arcster.com Blog » Technology

Analog log file analyzer

arcster — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:05:35 +0000

I just downloaded Analog for analyzing my log files. It’s a pleasure to work with. The configuration file is daunting at first, but I soon figured how to make it understand my log files.

It’s startling to see how many ways there are to try to hack a website. I’ve already tightened up a couple loose ends based on what I learned from my logs.

Linux accomplishments: Samba, X11 forwarding, new NIC

arcster — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:41:40 +0000

The addition of a strictly Linux box in the basement with plenty of RAM created a conundrum: how to play with it without spending all my time in the basement?

SSH seemed to be the solution, but connecting via Putty from my Windows laptop wasn’t always satisfying. (In the course of my research, I stumbled on a post on how to turn on X11 forwarding in Putty; that’s an experiment for another day.) The old Dell Latitude had an outdated wireless card that didn’t support any modern encryption standards, so I thought I would try the Linksys Wireless-G WPC54GX4 that I ordered some time ago.

A little research told me I would have to go the ndiswrapper route, which filled me with trepidation, especially since I’m running Xubuntu (7.10). However, I found some helpful sources of info:

It wasn’t easy, but I got it working.

With that working I remotely installed Samba, and, with a little more help, got X11 forwarding up and running so I could run the samba shares-admin as a gui.

Next up: Apache and PHP

A pleasant Linux install

arcster — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:32:18 +0000

Those of you old enough to remember my previous frustrations with Linux, take heart: I’m truly finding peace with the OS.

I just installed Lucid Lynx on a Compaq Presario 6000 that just wasn’t getting it done with Windows XP. It has close to a gig of RAM, but the AMD Athlon XP 1800+ was struggling to keep up with all the antivirus and other bloatware.

Most impressively, Unbuntu 10.04 recognized my D-Link wireless adapter DWA-542 (in answer to this question) right out of the box; no ndiswrapper or any such mumbo jumbo required.

And it looks pretty sharp.

Yet another example of Apple’s hubris

arcster — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:06:02 +0000

I just discovered that iTunes has an affiliates program like Amazon’s.

But right off the gate they’re asking for my Social Security number?!

Not a chance.

Xobni Outlook search

arcster — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:29:07 +0000

The inability to find things inside of that inscrutable black inbox that is your Microsoft Outlook email is one of the great frustrations of modern life. So Xobni’s search tool seemed like a great thing. And it probably is, if you’re willing to buy the full version. But don’t even bother with the free download.

Xobni’s evaluation version only indexes your inbox. So if you use other PSTs, tough. Most frustratingly, it hijacks your recently used email selection. So you start to type a name in the To field and you get a message “10 messages including …” So you hit your down arrow and instead of getting your contact you get a popup to buy Xobni.

I don’t have the freedom to buy software for my work computer, so while I’m sure it’s a good tool, I’m giving up on Xobni

Really starting to hate Linux

arcster — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:53:53 +0000

Ubuntu is alot like Windows 3.1, except Windows 3.1 pretty much did what you wanted it to when it wasn’t crashing.
Ubuntu doesn’t crash, but it doesn’t do anything. I admit I’m using really old hardware, but I’ve spent a whole damn night just trying to install Java Runtime. I messed around with all these sudo apt-get commands and edited my stupid etc/apt/sources.list, but I still can’t download squat.
I found a promising lead that says some people can use Firefox to connect to their wireless internet but the add/remove software app doesn’t work. So I edited my stupid etc/somethingorother.conf, but that didn’t work either.
And Linux is better than Windows why?

Open Letter to Yahoo Web Hosting

arcster — Wed, 06 May 2009 01:35:09 +0000

Yahoo! Inc.
701 First Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
ATTN: Web hosting customer service
Dear Yahoo:
I am writing about the failure of Yahoo Web Hosting to upgrade from PHP 4. I feel it indicates a lack of interest in customers who are actually paying for service. Yahoo offers all kinds of great services for free, like email and the YUI library – and don’t get me wrong, I’m very pleased with them. But I pay $12 a month for my web site and I have to work with seriously outdated technology.
I chose Yahoo because it’s a brand that I trust. I would rather pay Yahoo than some of the questionable web hosting services out there. But I am disappointed. I have repeatedly used your existing customer feedback mechanisms to request that you upgrade your PHP support, but nothing has happened. So I am now writing a formal letter.
I realize the upgrade is not trivial, and some web sites may break, causing customer service complaints. But I think people who are sophisticated enough to code PHP will be able to manage. I would be willing to be a beta tester.
Thank you for your consideration.

CD burning problem solved

arcster — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:27:29 +0000

My CD problems turned out not to be a root kit, virus, or OS issue. Just hardware. Bought a new burner for $22 from newegg and everything’s good as new.

CD burning problems

arcster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:56:14 +0000

I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my ability to burn CDs.

I don’t know if it’s hardware or software. I noticed today that my event viewer shows events like the following throughout the day.

Event Type:    Information
Event Source:    Service Control Manager
Event Category:    None
Event ID:    7036
Date:        4/22/2009
Time:        6:29:41 PM
User:        N/A
Computer:    idhere
Description:
The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the stopped state.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

So I changed the imapi.exe service from “manual” to “disabled”

We’ll see if there are any side-effects.

I’m annoyed with Webroot Spy Sweeper

arcster — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 03:34:27 +0000

I’ve been using Spy Sweeper for years and it’s been reliable. But last week it prompted me to upgrade. When I did, it lost my subscription information and is displaying a key code that expired in 2006. Spy Sweeper keeps telling me to renew. And there seems to be no way to update the license key. The upgrade link in the software just takes me to a page to buy the software online. I emailed their support and just got an automated list of irrelevant answers to questions about Conficker and other crap.

I’m gettin’ irritated, people.

Update 4/21/09: Webroot contacted me and resolved the issue. There’s an undocumented command involving cntrl+alt+shift+S you have to use to get to the screen to enter a license key.