Bye Bye Blogger

Blogger is eliminating support for FTP publishing as of March 26, 2010.  For once in my life, I’m not waiting until the last minute to change.

I previously experimented with WordPress, then had the mySQL database explode when I attempted an upgrade, so I reverted to Blogger, and have been fat, dumb, and moderately happy since.

After a quick review, I’m looking at WordPress (again), and Movable Type.  I considered using Drupal, and it looks interesting, but I don’t have the bandwidth this year to go deep geek with Open Source. 

I have installed WordPress 2.9.2, and I’m having issues importing ten years of Blogger posts. I don’t want to retain 150 Meg of redundant posts, so I’m looking into alternate methods of exporting and importing Blogger data.

Any input is appreciated. 

Technorati Tags: Blogger,WordPress,Internet,blogging

I am pbegley

I am registered on almost every major site as pbegley and I registered the e-mail address pbegley at gmail dot com while Google Mail was in beta. 

Off and on, I have run into problems with some other Begley either giving my e-mail address to family (Patricia in Kentucky), or signing up for various services (jobs.com, Pat Begley in Wyoming).  Tonight it was someone attempting a password reset for Ubernote.

I’m hoping that posting this so it shows up in the major search engines.

Technorati Tags: identity,Internet

Phishing e-mail today

Below is the body of the message I received.  It’s obviously malicious because I control all the services for paulbegley.com, but I was intrigued. 

Dear user of the paulbegley.com mailing service!
We are informing you that because of the security upgrade of the mailing service your mailbox (rants@paulbegley.com) settings were changed. In order to apply the new set of settings click on the following link:
http://paulbegley.com/owa/service_directory/settings.php?email=rants@paulbegley.com&from=paulbegley.com&fromname=rants
Best regards, paulbegley.com Technical Support.
Message ID#T1SYDT2B4BVZJ72

First, I looked at the header information and the entries below flagged this as fake.  It originated in Japan (.jp TLD), there is no reverse lookup for the IP address 119.152.104.119, and it’s part of APIC (Asia-Pacific Information Center).

Received-SPF: softfail (google.com: best guess record for domain of transitioning unquotingpoy4@strl.nhk.or.jp does not designate 119.152.104.119 as permitted sender) client-ip=119.152.104.119;
Return-Path: <unquotingpoy4@strl.nhk.or.jp>
Received: from CAWADZSGG (unknown [119.152.104.119])
Received: from 119.152.104.119 by iron.nhk.or.jp; Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:45:04 –0800

Also embedded in the message is the real link to some server in Korea (.kr TLD):

http://paulbegley.com.yhuttte.ne.kr/owa/service_directory/setting

Last, if you have a modern browser installed and configured correctly, your browser (at least Chrome and Firefox) flagged the link as a malicious site and blocked any connections.  IE let you through, but blocked the automatic download.  Screen shots below.

Chrome

Firefox

IE 8

Technorati Tags: Security,Internet,phishing,e-mail

Droid Apps

I have a few minutes and wanted to tabulate the Android applications I have installed on my Droid.

The more I use the Droid, the more I appreciate the integration and utility it offers on a daily basis.  As an example, today a co-worker sent me an IM through Google Talk asking me to call him along with a phone number.  I touched the phone number, which cross referenced the phone number and it was the office phone for another co-worker.  So I knew where he was before he picked up the phone.

Applications I’m using on a regular basis

• Google Apps
  • Google Maps – are just awesome, and is the basis for navigation, Latitude, and other features
  • Latitude – very neat, people can track your location in real time.  The tracking is granular enough to show me walking through a town.
  • Google Talk – Google IM client
  • Google Mail – seamless integration on the Android; Contacts sync automatically
  • Google Calendar – automatic sync
  • Google Contacts – configurable sync, supports tags, can merge with ActiveSync contacts
• Find Starbucks - self explanatory
• twidroid for twitter - Twitter Android client
• Google Voice - VoIP phone calls and manage Google Voice account
• Periodic Table - yes, it's a periodic table for your Droid
• PdaNet free edition - tether your laptop for Internet access
• gTasks - beta - Google Task sync
• My Tracks - use Droid and GPS as a training tool – bike
• Tone Picker - MP3 ringtones - I have Star Trek and Star Wars alerts
• GDocs - Google Docs sync
• Barcode Scanner - scan bar codes (UPC) and look up product info and compare prices on web

Applications I’m testing or are just interesting

PaderSyncFTP - FTP sync tool - still testing

Key Ring Reward Card - scan reward cards

Applications I tested and uninstalled

SugarSync - sync files from desktop to phone.  Documents are read-only, and I have some minor issues with file formats (line wrapping, and tabs).

Technorati Tags: Droid,Android,apps,software

Mozilla Labs Weave

 Mozilla Labs - Weave

Weave is a FireFox (Mozilla) add-on.  I installed and will test the sync capabilities.  The only issue for me is that I had to create Yet Another Account (including a pass phrase to encrypt my data/credentials).  At this point, I prefer to use an existing account and/or cloud services (think Microsoft, Google) for my sync services. 

I am hoping that cloud services will be the source of centralized authentication and services, but at least we are headed in the right direction.

Some of the key functionality enabled by the Weave add-on includes:

• Synchronization engine - securely transports your browsing experience across all your devices
• Cryptographic engine - provides default client side encryption for all your data
• Weave server - a secure storage location for all your encrypted data
• APIs - extension interfaces for 3rd party developers

The initial release provides synchronization of browser meta-data (bookmarks, stored passwords, history, tabs, preferences, add-ons, personas).  Future releases will support other types of data and functionality.

Technorati Tags: Mozilla,sync,Firefox,cloud

Google Sandbox closed

http://www2.sandbox.google.com/ is now offline.  We have to take our toys and go home.  I enjoy using the various beta products from Google and Microsoft.  For the past few years most of the ‘beta’ tools, with a few exceptions, have been production ready.  Participation in beta programs provides insight into new product features helping define best practices and roadmap technologies for my clients.

Thank you!

We appreciate all the feedback from people who searched on our Caffeine sandbox.

Based on the success we've seen, we believe Caffeine is ready for a larger audience. Soon we will activate Caffeine more widely, beginning with one data center. This sandbox is no longer necessary and has been retired, but we appreciate the testing and positive input that webmasters and publishers have given.

©2009 Google

Thank you!

Technorati Tags: Google,beta,internet

Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is a free anti-virus from Microsoft.  I am finding it appears to work at least as well as ClamWin, Avast!, and Symantec.  I have installed and tested it on Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit Edition and Windows 7 Basic 32 bit Edition, and Windows XP SP3 32 bit Edition. 

On the Windows XP workstations, MSE discovered several trojan’s (MP3 and WMV files) previously undetected using Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.

 

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,security,Symantec

Free Exchange 2010 eBook - "Exchange 2010 - A Practical Approach"

 

Red Gate Software - Exchange Server Archiver and "Exchange 2010 - A Practical Approach"

Considering Exchange 2010 is a fresh-out-of-beta product, this is a welcome overview of the product.  The book covers the following topics:

Chapter 1 – Overview of Exchange 2010 new features
Chapter 2 – Installation
Chapter 2 – Co-existance with previous Exchange versions
Chapter 4 – Exchange Management
Chapter 5 – High Availability – new features of 2010

 

Technorati Tags: Exch2010,archive,eBooks

Philly.Net Code Camp!

Thanks to everyone attending.  The weather was crap, but we had a pretty good turn out.  I appreciated the input regarding the next Code Camp. 

• Microsoft Certification Options
• Microsoft Licensing
• Windows Internals 5th Edition
• System Internals tools
• Book overview and demo exercises
• Exchange 2010 cluster demo
• SQL 2008 Infrastructure
• SQL 2008 Cluster book
• SQL 2008 Design design optimization
• Win2008 R2 - Hyper-V R2, HA options

Reference links from Exchange 2010 presentation attached here.

Technorati Tags: Code Camp,SQL,Exchange

I love broadband

There is not a week that goes by where I am not amazed with the rapid advances in technology.  In the past few months, I have downloaded gigabytes of data from various sites, mostly new operating system distribution ISO’s.  This morning, I’m sitting in my den on a laptop with a wireless connection to the Internet.  I am downloading a 339 Meg file in less than ten minutes with an average transfer rage of 1.53 Mb/sec. 

My laptop weighs 6 lbs, has a dual core CPU, 4GB of RAM, and two SATA drives (150 and 500 GB).

In the mid-80’s, I ran a public access UNIX system and several different multiuser BBS’s (Bulletin Board Systems).  At that time, the limitation of file transfers were 2400 bps (bits per second) modems.  The size of the downloads were typically about 20 minutes.  The size of our hard drives were 10 Meg to 40 Meg.  I was running a full UNIX system, with development tools, man pages, application software, and downloads on a system with two 40Mb disks and a ‘high performance’ RLL controller.

Technorati Tags: storage,broadband

NJ Job Posting

I am among the unemployed in the state of New Jersey in 2009.  I think the NJ Unemployment web site is amazing – they have done a very good job at automating the process of applying, tracking, and payment of unemployment benefits.

HOWEVER, the process of linking unemployed NJ residents with available jobs leaves much to be desired.  There is a process that apparently links the data on file regarding my experience with available jobs.  The exact phrase in the e-mail is:

“To assist you in your job search, the Department's nightly match of new employer job orders with our job seeker database has identified the job(s) listed below as a potential employment opportunity that appears to match your recent job experience.”

Not to be elitist, but the jobs have required “less than a high school education” and have all been warehouse, entry level, permanent and temporary jobs.  I have a B.S. Chemical Engineering, and twenty three years of domestic and international experience in information technology. 

There isn’t a job in the New Jersey database that is a better fit than ‘Lite Packaging’ for $8.00 per hour requiring “Less Than High School” education?  Details below.

While they are at it, perhaps they can find a job for my oldest daughter, with a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Georgia Tech.  By the way, her senior design project was creating biodiesel from algae.  Not that this would be a technology we should pursue in 2009…

<sigh>

My head hurts, and I’m going to bed…

Technorati Tags: unemployment,NJ,jobs

AntiVirus Issues

Our ‘utility’ laptop is an Everex StepNote that has a Via CPU and 2GB of RAM.  It’s just not a powerful laptop.  After monitoring with System Internals Process Explorer, AVG appears to have more overhead than I would like.

Next, I had a problem installing AVG on my clean Windows 7 Build 7100 install.  I previously used AVG, but it was not happy installing this time.

What to do, what to do? 

I tried Clam AntiVirus for Windows.  It appears to have lower overhead, and it runs fine on Windows 7.  The ClamTray process doesn’t even register on the CPU meter.

I know AVG has been effective, blocking some compromised web sites as well as trojan/malware on several of my systems.  I will watch ClaimWin and note how effective it is as I test through the month of July.

Technorati Tags: antivirus,Clam,AVG

bookpool.com – RIP

I wanted to buy some technical books recently and noticed that bookpool.com is no longer in operation.  They were my defacto site for purchase of MS-Press and similar books and I’m sad to see them go without any notice.

If anyone knows any details, I am interested in finding out more about Bookpool.  Post a comment here, or e-mail me – pbegley at Google Mail.

Technorati Tags: education,publishing,books

Nick Bradbury: FeedDemon to Sync with Google Reader?

What is RSS and why is it important?

RSS = Real Simple Syndication. It is an internet standard for publishing HTML based content that allows end users to receive summary information published to a site without making a browser connection to the site.

I have a list of 100+ sites that I visit for work, to receive news, and personal interests. Using an RSS aggregator, I can skim through all my feeds very quickly, flag the ones I’m interested in, and review them later. FeedDemon let’s me manage the flagged content and optionally synch it with a server for an annual subscription fee of $15.

Now, it looks like they will offer a synch capability with Google Reader. I think this is where Google has an edge on Microsoft. Microsoft tries to offer turn key solutions, but users like me are looking to pick and choose ‘best of breed’ solutions and integrate them into the cloud (Google, Microsoft, others).

Nick Bradbury: FeedDemon to Sync with Google Reader?

Uber Note – online notebook

UberNote is an online note system.  I have experimented with just about every system around (Jott, Twine, del.icio.us, Google Tools, etc), but this system seems to be working for me.

You setup an online account to store everything, UberNote then generates an UberMail ID (<username>.hex@ubernote.com).  Once your account is setup, you can use Firefox extensions, or Javascript shortcuts to store a web site URL, selected content, or an entire page to UberNote.

Once it’s stored, you can share stored content, tag it, publish it (RSS, public, or private). 

There is also a mobile client, and I have tested the Windows Mobile client and it works very well.  The UberNote web site supports mobile devices as well.

Technorati Tags: GTD,productivity,mobile,online

Alternate virus removal method - Windows XP

A friend’s home PC appeared to be infected with the Sasser virus.  He receives the message “LSASS.EXE application failure; click OK to terminate or click cancel to debug” when starting the computer.

Typically, I remove the drive and put it into one of my old systems and disinfect the system drive.  The infected system has a SATA drive and my test system is IDE only, so I thought it was time to use a LIVE CD to fix the problem.

I tested the Dr. Web Live CD and Kaspersky Rescue Disk.  Both worked, but it appears that Kaspersky was the more through of the two at discovering the many viruses on my friend’s PC.  I found the Kaspersky virus signature updates a bit confusing – the status button didn’t appear to change after the update, however the update was successful and the application ran flawlessly.

Scanning took about two hours for a 250 GB drive that with under 100 GB of data.

 Raymond’s Live CD Review

Dr. Web Live CD

Kaspersky Rescue Disk

Technorati Tags: anti-virus,XP,LiveCD,malware

MSN.COM - W32.Spybot.Worm in the wild

There appears to be some malware in the wild.  I received a MSN note from one of my MSN Contacts this afternoon.  The FQDN for the link was gallery.aokhost.com and the link includes my MSN e-mail address and it has a sentence about "Hey, is this really your pic?" or a similar phrase.  The URL includes a PHP script and the users MSN contact (username@domain.com).  It appears the PHP script loads the malware and the user Contact is used only to lure you to click the link.  The malware is dumped to C:\Windows\msn.com on my Windows XP Pro system.

I am running Symantec Endpoint Protection 11 with current virus definitions. It appears to have run once, then SEP11 quarantined it, but a system restart was required to fully remove it from my system.

It does not appear that any other damage was done to my system other than hitting my Contacts and spawning the IM's to everyone on my list.

Symantec Corp Edition 10.1 with current virus definitions will remove the infected file after a system restart.  The Symantec link is below and they have a whole page of remediation tools for W32 malware.

http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2003-053013-5943-99

Technorati Tags: malware,MSN,software,antivirus

Vista SP1 Install

I am in the process of installing Vista SP1 on my HP AMD laptop.  The process is rather tedious, but you run a CMD script which updates your registry.  The update preps your system so you receive up to four hotfixes which are prerequisites for Vista SP1.  I applied two out of three required a restart.  I restarted after the third and my system was able to see the SP1 update when I forced a Windows Update check.

The download was ~300 Meg, and it was 'stuck' at 95% for the better part of an hour. 

After the download, you walk through an SP1 install wizard.  After the update is applied, you restart the system.  It restarts in character mode and applies 66,829 file updates which display on the top of the screen.  The last update is a registry update and the system automatically restarts into graphics mode.

After the restart, it updates the system in three stages, the progress is displayed as the Stage number and the percent complete for the stage.  The last phase took about 30-35 minutes and at this point, the update has taken several hours...

I was one of the many people who experienced the joy of the Vista "unauthorized change" feature and I'm not happy.

I'm not sure what happened, I install *lots* of beta, Microsoft, and third party software on all my systems.  I know what I am doing - aside from an engineering degree, I have been an MCSE since 1996 and MCT since 1998, teaching server and client operating systems.

Currently, my system is still unusable.  I will work on it later today and re-install an operating system if I am unsuccessful in fixing the Vista SP1 upgrade.  I may just choose to upgrade to Windows XP Professional, using an unused license I already own.  I am NOT happy.

Technorati Tags: Vista,SP1,XP,operating systems,Windows,Microsoft

Macs are more expensive

I frequently have this discussion with "Mac People".  I don't argue that Apple has a great design group, but I don't believe they offer the value for money I receive from other vendors.

Dave Winer is a pretty savvy guy, and a big Apple fan, so I was pretty surprised when I read his article detailing his Mac Book repair.  It's just my nature, but I would probably have my hands around the throat of the Mac support person.  At a minimum, I want a new drive in my system and some assurance, in writing, that data on my original drive will be scrubbed, or the drive destroyed.

The other factor that keeps me away from Mac stores is the "Genius Bar".  Let's face it, these guy (and women possibly) aren't geniuses and calling a 20-something college student (or recent grad) working in retail a genius just sets unreasonable expectations from a customer and dilutes the term 'genius'.  None of these folks have an IQ higher than mine and they don't think out of the box because Apple doesn't want someone like that working in retail in the first place.

The last time I was in an Apple store the little freakazoid manager (Marlton, NJ for anyone interested) asked me to stop taking pictures.  Bugger off, Apple Boy!  I have shoes older than you.

Technorati Tags: Apple,Mac,fanboy,hardware

(Scripting News) " href="http://www.scripting.com/stories/2007/12/22/macsAreEvenMoreExpensiveTh.html">

32 bit Windows memory support

This subject has come up on several occasions, so I'm posting a note with several references on the topic.

Basically, 32-bit Windows desktop operating systems (XP, Vista) will not address more than 3 GB of installed memory.  You can add the /3GB switch to your BOOT.INI file, but hardware constraints, including your video card and BIOS will limit how much RAM above 3GB is available for the operating system. 

NOTE:  This is particularly an issue for high end video cards because the amount of video RAM is deducted from the 4GB theoretical limit for 32 bit operating systems, so even if you have 4GB installed, a 512 Meg video card could reduce your available ram to under 3GB.

Microsoft MSDN article: Memory Limits for Windows Releases

Microsoft MSDN article: 4-Gigabyte Tuning

Dude, Where's My 4 Gigabytes of RAM? - this article includes a nice Intel map of the 32 bit address space memory allocation details.

Personal Computing Experiment

I am in the process of re-architect my personal computing life.     Over the next 3-6 months I want to re-focus on technology.  Partly this is a response to my attending Microsoft TechEd 2007 this past June.  The last time I attended TechEd was in June, 2003.  This was when Microsoft released Windows 2003 and Exchange 2003.  This year, I was very, very impressed with not only the depth, but the enterprise quality of the products.  I feel that doing a 'Total Immersion' in Microsoft technologies will help me become a better technical resource for my group, and also improve my ability to provide comprehensive, cost effective solutions to our clients.

Starting this week and through the end of the year, I plan to move from a 'best of breed' approach to a pure Microsoft environment for all aspects of my personal and professional computing.  I will document the process and note exceptions and challenges as they occur. 

I am starting by converting all my tools to Microsoft and upgrading my home network to Windows 2008.  We will be All Beta All The Time!

I am posting this with the latest release of Windows Live Writer.  This web site is running on a CentOS server I share with Peter Gamble.  I will maintain this site, but also experiment with Microsoft Live Spaces where I have a site.