Unlocking the secrets of the /proc filesystem
In a previous article, 4 open source tools for Linux system monitoring, I looked at tools like top, htop, and others, that allow SysAdmins to...
My oldest computer is 19 years old; Linux keeps it going
Longevity – an interesting word. I use it here to help clarify some of the statements that I hear many people make. These statements are usually along the lines of “Linux can extend the life of existing hardware,” or “Keep old hardware out of landfills or uncertified recycling facilities.” So let me introduce you to my oldest computer.
Effortlessly Transform Your Markdown Documents to Accessible Formats with Pandoc
I have been experimenting extensively with Ollama and other artificial intelligence tools, and the answers to my prompts are always rendered in Markdown. I have...
How I create Linux device files — and why
First, what the heck is a Linux device file -- and why should I care? Linux handles almost everything as a file. This has some...
How to untangle the systemd-resolved DNS mess
The change from the venerable nsswitch and NetworkManager to systemd-resolved has damaged and slowed name services. The result of this resolver change was apparent in a number of symptoms. Inability to find the addresses of most remote servers resulting in timeouts was the most noticeable. When the connections were made, They were very slow to respond. I didn’t really understand how much slower until after I fixed the problem.
Elevating Your Writing with Ollama and Phi3 Model Synergy
In today’s digital age, writers seek tools that enhance their craft and provide real-time feedback and assistance. Enter Ollama - an open-source machine learning system...
Do I really need to know how to compile the Linux kernel?
Most lists of things we do to learn Linux ignore the bits you don’t really need to do. Here is one I can suggest you...
5 Linux commands you should never run (and why)
Sometimes we run into articles on other sites that we wish we'd written. This one on ZDNET is an excellent example. There are some commands...
Book Errata
There's a bit of clarification needed in Volume 1, Chapter 4, Preparation, of my book series, Using and Administering Linux – Zero to SysAdmin: 2nd...
A little Vim trick I learned today
I learned a neat new trick today that greatly improves my work with Vim when I'm editing code. I like to copy and paste snippets...
Secure electronic document disposal with Linux
We can't be too careful about ensuring that our personal data is safe, both paper documents and electronic ones. I'm sure I don't need to...
Using Python and Ollama on a Linux desktop
Continuing my exploration of using a locally hosted Ollama on my Linux desktop computer, I have been doing a lot of reading and research. Today,...
The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins, Tenet 08 — Always use shell scripts
Author’s note: This article is excerpted in part from chapter 9 of my book, The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins, with some changes to update the...
Write a guessing game in ncurses
Use the flexibility of ncurses to create a guess-the-number game on Linux.
The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins, Tenet 07 — Automate Everything
SysAdmins are most productive when creating the shell programs that automate the solutions that they have conceived while appearing to be unproductive. The more automation we have in place the more time we have available to fix real problems when they occur and to contemplate how to automate even more than we already have.
Terminal size and ncurses
When programs like vi first came along, terminals had a predefined size: usually 80 columns and 24 lines (actually 25 lines, but the last line...