learn more about linux

I found out both are quite handy when getting .iso files for a Linux distro, especially new versions.

1. Zsync: Let’s say you got the alpha, beta, or release candidate of a distribution on a CD/DVD image file. When the next update comes out, say, the final release of Ubuntu Karmic Koala 9.10, you can use your existing image file and then use zsync to upgrade it.

2. Torrent networks are the bomb for getting Linux distros, since it takes a load off the official servers that are usually burdened. After you’ve used zsync, you can always go seed your results to the network.

I found out Freespace 2 was released as open source some time ago. I had two of the discs, but since I did not have the first and all were unpatched, I purchased it cheaply from Good Ol’ Games. After some hours of frustration, I got it installed.

The thing I am learning about Linux gaming is that there is room for independent developers. It’s true there’s still a lot of clones and ports of older games (including open source game engine alternatives), but there are a few new games coming out from indie developers.

The funny thing is, the solution was simply to unplug the sound card and to plug it into a different PCI slot.

Along the way, I decided to try again to install OSSv4 (Open Sound System version 4.2). For some reason, it was smoother on Linux Mint than Ubuntu. Could not get everything to work and I found it was just better to go back to ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture). I know OSS has a simpler API and is cross-platform compatible, but ALSA seems to be better supported for my machine.

I think I may be rid of Pulseaudio for the time being, though :)

It really is a polished version of Ubuntu. I would like to figure out how to get a panel with window buttons rather than rely on switchers triggered by Alt+Tab, but otherwise, it’s quite nice.

Rather than fight Pulse Audio for sound mixing, I finally bought a used SB! Live sound card for hardware mixing. It works. Wow. Apparently, Linux can be fussy about hardware, but once you get the right stuff, it finally works. Quite amusing for a sound card that is considered old by Windoze standards.

Intrepid Ibex is set for release next month and speaking of Pulse Audio, I hope it’s fixed with this version. Very much thinking of moving to the Linux Mint distro however for Debian with even less fuss than Ubuntu.

Might play around with OpenSUSE again now that I have a solid sound card.

...which was a shock, because I could never get an Ubuntu LiveCD working at all.

I decided to look at the KDE interface with openSUSE instead of GNOME, which I use with Ubuntu. Interesting. I could not get sound to work whatsoever, however. That’s not a good thing. Granted, I will need to install it to play a little more with it, but… so far, not a good sign.

Can’t seem to get the .iso burned, however. If possible, I’d really like to use a LiveCD first before totally wiping everything again. Or to get another hard drive.

Because Ubuntu is a Debian build, if at first things don’t succeed, I reference it as far as Debian.

I’m not sure why, but sound output protocols just seem to be so schizoid in Debian builds (which include Ubuntu).

First, there’s JACK.
Then there’s OSS (Open Sound System).
Next is ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture).
Finally, the latest project is PulseAudio.

ALSA is pretty stable, but as it’s particular to Linux alone, some are more enthused about OSS. PulseAudio is supposed to be the latest and greatest as it addresses software mixing (more than one application/program has access to sound, by software means) better, but it has brought Ubuntu 8.04 to its knees.

I am not the only one who cannot get a microphone to work, much less the other goodies. PulseAudio is almost like a fickle yet jealous lover—it might work for you, it might not—but if you fiddle with it to get it to work, it can have adverse effects on your system (a good drubbing, perhaps?)

Setting up file shares between my wife’s lappy and the family desktop was a snap with samba.

The only problem I am running into when I try to create shares on my end is that samba insists I am not root user (nor asks for a password).