Network…
Mar 6th
Finally decided to revisit my home network – LAN and Wireless, especially with respect to wifi security.
My setup essentially is this: a private Gigabit Local Area Network [LAN] using 192.168.0.x ip address range served by a dhcp server running off Smoothwall Express – an open source based excellent firewall program. I downloaded the iso from here, and installed it on a hardly used old but trusty Dell Poweredge 2300 server. My main server – running Windows 2008 has a static ip address and runs on a Dell Poweredge SC430. The 10/100/1000 gigabit switches – mainly cisco/netgear – enable me move large 3d rendered graphics files and family video files been edited across my server to/fro my prime Quad-core windows 7 64bit 8gb workstation.
For wireless – l gave away my old linksys a/b router – this router supports only WEP which is easily hackable. Retained my Dlink DIR-625 wireless router – set to 172.168.0.x ip address range, with the ethernet input from the smootwall green output. Smoothwall setup was Green+Red – Green is for the internal LAN while red represents the external network/internet interface from usually a home cable modem. I use WPA2-PSK for security at 802.11n wifi speed. The main reason l got this particular wireless router is – it offers parents the ability to lock out kid internet access at specific time. You simply reserve specific ip address for say kid x’s PC. Set a rule such as : internet off from 9pm to 5am workdays.
My 2nd wireless router is the Buffalo Airstation Turbo G WHR-G545 – 802.11g which l set at 172.168.16.x ip address range, with security set at WPA-PSK, key set to renew every 60mins. It supports TKIP as well as AOSS also. Installed at the 2nd half of the home, this gives adequate wireless coverage to any laptop that can authenticate with the right password.
Lingo:
A PSK is a 256-bit value, known to every device in the WLAN. That PSK is usually generated by combining the WLAN’s name (Service Set Identifier, SSID) (define) with a passphrase (an ASCII (define) string, 8-63 characters.)
Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam…
Mar 2nd
aka Akon -Senegalese American R&B singer.
This is one Artist who’s music l enjoy – especially his entire Freedom album, “Mama Africa” – from the Konvicted album.
Lyrics – Mama Africa:
So much so much love
So much
So tell me can you feel it?
So much so much yeah
you know
Then make that visit
So much so much love
So much
Senegal can you feel it?
So much so much yeah
So much
[Chorus:]
So much love to share
Pure blackness, wantness is so rare
So much love to care
Let them know they’re missin’ out
Mama Africa
So much love to share
Sweet blackness, oneness
Meet me there
So much love to care
Let them know they missin’ out
Sing again
A
This is for all the love
And the life took away
F
Don’t forget we were bought and trade
R
ripped from the land and shipped away
I
Is the inspiration we use to survive
C
Have to see it with your own cries
A
No play add it up and arrive
Still you don’t know
The land is so gold and green
The place is so fresh and clean
And everyday I water my garden
Tell me if you feel it deep in your heart
This place is so cool and nice
Visit once, guaranteed to visit twice
And if you just believe in the most high
I know you’ll be all right
[Chorus]
A
That’s my favorite place when I need to get away
F
Must forget but we can’t forget to pray
R
Like Lance ridin’ on the runway
I
In my homeland and I’m feelin’ so alive
C
Imagine Africa unite
A
Gonna accept mass alright
Still you don’t know
Skin is so dark and brown
She lifts me right off the ground
But no you not gonna see it on you TV
So just listen up and believe me
Her trees have the only cure
Her love is so new and pure
Had to kiss them troubles goodbye bye
No I don’t have to lie
mama Africa, unite
[Chorus]
So much so much love
So tell me can you feel it
So much so much
Then make that visit
So much so much love
Senegal can you feel it
So much so much
Ow!
So much love to share
I just can’t see how we’re livin’ without it
So much love to care
Don’t miss don’t miss one moment about it
So much love to share
Resist this bliss though I really doubt it
So much love so much love to share
Oh yeah
[Chorus]
Installing Sharepoint 2010 Beta..
Feb 19th
Microsoft Sharepoint 2010 beta software requires the following:
- Application server role, web server IIS Role
- SQL Server 2008 native client
- Microsoft “Geneva” framework runtime
- Microsoft Chart Controls for Microsoft Framework 3.5
- Microsoft Filter Pack 2.0
- SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services ADOCMD.NET
I attempted to install this on a development Windows 2008 R2 server, which already had SQL Server 2008 R2 installed. Out of the list below, l only needed to pre-install the Geneva framework runtime, MS chart control and ADOMD.net SQL 2008 Analysis services – even though l had SSAS installed as a SQL Server 2008 component.
Will post pictures later.
To install, you download the 575Mb Office2010 beta executable from Microsoft’s Sharepoint Website.
Running this, you first select – install software prerequities to deal with above. A reboot is required. The you select install sharepoint server.
Source for the Beta Product key – click here.
Since l would be using a separate SQL Server instalation – not sql server express, l did not select standalone. Then l selected complete installation, and changed my install paths to Drive D not Drive C – which l always reserve soley for OS installations only. Next, you select run the sharepoint configuration wizard. Click close. Select yes to restart necessary services. I selected Create a new server farm.
Problems removing a SQL2005 replication publication and subscription
Feb 11th
Issue:
use [MyDB]
exec sp_dropsubscription
@publication = N’pbMyDBSnapshotPull’,
@subscriber = N’YYY\MyDBX’,
@destination_db = N’MyDB’,
@article = N’all’
GO
Result
Msg 20032, Level 16, State 1, Procedure sp_MSdrop_subscription, Line 85
‘YYY\MyDBMOBILE’ is not defined as a Subscriber for ‘YYY\MYDBINSTANCE’.
Msg 14070, Level 16, State 1, Procedure sp_MSrepl_changesubstatus, Line 1210
Could not update the distribution database subscription table. The subscription status could not be changed.
Solution:
use [MyDB]
exec sp_dropsubscription
@publication = N’pbMyDBSnapshotPull’,
@subscriber = N’YYY\MyDBX’,
@destination_db = N’MyDB’,
@article = N’all’,
@ignore_distributor=1 –<<<<<<< *** Fix ************
GO
Result
The Subscriber was dropped.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox…
Jan 29th
Found online another amongst many, wonderful poem by Ella Wilcox – heres a link to the site, and a link to her wikipedia reference.
Search my tags under life for another excellent poem <or click here> by Ella Wheeler Wilcox l find particularly amazing.
CIRCUMSTANCE
Talk not to me of souls that do conceive Sublime ideals, but,
deterred by Fate And bound by circumstances, sit desolate, And long for heights they never can achieve.
It is not so. That which we most desire, With understanding, we at last obtain, In part or whole.
I hold there is no rain, No deluge, that can quench a heavenly fire.
Show me thy labour, I straightway will name The nature of thy thoughts.
Who bends the bow, And lets the arrow from the strained string go, Strikes somewhere near the object of his aim.
We build our ships from timbers of the brain; With products of the soul we load the hold;
Where lies the blame if they bring back no gold, Or if they spring a leak upon the main?
There is no Fate, no Providence, no Chance, The will is all. So be it thou art pure,
And strong of purpose, thy success is sure; But fools and sluggards prate of circumstance. Yesterdays.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
London: Gay & Hancock, 1916.
Preventing DNS hijacking by your ISP…
Jan 24th
Here is a link and interesting discuss on doing this if you use comcast. Here is a direct link to their solution webpage. Here is the link to OpenDNS. I’ve always found it annoying when you get redirected to a comcast search control+ad page, or a bing.com page when you mistype a url. This might be great for basic users, but power users would not l suspect like – you type hotmail.com in IE8 and your browser re-directs you to bing.com with hotmail.com as the first search result.! Now you need 2 clicks to simply get to hotmail.com
Movies to see…
Jan 20th
Nexus One – Android 2 – Eclipse
Jan 15th
Decided to revisit Android development due to the release of Google’s Nexus One Phone
Here are my steps so far:
- Download and install Eclipse Development environment from here [eclipse-jee-galileo-SR1-win32.zip ]
- Simply extract this to say, c:\eclipse
- Run eclipse
- Install Google’s ADT Plugin for Eclipse from here
- Download and install the SDK from here – in this case – up to Android 2.1, API 7, revision 1
- Extract above and run SDK Setup.exe – l had to to to the settings on the left hand side and check “force http…”, then choose accept all.
Transferring logins and passwords between SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008
Jan 15th
This link is very useful and details how to transfer the logins and the passwords between instances of Microsoft SQL Server 2005, and Microsoft SQL Server 2008, on different servers. – Microsoft Knowledge Base: #246133