I'm really into Open Source Software. I've been using GNU/Linux for about 5 years personally. I've run all kinds of Distributions, everything from Slackware to Mandriva, Gentoo to Archlinux. My favorite Distribution of GNU/Linux would be Gentoo. My least favorite would be Debian.

I've never been a fan of bloated Window Managers (aka Desktop Environments) like KDE and Gnome. To me a Window Manger must be very light (on system resources) and fast. Window Mangers that fit this description are Xfce and Fluxbox. They are my two most used WM's. I like to use X.org as my X Windows Server.

The same applies to a GNU/Linux Distribution. I hate heavy, "bloated", Distributions. I tend to keep away from those. I dislike Binary Based Package Management Systems as well. Source rules!

If you are wondering why Gentoo is my favorite GNU/Linux Distribution, you may want to view a document I created some time back. It will give you an understanding of why I like Gentoo. I published a video to Youtube about why I like Gentoo, you can go search for it if you like.

I've been asked this question at recent interviews: What do I like about / why I like to use Source Based Package Management Systems or Source Code tarballs to install or deliver software on GNU/Linux?

The answer is simple:

  • I like to be able to view, not necessary edit, the source code to the software that I am going to be installing
  • CPU compiler optimization
  • I've never had a good experience with Binaries (Deb and RPM). They seem to take the "Open Source" out of GNU/Linux
  • Fear that Binaries contain Trojans and or other forms of Malware
  • I like to manually track dependencies in the name of learning!

These above reasons will probably not feature in a corporate - "time is money" - environment. Never the less, those are my reasons for liking Source Based Package Management Systems and Source Code tarballs.

I won't limit myself to just Source Based Systems, I have an understanding of Binary Based Systems as well (Red Hat, Mandriva, Debian).

Most of the time I'm building software from Source Code tarballs, with the occasional patchset, and GCC. If I'm on my Gentoo system it's built via Portage. It's less messier that way.

The only Linux related certification I have is CompTIA's Linux+. Not very advanced... though it's another thing I can add to my C.V (resume). I would like to be a Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS) and a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) someday.

I haven't had a real need to do paper printing on GNU/Linux.

Favorite Linux related reads (written material):
- Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible 2007
- Practical Guide to Red Hat Linux
- Linux Bible 2007
- Managing RAID on Linux
- Sams Teach yourself Red Hat Linux 9
- Sybex Linux+
- Hacking Exposed (Linux section)

I have TLDP.org bookmarked seeing it is such a nice resource to have. I normally use it as a quick reference.

I love to play around with the BASH Shell. Scripting is something I find interesting. I'm not a master at it yet, though I am learning. I found this BASH scripting tutorial to be very informative, though I prefer books (printed material).

POSIX C Programming holds my attention a lot. I can play with a plain text editor(my favorite been Nano) and my C code for hours.

I have a collection(of my favorite) desktop screenshots here.

I have only run GNU/Linux on x86 based systems (Intel mostly). Running a 64-bit distro with a 64-bit kernel is something I want to play around with in the near future. I have a PowerPC, it's just that I have never run GNU/Linux with it.

I love a GNU/Linux system that runs the vanilla sources. My favorite boot-manager is Grub, never really liked Lilo (seeing it's dead and unmaintained).

I've worked with GNU/Linux on many servers, such as (not limited to-- these are the only ones that have come to mind atm):
- PHP enabled Web/HTTP Servers (Apache HTTP Server and Lighttpd)
- File Servers (Samba)
- SSH (OpenSSH)
- X Windows (XDMCP)
- Mail Servers (Surge Mail)
- FTP Servers (VSFtpd)
- Web remote management (Webmin)
- DNS Cache (BIND)
- Firewalls (IPtables manually and with Firewall scripts - IPkungfu)
- Virtualization (VMware Server 1.0.6 - Windows and Linux virtual machines plus others)
- Vulnerability exploitation and patching management (metasploit, nessus client and server, nmap, updates and patchsets etc)

I've run GNU/Linux on a few mobiles computers (laptops) aswell. I have a few GNU/Linux Security LiveCD's that I can boot from in a snap (great for wardriving).

I'm not part of any online community concerning linux, I used to be involved with a few forms and mailing-lists though those seem to have fallen away. They are very time consuming and tend to be tedious at times (don't get me wrong, I'm still subscribed to a few mailing-lists but I'm not really contributing anymore). I found Bugtraq and certain Gentoo mailing-lists to be really helpful and informational.

I love learning about complex and intricate things within the kernel. I really enjoy doing research on 'why, what, and how this happens' within the linux kernel. I don't just like to learn how to use GNU/Linux, I like going into real depth, detail with it. Learn everything from the ground-up, as they say.

I get really excited when I discover new methods, methodology when doing specific work with GNU/Linux. Especially with security related tasks.

Gentoo resources:

    - Gentoo Wiki
    -     Gentoo Portage
    -     Gentoo FAQ
    - Gentoo Handbook(s)
    - Ebuild Howto

    GNU/Linux information that I find interesting:

    - Why GNU/Linux?
    - Linux and the GNU Project.

    I've created some video tutorials, aimed at the beginners, that demonstrate the following (I tried to make them as simple as possible):

    - Remotely control a GNU/Linux machines X11 with VNC
    - Editing the BASH shells source code
    - X Windows Forwarding
    - X Display Manager (access XDMCP from Windows)
    - How to redirect stdout and stderr

    I would love to hear from you about what you thought of these video tutorials, feel free to drop me an e-mail.

    Most of the time I download, and compile, vanilla kernels straight from kernel.org's 2.6 kernel development tree. I normally stay latest-and-greatest (me and Gentoo get along well :)). I have no reason to stay outdated, or at a 2.4 kernel version.

    Why I like/use GNU/Linux (silly question, but I've been asked it).

    Corporate GNU/Linux work I've done (paid work):
    - BASH Scripting
    - Server and services monitoring with Open Source monitoring software
    - Setup and configured Fileservers (Samba with RAID 1/5 hard disk arrays)
    - Setup and configured OpenSSH servers

    Scripting and Programming languages I am familiar with:
    - C (Win32 and POSIX) (learning)
    - BASH
    - HTML/CSS (The only web authoring language I have taken a liking to)

    I love doing research on specific scripting techniques. I firmly believe that you learn new things every single day.

    old:     I've had a need to run Gentoo GNU/Linux in a Virtual Machine. You may find my GentooVM webpage to be of use.