tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9315943456335201822024-02-06T23:33:03.072-05:00Infinite ClarityInfinite resolution ideas, design, and lifestyle.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-43747564586050113172013-04-08T15:08:00.002-05:002013-04-08T15:08:52.711-05:00Ubuntu, VMware View Client plus USB RedirectionCompiled links for personal use. Only use these materials if you are licensed to use them.
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">List</h2>Will update later. Dump of items.
Thread for USB redirection: http://communities.vmware.com/thread/262584?start=75&tstart=0
Location of DEB package for View 1.7 client: http://www.ubuntuupdates.org/package/canonical_partner/lucid/partner/base/vmware-view-client
<br><br>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_q3JcNMHmUYU29UR3FSd3BoZjg/edit?usp=sharing">Cache of files</a>
<br><br>
vmware-view --fullscreen
<br><br>
Edit launchers in /usr/share/applications/
<br><br>
Remove workspaces: gconftool-2 -s /apps/metacity/general/num_workspaces --type int 1
<br><br>
Remove workspace icon: sudo gedit /usr/share/unity-2d/shell/launcher/Launcher.qml<br>
/* items.appendModel(workspaces); */
<br><br>
Disable guest: gksudo gedit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf
<br>Add line: allow-guest=false
<br><br>
Kill email icon: sudo apt-get remove indicator-messagesAaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-84377956112633073682012-12-08T21:50:00.001-05:002012-12-08T21:50:01.195-05:00Rebuild Auto Wiper Blades<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Goal of the Market</h2>If you want quality beam wiper blades, you'll have to replace them each year or every other year. Manufacturers want you to throw the assembly away when the rubber wears out, few places sell just the rubber. Most actually glue the rubber in so you can't get them out.
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Known Rebuildable Makes</h2>At Walmart, the <a href=http://www.ancowipers.com/products.html#p_contour>Anco beam blades</a> has the spring steel epoxied to the plastic, but the tips come off and you can slide in new rubber. I was able to trim the steel to fit my car with bolt cutters, since they don't make them short enough to fit. At other retailers, <a href=http://www.boschautoparts.com/WiperBlades/Pages/Icon.aspx>the Bosh Icon</a> blades also can have the rubber removed, except the entire spring steel piece can be removed completely after the tips, rubber, and sheath. If you plan on sliding in your own rubber, you will need to trim off the ridge in the center, as pictured below. A dab of lube (WD40) will help get them in. Just remember to wash with dish soap after.<br>
<img src=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc58OxW96U6-6DXXd3rHxncsbGCP0viqU7PfPH_zoZz-CTDUD_gK4zO6dfnyP9TDk-VLj1pWaVzxNgGl4IypScqcl5fOXHFBVxjckNfAFF195RpaSSwJc14VfJw0lwgMlSLm2oiw3VFA/s400/2012-12-08%252014.53.19-1.jpg><br><br><img src=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PHwH13I2fo7tLolGB8YDhZOtj00dGZBo-tBVAnA7p1aC2TUBxKhjzXA3fcJWtCFeOzLU07dsZRTt42VRB04JSprHNLjqZqPiSeGCUZCk76AKAz7iiuSt085ZCmdRSIp-uNbCNdLKg3w/s400/2012-12-08%252014.47.17-1.jpg><br><br><img src=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknsC1t6yE0NWipWJO3XnC3qjfiOb5LNprk7WXoBtjLZNRoIcrc339v8R9T5qxZ4O1FNqgm8lg3n4FUCr_rTd2duBVXzlQDrbtv27rpwZndBYTbjq4wBg5jafFkBbFNR7CH4_jcegGmtg/s400/2012-12-08%252014.47.32.jpg>
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Replacement Rubber</h2>The replacements from Rock Auto that I ordered where not the right type, but some Trico refill kit from Advance Auto were, pictured below.<br><img src=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Aepu5U2-LTVNycG45EMFbTtvpCDxO2_fWvk_Sx135Y4cgqLHbFQe7xxoxSYuKhOI84geA54h_1dpY56dKfw-vFD_wuPVpcSAVi2ENIY8LtWiSViBO6CcFeWHHPzdQ6jH9onrnpMurJg/s400/2012-12-08%252014.47.54-1.jpg>
<br><br>
Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-50901729946772416592012-12-05T17:30:00.002-05:002012-12-05T17:56:16.439-05:00Tasker: CPU max in Call<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Summary</h2>
I've been through a few tasker profiles for during calls. This version waits 15 seconds after entering the in call state, and then sets CPU max to 200mhz. It aborts if one of the exit tasks changes the variable while its running. Tasker only runs one task at once, and will interrupt if the priorities are different, so setting the abort profile higher allows it to interrupt. Whenever I change the CPU max, I always put a perm notification up so you can cancel it manually.
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Code from backup</h2>
<pre><code>Task: Wait, Lower CPU 200mhz (42)
Run Both Together
A1: Variable Set [ Name:%CallTrigger To:1 Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A2: Wait [ MS:0 Seconds:15 Minutes:0 Hours:0 Days:0 ]
A3: If [ %CallTrigger ~ 1 ]
A4: Notify [ Title:CPU at 200mhz, click to cancel Text: Icon:<icon> Number:0 Permanent:On Priority:3 ]
A5: CPU [ CPU:0 Governor:smartassV2 Min. Frequency:100000 Max. Frequency:200000 ]
Task: Return CPU to normal (40)
A1: Variable Set [ Name:%CallTrigger To:0 Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A2: CPU [ CPU:0 Governor:smartassV2 Min. Frequency:100000 Max. Frequency:1000000 ]
A3: Notify Cancel [ Title:CPU at 200mhz, click to cancel Warn Not Exist:Off ]
A4: Notify Cancel [ Title:CPU at 400mhz, click to cancel Warn Not Exist:Off ]
Profile: In Call (39)
Priority: 6 CoolDown: 0
State: Call [ Type:Any Number:* ]
Enter: Wait, Lower CPU 200mhz (42)
Profile: Abort Call Event (41)
Priority: 10 CoolDown: 0
Event: Phone Idle
Enter: Return CPU to normal (40)
Profile: Abort Call State (43)
Priority: 10 CoolDown: 0
State: Call [ Type:Any Number:* ]
Exit: Return CPU to normal (40)
Profile: Cancel 200mhz (23)
Event: Notification Click [ Owner Application:Tasker Title:CPU at 200mhz, click to cancel ]
Enter: Return CPU to normal (40)
</code></pre>
<img src=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzw3vrqqOni4A6vfHFQH5gub7zAizxcOF7PKvhVGOUlJs-qkrMAz2ydGC1Tl1HIbVPJzv6zoxgCm0uI8RNL75fqcsAswY_rYcTYmj8HJGkmJ8dX4w5qhWnIIULFTOrcwXM8QL1o7SDODU/s640/SC20121205-175210.jpeg>
Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-53520115220440379552012-10-21T09:20:00.001-05:002012-10-21T09:20:36.876-05:00Subaru OEM Subwoofer with Aftermarket Head<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Goal</h2>Use a cheap OEM used subwoofer which comes out of the last 10 years generations of Suabrus with a aftermarket head unit. These subs perform well and are very easy to come by.
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">How it works</h2>The OEM sub gets signal from the rear speakers, and power from the power off the back of the radio. You don't have to fool with switching wires or triggers to turn it on, its all automatic. It has its own internal amp as well.
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Wiring Diagram</h2>The OEM harness has several colored wires, below is their colors matched up with a Clarion radio. Simply use a knife to strip a tiny part of the harness in the car, and splice the sub harness into it. It worked perfectly on my first try. I had to test the wires on the sub harness for which gray was which, and unfortunately when I figured it out I didn't write it down.<br><br>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUnMnQ1fyEXzrbW_Bi2uXBusAb9Jl62qK3aZsmQ2tTezqPNt6lk2JSuCdTn5REOp6zW4-_ti0ohnOdth0AFe1m6WQugxYi6arohEVcUiJZa6ahltIsuW1t3eT5sdQS31t_wvGXxuR1Zg/s640/droidscan-scan-2012.10.21_10.06.52.405.jpg">Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-53412264015352965492012-10-19T23:26:00.000-05:002012-10-19T23:29:27.247-05:00Last of the mohicans, Garmin 855<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Goal</h2>
An affordable GPS unit for automobiles that contains all the features you need for nav and music listening. All built-in and no plugging required<br />
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
State of Market</h2>
Almost all affordable units in stores do not contain MP3 player features, I believe because it would cut into sales of aftermarket head units. You can usually only find the feature through an online order. I have not tried other brands, as most of the features I require I've so far only seen in Garmin. Over the years, there are only a few models available that have all the features at any given time. Also, units with lifetime maps do not have MP3 features. The one unit that does have both does not have a line out port, making the MP3 player useless.<br />
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Required Features</h2>
<ul>
<li><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]..[0]">Line out/head phone connector</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]..[0]">Dock connector</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]..[0]">Muti-point nav with importing via GPX</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]..[0]">MP3</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]..[0]">SD card slot</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment237524749708085_889611}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]..[0]"></span></span></span></span></span><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Scenarios</h2>
When starting your car, the GPS receives power, and boots up to the main screen. The MP3 player was playing your playlist when you turned off the car, so it resumes in the background, playing from your SD card with your entire music collection on it. You can choose a destination and the routing commands pause the music to speak.<br />
<br />
If you want to create a custom route, such as for a car club, you can prepare it before hand. You can do this on the unit itself, or using tools such as Google maps and a converter to GPX. The unit only holds 10 routes ready, but can have as many GPX files staged for import as needed.<br />
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Refurb/New/Used</h2>
New and factory refurb units come with one free map update, and it can be updated twice if there happen to be new maps within 90 days of first registering the unit. Used units do not come with this feature.<br />
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Available units</h2>
I prefer to buy on Amazon, for shipping and return ease. If there is any problem with a sub-seller, big brother Amazon has my back and they always come through. The <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=33922">Nuvi 885</a> is the only model on Amazon at the time of this writing for under $150, and there is a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001OMGVII/ref=dp_olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished">refurb shipped free for $110</a>. Previous models that met my requirements were the nuvi 780 and nuvi 360. I still use them both every week.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://static.garmincdn.com/en/products/010-00577-31/g/cf-md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://static.garmincdn.com/en/products/010-00577-31/g/cf-md.jpg" /></a></div>
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Bluetooth</h2>
Both my nuvi 360 and nuvi 780 had bugs in their Bluetooth software/firmware, making the feature unusable. They each were serviced by the factory with no success.<br />
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Permanent Mounting in Vehicle</h2>
I took the leap and permanently mounted my GPS on my dash. I drilled a hole for a small bolt, and attached the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012MJXXA/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00">GARMIN 010-10823-03 Adjustable Suction Cup</a>. After removing the suction cup, the bolt goes through the existing hole and into the dashboard, secured with a small nut on the inside, wedged inside a supporting plastic rib. I also added a bolt to restrict the height the arm can droop, better supporting the weight of the GPS. This works best if you press out the hinge rod and reinstall the arm backwards.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocP3FpX1-Gsbq17gUPABRqXtjKOV3Wzsp-yzptJjKyxY375Mdc4esDPXmsOK8rzp9WOuTRR8Wr3Mtbp_tg2mgR_HuGA_xThoBLOqJZW8hjlTUZ-4goSyts8LuAV6_ugURHeOH4CYhB70/s0/DSC_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocP3FpX1-Gsbq17gUPABRqXtjKOV3Wzsp-yzptJjKyxY375Mdc4esDPXmsOK8rzp9WOuTRR8Wr3Mtbp_tg2mgR_HuGA_xThoBLOqJZW8hjlTUZ-4goSyts8LuAV6_ugURHeOH4CYhB70/s640/DSC_5020.JPG" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMyTylLUWBsg-rdGncx9gls9K28v2wPZw0pcB87pdN3W1pVRwPD4EBY4lc6OeEaNKJNxfh0fnxPeO3p_x0-vcIjVCneAgJVt6lZCS7g43qAOwctnsI1HdqFU-XmlEsApYV3sfpFf-v0Q/s0/2012-04-06%252019.50.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMyTylLUWBsg-rdGncx9gls9K28v2wPZw0pcB87pdN3W1pVRwPD4EBY4lc6OeEaNKJNxfh0fnxPeO3p_x0-vcIjVCneAgJVt6lZCS7g43qAOwctnsI1HdqFU-XmlEsApYV3sfpFf-v0Q/s640/2012-04-06%252019.50.37.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuo9upyaZuKsnoaZOgcpFhZY__PXEsY5I8k3vLOwMswk9ywteHOSSwaakRPzwV6HckCXx8KAcVZdc2Ia_1e9hsVWvTinzf-Duaz6RPiA5tQ30fwDBfNwiUNEuCsmqSyHTHRd4HQ8B-2Z8/s0/2012-04-07%252016.31.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuo9upyaZuKsnoaZOgcpFhZY__PXEsY5I8k3vLOwMswk9ywteHOSSwaakRPzwV6HckCXx8KAcVZdc2Ia_1e9hsVWvTinzf-Duaz6RPiA5tQ30fwDBfNwiUNEuCsmqSyHTHRd4HQ8B-2Z8/s640/2012-04-07%252016.31.58.jpg"/></a></div>
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<br />Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-54285654538767551902012-10-10T22:04:00.000-05:002012-10-10T22:04:45.735-05:00Backroad Driving: Maps<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Background</h2>
One of my passions is enjoying elegant roads with great curves. I've encountered many great places and here are a selection you can enjoy.
<br />
<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Colerain, Ohio - Cruise for the Boobs</h2>
<a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=OH-128+N%2FHamilton+Cleves+Pike+Rd&daddr=Buffalo+Ridge+Rd+to:E+Miami+River+Rd+to:Jordan+Rd+to:Zion+Rd+to:Wesselman+Rd+to:E+Miami+River+Rd+to:E+Miami+River+Rd+to:Day+Rd+to:Bank+Rd+to:W+Kemper+Rd+to:Colerain+Ave+to:Turn+in+Concepts,+7+Cinchris+Drive,+Fairfield,+OH&hl=en&ll=39.24156,-84.529839&spn=0.240638,0.528374&sll=39.202063,-84.687767&sspn=0.060127,0.132093&geocode=FYFDVgIdanjz-g%3BFW8PVgId2V3z-g%3BFSILVgIdKOfy-g%3BFc7fVQId0Urz-g%3BFTcBVgIdHGrz-g%3BFd41VgIdVMzz-g%3BFYLRVgIdwXvz-g%3BFS0gVwIdgkX0-g%3BFe5JVwId_pT0-g%3BFXlmVwIdUQ71-g%3BFWuwVwIdThT1-g%3BFUqxVwIdD670-g%3BFTw2WAIdFpX2-iGQdAD8NUegKSnBKZVvP09AiDGQdAD8NUegKQ&mra=ps&t=m&z=12">Google Maps link to route</a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=&confirm=no_antivirus&id=0B_q3JcNMHmUYWWVsUGphanlTUXM">PDF Version for high quality printing</a> - Includes pictures of turns and dead end notices.<br />
<br />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>A wide variety of tricky roads to be taken at a gentle pace your first time.</li>
<li>Road debris are common, cops are not. </li>
<li>Many unsited hilly terain</li>
<li>Location of some of the steepest straight line hills, Buffalo Ridge </li>
</ul>
<br />
Notes:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTJyAwu8dcUyqcSkIO-5bOe4HfS09NkWRpunzwFkVRnpT4synGwT6xmMNVANb1KwPbsc1TdvMki827ZxJedcssT-aR5QwDDV2QyfVgyFhYv0TuHC7oL4pmGOzSMHY-tSf3qGWi8Rg-LY/s1600/untitled.PNG" imageanchor="1"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTJyAwu8dcUyqcSkIO-5bOe4HfS09NkWRpunzwFkVRnpT4synGwT6xmMNVANb1KwPbsc1TdvMki827ZxJedcssT-aR5QwDDV2QyfVgyFhYv0TuHC7oL4pmGOzSMHY-tSf3qGWi8Rg-LY/s0/untitled.PNG" /></a>
Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-31267966925327546222012-10-10T21:30:00.001-05:002012-10-10T21:30:37.213-05:00What is Infinite Clarity<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">What is Infinite Clarity?</h2>An idea, method, or moral should be so finely honed so that as they are more and more closely scrutinized, they get even more clear. A value that can be held so firmly, that the more it is questioned, the more obvious that the holder will not waffle. A passion with enough definition and direction the it only gets more interesting the more you investigate it.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-63084388906886572602012-07-13T23:10:00.000-05:002012-07-13T23:10:18.695-05:00Secondary Public Wifi via DD-WRT<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Goal</h2>To have a secondary WiFi network for guests, on a separate radio, in a separate location from the main router.
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Hindrances</h2>I have a single CAT5 run to the opposite side of the house, plugged into a media center. Using a switch to run both the AP and the HTPC seems like a waste. I'm also not a pro at static routing, so simple is better.
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Hardware needed</h2>All I used was a DD-WRT capable router and couple net cables.
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Diagram</h2><img src="https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1aTY7xM4AQcL7YV6gSFj9xkp0pBfxLVxOD7413aCncnw&w=804&h=654" />
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Setup</h2>Setting up the separate DHCP server was pretty easy following their <a href="http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Separate_Lan_and_WLan">wiki article</a>.
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Extra Recommendations</h2>After setting it up, it makes sense to ensure the address the new LAN uses to reach the main gateway has heavy QoS to prevent guests from overwhelming LAN requests. If you need services to be reachable from both Wifi APs, such as remote controls on phones, simply create a public port that only the internal addresses can utilize. An example is forwarding port 8080 to my HTPC, but only allowing source addresses from inside my two LANs to utilize it. <code>TCP [source]192.168.1.0/24 8080 [destination]192.168.1.50</code>
Don't forget to turn on AP isolation so guests cannot access one another.
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Results</h2>After being in use for many months, I get no complaints from guests, and I find myself utilizing the extra stretch of signal everyday. My Android roams between the two networks as needed depending on where I'm at without noticeable delay.
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt;
padding: 1px;">Verizon Extender</h2>You may have noticed the cellular extender on my network, it extends a 1x digital area around my house for all Verizon devices. It functions as an extension of their network, and when connected to its data service, all access is tunneled to their network before leaving an endpoint. Its great for testing, and using it as a trigger in Tasker to turn on my WiFi has greatly increased my battery life and seamless access for high speed data access on my Android. Its reach of 1x signal covers both my G and N areas, so it always triggers as I drive up the driveway or walk into range from off our property.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-37833840822018384292010-12-30T16:38:00.003-05:002010-12-30T16:59:32.087-05:00Extracting ISO in Linux via Command Line<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Goal</h2>By using simple command line options, reliably extract any ISO in Ubuntu.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; <br />padding: 1px;">Hinderances</h2>Apparently, many tools are out of date for extracting ISO images via CLI. The linux kernel is very up to date and is the most reliable for accessing ISO files. Unfortunately, there is no one command to use it.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; <br />padding: 1px;">My Aliases</h2>I'm no scripting genius, so I just used a few aliases to make it pretty easy.<br /><br />First, make the directories that you plan to use for your ISO mounts.<br /><code>cd<br />mkdir iso1 iso2 iso3</code><br /><br />Then create aliases in your .bashrc<br /><code>pico .bashrc</code><br /><br />Now add the aliases to mount and unmount the ISOs. <br /><code>alias mountiso='sudo mount -o loop ./*.iso ~/iso1'<br />alias mountiso2='sudo mount -o loop ./*.iso ~/iso2'<br />alias mountiso3='sudo mount -o loop ./*.iso ~/iso3'<br />alias unmountiso='sudo umount ~/iso1'<br />alias unmountiso2='sudo umount ~/iso2'<br />alias unmountiso3='sudo umount ~/iso3'<br /></code><br /><br />To use them, cd to the dir with your ISO in it, and run one of the 3 commands.<br /><code>cd ~/Downloads/CoolLinux<br />mountiso2</code><br /><br />Copy your files. I like rsync's nice progress meter.<br /><code>rsync --progress ~/iso2/BiggunTutorial.mp4 ./</code><br /><br />Repeat for other ISOs if needed.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-28545236705475673332009-07-15T09:04:00.008-05:002013-05-11T19:52:13.516-05:00Script for Xbox Live: Detect and Disable Bittorrent<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Goal</h2>
When you are playing games on Xbox Live, you usually need every bit of ping speed possible. For us with DSL, when the line is saturated, the ping times drop. If you run a bittorrent client around the clock, then even small amounts of seeding or large amounts of downloading can noticeably slow your ping times. Most modern connections are good enough to not drop packets, but only fractionally delay them. When that one packet is your sniper rifle bullet, any delay can have dire consequences. This whole subject can apply to PS3 or any other service of your liking. You could also use some of the commands for PC gaming.<br />
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Best solution</h2>
The best solution I have discovered by trial and error is to always decrease the load on the line. Prioritizing packets at the router does not always ensure that the modem can imediately send them as requested. We need to detect that an Xbox live connection is active and reduce the bandwith load at the source, which in this example is uTorrent.<br />
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
How to detect Xbox Live</h2>
Well it turns out this can be fairly difficult to do accurately, as the service is always changing. The easiest and most reliable way is to just detect that the Xbox unit is active on the LAN, and assume that Xbox Live is active. Other methods may work, but this is the easiest and most reliable.<br />
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<code>check=`ip neighbor | grep 192.168.1.6 > /dev/null; echo $?`</code><br />
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First we need to make sure the Xbox has a static IP, or a <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Static+DHCP">static DHCP</a> so we can detect it. Then we use "ip neighbor" to see if it is listed as active in the ip tables for the router. This command should find it immediately as soon as the Xbox comes online. When it turns off, there will be a delay before it disappears. The reason for using a variable is in case we have more than one Xbox.<br />
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Running a command once it is detected</h2>
Once you have detected the IP is active, then you need to run some sort of command to tell something to cut off your bittorrent bandwidth. One way is to use routing to cut of the IP of your bittorrent machine, but a more elegant way is to send a command to the bittorrent client to have it gracefully ease the traffic. uTorrent has a nice web-ui that you can send commands to change its settings. The settings we are concerned with are restricting upload, download, and total number of connections. The reason for restricting the connections is that some modems bog down with too many connections, regardless of the throughput. And in an unrelated note, it is always good to have lots of connections for good bittorrent speeds. The wget command tries to get a webpage, this one includes sending the request for the desired settings. There must also be a command to reset the settings back to default for when the Xbox goes offline, in this example, it is "max_ul_rate\&v\=0", which means unlimited bandwidth.<br />
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<b>Update</b>: uTorrent 2.x now enables a new authentication measure by default, which is not compatible with this script. Simply turn it off as <a href="http://forum.utorrent.com/viewtopic.php?pid=443718#p443718">mentioned in this thread</a>. Access Options...Preferences...Advanced then set <i>webui.token_auth</i> to false.<br />
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<code>if [ $check -eq "0" ]; then<br />wget -O /dev/null http\://username\:password\@192.168.1.3:9999/gui/\?action\=setsetting\&s\=max_ul_rate\&v\=5\&s=max_dl_rate\&v=5\&s=conns_globally\&v=50 2> /dev/null<br />else<br />wget -O /dev/null http\://username\:password\@192.168.1.3:9999/gui/\?action\=setsetting\&s\=max_ul_rate\&v\=0\&s=max_dl_rate\&v=0\&s=conns_globally\&v=300 2> /dev/null<br />fi</code><br />
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Multiple Xbox's</h2>
You can setup more than Xbox as well, as long as they have their static IP's set.<br />
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<code><br />check=`ip neighbor | grep 192.168.1.6 > /dev/null; echo $?`<br />check2=`ip neighbor | grep 192.168.1.55 > /dev/null; echo $?`<br />if [[ $check == "0" || $check2 == "0" ]]; then</code><br />
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
My whole script</h2>
Here is my script in its entirety. It runs every 1 minute on my Linksys WRT54GL running Tomato Linux.<br />
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<code>check=`ip neighbor | grep 192.168.1.6 > /dev/null; echo $?`<br />if [[ $check == "0" ]]; then<br />wget -O /dev/null http\://username\:password\@192.168.1.3:9999/gui/\?action\=setsetting\&s\=max_ul_rate\&v\=5\&s=max_dl_rate\&v=5\&s=conns_globally\&v=50 2> /dev/null<br />else<br />wget -O /dev/null http\://username\:password\@192.168.1.3:9999/gui/\?action\=setsetting\&s\=max_ul_rate\&v\=0\&s=max_dl_rate\&v=0\&s=conns_globally\&v=300 2> /dev/null<br />fi</code><br />
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Source of information</h2>
The original thread that I discussed and got ideas from is below. Thanks for your help!<br />
<a href="http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60482">LinksysInfo Forums: Script for Xbox Live: Detect and Make QoS Changes</a><br />
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<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">
Updates for using on Ubuntu</h2>
I switched from running on my router to running on my Ubuntu box. I added a cron script to run every minute, and since the box does not actively interface with the switch and Xbox, I added a ping to the script. This changes what gets listed in the ip neighbor results, so I simply changed it to detect the MAC of my Xbox instead of the IP.<br />
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Updated part of script:<br />
#!/bin/bash<br />ping 192.168.1.14 -c 1<br />check=`ip neighbor | grep 00:dd:d8:dd:2f:5a > /dev/null; echo $?`<br />Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-89777202008845086352008-12-05T14:47:00.020-05:002008-12-05T16:22:25.189-05:00Bittorrent: Start to Finish Encryption<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Goal</h2>The goal for this article is to enable downloading content with the bittorrent network, with all parts of the process encrypted from server to client. This prevents any snooping from any 3rd party ISP. A proxy cannot be used either.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Tools</h2>uTorrent, latest version<br />A torrent tracker or scraper that supports HTTPS. Examples are<br /><a aiotitle="https://thepiratebay.org/" href="https://thepiratebay.org/">https://thepiratebay.org/</a><br /><a aiotitle="https://isohunt.com/" href="https://isohunt.com/">https://isohunt.com/</a><br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Limitations</h2>Not all torrent files are compatible with this method. Torrent files with the private flag cannot be used, due to the blockage of DHT and Peer Exchange. This also removes the ablity for the tracker to keep statistics on how much you have downloaded and uploaded. This also removes the ability for your ISP to use packet inspection to lower the priority of Bittorrent traffic, in exchange for VOIP for example.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Process</h2><br /><div style="clear: right;"><img style="float: right;" class="shrunkImage" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqh6Wk1Ybx9YCP0mq9mTnR6uUISeJ2m4X25SWLh9PpsAwKR8B2Jy-q4iHJjO0_1eqLMhDkW5uD6OI9iMvoBIRpHrLO3sBDLJhOT-9ViplRyhDzdSQ32djIlWPjm-HPTkZTVdOB0T5GJY/s800/screen1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276401763142250050" border="0" />First, browse to your favorite HTTPS tracker. Make sure that "https://" is in the URL. Then copy the link to the torrent. You can save the file to your desktop if you want.</div><br /><br /><div style="clear: right;"><img style="float: right;" class="shrunkImage" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2WtVCDkQQ1Bwqzx2a_7UF2VoSnF725fzgnk4vJgjjMYGqj359iXsBgh12q9Q-0qNZkD3eK_Vcvm4pwPa_0SHjZnVAkxML5duWckv-YieEL66AyhfikUB1FRVPYTRxxND91p9Ulp7oP8/s800/screen2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276403745860834402" border="0" /><br />Second, check your uTorrent settings. On the <b>Bittorrent</b> panel, enable <b>DHT Network</b>, enable <b>Local Peer Discovery</b>, enable <b>Peer Exchange</b>, set <b>Protocol Encryption</b> to <b>Forced</b> and disable <b>Allow incoming legacy connections</b>.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="clear: right;"><img style="float: right;" class="shrunkImage" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL2hz9cuE3Gt5eJFSfknqP602s_v2gBBe1Kck9vuRR_HY0CoV3lqJEwG7w_UXjkxYBfd0pjRKPIEF5L1zy0i-h5BPVXL40O2PAncfkQkf_ckFqqrkOy59nI7P3Ip-X8-zF_M1i9D6ZWc/s800/screen3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276404461930375234" border="0" /><br />In the Directories panel, enable the setting to <b>Always show dialog on manual add</b>.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="clear: right;"><img style="float: right;" class="shrunkImage" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxB1lC6vxxrIRmI1B2nN0pIqB6fR19fxWDJCq7X6dyE4j7KCE8avmOPYnL94OU8HgR0rVNxQXnqERlCkdlrMHZWKaKnzs_7lICkpgQwSJRs8ziG7inHGNu9NxIk1JjrHKooPGEtOq7Ig/s800/screen5.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276404884367093266" border="0" /><br />Click the <b>Add torrent from URL</b> button. Ensure the url of torrent contains "https://"</div><br /><br /><div style="clear: right;"><img style="float: right;" class="shrunkImage" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhCppusOb2q83l_gJXyT_XbEwXfHfYlqNaDcxFCZ79-Z6FrS-j3_1O9rKQaL0cPhTCpPTds-fr1b6uBBHtnmEVKrFMifUqz2NWL5baMPEh7KNc1wofhcbavOizRQaDXDXpsm03GldppE/s800/screen6.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276405328549552098" border="0" /><br />Now click <b>Advanced</b> and remove all the items in the <b>Trackers</b> box that do not contain "https". This usually will be all of them. Then check that <b>DHT</b> and <b>Peer Exchange</b> are enabled. If not, your torrent is private and cannot be downloaded under full encryption.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="clear: right;"><img style="float: right;" class="shrunkImage" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiKCfmoGKD066H2tJPTc6I_coG574-5t3K7f_XvwqNmpNKZmNyAwymSu9ltO5Y77ixxKbGcPGxwXn3p-aTHPktj1LxRmy33SLb3NlgNrcWkQV51WCgBYfG6PSdcYbx4K9L3xIJwXmNMY/s800/screen7.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276405716773645986" border="0" /><br />Once your torrent starts, check under the <b>Trackers</b> tab to see that it finds peers via <b>DHT</b> and <b>Peer</b> exchange after a few minutes. If not, your kinda out of luck.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px; clear: right;">Opinion</h2>Personally, I believe this is the best way to download torrents until privacy is stated as secure by your ISP. Until ISP's decided to update their policies and accept the new age of content delivery, I refuse to hear their woes of bandwidth shaping and having their networks flooded with unidentified traffic. I personally don't support the idea of private torrents and forums for content that should be public. I do not wish you to accept my view, but offer you the option to consider it.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-7264724115648713142008-05-03T09:24:00.013-05:002008-05-30T08:30:56.679-05:00Methods for backing Up Your Data Proficiently<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Summary</h2><div style="border: 1px dashed grey; margin: 5px; padding: 5px 15px; float: right; width: 10em; color: green; font-size: 1.3em; display: block; clear: both;">The amount of data that you personally generate in a workday determines how much time you can afford to lose</div>This article covers methodology for personal backups, in the workplace and home. How to accomplish this goal on a Windows XP environment is covered in more detail.<br /><span style="clear: both; display: block;"></span><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Goals for Backing Up Your Personal Work Data</h2>The main goal of a backup is to ensure your threshold for data loss that can keep you productive in an emergency. The method you use for backup should not compromise security that you have in place for the live data. The selection of data should be updated relative to the importance, expandability, and freshness of the data being backed up.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Decide: Your Time of Loss Threshold<br /></h2>The amount of data that you personally generate in a workday determines how much time you can afford to lose if you lose your work. If you generate lots of data that cannot be duplicated in less than a day's time, you may need to backup more than once a day. If you do not create data, or your data is moved to an alternate location that is not your own, your threshold may be as large as a week or two.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Decide: Detecting the Data Loss<br /></h2>Haveing backup plan is only half of what is required. You must know what to do in case of a data loss, and if your backup will be reliable. The first step in planing the recovery is ensureing you detect the data loss in a reasonable amount of time. If all the data you are backing up will be used on a day to day basis, detection will be easier. If you do not touch some data for weeks or months, you may not detect it until it is too late and your backup system has overwritten the file you need.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Determine: Frequency That Your Data Changes<br /></h2> Just because you deal with your data everyday does not mean it changes, and vis versa. You need to identify the number of files, the size of those files, and how much space each will take up. Do you create new files each time you add new data? Do your existing files get modified/appended/overwritten when you add new data?<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Determine: A Location For Your Data<br /></h2> The reliability of your backup source, and security need to be chosen carefully. Does the device itself have the same physical security of your computer? What about file permissions on network and local level? Is the data encrypted? You should take into account hard drive failure, so your backups must be on a separate machine. You also might want to consider if you require an off site location.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Encryption<br /></h2> Any sensitive data needs to be encrypted, and the encryption you chose determines how it gets backed up. Using filesystem encryption does not work well for physical backups, because it is encrypted/decrypted on read/write for Windows. On Linux, <a href="http://samba.anu.edu.au/rsync/">rsync</a> can backup disks without decrypting them, as well as files. Encrypted disks cannot be inquired for what files have changed, and keep track of them. When copying a large modified encrypted file, only a versioning file system like ZFS can detect the changes in the encrypted file and keep past versions - only in a best case scenario. Windows has no way of doing anything like this on the file system or in a file container. The best way to start getting a handle on backing up encrypted files is to make sure you are only encrypting what you need encrypted, and that the quickly changing files are separated from the static ones - a passwords file verses a informational document.<br /><br />I personally use <a href="http://www.truecrypt.org/">TrueCrypt</a>, with a large encrypted file as a volume on Windows. The changes to the file cannot be detected, and the entire file must be overwritten or duplicated when backed up. In Linux, rsync could potentially detect the changes in my large file, but I would still lose versions.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Windows XP: Backup Locked Files<br /></h2> On Windows, the NTFS file system locks files as they are opened and closed, so only Windows' proprietary Shadow Copy system can access locked files. The Backup utility on Windows XP can take advantage of the Shadow Copy, but you cannot use Shadow Copy via the command line. Other third party utilities can as well, but not always reliably and at a monetary cost usually.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Windows XP: Backup Non-locked Files<br /></h2>Files that are not locked can be copied normally, so quick retrieval is available. A script that copys files once or twice a day, that only copies changed or new files is good for hard disk backup. A good utility for this is <a aiotarget="false" aiotitle="Windows Resource Kit: Robocopy" href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en">Windows Resource Kit: Robocopy</a>. An example command that does not copy video files and is by default incremental: <code>"C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\robocopy.exe" "C:\Documents and Settings\myprofile\My Documents" "\\MyBackupServer\Backup Share\My Documents" /e /XF *.mkv /XF *.avi /XF *.mpg /XF *.mpeg /XF *.mp4</code><br />When you run robocopy as a scheduled task, it leaves error codes as results. You can look them up in the readme or <a aiotitle="search here" href="http://www.google.com/search?q=robocopy+return+code+ERRORLEVEL">search here</a>.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Windows XP: Quirks of NTBackup<br /></h2>Using <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=ntbackup">NTBackup</a> can be problematic. Here are some notes you need to know to correctly configure a backup.<br /><ol><li>Always disable "Wizard Mode". You will need to uncheck this option on first run, and rerun it.</li><li>On the "Backup" tab, your file selections are saved into a ".bks" file, with only lists the files to include. You can save as many selection files as you want, anywhere you want. These files do <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> contain the backup "Options"</li><li>You can modify your ".bks" files without updating the task in Task Scheduler.<br /></li><li>On the "Backup" tab, your file selections are forced recursive scan on any folder that you check individual files in. If you check the file "C:\log.txt", all directories and files in "C:\" will be scaned, but not backed up. This takes too long. You may want to restructure your files so they have their own folders.</li><li>The choices you make in "Tools...Options...Backup Type" only apply to the current running instance, <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> any scheduled task you make. You can see the results in the command line options for the task.</li><li>The choices you make in "Tools...Options...Exclude File Types" are global, and are in effect anytime the program is run. You should choose them carefully, example: C:\*.mp3</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">[Updated] </span>When completing the job or creating the scheduled task, be sure to choose "Append this backup to media" for incremental and "Replace the data on the media with this backup" for normal mode. If you forget to check, the "/a" activates the append mode on the command listed in the scheduled task properties. Remove it to activate replace mode.<br /></li></ol><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Windows XP: NTFS Archive Flag<br /></h2>Do you remember the "Archive" property, found on old FAT filesystem files? That property still exsistes in NTFS, it is just not easily changed manually. The first time you run a backup that has the "mark files as backed up" options, all the affected files will be marked.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Backup Types: Incremental vs Normal<br /></h2>The incremental backup type will only scan the file system for files that do not have the "Archive" or "backed up" property set. It will skip all files found with it set, regardless of you are creating a new backup project or test. If you are running the same backup again, the backup type incremental will always <span style="font-weight: bold;">add</span> the entire file to the backup archive if it has been modified since the previous one was added to the backup archive file. With incremental backups, modified files will result in multiple copies of files inside the archive file.<br /><br />A normal backup completely ignores the "Archive" or "backed up" property when copying the file, and then sets the property once complete.<br /><br />You should do a Incremental backup on directories that have files that do not change frequently, but you need versions in case you desire to restore a particular version of the file. Example: "My Documents"<br /><br />You should do a Normal backup on directories that have files that change constantly. If you need versions, you should determine the versioning plan you need - which could be a new version each day. Ideally, you could delete old versions to save space. Example: your "Firefox Profile", backed up each day, after one week overwriting that same day of week. "MondayFirefoxProfile.bkf"<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Windows XP: Using the Task Scheduler<br /></h2>DWhen you click "Start Backup" in NTBackup, you can add items to the Task Scheduler. Here are some notes you need to know to correctly configure a backup task.<br /><ol><li>Windows treats each task listed like a file, you can copy outside the scheduler. You can only duplicate tasks by dragging them outside the Scheduler window and renaming them. The files themselves are encoded, and cannot be edited outside the Task Scheduler applet.</li><li>In the properties of a task, you can see the command that is run with all the switches.</li><li>You can remove the saved password that NTBackup asked you for in the task properties under "Run only if logged on". Unchecking this feature would enable the task to run if you logged out. While it is checked, it still runs while the workstation is locked.</li><li>Scheduling a separate backup for each day of the week is accomplished by using "Schedule...Weekly" and making a separate task for each day of the week.</li><li>Scheduling twice a day is accomplished by using "Schedule...Daily" and accessing "Advanced". Then set it to repeat. Example: "Start: 12:01pm Repeat: 6 hours Duration 6 hours 5 min"</li><li>If you want to get a task to run while you go to lunch, you can change "Settings...Idle Time" to "Only Start if the computer has been idle for at least" and only "If the computer has not been idle for that long, retry for up to" the length of your lunch hour or more. You should start the task at an average of your lunch time.</li><li>Forcing the task using any of the settings may corrupt your backup file.</li><li>Note the "Don't start the task if the computer is running on batteries." This will interrupt your "Repeat task" if you have any.<br /></li></ol>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-88586067077812615332007-03-26T14:55:00.000-05:002007-03-26T15:51:58.885-05:00Anxiety and Preparedness<div style="float: left; clear: none; width: 5%; font-size: 3em; margin-top: -10px;">“</div><div style="float: left; clear: none; width: 90%;">The world today is a safer place, with all our knowledge and technology. Everyday situations are less likely to fail because devices and methods are engineered to be fail safe.</div><div style="float: left; clear: none; width: 5%; font-size: 3em; margin-top: 25px; margin-bottom: -10px;">”</div><br /><br /><div style="clear: both;"><br />An experienced living person can tell you that the above statements seem to be more and more false the more experienced a personality becomes. Methods and devices are only tools for decreasing the probability of a disaster happening in your every day life, never totally removing it. The odds for a loss of life and limb are never decreased enough to remove their necessity of consideration for every reasonable person.</div><br /><div style="border: 1px dashed grey; margin: 5px; padding: 5px 15px; float: right; width: 10em; color: green; clear: both; font-size: 1.3em;">You should be ready for that catastrophe, heartache, meeting of soul mate, or job opportunity at every moment of your life.</div>So does this lead to all ordinary people being consumed by anxiety? Is lack of anxiety foolish of a person, not considering their own odds of failure? <a aiotitle="Matthew 6: 25-34" href="http://www.ebible.com/bible/Matthew%206%3A%2025-34">Matthew 6: 25-34</a><br /><br />Not worrying about tomorrow is defiantly the easiest correct answer. Combining this idea with preparation for tomorrow is the key.<br /><br />As your every day progresses, decisions are made every day about the simplest items. Choosing what shirt you will wear. Pulling out in front of that truck during your commute. Eating out today instead of bringing lunch. In those free moments of your quick decision, contemplate the results of making other decisions. What if you chose a shirt that offended someone today? How would you handle that situation? What if that truck did hit you, resulting in being late for work or financial trouble? What if that Burbank's sandwich caused you a heart attack next week? In each of these questions, your answer should come about from your current knowledge, with some fair amount of confidence. If the answers are scary to you or you have no feasible way of survival, then you are unprepared for life in that situation.<br /><br />Recognizing and keeping your weaknesses conscious is all that is required to advance your personality, in life value and for this subject, safety. Being prepared a little more tomorrow for a recognized possibility is one step toward the ability to handle any situation. Dedicated research is a more drastic approach, and always a good idea for looking into your lacks of knowledge.<br /><br />A simple test to see if you are following this method or not: If you were told an uncontrollable catastrophe would happen to you tomorrow, what would you do different to prepare? If you choose to do something different, then you are an unprepared personality. You should be ready for that catastrophe, heartache, meeting of soul mate, or job opportunity at every moment of your life.<br /><br />Managing anxiety and preparedness is a huge asset to your stress management.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931594345633520182.post-3677085389840148782007-02-12T08:37:00.000-05:002007-02-12T14:36:25.798-05:00The ISP Sponsored DarkNet: The Future of IPTV<h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">The Past</h2>The last sparks of the traditional mass media distribution has burnt, and its blaring light for society is fizzling. I speak of traditional broadcast mass-market television.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">The Future</h2>The future is on demand content, influenced by the spirit of the Internet, fed by the Internet, and carried on the brittle backbone of the Internet with resilience unmatched by any other media available. The future of on-demand content will eclipse todays majority of BitTorrent traffic, while at the same time be sponsored by it.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">Why It is Not Now</h2>By viewing the popularity of on-demand illegal content already popular accost the BitTorrent community, it seems this reality is already upon us. But the vast amounts of bandwidth used by ordinary users is being traded between ISPs at a cost that might seem crippling compared to that low cost introductory rate most of us are familiar with. The amounts of credit passed between Sprint and Level 3 just to allow the Internet to function daily is astronomical, though manged in a reasonable balance. How would the strain of a mass media market immediately dumped upon it survive? It may survive, with frowns from many ISPs.<br /><br />A currently available recommendation, as spoken and developed by the community, is the advancement of the current BitTorrent distribution network, with ISPs taking advantage of cache functionality to reduce cross network traffic. This will not be done due to the cost to the ISP, and the possibility of questionable user generated content housed on company property.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">What Must Be Done</h2>An easier model for dealing with cross ISP traffic would be to encourage internal traffic <span style="font-weight: bold;">without </span>modifying existing external cross ISP traffic capabilities. Internal traffic among hosts on one ISP network would be granted more bandwidth, at the cost of the ISPs upgraded infrastructure as passed on as a distributed cost to the user. Internal traffic increases would immediately be noticeable in current BitTorrent implementations, with possibilities for future modifications. Competition would rise between ISPs with touts of the best "In" network.<br /><br /><h2 style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px;">More Ideas For Corporate Media Companies</h2>This new content network has yet to be taken advantage of by corporations. One immediately available opportunity is advertisement sponsored content provided through current sources. A quick search for a popular TV show will reveal that the first released files are always the largest swarm. A corporate media sponsored released file with embedded commercial advertising would have forced acceptance, and would benefit users. How this advertisement is implemented is questionable, but the past success of in-stream commercials edited into the main content. Of course DRM free. The rise of integrated applications would soon follow in all markets if such media was available.<br /><br /><a aiotitle="Darknet" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darknet"><b aiotitle="Darknet">Darknet</b></a> != <a aiotitle="Lightnet" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightnet"><b aiotitle="Lightnet">Lightnet</b></a> But it makes a better headline.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514791142368642535noreply@blogger.com1