- main - earth.li

14 Dec '03

Rar afternoon of intense heaches trying to work out the solution to this problem: Initial problem: dead, unpingable, unloginable, unviewable box: Theory (due to being able to look at console) Debian UM Linux box crashing, seemingly due to mysql Solution: Restart box via interface.... Box restarts, things come up. Now: Problem: box unpingable, but loginable. ircd and mysql have both started and are being used again, mail is up, but apache is dead: try starting apache (using apachectl) Configtest: all ok Graceful: root@dev:/var/log/apache# apachectl graceful /usr/sbin/apachectl graceful: httpd not running, trying to start [Sun Dec 14 16:07:44 2003] [error] (2)No such file or directory: mod_mime_magic: can't read magic file /etc/apache/share/magic /usr/sbin/apachectl graceful: httpd could not be started looking at error.log: root@dev:/var/log/apache# cat error.log [Sun Dec 14 15:36:00 2003] [error] (2)No such file or directory: mod_mime_magic: can't read magic file /etc/apache/share/magic getpeername: Socket operation on non-socket getsockname: Socket operation on non-socket Error getting local address again, thom steps in saying the mod_mime_magic isnt a problem as that wiill just die nicely when it cant configure itself, but the getpeername is possibly due to a failure of some non-existing domain name somehwere, so I go through the entier config file commenting out the virtual host loads, and the bit which makes it look for virtual hosts, and changing anything which poitns at dev.imen.org.uk to pointing at its ip address, and then try again, but I get the same error, checking all the way through a couple of times and repeating. The box is still unpingable from the outside world, (from various hosts) but pingable by itself (duhh). Could this have an affect on it. DNS lookups to it return the correct ip address for that box (otherwise I couldnt log in or irc to it). Searching the web gives me either results not relavent to apache, or just other people (including entries on debian-users which havnt been replied to (dating back years). Am I doing something incredably stupid here? J ps apologies if this goes in the wrong format its my first time using thunderbird

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unmounting nfs mounts
by Syd Hancock 14 Dec '03

14 Dec '03

How can I unmount an nfs-mounted partition from the client? Or is that even the right question? Here is the situation: I have a directory exported on an nfs server (a desktop PC) and mounted from the command-line on my laptop. The desktop is a dual-boot which spends most of its time in windows (kids gaming machine). My plan is to have somewhere to store backups. What should I do on the client before shutting-down the server PC to let things end gracefully? Can I set-up fstab (or ?) on the client so that it will mount the exported drive if it is there but not cause problems if it is not there? Is there a better way to do this??? Many thanks Syd

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Tele-conferencing under linux & M$
by Paul 14 Dec '03

14 Dec '03

Just had a cry for help in setting up a teleconferencing system for a small group of FOSS developers. The proposed solution is to use a specialist service provider based on conventional telephony equipment - This works fine as long as it uses local rate calls, but I would need to dial a US number.. IRC would be my favoured choice, but it has been ruled out as some people have an aversion to the keyboard. This leaves voice-over-internet (VoIP ?), an area I have no experience of. Looking at www.linphone.org, it would appear that it would only support a one-to-one connection. On the other hand, it may provide a solution to the problem of long distance calls... Question: Are there any compatable software packages that will run on linux and microsoft platforms ? Regards, Paul. -- "To err is human...to really f*** things up requires the root password."

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For sale : Understanding the Linux Kernel (O'Reilly)
by Ashley 14 Dec '03

14 Dec '03

I have an O'Reilly book for sale. It covers the technical details of the Linux 2.2 kernel. More information at: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/linuxkernel/ I am looking for £5. Please email me off-list if interested. -- Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. http://www.ashleyhowes.com "When all the animals of this world are gone, man will die of loneliness"

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Subject: Re: [ALUG] Norwich evening meet: Thursday 11th December
by Ricky Bruce 13 Dec '03

13 Dec '03

if anyones ever in the market place in norwich watch out for streetwalkers handing out heart shaped leaflets, get as many as you can, they are for Nandos on the riverside or red lion street, and you can get a free meal with them, get enough and thats free catering for the meet. The foods pretty good aswell, their chilli sauce knocks your head off, i went temporarily blind and almost passed out after a few minutes of eating my extra-hot burger. The music isnt too invasive either. Rick ps: hello everyone aswell, keep meaning to write but im lazy. Just moved back to the uk after a spell in the US, my old lug wasnt very active, as theres not a whole lot of technology in central illinois..just corn but greetings from lugop anyway. www.lugop.org _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with cool emoticons - download MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

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Re: [ALUG] laptop recommendations
by Matt Parker 13 Dec '03

13 Dec '03

On Fri, 2003-12-12 at 23:20, adam(a)thebowery.co.uk wrote: > Hi all, > > I am looking for a new laptop and need a few suggestions... > I'd recommend an IBM. I've had Linux running on a number of Thinkpads and it's been rock solid. They're not the best laptops for their price in the world, but Linux loves them, and they're built like tanks. I dropped one from a fair height once, and except for a small crack in the LCD screen it worked without a problem. Matt -- http://www.mpcontracting.co.uk Experts in Java development and website design

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D-link DSL-300G+ and SuSEfirewall2
by Peter Onion 11 Dec '03

11 Dec '03

Anyone using this combination ? The modem has a DHCP server , which initially gives a 192.168.0.X address on a short lease. It waits until it actually has traffic to send it until using DHCP to get the real (ADSL interface) address. Then it updates the 192.168.0.X address for the real one. Changing eth0's address like this breaks the rules in the firewall. It can easily be fixed by running "rcSuSEfirewall2 restart", but it is a bit of a pain. Any other solutions ? Peter

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Don't forget! Norwich evening meeting 8pm tonight
by Syd Hancock 11 Dec '03

11 Dec '03

Norwich evening meeting 8pm tonight, Forum Coffee bar. I have a nasty runny cold just starting so may not be there this evening - if not would someone post a brief note to the list afterwards? Thanks Syd

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Announce digest, Vol 2 #27 - 2 msgs
by announce-request＠lists.alug.org.uk 10 Dec '03

10 Dec '03

Send Announce mailing list submissions to announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to announce-request(a)lists.alug.org.uk You can reach the person managing the list at announce-admin(a)lists.alug.org.uk When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Announce digest..." --------------.--------------------------------------------.------------ alug-announce | Newsletter of the Anglian Linux User Group | Weekly(ish) --------------'--------------------------------------------'------------ ** Please send articles for this letter to announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk ** *** Please send replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk, not announce... *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Today's Topics: 1. Linux Ham headcount (MJ Ray) 2. Reminder: Norwich evening meet this week (Syd Hancock) --__--__-- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 11:32:17 +0000 From: MJ Ray <mjr(a)dsl.pipex.com> To: announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Organization: Very poor Subject: [Alug Announce]Linux Ham headcount ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: 2003-12-03 10:06:19 +0000 From: chris williams <webboss(a)ntlworld.com> Subject: Linux Ham headcount Hi All, Would you mind asking around your lugs to see if you have and Radio Amateurs in your groups. If you could you ask any "Linux Hams" you find lurking to drop a very quick mail to :- linuxham(a)485design.co.uk At this stage Im doing a quick headcount using an email countbot to see roughly how many are about, but if there is enough interest a couple of members from our group plan to put together a UK based Linux-Ham resource site etc... We (Shropshire LUG) recently did a "Linux Awareness Day" at Telford Radio Rally - a national event kind of like a computer fair on steriods for radio amateurs. Quite a good event - several thousand visitors all of whom had to walk past our display to get to the bargains - lots of interest - kept 6 of us on the display stand busy all day with demos and chat :) Judging from the number of visitors we spoke to who indicated they used linux already there should be potentially quite a few. Our lug has about half a dozen out of our 60ish membership that are radio amateurs (around 10%). I will be interested to see if this is a national thing or if we are just a strange bunch of anoraks here in shropshire ;) cheers all... Chris W (g7/m3nbp) -- Christopher J Williams LugMaster for Shropshire - http://www.shropshire.lug.org --__--__-- Message: 2 From: Syd Hancock <syd(a)toufol.com> To: alug <main(a)lists.alug.org.uk> Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 18:44:44 +0000 Cc: alug <announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk> Subject: [Alug Announce]Reminder: Norwich evening meet this week Norwich area monthly evening meet takes place as usual on the second thursday of the month: 11th december 2003 from 8pm in the bar of the Forum, Norwich. Full details, directions etc. on the ALUG website http://www.alug.org.uk Syd --__--__-- _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce End of Announce Digest

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Router firewall
by bsamuels＠beenthere-donethat.org.uk 09 Dec '03

09 Dec '03

On my ADSL router firewall configuration there are 3 interfaces - Public, Private and DMZ and one can apparently specify ALL. I understand Public as the Internet side, Private as my home LAN side and I don't really understand DMZ for which there are default rules set up. I have my single port router (Ethernet) connected to my main computer, which has two ethernet ports, on eth1. The home LAN is connected to the other ethernet port eth0. This computer masquerades for the other computers on the network. Do I really need the DMZ rules? Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

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Reminder: Norwich evening meet this week
by Syd Hancock 09 Dec '03

09 Dec '03

Norwich area monthly evening meet takes place as usual on the second thursday of the month: 11th december 2003 from 8pm in the bar of the Forum, Norwich. Full details, directions etc. on the ALUG website http://www.alug.org.uk Syd

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RE: [ALUG] Linux friendly external modem, and ISPs
by Jenny Hopkins 09 Dec '03

09 Dec '03

> -----Original Message----- > From: adam(a)thebowery.co.uk [mailto:adam@thebowery.co.uk] > If you saw the rats nest that was lurking under my desk at > the time I am sure you would have been more forgiving :p > Is that the true meaning of "plug 'n' pray"? :-) Jen >

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Re: [ALUG] Linux friendly external modem, and ISPs
by adam＠thebowery.co.uk 09 Dec '03

09 Dec '03

On Mon, Dec 08, 2003 at 10:10:00PM +0000, Chris Walker wrote: > > I've just retrieved mine from the cupboard and it's not exactly rocket > science is it? ;-) > > One in socket and one out flying lead. Remind me not to let you loose on one > of my machines again :-) If you saw the rats nest that was lurking under my desk at the time I am sure you would have been more forgiving :p -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li AFFS || http://www.affs.org.uk/ || Not a filesystem

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Re: [ALUG] Domain name (was Linux friendly external modem, and ISPs)
by Dave Briggs 09 Dec '03

09 Dec '03

Thanks for all your comments. I have another quick question, though it is more a matter of taste than anything... Since I am leaving my job at the University shortly, I want to get myself sorted with a new permanent email addy, and want to register a domain name. The one I wanted was to be ww.tyndale.net, or some other acceptable suffix. I like the name as it's firstly the name of the street where I live, I like the historical connection, and it's also a nice short word. dave(a)tyndale.net - sounds lovely, doesn't it? Trouble is, the only suffixes free are .info or (ugh) .biz. The latter is deffo out, but I am totally undecided as to whether tyndale.info is any good or not. If I decide not, then it's straight back to the drawing board... Does anyone have opinions on this? I could do with some ideas.... Dave On Dec 8 2003, Graham Trott wrote: > On Monday 08 December 2003 10:21, Rob Kendrick wrote: > > > Thanks. Had a quick search on Dabs, just to get a gauge on prices, > > > and the US Robotics one is £75 - rather more than I thought I would > > > have to spend. Are the £35 odd quid ones not worth bothering with? > > > > Not IME. The USR ones will give you better performance, and will last > > you forever. Also, I've had bad experiences with cheap external modems > > - some of them really are Windows-only. Boggle. So be careful what you > > buy if you're going for a cheap one. > > Yes. Most USB ones are basically external WinModems (I didn't know that > till recently). > > Though I agree external is better - nice flashing lights to look at, too > - if your WinModem is Intel or Conexant you shouldn't have too much > trouble. The latter have drivers at http://www.linuxant.com/drivers/ and > I was able to get an Intel WinModem to work pretty easily using > downloaded drivers. BT is unpredictable in its provision of broadband so > if there's the remotest chance of getting it soon you might be better > getting the internal to work. > >

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Linux friendly external modem, and ISPs
by Dave Briggs 09 Dec '03

09 Dec '03

I am getting fed up with having to use Windows whenever I want to read my mail, browse the web etc - it's becoming a real pain in the backside. Having totally failed to find anything of any use on getting my winmodem to work with Linux, I have decided to give in and buy myself a nice proper external modem for christmas. Any recommendations? Also, I need to sign up with a decent ISP, and would like to use one that offers a flat rate monthly fee, though I can't have broadband. Does anyone have a personal favourite here? Thanks Dave

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Hello there
by Roberto Puricelli 09 Dec '03

09 Dec '03

Hello everybody, My name is Rob and I live in Norwich. I work for a global financial institution as an e-support coach, which basically means I travel the length & breadth of the UK, training and coaching our staff and financial advisers on how to use our trading software. In the past I was mainly involved in retail although I spent some time with Gateway, the American PC manufacturer, in their business division. I found ALUG in Linux Format magazine and thought I'd sign up. I am a very green newbie to Linux! I've often pondered giving it a go and after talking to a former work colleague who is Linux crazy, I thought "What the hell, I have nothing to lose", and promptly went out and bought a couple of books that both came with Red Hat 9. I installed it onto my laptop and within about 20 minutes or so, I was up and running. Since then, I've just messed around with it and dipped in to the books occasionally. It takes a little getting used to after years of Windows usage, but it's like a pair of new shoes...familiar, if a little uncomfortable to start with. I have to admit that since then, I've trawled the net for information and stuff, and have ended up downloading many new distributions such as Slackware, Knoppix, Peanut, Morphix, DamnSmallLinux and LNX-BBC to name but a few. I've also gone a bit crazy and downloaded loads of apps and stuff. All I really want to do is get a real feel for the OS and the whole Open Source community and what it has to offer. Although I don't see myself abandoning Windows, I do see myself using Linux to do all the things that are too darn expensive to do on Windows, such as Web Design etc. You see, I have no programming ability whatsoever and I have yet to find a web design program that wasn't either difficult to use, severely lacking in features or didn't cost the same as the Gross National Product of a small European nation! With Open Source, it looks like I can be more creative and productive at significantly less cost than with Windows. Sadly, I have yet to discover a really good and stable music sequencing package (a la Cubase) as I am a part time musician. I have just downloaded Rosegarden 4 and will give that a go soon. Anyway, enough of my ramblings. I'd love to hear from fellow newbie's, and I might just be able to pop along to the meeting on the 11th if work commitments allow. Hope to see some of you soon, Rob.

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Re: [ALUG] Linux friendly external modem, and ISPs
by Wayne Stallwood 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

On Monday 08 December 2003 18:08, Chris Walker wrote: > There's a company local to Norwich called Grey Electronics that sell modem > protectors. I have one around here somewhere but I've been a bit lax in not > buying one to protect my ADSL router. Reject any type that doesn't filter mains as well. (or at least have a decent earth connection) Why ? Erm umpteen zillion volt lightening bolt (or just a transient induced voltage) will need to be going to ground. unless filter is the size of a house, or has a decent earth it won't work ! I've seen modem filters that are just a box that goes in the line, unlikely to do very much as your modem and computer will still be a far more attractive path to ground. Oh and also reject any line filter that doesn't say it can cope with ADSL (if that's what you have) Some of them are a bit of a bandpass filter as well and that will upset ADSL unless the filter has been designed to let it through. Most modem deaths are an induced voltage picked up by the line from a near strike, more often happens in the sticks where a higher percentage of lines are in the air. If you get a direct strike, you will be lucky to find your modem, let alone use it again. Never really understood why BT don't just put a smallish spark gap at the point the line enters the house, tie it to a convenient ground. Won't stop the transients, but would stop the "Ok so who replaced all my phones with charred lumps of plastic during the lightning storm last night" That I saw a few times when I used to fill out technical insurance reports at a previous job.

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Windows-to-Linux migration support articles from IBM.
by Syd Hancock 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

Windows-to-Linux migration support articles from IBM. Looks like a useful and detailed resource. http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-roadmap.html Syd

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Mandrake Community Twiki
by Syd Hancock 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

Heaps of Mandrake support and advice here http://mandrake.vmlinuz.ca/bin/view/Main/WebHome

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USB/SCSI fun in 2.6.0
by MJ Ray 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

I'm having the following problem with my scanner under 2.6.0 It connects through SCSI and a USB bridge. I do the following steps: 1. Power everything up; 2. modprobe usb-storage 3. modprobe sg 4. sane-find-scanner runs fine and can see the scanner; 5. scanimage locks the machine up hard -- sometimes magic SysRq gets me out, sometimes it doesn't. After a reboot, I see no errors in the syslog. Anyone know how to debug this, or a better configuration? I'd really appreciate it. Meanwhile, I'm going to try patching the kernel up to the latest. -- MJR/slef My Opinion Only and possibly not of any group I know. Please http://remember.to/edit_messages on lists to be sure I read http://mjr.towers.org.uk/ gopher://g.towers.org.uk/ slef(a)jabber.at Creative copyleft computing services via http://www.ttllp.co.uk/

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Re: [ALUG] Linux friendly external modem, and ISPs
by adam＠thebowery.co.uk 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

On Mon, Dec 08, 2003 at 06:08:22PM +0000, Chris Walker wrote: > > There's a company local to Norwich called Grey Electronics that sell modem > protectors. I have one around here somewhere but I've been a bit lax in not > buying one to protect my ADSL router. I think it says something that I had one of these and it didn't work very well, but that was down to me managing to plug the wrong cable in at the wrong point and bypassing the protector entirely :) -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li AFFS || http://www.affs.org.uk/ || Not a filesystem

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Installing Gentoo
by Graham Trott 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

I'm installing Gentoo on a VIA 800MHz mini-ITX, following the excellent instructions on the website. However, at the crucial point of entering the new environment, the following command fails: cdimage gentoo # chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash Illegal instruction Everything seems to be in the right place; any ideas why this might be happening? Have I made an error in assuming the CPU (calls itself an Ezra) is a 686-class? -- GT

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UK NHS trials Sun Linux
by Craig 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

UK NHS trials Sun Linux, threatens 800k user defection from MS: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/34396.html It is a start... -- - Craig - http://www.wizball.co.uk "Simplicity, the best way to approach life"

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Re: [ALUG] Linux friendly external modem, and ISPs
by Dave Briggs 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

On Dec 8 2003, Rob Kendrick wrote: > US Robotics. (Or 3com, whoever makes them these days.) Although if you > can get a PCI one still these days, I'd get one of theses. They can be > slightly less latent. Thanks. Had a quick search on Dabs, just to get a gauge on prices, and the US Robotics one is £75 - rather more than I thought I would have to spend. Are the £35 odd quid ones not worth bothering with? > Eclipse. For a fixed fee, they'll give you dial-up with a static IP > (you can even chose rDNS for it). Although it does kick you off every > so often (2 or 4 hours, depending on package) you can just instantly > redial, and there are no limits. And because you've got a static IP, if > you redial quickly enough, it doesn't really matter. All for less than > 30 quid. Had a look at these - they look very reasonable. Thanks for the tip. Dave

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Weekly IRC reminder
by Neill Newman 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

This is the automated ALUG IRC meeting reminder sent to remind you that there is an IRC meeting tonight (Monday) at 8.00pm. The meeting takes place on the irc server irc.alug.org.uk in the #alug channel. Most IRC clients should allow you to get there with the commands "/server irc.alug.org.uk" and "/join #alug". Popular IRC clients include tkirc, bitchx, xchat and EPIC on Unix, and Mirc under windows. Here are some links to help you get started with irc. Unix http://www.xchat.org/ http://freshmeat.net/ http://www.epicsol.org/ Windows http://www.mirc.com (loads of help with irc for newbies!)

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