Posts by Tridac

Here's the ugliest global-warming chart you'll ever need to see

More scarmongering BS from the climate alarmists. Still emerging from the last mini ice age, we expect the temperature to rise a liitle, for the benefit of the majority of humanity. Absolute arrogant hubris to think we could do anything about it anyway. Expect to read this rubbish if the Guardian, not here.

Our world faces 'unprecedented' spike in electricity demand

Re: On the upside.

From government docs: Load factor (nameplate vs actual averaged over one year), is rarely any better than 2-3% for solar and 12-14% for wind. Considering the amount of good farmland going to solar, you could argue that it's poor investment. Typicasl home soalr in the uk takes 10-20 years just to break even on the capital cost. Have thought about this many times and am in favour, but the economics just don't make sense. Might be great in Southern Spain, but not in Northern Europe.

QNX 8 goes freeware – for non-commercial use

Re: "VxWorks don't return your calls unless you are NASA."

Vxworks, remember that and a course from around 1995, arm and a leg licensing at the time.. Quite good for it'e time and did have a tcp/ip stack. But, is there a free version for non commercial use ?. Not much use otherwise. Loads of other open source rtos now, Microcos, being another.

Switching customers from Linux to BSD because boring is good

Have been running FreeBSD for years now, both on X86 and Sparc. I put it in the same class as Solaris, in terms of functionality and reliability, with uptimes of years. ZFS an install option. Very professional and makes Linux, with it's systemd trainwreck and other bloatware, look like amateur hour. Also run it on a public ntp server, with current uptime of over three years, though the systems are all on a 4 hour backup ups. Can get a basic setup done in around 20 minutes, with a handful of package installs to get a desktop. It just works, and the internals handbooks are excellent. .

The future of AI/ML depends on the reality of today – and it's not pretty

Re: Good for fun

I hope you will feel the same way when the aeroplane you are in falls out of the sky because of a software bug. Micky mouse coding would not last five minutes for real time embedded work...

Re: Good for fun

Had a look at some of the systemd code at github. One module pulls in nearly 50 header files and the file is ~900 lines of code. Almost no comments and would never pass muster for clients i've done work for. And, where are all the design docs, that describe each module, what it does, how it works and where it fits in the heirarchy. Very unprofessional in design and coding standard terms. Has ruled out Linux for any serious work here. How can any of it be truly verified ?. Too much money, corporate interest and not enough software engineering.

WordStar 7, the last ever DOS version, is re-released for free

Re: WordStar

Or wait for an nfs drive mounted across two systems with 56K modems for the link, and two phone lines.. It did work, but glacial didn't even start to describe it...

Adobe exec likened hidden cloud subscription exit fees to 'heroin', says FTC

Still have Photoshop 7 on the machine, for the odd times that I need image editing, but suspect that gimp would do just as well. There are others worth looking at, such as darktable, which I thought truly excellent when I last looked at it. Both open source, free, with regular updates

Who needs companies like adobe, rent seeking spivs with cancellation fees an outrage to natural justice. Tell them to spin on it...

Post-CrowdStrike, Microsoft to discourage use of kernel drivers by security tools

The only way to stop this happening again is to make it a requirement that all kernel related updates should be submitted to uSoft for testing and verification, before inclusion into production systems. Otherwise, how can they ever guarantee that the system is robust ?. Of course, this would cost money, but in a zero trust environment, all third party vendors must must be considered suspect, until proven otherwise....

EU gave CrowdStrike the keys to the Windows kernel, claims Microsoft

Re: Dave Plummer has a different take on this

Null pointer (illegal memory address) access should be trapped by the cpu, often with hardware interrupt posted to the OS. It shold never bring whole OS down, this is not 1985. Such a fundamental requirement in OS design, it's amazing that it wasn't handled properly. Still, this is windows...

Angry admins share the CrowdStrike outage experience

Re: Holidays

Been using zfs right from the early Solaris 10 release. FreeBSD for several years now, which has zfs and lightweight virtualisation (jails) out of the box and looks like it was modelled on the Solaris ideas. Always chose lts versions for initial install. Once a system is stable, all the all the required packages etc, never update anything, but the machines are on a well secured subnet, with any windows rubbsih on a separate subnet on its own. Separate hardware interface for each subnet. Never had a virus or successfull attack in over two decades now. Would never even consider windows for server work, or anything critical to the business. More trouble than it's worth...

Re: Holidays

Systemd, the reason I dumped Linux for anything serious. Offends every software engineering principle. If you look at the sources, it's a real mess of a trainwreck. Looked the one module, network.c, from memory and it's a thousands of lines of C module, pulling in upards of 100 header files. Absolute garbage, and big business depends on this ?. Originally from a Solaris and VMS environment, when an os was written by engineers, for engineers. FreeBSD for several years now, and never a serious issue at all.

When you consider that crowdshite is an enterprise class employee spyware program, looks lie karma finally caught up with them. Serves them right, hit hard in the pocket, is the only thing they understand...

CrowdStrike Windows patchpocalypse could take weeks to fix, IT admins fear

Sense of Schadenfreude here, in that here we have an enterprise class employee spyware program. An external third party app effectively given root acces to the os kernel, a trainwreck waiting to happen. A wide open attack surface, just waitng for some hacker to find a way in, and you have to ask, is this some very subtle cyber attack ?.

Auto updates enabled and probably autoruns as well. Total lack of change control discipline, sloppy update verification at os level, so what does anyone expect ?. Total idiots, the lot of them...

Loongson CPU that performs like 2020 Core i3 makes its way to Chinese mini PCs

Re: Probably not exactly a bargain.

Your opinion is also irrelevant, but yes, the Chinese are coming and we had better watch out and be ready...

We never agreed to only buy HP ink, say printer owners

Re: It’s about the use case

Not here, for serious photo work, the only real way is dye sub printing, though very expensive. Would use a colour laser, corrected, for quick proofs, then the local photo lab for final prints...

Re: Instead of hiring lawyers

While it would be difficult and expensive to physically build a printer at scale for mass production, all current printers really are just embedded system devices with some printer specific io and hardware capability. The LJ2, for example, used a MC68000 processor. If you know what processor family they are using, an astute embedded systems engineer should be able to reverse engineer the frimware. There are any number of firmware hacks for all manner of products out there now, many to get round manufacturer lockin. One of which, concidentally, is one to control fan speed on Proliants to get round the full fan speed problem, with none HP branded hard drives. Did it different way here for a DL380 last year...

Some might, but colour lasers are not that expensive now second user. I paid around 1500 for a LJ2 new, around 1987 and that lasted nearly twenty years. Now, an ancient LJ5000, networked, that will still print perfect A3 for schematic cad, and A4. A Dell all in one colour in the house for the odd occasion that a colour print is needed, but gave up on inkjet decades ago. Far more trouble than they are worth...

Re: never again

Proliants always were rock solid but they were originally a Compaq product, one of the main reasons why HP bought the company.. Agree about the Gen 8, rock solid workhorses, and a very complete spec out of the box. Can be fussy about sas drives, fans full speed with non HP badged types, but there are workarounds for that Have yet to try Gen 9 or 10, but doubt if they are any better.

Re: never again

Have a home lab full of HP test gear. Fixable if it goes wrong and just refuses to die. The Agilent name change days were still pretty good, but the new Keysight won't even deal with you unless you can prove you are a company, one man businesses / consultancies excluded. Quite a bit of talk about that on the EEV Blog site, but still more than enough 2nd user kit to get round that. The older stuff had copious manuals, full schemtics for servicing, but the modern kit is useless in that respect and often runs Windows (Yuk) under the skin. How the mighty have fallen...

TrueNAS CORE 13 is the end of the FreeBSD version

Never seen the need to use Freenas or any other such dedicated system like that. Takes about 20-30 minutes to install FreeBSD and the usual tweaks, setup ntp etc, then run NFS and Samba for the server functions. Updates are trivial and the system is simple to maintain otherwise. So, why would I need Frenas etc ?...

Re: Some backtracking here, maybe

Agreed. As Linux gets ever more bloated and complex, with too many interdependencies, (systemd, anyone) it's about as far away form the oiginal unix idea as it's possible to be. Give me lean, lightweight and transparent, any day of the week...

Re: Doesn't TrueNAS Scale work just as well on the HP Microservers?

Have an N54l here for archive backup. Removed the blanking plate for the cdrom, bit of metal bashing. Fitted a cdrom sized supermicro 4 x 2.5 sas disk enclosure, a pcie sas controller and have 3 x 3.84 Tb ssds in a zfs pool + 1 x bsckup spare. The original 3.5" drive bays hava adapter plates fir the 2.5 FreeBSD system disk, mirrored pair.. Run nfs server from that and typically use rsync scripts to backup the main lab server, and other machines. Has 2 x 8Gb sticks and did tune the zfs memory usage parameters...

Re: the caching services zfs requires

ZFS witl use all the memory it can by default, but there are several tunables to limit that to defined amount. Not a problem really...

How governments become addicted to suppliers like Fujitsu

Re: They don't

Rotten Boroughs is no myth...

Re: Time for legislation

I've been listening to some of the inquiry session, in detail (must have too much time on hands these days), and there were Fujitsu technical people saying that there were problems with the systems early on, (data reliability is endemic) and that the Post Office were warned about it, but continued to prosecute anyway. No project of that complexity is ever bug free, especially early on and the Post Office should have been aware of that and and dealt accordingly, especially the trainwreck at the changeover from the early, to later horizon system. Corporate group think and a culture of deference also seems to have payed its part at Fujitsu, but a lack of true leadership and transparency are the real culprits in this story...

What if Microsoft had given us Windows XP 2024?

Still have XP on a couple of old laptops, mainly used things like network monitoring, or apps for old stuff like eprom programmers. Windows 7 is quite usable, but have been using windows server for desktop here for years. Starting with server 2003, (aka XP), currently on ws2012, (~windows 8) with the "classic shell" plugin added, for customisation. Far better system management tools and just about everything is disabled as a default. Even has an nfs client / server included which is essential in a unix shop. Very reliable, uptimes of months if need be, and no ms nanny state...

UK bans Chinese CCTV cameras on 'sensitive' government sites

Re: Good idea anyways

If they phone home, they can also download code to probe the network they are connected to. Initial firmware may be innocent and verifyable by agencies, but dynamic update capability can never be completely covered. Same with router or any other network based kit. Only way to be sure is to ban all kit from suspect countries...

It's official: UK telcos legally obligated to remove Huawei kit

Correct. To verify just one set of firmware against supplied source code would be very time consuming, but possible, but you would need build info, complier settings etc. Updates a few a year for several different pieces of kit would be very difficult, if not impossible in terms of manpower. Iirc, Nokia also built 5G kit, so not just stuck with US built, and probably others as well. Well documented theft of IP, firmware and complete designs means some players are not playing by the rules and we should not be dealing with them...

About time as well. Whie gchq and security agencies may have been able to verify the source code for backdoors in the original kit, there's no way the regular firmware updates could all be verified. Sup with the devil, use a long spoon etc...

Broadcom's VMware buy got you worried? Give these 5 FOSS hypervisors a spin

Re: Lackluster article

Not forgetting Joyent Smartos, bare metal,based on open solaris and designed for cloud environments...

Systemd supremo Lennart Poettering leaves Red Hat for Microsoft

Re: Here are alternatives

I saw that as a power grab by RedHat from the start, but was anyone listening ?. Now he goes to usoft, where his inside knowledg of Linux could be very dangerous, as usoft *embrace* it...

Right. SMF is just set of xml files on top of what was already there. Another *layer* that you can bypass if you wish. svcadm and svcs being the main management utilities at that level, but all the trad text config files etc are where everyone expects to find them...

John Deere tractors 'bricked' after Russia steals machinery from Ukraine

Remote bricking is a bit tenuous, as the tractor would need either a hardware network connector, usb or wifi to get a network address via dhcp. Only then could it respond to external commands and the commanding node would need to know the target address. For security reasons, it's probably programmed at the factory to only respond to a known address dhcp server at the local dealer. If it can't be connected to the web, it can't easily be bricked, if at all. Sounds liike a load of marketing fud to me...

Research casts doubt on energy efficiency of 5G

Re: The article is pure greenwash.

So what ?. And their point being ?. Coming from Sussex, more than likely greenwash with an underlying agenda...

BT Wholesale wants the channel to give SMBs a nudge before copper sunset in 2025

Re: Dear Mr OpenReach...

Only problem with providing a pots socket in the router is that it will need a 50 volt supply for the line and also a 13Hz, whatever ring generator, if older style bell ring phones are to be supported Just an engineering problem, but will need a bigger wall wart to power it. Perhaps that's why they haven't done it already ?...

Re: The reality is that it's happening now

I had a small apc smart ups which used a 7ah 12v battery, but fitted an connector and run that to a 28ah battery externally.The router and a couple of switches are probably not more than a dozen watts / va, so should keeo the system up for at least 10 hours. Greatest power cut we have had here in decades is about 4 hours, once, so should be ok so long as the street cabinet stays powered up. Lab has it's own ups, good for few hours, which should cover it.

It may indeed be a problem for emergency service access, even though most have at least on mobile these days. I wonder if BT have thought much about that, or even at all ?...

Re: The reality is that it's happening now

Have bt business, fixed ip and a pots line which works well, but no pots socket on the router, which seems an obvious thing to do for a seamless transition. Let BT worry about how that gets integrated into their digital system. Should not have to worry about anything voip, just expect pots it to plug in and play...

Apple is about to start scanning iPhone users' devices for banned content, professor warns

But we know that Apple has years of form for being a greedy, grasping and dictatorial company, but go ahead fawn over and worship them if you will...

Re: Semantics

Looks like the shill for a certain repressive regime is out and busy today then ?...

SpaceX's Starlink: Overhyped and underpowered to meet broadband needs of Rural America, say analysts

Re: Current user here

We already have contention with cable or other internet services, with charges scaled to speed. So long as the total system bandwidth is adequate, contention should not cause any more problem than that with cable. Waving arms around is not fact. Radio is cheaper than cable for installation and upkeep, so however it's done, 5G, satelite, whatever, it is the long term future. Cable TV was quite popular in uk in the 1950's, right :-)...

So who paid them for that survey ?. Hype or not, even if only partly successful, the more competition there is in broadband provision the better. Have cable here in Oxford, with 4g auto backup from BT, but have been experimenting with Netgear 4g modems / sim card as well, just to evaluate the tech. As for bandwidth, don't use streaming services and what is there already is more than enough. Good chance of success for a project like that and there are few who have the breadth of vision, resources and drive to take on such a project. Can still remember 56k and lower dial up modems years ago, glacial, but got the job done...

Re: What's the problem?

If we are talking about a user node, middle or nowhere, don't know where you get 100 watts from ?. A receiver and associated computing could be done for 20 watts or less, a single solar panel. How do you think portable sat phones work, same technology, a handful if watts ?...

Red Hat pulls Free Software Foundation funding over Richard Stallman's return

Faux outrage, red hat are big business and would not trust them or their motives an inch. If you want an example of power grab on open source, look at systemd, where it came from and it's tentacles into every part of Linux...

Free Software Foundation urged to free itself of Richard Stallman by hundreds of developers and techies

So enlighten me, what did he actually do to fall into such a "state of disgrace". Did the "lifelong transgressions" ever result in prosecution and conviction, or was it all just rumour and smear ?. Truth matters, so does due process...

Democracy at work, the free exchange of ideas and opinions. Evrerythnig should be open for discussion, then let each individual make their own mind up, without coercion, blackmail, or use of force.

I've never met RMS, but he sounds typical of many creative types. Probably a bit socially clumsy and perhaps misses the signals that would warn of excess. In the old days, as an individual, you just had to deal with that, but now we have posh names for it, such as borderline autistic, or similar. Just the sort of thing one would expect the socially aware and sensitive types to have sympathy for, but no, mob rules, let's crucify him and declare victory. Sorry, but such attitudes say much more about the accusers, than the accused....

It works like this: RMS has been annoying people for years, he is controversial, speaks his mind and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. So much so that those with an agenda spend weeks trawling through everything he has ever said in public, to find something to attack him with. They find a comment that he made 17 years ago ffs, and that is enough to condemn him for evermore ?. You could argue poor choice of words, but the accusers intentionally miss the underlying point about freedom of speech and action, live and let live, assumptions of innocence and other values that are the foundation of our civilisation. Even if he regrets saying it at the time, why would would he apologise, when the underlying dishonest agenda of the accusers is plain as day.

The new morality, completely devoid of ethics, due process, fair play and natural justice. Always assuming the worst, rather then understanding and giving benefit of the doubt. But of course this is RMS, so the ends justify the means. Same sh1t, different wrapper, social control and repression by other means. The Mary Whitehouse crowd would be proud of them.

If that’s the sort of world you want to live in, good luck, as you may be next for the ducking stool...

The Year Of Linux On The Desktop – at last! Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 brings the Linux kernel into Windows

Re: MS SOP: Embrace, Extend, Extinguish. @Tridac

So ?. Server 2008 is a supported os for that model, so they say. Is it so unreasonable to expect it to work and simply install from the dvd ?. Win 7 finds most of the hardware and installs without complaint, same vintage, so why is server 2008 such a pita ?. Obstructive, opaque, total lack of serious tools. Just falls over and says "start again". Pathetic really...

Re: MS SOP: Embrace, Extend, Extinguish.

In this case, no. Have used Smartstart on earlier generation Proliants, no issues, but if you are trying to bring a up a later s/h machine without the software support packs that came as new, good luck. There seems to be no smart start for >= G8 machines. To be fair, you can download the drivers from HP for free, but the install process has changed considerably and not for the better. It's slow, fussy, unhelpful and a pita in general. Finding anything relevant on the HP sites is a saga in itself, with broken links all over the place. Spent nearly a morning finding all the drivers and it still didn't install properly, though it goes through the whole process before reboot stops on the driver issue, rather than just continuing to fix after login. Win 7 install just needed the Broadcom net driver after reboot, so why can't server 2008 do the same, as it's the same vintage with much in common ?. Anyway, windows and HP here on sufferance only and will be looking at IBM or Dell in future, with the latter probably far more " industry standard".

Perhaps we are spoiled these days with Linux and the BSD's, as they install out of the box with no issues normally. Having installed Vax VMS from magtape years ago, a typical install now no longer takes all day. Such is progress I guess...

Re: MS SOP: Embrace, Extend, Extinguish.

> Don't even get me started on how MS is illegally blocking the use of older versions of Windows on any hardware newer than a 6th gen Intel. No drivers means the best you can hope for is basic functionality *if it functions at all*. Try to install Win7 on an 8th gen I7 & the installer shits itself because it can't find the DVD/USB device, the same device it used to launch the installer from in the first place. So you could find it to boot from, but not to finish loading from?

Had fun and games trying to install server 2008 on a dl320 G8. Install ran fine, but then barfs on reboot telling me it can't find one of the raid driver files. Checked the directory and the file is there large as life. One would expect a proliant of any flavour to run win server out of the box, but no. Spent quite a bit of time on it, even put in a sas controller and drives, but still the same message. Eventually gave up and installed Windows 7, which runs fine other than for manual install of the network driver. Have heard that the G9 and later machines won't accept drives without an HP disk id, so a rerun of the ink business ?. That's before you even get to firmware update lockdown and as for "intelligent provisioning" ?, hah, you can keep that as well. Overcomplex, slow, buggy and not fit for purpose. Who knows how bad the G9 and G10 series are. HP used to be the pinnacle of tech prowess in the old days, but now ?.

In comparison, FreeBSD 12 finds all the hardware, installs + a few packages, up and running in < 1 hour complete wih a mate desktop, no errors or fussy "I might condescend to run if I feel like it" BS. It just works and has the full range of packages. Have run Proliants for years, but will be looking elsewhere in future...