Tools such as Linux From Scratch, NimbleX Live CD Generator, Kiwi image system, and the Ubuntu Customization Kit can help you create your own custom Linux system.

Linux From Scratch helps you create a custom Linux system with everything you need and nothing more. And as you build your system, you’ll get an insider’s look at how Linux really works.

If you want customization without all the fuss, then try building your own custom ISO image with the web-based Custom NimbleX Live CD Generator.

The Kiwi image system lets you create bootable images for a variety of purposes. We’ll show you how to use Kiwi to create a Live USB stick.

We’ll show you how to create a custom Ubuntu ISO with the Ubuntu Customization Kit.

PHP is becoming an essential tool for all but the simplest websites. This month we examine PHP in the Linux environment.

Shopping for a PHP integrated development environment? We test drive a few of the leading candidates.

As a PHP Programmer, you may occasionally find yourself at a dead end. Discovering the perfect code snippet, script, or class to use alongside your own code can save time and frustration.

The PHPEclipse plugin brings the PHP scripting language to the Eclipse development environment, and the Subclipse plugin integrates version control.

eZ Components is a free enterprise-level PHP library that uses state-of-the-art language features. We show you the library’s potential on the web and at the command line.

Developers are constantly looking for new ways to interact with the versatile Linux kernel. We study some innovative projects leading deep into kernel space.

New versions of the Linux kernel will support a special userspace driver
model, but some technical pitfalls might limit the use of this interesting
new feature.

The cloop module lets you manage compression at the block device level. Read on to learn how Knoppix and other Live CDs fit all that software on a single disc.

KVM brings the kernel into the virualization game. We’ll explain why the Linux world is so interested in this promising virtualization alternative.

Flash is now an everyday part of the Linux environment. The new LogFS filesystem will help you contend with the problems of flash memory.

You can optimize your network by letting your systems share screen images, CPU cycles, and even mouse clicks. This month we look at remote control and terminal service technologies.

Once you only needed a command line to access remote computers, but today’s networks sometimes require a graphical connection. The VNC protocol provides a practical cross-platform screen sharing solution. We’ll take a close look at VNC and show you some leading no-cost VNC applications.

NX provides fast terminal services, even over slow connections.

Windows terminal services in Linux with Rdesktop

The Linux Terminal Server Project offers a comprehensive approach to terminal services in Linux, including easy access to local sound cards, printers, and USB sticks.

New tools for the web appear every day. In this issue, we round up some promising technologies, including Apache's Suexec module, the new WS-Addressing standard, the Helma application server, the Perlbal web server, and microformats.

For many admins, the security of a web application is more important than its performance. If you have a web server with multiple users, the Suexec module can help you avoid problems associated with globally writable directories.

The powerful Helma application server brings new powers to the JavaScript language. We'll show you how to use Helma to build a simple RSS reader.

Let the nimble Perlbal web server keep your traffic in balance.

Microformats are simple HTML tags that reveal information about web data. We'll show you how to take advantage of this handy technology.