Recent Posts

2701

General Software Discussion / Free ebook available for download from Microsoft

« Last post by 40hz on October 21, 2013, 11:15 AM »

You can download a free copy of Introducing Windows 8.1 for IT Professionals by Ed Bott.

Info and download link is here. No registration or other nonsense required to download.

I took a quick skim and it looks like it could be useful if you're an IT admin or Windows power user.

The Windows 8 product line represents a radical departure for Microsoft. A new user experience. A new app platform. New security features and new management tools. If you’re an IT pro, you have the daunting job of helping your users adapt to the newness of Windows 8.1 while you try to stay at least one step ahead.


Although I’ve written in-depth guides to Windows in the past, this book is not one of those. Nor do I pretend to offer much in the way of opinions or review. Only you can decide whether and how and when to incorporate Windows 8.1 into your enterprise, based on your own organizational requirements.


My goal in this book is to help you on that upgrade path by presenting the facts and features about Windows 8.1 as clearly as I can. If you’ve been living in an environment built around a previous version of Windows, you have a lot to absorb in the transition to Windows 8.1. I’ve tried to lay out those facts in as neutral a fashion as possible, starting with an overview of the operating system, explaining the many changes to the user experience, and diving deep into deployment and management tools where it’s necessary.


By design, this book focuses on things that are new, with a special emphasis on topics of interest to IT pros. So you might find fewer tips and tricks about the new user experience than your users want but more about management, deployment, and security—which ultimately is what matters to the long-term well-being of the company you work for.

2702

Non-Windows Software / Re: A real debate over Mir? This is gonna be good if it ever happens!

« Last post by 40hz on October 21, 2013, 06:10 AM »

rained on my nerves. So thought about posting that.

-mahesh2k (October 21, 2013, 05:21 AM)

Fair enough.

But you might want to notice that Mark Shuttleworth (who has never been one to mince words) has become increasingly combative in public since the Linux world has stopped automatically praising everything Canonical does and started publicly questioning some of the directions he wants to take Ubuntu.

In many respects Mr. Shuttleworth is starting to sound and act like he wants to be the next Steve Jobs or Larry Ellison clone. And that is not something anybody in the Linux community is going to tolerate or willingly go along with. Especially in a community where even such genuine leading lights as Linus Torvalds and Rick Stallman aren't held to be above criticism when it's felt they've overstepped. To paraphrase Bormir in Lord of the Rings: "Linux has no king. Linux needs no king!"

Perhaps Mark Shuttleworth's comment wasn't meant to be taken so seriously. Perhaps (not being an American) he didn't realize how deadly an insult his "Tea Party" comment might be taken for - as it would be in many social circles.

Either way, a serious debate over the merits of Mir plus Canonical's recent moves to circle the wagons and start setting up Ubuntu as its own thing is worth having. If for no other reason than to clear the air.

I personally hope it happens.

2703

Non-Windows Software / Re: A real debate over Mir? This is gonna be good if it ever happens!

« Last post by 40hz on October 21, 2013, 04:47 AM »

Apparently we have a serious Ubuntu/Mir admirer among us.

Does anyone else care to comment?

2704

Non-Windows Software / Re: A real debate over Mir? This is gonna be good if it ever happens!

« Last post by 40hz on October 20, 2013, 05:53 PM »

@Mahesh2k - FWIW, the proposed discussion has little to do with KDE/Gnome/Canonical and everything to do with Mir and Mark Shuttleworth. If you haven't followed the debate and controversy surrounding Mir vs Wayland, Aaron Siego's calling Shuttleworth out at this juncture probably won't make much sense to you.
 

Aaron's invitation to Mark

Aaron Seigo
Shared publicly  -  Oct 18, 2013
 
+Mark Shuttleworth, You write in the blog linked below:

"Mir is really important work. When lots of competitors attack a project on purely political grounds, you have to wonder what THEIR agenda is. At least we know now who belongs to the Open Source Tea Party "

As one of the people who has disagreed with the necessity of, the value proposition of as well as the practice of spreading lies in defense of Mir, I resent being equated with a political movement that bears no resemblance to the issues surrounding Mir. I am particularly offended by the implication that the only retort to Mir has been politically motivated.

It amounts to libel at worst, and name calling at best. You would not accept that done to you, yet you do it to others. Shame on you, Mark, shame.

You feel that defending Mir with such tactics is important enough to plug that into an otherwise unrelated blog entry that opens with "I would like to say a few thank-you’s".

My response to that is simple, Mark: let's do this like adults.

If you wish to discuss Mir and cast aspersions on those who disagree in the process, well then by all means let's discuss Mir, Mark.

Let's do so live and online. Let's appear on one of the outstanding Free software video casts such as the Linux Action Show with +Chris Fisher and +Matt Hartley (assuming they will have us) and discuss the merits of Mir,  Wayland and their implications vis-à-vis Free software .

Yes, I am challenging you to a public debate on the matter. Seems appropriate as you seem to feel this is a political matter.

Are you in?

2705

Non-Windows Software / A real debate over Mir? This is gonna be good if it ever happens!

« Last post by 40hz on October 20, 2013, 01:00 PM »

From the folks over at Phoronix:

Shuttleworth Challenged Over Mir Comments
Posted by Michael Larabel on October 19, 2013

On Friday when announcing the Ubuntu 14.04 LTS codename, Mark Shuttleworth ruffled some feathers by making some critical comments about the Linux users in opposition to Canonical's Mir Display Server. KDE's Aaron Siego has now challenged Mark to a public and live debate over Mir vs. Wayland.

The comments by Mark that were covered in the earlier Phoronix article claim that attacks against Mir are only on political grounds, calls them as the "Open Source Tea Party", say they suffer from the "Not Invented Here" syndrome, and sharply criticizes systemd.

Aaron Siego of KDE, who is in support of Wayland, calls out Mark on his critical comments. Aaron has challenged Mark to a public, live, Internet debate to discuss these topics. The challenge was made via Aaron's Google+ page. There's plenty of comments on the page, including from Jono Bacon, Martin Gräßlin, and other open-source developers.

There's no word yet whether Mark will accept the debate.

2706

Living Room / Re: Razors and Intellectual Property (Patents)

« Last post by 40hz on October 20, 2013, 12:48 PM »

^The main problem with patents (as a legal safeguard) is that it's a system that favors the biggest and most powerful at the expense of the smaller innovator.

In a perfect world, some version of a patent enforcement service would level the playing field since individual patent holders soon learn that enforcement isn't a viable option unless you have very deep pockets. And that was how many of these patent trolls got started. They approached smaller patent holders with a story about how they could provide 'the muscle' an individual lacked for making sure their patent was enforceable.

But real problem began when the PTO began issuing patents for what amounts to nothing more than ideas or concepts instead of specific solutions - which is something patents were never supposed to cover. Once that happened, things rapidly got out of control and landed us in the mess we're currently strugging with.

Patents and IP law has it's downside. Humanity has traditionally advanced by adopting and expanding on discoveries that went before. In many respects, the whole concept of "free open source" software was an attempt to codify that historic practice. Patents work against that.

But while the traditional practice of simply appropriating successful innovations may have worked out well for the human race as a whole - it's definitely lacking when it comes to providing incentives for the individual innovator - which, in turn, slows progress.

Talk about a paradox.

There really is no easy solution to this issue.

2707

Living Room / Re: Razors and Intellectual Property (Patents)

« Last post by 40hz on October 20, 2013, 08:16 AM »

With the desire of American businesses to move their manufacturing overseas (in order to benefit from cheap non-unionized labor, weak environmental regulation, and virtually non-existent worker safety rules) abusive patents and other IP laws have become critical to the USA's new business model. Primarily because IP is all that's left once businesses no longer want to...um...actually make things.

I expect nothing significant when it comes to US patent reform. The entire future of US business depends on the world seeing things the "New American Way" when it comes to patents and IP.

Regardless of what patents were originally created for, the reality is that their present purpose is to keep things exactly the way they are. (i.e. the USA and its key industries and 'favored son' companies on top)

And innovation is so disruptive anyway....
 

2708

DC Website Help and Extras / Re: I want a badge.

« Last post by 40hz on October 18, 2013, 06:17 PM »

You used Linux. That makes you eligible for the DoCo penguin badge.

2709

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Networking, help me understand.

« Last post by 40hz on October 18, 2013, 02:38 PM »

@Jim:

I'm sure the hive mind here at DoCo can get you sorted if you give us some additional info:

1. What are you using for a home router?

2. What are the router's network and wireless settings (excluding any passwords)?

3. On each machine, -

• what specific flavor of Win 7 are you running?
• are you set up for a workgroup or homegroup?
• what are the network settings for your wireless card or NIC
• what are you using for security software? Is it one of those suites or just an anti-malware package?
• are you running a firewall other than the one built into Windows

 

2710

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Networking, help me understand.

« Last post by 40hz on October 16, 2013, 08:49 AM »

^Indeed.

Even a 900mhz relic will work just fine for a DC if that's all it's for. With the advent of 64-bit only for WS that's probably not a real option anymore. But suffice to say a fairly low-end machine is all you really need for DC in a small network.

Since the HD is the most likely point of failure, keeping a fairly up to date image handy on an external drive makes replacing said HD an absolute half-hour breeze job.

(Note: I'm primarily talking home or really small SOHO use here. Biz or bigger - go the VM route as discussed above.)

2711

General Software Discussion / Re: What's up with Flash crashing all the time lately?

« Last post by 40hz on October 16, 2013, 07:36 AM »

Can't speak for all but I've noticed a recent tendency on my machines for flv to lockup or misload in Firefox (under Linux) when watching YouTube vids - sometimes to the point where the only alternative was to download the vid and watch it with VLC. 

But I suspect thats likely more a YT or FF issue.

Other than that, Flash videos seem to work just fine.

2712

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Networking, help me understand.

« Last post by 40hz on October 15, 2013, 01:26 PM »

+10 w/Stoic's observation on AD and DNS within the context of Windows AD.

Half the new customers I get (who have a Windows server) come in with an AD problem because somebody in their organization decided to "tweak" or "tune" the DNS settings after the fact.  

Unless you really know what you're doing, and have a very specific and unusual set of network requirements, allow Windows to setup and configure AD and DNS. Then leave it alone. If you really do know what you're doing, you already know you won't need to futz with it unless you're in a very large enterprise, SaaS, or e-commerce setting.  

Rule of thumb: for your basic single-server/home/soho network - let the built-in Microsoft wizards do their job. You'll be a lot happier - and have a correctly running installation - if you do.
 

2713

General Software Discussion / Re: LZIP - When you THINK you've seen it all...

« Last post by 40hz on October 14, 2013, 08:32 PM »

^Agree. Seems more oriented towards software distribution and long-term compressed archiving.

2714

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Networking, help me understand.

« Last post by 40hz on October 14, 2013, 07:42 PM »

Domains are easier IMHO.

They're not hard to set up per se. Hit the option to use a domain during the server setup and it's done. Windows server sets up the domain controller (plus baseline security) and handles all the heavy lifting for you.

After that you just have to understand what a domain is (and follow a few commonsense guidelines when you create groups and assign permissions) and you're set to go. You can get as complicated, or keep it as simple, as you like/need to. A good book plus a few quality weeks of playing with, screwing up, and reinstalling will teach you enough to successfully use one in a home or soho setting. Enterprise use is another matter as CUW mentions above. But for small simple networks with one DC, Windows Server is about as easy as it gets.  

FWIW, a lot of what seems fussy or arbitrary in the Windows desktop suddenly makes a great deal of sense once wedded to a Windows server. In many respects you don't realize the full power of Microsoft's desktop until you link it to one of their servers.

2715

General Software Discussion / Re: Advice requested: Internet monitoring software

« Last post by 40hz on October 14, 2013, 07:24 PM »

I hope she is doing well. It looks like her best apps were created a several years ago.

-TaoPhoenix (October 14, 2013, 07:02 PM)

IIRC Karen Kenworthy of Karenware passed away a few years back.

EDIT: Oops. Looks like April got in ahead of me with that.

2716

Living Room / Re: Core Internet Institutions Abandon US Government

« Last post by 40hz on October 14, 2013, 05:08 PM »

Much of the governance of the web (and other things) defaulted to the United States because the general perception was that the United States was law abiding, rational, predictable and fair.

-40hz (October 13, 2013, 10:37 AM)

ROFLMAO on ALL counts

-Carol Haynes (October 14, 2013, 10:56 AM)

Even funnier will be be seeing who has the kahunas to claim the role. Because from what I've got reading the news, there ain't any innocent sailors aboard for this trip.

If the EU, the PRC, and the RF are anything to go by, we're in for some great political grandstanding, holier-than-thou rhetoric, and hypocritical posturing before the dust finally settles.

I bet when it's over, it will end up being what the Who was talking about in the song Won't Get Fooled Again:

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now the parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

 

2717

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Networking, help me understand.

« Last post by 40hz on October 14, 2013, 04:50 PM »

Workgroup vs. Homegroup:
I initially was using Homegroups (Windows 7 and Windows 8 machines).  Then, it told me it can't share the root of a drive.  So I disabled homegroups and now use normal file sharing.

-superboyac (October 14, 2013, 02:23 PM)

A Homegroup is basically a workgroup with preconfigured security settings and some additional restrictions. (Not quite, but close enough for all practical purposes.) It was designed to allow easy and relatively secure resource sharing in a non-critical network such as home sweet home. It's not very flexible. And IMHO, not even worth using.

A Workgroup is your basic peer-to-peer setup designed for use with 20 or less PCs. Workgroups are a pain because there's no centralized access control. You need to set up a user account on each computer you want access to in a Workgroup. It's not like a domain where you could just set up one set of credentials for yourself and be allowed access to every computer on the network.

Workgroups have default shared folders. If you can log onto machine-A as User-1, you have relatively full access to everything on machine-A. If you're logged onto machine-A however, you only have access to the default shared drives on machine-B unless you set up User-1 as a user on machine-B as well.

There is no central point (i.e. domain controller) that all the machines on your workgroup network can query to see who is authorized to access their resources. (That feature is provided by a domain - not a workgroup.) Access is controlled locally by each machine in the workgroup. Access is controlled by a domain controller in a domain.

Hope that clarifies things.

2718

General Software Discussion / Re: LZIP - When you THINK you've seen it all...

« Last post by 40hz on October 14, 2013, 12:53 PM »

Seems to have some pretty nifty features. Especially good are its integrity and file recovery capabilities.

Definitely gonna gave to check it out more thoroughly when I get a chance.

Thx for sharing that!

2719

Living Room / Re: Core Internet Institutions Abandon US Government

« Last post by 40hz on October 13, 2013, 10:37 AM »

Much of the governance of the web (and other things) defaulted to the United States because the general perception was that the United States was law abiding, rational, predictable and fair.

However, now that the most recent manifestation of the American government has demonstrated a marked tendency to ignore the rule of law, and behave in an arbitrary and capricious (i.e. irrational) manner, many nations (who often decided to take the easy way out and "allow" the USA to handle anything they'd rather not spend the time or money on dealing with) are now realizing they're going to need to become much more directly active in the administration of their global lives and institutions.

Probably not a bad thing to have happen for all parties involved - including the USA.

2720

Living Room / Re: Sci-fi novel now available from DC member kyrathaba!

« Last post by 40hz on October 10, 2013, 01:34 PM »

On the other hand, there's this dude's recent comments about how he handles scifi book reviews.  Read it here. It's classic.
 

2721

General Software Discussion / Re: Silent installer for java and adobe products

« Last post by 40hz on October 10, 2013, 01:30 PM »

^Hadn't noticed that.

But I've also banished the JRE from network machines (whenever I can) so those few Java updates I still need to do are hand jobs anyway as you so 'poetically' put it.
 

2722

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by 40hz on October 10, 2013, 01:08 PM »

from the pure malice department:

-Renegade (October 10, 2013, 11:56 AM)

Like sharing sites, Bitcoin is something some very powerful interests want to see go away.

So no surprise the banking and credit card systems (handmaidens to the Powers that Be) are doing their part to help out.

I'm waiting for Google to be ordered to stop indexing and providing search results for the terms 'Bitcoin' and 'crypto-currency.' They're already trying to have Google do that with VPN and share sites in some countries.

Only a matter of time...

2723

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt Audit

« Last post by 40hz on October 10, 2013, 01:01 PM »

+1 w/CUW


I think it's more that it's just now become important enough that people want to know for sure about TrueCrypt. Especially since misplaced trust in some faulty encryption mechanism is far more dangerous than not having encryption at all.

FWIW I've never heard any creditable concerns about TrueCrypt prove out so far.

2724

General Software Discussion / Re: Silent installer for java and adobe products

« Last post by 40hz on October 10, 2013, 12:49 PM »

There are several network inventory/management server products that can scan the network, identify what software is installed and push any updates to the machines like Microsoft's WSUS does.

A couple of problems however:

• They tend to be fairly expensive since this falls into that category of software called "enterprise." So unless you already have the platform to run them on (and can get some sort of educational discount) they're probably beyond your budget.
   
• Convenience comes with a price tag attached. And they can be very fiddley to operate - with the less expensive products usually being a lot more work to set up and get running properly.
   
• Unless your networked PCs have wake-on-LAN set up, the boxes will need to be left on overnight to get the updates. Otherwise, they'll usually start updating the minute they're logged in. If somebody has a lot to do, or is on a tight deadline, any automated download-install-reboot cycle can result in complaints from their boss to your boss about it.
    
• Related to the previous point - if you allow users to cancel or defer updates, 85% will ALWAYS do so and the updates won't be made to most of your machines. About the only people who will let them run are the people looking for an excuse to take a break.

There might be some F/OSS software solutions that could also work for you. But I can't recall any names off the top of my head.

Too bad you're not in a Linux/BSD environment. This capability is available courtesy of the software repository feature built into virtually every distro out  there.
 

2725

General Software Discussion / Re: self-hosted, high quality video podcast. How?

« Last post by 40hz on October 08, 2013, 05:11 PM »

I don't know how ambitious you are, but Jupiter Broadcasting (producers of the Linux Action Show, CodeSnap, Unfilter, etc.) like these guys a lot. I'm a fairly regular watcher of their shows and I have to admit the quality and speed of the video stream coming through this new supplier is vastly superior to anything they had before. It even works great streaming to an iPhone on a 3G network.

I don't know how pricing works in this market. But from what I looked at, they seemed quite reasonable. They also have a comparison of their prices to about a dozen other streaming media services you can look at.

I really liked that opening line - Consider this: "You don't get what you pay for, you get what you get".

So true...so true.

Price Comparisons

Consider this: "You don't get what you pay for, you get what you get". Below you will find tables comparing our rates to those of our major competitors, as well as some notes explaining the differences between their service and ours. Tweet

    BrightSign
    Streamzilla
    UStream
    BrightCove
    LimeLight
    Wistia
    Dacast
    Amazon CloudFront and S3
    Rackspace CloudFiles
    CacheFly
    SoftLayer
    EdgeCast
    Voxel VoxCAST
    MaxCDN
    Microsoft Azure CDN

Might be worth checking out.