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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Re: permaculture Digest, Vol 24, Issue 14

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Subject: permaculture

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  • From: David Neeley <dbneeley@gmail.com>
  • To: Sean Maley <semaley@yahoo.com>
  • Cc: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Re: permaculture Digest, Vol 24, Issue 14
  • Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 17:02:44 -0600

Actually, there are many other graphical environments in Linux as well...

Control of motors of various kinds has been a Linux staple for years.
In fact, the CERN nuclear accelerator lab in Europe has used Linux for
some years to control the motors that move the accelerator "targets"
into and out of the electron beam. Linux on commodity PCs replaced the
prior and very expensive lab machines, as it happens.

There are other Linux computers that drive such devices as large
telescopes as well as a panoply of other devices.

In fact, a very small computer could easily serve to control multiple
greenhouses--responding to changes in temperature, shading, and the
like.

Other uses for non-graphical Linux machines include using them as
routers and firewalls. One setup uses a floppy-disk based Linux
version that one boots from, followed by ejecting the floppy. With no
hard disk involved, it becomes extremely difficult for any malicious
"hacker" to break into a network protected in this way.

Another advantage is that a non-graphical Linux system uses extremely
low levels of power. This can make it ideal for those in off-grid
situations, for example.

For those contemplating using an older computer to try Linux out, I
suggest you consider avoiding both KDE and Gnome. For example, XFCE is
a much more lightweight GUI environment that runs much faster and
better when there is a limit to the RAM and/or to the CPU capability.

FYI, there are version so Linux that will run happily on an 8MB Palm
Pilot all the way up to and including mainframe computers.

David




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