get install samba

I ended up installing other unnecessary software like Imagemagick and Firebird Database in my excitement. I have the server ready after 3 hours — that is spent not for configuring the system, but only for downloading the files.

The result:

• A very lean server — only the needed applications are installed
• If ever there will be a need to upgrade any of the installed software, all I need to do is call ‘apt-get’ and she will take care of the rest.

Really cool. Makes me concentrate on business not on the server configurations. I’m now happily married to Debian. I mean, the linux distro Debian, of course. :D

Updating MySQL on Mandrake

I’ve been trying to work on updating our MySQL installation under Mandrake 10.0. I was hoping that Mandrake have Debian’s apt-get command. It turns out that it does — the URMPI. I’m almost there. I will update this post with the blow-by-blow account after I have successfully updated our MySQL server. I hope this will help a lot of newbie sysdamins out there.

3G technology soon in the Philippines

If you are fond of Korea novelas — as I am now with the influence of my wife — you may have noticed how they use their phones. Texting, a.k.a SMS, to them is done differently. It’s like chatting over Yahoo Instant Messenger, only done thru phones. (It can actually be partly done using Symbian phones with software like Agile or Yehba over GPRS). They watch movies or sees the person they are talking to on their video phones. The technology behind it is called 3G or Third Generation Mobile Phone Technology.

In here, Globe Telecomsstarted testing 3G over their networks. Being the texting (SMS) capital of the world, we hope that this technology will soon be available — and of course, the availability of cheaper 3G enabled phones may help the telcos decide when the technology is ripe to be roled out.

DSL Speed Test

We switched broadband providers. While testing the speed of the newly installed one, I tested several online speed testing sites. This one from ABELTRONICA Telecom I found best.

Why Firebird is superior to MySQL

I’ve been trying to convince a client to switch to Firebird from the more popular MySQL in preparation for version 2 of the web application we’ve been programming.

For MySQL lovers, (and we are, I should say. We’ve been using it for 4 years), if you are planning an enterprise-type application with huge data transaction, it’s time to park your favorite database in favor of a true RDBMS such as Firebird. Here’re two documents to help you decide, and hopefully help me convince our client.

% Why Not MySQL?
% Interbase (Firebird) and MySQL : A technical comparison