My Blog

Hi all,

I thought I would post today about something I found out when I was trying to muck about with my server farm. I had just finished setting up the RETIRED server for the LAN party (basically contains the lighter game servers for when a major one is taking up the resources on BITSERVER). Anyway, I thought I would somehow make a service on a new IP address for the SA-MP Official Server list, so I investigated using Ethereal what packets was being sent and recieved to see if I could come up with something to put the 2 SA-MP servers in a list.

Anyway, I found it truly funny when I had outlook opened in the background of my laptop and noticed the whole E-Mail request, so I thought I would scare you guys by posting how e-mail works:

Server Sends: +OK Hello There. <13098........@localhost.localdomain
Laptop Sends: AUTH
Server Sends: -ERR Invalid command.
Laptop Sends: USER Craig.Mattson@GreenTubeLAN.yi.org
Server Sends: +OK Password required.
Laptop Sends: PASS mypasswordhere this was unencrypted in plain text!!!
Server Sends: +OK logged in.
Laptop Sends: STAT
Server Sends: +OK 0 0 this is basically no new emails
Laptop Sends: QUIT
Server Sends: +OK Bye-bye.

Now, I don't know what scares me more - the fact that e-mails are sent in a packet more distinguishable than POST and GET requests on webpages OR the fact that my laptop and the AussieSpace server were having quite an intelligent conversation together... IN ENGLISH!!!

Anyway, that's my rant for the day - I have also uploaded a picture of my current 'Server Farm' comprising of:

IBM Netvista M41: (Pentium IV-1.8GHz, 512MB of RAM, 160GB HDD, 100Mbit Ethernet)
Green Box: (Celeron 600MHz, 256MB of RAM, 10GB HDD, 100Mbit Ethernet, 802.11b Wifi, 100Mbit USB)
Dell Optiplex GX1: (Pentium II-400MHz, 128MB of RAM, 4.3GB HDD, 100Mbit Ethernet)

As some of you know, the IBM and Dell run Windaz and the Green Box runs Linux. All in all, not a bad network so far

Ciao 

Hi all,

I know it's been ages since my last post - and really I don't have anything new to say except for the fact that GreenTubeLAN 5 is coming up this weekend, so if you are at all interested in coming, I would suggest popping over to the GreenTubeLAN website, and registering.

I thought I would post yet another easy feature in linux to use - especially in my case of a recent Hard Disk Drive upgrade. Ok ok... before you laugh saying you buy things like this for lunch, here is my predicament: With the LAN party coming up this weekend, I have had all servers ready until today. Today, I finally decided I would reset the servers up this time thankyou to the addition of a 160GB HDD (which believe it or not, is my largest drive purchase ever for my personal use, beating my 80GB record back in 2002). Anyway, I thought I would go crazy after buying the 160GB HDD for $74 (Seagate IDE from MSY) and move the 10GB HDD that was in it into the INTRANET server running a 4.3GB HDD which concequently is being moved into another computer - so 3 systems need formatting before the LAN party.

I partitioned my Netvista (P IV1.8GHz) into 4 separate partitions:- Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional Edition, BITSERVER Storage (Server), and Storage (Personal) as I may aswell start using the server for my own use now - as a file server atleast ;). The Intranet server now has a 10GB HDD in it with an image of what was on the 4GB HDD, and now the Dell that I retired last June now is working again with nothing on it as yet.

What pisses me off the most, is that Linux was the easiest to set up. I merely ran this command:

dd if=/dev/hda | ssh cwmat1@192.168.2.202 of=/home/cwmat1/intranet/

to make a backup to my laptop of the whole directory structure. I thought - what the hell after it, and put the 10GB HDD in as a Slave drive, and ran the following command:

dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/hdb

About 10 minutes later, the 4.3GB HDD was mirrored to the 10GB HDD. Technically it only set the 10GB HDD up as a 4.3GB HDD, but then I simply resized the /home partition :) The best thing about it is that it booted without any hiccups :D

Orb!ter

Hi all,

Had a bit of fun today with FL Studio 6 again, and I put together a new theme for GreenTubeLAN 5. It's somewhat based on Grand Theft Auto Vice City's theme, but yeah - different to suit the logo. Feel free to download it/use it/delete it if you really want to from here. It's also on the Music page somewhere

Ciao

Yeah, it's me again and it seems appropriate to post something about what has happened this week. First of all, I came across a distribution of linux called Sabayon Linux which well, is simply a linux distribution with EVERYTHING you could possibly want built in. Lets see what has worked so far.

• Video Cards
• As Sabayon Linux comes with all propietry drivers installed, all my ATI and NVidia cards were detected instantly, and all appropriate 3D Accelaration was enabled whether it be through NVidia, AIGLX or simply XGL. Ofcourse, this also allowed the built-in windows manager, Beryl, to function properly on ALL my computer systems.
• MP3, DIVX, MPEG, AVI Support
• That's right, all multimedia formats I use regularly have been included in this distribution. Even DVD Support made it in this version of Linux making it well... perfect as a desktop operating system if someone was to use it for a multimedia system atleast. Once more, even Midi works fine in Timidity and I can even add/remove different sound fonts to get the appropriate sound.
• NTFS Read support
• Yes, most distros read NTFS partitions, but Sabayon not only reads, but it writes. On top of that, but the NTFS drive works just as it would under Windows, that being thumbnails are loaded whilst browsing the drive. Certainly a great feature for any linux distro!
  
• Bluetooth/Wireless/Infrared/Network
• Everything was built in for my T40 atleast. That being my Cisco Aironet wireless card was detected and working instantly, my $10 USB Bluetooth dongle was detected and working automatically as I was able to install Java applications (via OBEX) and transfer files to a Motorola RAZR V3. Interesting anyway that this same adapter under Windows is either struggling during file transfer (no matter the PC I put it on with the RAZR V3) or just plainly not working at all. The adapter isn't dodgey either as it works more-often-than-not with Nokia 6230's. Infrared works fine, even without ifconfig irda0 down/up
• KDE is Default
• Torvalds said it himself , KDE is the window manager for linux - not crappy Gnome, and anyone wishing to take this up with me can go to hell given the creator of linux specifically says AVOID GNOME I suppose, what would he know - it's not like he invented Linux Anyway, KDE default is great. All my applications are there in the spots one would expect it to be. The Konqueror File Manager is great, infact it must be exceptionally great for vista to pinch the 'replace address bar with buttons for directories' theory. I use both WDM's on a regular basis, but KDE just has the 'right' feel, mind you it doesn't mean I don't get my hands dirty in a Terminal window or PuTTY on windows ;) Sabayon does however come with Gnome for those Torvalds-theory hating users, just as there is other WDM's available not quite as standard as KDE or Gnome.

So, what's to hate about this version of Linux? Well it's Debian based, without being Debian which ticks me off somewhat. Infact, it's Gentoo based which is almost like an independant system which is loosely based on Debian and well, that means anything I have done Debian or Red Hat specific just isn't the same under Sabayon. It makes it increasingly difficult to find packages for that otherwise I would just use either YUM or APT-GET for. It relies on compiling stuff straight from source using EMERGE and well, it takes forever to do anything with which kind of annoys me. Mind you, there haven't been packages I have had to install yet given it's all there... provided for me, and the positives outweigh this slight inconvienence.

The other thing is the fact that I am used to directory structures such as /etc/network/interfaces which is obviously different amongst many players, but what do you do Honestly, I will probably end up installing just straight Debian as a permanent desktop system and setting up read/write access simply because Debian's package repository is in my opinion, one that is extensively tested and will pretty much work when tested. I suppose time will tell Oh and I'm in the market looking for a cap plan with great phone shortly, I'll let you know how I go - but a 6288 is looking good on a $29 cap plan

Anyway, Happy Easter, Passover, Gonnohrea, Birthday or whatever you are celebrating this weekend,

Ciao