These Things Matter to Me
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Falling In Love Again. FreeBSD: Not Always Like Linux. Go figure. Lesson 1: Checking For Memory/ RAM
Right now I'm working on a project that involves FreeBSD, a UNIX flavor I'm not so familiar with. I'm finding many of my fave Linux commands... completely useless.
Let's start with looking for memory usage. On Linux, I'd try the ol':
What about.... THIS!?!?
And that's one way to check memory usage on FreeBSD.
Let's start with looking for memory usage. On Linux, I'd try the ol':
# cat /proc/meminfoOn FreeBSD? Not so much. (note: there are some compatibility packages that can get you pretty close, but let's assume we don't have those, and we want to do it like the natives do it)
What about.... THIS!?!?
#sysctl -a | grep -i memoryBooyah!...
Virtual Memory: (Total: 53359K, Active 12614616K)
Real Memory: (Total: 3993828K Active 3084828K)
Shared Virtual Memory: (Total: 228120K Active: 72076K)
Shared Real Memory: (Total: 107012K Active: 32160K)
Free Memory Pages: 265452K
And that's one way to check memory usage on FreeBSD.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
These Links Matter to Me: Thursday April 27, 2006
Webinars about web-based sysadmin tool Webmin, (I have a love-late relationship with webmin, btw.)
Redhat Magazine article on understanding virtual memory.
Make for nonprogrammers (on Oreilly's ONlamp site).
Tim Oreilly and Flickr's Cal Henderson talk about how new kinds of web applications challenge traditional database design, at Oreilly's MySQL user conference.
Redhat Magazine article on understanding virtual memory.
Make for nonprogrammers (on Oreilly's ONlamp site).
Tim Oreilly and Flickr's Cal Henderson talk about how new kinds of web applications challenge traditional database design, at Oreilly's MySQL user conference.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
In Your Spare Time: Starting Firefox in Safe Mode to troubleshoot problems with extensions and themes
Even though we are like elite Navy Seals with highly specialized skills, as sysadmins, we often get called upon to help civilians with mortal tasks. Like troubleshooting Firefox. Sometimes people get too crazy with the Firefox extensions and themes, and wonder why everything looks funny. To separate what's what, have them start Firefox up in "safe mode."
TECHNORATI TAGS: firefox, browser, extensions, mozilla, sysadmin
All via the Mozilla Zine SafeMode page.Windows
Use the Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode) ... shortcut in the Mozilla Firefox program folder on the Windows Start Menu. If you have accidentally deleted this shortcut, you can access Safe Mode by going to "Start -> Run" and entering (using Firefox as an example):
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-modeLinux
On Linux, you can go to your Terminal and run:
/path/to/firefox/firefox -safe-modeMac OS X
On Mac OS X, it will be in:
/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox -safe-mode
TECHNORATI TAGS: firefox, browser, extensions, mozilla, sysadmin
Monday, April 17, 2006
The More You Know: Where Are Your Pine "nicknames" and Distribution Lists Stored?
In your home directory, .addressbook is the file that stores your nicknames (aliases) and distribution lists for pine.
TECHNORATI TAGS: aliases, sysadmin, mail, email, pine
In your home directory, .addressbook is the file that stores your nicknames (aliases) and distribution lists for pine.~/.addressbookThe more you know!
TECHNORATI TAGS: aliases, sysadmin, mail, email, pine
Tommy Hilfiger Uses Windows
Just Sayin.
I was innocently reading Newsforge, when this Flash-y ad started moving, and then I found out Tommy was into Windows.
TECHNORATI TAGS: sysadmin, humor, tommy, hilfiger, windows server, Microsoft
Just Sayin.I was innocently reading Newsforge, when this Flash-y ad started moving, and then I found out Tommy was into Windows.
TECHNORATI TAGS: sysadmin, humor, tommy, hilfiger, windows server, Microsoft
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Will Xen Be Able to Play (VMware) .VMDK files?
I talked about how Xensource announced that it will be able to "import" .vhd virtual machines (a Microsoft standard). But as somebody who's made a lot of .vmdk virtual machines with VMware, I'm totally itching for VMware/ Xen to announce that Xen will be able to work with .vmdk machines, too. It'd be great to just throw a machine around to use with as many different virtualization packages as possible.
I'm really hoping an arrangement is in the works. Sure, they're competitors, but so's Microsoft, and they made the deal. VMware has pretty much said their .vmdk standard is available for anybody to use. One would think it's all on Xen, at this point.
TECHNORATI TAGS: vmdk, VMware, virtualization, sysadmin, Xen, Xensource, standards, vhd, Microsoft
I'm really hoping an arrangement is in the works. Sure, they're competitors, but so's Microsoft, and they made the deal. VMware has pretty much said their .vmdk standard is available for anybody to use. One would think it's all on Xen, at this point.
TECHNORATI TAGS: vmdk, VMware, virtualization, sysadmin, Xen, Xensource, standards, vhd, Microsoft
Friday, April 14, 2006
These Links Matter to You. Friday, April 14, 2006
VMware totally revamps their virtual appliance directory, makes it sortable.
You can get Ubuntu certified.
A taggable/ tagged (duh) list of web 2.0 applications (subjective). But it's great for when your friends are like "What was that link thing you showed me?"...
The Yahoo User Interface Library... free javascripts...
Documentation of Microsoft's Mix06 conference: Videos, podcasts, blog... I talked about this earlier, this is the event where Tim O'reilly and Bill Gates shared the stage. But there's lots of other interesting stuff there, too. This event was not just Microsoft stuff. Full sessions to come later.
TECHNORATI TAGS: vmdk, VMware, virtualization, sysadmin, Xen, Xensource, standards, vhd, Microsoft
VMware totally revamps their virtual appliance directory, makes it sortable.You can get Ubuntu certified.
A taggable/ tagged (duh) list of web 2.0 applications (subjective). But it's great for when your friends are like "What was that link thing you showed me?"...
The Yahoo User Interface Library... free javascripts...
Documentation of Microsoft's Mix06 conference: Videos, podcasts, blog... I talked about this earlier, this is the event where Tim O'reilly and Bill Gates shared the stage. But there's lots of other interesting stuff there, too. This event was not just Microsoft stuff. Full sessions to come later.
TECHNORATI TAGS: vmdk, VMware, virtualization, sysadmin, Xen, Xensource, standards, vhd, Microsoft
Thursday, April 13, 2006
These Virtualization Links Matter to You. April 13, 2006
Here's a story about virtualization software, told mostly through links.
Xensource has licensed the Microsoft virtual machine format. Don't flip out. This doesn't mean that VHD, the Microsoft format will be the default format, just that some XenSource product, should it see the light of day, will be able to legally run the VHD format... once it's released. Probably in the summer. (that's me being snarky about how long Xen and XenSource are taking to go prime-time)
This has been referred to as a "deal" between the two companies, but I can't find any reference to any money actually changing hands.
I don't know if it was in direct response to this deal, but then VMware was all, "Fine, we'll give away our virtual machine format, vmdk, with no license restriction." That's cool and all, but when you go to the VMware vmdk format site, it says, "if you want a spec, email us." Just like Microsoft does.
Summary.
So the open source company will be able to run the licensed Microsoft format, the proprietary company is giving away their standard, the open source company's most meaningful products still aren't even really available for consumption, and the world's biggest, most aggressive software company is kind of following and struggling to co-exist with both of them in their space.
And I guess I'm officially admitting that maybe virtualization is going to be something I talk about all the time on this blog.
TECHNORATI TAGS: vmdk, VMware, virtualization, sysadmin, Xen, Xensource, standards, vhd, Microsoft
Xensource has licensed the Microsoft virtual machine format. Don't flip out. This doesn't mean that VHD, the Microsoft format will be the default format, just that some XenSource product, should it see the light of day, will be able to legally run the VHD format... once it's released. Probably in the summer. (that's me being snarky about how long Xen and XenSource are taking to go prime-time)
This has been referred to as a "deal" between the two companies, but I can't find any reference to any money actually changing hands.
I don't know if it was in direct response to this deal, but then VMware was all, "Fine, we'll give away our virtual machine format, vmdk, with no license restriction." That's cool and all, but when you go to the VMware vmdk format site, it says, "if you want a spec, email us." Just like Microsoft does.
Summary.
So the open source company will be able to run the licensed Microsoft format, the proprietary company is giving away their standard, the open source company's most meaningful products still aren't even really available for consumption, and the world's biggest, most aggressive software company is kind of following and struggling to co-exist with both of them in their space.
And I guess I'm officially admitting that maybe virtualization is going to be something I talk about all the time on this blog.
TECHNORATI TAGS: vmdk, VMware, virtualization, sysadmin, Xen, Xensource, standards, vhd, Microsoft
These Links Matter to Me: Thursday April 13, 2006
Panic's Cabel blogs, videos, and photographs his Mac OS X Bootcamp experience in his usual fun way.
Redhat Virtualization Center. Very Xen-centric. But it's not called Redhat Xen Center, so that's sayin' something.
VMware can be picky about MAC addresses. Here's how to generate a friendly one.
Should Fedora include Java, Flash, and mp3 codecs? Two opposing viewpoints. Apparently people have strong feelings on the subject
Microsoft's Open Source Software Lab. Blogs from the lab.
Redhat Virtualization Center. Very Xen-centric. But it's not called Redhat Xen Center, so that's sayin' something.
VMware can be picky about MAC addresses. Here's how to generate a friendly one.
Should Fedora include Java, Flash, and mp3 codecs? Two opposing viewpoints. Apparently people have strong feelings on the subject
Microsoft's Open Source Software Lab. Blogs from the lab.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Desperately Seeking: Explanation on Why Ubuntu's Default Apache Config is So Strange
headlines grab you
headlines grab you- Fact (every time you read "Fact," you kinda have to imagine the Law&Order gavel-gong, warning, .wav file): The main Apache configuration file in Ubuntu 5.10's (Breezy Badger) provided version of Apache/ httpd, is not httpd.conf, but /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
- Fact: There is a deprecated, but empty file, httpd.conf in /etc/apache2/httpd.conf
- Fact: Apache's DocumentRoot, the default place where accessible content can be found, is at /var/www, a location not referenced at all in /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
- Fact: There is no DocumentRoot mentioned anywhere in /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
- Fact: /var/www is referenced in two configuration files: 1.) /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/000-default, and 2.) /etc/apache2/sites-available/default. These files seem to have more a VirtualHost setup
- Once again, not knowing Debian is kinda hurting me. I'm on the case, and starting to read this helpful document that seems to be about Apache's configuration in Debian (and Ubuntu).
Ubuntu, Debian: Default Init Level is Init 2. Not 5. Note to Self!
(Some notes I should have written here a long time ago.)
Ubuntu and Debian's default runlevel is 2. Here are two places where knowing that is kinda important:
1. Graphics configuration, troubleshooting.
Previously, my fave way of checking to see if my xorg.conf changes were making sense, was quickly to duck out and in of the X server, by running:
My Ubuntu (and Debian) workaround:
On Redhat, I can copy a start-up script to /etc/init.d, then make the S(number)(service) link in /etc/rc3.d, and /etc/rc5.d.
Ubuntu and Debian's default runlevel is 2. Here are two places where knowing that is kinda important:
1. Graphics configuration, troubleshooting.
Previously, my fave way of checking to see if my xorg.conf changes were making sense, was quickly to duck out and in of the X server, by running:
# vi /etc/X11/xorg.confGraphics go, graphics come back with changes. Results come in. This is great on Redhat, Fedora, and SUSE. Ubuntu? Not so much. The GUI is running in both init 3 and init 5! The graphics never go! Doh. Plus, you're living only in init 2 anyway, by default. So there goes that trick...
(make radical changes)
# init 3 ; init 5
(wait)
My Ubuntu (and Debian) workaround:
(ctrl-alt-F1 to drop to GUI-less console)2. Writing, or copying in new start-up scripts so that services/ daemons run at start up.
# vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf
(make radical changes)
# /etc/init.d/gdm stop
# /etc/init.d/gdm start
On Redhat, I can copy a start-up script to /etc/init.d, then make the S(number)(service) link in /etc/rc3.d, and /etc/rc5.d.
# cp awesomed.sh /etc/init.d/awesomedThis is great in Redhat-land. But because the default runlevel is 2 in Ubuntu, this script will never called up. The correction?
# ln -s /etc/init.d/awesomed /etc/rc3.d/S99awesomed
# ln -s /etc/init.d/awesomed /etc/rc5.d/S99awesomed
# cp awesomed.sh /etc/init.d/awesomedOr you can just change your default runlevel to 3 or 5. Debian basically designs runlevels 2-5 to be identical, leaving it up to the administrator to customize from there.
# ln -s /etc/init.d/awesomed /etc/rc2.d/S99awesomed
(and to be tidy and consistent)
# ln -s /etc/init.d/awesomed /etc/rc3.d/S99awesomed (though you'll likely never reach this init level)
# ln -s /etc/init.d/awesomed /etc/rc5.d/S99awesomed (though you'll likely never reach this init level)
Monday, April 10, 2006
VMware, They Were Like "Me, Too!"
Oh, OK we get it. Yeah, you too.
Lotsa software vendors have a problem of announcing products and roadmaps too early. They talk up products that don't even exist yet. Or worse yet, outline a strategy that ends up changing 5 times over before the time it goes public. VMware kind of has the opposite problem. There have been a few times where knowing what they were planning on doing with a couple of products really would have cleared up confusion, and in one case, completely changed some purchasing decisions. Thascool...
So it was funny last week, when on Thursday, Parallels launched the beta of their Workstation for Mac. VMware had no equivalent product to offer in response. But one day later, a VMware employee, in his personal blog did announce that internally, VMware does have products running on Macs, it's just not public yet. And for VMware, that's actually a nice change. More please.
And on that tip, why not link to the new Clipse single, "Me, too." (rap mp3. I know how you sysadmins are. Biggest rap fans ever!)
(photo + mp3 via fader mag)
Oh, OK we get it. Yeah, you too.Lotsa software vendors have a problem of announcing products and roadmaps too early. They talk up products that don't even exist yet. Or worse yet, outline a strategy that ends up changing 5 times over before the time it goes public. VMware kind of has the opposite problem. There have been a few times where knowing what they were planning on doing with a couple of products really would have cleared up confusion, and in one case, completely changed some purchasing decisions. Thascool...
So it was funny last week, when on Thursday, Parallels launched the beta of their Workstation for Mac. VMware had no equivalent product to offer in response. But one day later, a VMware employee, in his personal blog did announce that internally, VMware does have products running on Macs, it's just not public yet. And for VMware, that's actually a nice change. More please.
And on that tip, why not link to the new Clipse single, "Me, too." (rap mp3. I know how you sysadmins are. Biggest rap fans ever!)
(photo + mp3 via fader mag)
