Self-generated 3D-effect

With the 3D-Webcam-Project of the BeLUG association, interested parties can create the 3D-effect themselves with the help of two standard webcams. In this process, one should emphasise, it is possible to understand every single step to the finished image: a highlight for experimenters. With the Video Disk Recorder based on the same software (VDR), there is the possibility to use a computer as a digital video recorder. The software can be extended with custom plug-ins. At the LinuxTag 2012, the BeLUG is going to provide, together with Till Kampeter of Open Printing, a print service, which can be used by the visitors. There is the option to print using the web interface BeLUG or to set up the printer on the local system. (Picture: BeLUG members in discussion with Richard Stallman after a lecture about eBooks in June 2011 in Berlin.)

BeLUG association, D-Berlin
Contact: Ralf Vögtle, E-Mail: kontakt@belug.de
Internet: www.belug.de

Identity checks for the Web of Trust

CAcert is a community-based certificate exhibitor, for example, for the operation for web- and e-mail-servers. Furthermore, client certificates for securing e-mail correspondence and documents, as well as code-certificates for software developers will be issued. The, for the Web of Trust required, identity-checks will take place at the stand at the LinuxTag 2012. Therefore officially issued documents are required, such as an identity card, passport or driving license. At the same time the stand-team is giving tips on how to integrate the CAcert certificate in typical programs. As certificate-exhibitor is CAcert especially dependent on trust. At the LinuxTag, interested people can learn about the measures, how their personal data is being protected, especially in a Web of Trust.

CAcert
Contact: Alexander Bahlo, E-Mail: pr@cacert.org
Internet: www.cacert.org

KIX4OTRS 4.1 – second largest additional module for OTRS

The Module KIX4OTRS of the c.a.p.e. IT PLC makes service-processes more user friendly, more capable of being integrated and faster. It incorporates many improvements for the standard OTRS, which are based on an usability study. This includes the simple navigation using tabs and tree structures such as the opportunity to provide process documents for customers and service employees with “quick tickets”, to use text templates context-dependent or to staple IT inventory with a click to the process. The intelligent integration of data from CRM, ERP, telephone systems, and inventory of knowledge bases in KIX4OTRS accelerates the service work many times. Advantages: cost reduction in service and friendlier help desk.

c.a.p.e. IT GmbH, D-Chemnitz
Contact: Yvonne Förster, Phone: +49-371-5347620
E-Mail: info@cape-it.de
Internet: www.cape-it.de

Further education for professionals and executives

Cross-vendor and product neutral seminars and practical workshops for professionals and executives of the IT and computer science are being offered by the ‘Deutsche Informatik Akademie’ (= German Computer Sciences Academy), a subsidiary of the ‘Gesellschaft für Informatik’ (= Company for Computer Sciences), all across Germany with their trainer and speaker network from research and practice. At the LinuxTag 2012 interested people can inform themselves about special offers for further education. This applies, for example, all relevant issues about the development of high quality software and robust architectures, as well as cross-section themes such as IT project management, product management or legal knowledge for IT project managers. In addition, the ‘Deutsche Informatik Akademie’ will moderate the Academy Day at the LinuxTag on the 26. May, and is available for any further concerns or questions about the topic “Trends in IT – training”.

Deutsche Informatik-Akademie GmbH, D-Bonn
Contact: Alexander Rabe, Phone: +49-228-302143
E-Mail: alexander.rabe@dia-bonn.de
Internet: www.dia-bonn.de

Forth on the TI Launchpad Board

How Forth can be used on the IT Launchpad Board, will be explained by members of the Forth association at the LinuxTag 2012 in a little workshop at the booth. This, very inexpensive, microprocessor board has an USB interface and a MSP430-microcontroller. It can be purchased for less than five Euros and can be used for various handicraft works. How the board can be interactively programmed with the Forth language, will be demonstrated. Furthermore, those who are interested will receive information about Open Source Forth-projects, such as GNU Forth, GLForth (Forth on Linux with OpenGL interface for game programming) and amForth (Forth for the well-known Arduino Boards). Even a self-made “Pick’n’Place”-Robot with Forth-control can be seen at the booth. He plays nine men’s morris or other board games and works with an almost magical grasp function.

Forth Gesellschaft e.V.
Contact: Carsten Strotmann, E-Mail: carsten@strotmann.de
Internet: www.forth-ev.de

Advanced Operating System

FreeBSD® is an advanced operating system for modern servers, desktops, appliances and embedded computer platforms. It looks back on a 30-year long development-history and is being further developed by a large team of volunteers. FreeBSD is the basis for an extensive ecosystem of specialised progeny. These include for example the firewall pfSense, the PC-BSD-desktop and the FreeNAS Storage Appliance. The operating system offers highly developed network features, exceptional security features and very high speed. It comes into operation on some of the largest and busiest websites and is present in many embedded networking and storage solutions.  The current version FreeBSD 9.0 can be downloaded from “www.freebsd.org”.

FreeBSD
Contact: Dru Lavigne, E-Mail: dru@freebsd.org
Internet: www.freebsd.org

Linux-Services on land, sea and air

Particular challenges in unusual environments characterise GONICUS. This also includes, besides the traditional data centre, the use on board of aircrafts or cruise ships. In addition to the consulting and implementation business, are the following topics focused on: enterprise virtualisation, VoIP integration as well as client- and system-management. The specialist from Arnsberg for Linux and Open Source software can refer to the implementation of Germany’s first RHEV 3.0-project as a Red Hat-partner at the enterprise virtualisation. In the field of Voice over IP, GONICUS is engaged with the integration of speech as a software-service in IT processes. The certified support, maintenance and development completes it’s product range.

GONICUS GmbH, D-59755 Arnsberg
Kontakt: Susanne Korb, Telefon: +49-2932-916140
E-Mail: korb@GONICUS.de
Internet: www.GONICUS.de

Hellfire 2012-05 and Preview on Dragonfire

For LinuxTag 2012 Kanotix will present an update release 2012-05 of the current stable series Kanotix Hellfire (Debian Squeeze based). On board will be a 3.2 kernel, updated versions of Iceweasel, Icedove and Pidgin. In addition there will be the latest version of LibreOffice 3.5.

Beside Kanotix Hellfire you will see a preview of the current development state of the Hellfire successor Kanotix Dragonfire. Kanotix Dragonfire will base on Debian 7 alias Wheezy. Currently we offer live images to test Kanotix Dragonfire with KDE 4.8 based backports. Another highlight could be the first preview of a Kanotix version with LXDE instead of KDE as default desktop environment.

Kanotix
Kontakt: Jörg Schirottke, E-Mail: master@kanotix.com
Internet: www.kanotix.com

Increasing Stability and Performance

Since almost two years ago the Document Foundation exists and the by it sponsored free Office-Software LibreOffice. After the first year was mainly dedicated to the design and structuring, the beginning of 2012 was focused on one hand on the formal establishment of the foundation and on the other hand to bring in the modernised and renewed processes in the development of the software – and thus enable a more efficient collaboration. This also means increasing stability and performance of the software, and thus the better ability to respond to the needs of users. At the same time, new goals are becoming visible at the top of the horizon. The online version and the porting of Android-based tablets are only two of the planned projects.

LibreOffice
Contact: Florian Effenberger, Telephone: +49-30 609856720
E-Mail: info@documentfoundation.org
Internet: www.documentfoundation.org

Open Source-based two-factor authentication

LSE LinOTP is an Open Source-based two-factor authentication. Due to its modular and vendor-independent design, it supports the token of any manufacturer for authentication with one-time passwords. Being based on Linux and open standards makes LinOTP flexible and highly scalable and suitable for the use both in small environments and large corporations, as well as internet- and application service providers. This is also reflected in the recently released appliance, which will be on display at the LinuxTag 2012. LinOTP will cover the topic of identification proof even stronger in the future and support further factors for a strong authentication, emphasized the exhibitor. Thereby RIF, Near Field Communication and biometric procedures would also be on the roadmap next to the identification proof via Smartcard.

LSE Leading Security Experts GmbH, D-Darmstadt
Contact: Cornelius Kölbel, Phone: +49-6151-90670
E-Mail: cornelius.koelbel@lsexperts.de
Internet: www.lsexperts.de

Microsoft: “We have changed”

23, 300,000 & 3 – this is the formula which brings about the LinuxTag-engagement of Microsoft. Three numbers and three responses: 23 of the 25 most downloaded OSS projects run on Windows; the Microsoft Open Source platform CodePlex recorded more than 300,000 registered users; and Microsoft is sponsoring the LinuxTag for the third time with a blogger lounge on site, to build a bridge to the OSS community. In its this year’s keynote, James Utzschneider, General Manager Open Source at Microsoft, wants to demonstrate once again that the company has changed and become more open – under the slogan “We have changed”. Microsoft is counting on the collaboration with standardisation boards, Open Source communities as well as interoperability and openness of the systems. Detailed information can be found on the internet:
 „www.microsoft.com/germany/interop/openness/default.aspx“.

Microsoft Deutschland GmbH, D-Munich
Contact: Andreas Urban, E-Mail: andreas.urban@microsoft.com
Internet: microsoft.com/germany

Tux as a quizmaster

At the stand of m23, the software distribution system for Linux, Tux will be there in person. As a quizmaster he is going to ask the visitors in an amusing and entertaining quiz about Linux, the world of computers and also the presented software. For successful participants Tux even has small surprises. On an ice floe the little penguin will be watching over a lot box – and every evening the draw will decide the daily winner of a geeky T-shirt. Apart from that, there are multifaceted information available at the booth: A three-dimensional diagram which pictorially describes the functionality of the software, participants of the m23-team will demonstrate the program and will answer user questions. Apart from that visitors of the stand can get information for reading later on.

m23 Softwareverteilung
Contact: Hauke Goos-Habermann, E-Mail: hhabermann@pc-kiel.de
Internet: www.m23.sourceforge.net

Successful with Open Source – Participate now

open it berlin as umbrella brand for the sphere of activity Open Source / Open Standards offers with www.open-it-berlin.de an opportunity to ever Open Source-protagonist to present their selves and their solutions, to bundle activities and to increase their visibility. For the end of the summer 2012 open it berlin has planned a matching Best Practice-brochure. Success stories are still being looked for. Anyone who wants to participate, just register under www.open-it-berlin.de as a protagonist and upload a success story. The best are then being printed in the brochure. Success stories live can be seen at the LinuxTag 2012 on the 23. May from 2 p.m. onwards in the Open Source-Arena.  Here, the public funded network open source berlin and open it berlin are going to present  exciting success stories from various Open Source companies from Berlin under the slogan “Problem solved! Thanks to free software.”

open it berlin
Contact: Michael Stamm, Telephone: +49-30-46302414
E-Mail: stamm@tsb-berlin.de
Internet: www.open-it-berlin.de

Bundled Open Source know-how

This year, the network open source berlin is again as an exhibitor at the LinuxTag. With its partners akquinet tech@spree PLC, run Software-Werkstatt PLC, science + computing association, SerNet PLC, tarent solutions PLC and the TSB innovation agency Berlin PLC as networkmanager combine the network Berlin innovation and bundled Open Source know-how. The network partners are specialists in their field and together the optimal contact for big projects in the field of Open Source software. Together with the series of events meet & greet with open source berlin, people interested in politics, public administration and companies with current Open Source themes are being informed. open source berlin being funded under the joint agreement to “improve the regional economic structure” (GRW) with federal and state funds and is open to new partners.

open source berlin
Contact: Wendi Wüstemann, Telephone: +49-30-46302499
E-Mail: wuestemann@tsb-berlin.de
Internet: www.opensourceberlin.de

Professionally manage meetings

OpenSlides is a free, web-based presentation system for the professional illustration and control of the agenda, requests and elections of an event. The decisive advantage over conventional office presentation systems: the direction of the meeting controls and processes all content interactively by a reaction system in the browser. The presentation mode on the projector does not have to be left for changes. A big strength of the software is the increasing of interactivity and transparency by incorporating the present participants: each participant can log in to OpenSlides with his or her mobile phone and, for example, read proposals, election results of the current agenda. Download and further information can be found on the official website “www.openslides.org”.

OpenSlides
Contact: Emanuel Schütze, Phone: +49-541-335083746
E-Mail: emanuel.schuetze@intevation.de
Internet: www.openslides.org

Current Desktops

Community members of openSUSE are going to present a preview of the coming Version 12.2. Furthermore, the tablet surface KDE Plasma Active, as well as the new GNOME 3.4 will be displayed. Further current Linux-Software will also be presented. Apart from that, the visitors of the fair can inform themselves about the development of tools. This concerns for example the Open Build Service (packaging of 27 Linux distributions), Studio (build your own OS in your browser) and Tumbleweed (“Rolling Release” for openSUSE). – openSUSE is a global community that promotes the usage of Linux and develops Linux even further. Interested people are invited to use the distribution and tolls, to develop and above all to be part of the community.

openSUSE
Contact: Jos Poortvliet, Phone: +49-173-5876834
E-Mail: jos@opensuse.org
Internet: www.opensuse.org

Individual communication solution

Open-Xchange offers scalable and integrated E-Mail- and collaboration-solutions based on Open Source to companies, academic institutions and the government. The software combines E-Mail, scheduling, contact- and task-management with an intelligent document management in an integrated application. Open-Xchange users have, due to appropriate extensions, anytime and anywhere and on virtually any mobile device access to their data. At the LinuxTag 2012, the company will show its Open-Xchange Server Edition. It is aimed at medium-sized to large organisations, which need a customised communication solution. In addition, the exhibitor will present its Open-Xchange Advanced Server Edition, a “turn-key” and cost-effective complete solution for small- and medium-sized companies.

Open-Xchange AG, D-Nürnberg
Contact: Christian Egle, Phone: +49-9123-9996520
E-Mail: ce@frische-fische.com
Internet: www.open-xchange.de

Hackers shower – short & geek

The O’Reilly publisher is the German branch of the international publishing company O’Reilly Media, Inc., which has been engaged with Open Source technologies for decades. The authors are part of the different developer- and user-communities and have great practical knowledge. Current focal point themes of the specialised books are programming of software, websites and mobile applications, operating systems, networks, digital photography and social media. In the field of “Sysad and networks”, books about high availability, computer forensics and virtualisation were published. And: O’Reilly has a soft spot for geeks and hobbyists. In addition to an Arduino- / electronic-program, “Cooking for geeks” and “Hackers shower – short & geek” were released.

O'Reilly Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, D-Köln
Contact: Corina Pahrmann, Phone: +49-221-97316021
E-Mail: corina@oreilly.de
Internet: www.oreilly.de

Award Ceremony Baden-Württemberg Goes Mobile Award

In February, seven developers were, as part of the competition “Baden-Württemberg Goes Mobile”, awarded in five categories for their mobile project ideas. In the period from February to May 2012 they implemented their ideas. In this process mentors from the industry are standing by their sides. The goal is that a beta-version or a release candidate is existent in May. The producers who complete their project successfully until early May will be honoured at the LinuxTag 2012. Apart from that, the audience can vote a “Winner of the Day”. The event starts on the 25. May at 11:45 a.m. in the Open Source Arena. First there will be Winner-Pitches and a certificate handing over, followed by the voting and least but not last the promotion of the “Winner of the Day”. Competition and award ceremony are being organised by the MFG Baden-Württemberg PLC in cooperation with the Open Source Business Alliance association.

OSB Alliance – Open Source Business Alliance e.V., D-Stuttgart
Contact: Alexandra Rudl, Telephone: +49-711-90715365
E-Mail: rudl@osb-alliance.com
Internet: www.bw-goes-mobile.mfg.de

BarCamp for Linux/OSS-users and –admins

The RootCamp is the first unconference specifically for Linux and Open Source software users and administrators. Thereby all content such as discussions and presentations are being designed by the participants of the camp themselves. The organisation of this topic oriented BarCamp is initially carried out by the Nürnberg based Open Source provider NETWAYS PLC and is promoted and sponsored actively by volunteers and sponsors. Anyone who wants to get involved is welcome to join. There will be different tickets available for the RootCamp. They allow, for example, the participation on Friday, 25.05, as well as on Saturday for 27 Euros or only on Saturday, 26.05 for 16 Euros and includes also the reduced entrance to the LinuxTag 2012. The registration occurs in a pre-registration on the website  „http://rootcamp.mixxt.de“. All further information about the RootCamp can also be found on the website.

NETWAYS GmbH, D-Nürnberg
Contact: Eva Häusler, Telephone: +49-911-928850
E-Mail: events@netways.de
Internet: www.netways.de

Training of system administrators

ProfitBricks – an IaaS provider based in Berlin – has a great need for system administrators. In the recently founded ProfitBricks Academy the company offers a free, six-month intensive training to become a Linux system administrator, to qualified trainees. Amongst other things, knowledge of the system-, network- and storage-administration for all requirements in complex, virtualised cloud research centres are being conveyed. In line with the training, the ProfitBricks Academy offers the opportunity to take recognised certifications, for example, Linux LPIC-2, juniper and JNCIS-SP. In addition, the trainees of this qualified further education receive a financial compensation.

ProfitBricks GmbH, D-Berlin
Contact: Katrin Stranz, Phone: +49-30-609856991207
E-Mail: katrin.stranz@profitbricks.com
Internet: www.profitbricks-academy.com

Interactive police patrol car

For the central service of the police Brandenburg the tarent solutions PLC has developed the key components of an “interactive police patrol car”. The name of the, fully with Open Source components developed, project: police, automobile-based, resource-controlling IT-system, short PolarIS. Advantages: the work with the permanently increasing electronic components in the police patrol car is becoming a lot easier, the police officer greatly relieved and the safety of operations increased significantly. All functions are accessed via a touch-sensitive screen. PolarIS also serves the coordination of operations, the provision of location information for the emergency vehicles and the virtualization of geographical locations of all police patrol cars. Technically, the system consists of central service systems in the control centre, as well as the small computers installed in the emergency vehicles

tarent AG / tarent solutions GmbH, D-Berlin
Contact: Thomas Haase, Phone: +49-30-3187969999
E-Mail: t.haase@tarent.de
Internet: www.tarent.de

Sponsorship of Server-Hardware

On the occasion of the LinuxTag 2012 the Thomas-Krenn.AG is sponsoring server hardware worth more than 2,500 Euros for the renewal of the infrastructure for the community project “ubuntuusers.de”. Therewith the company from Freyung builds its present Open Source promotion even further and an independent four-member jury will elect new projects for funding every three months. The budget is provided by Thomas Krenn with the new feedback program “Thomas-krenn.mysuggest.com”. In addition the Open Source projects can land one of eight low energy servers at the LinuxTag in Berin. This action is a cooperation with the Linuxhotel, NETWAYS and Univention and is meant to be an active sign to support Open Source.

Thomas-Krenn.AG, D-Freyung
Contact: Werner Fischer, Telephone: +49-8551-9150241
E-Mail: open-source-sponsorship@thomas-krenn.com
Internet: www.thomas-krenn.com