clutch

CD-A is "CD Audio", which is the format that you use to play in normal CD players (home, car, personal, etc). I have front ends that do that now though. Thanks.

When you signed up for up2date, you had the option of having it log your information and machine config to them. You could also have declined using their service period and just downloaded the updates on your own.

Many email servers will give you the extra firstname.lastname in addition to whatever your normal alias is. This is why you see it so often. This mimics the parent domain/child domain relationship of using the "." to define an object or container. Now, as many people are used to seeing that as an optional name/address, admins are simply using that instead of the classic first initial-last name alias.

Borris: Setting up RAID in Linux is generally not recommended for a first timer. I would suggest hitting google and using keywords like "how to setup raid mandrake hpt372" or something similar. Or, just hit there forums and see if someone has posted a specific how-to on it. Vermyn: I have a P4PE at home, and our DMA issues reside with the kernel and not necessarily with the distro. The vanilla 2.4.20 sources and better seem to have addressed this for me, whereas before I would have to disable PCI collision detection to restore proper speed in the kernel source before compile. RH probably just had a patched driver at the time, while Mandrake may have been relying on the kernel source to deal with that.

Make sure that they are in the same domain/workgroup, and that you are accessing the share with a valid account from the requesting machine. For example, PCA wants something from PCB, so make sure that you have account "jailme" on both boxes with the same password. Then, logon to the client system using that account and make sure that the same account on PCB has access to the share/file(s) in question.

Quote: My questions are simple:- How do you reboot a Linux System ??? Depending on the system, you might have a "reboot" option from the command line, or a graphical icon that can do this for you while inside the VM. Quote: How do you reboot when running under VMWare ??? Always shutdown/reboot the OS from within VMWare, either by using the previously mentioned means, or you can simply shutdown the OS by using "halt". Quote: Does anyone have any comprehensive instructions for an install of this nature ??? Might want to try the mandrake/vmware forums for that one. I have run RH, Knoppix, and Debian in VMWare without any issues other than it being slow. I would like to say that while Mandrake is fine for newbies, you will probably outgrow it rather quickly with your existing skills. Something based on Debian (Debian itself, Knoppix, Xandros, Libranet, etc.) might be more your speed. They are more advanced and do not suffer the issues of RPM-based distros like RH/Drake and SuSE. In fact, you could just download the Knoppix ISO and run the OS off the CD to get familiar with it. Search the news archives at this site for their current release link and check it out.

LOL, I'll take a peek at the info, but you have been very accurate with everything else you have posted that I don't think there will be an issue. However, I wanted to say that I was doing the same thing about my PERC3 controller in my Dell workstation at work, but I found out that the current distro of Gentoo supported the controller at boot, and it made my life much easier. Now on a real quick overview of your points: 1. Sounds familiar (been a while since I had to setup our W2K VPN) but I do remember having to manually enable GRE support on our Cisco PIX 2. Yep, although another way would be to use w2k server that can route on demand to the VPN connection (I haven't had to do this, but it's similar to what you said in authentication and transparent to the user). 3. I have seen many consumer-grade gateways now supporting IPSec, including my Linksys BEFSR-41. I haven't had a need to work with it that much outside of a lab though.

Sure, now we just need more traffic to support that...

You can use group policys for it in 2K and XP, and poledit in NT4. They all do the same thing, and that's toggle registry entries. If you don't find it on technet, I might be able to dig it up tomorrow at work when I am around some windows machines.

Well, if you have a DHCP server and the domain properly locked down then it shouldn't matter. We have visiting people all the time that use our network to get to the Internet, and all their systems see is our network domain, and then they get prompted for credentials before being allowed to see the contents of any shares. And actually, you could still assign them an IP, but it wouldn't make any diff. If you have open shares with "everyone" allowed as access, then you have more problems with your level of security than this issue.

Quote: Thing is TOO many people p[ut valuable information on their computer because they are not aware of what could go wrong and do not bother to research about it, because they assume to dam much. When you go buy a car - u research it, what it can do, what might be wrong with it, what could happen if something happens. PC user don't - big diff there. then of course when something bad happenes to them they blame the first tech support person they can find ebcause they did not want to take on the task of learning the basics, and yes, these are the basics! of computers. You've obviously not worked in an automotive environment, as many (almost all) mechanics would cringe at reading your car statement. Did you know that many of the cars towed behind RVs have very short transmission lives? This is because the tranny fluid pump is normally turned off of the input shaft, which is driven by the engine. However, when a RWD car/truck is towed the engine isn't running but the tailshaft *is* turning, and thus so is the transmission (via the rear axle, differential, and then the driveshaft). People are always doing stupid things with their cars, like overloading them, running them low on oil, driving them even the brake linings are gone and it's just bare metal scraping. To these people, the PC ranks even lower than the car because the PC doesn't (normally) take them to work or make them any money (unless telecommuting of course), and is just another appliance.

LOL Now you made me miss DeadCats all over again... /me gets nostaligic

Quote: Computer Browser Service is NOT ACCURATE in any way. Amen brutha, you absolutely drilled this one home. The concept of browsing without a WINS server (or DDNS in newer arrangements) should have never been considered by MS. However, since they are trying to make up for their removal of NetBEUI and its ability to do this so easily, many people are still trying to do it. DS3 said just about everything that needs to be said, and the only other things that I can add would be using the network browsing hack (search the forums for it) which speeds up the resource resolution process when a machine either registers itself on the network or when you attempt to access shares from one PC to another. This hack disables the request for scheduled tasks, which can actually timeout and render the machine effectively "invisible" on the LAN. There's a couple of things to know about about Network Neighborhood that might help you move forward: 1. When a machine comes on the network for the first time, it will try to register with an available WINS server, if there's one configured. Now, this is a smooth process most of the time, and the client machine can register its name, IP, MAC, role of the system, and available resources. This way, when any other system needs this info, the WINS box can forward that info back to the requesting client (much like the DNS system, but with NetBIOS names). Now, without a WINS box (or Samba running on Linux can do the same thing, and it's free) you are *much* more likely to get hiccups as the acting Domain Master Browser isn't as bright as a WINS server is, and doesn't cache things like resources, and in the end actually forwards any info that it doesn't currently have to the client in question. Also, if the Domain Master Browser is in the middle of an election storm it may never respond and you will wind up waiting for that request to time out before you can move on to broadcast-based resolution of your request. 2. When using *any* of the browsing methods, you can encounter time gaps in resource availability. I read one doc on Technet that actually stated it was possible for a machine's record to remain unchanged for up to 55 minutes on a network regardless of its current state. This could mean that you wouldn't see the machine even though it's on, or you would *still* see the machine even though the PSU has been cooled off for the last 30min. or so. While this is a glaring fault with this system, there really hasn't been a pressing need to address it. WINS is much, much better about this behavior (even though MS wants to get rid of it) and the majority of users that are affected by this issue are ones not using a WINS server on their network (which MS will then not officially support). So either way, nobody cares. If you follow DS3's comments, and maybe take a look at the reghack, or setup some form of WINS server (even a Linux/Samba version, I have been told they are even faster than the MS boxes although I have only used Samba in a client/server capacity with shares) you should be able to improve network performance a bit. I would have responded sooner, but I have been replacing all MS systems at home with Gentoo Linux, and I am working on slowly migrating some systems at work to the same direction. This has led me to different forums more often as of late. If you have any more questions or comments for me on this reply, PM me if I don't repond here.

OK, I think I might need you to paint a better picture for me here. I see "Exchange 2000 Enterprise" in the title, but you are using the Exchange 5.5 admin tool? Also, if that's the case, use the NetBIOS name of the Exchange 5.5 server in question (or try pinging mail.yourdomain.com to see what the IP is and then do a reverse lookup on it to get the name).

OK, first, in order to use \\computername (or Net work Neighborhood) you *need* to have some for of NetBIOS support. This is done with either using NetBIOS over TCP/IP, or using NetBEUI. Also, for the record, the concept of using Network Neighborhood without a WINS box is the worst thing ever. Although MS put a lot of effort into the master browser concept, there have been SO many issues with it that they did really try getting out from under it with Windows 2000 and the heavy usage of DNS. Also, the LMHOSTS file does not work while the .SAM extension is on it, so that's probably why you're still having problems. So, to summarize, for ideal network browsing performance using the awful Network Neighborhood method (and WINS is not available, nor DDNS): 1. Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP 2. Use the reghack to disable searching for scheduled tasks on other systems (just search the forums here for "browse" and my name 3. And, if the IPs are static for each machine, you can use the LMHOSTS file by editing its entries and removing the .SAM extension, then importing it on all the other machines if you like via the import function in the network properties of the machine or a logon script. This should help you out quite a bit.

Courtesy of Google... Fragmentation of ReiserFS and some others: http://www.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de/~loizides/reiserfs/ General performance of file systems: http://www.namesys.com/internal-benchmarks/benchmark-results.html http://www.namesys.com/whole.shtml Bear in mind that these scores appear to be based on ReiserFS 3.x and earlier, while the new 4.x one will be quite a bit faster (can't find the link at the moment to the graph, but yeah it's an improvement).

I am not sure how the devices are setup in Mandrake, but if your CD is actually /dev/cdrom0, /dev/cdrom1, or even /dev/cdroms/cdrom0 you will only need to make a link to it if the application can't be updated. So, here's your options: Check out /etc/fstab as a regular user (so you don't accidentally edit it ) and look for something with "cdrom" in it. For example, here's a line from mine: /dev/cdroms/cdrom0 /mnt/cdrom0 iso9660 noauto,ro,users 0 0 Your first option would be to look for a "preferences" or "setup" option in your CD playing app for the device and see if you have the ability to change where it's looking for you CD-ROM drive. You might see the line /dev/cdrom in there, and can change it to point to your CD-ROM drive, save it, and be done. Or, you might have to make a symlink, and in that case.... My first CD drive has the device designation of /dev/cdroms/cdrom0 ("0" being the first), so I would have to make a "symlink" in the /dev directory to point to it (this is similar to a shortcut, but much cooler): Get into a terminal, and "su" to root: bash-# su password: <root's password> bash-root# Now, we make the symlink: bash-root# ln -s /dev/cdroms/cdrom0 /dev/cdrom Try the app now, if it still doesn't work, you might have to change the permissions to "execute" for everyone, althought I think the default is read-only and should work, but in any case you can change it with: bash-root# chmod 755 /dev/cdrom Also, in your user manager, make sure that your current user is in the "cdrom" and "audio" groups if you have them. Once this is all done and you app is working, just exit the terminal and you should be set.

I am not familiar with Cool Linux, but Knoppix is a CD-only distro as well and can be copied from the CD to the HD using a command once it's booted up. As for the modem, check out www.linmodems.org for more information on your model. Also, with respect to the Fritz chip, AMD is in on it too, so don't leave them out...

Quote: So my questions are: - Should I add the external modem and CD-Rom writer and get them running under Windows before I re-install Linux? I ran Xandros for a while, and liked it a lot althought it had the same fault as Debian "stable", which is being a bit behind the rest of the world in software versions (which is why I am using Gentoo now). I never found the boot manager to be particularly fragile with respect to adding and using new hardware, but I didn't dual boot either. Also, if you are fairly confident that the harware works, then you can just start getting it working in Linux right away. But in either case I don't think that it would matter. Quote: - Should I install Linux on the Thinkpad standing alone before trying to get the external monitor, modem, and CD-Rom writer working under Linux? Or should I try to install with the Thinkpad in the port replicator? That is probably the way I would go, as using any Linux for the first time on a laptop is a bit of an adventure. Check out www.linux-on-laptops.com for more information on your model of laptop with respect to "Debian", as Xandros hasn't been around for a while and there's probably not many how-tos written for it. You can also check out www.debianhelp.org for more information in addition to the Xandros forums. Quote: - Is there any way to have Xandros install its LILO somewhere else than the MBR of the Windows partition? I asked that very same question on the Xandros forums, and Matt (or Tanter, I can't remember which) explained how to move it over. Basically, you can tell the installer not to setup a boot record, and then make a boot floppy. Once you boot off the floppy and get into Xandros, you can then move the boot manager to just the working partition. But, in reality, several people have stated that using LILO is better than using the Windows boot manager anyway. Just search on the Xandros forums for lilo and my name (clutch). Quote: - Is there any way of saving the MBR to diskette and re-installing it if I have another crash? Yep, during the install as listed above. Quote: - Can anyone comment please on the Acronis software, which has its own 'boot manager' as well as partitioning software? Or is there any other way of double booting rather than using the Xandros LILO? Don't know anything about that. Quote: Incidentally, should I be asking each question in separate posts rather than all at once? This is your first time, so it's fine. You will have a massive array of questions so it isn't a big deal for now . One *strong* recommendation. If at all possible, make a backup image of your harddrive so you can restore it if you system bombs out. It is *very* likely to happen, although many people in the past have made it through a dual boot option without incident (although a bit frazzled). In general, just back everything up. The Xandros installer and partition manager is pretty nice, although I had issue with suspend/resume where the system would get really sluggish, and eventually I stopped using Xandros for that reason. Others say it works fine for them, but for me it didn't. Also, if it doesn't work on the first try, don't get too upset. It sounds like you don't have a ton of Linux experience and you are doing a fairly complicated install. Just stick with it and it will all work out, eventually. Here's a link breakdown for you: For the laptop http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/ For the modem http://www.linmodems.org/ For the OS http://forums.xandros.com http://www.debianhelp.org

ReiserFS on all my Linux main partitions with Ext2 for boot, UDF for DVDs (in reference to an earlier question), CDFS for CDs, and NTFS when I work with my server (which is watching its Gentoo replacement being built at this very moment...).

The SQL-like filesystem being mentioned is the core of Yukon, the next-gen SQL Server from MS. And as for speed, read up on ReiserFS for *nix, and you can see some comparisions between it and ext3 (ext2 with journaling) and xfs. The new version of ReiserFS (v4.x) is faster still, and looks very promising. Essentially, all MS is promising is a b-tree style file structure that apps can interact with, and that's what ReiserFS does already (it's a little more balanced, but the same). MS OS's and apps (like Exchange, AD, and SQL server) will probably be more closely tied to the filesystem as opposed to, say PostgreSQL on a RH box running ReiserFS, so it will be interesting to see the performance charts when it comes out.

Not everyone knows everything (or even a fair amount) about major devices that they use. For example: Me: When was the last time you have had your automatic transmission fluid and filter changed in any of your cars? Half of this board: Change my transmission fluid? There's a filter? Does this mean that they should stop driving cars? Well, probably, but that's another story . Just because they don't sit down with pirated software all night and on weekends to learn a device that they will only use to get email doesn't mean they shouldn't have it. If security is an issue, then show them what they need to know. As for me, I am giving my mother a PC with only Debian and fluxbox, and her flux menu will only have the things that I want her to use. There we go, simple as that. No biggie. Oh, and the best part is that she can't download any of that stupid spyware crap because it promises pictures of kittens or something else like that. And if need be, I can just have her go online, hit my webpage so I can see her IP, then ssh in and update her system when needed without her knowing what is going on, and no need for reboot afterward (unless I am setting up a kernel patch, which would be rare).

I liked it a lot, but that doesn't say much. It's Mia: http://us.imdb.com/EGallery?source=grani...y=Kirshner,+Mia And I'll have to get the image off of the laptop and post a url later.

That's a screencap of "Not Another Teen Movie", and I don't know what her name is but the character is the sister of the head jock in the movie. The screencap was taken in Xine.