If you need help with Linux or just want to hang out with Linux users near the Peterborough (Ontario, Canada), you've come to the right place.

Next Meeting: Thursday, February 12, 2004

Topics: Backup & LILO

Clint Gilders will be giving an introduction to backups and archiving in Linux. Several free command line and graphical tools are available which enable you to prepare for data loss due to hardware failure or user error, or to simply store information in a more efficient manner. In this presentation geared for all levels, Clint will show you how to take the complexity out of backups.

If you have used LILO as a bootloader, you may have run across the dreaded "Kernel Panic" message. Or you may have lost a system entirely. Harry Ellis has spent quite a bit of time coming to grips with LILO when he had 5 Linux systems on one hard drive. His presentation will outline how LILO works, why it seems to cause difficulties, and how it can become your friend. This presentation should appeal to beginners and advanced users equally.

Admission is FREE. Location of meeting is below.

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Other Meeting Dates

What is Linux?

Linux is a powerful Unix-like operating system (OS) whose kernel (a tiny but integral component) was developed by Linus Torvalds, a Finnish programmer, in 1991. Linus tied the kernel to programs and libraries from the GNU project which together created a complete system which is while you'll sometimes hear Linux referred to as GNU/Linux. Linux runs on many computer systems including PCs and Macs.

An operating system (OS) talks to the devices connected to your computer (printers, scanners, digital cameras) or inside it (CD-ROM drives, hard drives, video cards), manages memory and allows program multitasking. That's the pure definition of an OS. It's not the only one.

An OS can also be the the same as above plus games, Internet software, server software, security software and so on. This combination is how you will usually find the Linux OS. Specific flavours of Linux are known as distributions. These distributions usually contain dozens of applications. Distributions are mostly compatible with each other unlike many commercial versions of Unix.

So why bother using Linux when you already know how to use Windows or the Mac OS? There are several reasons. Linux has the following advantages over Windows:

Why you should visit a Linux user group (LUG)

Linux isn't difficult to use but it can be daunting to get started. Linux users attend meetings to pool their knowledge, learn tips, share new technologies and help one another.

Our meetings range from having a formal lecture to casual with the meeting determined mainly by questions from members or visitors. PLUG members are friendly and we try to have topics that appeal to newbies and Linux experts alike. Often we get together after meetings at a donut shop chat about computers and everything else! Meetings are free to attend but membership has its benefits.

To give you an idea of what what our presentations are like, we have a blog with information on previous meetings at the Meeting Logs page.

When do we meet?

We meet the second Thursday evening of each month from 7 to 9 PM. To be notified of location and topics, join our meeting announcement list below. This list is used for no other purpose.

Where do we meet?

PLUG now meets at Peterborough Internet Pipeline (Pipcom) in Peterborough, Ontario. Pipcom is located at 250 Sherbrooke St., Unit 3 (near Aylmer). Maps at Yahoo and Mapquest.

How much is it?

Meetings are free to attend for everyone. For those that choose to support PLUG, we now have a membership plan with additional benefits. Additionally, funds are raised through Linux CD sales and concession sales.

Our funds will be used for things like paying for the website, renting a meeting room, sponsoring community Installfests, giving away Linux CDs and adding books and software to our library. We are also considering ways to ways to give back to the Open Source movement and our community. If you have suggestions, please let us know.

Our Sponsors

Several companies/websites help PLUG by donating items, linking us, giving us a place to meet and offering discounts to our members. Their graphics appear across our site in thanks for their support. Be sure to let them know if you visit their website that you did so through us.

These organizations make it possible for us to offer additional benefits to PLUG membership. If you buy their products or visit their website please thank them for supporting PLUG!

Here's a list of the companies that support (or have supported) us in no particular order:

Thanks for dropping by...

Next Meeting: Thursday, February 12, 2004