Linux Solutions

The tutorial will provide a user with information on Quite Universal Circuit Simulator (Qucs).
Quite Universal Circuit Simulator (Qucs) is an open source electronics circuit simulator software released under GPL. It provides a user with an ability to set up a circuit with a graphical user interface and simulate the large-signal, small-signal and noise behaviour of the circuit. Pure digital simulations are also supported using VHDL and/or Verilog.

Qucs supports a growing list of analog and digital components as well as SPICE sub-circuits. It is much simpler to use and handle than other circuit simulators like gEDA or PSPICE. QUCS has a graphical interface for schematic capture. Simulation data can be represented in various types of diagrams, including Smith-Chart, Cartesian, Tabular, Polar, Smith-Polar combination, 3D-Cartesian, Locus Curve, Timing Diagram and Truth Table.

Qucs consists of several standalone programs interacting with each other through the GUCS.
The GUI is used to create schematics, setup simulations, display simulation results, writing VHDL code, etc. The analog simulator is a command line program which is run by the GUI in order to simulate the schematic which a user has previously setup. It takes a netlist, checks it for errors, performs the required simulation actions, and finally produces a dataset.

- The text editor is used to display netlists and simulation logging information, and to edit files included by certain components (e.g. SPICE netlists, or Touchstone files).
- The filter synthesis application can be used to design various types of filters.
- The transmission line calculator can be used to design and analyze different types of transmission lines (e.g. microstrips, coaxial cables).
- The component library manager holds models for real life devices (e.g. transistors, diodes, bridges, opamps). It can be extended by the user.
- The attenuator synthesis application can be used to design various types of passive attenuators.
The command line conversion program tool is used by the GUI to import and export datasets, netlists and schematics from and to other CAD/EDA software. The supported file formats as well as usage information can be found on the manpage of qucsconv.

Components
The following categories of components are provided:
• Lumped components (R, L, C, amplifier, phase shifter, etc.)
• Sources
• Probes
• Transmission lines
• Nonlinear components (diodes, transistors, etc.)
• Digital components
• File containers (S-parameter datasets, SPICE netlists)
• Paintings

There is also a Component library that includes various standard components available in the market (bridges, diodes, varistors, LEDs, JFETs, MOSFETS, and so on). QUCS provides many transistor models. These include FBH-HBT, HICUM L0 v1.12, HICUM L0 v1.2, HICUM L2 v2.1, HICUM L2 v2.22, HICUM L2 v2.23, MESFET (Curtice, Statz, TOM-1 and TOM-2), SGP (SPICE Gummel-Poon), MOSFET, JFET and EPFL-EKV MOSFET v2.6.

If a user has read the article then he/she would have learnt about Quite Universal Circuit Simulator.

The article will provide a user with information and guidance on Linux NX. NX, also known as NX Unigraphics, is an advanced CAD/CAM/CAE software package and in an increasingly competitive world, NX helps a business to meet the product development challenges. NX is a next-generation digital product development system that helps companies transform the product lifecycle. With the industry’s broadest suite of integrated, fully associative CAD/CAM/CAE applications, NX touches the full range of development processes in product design, manufacturing and simulation. NX provides a complete suite of integrated process automation tools to enable companies to capture and reuse product and process knowledge encouraging the use of corporate best practice.

NX is used for:
• Design (parametric and direct solid/surface modelling)
• Engineering analysis (static, dynamic, electro-magnetic, thermal, using the Finite Element Method, and fluid using the finite volume method).
• Manufacturing finished design by using included machining modules.

The key functions of NX are:
• Design (Computer aided design
o Parametric Solid modeling (feature based and direct modeling
o Freeform surface modelling, Class A surfaces).
o Reverse engineering
o Styling and Computer-aided industrial design
o Engineering drawing (Drafting)
o Product and manufacturing information (PMI)
o Reporting and Analytics, Verification and validation
o Knowledge Reuse including Knowledge-based engineering
o Sheet metal design
o Assembly modelling and Digital mockup
o Routing for Electrical wiring and Mechanical Piping
• Simulation (Computer-aided engineering)
o Stress analysis / Finite element method (FEA)
o Kinematics
o Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Thermal analysis
• Manufacturing (Computer-aided manufacturing)
o Numerical control (NC) programming

Architecture
NX uses Parasolid for its Geometric modeling kernel and D-Cubed as Associative engine for sketcher and assembly constraints as well as using JT (visualization format) for lightweight data and Multi-CAD.
If a user wants to open Unigraphics (UG/NX) Files in Pro/E then he/she can go through following steps as provided below:
1. From the toolbar select Tools, Options
2. In the find box type – INTF3D_UG_INSTALL_DIR
3. select add/change
4. select the Pro/E install directory
5. Select Yes, then Apply, then OK
6. Go to File, Open
7. Select FileType Unigraphics
8. Select the UG part
9. Open

If a user has read this article then he/she has learnt about NX software and also how to open Unigraphics (UG/NX) files in Pro/E.

The article will provide a reader with information on Linux games.

Mad Skills Motocross
The game adds simple, impressive visuals, 5 powerups, 50 tracks, and the ability to make own tracks. THe latest version of the game will have multiplayer support, allowing head-to-head competition.

Machinarium
The game is of interest for those players who like playing puzzles. The setting of the game is rich and visually appealing, complete with a likable robot protagonist. The background scenery looks hand- drawn and inert, but much of it is interactive and necessary to complete the puzzles.

And Yet It Moves
The game is an imaginative game and it involves a character who appears to be made out of paper, running through a topsy-turvy world that the player can rotate either clockwise or counter-clockwise. One wrong turn can leave a players character in pieces, making the game a mix of platform action and strategy.

Tiny and Big
The game is is weird, creepy and enjoyable. The world feels like a living graphic novel, complete with dialog balloons, and the playable character has an assortment of odd gadgets, including a grappling hook and a ray gun. With the grappling hook, he can pull in-game objects in any direction, and the ray gun can slice those same objects. In most cases, it is necessary to use a combination of both tools to manipulate the environment and advance forward in the game. Tiny and Big uses a realistic physics engine and hand-drawn graphics for comic book authenticity.

If a reader has read this article then he/she would have learnt about the linux games.

The article will provide a user with the benefits and limitations associated with the application virtualization.

Benefits of applicaiton virtualization
The benefits of application vitualization are presented below:
• It allows applications to run in environments that do not suit the native application.
• It can protect the operating system and other applications from poorly written or buggy code.
• It uses fewer resources than a separate virtual machine.
• It runs applications that are not written correctly, for example applications that try to store user data in a read-only system-owned location.
• It runs incompatible applications side-by-side, at the same time and with minimal regression testing against one another.
• It maintain a standard configuration in the underlying operating system across multiple computers in an organization, regardless of the applications being used, thereby keeping costs down.
• It can implement the security principle of least privilege by removing the requirement for end-users to have Administrator privileges in order to run poorly written applications.
• It can simplify operating system migrations.
• It can accelerated application deployment, through on-demand application streaming.
• It can improve security, by isolating applications from the operating system.
• Enterprises can easily track license usage. Application usage history can then be used to save on license costs.
• It can lead to fast application provisioning to the desktop based upon user’s roaming profile.
• It can allow applications to be copied to portable media and then imported to client computers without need of installing them.

Limitations of application virtualization
Now, let’s have a look at the limitations of application vitualization.
• All the software cannot be virtualized.
• Some types of software and applications that require heavy OLS integration are difficult to virtualize. For example, anti-virus software and application packages such as as WindowBlinds or StyleXP are difficult to virtualize.
• Only file and registry-level compatibility issues between legacy applications and newer operating systems can be addressed by application virtualization.

If a user has read this article then he/she would have learnt about the benefits and limitations of application virtualization.