Linux Community Magazine

File system holds all the information about the files located on the hard disk. Without this, your operating system would not be able to locate the data as then no memory pointer would be there. So for any operating system, including Linux, this is the top priority task that file system should remain free from corruption, else to fall for Linux recovery. But while dealing with Linux systems, having Ext2 file system being uses, the following error message may push you in a real critical situation:EXT2-fs error (device 09:00): ext2_check_descriptors: Block bitmap fonot in group (block 3670099)!EXT2-fs: group descriptors corruptedLets come to the Linux file system structure. The Block Group is the components which commutatively create the file system and they create a block group descriptor which is responsible for managing and controlling the file creation and accessing acts. This data structure possesses the Block Bitmap, Super Block, Inode Bitmap and Inode Table like infor mation, which plays the significant role in Linux file systems.Now as the use of this data structure becomes more, its components drift towards corruption and hence giving rise to file system corruption too. In this specific error message, Block bitmap has got corrupted, which acts as the map of the entire blocks in the group. If you will run fsck in this case, perhaps the error messages, stating the corruption in superblock may also be found, firming your belief that EXT2 has got corrupted harshly.If you can locate and then run fsck with the alternate data structures, then you have a chance of Linux data recovery without any pain or else refresh the copy of the file system. But With the second option, be ready to lose all your data. Fortunately, third party data recovery Linux can help you in this regard. These are the software which are designed to run a through scanning mechanism over the hard drive to offer the best Linux recovery results.Through their interactive inter face, these will help you use the Linux data recovery utilities without any problem. For avoiding any flaw in Linux recovery, this would be better if you make a good research prior.Stellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery software is the application, which proves as the best data recovery Linux help to the users. Its supportive nature to Ext2, Ext3 and ReiserFS file systems and identification power to all type of file make this Linux recovery utility up to mark.Moreover, you would find an interactive interface to work with. This Linux data recovery tool is the ultimate one to solve all the data loss problems.

Do you see your Linux system running slow? The one reason could be the fragmentation in the hard disk. Sounds strange to hear? Till now, you might have heard that Linux file system don't need defragging as whole of the system is organized and lets file saving in a sequential way. But, this is not true up to 100%. Though the noticeable effects could be late (almost when 95% of hard disk becomes full), but the fragmentation in the Linux file systems is the truth.Now where fragmentation means the file is lying in the broken pieces, spread over different parts of hard drive, defragmentation is the exactly reverse process of making sure that no file is fragmented. Each of the file, you have, should lie on one contiguous area of the hard disk so that there is no stress on the file system and read/write head to access the data. More fragments of the file means there are more difficulties for Linux OS to perform. Your system may run slow as now it has to seek many areas of the har d drive to have a single file access. On top of that, file corruption and data loss cases are common with excessive fragmentation. So Linux users need to have defragging of their hard drive on the regular basis. How to have defragmentation?In Ext2 and Ext3 file systems, 'defrag' utility is the cure to have. But its application needs few set of precautions so as to avoid any Linux recovery need.First make the backup of the drive, preferably as an image of drive, as any wrong thing like power-failure, can make whole of the data gone. Secondly, in the process you are going to make an entirely new file system, so don't perform the procedure when you are not sure of the any step. In ext3 file system, the application demands that it should be converted into Ext2 first. But, this may create a data loss scenario as it may not know how to deal with the new features of Ext3 file system.In any of the case, when you face data loss, either due to the fault of not making backup, file syst em corruption or faults in the defrag process, data recovery Linux assures no regret. The concept of data loss doesn't end with data recovery Linux, but in fact with the intended software utilities, you can recover all you have lost. Linux recovery software are the programs, built to scan and recover all the lost data in an interactive way.Stellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery software works out the best in Linux data recovery field. The software advantages data recovery Linux in all data loss cases for Ext2, Ext3 and Resier FS file systems. Through the graphically rich user interface of this Linux recovery software, the whole task is quite easy and valuable.

Have you ever though that why nowadays, more and more people are turning towards Linux web hosting rather than the very conventional use of Windows web hosting? The most suitable answer to this deft change is stability. However, you may ask now, that on what terms is Linux more stable than windows? Contrasting windows, Linux is an open source operating system. The code is open and accessible to people, who can easily go through them and can recommend improvements. In addition to this, they are also allowed to point out bugs. Over the years, Linux has been developed in two smart categories such as Red Hat and Debian. It is a collective effort of thousands and thousands of people, who have worked really hard and have contributed their time to making Linux web hosting run faster and to provide simpler, more competent and bug free code.

The open programming environment, have made it easier to bring improvements regular basis. Also, the problems can be traced relatively quickly and solved with the least of complexity. A person, who is dependent on his website for any kind of business or other purpose, would not appreciate his site going offline as it is directly proportional to loss. This is the reason why every business wishes to procure a stable operating system so that they can totally avoid the miserable consequences of dreadful server crashes.

Second issue, where Linux gets an upper hand over windows is that while the new set up of an online site, whether or not, the operating system engaged will be able to use the full range of required software and scripts? Presently, most of the web hosting companies propose Linux web because whatever can be done with Windows hosting is completely possible with Linux Hosting as well. Today, almost all popular script packages on the web today are accessible in both Windows and Linux web hosting versions, where it has been widely accepted that Linux web hosting version is more stable and possess all of the features of windows.

Thirdly, expense, which is of course is one of the most important concerns, is also not an issue with Linux. Linux web hosting is usually offered at the equal charges as Windows web hosting. Hence now, with Linux, one can avail the same set of services at same price but additional features like: stability Applicable with all popular script packages

Another beneficial aspect, which is quite important to be mentioned here is that on Linux using PHP, it is much easier to program databases and this happens because even PHP was developed by the community and hence, is an open source.

Lastly, if you require Basic HTML pages, and have nothing to do with further additions of dynamic elements then Linux is the best pick for you. PHP, Perl and MySQL give you a whole range of possibilities. In order to gain more information about Linux web hosting, simply visit

Linux hosting or Windows hosting which one is better? A basic question asked by all web hosting service buyers, especially those who are beginners and have no prior web hosting experience. The thing is there is no one-word answer to this question. It totally depends on what you want to do with your website or web applications.

It is advisable to do your homework before you start to find a web host. This article gives you an idea on the basic differences between Windows and Linux hosting. With latest technical advancements, the differences are getting blurred day by day, but a fine line still exists between Linux and Windows web hosting services.

Linux Hosting and Windows Hosting A Comparative Study

Lets learn more about Windows and Linux platforms in terms of most important web hosting features.

Stability

A web server is not like a Desktop PC it has to perform a lot of complicated tasks in a short time. Moreover, to keep your website and web applications live 24x7, you have to keep the server active around the clock. Therefore, stability is of prime importance when it comes to web hosting.

In general, Linux is said to be more stable OS (Operating System) than Windows. However, Windows 2003 and Windows 2008 are specifically built for servers; hence, they are very much stable in comparison with their predecessors.

The truth is: both Linux and Windows web hosting can give you a stable and reliable platform if handled by experts.

Performance

It is often reported that Linux can handle multiple processes simultaneously with ease, whereas, Windows becomes slow and needs reboot when high number of processes run in a short time. However, the latest versions of Windows Server OS are stable and reliable enough to handle additional loads.

Functionality

Basically there is nothing that you can do with Linux and cannot do with Windows hosting OR vice versa. However, there are some applications and programs that are not supported by both of the operating systems.

For example, if you intend to set up a database driven website on Linux server, you can go with PHP/MySQL or Perl/MySQL combination and there are more options available including programming languages like Java and Python. On the other hand, if you are using a Windows based server, it is suggested to get the website designed with ASP/MS SQL. ASP is a Microsoft product and supported by the Windows operating system.

In fact, Windows based servers support all Microsoft applications. For example, you can use all features of FrontPage on Windows server, but a limited number of FrontPage features can be used with Linux hosting.

Pricing

Linux is open source software whereas Windows is a copyrighted product of Microsoft Corporation. Therefore, Linux hosting is naturally cheaper than Windows hosting. Being community driven and open source, it might become difficult to troubleshoot Linux servers, whereas, Windows comes with professional post-sales support.

So which one is better?

It is quite difficult to tag one of them as superior to the other. Both Linux and Windows have their own advantages. It is wise to sketch out the requirements first and then consult professionals that know which hosting platform would be good to use.

The Acer Aspire One is already a great deal among mini-laptops, also called netbooks. But if you want to spend even less, consider getting your Acer laptop with the Linux operating system rather than Windows. There are several versions of Linux and the one that comes with the Acer mini laptop is called Linpus Lite. It has the same type of look and feel as Windows, so you won't be totally thrown off, and with Linux you actually have a few advantages, not just price

Lower Laptop PriceOff the bat, the Linux operating system is free, where Windows is not. Therefore the price of any computer loaded with Linux, including the Acer Aspire One, will be less than one with Windows, at least by $50 less.

Faster, Safer ComputerLinux is actually a very stable operating system, used on millions of computers. It run faster and takes up less space than Windows because of its streamlined code, but this is still solid and secure operating system. In fact, it is so rare that a virus would attack your Linux laptop (because of the way file permissions work), that you really don't need an anti-virus application.

Easy to UseNow, not every version of Linux is a breeze to use right away--some take a little getting used to. However, the Linpus Lite version of Linux, is extremely easy to use, right out of the box. As soon as you turn on the computer, you get a screen with four boxes labeled Connect (with your Internet and email), Work (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.), Fun (games, photo editing, etc.) and Files (to find your documents, your music, and your pictures). No blank desktop, no trying to figure out where your program is from the Start button. Even novice users will be able to quickly pick up on this simple, intuitive Linux environment.

Cheaper applicationsThe Acer netbook loaded with Linpus has the applications you need to hit the ground running. You have an office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing), email, Web browsing, calendar, games and more. And there are many other applications you can download to run on Linux, a good number of them for free, like Gimp for photo editing.

If Linux are so great, why don't more people use it?

Since Windows has dominated the marketplace, it gets hard to get other people and businesses to look at other ways of computing. Admittedly, there are some applications that will not run Linux, and if you use must use some specialty application, make sure it will work on your Acer mini. However, every type of application exist in Linux, from word processing to video editing to first-person games, and anything you can do on Windows can be done in Linux. If you are mostly using your computer for typing, drawing and pictures and Internet-an Acer Aspire One mini laptop loaded with Linpus Linux Lite will work just as well for you.