7 Cool Things to Do With Linux
So you’ve taken the plunge and installed Linux. You’ve followed all the HOWTOs all over the net. You’ve got your wireless card working flawlessly. You’ve got your video card working (and you’ve begun to loathe that spinning cube). You’ve installed all the “restricted” software like Adobe Flash, Sun Java and Google Earth. You’ve got all the patent restricted codecs and even DVD playback working just like you want. Now what? You want to know what you can do with Linux outside of the surfing, emailing, chatting and media consumption you normally do? Well, here are a few things to keep you busy.
- Use Your computer as a Home Theater PC. I personally use XBMC for this, but there are many other options including MythTV, Elisa, Entertainer, Freevo, GeeXboX and LinuxMCE.
- Set up a media server. There are many, many ways to go about doing this. There is the old tried and true file server approach, using either NFS or Samba.
However, if it’s only music you’re sharing, you probably want something more like Firefly or Tangerine, which can share all of your music with the other computers and devices on your network with DAAP (this is the same music sharing technology iTunes uses). Most Linux music players provide this capability as well. If you want to access your music from anywhere in the world, you could set up Jinzora, which is a web based music server.
If you have an Xbox 360 or PS3 that you’re using to consume music and videos, you’ll want to use a UPnP/DLNA server like uShare (which is based on GMediaServer) or MediaTomb. Many of the aforementioned HTPC programs (XBMC, MythTV) provide this functionality as well.
- Set up a download server. Centralize all your downloads to one Linux powered server. Get your Usenet downloads with HellaNZB or SABnzbd+. Get your torrents with Transmission, Vuze (formerly Azureus), TorrentFlux, Deluge or MonoTorrent. All of the software mentioned in this section has a web interface of some kind.
- Have an enterprise class VoIP phone system in your house. Asterisk gives you the ability to have all kinds of crazy phone system features, probably surpassing whatever you have at work, for free (not counting the hardware, obviously). If you want a smaller project, you could always just play with Ekiga.
- Set up your own surveillance system. Both ZoneMinder and Gspy will monitor your video cameras and optionally perform some action (playing a sound, emailing you, text messaging you, etc) when they detect motion. You could also use something like Motion to roll your own.
- Be really, really paranoid (Act like a spy!). With Linux, you have so many security and privacy options it’s not even funny.
Encryption capabilities are already integrated into most desktop oriented distributions that allow you to encrypt certain files. You can encrypt your home directory or your entire hard drive with dm-crypt.
You can use GnuPG to encrypt and sign email messages (most email clients support this). You can also encrypt your Pidgin chats with Pidgin-Encryption or Off-The-Record Messaging.
Lock down your network (especially wireless) with FreeRADIUS and IPCop.
When you’re not at home, you can use Tor for secure web browsing or SSH tunneling to encrypt just about any type of traffic.
Steghide can conceal secret messages within images or audio, using a technique called Steganography.
When you’re done with all that, don’t forget to clean up after yourself using either shred or dd.
- Poke into other people’s business (Act like a spy some more!). Wireshark will let you look at all the network traffic happening around your computer. This is especially cool because most instant messages and emails are unencrypted, meaning you can read them as they go by. You can also see what web pages people are visiting.
This is even more fun if you get on someone else’s wireless network to spy on them. Find a wireless network with Kismet, then use the Aircrack-ng suite to gain access.
You could also use Ophcrack to get into a physical computer for which you don’t have the password…
February 8th, 2009 at 11:48 am
nice list. im doubting to switch into linux. dunno if im ready xD
February 8th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I use Twonky Media Server on my linux box in my basement. It uses the network to stream all kinds of video formats, music, and images to my xbox360. I do wish there was an XBMC for 360
That would rule all. Great post!
February 8th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Use your Linux computer as your workstation!
This is missing. For people who have only used windows before, it will take
a little time to get used to their new desktop. But as soon as that happens
they will learn that a Linux system is much more efficient then a windows system.
Also, Linux systems don’t need virusscanners, don’t get bloated with spy ware
and are actually stable.
February 8th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
In stead of hellanzb and sabnzb+ you could also add URD. Also downloads from usenet, but much more feature rich. http://www.urdland.com
February 8th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Uhm, ya know ya really could’ve left off #7, it makes Linux users look like a bunch of script kiddies, and thats not how we want to be perceived !
February 8th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Ubuntu will do as well?
February 8th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
@Spearhead: Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll definitely check it out.
@Gerry: Yes, of course.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Addition to point #7 especially for students/workers in large network environment.
ARPSPOOFING and man in the middle attacks are very easy to do using linux. Install dsniff and tcpdump (if not already there) and ssldump.
Pick your target and redirect all packets going to gateway through yourself.
Please remember to set
/proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward to 1 so that the person does not loose connection its no fun when the person cannot access anything.
This is half MITM, To do a full MITM do an arp poison on the gateway back to target. Once running do a tcpdump/ssldump on that interface and enjoy.
Pre-requisite need to know how tcp/ip packet headers look like, or install wireshark and watch using that (it parses the packets for you).
February 9th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Thanks for nice suggestions. I’m sure they will be helpfull:)
February 9th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Agree with randiroo76073, suggesting people crack other people’s networks or systems is unethical, no matter what the reason unless the cracking is done by law enforcement with the support of applicable law, and they won’t be looking for tools in helpful forum posts.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:46 am
Dont forget using Linux as:
* a firewall/NAT, using distributions such as SmoothWall.
* a mail/web/ftp/file server using SME Server.
* a home automation server using LinuxMCE.
* a generic “machine to put large jobs on” using any dist and a good remote desktop tool.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:24 am
I use gnump3d for media serving, and I give away older boxes with Ubuntu server, ssh, dhcp to the LAN, and the free non open source Safesquid for ease of use, as a content filter for non geek families.
I use even older Linux boxes to monitor and water gardens, old laptops for kitchen recipe and or food shopping list systems, and not so old systems with a scanner and printer as real world artists aids.
Older laptops also make good web page voice readers for older people.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Hey, I would like to swtich to Linux very badly as I hate Vista to the core.But..dont see my Skype working on my Linux box and hanging with Vista
February 9th, 2009 at 7:33 am
#8 use a linux live distro to backup data from or try to fix a compromised system, usually win system, see knoppix
#9 use linux to boot any other system in virtualization, usefull for safe testing porpuses
#10 use linux to learn some programming, from simple to not so simple, to havily complex,
after some learning of scripting, (see python, perl, ruby and PHP) you got more control of your system and can you can make part of your work automatic
February 9th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Yessebee, Skype works actually alittle better in Linux than in Windoze… Not so much crapola running in the background to slow it down… Notable Exception; Ubuntu Intrepid 8.10 (and probably other bleeding edge distros) uses the newer Video4Linux version and breaks Skype video compatibility. For Skype video compatibility, stick with Ubuntu Hardy 8.04, if you are a Ubuntu user.
Also, I agree with Poop and randiroo76073 about #7. You should also point out that it is illegal to break into someone else’s network. If caught you could be convicted of a felony, and permanently lose your right to use computer technology (not to mention your freedom). Plus, even if you don’t get caught (which you probably eventually will), screwing with other people’s stuff is very uncool.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Not everyone here are script kiddies but he’s just saying what you COULD do. This post most likely isn’t for the Linux pros anyway….
February 9th, 2009 at 7:52 am
@yessebee: Skype.com/Download/Linux
February 9th, 2009 at 8:16 am
In respect to #2, both mediatomb and uShare cannot stream content to the Xbox. Mediatomb can stream content to the PS3 with limited functionality. For a full featured media streaming server you should install Twonkymedia thats what i use and i can stream media to both PS3 and Xbox and i have it installed on my nas drive so i dont even need a full fledged Linux desktop installed
February 9th, 2009 at 9:14 am
@machetti777: I’m using uShare to serve all my content to xbox360. It shows up as a computer source, like it would if you were windows mce or vista.
I’m using pyTivo to push the same content to my tivo.
Good list.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:33 am
You might want to check out http://boxee.tv/ – it’s an extension of XBMC. I’m currently running the alpha with Xubuntu on my HTPC and it works awesome – integrates all sorts of online video/audio/media sources.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
haha made me laugh a bit, better being paranoid than being sorry
February 10th, 2009 at 2:51 am
xpdf is a free (speech) and capable alternative to AcroRead. Infact I much prefer it as it is lighter weight and easier to use, and reads all the pdf’s i read, even if it is a bit low on features.
For those looking at skype, Ekiga and other standards based communications tools are a better VOIP alternative, as they support the internet standard SIP for making phone calls – so you have many more providers, far more software, and lots of hardware devices to choose from. It is much cheaper for off-internet calls anywhere in the world, and on-internet calls are still free.
As to things to do with Linux – what about learn a programming language or two, and / or contribute in some way to a free software project? This can be an incredibly satisfying and enjoyable long term hobby, and helps contribute to the ongoing experience of using a GNU system for everyone. This is how we all ended up with this wonderful free system in the first place. It didn’t just materialise out of thin air, and it wasn’t written by a team in a cubicle farm either. And learning how computers do their job will give you a new appreciation for the system you use and the modern world which is so utterly dominated by these machines.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
is it possible to boot ubuntu from usb portable hard drive
thanks
February 10th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Do you know a way to share media with an XBOX 360 via a linux server that runs on command line only? I have a linux server running ubuntu server edition but it does not have X installed. I currently share via NFS to my other computers but the XBOX does not read NFS.
February 10th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
You can also use programs like Fail2Ban to protect your network…it has options to stop intruders after x tries to enter your machine by ANY means, mostly we use it to monitor ssh…it can then look-up the IP and email you every attempt with all data…
I use it to eamil the owner of the IP and notify them about the intrusion attempt.
Also, using linux as a main server/gateway into your inner sanctum is a great idea…
Web Server, Email Server (webmail too with Squirrel Mail), SSH, FTP, Windows Share…and more for your movie and music collections. VoIP, skype, and all IMs in one place (pigeon), keeps it all organized…
Most ID games run on linux natively…
And best of all, its all free…
February 10th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
NG, you should check out fuppes for the xbox sharing. I haven’t set it up myself yet (too lazy to format my desktop) and I hear it can be quite a pain to get configured initially. But, it should do the trick once you get it working right. Here are a few bookmarks I have about it:
http://www.linuxlove.info/site/21/xbox-360-media-sharing-ushare-and-fuppes/
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=618781
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=597650&highlight=xbox+360
Good luck!
February 10th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Too bad the various uses of Linux don’t include the average parent, child, grandmother, and etc. simply using Linux OS for a home/student/ small business computer. This is why Linux is doomed to ultimately fail miserably. You Linux gurus just can’t fathom anybody using Linux for mundane purposes. You insist on recounting all the technical advantages of Linux but completely ignore the human sitting at the machine and what they need.
February 11th, 2009 at 4:46 am
There’s absolutely no reason why parents, children, grandmothers, students or small businesses cannot use Linux. Doug Glass’s accusation that humans are ignored is ironic given the Ubuntu slogan “Linux for human beings”.
Also, I’m pretty sure all of this stuff is possible on any OS. So if Linux isn’t suitable for “average” use and “doomed to ultimately fail miserably” because of what you read here in this list, then it must be equally true of the other OSes available.
At least the global financial crisis isn’t going to lead to Linux disappearing. Can’t be said of the commercial OSes. In fact, the commercial ones will inevitably fail – it’s just a matter of time. In that sense, Linux is immortal.
February 12th, 2009 at 12:06 am
linux rules. i absolutley love mine and i run my whole house network on it. and its like 6 machines and 2 servers.
February 12th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Sweet, I’m just 16 but can tell from running my home network that Linux (Bill Gates: “I recommend Ubuntu”) is the way to go. And if you hate that “mortal” microsoft corporation’s Vista so much, forget the 360 too and try linux on a PS3. These 7-cool-things seem like perfect applications for it. Read the wiki at psubuntu.com to get it set up in no time (well 2 hours to wait for the OS to install, but thats really it). The forums are great to-even if you don’t have a ps3 register anyway-it’s a community thing.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Indeed those are great things to do with linux.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:27 am
rahul:
Yes, you can easily boot Ubuntu from a USB portable hard drive…or from a USB flash drive, or even an SD card. Assuming of course, your system is relatively up-to-date. You need to access the BIOS, and find the bootup settings. Change them so your system will boot up from your USB drive.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:18 am
The only Dave hayes I know is famous for the hayes throttle….
February 17th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
TorrentFlux-b4rt has been released and it has a nicer interface than the original torrentflux. check it out.
Currently running
-Ubuntu Server
-Triple boot XP/Ubuntu/Fedora Desktop
-Dual boot XP/Ubuntu laptop
-Ubuntu 8.04 laptop
February 18th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Very nice suggestions. Good job.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
Thanks for the tipp! I just downloaded Elisa and it’s really flashy!
March 20th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Do you guys have a recommendation section, i’d like to suggest some stuff
May 22nd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Glad to see MythTV as number 1. its come a long way and is now a viable replacement for the good ol Tivo. Linux WTW
July 19th, 2009 at 6:15 am
what comes next…
So you’ve got your new computer set up – you’re ready to hit the web, rock out on e-mail, catch up with all your friends over IM and Skype, and crank out the documents in your office suite. But what else can the thing do?
If you run Window…
September 13th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Those looking for a distribution to suit the average user, I would highly recommend Puppy Linux 4.2.1, There are so many linux distributions available now that it can be very tough to choose the one that best suits you. The guy that said there isn’t a distro for the average user obviously hasn’t tried very many distros. Puppy linux can be run from a live cd and/or installed onto a hard drive or flash drive. The entire OS is only 100mb and yet it has just about everything that the home desktop user needs and it is very easy to use. I’m not saying puppy linux is the best, i’m just saying it is definitely worth a try and runs on just about any hardware. I especially recommend this as the first distribution you try if you are new to linux.
http://www.puppylinux.org/downloads/official-releases/puppy-4-series-stable
September 17th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Anyone looking for an easy to use Linux should try Linux mint. It is basically Ubuntu, but come with everything you need preinstalled (Flash, for example).
October 1st, 2009 at 9:08 am
I’ve been really interested in Linux, but am not patient enough or technical enough to sit and mess with drivers and compatibility settings. With some help, I have Kubuntu installed on half my computer’s drive. I have not been able to get wireless to work with my HP dv6000 laptop, and so it’s just sitting there using up my space. I’ve tried to google a solution, but most seem very complicated to me. I don’t think linux will “fail miserably” like someone suggested above, but until everything works “out of the box” with a WIDE variety of hardware, without any tweaking or additional installation of drivers, it won’t ever have a chance of surpassing Microsoft or Apple’s OS.
October 24th, 2009 at 7:00 am
This is great, thank you. And this isn’t much hard to setup.