Taht is damn right! Today I closed (disabled, in the right word) my Facebook account. Reasons? I find it useless so why keep something useless around? Nowadays I put my life in Twitter as a Social Network and that is all I need.

IF you need to find me, for some strange reason or not, my Twitte account is @ricardovs. And what’s more, I even keep a blog at wordpress, which would be http//ricardovs.wordpress.com. And I will keep on being an enthusiastic member of openSUSE

Now I need to set up a developing environment for web-based projects on my notebook, which runs openSUSE 11.2.

First I check if I have the right ssh package installed, which is positive. Then I run Eclipse with my favorite Remote System Explorer plugin, and add the connection I need. That is just as simple as entering the connection name, your server machine, and username. Alright, that is the easy part of it.

Then I find myself trying to connect into my default test directory, getting the following error messsage:

Failed to connect sshd on “LOCALHOST:xx”.

Detail: java.net.ConnectException: Connection refused.

Ok then, I check and start the SSH daemon, and keep getting the same output.

Looking for answers at openSUSE’s Forums, I found much guidance and one which helped me solve the small problem. You need to allow the Secure Shell Server Service for the External Zone!. Select it from the “Service to Allow” combo, then restart your ssh daemon and there you go .

El release de openSUSE 11.2, ocurrido en el día de hoy, incluye nuevas versiones de GNOME, KDE, OpenOffice.org, Firefox, kernel Linux, y muchas actualizaciones más.

En esta ocasión, podrán encontrar más de 1000 aplicaciones de escritorio open source. openSUSE también incluye una completa suite de software para servidores y una rica selección de herramientas de desarrollo open source.

Algunas de las características mas interesantes en openSUSE 11.2 son:

Escritorios.

Como siempre, openSUSE proporciona todo lo que necesitas para iniciarte con Linux en el escritorio.

openSUSE 11.2 incluye KDE 4.3 como su escritorio “predeterminado”. Si lo instalas desde el DVD si cambiar preferencia alguna, tendrás el escritorio KDE por omisión.
Sin embargo, todavía proporcionamos GNOME de igual manera, y Xfce y otros gestores de ventana como escritorios alternativos también!.

KDE 4.3 representa una actualización mayor en la plataforma KDE. Incluye soporte para redes mejorado, y logra integrar Firefox y OpenOffice.org de una forma mejor al ambiente de KDE. El proyecto openSUSE trabajó cercanamente con el proyecto KDE en los ámbitos de temas y posicionamiento para entregar una apariencia que represente a ambos proyectos de buena manera.

De igual manera, encontrarás la grandeza de GNOME en su versión 2.28 en openSUSE 11.2, el último lanzamiento de este escritorio, el cual incluye un tema completamente nuevo (Sonar), la aplicación para la actualización de software mejorada, avances en la aplicación para el video y Webcam de GNOME, y muchas otros avances y mejoras para preparar la plataforma GNOME para GNOME 3.0 en el 2010.

OpenOffice.org 3.1 es una suite de ofimática compatible con Microsoft Office. Este lanzamiento incluye mejoras en el seguimiento de cambios y colaboración en Writer, y mejoras en la aplicación para dibujos.

Las redes sociales tienen un empuje en 11.2 con la adición de los clientes para microbligging en GNOME y KDE, los que ayudan a conectarte con los sitios de redes sociales mas populares. Estos clientes son Gwibber y Choqok, respectivamente.

Con openSUSE 11.2, tienes la capacidad de instalar el medio live de GNOME o KDE desde un USB, y numerosas mejoras para hacer que openSUSE 11.2 funcione mucho mejor en netbooks.

Bajo la lupa.

Las mejoras en el escritorio son mayormente visibles, pero pasa bastante bajo la lupa, también como en openSUSE 11.2.

Mejoras en el almacenamiento incluyen la capacidad de cifrar el disco duro completo, para los usuarios preocupados de la seguridad de sus datos. Los usuarios pueden también tomar ventaja de la generación siguiente de sistemas de archivos para Linux, con Ext4 o btrfs. En caso de querer aprender más sobre las características de kernel nuevas, puedes visitar KernelNewbies.org y revisar la parte “cool stuff”.

¿Deseas administrar servidores openSUSE remotamente en una interfaz Web? El día llegará pronto! Los usuarios de openSUSE 11.2 pueden instalar el preestreno de WebYaST: una herramienta para la administración remota basada en la Web para sistemas openSUSE.

Linux para la Educación.

El Build Service de openSUSE proporciona miles de aplicaciones en la forma de paquetes “1-click” para elevar tu experiencia con openSUSE 11.2. La comunidad openSUSE Education entrega cientos de aplicaciones educativas que se ajustan a estudiantes de todas las edades, padres, profesores y administradores de TI pertenecientes a instituciones educacionales mediante el Build Service.

El lanzamiento de openSUSE 11.2 será seguido cercanamente por un derivado muy especial, Li-f-e: Linux for Education. Li-f-e contiene GNOME, KDE, y también el galardonado ambiente de aprendizaje para niños Sugar. Con paquetes del repositorio Packman, Li-f-e entrega todo lo necesario para obtener una experiencia multimedia enriquecida también.

Medios y Descargas.

openSUSE está disponible para la descarga imediata! Tienes varias opciones de instalación:

• openSUSE 11.2 DVD instalable de 32-bit.
• openSUSE 11.2 DVD instalable de 64-bit
• openSUSE 11.2 GNOME 32-bit Live CD.
• openSUSE 11.2 GNOME 64-bit Live CD.
• openSUSE 11.2 KDE 32-bit Live CD.
• penSUSE 11.2 KDE 64-bit Live CD.
• Iniciar openSUSE 11.2 desde una unidad USB*.

*descarga uno de los Live CDs disponibles arriba y cópialo a la unidad USB con el siguiente comando: dd if=image.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M.

Reemplaza “image.iso” con el nombre de la imagen ISO descargada, y cambia “sdX” con la unidad actual de tu USB. Ten cuidado! Esto borrará la unidad de destino, por lo que debes asegurarte de especificar el nombre de la unidad correcto y respaldar todo lo que consideres importante.

Queremos saber de ti!.

El proyecto openSUSE cuenta con varios canales de comunicación! Ya sea que prefieras los foros, el email, o IRC, hay suficientes maneras para comunicarte.

• El foro oficial de openSUSE.
• Listas de correo: asegúrate de inscribirte en la lista que se ajusta a tus intereses!.
• IRC: #opensuse en irc.freenode.net.

Para mantenerte actualizado con openSUSE, asegúrate de revisar openSUSE News y el Planet SUSE, donde encontrarás posts de la comunidad de openSUSE. También actualizamos la cuenta @opensuse en Twitter y la cuenta de Identi.ca con frecuencia con las novedades acerca del proyecto.

¿Deseas ayudar con el proyecto openSUSE? Para involucrarte con openSUSE, revisa la página de Cómo participar en la wiki de openSUSE. Podemos usar muchas capacidades y conocimientos diferentes para ayudar en el proyecto, siéntete libre de ingresar!.

Agradecimientos!.

openSUSE 11.2 representa un esfuerzo combinado de cientos de desarrolladores quienes participan en openSUSE, y cientos de desarrolladores de proyecctos upstream que son incluidos en openSUSE. Los colaboradores, dentro y fuera del proyecto openSUSE, deben estar orgullosos de este lanzamiento y merecen un gran “gracias” por todo el trabajo duro y el cuidado que han puesto en 11.2.

Cuando decimos “colaboradores”, no sólo queremos decir desarrolladores y empaquetadores. Esto incluye a traductores, Embajadores de openSUSE, el Comité de openSUSE, y los usuarios quienes ayudan a potenciar los foros y soportan a los usuarios que están tomando sus primeros pasos en el mundo Linux.

Esperamos que te diviertas mucho mientras usas openSUSE 11.2. Muchas gracias a todos ustedes.

Descarga openSUSE 11.2 desde Aquí.

Right against the grain. I will no longer stay in Santiago de Chile for a job. Last Friday it was my last day at Movidreams S.A., sorry I could not say goodbye to everyone in person. These were fun three months, a lot went on in that time period and now I would like to openly thank Andres Valenzuela O., Fernando Flores B., Rene Toro Quezada, three of the most talented people I’ve ever met and worked with. You made every day a great day at the office. Of course big thanks to Humberto Lobos and Federico Saavedra, for the true oportunity to join Movidreams. Your knowledge and passion is awesome.

Now there are a couple months left in this crappy year (actually it’s not been that bad) so I’ll be traveling between Coquimbo and Vallenar very often. I need to visit Inacap for a couple reasons (sorry, not they aren’t going public at this time, heh), and also plan to meet with old friends to check if there is any job opportunity in the area. I would regret returning to Santiago right now, since I seem to be much more interested in finding a job somewhere else where life quality is better than Santiago’s. Money won’t be on the top of my list in the next 2-4 months.

Although I’ve been testing several Milestones and now the RC 2 is looking great, I will be switching to stable openSUSE 11.2 as soon as it’s out, which should be November 12th. At this point of time, KDE implementation seems to be much better than Gnome implementation. Kinda wished it was the inverse case, but that’s one of the Open Source features: you have choice. Let us wait ten more days =). I also hope to have my @opensuse.org alias once for all

That’s all one changes. Have a lot of fun!.

I just got back from Encuentro Linux 2009 (actually after spending one day in Coquimbo with my girlfriend, daughter, and mother). Let me say that I had the Linux time of my life, and hopefuly not the last one.

I had planed to travel on thursday, but could not get there until friday night. Yes, sh*t happens. I first met German Poo and Diego Escalante (of the Gnome Foundation), on my way for the internet password at the hotel. Both were gentle .

Then I stayed at the hotel room, checking my presentation’s last details for the next morning. Shared room with Joel Iturra, nice guy. Next morning woke up early so I could be ready to leave for the University. Stomach full with milk, cereal, bread, and sugar goodies! At the check out counter I met Fernando San Martin and Fernando Valdez. Thanks for the ride, great company.

10 AM and there were only 3 people in the room. Could believe it! since last night it was pure fun out there in the city. Forget about your notebooks folks We decided to wait a bit so we could have more people in, and then I guess about 20 came in. Not bad if you think about ther other 3 talks at the same time plus the Gnome Day event taking most of the interest. My 50+ openSUSE 11.1 DVDs were not enough…by chance I had a DVD copy of 11.2 RC to pass around. Internet connection rocked and the talk went down pretty well, not the best I’ve had but it was just fine since it was my first presentation at Encuentro Linux, the most important Linux event in the country. It was an honor to be there before a very participative crowd, all interested in SUSE Studio.

Later on I headed to the Gnome Day, mainly to discover the Gnome Community and the cool PyGTK and GObject talks…of course to finally meet (yes, in person!))with Pedro Villavicencio of Ubuntu. Man, what a pleasure! Also talked with Franco Catrin and many more and it is sad I cannot remember the names, sure I’d remember your faces if I saw you again though. Bought the obligatory Gnome polo shirt XD and then by the end of the day got a red Gnome cap after asking one question on the project. Hey! I was the one who wrote “G-(ME)” and “Gnome 3 for all” on the Gnome Wall

I now thank and congratulate once again everyone involved in the Encuentro Linux and Gnome Day 2009: Sven, Horst, Priscila, Fernando, Alejandro, Pedro, all the helpers, everyone! I hope to meet you again next year, and have that much of fun over and over.

Tree pictures of myself:

Yes, I am going to Encuentro Linux 2009, and so does openSUSE!. This year the most important Linux event in Chile will be held in Valparaiso and Viña del Mar at the same time. I’ll be giving a presentation on SUSE Studio (if you didn’t already know ) on Saturday 24th, 10:00 – 11:10 AM. Of course I am taking all openSUSE 11.1 DVDs I have left, and will be a great oportunity to show on my notebook what’s coming for 11.2.

More information (in spanish only) here. See you there!.

If you have not already heard, the new openSUSE will be out by November 12th, if plans do not change. What’s so exciting about it? That is the second version of openSUSE I collaborate, in both translation and marketing.  And now, what is ahead?

• Oct 15th -> openSUSE RC1 (TOMORROW!).
• Oct 29th -> openSUSE RC2.
• Nov 12th ->openSUSE 11.2 RELEASE!!!

Also, if you didn’t know, KDE will be the default Desktop Environment for the 11.2 release.

Alright. Just out of curiosity, I felt like finding out what the numbers show for South America compared to other regions in the Ambassadors Program of openSUSE.

As a reminder, the goals of the Ambassador Program are:

• Act as an evangelist for openSUSE to the public.
• Mentor new users and contributors.
• Support openSUSE at local events.
• Promote use of openSUSE and contributions to the openSUSE Project.
• Have a lot of fun!.

So, checking out the Ambassadors List, I got for South America:

• Brazil = 6.
• Chile = 3.
• Peru = 3.
• Argentina = 2.
• Colombia = 2.

Brazil is doing great here, doubling any other country’s Ambassadors number in the region. No doubt it’s not just users who are pushing Open Source out there but also their government and enterprises (example:Fisl), and I am glad openSUSE is a real choice for them. Compared to Europe, I believe statistical numbers are still OK for us since the truth is that openSUSE is just ranked in the top five of the most popular Linux flavours in Chile, maybe it’s the same in other South America countries. So, Ambassadors for Europe (some countries only):

• Germany = 8.
• Spain = 6.
• Austria = 4.
• Italy = 3.
• France = 2.

As for North America, we have got:

• USA = 15.
• Canada = 3.
• Mexico = 3.

I even did a “quick and dirt” chart with OpenOffice’s Calc so you can have a graphical idea of our numbers around the world:

For more information, please, visit the openSUSE Ambassadors section.

Have a lot of fun!.

Yes, my talk over SUSE Studio got accepted for the 10th Encuentro Linux, which will be held in Valparaiso-Viña del Mar for this year(October 22-24). I’m damn happy about that.

What I plan to do is showing an overall (and hopefully deeper as well) view of the SUSE Studio Platform, how it works and how useful it is for building a given software appliance. Yes, it works for virtual appliances too but I have no experience at it . Of course I have a few openSUSE 11.1 DVDs to give away so no worries there.

So if you are around and feel like meeting us and discovering what Linux is about, don’t think it twice as there will be plenty of interesting talks covering topics such as Jails, Bacula, Contributing to Open Source, WebKitGTK+, Ubuntu behind the Scenes, Evolution of Linux Filesystems, Developing Gnome Applications, and much more! Remember, on Saturday it’s the Gnome Day

Need more information? check out here.

If you are running the openSUSE 11.2 Milestone 6 (Gnome 2.27.5, Kernel 2.6.31-rc6-3-default) and find out that clicks of touchpad do not work, then this might help you a bit.

First of all, go to the Control Center, and look up for the Mouse item. Then click on Touchpad (obviously not using your computer’s touchpad, heh) and mark the option Enable mouse clicks with touchpad. That’d work fine

I must thank my friend Pedro Villavicencio of Ubuntu for letting me know about this solution.