Google launched another interesting beta tool today, the Google Web Accelerator. Interesting security issues since one feature appears to be a centralized proxy cache located on Google's servers. A great way for them to capture even more highly personal data about their users beyond what they can capture today (i.e. they can already capture all searches, any URL you visit when the Google toolbar is running, all your Gmail e-mail, any file on your desktop computer, etc).

Sure, the Google Toolbar could forward the page content back to Google but that would create suspicion on what they'd do with the data within the user community. However, proxying and caching the data transparently would probably cause less concern for the average, unaware user.

Interesting...Google may end up w/ more sensitive data on their users than any other company I can think of. Scary what they could do with this data, particularly if they ever change their privacy policy.

Posted by ryans at 01:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Downloaded Mozilla Thunderbird as my replacement IMAP client due to several reviews which rate it way better than Outlook Express (and Outlook which is absolutely terrible).

• Offline support
• LDAP name resolving is exceedingly fast, plus you can download the entire directory locally!
• Cross platform: Linux, Windows, MacOS
• Support RSS
• Supports IMAP Trash folder (no-need to expunge)
• IMAP Backup: http://gemal.dk/blog/2004/02/19/backup_your_imap_mail/index.html
• Virtual folders support
• Continuous innovation, NOT tied to Microsoft
• GREAT IMAP support: Auto sets up Sent/Drafts folders on remote server, SSL, expunge,
• Ability to add new remote folders

Posted by ryans at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've been doing massive infrastructure updates the last week or so, including:

• Upgrading 768Kb/128Kb DSL to 6.0Mb/768Kb DSL w/ 8 static IPs and unlimited bandwidth through Speakeasy
• Cancelled my Verizon phone service (no need to landline anymore)
• New 140 Hour TiVo Series 2 w/ wireless + MP3; required now that I don't have a landline, will take old TiVo to Breckenridge
• Order another Samsung 213T 21" LCD to use at work (save the eyes!)

Posted by ryans at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://www.mikerubel.org/computers/rsync_snapshots/
http://www.rsnapshot.org/

Windows
http://sync2nas.sourceforge.net/

Posted by ryans at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Started looking at replacement cases for my RAID server since I haven't been able to leave it on all the time due to cooling issues. I guess it's not such a good idea to jam 10 drives into a mini case. ;)

The Chenbro RM414 case hold 16 hot-swap IDE or SATA drives (replacable backplane) as well as 1 FDD, 1 CD, 1 HD, and 1 mini-CD bay. The RM519 (24 drive model) doesn't seem to be available retail in the US unfortunately.

I'd really like to get a rackmount cabinet to hold this and my other non-latop machines (web/mail server and Windows PC), but the cost is pretty steep for a cabinet. That didn't stop me from searching though...the TechRack Table Rack 12U is pretty damn sweet. It would also perfectly fit under my desk (with only a few inches to spare), in fact the 15U without legs might even fit flush. Unfortunately to the base price you need to add glass doors, maybe a shelf and power strip. Still damn cool if you want to waste money.

Really, though, rackmount is a little crazy. I should be building the minimal setup that meets my immediate needs, not the dream setup.

Posted by ryans at 07:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looks like the best laptop out there currently for heavy duty use on the road is IBM's ThinkPad T41p (Val swears by his T40). Especially if you are travelling internationally it makes sense to use a brand where finding replacement parts is much more likely. Plus, finding upgrades down the road is likely easier. Likewise the PowerBook makes a great choice, though I prefer the ThinkPad.

Numerous reviews exist on IBM's T41p including using w/ Debian.

The T41p has been out since November 2003 and I'm waiting to see if they release the next product iteration this year. IBM had a deal on the T40/41 series w/ free additional 512MB of memory if purchased by 4/16/04.

Currently the T41p w/ Pentium M 1.7GHz, 1GB of DDR PC2700 memory, 14.1 inch SXGA+ (1400x1050), CD-RW/DVD-ROM, 802.11a/b/g, Gigabit Ethernet, 2 32-bit PCMCIA slots and 60GB EIDE 7200rpm for $2,899.00. Quite pricey.

IBM apparently also optionally provides a "three-year International Warranty".

Posted by ryans at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Having recently created a new website (DreamWeaver is amazing) whose traffic ultimately drives money into my pocket I've been researching ways for search engine placement optimization (SEO). Obviously each engine has it's own algorithms for determining relevancy to searches but there are common practices on ensuring high placement that should be followed.

Google publishes it's indexer guidelines, and third-party sites such as Scribbling.net has a cheat sheet on how to improve placement. For example, "Place more important content higher in the markup than less important content in a page."

Posted by ryans at 12:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Val has complained numerous times this last year that my e-mail reply addresses @none-of-yo.biz never work. Eventually I need to spend time configuring Postfix so that my e-mail actually works correctly, luckily a reasonable Postfix setup for home networks was thrown together.

Also useful was the Postfix SMTP Authentication Howto.

src/cyrus-sasl-2.1.17> ./configure --disable-krb4
src/postfix-2.0.18> make makefiles  CCARGS="-DUSE_SASL_AUTH -I/usr/local/include/sasl" AUXLIBS="-L/usr/local/lib -lsasl2"

Posted by ryans at 05:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Given that I use SuSE Linux as my primary desktop environment at work I wondered what it would take to make the switch to Linux at home. I tend to use much more Windows platform specific software at home. What I found is that if you are comfortable with stepping back several years in product features/interfaces/etc. the transition isn't entirely unreasonable. There are still applications I could definately not live without (Quicken 2004, DVDDecryptor) or already have a investment in (Cellar!, Office/Visio, etc) where a virtual machine product like VMWare would make the transition possible.

I did a quick inventory and here is what I found I rely on at home (other than small utilities that definately have Linux parity):

* = suitable Linux replacement
- = limited Linux replacement

• * PowerQuest Partition Magic $60
• Retrospect Backup $90
• Quicken 2004 Deluxe $55
• Adobe Album 2.0
• * DriveCrypt 4.1 $60
• - ZoneAlarm Pro Personal Firewall $50 (free version available)
• Avast Antivirus (or Norton alternatively)
• Canon Camera Software
• * Microsoft Office (openoffice.org) $50 (through MS friends)
• Visio $30 (through MS friends)
• Cellar! Wine Companion $30
• DVDDecryptor
• * AudioGrabber (replacements available)
• Grand Prix Legends / Games
• * Nero Burning ROM $75
• * Neuros Synchronization Manager
• Spybot Search & Destroy
• - Adobe Photoshop (only limited features needed) $240

Additional Linux tools that I already use or would make transition possible:

• VMWare Workstation $299
• Ximian Evolution
• SquirrelMail
• Gallery
• MovableType
• Bogofilter + SpamAssassin

Posted by ryans at 07:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The C# Design Process: A Conversation with Anders Hejlsberg

Posted by ryans at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the increased number of users out there you'd think backup software would be easy to find for the personal computer. Strangely this isn't the case! Perhaps the mentality and market has shifted to the plethora of USB/network backup devices with their own custom interfaces/interaction?

Found a useful article on ExtremeTech about
Personal Backup Strategies, apparently Windows XP now has fairly sophisticated backup and recovery software built-in. Unfortunately it's never worked on my machine, just locks up as soon as I hit the Backup tab.

Dantz Retrospect Professional also seems like a great program under Windows and PC Magazine had a basic review. It's certainly got everything I want: multiple system support, hard drive+CDR destination (including cross multiple medias), easy scheduling, incrementals, compression + encryption, Windows registry backup, support for open files, recovery disk creation, easy to understand UI, etc.

Another interesting (and FREE) package is the open source BackupPC which provides network backups. Looks like a good solution if you have the time to invest setting this up. Deals with network failures, disconnect laptops, web based interface, no client software necessary, deals with dynamic client IPs.

Posted by ryans at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now that disk space is excessively cheap doing disk based backups is much more reasonable and allows for real-time access. This doesn't solve the problem of offsite backups (unless you take an entire drive and move it offsite) but it's definately cheaper than buying a tape drive (given 250GB drives can now be had for $149).

• Arkeia Light is available free for 1 server + 2 client machines (Linux or Windows) and looks like a solution for the small time home user.

• NovaStor also offers cross platform NovaNET backup software but is definately more Windows focused. I never was super impressed with the usability of NovaStor's software when I've had tape drives previously.
  

Posted by ryans at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Basic Windows XP currently has very poor security support. Fortunately there are reasonable (and fairly cheap) third-party products to take up the slack. The Privacy Software Review site has detailed reviews on numerous products however the most useful I've found are:

• DriveCrypt is a great package for creating encrypted virtual disks using AES, Blowfish, and a variety of other encryption algorithsm. Ability to make portable encrypted virtual disks that can be mounted on any machine.

• SpyBot Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware which is critical if you use Windows since new ones seem to appear daily.

• LavaSoft Ad-Aware rocks at finding and detecting spyware. Definately useful in conjunction with SpyBot. They also sell Pro/Plus versions which provide always running early detection to avoid getting the spyware installed in the first place.

• JavaCool's Spyware Blaster also helps avoid spyware being installed via IE including tracking cookies, ActiveX scripts, etc. Not convinced yet that this is better than Ad-aware Pro, though it is free.

• Windows Washer removes browser tracking history, recently opened files, secure erase of files, application plug-ins, etc.

• ZoneLabs provides ZoneAlarm, a great personal firewall for Windows, free for non-commercial use.
  

Posted by ryans at 08:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)