ajaypal.com - GNU/ Linux

So You Deleted /boot Partition from within Windows :-)

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:24:12 -0500

Ahh so the Windows user did it finally, even after my warnings to the contrary.

Say, "Did what?"

Well the story goes like this. After getting impressed by all gloss and glitter of Gnome and KDE Desktop GNU/ Linux and the beautiful looking windows, themes, 3D effects thanks to compiz, fancy gadgets & better than Apple Mac like looks via cairo-dock and the best thing localisation in Punjabi. And seeing what he (the nube) never though was possible on a PC/ Laptop with Windogs. Finally I was asked to install GNU/ Linux on his laptop. Got most of issues of an unsupported H/W worked out and finally GNU/Linux with X started (but no 3D, no compiz).

Who Says Using GNU/ Linux is difficult?

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:24:22 -0500

This is amazing, atleast for me, my three and a half years old (now almost four in about four months), can use GNU/ Linux fairly well (for a kid of his age and fairly well than many older windoz guyz I have seen around). This is what he can do after about ten minutes of coaching.

Powers on the monitor, powers on the Desktop.
Waits for GNU/ Linux to load.
On GDM Login screen enters his username, sometimes selects his username from the user list displayed by GDM (I have set his password to blank for his convenience).

GNU/ Linux on a Compaq Presario C700 C738TU

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:31:24 -0600

Finally I have a new laptop an HP Compaq Presario C700 (Model C738TU). A good machine with very good performance, for a fairly reasonable price.

The default factory installation on it was Free/DOS. I have installed GNU/ Linux Fedora Core 8 on it. Most of the things have worked out of the box. Here is some basic informations which can help other owners of this notebook using GNU/ Linux.

Cheap Webcam for GNU/ Linux

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:06:25 -0500

After a long wait finally I dared to install a (comparatively) cheap USB webcam, I bought from a local friendly neighbourhood computer goods vendor, on my GNU/ Linux machine. The make was Intex Night Vision Camera IT-305WC (as per the box) and the cost was INR 700/- (approximately USD 16).

I was hoping for a long night ahead but hey thanks to these guys, it was a breeze. Fortunately my webcam (USB vendor ID 0x0AC8 and Product ID 0x303B) was listed on this page with another brand name Vimicro (USB vendor ID 0x0AC8 and Product ID 0x303B). Then the usual download from the driver download page.

Wireshark Captured Packet Analysis

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 10:43:58 -0600

I have been using ethereal/ wireshark network protocol analyser on GNU/ Linux for over last 3 years, for trouble shooting, for a subject that I am teaching, for analysing protocols, to study network behaviours and also for my research work. Highly recommended if you are anyway involved with computer networks of any type.

So the developer in you has captured the packets using ethereal/ wireshark and now need to perform some macho custom analysis of the captured data, that may not be possible or too cumbersome using wireshark. Here is my own experience with that and hope it helps you save some time.

Interesting Links

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:39:30 -0600

Some really interesting projects using GNU/ Linux

Why cant there be a Secure and Perfect Version of MS Windows ever?

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:31:03 -0500

The title for this post can be considered a misnomer. I think it should read:

Why cant any commerical software be made perfect?

Well if you do write perfect software you are kicking yourself in your er.. belly, and sitting on the branch side of the saw.

For any commercial company/ enterprise writing perfect and bug free software would mean:

Happy and smiling Customers (hmm... that is a good)
Satisfied customers (this is also good)

Playing with gnokii on Nokia 3310

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 01:32:07 -0500

It seems there is a bug in gnokii 0.6.12 sms sending code for nokia 6110 models (that includes 3310). When reading sms message center number from phone only last digit is returned. The consequences sms sending fails. Also further communication with the mobile fails, the mobile must be restarted before it can communicate with computer again.

Email Server Setup Pitfalls

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 12:23:31 -0600

So are you managing an email server? Well If yes make sure you keep the following into account:

Script Kidding for the Blind

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 02:39:39 -0600

This is the error log of httpd (apache) on one of the server machines that is about to be replaced very soon, interesting thing is to see how the script kiddy goes about locating vulnerable web applications:

FTP across a Firewall

Sun, 05 Mar 2006 14:06:58 -0600

My home computer has GNU/ Linux (FC4 to be precise) behind the IPTables firewall. The way it has been configured allows very limited incoming connections (port 80 only) and more or less no limit on outgoing connections.

GNU/ Linux on Dell Latitude D510 Laptop

Mon, 26 Dec 2005 10:46:20 -0600

Instalation of Fedora Core 4 was a breez on the Dell Latitude D510 Laptop.

Most of the hardware has been detected and working fine.

I got a shell Account at mutt.in

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 14:29:29 -0600

UPDATE: Now mutt.in is freeshell.in Got a shell account at mutt.in thanks to Anand V. Avati. Thanks Avati.

Maybe you maybe able to find something here http://mutt.in/~ajaypal my web account at mutt.in. Or mail me at ajaypal[at]freeshell.in, no promise that I may check that regularly.

And I am happy! Why, not because I have got a free shell account on someones server, I can have as many shell accounts as I like, as I am my self running a number of GNU/ Linux servers (including this one). But I am happy that someone is offering no frills free as in freedom shell accounts :-), hope google and yahoo notice this, maybe free shell accounts can be the next big revolution after free email (now free 1GB email accounts). I can safely predict this after reading this nice book In the Beginning was the Command Line, you can find a copy of the same here.

Hey in case you need a shell account, do send a request to Avati at root[AT]mutt.in. He is a nice guy.

Meanwhile see what I have been upto at mutt.in. Here is the finger to mutt.in for ajaypal

Ok I am running a local finger server behind IPTables, you can check what I am doing on my server here:

Whats in My .plan and .project:

My .plan contains IP addresses of machines that connected to the server ajaypal.com, created using a cron job. This list is truncated every one hour. And may not show all IP/ Hostnames. My .plan on mutt.in has a random fortune, updated once everday. My .project has a trace route to mutt.in from this server and vice versa. Again updated once everday using a cron job.

Five reasons NOT to use GNU/ Linux or Why GNU/ Linux is better than Windows

Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:46:06 -0500

Here are some reasons why not to use Linux and why to use Windows. A must read for a die hard Windows fan, read here. Also read here.
Interesting.

Find some more reasons to prefer windows over linux here.

25/11/2005
And here is something funny, well, GNU/ Linux is now much friendly for a dummy, see the os for the regular guys, but well first see the Pun on Linux.

And here we have a sneak preview of next version of Microsoft Windows (tm), worth a look.

Building a Community of GNU/ Linux Sysadmins for keeping watch over each others back

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 15:16:04 -0500

I have been using FLOSS (GNU/ Linux) and related software on our servers for around 5 years now. Most of the servers face Internet.

As is the case with any evolving software even in GNU/ Linux(s)
vulnerabilities are discovered and ofcourse patched form time to time.

But alas we ppl who manage servers are sometimes lazy, or forget and do not patch servers in time. My excuse we are only human. And in general act as open invitations/ sitting ducks to crackers and
malicious ppl around the word.

I have seen this happen to a lot of ppl around, same has happened to me as well, sometimes we are made to realize, by the crackers, that we havn't been vigil in our duties. And whatever experience I have in managing server i still cant deny this fact that this can happen to me, that will hurt my ego.