computoman

Article Name Date 2011 Microblogging from the command line.Apple- automation- blog- BSD- Facebook- Edward 12/28/11 Android a unix device?administrator- Apple- Centos- Debian- eff- george jetson- Edward 12/26/11 The Strange Birth and Long Life of Unix Mike Kent 12/26/11 Merry Chistmas Mike Kent 12/25/11 Happy Holidays!Christmas- Holidays- Nativity Edward 12/20/11 Qantas terror blamed on computer Mike Kent 12/20/11 Incredibly shrinking computer.Android- Assembly- Basic-  Edward 12/19/11 Fukushima nuclear site finally stabilized Mike Kent 12/16/11 Homemade antennasantenna- TV- Wifi Edward 12/15/11 Legacy networking.legacy- Linux- rs232 Edward 12/14/11 Android development.Android- css- development- Google- html- html5- javascript- Edward 12/13/11 Private spaceflight gets new contender with Strato...Burt Rutan- NASA- Paul Allen- Mike Kent 12/13/11 Nook- Fire Update wars Have BegunAmazon- Barnes and Noble- Color Nook Mike Kent 12/12/11 Iron Geek retro part 1.3com- Dos- ...

Article Name Date 2012 Taking a trip on the net.nmap- ssh pen- testing Edward 5/23/12 Boot it.boot- Linux- sector Edward 5/19/12 Oracle vs Googlecode- java- programming Edward 5/19/12 Is your network firewall backdoor open?firewall Edward 5/11/12 Easy search.clock- code- engine- form- Google Edward 5/5/12 Robopet.computer- Linux- Robot Edward 5/3/12 B&N M$ Nook coming?Barnes- Microsoft Edward 5/2/12 Hunt the Wumpus.adventure- computer- game Edward 5/1/12 Technician hints.+5/+12- backup- bench tes Edward 4/27/12 Running a hosted computer in your browser.c=64 Edward 4/26/12 How hosting companies rake in the dough.hosting Edward 4/26/12 Put that old PPC Mac back to work.Apple- Linux Edward 4/26/12 Thinking twice about using the cloud.confiscation.  Edward 4/22/12 How to Start a Neighborhood I...

The graphical user interface is very easy, but if you are to be a real computer administrator, you will need to use the command line at one point or another.  This is especially true with virtual systems where memory is at a premium. Here were are going to take a trip on the network, all from the keyboard without even leaving our desk. The other systems could be right next to us or a zillion miles away.  We will log into two additional computers and then perform some testing on a forth system. Sometimes this is known as pen testing. NOTICE: YOU MUST HAVE THE PERMISSIONS TO PEN TEST ANOTHER SY STEM IN ADVANCE!!  The real world pen testers make their clients sign a detailed agreement relieving them of any liability ahead of the events. What we are about to do is for educational purposes and no damage or illegal entry actions will be performed.   Let's log into the first system. [eddie@oedt01 ~]$ ssh robopet Linux robopet 2.6.12-9-386 #1 Mon Oct 10 13:14:36 B...

A while back we talked about computer systems having five parts. One of those parts is the software. Software can be divided into two categories. Operating systems control and interface the hardware. Application software allow users to solve problems. The application software can not run without the operating system. Our focus will be on the operating system and how it starts up, Most traditional systems have what is known as a bios (basic input output system) that does the most basic interaction with the hardware .Newer systems use EFI which is a whole other animal.  it’s primary purpose is to have to software to easily interact with the motherboard and to load in an operating system that has more power to interact with the hardware.  You turn on the machine and the bios cycles thought the available hardware to load in an operating system. So it looks for what is known as a boot loader or a part of the media than can chain the operating system to load in. He...

Update: API's are not copyrightable. Oracle wants to appeal. Fat chance they will get to according to some. No reason to burn a java book now. Oracle wanted beellions and beellions of dollars (In a Carl Saganist tone) for this few lines of code. Anyone could have written this "generic" code. Almost like a generic example of the throw command from a java manual. [code] private static void rangeCheck(int arrayLen, int fromIndex, int toIndex) { if (fromIndex > toIndex) throw new IllegalArgumentException("fromIndex(" + fromIndex + ") > toIndex(" + toIndex+")"); if (fromIndex < 0) throw new ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException(fromIndex); if (toIndex > arrayLen) throw new ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException(toIndex); } [/code] The Fat lady should sing on Monday, Meellions and Meellions are posed to burn their java textbooks. Meellions and Meellions...

This is going to almost sound like a basis for a script from the old "Mission Impossible" TV show. First a little preparation. If you work for a company or have lots of computers where you live, most likely (at least I hope so) there is a device to control what comes into your network. In general this is called a network firewall. They are set up to keep the bad guys out from the outside. What they do not do is keep a control over what goes from inside to outside the network. If persons or persons want access to your network, trying to get through a firewall is the hardest way in. If they could put a device on the inside of your network, then they have you lock stock and barrel. Somehow they get physical access to your facilities and install what is known as a man in the middle device. Your firewall at this point is now worthless. Traditionally man in the middle devices were created from old wifi routers using modified firmware. Generally you had to be nearby to have access t...

You can save yourself some time by adding a small code snippet to your web pages to access a web search engine without having to go to a search engine. This is good for your self made home pages like the following: For more information see: http://www.instructables.com/id/Reusing-web-pages/#step9 Have fun! Bonus: Easy Clock for your web page.     More information at :  http://www.instructables.com/id/Reusing-web-pages/step10/Add-a-clock/ Note: Javascript must be enabled.

Have not made much time to work on special projects. One thing I need to start back on is robopet.  There is nothing real super snazzy about this unit although it could be. mainly I will use it for carrying snacks back and forth from the kitchen during sporting events. There will be a second level not currently attached to hold the goodies. More information about the unit follows. Electronics: Using an old Pentium I computer, usb wireless, DC battery power, and compact flash with an ide interface. Made a special wiring hardness to connect the parallel port with the electronics. Now I need to start testing the electronics for the motor control. Hoping the h-bridge can take the current. If not, I think I have a IC that will. Worst case scenarios is to do it the old fashion way with transistors. After that, everything should fall into place. Using a standard power supply to test the unit, but it will run on battery when I finish it. Since the motherboard is AT and t...

Microsoft was embattled with Barnes and Noble about alleged patent infringement. Barnes and Noble would not buckle under to Microsoft from what we have heard. Now Microsoft has invested in a Barnes and Noble subsidiary. All kinds of rumors abound.... Feel for those who already have a Nook, that their support might get cut off. http://news.yahoo.com/microsofts-deal-barnes-noble-windows-nook-coming-131500038.html

There are several types of games, but lately adventure games seem to be coming back. The original adventures just required a keyboard. No fancy joysticks and or sound cards to deal with.  What is really nice about them is that you can use the same source code more or less on a variety of systems. Sometimes that is known as code portability.  People even want to put it on the Arduino (a micro-controller).  If you do not have an Arduino, you can still play the original game on your desktop system. You might even be able to put it on your router and play it remotely.  You could even put it on a server to play while waiting for some event. Definitely for older or lower resource systems.  Wumpus is probably one of the most popular of the original adventure games. Supposedly it was written in BASIC (Beginners all purpose instruction code) and then translated or ported to "C".   In fact some of the versions of the code,have the original BASIC code embe...