My web wanderings

A tool that collects configuration data on Unix/Windows systems.

Here is something I want to check out. freshmeat.net: Project details for Debian System Wide Information Manager
DSWIM is a powerful informational tool for Debian’s packaging system. Designed with an integrated approach it combines the functionality found in several other programs and scripts. This provides users with a centralized approach for querying the installation, allowing programmers the liberty of writing smaller and simpler code.

After nearly five months of development, version 2.3 of the Metasploit Framework has been released. Version 2.3 includes a dozen new exploits, new and improved payloads, a new msfweb interface, the Meterpreter, and many speed and functionality enhancements. Please see the release notes for more information. Additionally, the Opcode Database has been refactored and is currently in beta mode.

Home Page
NagMIN is a WebMIN module that provides centralized, integrated, web-based management of popular Open Source monitoring tools to help create a holistic network monitoring environment.

libranet.com :: View topic - Two handy little apps for laptop…
I found these two quite usefull apps for my laptop:

ifplugd
A configuration daemon for ethernet devices
ifplugd is a daemon which will automatically configure your
ethernet device when a cable is plugged in and automatically
unconfigure it if the cable is pulled. This is useful on laptops with
onboard network adapters, since it will only configure the interface
when a cable is really connected.

NoFlushd
allow idle hard disks to spin down
Noflushd is a daemon that spins down disks that have not been read from after a certain amount of time, and then prevents disk writes from spinning them back up. It’s targeted for laptops but can be used on any computer with IDE disks. The effect is that the hard disk actually spins down, saving you battery power, and shutting off the loudest component of most computers.

I haven’t tried this one yet:

i8kutils
Dell Inspiron and Latitude laptop utilities
This is a collection of utilities to control Dell Inspiron and Latitude
laptops. It includes programs to turn the fan on and off, to read fan
status, CPU temperature, BIOS version and to handle the volume buttons
and Fn-keys.

The package includes also a small Tk applet, designed to be swallowed in the gnome panel, which monitors the CPU temperature and controls automatically the fans accordingly to user defined thresholds.
The programs require the kernel module i8k.o which can be compiled from the package sources or found in Linux kernel 2.4.14 and later versions.
The kernel module has been tested only on Inspiron 8000 laptops but it should work on any Inspiron and Latitude laptops.

Haven’t tried either but could be usefull for older laptops without a CD-Writer (like mine):

backuppc
A high-performance, enterprise-grade system for backing up PCs
BackupPC is disk based and not tape based. This particularity allows
features not found in any other backup solution:
* Clever pooling scheme minimizes disk storage and disk I/O.
Identical files across multiple backups of the same or different PC are stored only once (using hard links), resulting in substantial savings in disk storage and disk writes.
* Optional compression provides additional reductions in storage.
CPU impact of compression is low since only new files (those not already in the pool) need to be compressed.
* A powerful http/cgi user interface allows administrators to view log files, configuration, current status and allows users to initiate and cancel backups and browse and restore files from backups very quickly.
* No client-side software is needed. On WinXX the smb protocol is used.
On linux or unix clients, rsync or tar (over ssh/rsh/nfs) can be used
* Flexible restore options. Single files can be downloaded from any backup directly from the CGI interface. Zip or Tar archives for selected files or directories can also be downloaded from the CGI interface.
* BackupPC supports mobile environments where laptops are only intermittently connected to the network and have dynamic IP addresses (DHCP).
* Flexible configuration parameters allow multiple backups to be performed in parallel.
* and more to discover in the manual…

14 Aug 2004: This document will introduce OpenVPN as a free, secure and easy to use and configure SSLbased VPN solution. The document will present some simple (and verified) scenario’s that might be useful for preparing security/networking labs with students, for creating a remote access solution or as a new project for the interested home user.

Linux Web Filtering with DansGuardian and ClamAV


12 Aug 2004: A web filter is software that can filter the type of content a Web browser
displays. The filter checks the content of a Web page against a set of rules
and replaces any unwanted content with an alternative Web page, usually an “Access
Denied” page. The type of content to be filtered is usually controlled
by a systems administrator. Web filters are used in schools, libraries, homes,
and companies to safeguard personnel from obscene content on the Internet.

Jason Brooks of eWeek offers a primer for integrating Linux and Windows on the network using Samba and Fedora Core. Brooks says that by integrating Linux clients among the Windows desktops, users can use Microsoft’s Active Directory to administer Linux desktops. But he warns that it does not come easily.

Armed with the Samba HowTO, Google searches, and John Terpstra’s Samba By Example, here is how you too can do it.

[Via DesktopLinux.com]

25 Jul 2004: I’ve been collecting command line tips and tricks
over the last while, based on questions from work
collegues and from my local LUG. Others have found them useful so
I hope you do to.

[Via RootPrompt — Nothing but Unix]

I consider myself a power internet user. I typically have at least four browser windows open and the nature of my job dictates that I be able to diagnose issues with web servers as fast as possible. So in that persuit I have tried just about every web browser on the MS and Linux platform. And while there are some outstanding browsers out there I have come to love Mozilla Firebird. It is by far one of the best availible on either platform. With so many powerful addons it can really help in diagnoses and hacking around websites. Below are a the Extensions I use on all my PC’s

Here is the list I currently have installed.

This site has a guide to extracting Tivo data and burning it to DVD. Here is the direct link to the really geeky stuff.

I really need to get around to putting a homepage up for this site. I really love some of the stuff that these guys do. I have been thinking about a old green screen terminal look to take me back to my DOS days.

What I really need to do is spend some time learning about how to use Outlook to become more organized. They also have training on all there other Office 2003 products.

Cerberus Helpdesk - We use cerburus at work and have been pretty happy with it.

RT: Request Tracker - I am still looking into RT since I have found some intresting features for it.