TGS.com website

https://track.tgscom.net/y/?e=15692!!t!!1005!!0!!19349800!!wrexallen@gmail.com!!113!!0!!0!!0!!http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etopglock%2Ecom?w%3DIlBgGUkG8LA%253d%26y%3D19349800%26z%3D1001

Easy way I sped up Chromium browser

I love Google's Chromium browser, but it's slooow.

I sped it up significantly by creating a RAM disk and using that for caching (FYI: This applies to a Linux Desktop. Windows users, you'll have to look elsewhere):

- Create the mount point:
wrexallen@wrex-Qosmio-X505:$ sudo mkdir /var/ramdisk

- Add mountpoint to /etc/fstab:
none /var/ramdisk tmpfs mode=1777,size=512M 0 0

This mounts a memory filesystem in /var/ramdisk on boot. I use the size=512M parameter to limit how much it can grow.

- Mount the new RAM disk:
wrexallen@wrex-Qosmio-X505:$ sudo mount /var/ramdisk

Edit chromium application link by changing:

/opt/google/chrome/google-chrome %U

to:

/opt/google/chrome/google-chrome %U --disk-cache-dir="/var/ramdisk"

Stop/restart chromium.

Does your office use Cisco VPN and you want to connect with Linux?

Here's how I do it with Ubuntu:

VPN from ubuntu linux:

Download vpnc and kvpnc
- vpnc is a Cisco compatible VPN client
- kvpnc is a vpn clients frontend for KDE

- Install them as follows:
sudo apt-get install vpnc
sudo apt-get install kvpnc

For Gnome integration, grab the following (Thanks Jason C.!):
sudo apt-get install network-manager-vpnc-gnome

-After the install go to Applications->Internet and click on the KVpnc shortcut
KVpnc vpn application will be launched (or in a term window as root, type in kvnc &) .
-Click on the Profile menu and choose Import Cisco pcf file and choose the pcf file
-Now click on the Connect button in the right. You can also change your profile settings, should you need to, here.
-Use Terminal Server Client to remote or rdp to a windows box, if so desired.

My current Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop

Been playing with Compiz Fusion. Like!

KVM Virtualization in Ubuntu 10.10

I was going to write a quick howto on Virtualization within Ubuntu 10.10 and KVM, then ran across this:
http://www.howtoforge.com/virtualization-with-kvm-on-ubuntu-10.10

No point in replicating effort, so have a gander. It's pretty concise.

Ubuntu 10.10 Nvidia driver update to fix "NVRM: os_raise_smp_barrier(), invalid context!" message

Ok, so after addressing the previous ips spamming woes to my syslog, I have now a fix for the Nvidia "NVRM: os_raise_smp_barrier(), invalid context!" errors, should you be so unlucky to have this gawd-aweful chipset.

Get the driver here:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html

And do the following (from Nvidia's site: http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux-display-amd64-260.19.36-driver.html)
"Once you have downloaded the driver, change to the directory containing the driver package and install the driver by running, as root, sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-260.19.36.run

One of the last installation steps will offer to update your X configuration file. Either accept that offer, edit your X configuration file manually so that the NVIDIA X driver will be used, or run nvidia-xconfig."

Note that you want to do this from a console and not X (KDE, Gnome, whatever).

Ubuntu 10.10 kernel update (fix ips power exceeded issue)

So, after new install and updates of the Qosmio, I noticed my sysmessage log being spammed with the following message about every 5 seconds:

Jan 22 06:17:59 wrex-Qosmio-X505 kernel: [ 1198.323814] intel ips 0000:00:1f.6: MCP power or thermal limit exceeded

Annoying. No relevant fix as after a quick Google search, it appears to be a bug and quite common amongst several Laptop vendors (Again, annoying. Ubuntu devs needs to fix that sh*t).

So, updating my current kernel (2.6.35-24-generic) should fix, according to some.

Here's the process (files found at: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.37-natty/):

1. Download Generic kernel headers package:
linux-headers-2.6.37-020637_2.6.37-020637.201101050908_all.deb
2. Download Arch Headers:
- I386: linux-headers-2.6.37-020637-generic_2.6.37-020637.201101050908_i386.deb
- AMD64: linux-headers-2.6.37-020637-generic_2.6.37-020637.201101050908_amd64.deb
3. Download compiled kernel:
- I386: linux-image-2.6.37-020637-generic_2.6.37-020637.201101050908_i386.deb
- AMD64: linux-image-2.6.37-020637-generic_2.6.37-020637.201101050908_amd64.deb
4. Install the files in the same order (If you do them out of order, you will be sad).
5. Open a terminal window and run:
sudo update-grub
6. Reboot and select the kernel from the bootloader menu
If it`s not there check your steps.
7. Check to ensure new kernel has been applied:
root@wrex-Qosmio-X505:~# uname -r
2.6.37-020637-generic

That seems to have fixed the issue as I am not getting the message, any more, but now...

I'm getting this:

Jan 22 06:44:23 wrex-Qosmio-X505 kernel: [ 585.007396] NVRM: os_raise_smp_barrier(), invalid context!

Lol!!!!

I'm sure it's my (OMG_I_HATE_THIS_POS_VIDEO_CHIPSET_FRAK_NVIDIA!!!!) Nvidia. I'll post the fix after this, once I hammer it out. Ugh.

Stoopid Nvidia (Toshiba Qosmio 505 Linux Install)

Everyone always hails Nvidia as being so great. I've always had issue with their chipsets and it seems today is no different.

Went to install Ubuntu (Yeah, I know) on my Qosmio 505 and I get scrambled video on the Live CD of 10.10.

nomodeset did the trick.

This also happened with the OpenSuSE 11.3 live CD and CentOS 5.5 Live CD. Meh. Fedora was no issue. Go figure that.

In case you need it, here's what you should do:

1. boot computer with livecd
2. when you see it get to the actual booting hit f6
3. select language
4. hit f6 again
5. select nomodeset
6. hit esc
7. install Ubuntu as usual and reboot
8. when you get to the grub boot menu make sure to hit e so you can edit the kernel commands
9. add nomodeset to the kernel args again
10. cntrl X to boot
11. sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
12. reboot
13. Repeat 8-10 again
14. start the restricted drivers program
15. install the restricted driver for the 360m
16. reboot

You can use a remote drive in Windows 7 Home Premium

MS and their wisdom of removing features from past releases of their OS, never ceases to amaze me and file them under the WTF where they thinking files. Well, I guess I do know: They're greedy bastards.

Anyway, if you want to ba able to backup your Win 7 system remotely, I found a nice howto, here:

http://www.roflxd.com/index.php?q=node/3

I'm copying it from there and posting here, in case the directions should ever go away:

Backing Up Windows 7 Home Premium to a Network Share

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 23:29 — PlasmaFlow

Well many people are complaining that Microsoft decided that allowing people to perform backups on their Windows 7 Home Premium to a Network share should be a paid Feature.

Well Uncle Bill was unaware that his little elves gave us something called Virtual Hard Drives on Windows 7 Home Premium.

To perform a system backup to a network drive you simply do the following.

First Asses the location of your Network Backup.

Second Make sure you can map the Drive using an UNC name Share, I/E \\ComputerName\Folder.

Third Create a Local Drive by Mapping the Network Location using the UNC to said drive so that the machine can remember the login information to the network share thus aiding in authenticating you whenever the machine is connected to the network share.

Fourth Open your Computer Management Panel and Select Actions>>Create VHD.
Here you have two options to map the new VHD.
A)Enter the UNC Path in the Location Box as \\ComputerName\Folder or B)Use the Drive letter to the newly mapped network share drive you just created.

Next Select the Virtual Hard Drive Size and the designated allocation information MB - Mega Bytes, GB - Giga Bytes or TB - Terabytes.

The window suggests to use a Fixed size drive but Since I know how these drives work in the Hyper-V server (and yes it’s the same type of drive) setting it to dynamically expanding will allow you to make the drive Up to the size requested but if you backup only takes half the space, your virtual drive will not exceed the amount allotted. All in all this is your choice and I recommend familiarizing yourself with the technicalities if you wish to make a different decision.

Once the options are entered click ok on Create and Attach Virtual Hard Disk
Window.

The new drive is created.

Now right click on the drive on the left side of the pane where the Disk Designation is on the window. Since I only had one physical drive my new VHD was called DISK 1.
Select Initialize Volume from the menu options.
Once the init is complete, right click on the drive and select to create a simple volume. Some options will come up, you can choose the defaults all the way, or choose whatever settings make you happy, including a label for the volume and the drive letter.

Once the configuration is complete the drive will be automatically formatted and mounted. A message stating that the drive has now been successfully mounted will come up.

After this you will be prompted with a menu that will contain an option to use this newly created VHD as a backup disk. This will in turn open the backup wizard and allow you to perform your backup of your user files, settings and more importantly a recovery image.

Once your backup is completed, make sure to create a recovery disk form the menu option on the left side of the backup page. This disk will allow you to boot to it since it is created as a CD that is bootable. It will also allow you to restore the system and or any missing files that you may want to recover.

And Viola! You now have Network Backup once more in Windows 7 Home Premium.

And this my friends is the ROFL of the day Courtesy of ROFLXD!

Making fun of technology foibles!
Aren’t I a Stoinker?

PlasmaFlow

Simple HA for Oracle OpsCenter Using ZFS

So we're testing out Oracle's OpsCenter (Enterprise Manager...whatever) to see how useful it will be in our environment. Anything to help maintain the numerous zones, is welcome, right?

We downloaded the trial software (Finally, you can see before you buy!) and began installing and configuring. First thing I was curious about: How easily can we move this to another server, should the primary fail?

As they would have it, it's a fairly simple task, if you do some work, early on to prepare for it.

Visit http://wikis.sun.com/display/OC2dot5/About+High+Availability for a heads-up, though I have some caveats to ad to their doc.

When you unmount and export your dataset and zfs pool from node a to install packages to node b, be sure that once it's on node b, to run the uninstall script (http://wikis.sun.com/display/OC2dot5/Uninstalling+Ops+Center+Software). If you don't, the install will fail on node b, at where it tries to install/configure postgress. Do not do this, until after you've mount your xvm directory onto node b. Then run through the install as you did on node a, patch, etc. and it should be easily moveable between both nodes.

Also, note that the install makes several entries in your /etc/vfstab:

/var/opt/sun/xvm/uce/etc.opt - /etc/opt/SUNWuce lofs - yes -

/var/opt/sun/xvm/uce/var.opt - /var/opt/SUNWuce lofs - yes -

/var/opt/sun/xvm/uce/opt - /opt/SUNWuce lofs - yes -

Be sure to comment those out, when you move the services off of the node and onto the other, and remount them on the other server, before attempting to start OpsCenter on the other node. Directions for shutting down OpsCenter, are here:

http://wikis.sun.com/display/OC2dot5/Shutting+Down+the+Primary+Enterprise+Controller

Surfing at noon-thirty PST. Oh yeah.

Here's hoping a shark doesn't eat me, lol.

I'll be surfing a few blocks from my new home, in Pacifica CA. The beach is Linda Mar beach, otherwise known as Pacifica State Beach. From my abbreviated research, I've discovered that it's supposed to be one of the better areas to surf, in the region. Multiple breaks that cater to all classes of surfers, a "friendly" surfing beach, etc.

Some nice pics and vids of the area:

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=2945361755479732446&q=linda+mar+beach,+pacifica+ca&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=pumUTOjvFITmiAPe8unMAQ

Wicked Lasers Customer Support Fail

My typical experience calling Oracle for Unix support

Not safe for work, due to language. Enjoy.

ZFS on Ubuntu 10.04 - Oh Hellz Yeah!!!!

sudo apt-get install fuse-utils
sudo apt-get install libfuse2
sudo apt-get install libfuse-dev

Have fun!

Package: zfs-fuse (0.6.0-1) [universe]


ZFS on FUSE

ZFS is an advanced filesystem from Sun Microsystems, originally developed for solaris. It provides a number of advanced features, such as live integrity checks, atomic updates, atomic snapshots and clones, compression, and much more.

This package provides an implementation of Sun's ZFS filesystem in userspace, using FUSE.

Ubuntu 10.04 on Motion Computing M1400 Tablet PC

So, a friend of mine donated a few M1400 Motion Computing tablets to my collection a few months ago and I've finally got around to playing with them. I think they're more of a boutique item (Pen tablet PCs), rather than "really" something useful, but playing with them may prove interesting.

First off, these things are a bear to boot anything off USB cdrom or USB hard/flash drive. After a minimal search via Google, the consensus looks to be that booting off a firewire drive to be the easiest, so I dug out my old-trusted FW CD drive and plopped an Ubuntu 10.04 Live CD into it.

It booted fine and selected the Try option, rather than install. After a few moments, video blanked out and no more CDROM activity. Lol.

Guessing it's a video driver fubar, I Googled some more and found the following boot option will get you going: i915.modeset=1
by the way, if you are using other video chipsets, here's a brief common list of what you can use:
* Older Intel video card: i915.modeset=1 or i915.modeset=0
* nVidia: nomodeset
* Generic: xforcevesa


Just add this to your list of boot options at the end and you'll get the lovely Gnome Desktop (Or KDE for those running Kubuntu - Which I prefer, myself).

After install, I'll add it to my /etc/default/grub and will run: update-grub

I let you know my mileage on this laptop, after installation is complete and I've played with it, a bit.

By the way: The pen actually worked while booted on the live cd, without any modification or manual loading of Wacom drivers. Sweet.

Dear Jane letter to Sun E6900

Dear Sun Microsystems E6900,

I'm terribly sorry I had to do this through a letter, this didn't need to be done, but I wanted to..

This note will be the last memory you'll ever have of me, I'm done with you because I decided to be with someone new, exciting and 1/4 the weight. Yes, she's a "sexy new-younger model" and is way more interesting.

I should have been honest from the start of this relationship and admitted that you where really too tall for my tastes, anyway. My bad.

Don't let it get you all upset inside, It was completely your fault, no doubt about it. It is because of your history of dragging your ass, taking too much of my personal space and your high maintenance issues, that keep me from being even remotely interested in continuing this relationship with you.

I will be particularly found of the memories of having to hold you late at night, while you wept about not having enough resources, or the numerous times that your thieving nephew, Oracle, would steal your personal space away from you. Why you can't learn from your past mistakes, is beyond me. I'll remember how you would "forget" to do the tasks we agreed upon, and blame it on your failing-aging memory.

You'd be much better off finding someone that can deal with the wonderful way that you make constant promises that you never intended on keeping. I'm not one to "kiss and tell", but I might miss certain things about you, such as your constant nagging for attention. No. It isn't ALL about you, dear. There are others in this family, to consider. What about your poor little sun, V1280? Have you considered his needs? Your brothers and sisters: V490, 280R and let's not forget the black sheep of your family: V120 and his half-inbred daughter V100. They all have needs too and your narcissism is hurting them, so much.

I'm glad this is done and we're going separate directions for good. I think you'll find someone to tend to your constant needs for attention, who doesn't mind carelessly spending their money on your "upkeep" (yes. You ARE one "high Maintenance" lady) and hopefully, we will be incredibly far away.

Forever Truly Yours,
Wrex

Poignant Projects

Poignant Projects

Resistance Is Futile....

So the acquisition of Sun by Oracle is complete and today, they've changed Sun's homepage to re-direct to Oracle's. Good luck finding Sun specific products, rofl.

The customer is always last. They should have at least announced an impending change to the site. It's not like we didn't all expect one.

My Unix beginnings are all due to Sun Microsystems. I am a touch saddened by the buy-out.

The end of an era. Here's hoping for the best.

I'm officially a "twit" now, lol

Yup. On Twitter now. Joy.

You can follow me, here:

https://twitter.com/wrexallen

Some days it's just not worth chewing through my restraints...

That is all.