blog on!
Nerding it up
Nov 30th
It has been some time since I configured a linux box, and even longer since I’ve used one on a daily basis.
About 5 months ago we purchased a small 27 RU rack to put in the garage, and laid out the beginnings of our gigabit home network.
This of course called for a server. I settled on Ubuntu Server and have since had lots of fun setting up the following:
- Webserver – Apache, MySQL, Php
This includes Virtual hosts for multiple domains hosted on a single IP address.
- Fileserver – Netatalk & Avahi
I used this fantastic tutorial to configure a file server that feeds all my media across our network. Netatalk provides the file sharing component (AFP) while Avahi provides the zeroconf discovery of server/shares.
- Websites – Wordpress, MRTG et al
I’ve only just started playing around with sites but so far this wordpress blog and MRTG have been configured. MRTG shows not only the server network info, but also our ADSL router too. Wordpress has been re skinned.
- FTP – vsftp
Simple install of VSFTP to allow access to files externally. Custom bash scripts to see who is accessing the server.
- Twitter fun – Tweet system alerts and stats
I’ve also started writing small bash scripts to tweet system alerts and general system stats (uptime, cpu load, users)
To Do:
- Configure smtp relay – Done, atleast for Wordpress
- Configure WordPress login from social networks (Facebook, Twitter etc) - Done, trying RPX
- add more monitoring – add mobile support.
- continue to tweak wordpress – custom short urls for links, mobile formatting.
more updates as I continue to tweak 
Train blogs are so post modern :P
Aug 29th
My first blog written on my iPhone while on the train… Oh joy 
If only i had something to write about…
Hope everyone is well
iPhone 3G wifi connection issue
Jul 12th
Background:
There appears to be some issues connecting an iPhone 3G (possibly other Apple iPhones & iPod Touch products using the new 2.0 firmware) to certain Wifi access points.
So far these issues appear to be limited to those using Linksys WAG54G V3 routers.
When attempting to join a wireless network, you receive an error saying “Unable to join network” followed by the name of your access point (SSID).
Solution:
There are 2 known solutions to this problem.
1. Update the firmware to the latest version
From my post on the Mactalk.com.au forums:
Okay, I’ve upgraded the firmware on my Linksys WAG54GV3 and can confirm this has resolved the issue
I logged onto my router’s admin page and confirmed I was running version 1.0.22. Went to this link and selected Version 3.0 from the drop down box.
I then downloaded the firmware listed on the page (Firmware Annex A, version 10.0.46 Date: 2/07/2008 Size: 4.51 mb)
The actual firmware filename is called: WAG54GV3-U2-AnnexA-ETSI-v1.00.46-code.bin
I then logged back into my router and went to the Administration tab, and selected Firmware Upgrade and selected the file and clicked upload.
Waited for about 3 – 5 minutes for the firmware upgrade to complete, the router rebooted. My SSID was labelled the default (linksys) and there was no encyrption on by default. So i changed the SSID and turned on WPA2 and everything is working now
2. Change the Wireless mode to B only
A New Zealand user from the Apple Discussion forums (link) advises that you can also resolve this issue by changing the Wireless Network Mode on the router to 802.11B only. This can be achieved by going to the administration page on your wireless router and then clicking the following menu items: Wireless -> Basic Wireless Settings.
From there select B Mode. The draw back to this is that all devices are only able to connect to the network at B speeds.
The same user came back and confirmed they had gone to the Australian site and installed the firmware on their router and this also resolved the issue (even though the firmware wasn’t available in their country – New Zealand).
Reference:
Feedback:
Please leave a comment if this resolved your issue, or if you have any further solutions to this problem. If you are having similar issues with a different router and have found a solution, please post the brand and model and the solution you have found.
would you like fries with that?
Jul 10th
Why is it when installing software you end up with a million other pieces of software you never asked for.
I installed some lexmark printer drivers the other day on my windows machine, and I opened IE just now and found I have a LexMark Search tool bar and a good search tool bar, both installed by said drivers.
its enough to make one scream. who knows what else is installed on my system that I don’t know about.
home again, home again
Apr 3rd
We have been home for a few days now, and i have to say it has been great sleeping in our own bed and being in our own home.
We are still in the process of settling in, there are lots of things we would like to do around the house now that we are back and the stress and planning of the combined wedding and honeymoon are over.
As soon as we have tidyied the place up we will look for a date to have a BBQ/Get together/slide show/thing – Id really like to catch up with everyone again.
It was great seeing you all at the wedding. I was particularly proud that we got asked to leave (in a nice way) the reception hall of our own wedding! It was great so many of you hung around for so long – couldn’t ask for better friends
Traveling around Europe really agreed with me and honestly I didn’t think it would at all – being a pasty white nerd I tend to like staying inside
It really opened my eyes to how different cultures live and interact with each other. I can’t wait to visit some more places – after I rack up some more annual leave we are off to New Zealand for a bit (probably close to the end of the year I’d say).
Anyway, I’m rambling and my OS updates have just finished downloading! hope everyone is well, I’ll get out a date on facebook asap.
I'm in london still…
Mar 30th
I have to say after being in London for a week that Paris’ subway system is actually really efficient (even if it smells really bad).
A lot has happened in the past week, I got a really bad cold the day after we after we arrived, thank fully this is almost gone. A few days later i fell down the stairs in the house we are staying at and tore a lot of back muscles amongst other things. ouch.
Spent a day or so doing nothing but watching pay tv while trying to recover. Watched a lot of friends and some macgyver
It’s not all bad though, we have been to Cardiff bay (home of Torchwood for doctor who fans) and while we were there we went to the Doctor Who exhibition.
Also went to the Tower of London, London Bridge, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the Apple store on regents street Lots of other stuff as well but cant remember it all at this time.
The weather has been crazy, when we first arrived it wouldnt stop raining, and then snowing, and now its really nice and sunny – right before we leave of course.
We are off tomorrow night (10pm London time) and get to Australia around 6am on Wednesday morning. oh the fun
hope everyone is well!
Hello Paris & smelly metro subways
Mar 17th
Hello!
We have now left scotland and all of its historic castley goodness and arrived in france.
I have to say it wasn’t the best start – we got lost on the subways trying to get to Dream Castle (The Disney themed hotel we are staying at for the night). You know when the shit has hit-eth the fan when jem starts worrying. (Thats my job).
Jem just pointed out an interesting fact – It took us longer to get from the airport to the hotel, then from Scotland to France.. which is a whole other country.
And I don’t want to complain (but I will), their subways smell. alot. And just so you can imagine – I would rather sleep in the fortitude valley train station on a saturday/sunday morning after a nights worth of brisbane getting shitfaced then enter a subway in paris at any time of the day. gross.
While on the train, I was thinking of things I would like to be able to say in French (hello google translator)
- All your base are belong to us
- Take me to your leader
- do not want
But anyway, tomorrow we go to disney land!
We have 550 hi res photos already, mostly of castles and other such things.. don’t worry we will invite you all around for a slideshow
Ian! to answer your question, we were not in Dublin for the St Patrick’s day celebrations 
apparently it is very busy. They also dont celebrate for a single day, but have St Patrick’s Festival which goes for 5 days. lucky buggers. They were setting up the festival while we were there and had several streets closed off for it.
anyway, im sure most of my blog is incoherent, I blame paris for its futile public transport system, or something
Hope everyone is well!
here in scotland…
Mar 16th
blogging from Mcdonald’s isnt that fun so ill make this quick
we have been in Scotland for the last few days, however our current residence does not have internets (not even 1 let alone 500) so Mcdonalds free wifi it is (go the eeepc!).
we have been having a great time visiting loads of castles and historic monuments like the william wallace monument.
the hire company gave us a Skoda to drive which is.. interesting. It runs on unleaded but it sounds like a diesel tractor (and it goes like one as well!)
Anyway, I have to sign off, will hopefully write more tomorrow night when we get to paris!
