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Certificates from LetsEncrypt - looks good to me!
by Chris Green 10 Feb '16

10 Feb '16

I just decided I ought to use https for accessing my Owncloud calendar and contacts so needed to configure a certificate for my isbd.uk host (it's a Gandi virtual server). My Google search for Ubuntu https showed LetsEncrypt as the second hit so I took a look, seemed sensible so I followed the instructions at:- https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-secure-apache-with-… Absolutely brilliant, not only did it generate a certificate for me, it did all the Apache configuration too so https://isbd.uk worked after I'd run the commands given on the above web page. -- Chris Green

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[ALUG Announce] ALUG Norwich Pub Meet Thursday 11th February
by Viperfang 08 Feb '16

08 Feb '16

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Hello Norwich Aluggers, Our monthly ALUG Norwich social meeting will be held this Thursday, 11th February at The Coach and Horses (82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1BA). The meeting officially starts at 8pm, although some people may arrive earlier. More information on those people can be found on the list and the IRC channel. If you are unsure if you will recognise us then make yourself and your intent to attend known by either posting on list or visiting us on IRC so we can look out for you rather than hiding in the corner. Optionally you could ask at the bar if they know where the geeky computer weirdos are and they'll point you in the right direction (seriously!). Another possibility is look for heaps of electronics on a table that may possibly look like movie props that would used for detonating explosives. Feel free to bring electronics/laptops/gadgets to the meet, you will by no means be alone. Ben Bewick aka Viperfang NB: This mail is automated, please refer to the usual sources for more information. ALUG Contact Details: Website : http://www.alug.org.uk/ IRC : #alug on irc.alug.org.uk List : http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo Twitter : http://twitter.com/anglianlug Identica: TBA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2381613902 ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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How to find logging apps that aren't to do with computer logging?
by Chris Green 06 Feb '16

06 Feb '16

I'm looking for programs that might help with maintaining a log, as in a ship's log or a log of maintenance activity on a vehicle. It's well nigh impossible to use the word log in the search because one is immediately swamped by hits relating to computer logging, e.g. things which write to syslog. The word journal isn't much better because it too has computer related meanings which swamp any useful output and, anyway, journal isn't quite the right word for what I'm looking for. So does anyone have any bright ideas either for what to search for or programs that I might find useful. -- Chris Green

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DAAPD (music streaming) alternatives
by steve-ALUG＠hst.me.uk 03 Feb '16

03 Feb '16

Hi Y'all! I have a server which used to run Firefly (mp-daapd), which is/was a clone(ish) of Apple Airplay. After updating the server, Firefly started misbehaving, so I uninstalled it, and was going to re-install it, but found no installation packages. Being flaky, and as I knew it was an unmaintained project, I decided to install forked-daap instead. Eventually, after a few glitches were fixed, I managed to get this running OK. One thing I don't like about it is it relies on AVAHI, which basically sits there advertising what services are available on my server. I don't particularly like this, and I'm quite capable of typing the IP address and port number into any DAAP clients I use. Anyway, this got me thinking: are there any other better, possibly more open source and/or more modern equivalents or replacements for daap? I think I looked once at DNLA or something like that but got hopelessly confused. Any advice or comments? The use-case I have in mind is for the server to be able to stream songs on demand primarily to android phones, but possibly to a couple of raspberry pis. The Pis are currently set up with MPD (Music Player Daemon) which is working quite well. As an aside, I once found a webpage that explained how to set up some machines with (I think) MPD so that playing between them was synched, as it is on a Sonos device, so you could have all the machines playing the same tune at the same time, in different rooms. Anyone got any idea how to do this? My google fu has deserted me and I can't find it again. I once tried enabling http streaming from my server and getting the pis to play that but it flooded my network and brought it to it's knees, so that's not really a way to go! TIA Steve

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2600 meeting at 18:00 on Friday the 5th February.
by Viperfang 02 Feb '16

02 Feb '16

Quick heads up about this months Norwich 2600 meeting, more info at http://www.norwich2600.co.uk

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FTP servers with remote admin tools
by Mark Rogers 01 Feb '16

01 Feb '16

I need to set up an FTP server on a virtual server keeping overheads to a minimum. What I'd like is some kind of GUI to administer it (add new users etc) which runs on my desktop and does the admin remotely, so that when not in use it has zero overhead (compared with having to install a web server and database to manage it, for example). Not fussed as to which FTP server at this point. (It strikes me that a tool that was able to manage text based config files over SSH for FTP servers but also other services would be quite useful, does such a thing exist?) -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0844 251 1450 Registered in England (0456 0902) 21 Drakes Mews, Milton Keynes, MK8 0ER

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Firewall log entry
by steve-ALUG＠hst.me.uk 26 Jan '16

26 Jan '16

Hi y'all! I'm confuzzled. I have repeated entries in my syslog in log file viewer. Jan 26 08:31:42 MYSERV kernel: [25624.013276] [UFW BLOCK] IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=BIG_MAC SRC=192.168.1.1 DST=224.0.0.1 LEN=28 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=1 ID=0 PROTO=2 Jan 26 08:31:42 MYSERV kernel: [25624.013768] [UFW BLOCK] IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=BIG_MAC SRC=192.168.1.1 DST=224.0.0.1 LEN=32 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=1 ID=0 PROTO=2 Jan 26 08:33:48 MYSERV kernel: [25750.017039] [UFW BLOCK] IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=BIG_MAC SRC=192.168.1.1 DST=224.0.0.1 LEN=28 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=1 ID=0 PROTO=2 Jan 26 08:33:48 MYSERV kernel: [25750.017562] [UFW BLOCK] IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=BIG_MAC SRC=192.168.1.1 DST=224.0.0.1 LEN=32 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=1 ID=0 PROTO=2 Where MYSERV is the name of my server, and BIG_MAC is what appears to be a mac address but longer than I am used to . always the same number, =01:00:5e:00:00:01:a0:21:b7:43:91:37:08:00 As far as I can see, 192.168.1.1 is connecting to a broadcast address, to see if anyone's there. Thing is, 192.168.1.1 IS NOT an address that I'm aware I'm using; my subnet is 192.168.0.*. If I open 192.168.1.1 in a webbrowser, it opens a trivial webpage I have set up as an adblock-replacement page. The thing is, this web page normally serves on 127.0.0.1 On the server, if I ping 192.168.1.1 it responds in about the same amount of time as 192.168.0.1 I suspect that 192.168.1.1. is my own server bound somehow to another ip address. I doubt that this is something from outside getting in to my network. Can anyone help me find out what it is, where it is, and how to stop it? Cheers Steve

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Thunderbird
by Anthony Anson 21 Jan '16

21 Jan '16

Updated Mint last week and since then, Thunferguts has refused to write copies of e-mails into the 'Sent' folder. Could there be a connection? -- Tony http://www.girolle.co.uk/

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Anyone have experience of OKI printers under Linux?
by Chris Green 21 Jan '16

21 Jan '16

I'm thinking of replacing my HP printers (a mono laser and a multi-function inkjet) with a single multi-function colour laser printer. The current front runner is an OKI MC342DN. Does anyone have any experience of using OKI printers under Linux? There are Linux PPD drivers for the MC342DN but that's about as much as I can find out. -- Chris Green

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Good option for occasional printing
by Steve Engledow 21 Jan '16

21 Jan '16

Printing has long been the bane of my (and I'm sure most people's) existence and several years back, I swore I would never buy another printer. However, I have a new job now which is based from my home and I no longer have the convenience of the office printer for the occasional (a couple of times a month) return label or plane ticket. What I'm looking for is something that will solve my needs for a reasonable price. The last time I bought a printer, it cost me £30 and included some ink that ran out after around 15 pages of black and white. Replacement ink cost me around £45. I've got two short words for that. Does anyone have any recommendations? I'll only need B&W, A4, and have no need for high resolution print. Cheers, Steve

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Slightly OT for the list: - GPG bad signature
by mick 20 Jan '16

20 Jan '16

Hi Guys Steve tells me that he had a problem with my last email to the list (Re: Rural Broadband). He got a bad signature from GPG. In a follow up exchange off list Steve said: "Here's what gpg says: --- $ gpg -v --verify signature.asc msg gpg: armor header: Version: GnuPG v2.0.22 (GNU/Linux) gpg: Signature made Tue 19 Jan 2016 14:04:01 GMT using RSA key ID 5BADD312 gpg: using PGP trust model gpg: BAD signature from "Mick Morgan (Mick's new 4096 bit key) <mick(a)rlogin.net>" [unknown] gpg: textmode signature, digest algorithm SHA256, key algorithm rsa4096 --" Ive been using this key since the middle of 2012. I have also been using claws (with PGP/MIME enabled) as my MUA for ages. There seem to be a couple of reasons why GPG should complain. The most obvious is that the email has been changed after signature. Paranoia aside, this can easily happen if the MUA (at either end?) changes the mail by wrapping at a particular line length. Another possible reason is that my signature key length (4096 bits) is too long for the recipient's system to handle correctly. But as I say, I have been using the current key for nearly four years now, so my question is, has anyone else seen this problem with my signature? And does anyone know what may be going on here? Cheers Mick --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mick Morgan gpg fingerprint: FC23 3338 F664 5E66 876B 72C0 0A1F E60B 5BAD D312 http://baldric.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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Rural Broadband
by Laurie Brown 20 Jan '16

20 Jan '16

Hi folks, I know this question has been asked here before, but it was ages ago, and things change quickly. I have a client who is 1.8 miles form the nearest exchange, who is getting appalling line speeds. She's been with Eclipse for years, and like me, has found their support getting steadily worse. Recently, it took then 45 hours to respond to a support call from me which I regard as utterly unacceptable. I'm looking for another supplier for my rural clients as well as myself (I can get fibre). This particular client has speeds of Down: 1.8 and Up: 0.3. As she runs an office from home, this is clearly unacceptable. The line has become steadily worse over the last couple of years, and she has received absolutely nothing but obfuscation and requests for more money from both BT and Eclipse. She's tried Bonded DSL, but was told that it didn't work because she uses VOIP. No, they won't retract that. She has a spare line, equally slow, effectively unused now. So, my question is, do any of you out there have any recommendations for getting the best rural broadband? Suppliers, methods, etc.? She does need static IP if at all possible. It can be worked around, but that's not ideal. Cheers, Laurie. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Laurie Brown laurie(a)brownowl.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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Does anyone here use Gambas?
by Chris Green 20 Jan '16

20 Jan '16

As per the subject, I'm wondering whether Gambas would be a useful tool for me. In particular for creating GUI data entry programs for sqlite3. -- Chris Green

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iPlayer improvements
by Chris Walker 18 Jan '16

18 Jan '16

I know that some here use get_iplayer to grab BBC files. Perhaps those people would like to know that the BBC are experimenting with 320k aac downloads. To make use of them you need a 'dev' version of get_iplayer available from the git resource. There are only a few files available so far apparently but nonetheless, if you want to experiment, feel free. If you want to know some of the background to compression etc, you might like to listen to this - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06tvgp1 -- __ __| |_ __ __ .----------------------------------------------. / _/ _` \ V V / | mailto:alug_cdw@the-walker-household.co.uk | \__\__,_|\_/\_/ |______________________________________________|

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Re: [ALUG] Printing
by Christopher Dawkins 15 Jan '16

15 Jan '16

> 1. Good option for occasional printing (Steve Engledow) I have an LJ6M that is nearly twenty years old and still working, although it occasionally mangles the paper. However, I now mostly use an HP OfficeJet Pro 8620, which did cost £130. But (with an extra eight pounds or so on the PrinterShare app) it prints documents wirelessly from my Android as well as via CUPS (I hate CUPs, by the way) from all my Linux/FreeBSD machines, it's a colour photocopier, it sheet feeds and it duplexes, and the cost per print seems fine once you get onto the big cartridges. Whatever, the ability to print email attachments from a the comfort of a phone is worth a lot to me! Colour photographs need expensive paper, however: the colour laser I had before this did colour photos well on normal paper. -- Christopher Dawkins Garnetts Corner, Jollyboys Lane North, Felsted, Dunmow, Essex CM6 3DU cchd(a)pjcd.org 07816 821659 01371 821076

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No space for Audacity
by Chris Walker 13 Jan '16

13 Jan '16

I'm having a problem with my system and I can't see where the solution is despite looking online. Audacity said that the disc was short of space and just sat there doing nothing. So I killed the task and looked at the space with 'df'. It shows that /dev/sdb5 has zero space left. Here's the relevant output from df :- Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on devtmpfs 3.0G 0 3.0G 0% /dev tmpfs 3.0G 1.4M 3.0G 1% /dev/shm tmpfs 3.0G 940K 3.0G 1% /run /dev/sdb5 7.6G 7.2G 0 100% / /dev/sdb7 7.6G 5.6G 1.7G 78% /usr tmpfs 3.0G 0 3.0G 0% /sys/fs/cgroup tmpfs 3.0G 88K 3.0G 1% /tmp /dev/sdb8 849G 202G 647G 24% /home tmpfs 597M 12K 597M 1% /run/user/1000 So where has the 7.6 gigs worth of space gone on sdb5 or am I looking in the wrong place ? -- __ __| |_ __ __ .----------------------------------------------. / _/ _` \ V V / | mailto:alug_cdw@the-walker-household.co.uk | \__\__,_|\_/\_/ |______________________________________________|

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Laptops
by Michael Goddard 07 Jan '16

07 Jan '16

I'm considering purchasing a laptop (say 15.6" screen + Intel i7 CPU type) and I would be grateful to anybody for any comment on recommended brand, model, and potential supplier suitable for use with Mint. Here's wishing all ALUG-gers a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! -- Michael Goddard <emmjee(a)mypostoffice.co.uk>

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PUA Win 32 files?
by Bev Nicolson 04 Jan '16

04 Jan '16

So I ran ClamAV a while back and as usual it identified four Win.32 files from usr/lib/momo/4.0mscorlib.dll as potentially dodgy. (Same files as this questioner had: http://askubuntu.com/questions/583729/clamav-pua-win32-packer-privateexepro… ) My questions are 1) Are they dangerous? Opinion seems divided on this. 2) If I deleted them anyway, just in case, would I do my system any harm? Bev.

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2600 meeting at 18:00 on Friday the 1st January.
by Viperfang 29 Dec '15

29 Dec '15

Quick heads up about this months Norwich 2600 meeting, more info at http://www.norwich2600.co.uk

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Terminal emulator with customizable menus - is there one?
by Chris Green 12 Dec '15

12 Dec '15

I currently use xfce4-terminal in xfce, I find the menu bar quite handy. What would be nice is a way to add custom entries to the menu-bar and/or pull-down menus. Is there a terminal emulator out there with customizable menus? -- Chris Green

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[ALUG Announce] ALUG Norwich Pub Meet Thursday 10th December
by Viperfang 09 Dec '15

09 Dec '15

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Hello Norwich Aluggers, Our monthly ALUG Norwich social meeting will be held this Thursday, 10th December at The Coach and Horses (82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1BA). The meeting officially starts at 8pm, although some people may arrive earlier. More information on those people can be found on the list and the IRC channel. If you are unsure if you will recognise us then make yourself and your intent to attend known by either posting on list or visiting us on IRC so we can look out for you rather than hiding in the corner. Optionally you could ask at the bar if they know where the geeky computer weirdos are and they'll point you in the right direction (seriously!). Another possibility is look for heaps of electronics on a table that may possibly look like movie props that would used for detonating explosives. Feel free to bring electronics/laptops/gadgets to the meet, you will by no means be alone. Ben Bewick aka Viperfang NB: This mail is automated, please refer to the usual sources for more information. ALUG Contact Details: Website : http://www.alug.org.uk/ IRC : #alug on irc.alug.org.uk List : http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo Twitter : http://twitter.com/anglianlug Identica: TBA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2381613902 ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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PC slow to boot prt 2
by Bev Nicolson 06 Dec '15

06 Dec '15

I asked about my slow to boot (and sometimes slow to shut down) pc a while back now and have htop installed. I should have asked this then but which bit of the info it gives me do I need to give you lot in order to diagnose the problem? Bev.

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Minimal mail sending
by Mark Rogers 05 Dec '15

05 Dec '15

What's the simplest (least config, lowest footprint) way to give a Linux box the capability to send email? Eg: if I have a Pi running a few cron jobs and I want it to be able to email me any issues, that kind of thing. Or a web server that might need to send forgotten password reminders but little else. It'll never need to receive email or provide mail services to others. I've used ssmtp in the past but recently found something better, but for the life of me can't remember what it was! But as it's a common requirement I'd like to know what other people do. Mark -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0844 251 1450 Registered in England (0456 0902) 21 Drakes Mews, Milton Keynes, MK8 0ER

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2600 meeting at 18:00 on Friday the 4th December.
by Viperfang 02 Dec '15

02 Dec '15

Quick heads up about this months Norwich 2600 meeting, more info at http://www.norwich2600.co.uk

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New Server recomendations
by steve-ALUG＠hst.me.uk 25 Nov '15

25 Nov '15

Hi folks. I'm going to have to replace an ancient Pentium (2?) with 2gb ram that's run as a file server with software raid (twin disks), media server, print server, web server. None of these are high use and the web server is only internal. Anyone got any recommendations for a low-ish power, small-ish form factor machine that will run linux that I could use? Existing machine is running Ubuntu, and I'd probably continue with that, or Lubuntu, or possibly debian. Also is there any easy way to migrate from the existing machine to the new one? Presumably I can't simply move the disks from the old machine to the new one? (This bit's a bit off topic- sorry) Also probably got to get sprog a Windows machine. It's a long time since I've delved into the wacky world of windows. Schoolwork and games like train simulator and minecraft would probably be it. Can't decide for sure, but probably a laptop. Any good deals or recommendations? TIA Steve

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