Friday, October 14, 2011

Tech Review: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Open-Source Software and Intellectual Property


  • Opensource defies traditional IP models
Adding Users with 'sudo' Privileges in Linux


  • sudo adduser <username>
  • sudo addgroup <groupname>
  • sudo adduser <username> <groupname>
  • run a pipe commands sudo
  • sudo sh -c "ls > /root/somefile"
  • sudo password is stored for 15 minutes
  • password is not show on screen, even with *, it is input a each key stroke
  • use 'gksudo' or kdesudo' to start graphical applicatons
    • prevents file in home directory being owned by root
  • gksudo "gnome-open %u"
    • lets you drag and drop files as root
  • login as another user
    • sudo -i -u <username>
  • to enable root
    • sudo -i
    • sudo passwd root
  • re-disabling root account
    • sudo passwd -dl root
  • removing the password prompt for sudo
    • sudo visudo
    • add to the end of the file
      • <username> ALL=NOPASSWD: ALL
    • ^x to save file
    • log out and in
  • reset sudo to ask for password
    • sudo -k
US drone fleet infected by virus


  • keys stroke recorder
  • Creech Air Force Base in Mojave Desert
  • wipe from machines, but keeps coming back
  • call to double drones by 2021
  • 12 camera drones sharing data with troops on ground





Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Tech Review: Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Ubuntu Linux heads to the clouds

The first Ubuntu circle of friends logo.

  • Canonical
  • OpenStack cloud software confernece
    • HP chose Ubuntu as the lead host
  • Moving away from Eucalyptus
  • OpenStack
    • core infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS)
  • HP's private cloud beta
  • Juju
    • lets you start-up and manage applications on a cloud
    • service deployment and orchestration framework
Lubuntu


  • A light weight ubuntu for net books
  • link seems broken
GNU PDF


  • Implements the ISO 3200-1 standard
  • started in 2007
  • was on the list of high priority free software projects
KDE Plasma Active


  • Is not an OS
  • KDE 4.x style interface and API fro touch devices
  • Plasma Active Team
Creating a Linux resolv.conf file


  • nameserver XXX.XXX.X.X
  • To get the name servers from my desk
    • from command line
      • ipconfig /all
        • all for DNS Servers

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

What to do with a drunken Linux

The following are some key combinations to get around a locked up Linux system:

  • Shutdown X11: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
  • Switch from X11 to text login: Ctrl-Alt-F1, F2, F3 (don't do with a dual monitor setup in XP, you will lose one of your monitors :-()
If the above don't work try the following steps to shutdown:
  1. Ctrl-Alt-Del and wait 30 seconds for init to shutdown your computer
  2. If this fails use SAK(?). While holding down Alt-PrintScreen (SysRq key Combo) press the following keys
    1. 'S' to sync drives
    2. 'U' to unmount drives
    3. 'B' to reboot
  3. If all this fail, then take your life in yours hands and hit the power switch :-(
Note: You may see some activity when you press the 'S' key and 'U' key, but you may not. Don't give up. Continue to step 3 and hit the reboot key 'B' and wait. Even when I have saw nothing for the sync and unmount commands the boot command has worked.

This was gleaned from the following link: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=221174

hung hungup stuck lock lockedup

Hopefully next time I go looking for this info I can find it.

This system locked up today, and only SAK worked.