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7 Steps to migrate painlessly to GNU/Linux

or "How I learnt to stop worrying about bombs & migrate to GNU/Linux"

I've been a Microsoft Windows user for many years - I've grown up with it from using 286's with Windows for Workgroups 3.11 at University.

Time has moved on and GNU/Linux has become more usable, powerful and has some features and applications that make it indispensable as an Operating System today - I find myself using it more and more for certain tasks. Mostly server based, but I've gradually become more impressed with it as a desktop, especially since Ubuntu reached version 6.06 (Dapper Drake)

Now I'm always happy to use the right tool for the job, there's no Windows/Linux fanboy in me. However deciding on GNU/Linux at home is a personal choice due many reasons, including the licensing controversy surrounding Vista, price and DRM amongst others, and I simply don't wish to go with it. Since now 95% of the little gaming I do is now done on consoles (Damn you, Counter-Strike: Source and while I'm writing I'm currently on an Eve Online trial.) as it is the only software area that GNU/Linux can not reproduce as effectively at the moment. I felt it was time to make the move.

The end result I was looking at is total migration to GNU/Linux, at home for every application I use with any Windows applications running under WINE or as a last resort, on a Virtual Machine. I still use Windows at work (where I can control the machine and put whatever applications I wish to use on it anyway).
So I'm now on step 7 and doing quite well thank you. This step-by-step progression is quite a common sense approach, but what is obvious to some people isn't necessarily to others and so I list it here for those that could use a nudge.

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Using Callbacks in RT

We've used Best Practical's Request Tracker (RT) for several years now for managing both customer support queries and our own internal processes, and over that time I've always customised it by simply hacking the existing Mason pages and putting them in rt3/local/ to override the original versions. However this is always a huge pain when it comes to upgrades as I have to backport all my changes to the new version.

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This body part will be downloaded on demand

There seems to be some problem in the way the Thunderbird email client handles certain kinds of attachment which means the message "This body part will be downloaded on demand" is displayed when you try to view a message. We've seen this problem both with VCard attachments (.vcf) generated by Thunderbird when combined with other attachment types, and with certain attachments sent from Microsoft Outlook.

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Google POP3 & IMAP access

How to connect to Gmail/Googlemail via POP3 and IMAP using an email client. This information is easily available via the Gmail/Googlemail website, and is here really for our ease of access. :)

POP3

POP server: pop.gmail.com
Port: 995
Require SSL: Yes

User name: <your full Gmail/Googlemail email address>
Password: <your Gmail/Googlemail password>

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Moving PC's, servers and laptops between UK , Europe and US/Japan.

The voltage difference is not an issue when moving between the UK and the EU.
All power supplies in PC's are equipped to cope with 220/240V 50Hz AC current (220V being Mainland Europe, 240V being UK). The only "issue" would be making sure a lead with the 2 pin EU plug on the end is packed with a desktop or server - otherwise a 3pin-to-2pin plug adapter will do.

Some desktops will even auto sense 110V/60Hz for US/Japan and a lot of others PSU's (Power Supply Units) have a switch.
All laptops are auto sensing for 110/220-240V 50Hz/60Hz for worldwide usage.
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