Category Archives: computers

Configuring Samba to be a WINS server

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This is quite easy to do, and it makes browsing the smb network fast.

Configuring the server:
simply edit smb.conf (typically located at /etc/samba/smb.conf)
locate the the wins support and enable it.:

# Windows Internet Name Serving Support Section:
# WINS Support - Tells the NMBD component of Samba to enable it's WINS Server
wins support = yes

setup the way samba should resolve the hosts:

# What naming service and in what order should we use to resolve host names
# to IP addresses
#   name resolve order = lmhosts host wins bcast
   name resolve order = host wins bcast

The following option should be addet to the linux DHCP server (if you use linux as a DHCP server):

option netbios-name-servers x.x.x.x;

where x.x.x.x is the IP of the WINS server

If you use a normal router, sometimes they support pushing out the wins server, if you use a router running dd-wrt
go tothe  basic setup and add the WINS server IP, there.

If this fails you can add the WINS server manually to windows:
go to the control panel, and press the View network status and tasks, then press the change adapter setting
right click the network interface and select properties, select the TCP/IP (for windows 7 select TCP/IPv4)
and press properties again click advanced and select the WINS  and add the IP of the WINS server and you are ready to go

WINS_server_win7

For linux clients simply edit the smb.conf and add the following:

# WINS Server - Tells the NMBD components of Samba to be a WINS Client
# Note: Samba can be either a WINS Server, or a WINS Client, but NOT both
   wins server = x.x.x.x

replace x.x.x.x with the IP of the WINS server

Happy smb surfing 🙂

The philosophy of naming computers

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I always liked the idea of having a naming scheme for naming computers, from the days when i worked at the university they gave servers, names after planets like Uranus and Neptune, when i later started setting up computers at home i went on with my own naming scheme i selected the Norse mythology, later on i started using the different elements for machines outside my network. i seen people using many different naming schemes like, movie stars, diary products.

it gives the machines something personal meaning and it’s funny when people ask why they are named the way they are, no matter what, it’s a good ice breaker :).

Even the laptop I’m using for writing this post is named Njord :).

Here’s a list of possible naming schemes that i like:

if you want more possible naming schemes take a look at namingschemes.com there should be a scheme for everybody :).

Happy naming.

 

The Remote DVD player project.

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What to do when you just get the urge to watch a DVD movie?
well over time i discarded alle my DVD players and went on using Popcorn Hour A110/WD TV Live Media players

I discovered the project called DVDReadFS The project enables a machine to read a DVD and remove the macro vision on the fly,

first i installed the following packages:
libdvdcss, fuse and the fuse-devel packages

then followed the guide at DVDReadFS for compiling DVDReadFS, i ended up making a permanent mount point in /etc/fstab

dvdreadfs#/dev/hdd /mnt/dvd1 fuse ro,kernel_cache,allow_other 0 0

I then shared the mount point in samba. Now the only thing i need to do when i wanna watch a DVD movie is to  drop a DVD in the drive and open the share on my media player

i will post some more installation details when i will me making my small networked DVD player, using a VIA C7 and a old DVD drive built into a discarded Cambridge CD audio case that i will modify, to fit the PC and drive.

to be updated!.

 

Solving the: No interfaces problem with Wireshark in Ubuntu/Lubuntu

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Run the following in the Terminal:

Code:
sudo addgroup -quiet -system wireshark
sudo chown root:wireshark /usr/bin/dumpcap
sudo setcap cap_net_raw,cap_net_admin=eip /usr/bin/dumpcap

Then run the following changing YOUR_USER_NAME onto your user name:

Code:
sudo usermod -a -G wireshark YOUR_USER_NAME

That’s it. No need to restart or even log off. Just start Wireshark and select the network interface.

Add the Quick Launch Bar to the Taskbar in Windows 7

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To add the toolbar back, you’ll want to right-click on an open area of the taskbar, and choose Toolbars \ New Toolbar from the menu. You should probably also unlock the taskbar at this point.

sshot55

Now’s the slightly tricky part… you’ll want to paste the following path into the location bar:
%appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

image91

Make sure that the location bar shows the full path, like the next screenshot, before you choose the “Select Folder” button.

image92

You’ll immediately notice the Quick Launch toolbar on the taskbar, but it’s all the way over on the right, so you’ll want to click on the dotted lines and then drag the toolbar all the way to the left (which is slightly tricky sometimes). Note that you’ll need to right-click and unlock the taskbar before you can move the toolbar.

sshot71

There we go, it’s over on the left… but now you’ll want to adjust the regular taskbar toolbar to be closer to the left, so use the dotted lines to drag it over as well.

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The normal Quick Launch that we’re used to doesn’t have text, so right-click on the dotted lines and uncheck “Show Text” as well as “Show Title” from the menu.

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Once you’re sure it’s the way you want it, you should check the “Lock the taskbar” again.

sshot731

And there you are, the quick launch bar has returned and there’s virtually no way anybody would know this is Windows 7.

PXE Booting The Soekris NET4501 and Net4801

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Well had a Soekris NET4801 for a longtime initially i build the image on a old machine that i discarded for many years ago, i did a quick search on the net for some interesting links about PXE booting the Soekris
i Found the following sites of interest:

Used this guide for the basic setup of the DHCP and TFTP Server and Config of the PXElinux.conf:
Setup ad DHCP and a PXE Boot server

if you need a little more reading this page will give som ideas to:
Install Ubuntu over PXE netboot (headless using serial terminal) on a Soekris Net4801

The NET4801 is not that fast and it will take some time to install the system, my system is only based on a compact flash card.