Afterstep

Fedora 10 + nvidia (FC10+Quadro) --> get Compiz to work

2009-04-11T11:43:00.003+02:00

FC10 comes with the standatd "nv" drivers which, with latest graphic cards, are not the best. In particular they dont support 3D accel.

1) download the latest NVIDIA drivers:

(!) dont use the www.nvidia.com site to download the dirvers (it's not updated).

1.1) use the forum: go to http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=14
1.2) look for the topic "Current NVIDIA Linux graphics driver releases", and get the "Current release".

2) launch the drivers installer:

2.1) to run the installer, you need to turn off the Xserver (type "init 3" in console)
2.2) launch the installer: /root/Downloads/NVIDIA......sh

now, if your really really lucky, the installer will download the kernel from nvidia ftp for you, and will configure the xorg.conf.
In that case, your done. startx and enjoy.

otherwise (99.9%:)

if your not , youll get an ERROR because you need to rebuild the kernel:

----------------------------------------
REBUILDING THE KERNEL for NVIDIA DRIVERS
----------------------------------------

1) type uname -r
2) yum install kernel-devel-
3) make a link to the sources: "ln -s /lib/modules/2.6.27.21-170.2.56.fc10.i686/build/ /usr/src/linux-2.6.27.21/"
4) set the enviroment variable: "export SYSSRC=/usr/src/linux-2.6.27.21" (DONT!!! add the trailing slash here !!!)

try to run the installer. If your still getting errors, try adding also the following packages:

5) yum groupinstall "Development Tools" "Development Libraries"
6) yum install kernel-devel xorg-x11-server-sdk pkgconfig

grub spash image

2009-01-10T17:58:00.002+01:00

just add the image file to the /grub directory in .xpm.gz format
the default name should be splash.xpm.gz
then rebuild grub image

you can get ready-to-use images anywhere ... eg: here

example commands:

cd /boot/grub
wget http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=17670&d=1161005960
update-grub

that's it :)

linux: change console resolution

2009-01-10T17:40:00.003+01:00

to change the console resolution on linux, you need to append a parameter to the kernel boot line:
eg: kernel vga=788

this is the resolution table:

Colours   640x400 640x480 800x600 1024x768 1152x864 1280x1024 1600x1200
--------+--------------------------------------------------------------
4 bits  |    ?       ?      770       ?        ?        ?         ?
8 bits  |   768     769     771      773      353      775       796
15 bits |    ?      784     787      790      354      793       797
16 bits |    ?      758     788      791      355      794       798
24 bits |    ?      786     789      792       ?       795       799
32 bits |    ?       ?       ?        ?       356       ?

If you want to make it permanet, you can do it via grub:

1) by adding this param in menu.lst to the kernel section on each menu entry you want to use this resolution

eg: kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6. [...] vga=788

2) or by adding this param to the # defoptions

eg: # defoptions=quiet splash vga=788
NOTE: it is commented, but is used this way by grub, so leave it commented! ... it's long story :)

REMEMBER: once done, you have to rebuild the grub by issuing the command

$ upgrade-grub

My firefox addons

2008-12-27T16:56:00.010+01:00

this is just a memo for myself :)
... but hope can be usefull to anyone

WebDeveloper (developer toolbar)
JSView (offer the ability to view the source code of external files)
DOM Inspector (inspect & edit live the DOM of any page)
FastVideoDownload (dowload .flv media from current page)
FireShot (take screenshot)
FoxyProxy (proxy manager, includes white/black list, etc...)
BugMeNot (Bypass site registrations)
ServerSpy (indicates what brand of HTTP server is running)
LiveHTTPHeaders (view HTTP headers requests/responses)
RefControl (check HTTP referer sent)
Text/Plain (open select text as url)
Snap Links (open multiple links in new tabs in 1 mouse move) (ff3 --> here)

How to watch BBC iPlayer shows outside the UK

2008-12-27T16:48:00.005+01:00

i've found this very interesting post !!

the only variations i've applied on my own are:

1) installed PortableTor (instead of the standard version)

2) edited manually the file ./Data/Tor.cfg
adding the following lines:

StrictExitNodes 1
exitnodes anotherlink,CarlosNet,ciccio,connorPC,PD,MrNiceGuy,procurator,shortname,colinwillsdorkyahoo,Hilikme,

Thx to Cherie!

You wanth to donload BBC iPlayer videos too?
checkout this post.
UPTADES: this no longer works anymore :(

White screen with Compiz?

2008-12-06T17:07:00.011+01:00

Compiz = white screen?

(1) TEMPORARY WORKAROUND

A quick way to temporary solve the white screen problem, is to remove compiz.

--> To quickly get out of the white screen, don't spend time rebooting in safe mode and stuff ...
Just follow those simple steps:

--> once you have your white screen desktop loaded ...

1) move to another desktop:
by pressing: CTRL + ALT + F1
2) login
3) remove compiz:
$ sudo apt-get remove compiz
$ sudo apt-get autoremove
4) return back to your desktop
CTRL + ALT + F7
5) restart the X session:
CTRL + ALT + BACKSPACE

(2) POSSIBLE SOLUTION

Running ATI? try this command:
$ aticonfig --initial -f

(3) POSSIBLE SOLUTION
Most of all is just a matter of configuration.
If you have a normal video card with 3D acceleration (even ATI :)) Compiz MUST work!

1) first of all update your system
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get upgrade
$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
(or $ yum update ... :)
2) you need to have your video driver correclty installed (look here for ATI)
3) check that X server can run correctly ($startx) (troubleshooting here)
4) start compiz (possible problems here)
5) in case you messed up with your xorg.conf, try deleting it. If startx runs, then follow the steps here, to create a new clean xorg.file. Finally start adding the needed parameters to make 3D acceleration and stuff.

Common problems running compiz

2008-11-18T00:47:00.009+01:00

I will run through the most common problems running COMPIZ with ATI drivers:

Try runnign compiz as ROOT
this may seems stupid, but solved a lot of issues
$ killall compiz
$ sudo compiz
At lest, if it works, you'll know what direction you have to look.

“desktop effects could not be enabled”
if the desktop effects gui will raise this message, try running “compiz” inside a terminal, and see that it tells you.

“Checking for Xgl: not present.”
this message is not a real problem as it may seems, compiz tries other configs, so don't loose time trying to fix it. Go ahead on this guide instead

“Another window manager is already running”
this means exactly what it tells.
Check inside “System preferences” → “Preferences” → “Sessions” if you have another wm running, for example: XCompMgr.
In that case, kill it and try compiz again;
$ killall xcompmgr
$ sudo compiz

compiz white screen
After reboot, when you login in GDM, your desktop is just a white screen?
Follow this other POST to get back to a normal desktop.

compiz with no window decoration
Your compiz has no window decoration? no window borders?
This is mostly caused by compiz don't finding the needed files ...
Open a termina and:
$ killall compiz
$ sudo compiz
If this solved, you may need to check the System → preferences → Sessions and see what's wrong with the startup script.

compiz with no window decoration [2]
Another possible cause may be the Video Drivers you'r using. Check for the latest version !!! or look for another driver to use with a newer but similar video card to the one you have.

Adding the compiz settings manager

2008-11-18T00:45:00.003+01:00

it may be helpful to get the additional settings window available (in case you don't have it):

$ sudo aptitude install compizconfig-settings-manager

- or -

$ yum install ccsm

now, to run the compiz settings manager, go to
“System preferences” → “Preferences” → “Advanced Desktop Effects Settings”

or simply run:
$ ccsm

ATI DRIVER on DEBIAN / UBUNTU / GOS ...

2008-11-18T00:25:00.015+01:00

Forget all the old complex installation methods with restricted drivers & xorg.conf modifications ...
Make it simpler!

what you need to make it work is:

First of all: always make a copy of you old xorg.conf file:
$ sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf .myoldconf
install xserver-xgl:
$ sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl
You don't have to do anything else to set it up but restarting X (press: Ctrl + Alt + Bksp)
download ati driver from http://ati.amd.com
for Radeon cards: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/linux/linux-radeon.html
install it (selecting all the default options)
$ sudo sh ati-driver-installer-8-10-x86.x86_64.run
In case of errors: don't worry, you may just need the kernel headers & gcc compiler. Checkout the log file shown upon compilation failure to see what you need.
In my case it was:
- $ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.24-26-generic (!! check the your kernel version!! by typing $uname-a );
- $ sudo apt-get install gcc
configure it
$ sudo aticonfig –initial
restart X server (by pressing CTRL + ALT + BKSP)

In short: follow those steps:

sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl
wget https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/ati-driver-installer-8-11-x86.x86_64.run
sudo sh ati-driver-installer-8-10-x86.x86_64.run
sudo aticonfig –initial

Commands to check if it is well installed:

me@gos:~$ glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: Yes

me@gos:~$ fglrxinfo
display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon X1300/X1550 Series
OpenGL version string: 2.1.8087 Release

Troubleshooting: startx X don't start

in case X server don't start, check the messages in the console after the $startx command.
It will explain you the reason.
In many cases, instead of loosing time, it may be a LOT EASYER to just remove the xorg.conf file.
$ rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
and let startx use a default config:
$ startx
at this point, take a look inside the file /var/log/Xorg.0.log
you will find some lines similar to those of the xorg.conf syntax.
Finally: copy those lines in a new xorg.cong file and run startx. It should work.

Troubleshooting: Unable to find any supported Screen sections

Your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file has something wrong with the line:

Section “Screen”

Section "ServerLayout"
Screen [...]

File example for xorg.conf with ATI drivers:

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Builtin Default Layout"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0" 0 0
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "extmod"
Load "dbe"
Load "glx"
Load "freetype"
Load "record"
Load "dri"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
# !!! set your keyborad layout here !!!
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Builtin Default Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Builtin Default ati Device 0"
Driver "ati"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Driver "fglrx"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Builtin Default ati Screen 0"
Device "Builtin Default ati Device 0"
Monitor "Builtin Default Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

Troubleshooting: Unable to find fglrx

If receiving many error messages with STARTX or compiling the ATI DRIVERS ...
even in the case you already installed the fglrx,

then it may be necessary to cleanup you system a little bit:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get autoclean
sudo apt-get clean

then try running again the 1st script (reinstall the ATI drivers, run ATICONFIG ... and so on)

Search engines: your privacy is under attack

2008-10-15T17:21:00.015+02:00

Your privacy is under attack !

Every time you use a regular search engine, your search data are recorded.

Your search terms, the time of your visit, the links you choose, your IP address and your User ID cookies all get stored in a database.

The identity profiles that can be constructed from this cloud of information represent modern day gold for marketers.

But government officials, hackers and even criminals al

so have an interest in getting their hands on your personal search data.

And sooner or later they will...

Ixquick is the only search engine that deletes your personal data.

When you search Ixquick you'r searching many popular engines

-anonymously- ... (read more)

Give it a try -->

The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed

2008-08-10T14:19:00.004+02:00

got one of those error messages?
"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed"
"Error - 1608: Unable to create InstallDriver instance"

many pages out there explain how to solve this problems by running too deep into DLLs and Registry keys ... people sometimes forget some basics steps that most of the cases solves those problems:

1) check the windows service "Windows installer" is running

also note that InstallShield requires the DCOM service to be running too.
otherwise it will give this other error message:
"Error - 1608: Unable to create InstallDriver instance"
so, as a 2nd step:

2) check the windows service DCOM is running

or run this cmds:

NET START MSISERVER
NET START DCOMLAUNCH

goodluck

best free windows antiviru

2008-08-10T12:31:00.009+02:00

Which is the best Free Windows Antivirus?

those are the AVs i did test:

AVG:
is probably the best, well updated.
It also has a nice internet protection which analyzes any link in every page you surf ... even on google pages. it display a green mark when the link if fine ... but pretty annoyng for me.
The worst this, running on my old laptop, was considerably downgrading the perf, so i had to remove it.

UP
- Frequetly updated
- Internet surfing security
DOWN
- Quite heavy for older machines

AVIRA:
Pretty nice.

UP
- Frequently updated.
DOWN
- Quite heavy for older machines

CLAMWIN:
it's open source, released under GPL, thus preferred for not comerrcial uses.
It doesn't has automatic scanning, this makes this product a bit more for experienced users those who knows, beside an AV, when a file could be a problem.
On the other hand, this passive scanning has a very low inpact!

UP
- Very low impact on system
DOWN
- Doesn't have an automatic scan (you have to manually scan)

MY CONCLUSIONS:
On my desktop i use AVG.
On my slower laptop i use CLAMWIN.

Play MotoGP online

2008-08-01T13:38:00.008+02:00

Lookin for a nice online MotoGP racing game?

Try this Ducati's sponsored game and your main problem will be keeping the front wheel down ... (shockwave player required)

link --> here

VMware Server vs VirtualBox vs QEMU

2008-07-22T11:44:00.004+02:00

all FREE, all GOOD

Since i used both in many OS, running many OS, the main difference between VirtualBox & VMware is the fact that:

>> if running from a linux box, when you update the kernel, VMW requires a recompilation. VB does not.

so this will affect you only if your main os is linux based, and you plan to update the kernel.

but even this situation is not a big deal, you just have to run a script and wait few minutes.

on the other side, both those software are FREE and works GOOD.

In my experience even on the PERFORMANCE side they're equivalent.

Obviously there are differences, but they vary for each guest os with each configuration.

You can even switch between both system just converting the img file.

image editor online

2008-06-30T22:06:00.002+02:00

at http://www.splashup.com/ you have an image editor online (flash made)

puzzlefarter online game

2008-06-30T21:18:00.004+02:00

no comment :)

http://puzzlefarter.com/

VPN router-to-router using cisco 17xx / 18xx

2008-06-30T18:30:00.006+02:00

[CBE - cisco by examples]

How to setup a VPN router-to-router using cisco 17xx / 18xx

Want to connect your cisco router to a CiscoVPN server?

the following lines will config your router to act as a VPNClient
and will tunnel the traffic on that VPN

check the ***STARRED*** values and replace it

crypto ipsec client ezvpn MyVpn
connect auto
group ***VPN_GORUP*** key ***VPN_GORUP_KEY***
mode client
peer ***VPN_SERVER_IP_ADDRESS***
username ***VPN_USER_NAME*** password ***VPN_USER_PASSWORD***
xauth userid mode local

interface Ethernet0
crypto ipsec client ezvpn MyVpn

interface FastEthernet0
crypto ipsec client ezvpn MyVpn inside

REMEBER: you may want to tunnelize only some traffic on the VPN CLIENT SIDE, and let all the other traffic transit outside the vpn. Then you have to config a SPLIT-TUNNEL on the VPN SERVER SIDE: check this post.

.

Enable a Cisco VPN Split Tunnel

2008-06-30T18:16:00.004+02:00

[CBE - cisco by examples]

Need to a enable a VPN Split Tunnel on a cisco 17xx/18xx ?
Need to separate Subnets traffic from VPN tunneling?

1) define an ACL with the address to tunnel in VPN
2) add this ACL to a group

The client will automatically reconfigure itself at next connection.
No intervention needed on client config!

crypto isakmp client configuration group ***MY_GROUP***
key ***MY_GROUP_KEY***
pool SDM_POOL_1
save-password
include-local-lan
acl 150
!
access-list 150 permit ip any 192.168.10.0 0.0.0.255

How to create a cisco vpn server

2008-06-30T17:58:00.007+02:00

[CBE - cisco by examples]

Here is an example showing the quickest way to enable a
VPN SERVER on router Cisco 17xx / 18xx / ...

just check the ***STARRED*** values & replace it with yours;
this script uses a
LAN on 192.168.10.x and
VPN client on 192.168.11.x

!
aaa new-model
!
aaa authentication login default local
aaa authentication login sdm_vpn_xauth_ml_1 local
aaa authorization exec default local
aaa authorization network sdm_vpn_group_ml_1 local
!
aaa session-id common
!
resource policy
!
username ***USER1*** privilege 0 password 0 ***PASSWORD***
username ***USER2*** privilege 0 password 0 ***PASSWORD***
!
crypto isakmp policy 1
encr 3des
authentication pre-share
group 2
crypto isakmp xauth timeout 15
!
crypto isakmp client configuration group ***MY_GROUP***
key ***MY_GROUP_KEY***
pool SDM_POOL_1
save-password
include-local-lan
!
crypto ipsec transform-set ESP-3DES-SHA esp-3des esp-sha-hmac
!
crypto dynamic-map SDM_DYNMAP_1 1
set transform-set ESP-3DES-SHA
reverse-route
!
crypto map SDM_CMAP_1 client authentication list sdm_vpn_xauth_ml_1
crypto map SDM_CMAP_1 isakmp authorization list sdm_vpn_group_ml_1
crypto map SDM_CMAP_1 client configuration address respond
crypto map SDM_CMAP_1 65535 ipsec-isakmp dynamic SDM_DYNMAP_1
!
interface Ethernet0
crypto map SDM_CMAP_1
!
ip local pool SDM_POOL_1 192.168.11.1 192.168.11.100
ip classes
!
ip nat inside source route-map SDM_RMAP_1 interface FastEthernet0 overload
!
access-list 100 permit ip 192.168.10.0 0.0.0.255 any
route-map SDM_RMAP_1 permit 1
match ip address 100
!
end

play GOLF online ... you must give it a try

2008-06-30T15:34:00.012+02:00

A flash GOLF game with photorealistic scenarios can be palyed at
http://worldgolftour.com/

Give it a try... you'll love it!!

2008-06-30T14:58:00.006+02:00

PROBLEM WITH COLLATION on SQLSERVER?

try the following T-SQL codes to verify or alter the database,table or field collation:

check DATABASE collation:

select databasepropertyex(db_name(),'collation') as collation_name

alter DATABASE collation

alter database MYDB collate Latin1_General_CI_AS

check TABLE collation:

select column_name, collation_name
from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
where table_name = 'MYTABLE'

check COLUMN collation:

select column_name, collation_name
from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
where table_name = 'MYTABLE'

alter COLUMN collation:

alter table MYTABLE
alter column MYCOLUMN value varchar(20)
COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS

Following a script for checking and examinate all DB COLUMNS:
(NOTE: this script wont modify anything. It will just create code lines for you)

declare @toCollation sysname

set @toCollation = 'Latin1_General_CI_AS'
set @toCollation = select databasepropertyex(db_name(),'collation') as collation_name

print 'TO COLLATION --> ' + @toCollation

SELECT 'ALTER TABLE '+TABLE_NAME+' ALTER COLUMN '
+ COLUMN_NAME + ' ' + DATA_TYPE +
CASE WHEN CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH = -1 then '(max)'
WHEN DATA_TYPE in ('text','ntext') then ''
WHEN CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH IS NOT NULL
THEN '('+(CONVERT(VARCHAR,CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH)+')' )
ELSE isnull(CONVERT(VARCHAR,CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH),' ')
END +' COLLATE ' + @toCollation+ ' ' +
CASE IS_NULLABLE
WHEN 'YES' THEN 'NULL'
WHEN 'No' THEN 'NOT NULL'
END +' -- was '+COLLATION_NAME
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
ON INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS.TABLE_NAME = INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES.TABLE_NAME
AND INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEMA = INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES.TABLE_SCHEMA
WHERE DATA_TYPE IN('varchar','char','nvarchar','nchar','text','ntext')
AND TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE' AND COLLATION_NAME<>@toCollation

NOTE 1
Altering a database collation doesn't alter his tables too...
only new tables/fields will be affected, so you'll need to check and alter your current structure manually.
Use the above script.

NOTE 2
if you have views, stored procs, or applications already working with the current collation, BE VERY CAREFULL on altering any column COLLATION.
Altering collations may cause errors like COLLATION CONFLICT !
eg:

Cannot resolve the collation conflict between "Latin1_General_CI_AS" and "Latin1_General_CS_AS" in the equal to operation.

if this happends, rollback your ALTERs.
This may be a message coming from a view or a stored...

Suggestion: never (i mean NEVER) alter a collation on a column if not necessary!!

Addign Broadcast to GUARDDOG

2008-01-13T12:43:00.001+01:00

After installing GUARDDOG,
if you have DHCP and are experiencing those messages
DROPPED IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=01:00:5e:00:00:01:00:c0:49:d3:6a:74:08:00 SRC=192.168.1.1 DST=224.0.0.1 LEN=28 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=1 ID=0 DF PROTO=2

that means the DHCP on 192.168.1.1 is sending you messages ...

to allow this traffic beetwen Client and DHCP Server,
just add a new zone, eg:
Name = DHCP
Address = 192.168.1.0/24
Connection = Internet

IPTables GUI - Lokkit, Firestarter, Guarddog

2008-01-12T11:56:00.001+01:00

Lokkit Vs Firestarter Vs Guarddog

Many linux distros installs a firewall by default. Mainly IPTABLES.

If you're looking for a Grafical Interface to easy configure your firewall rules in IPTABLES, then those are the main 3 choices:

1- Lokkit (terminal & gnome)
2- Firestarter
3- Guarddog (kde)

4- $ iptables
5- conclusions

--------

1- Lokkit (Terminal & GNOME)

The easiest one.
A wizard will guide you through few questions and will reconfigure IPTables for you.
Lokkit has a console and a gnome version:

The point is that, in case you need more control over the rules, this is not for you!

Here is an explanation guide

Note for Ubuntu users: use Synaptic to install it, then go to
Menu -> applications -> Other -> Lokkit

--------

2- Firestarter

A nice one.
It provides a GUI for configuring rules and settings on IPTables.
Certainly more configurable than Lokkit, and allows to set up 95% of the rules for a normal use needs.

has a log window of "active connection" and "Real time Events" allowing to quickly check what's goin on;
add a very useful tryicon to open it in a click;
both inbound and outbound access policy;
Support for Denial of Service (DoS) attacks;
stealth ports;
whitelists and blacklists
...

Here the main site.
Here the complete feauture list.

--------

3- Guarddog (KDE)

More professional...
If you are looking for something a bit more professional, then go for Guarddog (which is a KDE Gui).
Guarddog goes a bit deeper respect to Firestarter.
The 2 main differenced are

Guardog doen't have a realtime event viewer (obviously you still can keep realtime infos "tailing" the logs in a terminal window);
Guardog has more config options (Eg: NAT rules, connection tracking ...);

for KDE 2 or 3;
generates scripts for ipchains and/or iptables;
can create different zones with different policies;
Import/Export firewall scripts;
ipchain and iptables support;
...

Here the homepage
Here the main feautures list
Here a well documented tutorial

--------

4- $ iptables

If you still prefer to do it by yourself, here you can find a nice HOWTO for strarting to learn the IPTABLES commands

--------

Conclusion

Lokkit

if you dont know or don't care too much about the firewall rules, and just want to add a firewall protection to you desktop.

Firestarter

if u want a full control of your firewall, and want to know in realtime what's going in/out and what's been blocked.

Guarddog

if you want a GUI that does almost the same as the $iptables command line, but don't wonna get crazy spending time to write 1 by 1 every single rule with $iptable on a console ... Guarddog will do it for you.

$ iptables

The old way. it controls everything.
But you still have to write everything by hands.

NNN

flv 2 mp4 - get youtube on the ipod

2007-12-28T00:00:00.001+01:00

How to transcode youtube's videos to your iPod

A simple FLV (Flash) to MP4 converter!

also works as an FLV 2 MP4, AVI 2 MP4, WMV 2 MP4, 3GP 2 MP4, ...
in other words, it transcodes any .FLV file from any site (metacafe, google ...) to an MPEG4

Yes yes, i know there are tons of tools already doin' that (like eg iTube)
But, for many reasons i prefer to use a simpler BATCH SCRIPT,
instead of installing other softwares.

Note that this also works for any input format supported by VLC.
Eg: you can quickly convert any FILE from AVI, WMV, MOV, 3GP, DVD

Basically this operation consists of 3 main steps:

1) download the .FLV file from youtube
(very quick & easy if using the firefox's extension called Fast Video Download)

2) use this dos script (it can be easily converted in linux).

C:\> vlc -vvv FILE.FLV :sout="#transcode{fps=25,samplerate=44100,width=320, canvas-height=240, vcodec=mp4v, vb=768, acodec=mp4a, ab=96, channels=2}:standard{access=file,mux=mp4,url=MYFILE.MP4}" vlc:quit

3) drop the MP4 file in iTunes;

---------------
to make life easier

i created my own batch script that converts all the input files in just one command.
this can be used in windows in the ( "send to -->" context menu).
Paste the following code in a new file, and check the VLC path is correct (VLC1=...)

i've created 4 possible VLC locations (VLC1, VLC2 ...) just to use the same script on different boxes.

@ECHO off

SET VLC1="C:\Program Files\vlc\videolan\vlc.exe"
SET VLC2="C:\Programmi\vlc\videolan\vlc.exe"
SET VLC3="C:\VLC\vlc.exe"
SET VLC4="D:\VLC\vlc.exe"
SET VLC=%VLC1%

IF NOT EXIST %VLC% SET VLC=%VLC2%
IF NOT EXIST %VLC% SET VLC=%VLC3%
IF NOT EXIST %VLC% SET VLC=%VLC4%

IF EXIST %VLC% GOTO LOOP

ECHO ERROR! VLC not found
pause

GOTO CLEANUP

:LOOP

IF (%1)==() GOTO CLEANUP

REM IMPORTANT !!
REM
REM in the following lines, the script
REM corrects the filename: replacing all the strange
REM characters, and removing the file extension
REM thus: YOU NEED TO HAVE an .FLV (or .AVI .3GP .XXX)
REM extension in the input filename!

SET FILE1=%1
SET FILE2=%FILE1%
SET FILE2=%FILE2:~0,-5%
SET FILE2=%FILE2:"=%
SET FILE2=%FILE2:'= %
SET FILE2=%FILE2%.mp4
SET FILE2='%FILE2%'

%VLC% -vvv %FILE1% :sout="#transcode{fps=25,samplerate=44100,width=320, canvas-height=240, vcodec=mp4v, vb=768, acodec=mp4a, ab=96, channels=2}:standard{access=file,mux=mp4,url=%FILE2%}" vlc:quit

SHIFT

GOTO LOOP

:CLEANUP

NOTE: the only requirement is the VLC video lan converter .

Racer: a free cross-platform car simulator

2007-12-27T12:50:00.000+01:00

Free games: Racer Car and Racing Simulator
NEWS: on 22nd Dec '07 has been released a new beta: v0.5.8 beta 8

Racer is a free cross-platform car simulator
... simply the best freeware car race simulator ever ... IMHO :)

can play via LAN or Internet with friends!
you can download tons of cars & Circuits !!!!
you can make your own car models or modify existing ones (very easy, simply uses ASCII files, or the includes software);
supports vehicles from 2 to 8 wheels;
easy installation: just unzip the folder and dlb click to dirve
... and many many other feautures, check out the overview page

works on windows, linux, macos with OpenGL support for nVidia & ATI Cards.

the main site: www.racer.nl
and the screenshot gallery: here

Donwload Racer:
for Windows & MacOS go here
for Linux users, go here

More donwloads - cars & tracks database:
iroker.com
racer-xtreme.com
xtremeracers.net
kcendra.com/nfsbolide
sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/
gtapex.com

To use other controls in racers, like a joystict:

1) go to copy this code in /data/ctrlsets/ and look for a suitable file (eg: im using ms_wheel.ini)
2) copy this file in /data/controls/
3) run the config.exe (on windows) then select your new device

---------------------------------------

NOTE: if you are experiencing NO ENGINE SOUND for the card you dowloaded,
then you may have to update the CAR.INI file with the new parameters;

1) open the car.ini file locatel in your car directory
2) paste those lines at the bottom of the file
3) just check the WAV file's names are fine

;NEW AUDIO SECTION COMPATIBILITY

audio
{
skid
{
sample=skid.wav
}
accelerate_out
{
volume=1
smp0
{
sample=engine.wav
min=1
max=11000
natural=9250
}
}
}

Most usefull disk utility for Windows: jkDefrag + pagedefrag

2007-12-18T18:56:00.000+01:00

Here's a couple of disk utilities for Windows.

Both softwares are completely free, and without any time limit!

<1> jkDefrag is a disk defragmenter and optimizer for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/X64.
No install, no configuration. Just run it!
Can even scan USB or MemoryStick disks.
Also available: a (1) command line version, (2) a DLL to build in your own apps, and (3) a screensaver version.

<2> sysinternals pagedefrag provide you the ability to see and fix your paging files and Registry hives fragmentation.
Normal defrag utilities can't access those files, and since those files are the most used on windows, this software is a must to have.

It runs at boot time. No install or configuration to do.
Just run it and select "run at next boot" (it runs before the login screen).

- Administrators sets pagedefrag to run at every boot on client's pcs.
Select "run at every boot" ... it's fast, easy, and ... most of all, works great!
The 1st time it may take some minutes, but if used at every boot, it takes few secs to run.

- I suggest you to take a look at the complete sysinternals suite.

Oracle XE and UTL_FILE: Error starting at line 1 ...

2007-12-18T12:56:00.000+01:00

If you just installed OracleXE, and while compiling some plsql code you get an error message that says:

Error starting at line 1 in command: DECLARE file_id UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE

Than, the solution is quite easy, you just have to:

1) open sqlplus and connect to the dbms:

C:\> sqlplus

2) conenct as dba:

SQL> conn sys as SYSDBA

3) execute the script utlfile.sql located in your oracle admin directory:

SQL> @D:\oracle\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server\RDBMS\ADMIN\utlfile.sql

4) ... and, remeber to grant execution to your normal user (or PUBLIC)

SQL> GRANT EXECUTE on SYS.UTL_FILE TO PUBLIC

.