Current OS Statistics:

Source: StatCounter Global Stats – Operating System Market Share

After being indoctrinated for years in the aerospace industry to only use Microsoft Project, mostly for the purpose of making Gantt charts (seriously $1k to make a dang chart), I have been in search for alternatives to the old standby.  Here is a working list of some project management software for Windows, OS X, Linux and some cloud based solutions.

PC:

• MS Project Pro ($1000): http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project/default.aspx
• Painless Schedule (Shareware: $35, no Gantt): http://www.uil.net/uProducts/PainlessSchedule.html

Mac:

• Merlin ($210): http://www.projectwizards.net/en/products/merlin/
• Omniplan ($150): http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omniplan/

Linux:

• Planner (Free): http://live.gnome.org/Planner
• GnoTime (Free): Project Time Tracking Tool, no Gantt: http://gttr.sourceforge.net/

PC/Mac:

• SharedPlan ($100): http://www.sharedplan.com/
• FastTrack Schedule ($349): http://www.aecsoftware.com/
• MindJet’s ($399): http://www.mindjet.com/products/mindmanager/gantt/default.aspx
• ConceptDraw Project ($499): http://www.conceptdraw.com/en/products/project/main.php

Cross Platform (PC/Mac/Linux):

• Rational Plan Multi, Java ($98): http://www.rationalplan.com/multi-project-management-software.php
• GanttProject (Free): http://ganttproject.biz/index.php
• OpenProj | Projity Open Source and Hosted Project Management Software (Free): http://openproj.org/openproj
• GanttPV (Free): http://www.pureviolet.net/ganttpv/
• AnyChart’s AnyGantt ($799): http://anychart.com/home/

Cloud Based:

• Intervals (monthly fee, free for individual project: 1 project, 4 users, unlimited tasks, unlimited time tracking): Project tracking tool, no Gantt:http://www.myintervals.com/
• Zoho (monthly or Free: 1 Project, 100 MB Space): http://projects.zoho.com/jsp/home.jsp

People who sent me info for Project Software:

• Ed: Planner and Zoho, http://twitter.com/deNON
• John Reeve: Intervals , http://twitter.com/jjriv
• John Kranz: Merlin, http://twitter.com/orgpublisher
• Philip Vanp: GanttProject, http://twitter.com/philvp

Need: Since I am new to Linux and still feel more comfortable with a graphical user interface (GUI) it is preferable to be able to use a GUI to administer the server as I did using Windows and their Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) service. My primary needs are to have a headless server that can be maintained via VNC over a SSL secure connection (headless system is a computer that does not have a keyboard, monitor or mouse).

Current configuration:

• x86 system with system hard drive and a RAID 1 storage array
• Running Ubuntu Server 9.10 for 32-bit x86

Software:

After some research on the wonderful resources and forums that the Linux community has, I determined what specific software that will be needed to facilitate this server setup. In order to complete this task the following four packages will be installed:

• Desktop environment: Ubuntu GNOME
• SSH Server
• xinetd
• VNC Server

To operate Virtual Network Computing (VNC^W) you will need to install some type of desktop environment, for the purposes of this example, the standard GNOME interface for Ubuntu if you prefer the KDE or XFCE they are also available for Ubuntu. You can look up their install procedures here:

• KDE (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingKDE)
  • Command Line: > sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
• Xfce (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingXubuntu)
  • Command Line: > sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

To enable a secure shell connection for the VNC I installed Open SSH Server for secure port forwarding.

• For more basic description of SSH: Secure Shell^W
• More information on VNC over SSH, https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VNCOverSSH

Installation of xinetd will allow for your VNC services to start on startup of your server, proper configuration of VNC for xinetd will be explained later in this tutorial. For more basic description of xinetd: xinetd^W

Finally installation of the VNC Server, for the purposes of this demo we will be installing vnc4server.

How to install the necessary software:

Via the command line:

> sudo apt-get update # Update software packages to the most current available in their repositories (this will insure you will have the most up to date software packages from the approved repositories, this does not guarantee that you will have the newest version just the newest approved in their perspective repository.

> sudo apt-get upgrade # Upgrade current software to the newest from the updated repositories

> sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop # Install the Desktop Environment

> sudo apt-get install openssh-server # Install openSSH Server

> sudo apt-get install xinetd # Install xinetd

> sudo apt-get install vnc4server # Install VNC Server

> sudo shutdown -r now # Shutdown and restart your system, the system should boot to the GUI

Upon reboot, you can access the command line for further configuration that is outlined below by going to: Applications > Accessories > Terminal

Configure the VNC Server:

First we will run VNC and will set your VNC password, at the command line:

> vnc4server

The output will list your server name and display number “:#”, please note what number is after the colon, this will be used to shutdown the newly opened VNC session before we configure the VNC startup, now we will shutdown VNC server, at the command line:

> vnc4server -kill :#

Just in case we may need the default file we will backup the file .vnc/startup, at the command line:

> cd ~.vnc/ # Go to the correct directory

> sudo cp startup startup.original # Copy startup as startup.original

Now we will edit the file .vnc/startup

Change the file to look like the following, use your preferred text editor (gedit, vi, etc.), via the command line:

> sudo gedit startup # Open Gedit to edit the file .vnc/startup

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:

unset SESSION_MANAGER

exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup

[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources

#xsetroot -solid grey

#vncconfig -iconic &

#xterm -geometry 80×24+10+10 -ls -title “$VNCDESKTOP Desktop” &

#twm &

We uncommented the previous file to allow execution of the X11 file xinitrc, and commented out some of the configuration that we will not need, now we will need to make this file executable, at the command line:

> sudo chmod 755 /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

References:

• http://www.ehow.com/how_5089245_install-vnc-server-ubuntu.html
• http://www.movingtofreedom.org/2007/02/16/howto-remote-desktop-with-vnc-in-ubuntu-edgy-gnu-linux/

Configuring xinetd:

Create a file called Xvnc in /etc/xinetd.d/Xvnc this file will be initialized to start your VNC service on startup of your computer, at the command line:

> sudo gedit /etc/xinetd.d/Xvnc

Insert the following text in the file, remember to insert the correct number for the display number (#), usually the default ports for VNC start at 5900, where the port corresponds to the display number, i.e. display :0 > 5900, display :1 > 5901, etc:

service Xvnc

{

type = UNLISTED

disable = no

socket_type = stream

protocol = tcp

wait = yes

user = root

server = /usr/bin/Xvnc

server_args = -inetd :1 -query localhost -geometry 1024×768 -depth 16 -once -fp /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc -DisconnectClients=0 -NeverShared passwordFile=/root/.vncpasswd -extension XFIXES

port = 590#

}

Update, Note: Depending on your setup, the ‘server_args’ statement may need to be changed for the passwordFile location, on my setup the root file is located at /root/.vncpasswd, Derek thankfully pointed out that it also could also be located at /root/.vnc/passwd.  So please verify where your password file is located and update the Xvnc file accordingly.

We will need to restart xinetd, at the command line:

> sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd restart

GDM and XDMCP:

Next we will configure GDM and XDMCP in Ubuntu 9.10 (Thanks to Mark for figuring this out, http://www.peppertop.com/blog/?p=690)

For Ubuntu 9.10 it appears that there has been significant changes to GDM and XDMCP server.

Copy the sample configuration file, at the command line:

> sudo cp /usr/share/doc/gdm/examples/custom.conf /etc/gdm/

Edit the file and enable the XDMCP, this will allow a login screen for your VNC desktop environment, at the command line:

> sudo gedit /etc/gdm/custom.conf

Find the “[xdmcp]” heading and add “Enable=true” below.

Sample file:

# GDM configuration storage

[xdmcp]

Enable=true

[chooser]

[security]

[debug]

Save and close Gedit

For improved security we will disable how the Ubuntu 9.10 uses the newer GDM because by default they list the users at the login screen, to disable this at the command line:

> sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 -t bool -s /apps/gdm/simple-greeter/disable_user_list true

Reference: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1344205

Configuring X11 to Operate Without a Monitor:

We will need to configure X11 to operate without a monitor, otherwise after you configure your server and disconnect the monitor the VNC will not function properly due to missing hardware.

Create a file called /etc/X11/xorg.conf and paste the following, at the command line:

> sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Insert the following text in the file:

Section “Device”

Identifier “VNC Device”

Driver “vesa”

EndSection

Section “Screen”

Identifier “VNC Screen”

Device “VNC Device”

Monitor “VNC Monitor”

SubSection “Display”

Modes “1280×1024″

EndSubSection

EndSection

Section “Monitor”

Identifier “VNC Monitor”

HorizSync 30-70

VertRefresh 50-75

EndSection

Reference: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1297815

Hopefully with a configured xinetd, VNC, XDMCP and installed SSH you can restart your machine and try to VNC into your machine.

VNC Clients:

Mac: Jolly Fast VNC, this VNC viewer allows for SSH configuration

• Website: http://www.jinx.de/JollysFastVNC.html
• Download: http://www.jinx.de/JollysFastVNC_files/JollysFastVNC.0.98.50.%28928701%29.dmg
• SSH Configuration: -L 590#:localhost:590# username@servername.local

Windows: Putty, this VNC viewer allows for SSH configuration

• Website: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
• Download: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html
• SSH Configuration: -L 590#:localhost:590# username@servername.local
• Tutorial for PuTTY: http://home.chattanooga.net/~john/Putty-Tunnel/putty-tunnel.html

Linux: Vinagre

• Website: http://projects.gnome.org/vinagre/

Ubuntu and other Linux distributions usually have a VNC viewer installed, for this example we will use the preinstalled Remote Desktop Viewer on Ubuntu.  We will create a shell script to both create a SSH connection to your headless server and open the VNC viewer for you to select the server and login.

Example script for using SSH and the built in Remote Desktop Viewer/VNC client on Ubuntu, at the command line:

> sudo gedit /home/username/Desktop/VNCtoServer.sh # Create a new file for the shell script on your Desktop

Insert the following text in the file:

#! /bin/bash

# Open Vinagre VNC Viewer and Open SSH Tunnel to Server for VNC

vinagre & ssh -L 590#:localhost:590# username@servername.local cat – &

exit 0

Save file and close Gedit

> sudo chmod 775 /home/username/Desktop/VNCtoServer.sh        # This will make the shell script file executable

You can now run this script every time you want to VNC into your server.

Linux: TightVNC

• Website: http://www.tightvnc.com/
• Tutorial for TightVNC and SSH: http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2007/06/12/vnc-over-ssh-securing-the-remote-desktop/

To install, at the command line:

> sudo apt-get install xtightvncviewer # Install tightvnc client

For convenience I created a launcher for TightVNC to load with the SSH client, for the Command Field for the launcher: vncviewer -via username@servername.local localhost:590#

I hope this helps, Enjoy!

Many of us enjoy the flexibility of having small portable laptops that are readily available for use, this has truly been possible with the advent of low-cost netbooks. Before netbooks consumers were limited to overprice ultraportable notebooks. These ultraportable notebooks were severely underpowered, expensive, with limited availability and limited selection. As for myself, I purchased a Sharp MM20 ultraportable notebook back in July of 2004, this notebook was low-power, compact and had a beautiful display. I enjoyed using this notebook for graduate classes in business travel. I have been waiting for the next generation of netbook computers to be released before I would buy a replacement for my old Sharp, as it has recently ceased to function I have began to research the newer netbooks that are and will be released shortly. The main qualities that I have been looking for in these next-generation net books have been the newer Intel atom processors with NVIDIA’s ion video chipset. Upon researching these new networks I have discovered that many of them will not be released until after the Microsoft Windows 7 release on October 22, 2009. Currently there are only two netbooks that truly meet the requirements of the newer processors and video chipset (HP Mini 311 and Samsung N510), but there are also two other networks that meet the video chipset requirements (ASUS Eee PC 1201N and Lenovo IdeaPad S12). Below is a table of the specifications of these for netbooks:

Next Generation Netbook Specifications.

I have established criteria for determining which unit meets my personal requirements more. My highest priorities are processor (the newer N280 vs. the older N270), video chipset (the newer HD capable NVIDIA Ion vs, the existing Intel), memory (max RAM and type) and price. Secondary priorities are the display wireless features and hardware connectivity. A breakdown of my priorities and their weights in ranking for each net book is found in the table below.

Personal Personal Decision Ranking.

Based on the decision matrix the HP Mini 311 is just barely the winner with the primary factors of the N280 Atom processor,  3GB max DDR3 RAM and the lower price at $475.

Until then, I will wait for the release of Windows 7 and updates to these netbooks. If any major changes occur with hardware specifications along with the operating system specifications I will update this blog post.

Update (Nov. 28, 2009):

Since the release of Windows 7, the newer netbooks with Windows 7 and NVIDIA Ion processors have been trickling out to online stores, here are a few links and prices on these newer netbooks:

ASUS 1201N ($499.00):

• ExCaliber PC
• Updated Specification, now includes Intel Atom 330 Dual Core Processor: Engadget

HP Mini ($399.99-$963.99):

• HP Store (customizable)
• Newegg

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 ($429.99-$649.99):

• Lenovo Store (customizable)
• Newegg

Samsung N510 ($599.99):

• Newegg

NVIDIA has listed netbooks that use their Ion graphics processor: Ion Netbook List

References:

1.) ASUS Eee PC 1201N:

• September 18, 2009 Liliputing Article
• September 20, 2009 Endgaget Article
• September 21, 2009 Slashgear Article
• September 22, 2009 TechTree Article

After seeing a Tweet on a unigue visual resume concept by Michael Anderson (his blog post: Résumé / Infographics).  I was intrigued by his use of a time line based resume and his pie chart that displays his primary skill-sets.  Pie charts are wonderful ways of display percentage information but by also displaying information in a third dimension has its advantages to display more information visually.  Pie charts are common in most software packages but not for a 3D.  We will now create a sample 3D pie chart in Adobe Illustrator:

First, establish the information that you want to convey.  For this example we will display a breakdown of a sample presentation, see table.

Second, in Illustrator, create a new document and select the pie chart tool.

Third, establish pie chart size, for the example we selected 200pt x 200pt.

Next, Enter the pie chart data.

Ungroup the pie chart.

Select all the slices and rotate the graph for optimal 3D perspective viewing, we rotated the pie chart so the smaller slices will not be obstructed by the larger slices.

Select all the slices and select the stroke to none (it is important to set the stroke to none, this will prevent your extruded pieces from having a black colored side walls).

Select each slice and chose your desired color for each slice.

To make the graph a donut you will select the ellipse tool, for the example we created a 100pt x 100pt ellipse to create a circle with a 100pt diameter.

Align and center the newly created circle and the pie chart.  Select all objects and select transform and divide.

Ungroup and delete the unwanted center sections to create the donut shaped pie chart.  Next select all the components of the pie chart, and select the 3D Extrude & Bevel Effect.

Rotate to a perspective that best shows all the slices and adjust lighting effects as desired.

Align all the slices (you may need to adjust the slice order so they display properly).

For this example we selected an extrusion height of 50pts.  This will be the minimum height for this graph.  We will now adjust the heights based on the data for the minutes per slide, since 50pt is the minimum and we will select 100pts as the maximum.  This will allow us to ratio the minutes per slide to the following extrusion heights (Math to calculate height for each minute: 100pts-50pts / 7min-2min = 10pts per min):

Select each individual slice and in the appearance history you can change the height of the slice to the desired height for your graph to display.  After you change the heights of your slices you may need to readjust their relative positions.  If you do not like the perspective view or your graph, you may need to adjust the the perspective angles of your graph, each slice will be as we did.

Label and you are set to go.

Interesting sites with examples of infographics:

• Information Aesthetics: http://infosthetics.com/
• Cool Infographics: http://coolinfographics.blogspot.com/
• Smashing Magazine: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/…infographics/
• Infographics News: http://infographicsnews.blogspot.com/
• TED, Hans Rosling: http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html
• TED, Jonathan Harris: http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_harris_tells_the_web_s_secret_stories.html

Welcome to my first post of my personal blog.  The intent of my Free Associations Blog is a place to document miscellaneous information that pertains to my life and for technical information that does not relate to any of the other blogs that I contribute to.  I may repost other posts that I have written for my company blog and for my business blog that I operate to help entrepreneurs.  So please stop in from time to time to see my random ramblings, hence my mental Free Associations of information.

Again thank you and let’s hope this will be the first of many posts.

- Scott

Learn the word welcome in other languages: Jennifer Runner Languages Page – Welcome