Southeast Linux Fest 2015 Videos

Posted by JD 06/15/2015 at 23:00

You missed it! We had a great time! A fun time for like minded people. Learned a little about some distros I didn’t know still existed. Learned a bunch about some things I knew little about – Angry Noob Syndrome – ANS, for example.

Whether you are a hard-core DevOps person, normal admin, end user, developer, or DBA, there were 4+ sessions for each and lots of interesting things you never knew about.

Ever wanted to get GigE speeds over wireless for your entire neighborhood from 40+ miles away from any other buildings? There was a session about that!

Ok – so here are the videos.

HDMI Splitters and Switches Fried Hauppauge 1512 5

Posted by JD 05/23/2015 at 13:53

I love the smell of burning electronics in the morning. NOT!

I’ve had an HDMI splitter and Hauppauge 1512 recorder for about 2 yrs. These devices have worked well together and allowed me to push HDMI content to the 1512, a monitor, and a projector all concurrently. Worked nice, but only supported 1 input and only the 1512 only has drivers for Windows (booo).

So I picked up a J-Tech Matrix 4×2 HDMI switch/splitter to better control which inputs were sent to the different outputs without needing to swap cables anymore.

HDMI is a stateless connection, right? Perhaps not. Got everything connected and started having the matrix switch through the different inputs trying to see the output on either/both of the output devices. Didn’t appear that the handshake had worked, so I decided to disconnect the splitter and instead of it being just before the monitor, it would be in front of the matrix switch. As soon as the HDMI cable was connected to the Hauppauge device, I heard a little “Hiss” …. didn’t recognize it immediately, but then saw a little white smoke coming from the 1512 device. It sits along on the rack here – plenty of airflow around it. First unplugged the HDMI cable, but that didn’t immediately stop the growing smoke, so I pulled the power input. That stopped the smoke and hissing, but the 5 seconds probably fried the innards completely. Hopefully, no damage to other connected devices has happened. Don’t know yet.

So … I’m in the market for a

  • linux compatible,
  • USB-connected (can’t use card-solutions),
  • HDMI video,
  • HDMI 5.1+ audio
    recording device that doesn’t cost $2K.
    Any ideas?

SouthEast Linux Fest Registration Open! 1

Posted by JD 05/20/2015 at 09:24

Watching Network Connections in Realtime 1

Posted by JD 05/14/2015 at 18:00

Sometimes we just want to see what’s happening on a server. Quick and dirty.

watch -n2 ss -aptn state established
watch -n2 ss -aptr state established

Found these commands on the Ubuntu Forums, userid cogset. Nice.

I’m positive there are some great network watching commands out there. Drop your favorite into the comments, please.

OwnCloud/Dropbox Replacement 7

Posted by JD 05/09/2015 at 01:00

I’m always confused when folks elect to put their data on someone elses computer or storage. That is what using the cloud means.

It is really easy to have a private cloud where you host all the data from your broadband connected home with about the same power use as a high-efficiency LED light bulb. Plus by doing this, you can have remote access to all the compute power inside your house, through a highly secure connection, unlike what OwnCloud or Dropbox provide. Better. More secure. Under your control. What’s not to like?

Feeling Tracked Online?

Posted by JD 05/08/2015 at 21:00

Feeling Tracked Online?

You should. Do some simple things to make it harder AND less profitable.

Why worry? After all, you aren’t doing anything wrong or are you?

Who Is Watching?

Resumes of people in the intelligence community and some tools for analysis and counting. Created from public information sources – like linkedIn, facebook, and google searches.

USAF C-17 Aid Flight to Nepal 1

Posted by JD 05/01/2015 at 16:00

USAF C-17 aid flight to Nepal

I am a pilot that was on the first American C-17 aid flight into Nepal. This is what we brought.

Interesting cargo from Fairfax, VA.

Redit Discussion about this trip.

I have no issue as a US Taxpayer seeing our money spent in this way. Much better to be helping others, than the other things our DoD is known to be doing.

1100 Linux Games in Steam!

Posted by JD 04/27/2015 at 16:00

Do you game?
Do you Linux?

Looks like Linux is becoming a first-class gaming platform with more than 1100 games for Linux in Steam.

What’s better? Ubuntu 15.04 provides faster OpenGL performance for AMD GPUs about 14% faster using the Open Source Radeon driver. Nice.

Sadly, older, lower-end GPUs didn’t see improvements.

Translations Wanted! Apertium on Ubuntu 14.04 2

Posted by JD 04/14/2015 at 16:00

I was watching a Spanish movie the other day and noticed there wasn’t any English subtitles or audio. My Spanish is poor and it won’t get any better without a little help.

Apertium , the F/LOSS language translation package, to the rescue.

New Favorite Band - The Warning! 3

Posted by JD 04/10/2015 at 22:00

I don’t have any worries if this is the next generation of rock bands.

Enjoy. Rock on.

Back to doing my taxes. ;(