Bog Roll ::

I've almost completed the install and configuration of Debian Sarge on a scrap Compaq for my father. I'm actually quite jealous, his computer is faster than mine, and Sarge is a much more complete desktop environment than Woody which I run. One day I'll actually replace my antique...

posted 22:13 :: /unix/debian :: permalink :: ^

Next week I'm giving my dad a PC built from work scrap. Last weekend I installed the modem and dialer software, today I installed the necessary rules for iptables to tie the box down nice and safe. The hardest part of setting up the rules was finding the correct place to insert them so that they kick in as the various network interfaces come up.

posted 19:17 :: /unix :: permalink :: ^

Today we helped out in an OBS project to look after a field in the village. We planted a hedgerow on one side of the field. In previous weekends we did one of the other sides, and later in the autumn we'll do one more edge.

Today was however the first really warm day of the year, it was plenty warm enough to work outside in T-shirt and shorts, and I really should have had a hat on, as I caught some sun, and now have a red-neck and forehead.

posted 18:57 :: /stuff :: permalink :: ^

For the bulk of the past 10 days I've had influenza. I'm starting to get over it, but it's been very boring, and I wouldn't wish the fever and sleepless nights I've been suffering with, on anyone.

posted 20:01 :: /stuff :: permalink :: ^

My server logs show me that several search engines spider this site. The logs also show me that virtually all the search engine referrals come from Google. I've never heard of or seen anyone use anything other than Google in the past few years. From time to time I try out other search engines, but they are all so poor compared with Google that I've never bothered to use them for anything other than testing purposes.

posted 22:25 :: /web :: permalink :: ^

This easter I plan to give my dad a computer. It's a scrap Compaq that work were getting rid of, but with Debian Sarge on it, it seems to run well enough, and has plenty of simple games to keep him happy. I don't know how often it will get connected to the Internet, it only has an antique 36k modem in it, but today I installed the wvdial dialer tool on it anyway. As usual with Debian, you just do the apt-get dance, and in a few minutes you have what you asked for all properly installed and configured. I've never had apt fail on me yet, the same can't be said of rpm.

posted 22:11 :: /kit :: permalink :: ^

When I installed Debian Sarge on a couple of scrap computers from work, the hotplug tool wanted to install both the e100 and eepro100 drivers into the kernel. As far as I could tell they are similar drivers, and both worked with the e100 card that the machines had. Rather than have both loaded, I blacklisted the eepro100 in hotplug config. Today Debian updated the hotplug tool and the eepro100 driver is now blacklisted by default. Apparently I was right all along.

posted 21:32 :: /kit :: permalink :: ^