New 20" iMac

There was a big surprise yesterday. We received a new 20" iMac and it is really great.

But as always there's something about Mac Os x that I don't like.

I imported 20,000 Photos from an external firewire disk into iPhoto. And the iMac could not respond to my request most of the time. Finder and everything else did not really react to anything. But it worked, albeit it took somewhat long and nothing crashed and you could move some things around and do some chores but it just was not nice.

I think a multitasking os should handle this better and give more priority to finder and interactive tasks.

On, no not again!!! I lost all my data.

This is my 3rd 2.5" USB external Disk that is dead!!!

First it was a 20GB, then a 160GB LaCie. And now my brand new Maxtor OneTouch 4 250GB has some sectors dead!! Oh, did I mention that I did not use my own method of syncing use to often and I copied only part of the new files to some disks which I for sure don't remember where they are.

Also, I copied what was left and for better control deleted on the half defect disc the files. Then after finishing everything on Sunday morning I formated the Maxtor disk...........WAIT....That's not my Maxtor, but this is the older IOMEGA disk..... it is formating now!!!!

So I stop and look at what I got and I got nothing, really. So what did I do? I just formated the IOMEGA and wanted to start from scratch.

Did it help?

Not really, my maxtor had some directories already deleted and since they were in the recycle bin at last I found with Recuva only files with names 349085904503.doc etc.


OK. Then I rebooted the computer and whooops!!! Maxtor is also gone!!!

Now I had to find a solution to get my partition back.


I used testdisk

and it could restore my disk. So I have no my disk and am going to try to retrieve lost files on that but the names and structures are gone.


That's about as stupid as I can do. It is almost as stupid as I cleaned the beamer and had to throw that one away.

Now I am going to try PC Inspector and Recuva and look what data I can restore!

Install zabbix-1.4.5 on CentOS 5.1

CentOS 5.1 installed with

yum install httpd


yum install php


=============================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
php i386 5.1.6-15.el5 base 1.2 M
Installing for dependencies:
php-cli i386 5.1.6-15.el5 base 2.3 M
php-common i386 5.1.6-15.el5 base 140 k

Installed: php.i386 0:5.1.6-15.el5 Dependency Installed: php-cli.i386 0:5.1.6-15.el5 php-common.i386 0:5.1.6-15.el5 Complete!


yum install php-mysql

============================================================================= Package Arch Version Repository Size ============================================================================= Installing: php-mysql i386 5.1.6-15.el5 base 83 k Installing for dependencies: mysql i386 5.0.22-2.2.el5_1.1 updates 3.0 M perl-DBI i386 1.52-1.fc6 base 605 k php-pdo i386 5.1.6-15.el5 base 61 k Installed: php-mysql.i386 0:5.1.6-15.el5 Dependency Installed: mysql.i386 0:5.0.22-2.2.el5_1.1 perl-DBI.i386 0:1.52-1.fc6 php-pdo.i386 0:5.1.6-15.el5 Complete!

since I did not have mysql installed it does it because of the dependency, but this is not the server.

yum install php-gd
============================================================================= Package Arch Version Repository Size ============================================================================= Installing: php-gd i386 5.1.6-15.el5 base 111 k Installed: php-gd.i386 0:5.1.6-15.el5 Complete!

yum install php-bcmath
=============================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
php-bcmath i386 5.1.6-15.el5 base 31 k

Installed: php-bcmath.i386 0:5.1.6-15.el5
Complete!

yum install mysql-server

=============================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
mysql-server i386 5.0.22-2.2.el5_1.1 updates 10 M
Installing for dependencies:
perl-DBD-MySQL i386 3.0007-1.fc6 base 147 k

Installed: mysql-server.i386 0:5.0.22-2.2.el5_1.1
Dependency Installed: perl-DBD-MySQL.i386 0:3.0007-1.fc6
Complete!

yum install mysql-devel

=============================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
mysql-devel i386 5.0.22-2.2.el5_1.1 updates 2.4 M

yum install net-snmp

=============================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
net-snmp i386 1:5.3.1-19.el5_1.4 updates 701 k
Installing for dependencies:
lm_sensors i386 2.10.0-3.1 base 494 k

yum install net-snmp-devel

=============================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
net-snmp-devel i386 1:5.3.1-19.el5_1.4 updates 1.8 M
Installing for dependencies:
beecrypt-devel i386 4.1.2-10.1.1 base 160 k
elfutils-devel i386 0.125-3.el5 base 52 k
elfutils-devel-static i386 0.125-3.el5 base 78 k

yum install curl
yum install curl-devel

yum install gcc
yum install make


********************3

useradd -s /sbin/nologin zabbix

chkconfig --level 2345 mysqld on
service mysqld start
mysqladmin -u root password sqlpwd

Download Zabbix, i.e. using firefox and it gets copied onto the desktop

cd /home/guru/Desktop
mkdir /usr/src/software
mv zabbix-1.4.5.tar.gz /usr/src/software/
cd /usr/src/software
tar xzf zabbix-1.4.5.tar.gz
cd zabbix-1.4.5

[root@dhcppc3 zabbix-1.4.5]# mysql -u root -p
Enter password:
Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 8 to server version: 5.0.22

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the buffer.

mysql> create database zabbix;
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.01 sec)

mysql>

mysql> quit;
Bye

cd create/schema
[root@dhcppc3 schema]# cat mysql.sql | mysql -u root -p zabbix
Enter password:
cd ../data
[root@dhcppc3 data]# cat data.sql | mysql -u root -p zabbix
Enter password:
[root@dhcppc3 data]# cat images_mysql.sql | mysql -u root -p zabbix
Enter password:

cd ../..

[root@dhcppc3 zabbix-1.4.5]# ./configure --enable-server --with-mysql --with-net-snmp --with-libcurl

Configuration:

Detected OS: linux-gnu
Install path: /usr/local
Compilation arch: linux

Compiler: gcc
Compiler flags: -g -O2 -I/usr/include/mysql -g -pipe -Wp,-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 -fexceptions -fstack-protector --param=ssp-buffer-size=4 -m32 -march=i386 -mtune=generic -fasynchronous-unwind-tables -D_GNU_SOURCE -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_LARGEFILE_SOURCE -fno-strict-aliasing -fwrapv -I/usr/include/rpm -I/usr/local/include -I/usr/include/gdbm -I/usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/i386-linux-thread-multi/CORE -I. -I/usr/include/net-snmp

Enable server: yes
With database: MySQL
WEB Monitoring via: cURL
Native Jabber: no
SNMP: net-snmp
IPv6: no
Linker flags: -L/usr/lib/mysql -L/usr/lib -L/usr/kerberos/lib -L/usr/lib -L/usr/lib/lib -L/usr/lib -L/usr/lib/lib
Libraries: -lm -lresolv -lmysqlclient -lcurl -lnetsnmp

Enable agent: no

LDAP support: no

***********************************************************
* Now run 'make install' *
* *
* Thank you for using ZABBIX! *
* *
***********************************************************

[root@dhcppc3 zabbix-1.4.5]#


make install

I don't know why but it does not install the files, I had to copy it manually

[root@dhcppc3 zabbix-1.4.5]# cp src/zabbix_server/zabbix_server /usr/local/bin



mkdir /etc/zabbix
cp misc/conf/*.conf /etc/zabbix/

[root@dhcppc3 zabbix-1.4.5]# mkdir /var/www/html/zabbix
[root@dhcppc3 zabbix-1.4.5]# cp -R frontends/php/* /var/www/html/zabbix/

cd /etc/zabbix
vi zabbix_server.conf

DBPassword=sqlpwd

chkconfig --level 2345 httpd on

service httpd start

start a browser and http://localhost



vi /etc/php.ini

max_execution_time = 300
date.timezone = Europe/Zurich

Save config, in my case it gets onto the desktop, copy it where it says it needs it.


passwd zabbix

log in using user: admin and no password.

don't forget to start zabbix_server

cp /home/guru/Desktop/zabbix.conf.php /var/www/html/zabbix/conf/

How to reset password Cent OS 5 Installation

Boot from a centos installation cd.

Type at the boot prompt: linux rescue

choose language
choose keyboard
choose to look for an existing installation
choose mount filesystem
on the command prompt
type: chroot /mnt/sysimage
type: passwd root
type new passwd:
retype new passwd:
type: exit
type: exit

The system will reboot and you can log in!

VMWare Workstation 6 on Vista Security???

There is one thing I learned in the past CTRL-ALT-DELETE is the only means how microsoft can protect itself from tampering.

In Vista the UAC Dialog (I don't remember how it's called) shows up in front and everything is darkened in the back. This dialog is not save, according to Marc Russinovich. Only the CTRl-ALT-DELETE is where nobody can insert code.

But when I use my VMWARE Workstation 6 I can press CTRL-ALT-DELETE and I don't get my own Dialog but the one of the virtual machine.

Does this mean Vista is insecure by default??????

If Vmware can do it all others can do it as well. Present me with a fake dialog to change password and whatever else.

This is a question I am going to pose at the TEchED 2007.

IBM Thinkpad T60 2007-7JG The downside of it all

I've been working with IBM Notebooks for 7 years now and was lucky enough to be able to change it every 2 to 3 months and working with at least 2 or 3 notebooks concurrently.

I now do own a Lenovo (Lenovo and IBM Labeled machine) T60.

I do not like certain features of the machine. One thing I don't like at all is the heat that the machine generates under your palms. I am working a couple of hours daily on the notebook itself not via a connected keyboard.

It is not a pleasure to work with that thing, my palms always feel like on fire. If you touch the notebook it is not that hot, it is warm but warm enough to feel uncomfortable. The T40, 41, 42, 43 all do not have this issue.

2nd the keyboard. Oh boy, I waited for 6 years to get the windows key on the keyboard. I usually make use of it 100 times a day and with the ibm notebooks I always used CTRL-ESC, cursor up twice and enter, then type explorer, cmd or whatever. Now I can type WIN+R or WIN+E. The drawback is that the keyboard is not nearly as good as it was. On the T41 it was almost perfect.

VMware Workstation 6 Freezes in full screen mode!!

See details on my other blog:

http://workspacexpwe.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/vmware-workstation-6-keeps-hanging/

VmWare Workstation 6, Vmware Tools upgrade

Oh boy, what's going on?

Why do I have to point to the windows xp sp2 source for the installation of the new vmware tools????

Hope this is only because I messed up something. No more time to do anything about it today, it's too late.

Parallels Desktop for MAC

Well yesterday (I almost forgot) I had the chance to do a parallels installation on a MacBook (I really like it).

And the coherence feature is what I really, really like. It is not what I was expecting, but it is nice. I haven't found out, if I can disable the windows taskbar (not just hiding, but not being used). But it's quite cool to start your applications in a citrix kind of way. Maybe in the future it won't be necessary to start the virtual machine but kind of softricity streaming mode.

Well anyway, compared to VirtualPC6 or 7 (which I have been using and am still using on the powerpc based iMac's) it's ... not comparable. Speed is so much better and the coherence makes so much fun to work with it.

I also do like the customization part (I only saw it while generating my xp box on it) but haven't been able to play with it.

Mark Russinovich: From Winternals to Microsoft, On Windows Security, Windows CoreArch

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=294410

Windows Vista annoyances (1) - Enterprise Edition

I am frustrated. I work now on the production version of windows vista since November 15 and to tell you the truth it is not much of an improvement for me.

Microsoft please help:

1. I work with a domain joined machine and each day I work a few hours not connected to the domain. And I use windows explorer about 50 - 100 times an hour and I have to wait almost always 20 to 30 seconds before I can work!!!!!!
   Microsoft Fix this!!!
   
   Even Mark Russinovich has written an article in his blog about the open dialog issue. I think my problem has the same problem.
   
   http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2006/11/27/532465.aspx
   
   
2. Roaming profiles do not work with our domain (w2k3)
   
3. Offline file synchronisation does not work with administratively assigned folders
   
   I opened a case with Microsoft but they were not knowledgable about the task. Nobody could really explain all the steps and what really needs to be set. I lost about 6 hours of work with no real solution in sight. So I archived the case.
4. Generally Vista is slow. My WxpSp2 Virtual machine is much faster and I tend to use that for most of my experimental work.

I'll be at the techEd in Orlando and grab me a couple ms guys and try to figure out what's going on or if I have the chance to circumvent it or get detailed information. Whatever makes live easier with vista is good enough.

(Maybe I am going to wear my selfmade google T-Shirt (( for self esteem )))

I just found out about labels. The reason I opened a blog on wordpress was that I wanted the tagging feature. I am not really happy as it is now but we'll see.

Libraria Patrizio Julius Danielius Weichmann can soon be opened ;)

I have started 2 other blogs and am trying to not use any logbooks or notebooks but write everything online.

I have to build the ultimate information management man machine interface nosearch necessary lifebuilder!!!!!!

I spend so much time trying to find out what to do with all the information I have to process and store.

So far I tried:

files (notepad, word etc.)
access
windows help
OneNote
SharePoint Server
Wiki (moinmoin and others)
google applications
google notepad
google scratchpad
outlook notes

Everything is useful but very limited. Where's the ultimate solution?????

I spend too much time for things which should take no time at all. Where's the backup solution. The real one. All tools have so many drawbacks.

When I win a lottery I will definitly develop the question for 42.

VMWare Workstation 6 (Final) on Vista

I am working on VMware Workstation 6 on Vista since yesterday and I don't see much a difference between this and the rc release speedwise.
One cool thing is that when I upgraded I got the ACE to generate USB Stick bootable machines for free.
I am now trying to create an ACE master from the remote access VM and then try that one out.


My beloved VMWare Workstation 6 Feature
Full Screen option with Guest Window automatically resized is really cool!

Xen 3.0.2 Installation and basic configuration

Everything is still a bit shaky but I managed to get

• CentOS5 x86 with a Xen Kernel (don't know the exact version #)
• Created a Domain XenClient and configured a Windows Vista 32-bit VM
• I did this by using virt-manager, which was as easy as it can get, it even showed me that I did not enable VT in the Bios. (The dc7700 was there for about 5 minutes so I oversaw that setting.)
• I used a physical CD (Vista Enterprise) and started installation

Funny thing happened,

1) Windows Vista requires a reboot before finishing installation but when I connected to the machine with putty it did not show the domain running.
I had to manually

xm create -f =/etc/xen/XenClient to get it starting again!!!

Don't know why yet and hope it does not do this all the time, maybe it's just a setting that guest reboots don't shutdown the domain.

The next thing is bothersome:

2)
I specified a network adapter and it should be bridged (virt-manager).When vista is running it is not bridged, and no network is connected (cannot ping).

using xm network-list I did see a network adapter but the mac address has a ?

Then I just tried to xm network-attach XenClient and it added one and this time I see a mac address but it did not help yet.

Well, there's more to it and if I don't spend to much time doing other things I will fix this.

Install CentOS 5 on HP DC7700

To install linux I had to use the F4 and then
linux noacpi=off acpi=off

Then it ran through perfectly

Next step is to get XEN ready to be used.

More information:
http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/Xen/InstallingCentOSDomU
http://www.montanalinux.org/learning-a-little-xen.html

heise online - Verschlüsseltes Netzlaufwerk für Arbeitsgruppen

heise online - Verschlüsseltes Netzlaufwerk für Arbeitsgruppen

WUNSCH 1: Virtueller Computer Club

Ich möchte einen virtuellen Computer Club, in dem sich die Member treffen können (1 mal pro Woche) und aber auch virtuell das gleiche Mitmachen können. (Falls ich mal keine Zeit habe, wegen den Kindern).

Virtueller Treffpunkt mit live webcams aller benutzer z.B. auf der rechten Seite 30 - 40 icons, dann etwa 3 oder 4 Plätze für die Verschiedenen Aktivitäten und alles Live.

Früher gab es in Basel einen Computer Club names DIAL und der war der Hammer. Heute sollte man doch endlich mal vernünftige Buddy Listen haben, welche mit live webcam images gefütter werden. Das gibt es noch viele Ideen, so z.B. verschieden Lokationen zu 1 zu verbinden.

Man sollte auch spontan gruppen Bilden können, in welchen man sich treffen kann und dies sollte dann auch ein Platz bekommen, so dass es möglich ist diese Diskussion auch mitzumachen.

Heute bedauere ich sehr, dass die Entwicklung der Webtechnologien und Computertrends noch nicht so rasch fortschreitet, wie ich das gerne hätte.

Es ist einfach so, dass ich viele, viele Funktionen gerne implementiert gesehen hätte, doch diese bis jetzt noch nicht existieren. Google hilft, jedoch viel zu traditionel und ineffizient.

Ich will keine 20 verschienden Dienste über 50 verschiedene Reiter, ich will alles und zwar jetzt.

Das erste was ich möchte: (der nächste Blog beschreibt dies)

I just had my first experience with Windows Vista Ultimate Edition Beta 2.

What's my opinion? Windows Xp Version 2.

Revolutionary? Not yet found.

Nice Feature? ALT-TAB with pictures.

I first upgraded my company notebook. Migration went through but a lot of things were not correctly installed and a lot of things went bad. DVD-Burner did not work at all.


2nd installation from scratch. Now everything works. Even the biometric processor has been installed (only with windows update)

BUGS:

When I plug in a logitech pilot optical mouse (usb) I cannot click on a lot of buttons. They are not clicked. I had to use Tab and Space. Unplug mouse and restart and everything was ok again.

Nomadix AG3000

As of Friday I own a AG3000 and just configured the network interface.

The web interface looks antiquated but we'll see later

I managed to get Skype on the X51v working again. I hope that apple with its LCD pixel integrated camera is sucessfull and that in the not so far future I can talk with video and the screen is also the camera.

Now that would be something.

X51V has a built-in bluetooth device and I used it with sony ericsson's headset. That was not bad. But sometimes I believe that the bluetooth and wlan devices interfere and sound quality droped quite often.

Well, I have to admit, the iPod 30GB with Video failed my expectations and I am trying to sell it through one of the auctioning sites.

The iPod certainly has potential but it is not yet where I need it to be. It just wasn't that useful.

I am trying to make do with my DELL Axim X51v. I took it from where it was hidden and am trying to get it to do something useful. Wireless Network Sniffing and more.

Freakonomics Buch organisieren

Update: 15.05.2006

Buch über Amazon bestellt und dabei festgestellt !!!!!!!! ACHTUNG WICHTIG !!!!!!!

Man kann bei Amazon jetzt auch Bücher aus den second hand shops der USA kaufen. So konnte ich ein Buch für 5 Euro + 3 Euro Porto aus den USA bekommen, wo ich sonst über 20 Euro hätte hinblättern müssen.

Normalerweise gehe ich über amazon.com, doch dort sind die Portospesen viel höher!!!!

Danke, danke, danke, danke.

I got an Ipod Video. Boy it's hard to get good content on that player.

After a long abscence I am using linux again. This time I work with ubuntu and for me it was never easier to start with.

The installation process is much more straight forward than suse (8 I think). The interface is clean and not overcrowded and the software installation system is good. But why do I have to uncomment the repository "universe" to get it accessed. *** I don't: I just have to click on the unactivated items and it asks me if I want to activate the universe repository. Thank you!***

And I just wanted to compile kismet and since I am not used to not have it installed I choose some gcc komponents and tried to start.

But I utterly failed at the start ./configure said something about my compiler not beeing able to create executables. Great! Just spent 3 hours trying to solve this problem but have not been very successful. So I just grabbed the kismet withing the repository.

So long.

I, Cringley . NerdTV / PBS

must see. Thanks for producing.

www.pbs.org/cringely/nerdtv/

nochnoi dozor 29.09.2005
turkish gambit ?
www.pbs.org/cringely/nerdtv/

Google Earth

There are some plane tracking softwares around. Why not show the planes in google earth.

It would be impressive to see what's going on in a certain region of the world.

Google Earth or map.search.ch

map.search.ch has more valuable information than google or msn or whatever. Thank you very much. A very good tool.

What I want is the ability when I see the pharmacy and move the mouse over it it should be highlighted and then when I click. Give me a picture of the building/store it's in.

The opening hours, the telefone number and where to park your car (for the least money).

Google Earth

I have learned of the technique to attach photos to certain places instead of showing them in the seperate window. GREAT FEATURE!!!

The next step is to incorporate still images from the webcams directly and even more advanced, add also the live streaming of certain cameras (Use proxies/caches throughout the world). UC Berkeley has some I think (couple of years ago they did).

So for example in San Francisco I should see some live street action combined with the static imagery. Live traffic views at the right places.

What I really want:

I want to be able to surf the earth. I want to be able to fly through London, Paris, Kopenhagen, Peking, San Francisco and Vancouver.

Buildings in Google Earth are a first step. No good really. What about the texture.

Project The Sim World

If I am able to get some time I would try to create software that alows you to take a photo with your camera and it will be applied to the building. It's not necessary to catch the hole building and the software should automatically patchwork all sorts of photos to create what's there.

e.g. Go home take a picture of your house or condo, maybe only the top right corner, maybe there is a tree on the photo as well. Either you specify it's exact location through zooming and clicking or use on of the photo gps techniques I saw on the web.

Then the software would create the building, from as much information it can come up. Shure you can give in some measures. But as more pictures depict the region maybe in correlation with the buildings in the area and the satelite images.

Take another picture and the building starts to get better and better.

But what's more is that the software shall create first a standard building. Remove all color differences. Build the building. That's the first thing to do.

Then take all pictures into account and create sunset and sunrise, dawn, sunny day, clouded day, rain. Even all seasons.

Then I should be able to fly through the cities with a kind of a timelapse setting, that 24 hours are maybe 2 minutes or set the time to dawn.

Google Earth the future:

moon.google.com was a nice try. But I want our solar system to pop up in google earth. Give me venus, pluto and all the rest. Then apply some NASA pictures to them.

Google Earth

Thank you Google for releasing this superb tool.

I spent a couple weeks exploring and am now very disappointed because of all the limitations. I am allways wanting more.

Give me house numbers. Better detail for whole lot more regions.

What about unrealistic heights. I don't want to see the mountains always in the correct height relation. San Francisco looks really flat.

heise online

USB Drive Block, cacls usbstor.inf /D System /E 

USB Server Keyspan

DVB-T Tuner, great tests, DIGI-TV 

DVB T Tuner

Linux Firewall from USB or whatever

DVD 

USB TVTuner: tv2go gainward 

DVI Cable 10 meter oehlbach