Introduction:

Welcome to episode 95 of Linux in the Ham Shack. Episode 100 looms on the horizon, and we’d like to do something a little special. Call in to the LHS voice mail line at +1-909-LHS-SHOW (1-909-547-7469), or send an email, and share your thoughts about the show.

LHS recommends this LOL Cat image.

Announcements:

Kevin O’Brien, Publicity Director of the Ohio LinuxFest, is looking for someone to step up and take on the role of Volunteer Coordinator. If anyone is interested please reply to [email protected].

We now digress into a ramble about censorship.

On page 45 of the December 2012 issue of QST has an article on vertical vs. horizontal antennas, a topic we discussed in episode 91. In the same issue, on page 52, there is also an article about the NorthWest Digital Radio UDR56K, a topic we discussed in episode 90. Are we seeing a pattern here?

Also in that issue is a description of several FCC Proposed Rule Changes, and our hosts discuss each of them:

Reduction of license expiration grace period from 2 years to 6 months.

Reduction of vanity call waiting period from 2 years to 6 months.

Reduction of the number of Volunteer Examiners at test sessions from 3 to 2.

Possible allowance of “remote testing” facilities using video and audio over a network that allows for proper administration of tests.

Allow single-slot TDMA transmissions.

The 2012 Fort Wayne Hamfest is this weekend, November 17-18, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This is also the ARRL Convention for Indiana. This launches Richard into reminiscing about the presentation of The Last Voice from Kuwait.

Topics:

Symbolic (or soft) Links vs. Hard Links

Russ and Richard offer a discussion of the difference between soft, or symbolic, links and hard links in Linux.

A symbolic link is a pointer to another file name. Symbolic links can be created with the ln -s command:

Symbolic links can point to files on other volumes or file systems.

Hard links, on the other hand, are pointers to the data of another file, just like a directory entry is a pointer to the first block of data for the file. Hard links are also created with the ln command, but without the -s switch.

Hard links can only be used on the same file system.

A symbolic link is equivalent to a Windows shortcut, a pointer to the name of another file. A hard link is a reference to the data (first inode) of another file, and thus must be created on the same file system.

When the original file with associated hard links is deleted, the data remains until all of the hard links are also deleted. Deleting the original file with associated soft links will delete the file and the data, but the soft links will remain, now orphaned.

More information about links is available here.

Feedback:

Listener Dave left a comment on the web site expressing his appreciation for the show, and also became a subscriber. Thanks, Dave!

Jeremy, KD5HQN, also commented on the web site, claiming he’s actually learning something from the shows! He also corrected Richard about the proper location of Orthanc. Thanks, Jeremy.

Bill, KJ4KNI, asked, via Richard’s Facebook page, for suggestions about the best Linux distribution for a beginner. (Linux Mint 13 is a good choice.) He also wonders why a ham might use 75-ohm RG6 coax as an antenna feedline. Our hosts discuss the possibilities.

Contact Info:

Contact Richard at [email protected], Russ at [email protected], or both at the same time at [email protected].

Listen to the live stream every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central time. Check the LHS web site for dates.

Leave us a voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (1-909-547-7469), or record an introduction to the podcast.

Sign up for the LHS mailing list.

Sign up for the MAGNetcon mailing list.

LHS merchandise is available at the Merch link on Web site. Check out the Badgerwear or buy one of the other LHS-branded items at PrintFection.com/lhs or Cafe Press. Thanks!

Thanks to Dave from Gamma Leonis for the theme music.

Music:

“Easier As Us” by Michael McEachern, courtesy of Jamendo.

“Wicked” by Fresh Body Shop, from their album Bring Me Down, courtesy of Jamendo.