Software Packages and Linux Distributions

Most of the packages listed here can be downloaded, free of charge, from their respective web sites. The download may take several hours, or even a few days with a dial-up connection. As a rough guide, it could take over 50 hours to download a 700MB CD with an analogue (dial-up) connection and nearly two weeks to download a 4.7GB DVD. Furthermore, if the download fails, as often happens, you may have to start the entire download again, which can be very frustrating if it's been running for a day, or longer, before failing. An 8Mb (8 mega bits per second) broadband connection could download a 700MB CD in about 12 minutes and a 4.7GB DVD in about 1 hour 20 minutes - if it runs at full speed. Be aware, however, that some broadband packages (unlike those supplied by us) have a limited monthly download allowance and, in some cases, downloading a single DVD could almost use up your entire monthly allowance.

Downloaded packages are often in the form of an "iso" image, which need to be burned onto a CD or DVD as a disk image: not as an ordinary file. Not all writer software support this mode so, to avoid disappointment and wasted time, if you intend to download the files, check before beginning the download.

To be strictly accurate, Linux^® users can mount an .iso file on the filesystem using the -oloop option with "mount" so do not actually need to create a CD. We are not aware of this facility being available under Windows^®.

Alternatively, to save having to download and burn the files to CD, buy a CD (or DVD) from us. We aim to dispatch orders received before 13:00 hrs (Mon-Fri) the same day so buying a CD from us can be quicker and cheaper.

To buy CDs or DVDs containing these packages, just click on the "Add to Order" checkbox for the disks you want then press "Continue" at the bottom of the page. You will be able to adjust quantities on the next page.

Prices shown on this page do not include Postage & Insurance which is £1.00 + VAT (£1.17 inc. VAT) per order.

Please Note - We cannot guarantee the suitability of the software for your application. We will, of course, replace any media supplied by us which is found to be defective when received. In this unlikely event, please contact "Sales" to arrange a replacement.

We regularly review the range of packages which we make available on CD and DVD.

All our CDs and DVDs are supplied in a jewel case.

*** New ***

All the Application Software CDs on this page can be downloaded, free of charge, from our FTP server at ftp.fensoft.co.uk. You can download the complete .iso files or the individual files which make up the .iso image.

Application Software

Vn 1.6.2 (For Linux & Unix)

*** Supported Package ***

A document formatting and printing package. FenForm avoids the need for expensive, pre-printed, stationery by merging ASCII text with an image of the form to produce a PostScript^TM file. This file can be printed or converted to PDF and sent by email or fax.

See the User Guide (Vn 1.6) for full details of its functionality and instructions for use.

Download (http) fenform-1.6.2.1.tar.gz     fenform-1.6.2.1.tar.gz.md5

Download (ftp) fenform-1.6.2.1.tar.gz     fenform-1.6.2.1.tar.gz.md5

  Vn 2.4.1

The OpenDisc (www.theopendisc.com) Vn 08.07

Open Education Disc (www.theopendisc.com/education)

Smoothwall^TM Express (www.smoothwall.org) Vn 3.0

Other Packages

Various software packages for Linux are available from the Linux Archive which you can download and use free of charge. Most of these packages are licensed under the General Public Licence (GPL) but some have other licence agreements.

"Open source" software downloaded from the internet, may need to be compiled and configured for your system. We cannot provide free support for packages downloaded from the internet or obtained elsewhere.

The stability of Linux^® makes it an ideal choice of operating system for network servers, which need to be left running for long periods. We use it for our network because, like all businesses, we need our servers to be reliable. We have been using Linux for several years without problem and are pleased to recommend it to our clients. Linux is "open source" and is less susceptible to virus attacks than "closed source" software.

Running a server with Linux does not prevent other operating systems being used on other computers on the network.

A single server running Linux can provide several different network services such as:

• SAMBA - a file server to allow Windows^® computers to access shared disk files and printers;
• NFS - to make files available to other Linux hosts;
• DNS (Domain Name Server) to simplify network addressing;
• FTP - for file transfers;
• an "intranet" server for your own in-house web site;
• an SQL Server;
• a Web server hosting your own internet site;
• a time server to keep all your computers' clocks snychronised to the correct time;
• a fax server to allow faxes to be sent from any machine on the network;
• a mail server to send and receive email;
• a "gateway" (complete with firewall) to allow access to the internet and other networks;
• automated back-ups.

All the software mentioned above can be downloaded free from the internet. With a dial-up connection, downloading a complete Linux distribution could take a week or more. For your convenience, we can supply some distributions on CD or DVD.

To buy Linux CDs or DVDs, just click on the "Add to Order" checkbox for the disks you want then press "Continue" at the bottom of the page. You will be able to adjust quantities on the next page.

Call Technical Enquiries if you wish to discuss your requirements, need assistance, or want a Linux distribution not listed here.

CentOS (www.centos.org) Vn 5.1

Add to Order	CentOS (Vn 5.1) x86 Live CD	£ 2.50	(£ 2.94 inc. VAT)
Add to Order	CentOS (Vn 5.1) x86 Bin - 6 CDs	£ 12.00	(£ 14.10 inc. VAT)
Add to Order	CentOS (Vn 5.1) x86 Bin DVD	£ 3.50	(£ 4.11 inc. VAT)
Add to Order	CentOS (Vn 5.1) x86_64 Live CD	£ 2.50	(£ 2.94 inc. VAT)
Add to Order	CentOS (Vn 5.1) x86_64 Bin - 7 CDs	£ 14.00	(£ 16.45 inc. VAT)
Add to Order	CentOS (Vn 5.1) x86_64 Bin DVD	£ 3.50	(£ 4.11 inc. VAT)

Debian Linux (www.debian.org) Vn 4.0r3