My home server seems to have developed a problem where its internal-facing network card “jams up”. It still keeps its IP address and everything looks normal, but in actual fact no traffic passes through it, cutting all my LAN hosts off from the Internet.
Restarting iptables, network services or anything else doesn’t help. The only cure I’ve found is to reboot the whole box.
This is OK if I’m using the computer at the time, but a pain if it breaks overnight or while I’m out, as things like my folding@home client, Vista Media Centre TV listings and overnight BitTorrent downloads need Internet access.
So I wrote this bash script to periodically check if it’s broken, and reboot if it is. The only gotcha is that it tests if the interface is working by pinging another LAN host. This is by no means a concrete test!
#!/bin/bash
HOST=192.168.0.10
if ! ping -c 1 -w 5 "$HOST" &>/dev/null ; then
logger ZEUS REBOOT
/sbin/init 6
fi
When I built this computer back in January, I had carefully considered the RAID storage configuration. My requirements were basically:
Must dual boot Fedora and some flavour of Windows (unfortunately)
Fedora must have a redundant /home partition, as it holds my most important data
Windows must have a fast Media (aka /home) partition for my audio work
Would also be nice to have redundant OS partitions
The initial plan
So I decided to buy a pair of identical 320GB disks for the OS, a set of three 640GB disks for my media. My new motherboard had 4 SATA ports on an ICH10R controller, and 2 SATA ports on some other SATA controller.
It seemed best to set up a fakeraid RAID5 array across the 3 media disks in the ICH10R controller, and to let the OSs do their own thing on the 2 OS disks.
I split both of the OS disks in half to allow Linux softwareRAID1 (mirroring) across both of its RAID partitions, which would be mounted as /. The two partitions showed up to Windows as C: and D:. It is not possible to use Windows software RAID (aka Dynamic Disks) on a Windows boot partition so I installed Windows on C: and used D: for Program Files.
I created a RAID5 array across the 3 disks using the ICH10R RAID BIOS. Booting into Windows, it was immediately spotted so I cut the device in half and created drive J: for my media. Sorted – it was fast and worked nicely.
No such luck with Fedora 10 (the latest relkease at the time I built this PC). Anaconda, the Fedora installer, was not able to see the RAID partition – it only saw the three separate disks. Try as I might, I could not get round this. Kind of a showstopper.
Onto plan B
I figured that I could avoid using the ICH10R fakeraid by keeping the disks as 3 separate disks, cutting each in half and using three halves for Linux software RAID, and 3 halves for Windows Dynamic Disks. No such luck – Windows is only able to use a whole disk as a Dynamic Disk, and wasn’t able to share it with Linux. Bugger.
What I ended up with
Given that Windows and Linux cannot share a RAID array, whether it be software or pseudo-hardware, my only choice was to somehow divide up the disks.
The two OS disks were fine as they were; Windows was not using RAID but rather a more manual approach to having two disks (OS on C: and Program Files on D:).
Eventually I decided to give Windows two of the media disks and use them in a RAID0 (striped) Dynamic Disk for performance. This still gives approximately the performance of a 3-disk RAID5 array, but without the redunancy. I get around this by not keeping anything permanently on the RAID0 array. It is only used as a cache/buffer during audio work, and the audio files are primarily stored on my server via the network.
This left just a single disk for Fedora’s /home partition. It doesn’t tick the box of having redunandcy, but thanks to my hourly backup script this is less essential.
This diagram shows my current sub-optimal setup. Click for a bigger version. Windows partitions are in red and Linux in blue.
My partition setup
The future
Since setting up this PC, I happened across a blog post that seems to be the answer to my prayers. It’s a bit hacky, but it’s the only documented way I have seen of getting a dual-boot system to share an ICH10R array.
Next time I can be bothered to reinstall both OSs, I will write about it here.
This week I decided to buy one ounce of copper bullion from eBay. When it arrived, it struck me as a giant 2p coin but it has a lovely red colour so I tried to capture this in a photograph.
A matter brought to my attention just a few minutes ago – visibility of personal data in WHOIS info.
I registered the domain jonathangazeley.com with No-IP. It worked, and I thought nothing more of it. But this morning one of my colleagues received a personalised scam and it seems likely that the scammers retrieved his personal information from WHOIS.
I checked my own WHOIS data and was shocked (although not really surprised) to see my personal data appear before my eyes. My name, home address, mobile phone number and email address were all included. This is bad news, as anyone can get hold of this information – such as scammers, spammers, legitimate (but annoying) marketing, or even real-life criminals who want to know where I live.
Fortunately No-IP offers a private registration option for $9.95/year. I immediately purchased this option and now my WHOIS data shows nothing except my name.
I urge anyone who has registered a domain to check their own WHOIS data and take appropriate steps if necessary. It’s easy in Linux:
[jonathan@poseidon ~]$ whois jonathangazeley.com
[Querying whois.verisign-grs.com]
[Redirected to whois.no-ip.com]
[Querying whois.no-ip.com]
[whois.no-ip.com]
NOTICE: Access to No-IP.com WHOIS information is provided to assist persons in determining the contents of a domain name registration record in the No-IP.com registrar database. The data in this record is provided by No-IP.com for informational purposes only, and No-Ip.com does not guarantee its accuracy. This service is intended only for query-based access. You agree that you will use this data only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this data to: (a) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than the data recipient's own existing customers; or (b) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of Registry Operator or any ICANN-Accredited Registrar, except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. All rights reserved. Public Interest Registry reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy.
Domain Name: JONATHANGAZELEY.COM
Created On: 02-May-2008 10:53:42 UTC
Last Updated On: 02-May-2008 10:53:42 UTC
Expiration Date: 02-May-2010 10:53:41 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar: Vitalwerks Internet Solutions, LLC / No-IP.com
Registrant Name: Gazeley, Jonathan
Registrant Organization:
Registrant Street1: ATTN: jonathangazeley.com, c/o No-IP.com Registration Privacy
Registrant Street2: P.O. Box 19083
Registrant City: Reno
Registrant State/Province: NV
Registrant Postal Code: 89511
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.7758531883
Registrant FAX:
Registrant Email: 1a37bda6b1603338-250851@privacy.no-ip.com
Admin Name: Gazeley, Jonathan
Admin Street1: ATTN: jonathangazeley.com, c/o No-IP.com Registration Privacy
Admin Street2: P.O. Box 19083
Admin City: Reno
Admin State/Province: NV
Admin Postal Code: 89511
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: +1.7758531883
Admin FAX:
Admin Email: 1a37bda6b1603338-250851@privacy.no-ip.com
Name Server: NS2.NO-IP.COM
Name Server: NS1.NO-IP.COM
Name Server: NS3.NO-IP.COM
Name Server: NS4.NO-IP.COM
Name Server: NS5.NO-IP.COM
As you can see, all of this data (except my name, of course) now belongs to No-IP. Problem solved!
Yes, I know it was published in 2000. You’d think that a cycling fan such as myself would have read it by now, but I never got round to it.
However, I can strongly recommend the book. As the title suggests, it’s not about about cycling (although cycling is mentioned a lot, naturally). This book is about beating cancer and it really is an inspirational piece.
It’s also particularly important to me as I inherited it recently from my grandfather – a massive cycling fan and keen cyclist who died from cancer last year.
Well I never! From an advert on Hotmail I was linked to a page which proclaims that MSN Messenger (more recently known as Windows Live Messenger) is 10 years old. I would have guessed it was older than that.
I can’t remember precisely when I first used MSN Messenger but I’m fairly sure it was in 1999. I don’t remember it being brand spanking new, though. All my friends were using it and I thought it had been around for a while.
I used to use the Messenger Plus addon to add features that the client neglected to include.
Of course, since switching fully to Linux I’ve used gAIM (now Pidgin), and I have to say it meets my needs perfectly, especially as I also have contacts on AIM now.
Who knows what developments we will see in online communication over the next decade. There’s lots of hype around videophones and that kind of thing, but the technology is already available and hardly used. I just don’t think it’s as practical.
In my opinion, IM‘s biggest rival is Facebook (among other social networks), which has completely changed the way friends, family and casual acquaintances keep in touch. It seems to have taken a slice out of personal email, and out of IM.
For a while now I’ve been using a service called last.fm. Basically it (a program called a scrobbler) monitors what music I listen to and compiles statistics. I only do it because I find statistics interesting, and often I surprise myself that I’ve listened to lots of an artist that I never really considered one of my favourites, for example.
last.fm can also recommend other music you might like, based on your taste which it works out from what you’ve listened to recently. I don’t bother with this because I don’t like being told what to do 😛
last.fm is free to join and the scrobbler will run on many platforms. I currently scrobble on:
Rhythmbox running on Fedora at home
Windows Media Center running on Vista at home
iTunes on Mac OS X at work
Of course, as with every similar site, there is a widget you can embed into your website, Facebook page, etc, etc. So here’s mine.
If you’re really interested in seeing more of my musical history, my Music Profile has many more views. You can even compare your musical tastes to mine!
No, really. I’m not interested in comparing tastes or building a network of friends, and I don’t expect you to find my history interesting. I just scrobble because I find my personal results interesting. Give it a go; you might too.
I recently bought (and blogged about) an O2 mobile broadband USB stick.
As I was on a camping holiday in a remote part of Pembrokeshire last week, I decided to take my Eee and the USB modem, just to see how it would work. I was aware that there would be no HSDPA coverage, since I had checked the coverage map before I left.
UK cellular network coverage
2G
3G
HSDPA
Three give the following summary of the different connection types:
2G network: gives you voice, text and picture messaging services
3G network: gives you all of the above, plus video calling and the internet on your mobile
HSDPA network (Mobile Broadband): gives you all 2G and 3G services, plus high-speed internet access on your mobile and with your dongle (USB modem)
When I connected to the network in rural Pembrokeshire, I was not surprised to find that I only got a 2G connection. The dongle’s LED was green, and according to Huawei:
Green – a GPRS data service is established
Dark Blue – a UMTS data service is established
Light Blue – a HSDPA data service is established
But what surprised me most was the latency in the connection. Pinging www.google.com gave responses between 4 seconds and 35 seconds! This of course makes web browsing totally unusable.
So my advice to anyone who is thinking of getting a USB 3G modem is to make sure your target areas are covered, and don’t expect it to work outside cities.
Well, it turns out that my fears were confirmed. It rained for most of the week. But despite this, we had a good time and I took quite a few pictures that I like. Some of these were also taken on my phone.
The campsite
We stayed at Rosebush Camping & Caravan park. It’s an adults-only site in a tiny village with a small lake and beautiful scenery. When we arrived it was sunny and dry (although the ground was wet from recent rain). After setting up the tent, we took a leisurely walk around the site.
Our pitchLily pond
A tiny toad – barely a centimetre in length. There were hundreds of these hopping around in the wet grass. We also saw a handful of large adult toads.
There is a large dam and reservoir near the village of Llys-y-fran. The reservoir perimeter walk is approximately 8 miles, and due to the intermittent rain we decided not (couldn’t be bothered) to walk around it. We simply walked around the dam area instead.
Last time I saw the dam, probably 12 years ago, it was possible to walk along the top of the dam, as far as the round tower. It’s no longer permitted due to “falling debris”. The pumping station at the bottom used to run, too. This made a huge plume of water and a noise like the end of the world. The pump was turned off on this occasion 😦 I still managed some nice photos of water spilling down the slipway, though.
Llys-y-Fran damLlys-y-Fran damWater streaming down the dam
Tenby & Caldey Island
We took a day trip to the seaside town of Tenby. To start with the conditions were OK, but not quite beach weather, so we walked around town and saw the sights.
This is St Catherine’s Island. As you see here, it’s an island at high tide, but connected to the beach when the tide goes out. It has a fort which was completed in 1870. According to Wikipedia…
St. Catherine’s Fort has four main bedrooms, 16 turret rooms and an old banquet hall with a life size statue of Queen Victoria and an old, half-broken suit of armour. In the basement there is an old armoury which used to hold 444 barrels of gunpowder. At one time the fort was used as a zoo.
St Catherine’s FortTenby harbour
Then it started raining on and off, so we decided to take a boat trip to nearby Caldey Island, some 20 minutes by boat. However being in an open boat isn’t much fun in the rain, and Hana has the scowl to prove it.
Hana on the boat
Once on the island, the heavens opened and we ran for cover. I tried to take photos of rain. It’s pretty hard because as soon as you get the camera close enough to the splashing puddles, you get water on the lens and lose the ability to focus.
Rain
After a few minutes, it cleared up and we had a look round the island. There is hardly anything there – apparently the island was and still is inhabited by Cistercian monks. There are several churches and other religious buildings, a post office, and shops that sell chocolate, fudge and perfume made by the monks.
Caldey Island monasteryA carving in a church on Caldey IslandA stained glass window
By the time we returned to the mainland, the tide had gone out from Tenby harbour.
Tenby harbour
Oakwood theme park
On Wednesday the weather looked like it might be good all day, so we gambled on a day out at Oakwood theme park. The gamble paid off, and it was hot and sunny all day.
I didn’t take my camera as I didn’t want to be carrying excess baggage around, but I have scanned in the obligatory photo taken while we were riding Megafobia, a large wooden rollercoaster.
Megafobia
Night time
After we got back from Oakwood, we were in such high spirits from the good weather that we didn’t go into the tent for ages. I took these photos on the campsite. It’s not often I get to play with long exposures at night, mainly because urban Bristol is well lit after dark. These photos were exposed for 4 and 30 seconds respectively.
Our tent at nightA tree at night
The last day
From 9am Thursday to 9am Friday (when we started packing to leave) it rained continuously, without even a minute’s respite. Our tent, being a cheap one from Tesco began to leak and by the time we woke up on Friday, was one or two inches deep in water. The area around the tent became a lake.
Hana was up before me, and from my lazy position still in bed, with my phone camera, this was the view of the groundsheet inside the tent, and the puddle outside.
The view as I woke up
By the time Hana had figured out how to get my camera out of long-exposure mode from the night before, the puddle had soaked in and diminished a bit – but it was still too big to jump over from a standing start.
The flood
As we were packing up to leave, a couple near us attempted to leave and tow their caravan home, but their car was stuck in the wet grass. We offered to give them a push; alas I got sprayed with wet grass from the spinning wheels. That’s the last time I offer to help anyone!
Covered in water
Speaking to the elderly owner of the campsite upon departure, he said he had lived in the area since he was born and had run the campsite for nearly 50 years, and yet had never seen such a severe rainstorm. Just our luck!
Jonathan Gazeley 
