theGeekNme.com

Fedora fc15 i686 NetworkManager fails after update

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 30 May 2011 21:36:00 +0000

So I just had the unfortunate experience of a Fedora 15 update breaking the NetworkManager... which is one of the worst services to break because you're stuck finding a different PC to get on the net to find an answer.

Here is the fix:
If possible, hopefully you can 'plug in' and run dhclient em1 to get wired network access.

yum downgrade NetworkManager NetworkManager-glib NetworkManager-gnome

If you want to 'block' this update then edit /etc/yum.repos.d/fedora-updates.repo and add the following at the end of the [updates] section:

exclude=NetworkManager-0.8.999-3.git20110526.fc15 NetworkManager-glib-0.8.999-3.git20110526.fc15 NetworkManager-gnome-0.8.999-3.git20110526.fc15

Also, please head over and review/comment on the Fedora Bug report: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=708445#c21

~Peace

Lotus Notes 8.5.2 on Fedora 15

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Wed, 25 May 2011 05:40:00 +0000

I know it's been a long time.... things have been really busy, but wanted to get this posted for all of those early adopters of Fedora 15 32bit and struggling to install Notes 8.5.2.

Assuming you have access to the RPMs for Notes 8.5.2 AND the Notes 8.5.2 FP2, untar and install the RPM as you normally would. For the fixpack, untar, chmod +x and then sh ./.

Now, you don't have to, but if you start notes you'll work through the license agreement and notes setup wizard, however, when the main client loads, you'll see a ton of graphics and stuff missing. You might get your email db to open, but your preview pane will not work and most text, some menus, and things like Replication tabs will not display.
THE FIX

You have to replace a few library files AFTER the installation... per this post http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/nd85forum.nsf/5f27803bba85d8e285256bf10054620d/69b50f2db7bb7b0b85257659005ab79e?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,karmic

Here is a source for some replacement libaries, special thanks to 'linux-aha.de' for making these available. http://linux-aha.de/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/notes_libs_karmic.tgz

(as root)
~ untar the .tgz which contains 4 libs
~ chmod +x (each file)
~ chown root:root (each file) for each
~ chmod 777 (each file)
~ cp -i (each file) /opt/ibm/lotus/notes (Y for overwrite)

IMPORTANT: Last step is to go to /opt/ibm/lotus/notes and verify that the 4 files you just replaced have at least -rwxr-xr-x. (or more) permissions.

You now can start Lotus Notes from the menu.

Hope it helps!!

~peace

Karmic Koala 9.10 on Dell Optiplex 960

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:01:00 +0000

When I boot the Karmic Koala 9.10 on Dell Optiplex 960 the Ubuntu menu loads however, if I choose Install or Run Live, I get a blank blank screen with a blinking cursor.

Oddly... if I hold down the enter key it will proceed through the boot and load Ubuntu 9.10 very weird.

The best solution so far is to go into the BIOS (press F2 when the PC first turns on) and under PERFORMANCE menu disable C STATES CONTROL.

Apply your settings. Exit. Boot the Ubuntu CD again and enjoy.

Peace.

Download Karmic Here

Searching on network drive gives no results.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:18:00 +0000

One of my more recent challenges was a report from one of our users that she was receiving incorrect results when searching a network resource (that happened to be across the country on our WAN) with XP Pro.

In this case the user was in DC and the resource was in WA state. Oddly I was able to reproduce the issue from WA state by attempting to search for files that I know existed on the DC server, however, the result was "Search is complete. There are no results to display".

My hunch was that something was timing out and causing the search to quit. Maybe the cross country network latency.

ANSWER: With a carefully crafted google search I finally discovered a workaround. According to Microsoft KB928885 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925885 the search function will time out if the resource does not respond fast enough and tell you that there are no results.

By checking the 'search tape backup' box under advanced settings, I was able to successfully search my network resource.

The solution steps from MS:

Method 1: "More advanced options" is available
If More advanced options appears in the Search by any or all of the criteria below task pane, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Search.
2. In the What do you want to search for? task pane, click All files and folders.
3. In the Search by any or all of the criteria below task pane, click More advanced options, and then click to select the Search tape backup check box.

Method 2: "More advanced options" is not available
If More advanced options does not appear in the Search by any or all of the criteria below task pane, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Search.
2. In the What do you want to search for? task pane, click Change preferences.
3. In the How do you want to use Search Companion? task pane, click Change files and folders search behavior.
4. Under Choose the default files and folders search behavior, click Advanced, and then click OK.
5. In the Search by any or all of the criteria below task pane, click More advanced options.
6. Click to select the Search tape backup check box.

The TKIP part of WPA has been cracked!!

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:29:00 +0000

UPDATE: Here are a few more details...
1) WEP is flawed
2) TKIP is (based on and) backward compatible with WEP, found to carry a similar flaw
3) Therefore, WPA inherits a WEP flaw if allowing TKIP communication

An attack currently depends upon:
1) TKIP used for client to AP
2) known IPv4 range (e.g. 192.168.0.X)
3) long re-keying interval (e.g. 3600 sec)
4) IEEE 802.11e QoS
5) client connected to the network

The authors offer a short re-key cycle as a workaround, which already is a best practice.

+++++++++

This is 'late' news, however, I felt it was important enough to share. The wireless security protocol WPA w/ TKIP has now been cracked. Researchers by the name of Erik Tews and Martin Beck were the ones to do the cracking, finding a way to break the temporary Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) in under 15 minutes. They haven't, however, figured out how to gain access to the data that travels between the PC and the router, so that's a plus.

Of course, there are limitations: Apparently, the data sent from a connected device to the compromised router is still safe. But anything headed down the information highway in the opposite direction? Wide open.

So what should you do to secure your network? Switch to WPA2, which is still uncracked for the time being.

The other option if you must use WPA for your xBox or other wireless devices that don't allow WPA2, is to use WPA with the option of using AES instead of TKIP option.

For me personally, however, it better to just accept the fact that NO network traffic is totally safe. Your best defense is to be wise about WHAT you enter and WHERE you enter it on the internet.

Peace.

Multimedia Loudspeaker test

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:25:00 +0000

In the process of repairing my laptop speakers, I needed to determine if I was connecting them up 'in phase' or 'out of phase'. Or in other words, the + wire was going to the + terminal on both speakers.

This is particularly hard to do if your terminals AND wires are not clearly marked.

Here is a site that has some .mp3s of audio clips with in phase and out of phase sounds as well as frequency sweeps and test tones. Very handy for that audiophile 'n you.

Multimedia Loudspeaker test

Firefox Themes: Ten Firefox Themes as Dark as Your Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:17:00 +0000

Here are some additional 'dark' Firefox themes. For now I've settled on Aero Fox.

Firefox Themes: Ten Firefox Themes as Dark as Your Soul

Courtesy of LifeHacker.com

Syslinux boot local harddisk

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:20:00 +0000

Nothing too crazy about this one. I was working on a USB boot disk that boots a syslinux menu and I wanted/needed a menu item that would attempt to boot from the local hard disk.

This is what I came up with.
--------------

LABEL bootlocal
MENU LABLE Boot local hard disk
localboot 0

-------------

You'll notice after the local boot is a 0 (zero). Sometimes on computers that have a recovery partition as 0 you may get an error. The answer in this case would be to try localboot 1 or localboot 2 and see if you get better results.

Still learning...

FDE on Dell e6400

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Problem: Unable to enable FDE (Full Disk Encryption) on re-imaged Dell e6400 laptop. The settings button is grayed out and there is no option to encrypt the drive, only password restrict access to the drive.

Solution: Make sure that your SATA drive mode in the BIOS is set to AHCI or ATA. IRRT will not allow the WAVE systems FDE module to be configured.

The Story: After fighting with this for many days and finally surrendering my pride and chatting online with Dell support with no results, I emailed Wave Systems (the makers of the Wave Security Suite products included in Dells) and they promptly responded by email advising me that the only supported SATA modes are legacy ATA and AHCI.

Peace.

The dark (theme) side of Firefox - Mozilla Links

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:06:00 +0000

I've had recently developed a love for 'dark themes'. Both on my desktop and now in my Firefox.

Check out some nice looking, dark, Firefox themes here The dark (theme) side of Firefox - Mozilla Links

CD-R Media comparison RiData vs. Memorex

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:07:00 +0000

Think all CDR media is the same?? Think again. I have repeatedly had problems with Memorex media on multiple burners.

One media that I have found to be cheap and extremely reliable is media by RiData and I prefer to purchase it in bulk from newegg.com

During a recent XP installation I was getting some odd errors and after three tries I realized it was bad CD-R media (Memorex was all I had at the time)

To support my point, I just happened to notice the 'transparency' difference between the RiData and Memorex media as seen in the photo above.

I suspect that my 'writing' on the Memorex disk was causing read issues.

VBS to query AD

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:03:00 +0000

Problem: I need to get an excel spreadsheet with a list of computer names and their descriptions.

Answer:
~Use VBS script to query AD and output all fields for computer objects to .txt file with ; between items
~Open .txt file with excel type software and have it sort using the ; as delimiters.

Voila!

continued...

VBS AD query script

~Copy the text below into your favorite text editor and save as adquery.vbs file
~Run from command prompt: cscript adquery.vbs > output.txt
~You can remove some of the output fields if you don't need all of the fields in your outpu file.
This section controls the output:
wscript.echo strNTName & ";" & strCanonical & ";" & strDN _
& ";" & strDesc & ";" & strRole & ";" & strManaged _
& ";" & strLocation & ";" & strOS & ";" & strOSVer _
& ";" & strSP & ";" & strCreated & ";" & strChanged
adoRecordset.MoveNext

* note that the _ is used as a 'line break' character. It's only needed at the end of a line if the command needs to continue onto the next line down. Remove as necessary.
------
Option Explicit

Dim objRootDSE, strDNSDomain, adoCommand, adoConnection
Dim strBase, strFilter, strAttributes, strQuery, adoRecordset
Dim strNTName, lngUSN, arrCanonical, strCanonical
Dim strDN, strDesc, strRole, strManaged, strOS, strOSVer
Dim strSP, strLocation, strCreated, strChanged

' Determine DNS domain name.
Set objRootDSE = GetObject("LDAP://RootDSE")
strDNSDomain = objRootDSE.Get("defaultNamingContext")

' Use ADO to search Active Directory.
Set adoCommand = CreateObject("ADODB.Command")
Set adoConnection = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
adoConnection.Provider = "ADsDSOObject"
adoConnection.Open "Active Directory Provider"
adoCommand.ActiveConnection = adoConnection

' Search entire domain.
strBase = ""

' Filter on computer object.
strFilter = "(objectCategory=computer)"

' Comma delimited list of attributes.
strAttributes = "sAMAccountName,canonicalName,distinguishedName," _
& "description,machineRole,managedBy,operatingSystem," _
& "location,operatingSystemVersion,operatingSystemServicePack," _
& "whenCreated,whenChanged"

' Construct LDAP syntax query.
strQuery = strBase & ";" & strFilter & ";" & strAttributes & ";subtree"

' Execute the query.
adoCommand.CommandText = strQuery
adoCommand.Properties("Page Size") = 100
adoCommand.Properties("Timeout") = 30
adoCommand.Properties("Cache Results") = False
Set adoRecordset = adoCommand.Execute

' Enumerate the recordset and display values.
Do Until adoRecordset.EOF
strNTName = adoRecordset.Fields("sAMAccountName").Value
arrCanonical = adoRecordset.Fields("canonicalName").Value
strCanonical = arrCanonical(0)
strDN = adoRecordset.Fields("distinguishedName").Value
Dim arrDesc
arrDesc = adoRecordset.Fields("description").Value
If (TypeName(arrDesc) = "Variant()") Then
strDesc = arrDesc(0)
Else
strDesc = ""
End If
strRole = adoRecordset.Fields("machineRole").Value
strManaged = adoRecordset.Fields("managedBy").Value
strLocation = adoRecordset.Fields("location").Value
strOS = adoRecordset.Fields("operatingSystem").Value
strOSVer = adoRecordset.Fields("operatingSystemVersion").Value
strSP = adoRecordset.Fields("operatingSystemServicePack").Value
strCreated = adoRecordset.Fields("whenCreated").Value
strChanged = adoRecordset.Fields("whenChanged").Value
wscript.echo strNTName & ";" & strCanonical & ";" & strDN _
& ";" & strDesc & ";" & strRole & ";" & strManaged _
& ";" & strLocation & ";" & strOS & ";" & strOSVer _
& ";" & strSP & ";" & strCreated & ";" & strChanged
adoRecordset.MoveNext
Loop
adoRecordset.Close
adoConnection.Close

' Clean up.
Set objRootDSE = Nothing
Set adoCommand = Nothing
Set adoConnection = Nothing
Set adoRecordset = Nothing

SQL Quick Reference

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:00:00 +0000

I was working on some VBS coding yesterday and came across this nice side for sorting out VB command syntax.

SQL Quick Reference

PocketMod: The Free Recyclable Personal Organizer

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:34:00 +0000

Here's a cool application that will allow you to customize and print a small compact 'paper / pen' organizer.

Great for those of us who simple just want to write it down.

PocketMod: The Free Recyclable Personal Organizer

12 sided calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:33:00 +0000

Ever just get board and want to cut and glue something?? This is a fun way to spend your work 'break' time making a 12 sided desk calendar.

Took me about 10min and makes for fun desktop art.

12 sided calendar

PrintWhatYouLike.com {beta}: Save money and the environment printing only what you like.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:51:00 +0000

If you've ever attempted to print a website, you're likly less than impressed at the results.

Check out this web service that will help you print 'just what you like' from any web site. Simply enter the URL and it will load the page and allow you to 'highlight' the sections you want to print.

Check it out!!

PrintWhatYouLike.com {beta}: Save money and the environment printing only what you like.

Geek to Live: Back up Gmail with fetchmail

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:57:00 +0000

I'll admit, I'm a Google fanatic. I use most of their services and I've been very happy with it.

It is easy however, to forget that the more I transition/create my digital life solely withing Google, I run the risk of major headache and heartache if they decide to make changes that are not in my favor. Or at a minimum, my email account is lost or unavailable. Neither of which has ever happened and I doubt it will... but it could.

The first thing that comes to mind is the importance of backup. I have learned (the hard way) just how important a good backup is and it seems only natural that we take our email just as serious.

One way to backup/archive your email would be to use a 'locally' installed email application like Thunderbird or Outlook. Turn on your POP3 or IMAP under the settings tab of your gmail and then configure your email client to download your email.

While I have not tried it yet, I ran across a product called Fetchmail which is an open source utility that will retrieve all email via POP3 from your email account.

Checkout this great 'how-to' from the great folks over at lifehacker.com

Geek to Live: Back up Gmail with fetchmail

Text Select cursor disappears in VM

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:17:00 +0000

I helped a co-worker with this one today...

Problem: When running XP in VM Player or VM Server on VISTA, the mouse pointer disappears anytime it's placed over a word doc or text field.

Solution: Change the mouse pointer icon that is used for Text Select.

Go to Control Panel / Mouse / Pointers (tab), scroll down and highlight Text Select and click Browse.

Now choose a different icon to be used for text selection.

I suspect that it's related to the VM screen resolution and that the default I-Beam is too thin within the VM.

Step By Step: How to Use Custom Windows Visual Styles

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:34:00 +0000

If you've gotten tired of the drab gray or blue XP theme, take a look at what you're missing. A few steps will allow you to use 'non-microsoft' XP themes.

Step By Step: How to Use Custom Windows Visual Styles

Universal Imaging Utility Error: U02099

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:22:00 +0000

We use this great Universal Imaging Utility at work called UiU by BigBang software. This is an application that when used in conjunction with your hard drive imaging software (i.e. Symantec Ghost, Altiris, ZenWorks, etc.) creates a disk image that can be successfully deployed to nearly any PC in your environment. A single Universal Image can now be deployed to desktops and laptops alike, regardless of HAL type, processor, PC make or model. Maintaining individual images for PCs from Dell, HP, IBM, etc. is no longer required. .

In short, it saves a massive driver database to the harddrive and then syspreps it for you. Once it shuts down you then use your favorite image utility to capture the 'universal image' that can be used on other pcs.

Today I had an error U02099 when attempting to run in on my latest 'base' image. Searches revealed nothing so I tried a few things and it turns out that the computer you are working on should have internet access when running the UiU process.

I simply plugged it into our ISP direct circuit and it's running as normal.

Beam pics from camera to computer with Eye-Fi 2GB SD card, $59 shipped | The Cheapskate - CNET News

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:03:00 +0000

Beam pics from camera to computer with Eye-Fi 2GB SD card, $59 shipped | The Cheapskate - CNET News: "By now you've probably heard of Eye-Fi, the Wi-Fi-enabled SD memory card that wirelessly beams photos from your camera to your PC. When it first came out last year, I thought it was overpriced at $99--but now you can scoop up an Eye-Fi Home card for just $59 shipped."

courtesy of cnet.com

net-runna Vista Preparation Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:51:00 +0000

I haven't had the joy of trying to create an 'image' of Vista for distribution within my organization yet... but the day is coming.

One thing I know so far is that the Vista boot record is "new" so you will no longer be able to use your old/trusty Ghost 8 and such without 'extra' work.

The tool below claims to make it easier, however, again i have not tested it yet. I'll let you know when I get there.

net-runna Vista Preparation Tool: "This utility will prepare your Windows Vista installation so that imaging tools such as net-runna Enterprise will be able to clone it. After using the Preparation tool on a Vista system, it should remain 'cloneable' from that point onwards."

How to Build a Potato Gun - Design and Construction

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:20:00 +0000

I ran across this nice write up about how to make an excellent Potato Gun. Now i just have to convince the "Mrs." ;-)

How to Build a Potato Gun - Design and Construction - JBProjects.net

Beautiful Beta: Super Peek-A-Boo Posts

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:12:00 +0000

Beautiful Beta: Super Peek-A-Boo Posts: "Super Peek-A-Boo posts: you can expand them from summary to full post, collapse them, and if you don't have a post summary in a particular post, the 'Read More...' and 'Collapse' links will not show up in your post."

Intel 82567 Bart PE XPE network drivers

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Graham) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:08:00 +0000

Problem: Latest Dell laptop with Intel 82567 network card will not recognize network card when Bart PE or XPE is loaded.

Information from this forum helped me get the correct drivers in the correct location.

Good luck!

Intel 82567 - The CD Forum