General information that might be interesting to sysadmins on topics such as Ubuntu hacking, systems automation, security, monitoring and performance.

Step one: Classification

So the first step in adding automation to an existing infrastructure is identifying whats out there and classifying it into types and groups. If you already have this info somewhere (eg an existing ldap infrastructure) then you're done and can skip to step two (activities).

Leaving out a ton of detailed instructions on installing the core server (I'll cover that later) here's the quick and dirty way to install icagent on Ubuntu boxes (and Debian, with some adaptations.)

Systems Automation

So I've been gone for a long time (lots of medical issues, among other things) but I'm back and working at a new job now. And one of the first big tasks is automation - most of the servers are virtualized, but the management (and creation) is still hap-hazard and arbitrary. But that's going to change..

I'm still here

I'm just not doing kernel work anymore. In fact, I recently replaced my pretty red laptop with a new 17" macbook pro. (With all the trimmings, or at least most of the trimmings.) I've considered putting Linux on it, but actually OSX is working fine for what I do. (Ok, I should say that OSX plus a ton of addin software, hacks, patches and so forth.. but still, OSX at it's core. And macports has come a long way..)

We're BACK

As you can probably tell, we're up again. We were down, but now we are up. And I've got a ton of other news and such But first, I have to get my other sites up too, so it'll have to wait. Teaser: n800, gps, and water.

Whats going on

So people were asking what I've been up to. In short, new toys for my Nokia 770, HD upgrades for my HTPC, and some work on my other site. Read on for more details.

Einson, You Suck! IBM, Way To Screw Your Biggest Fans!

So .. got the tax documents from the first Linux on Power contest. And they screwed up (again.. anyone surprised? Me either. So first they can pocket a cool $500 per contestant, and NOW they get to write it off as a contest winning.. way to go asshats.) Read on for the details.

New Toy

Posted from my new toy. More to follow soon. For now, suffice it to say that data entry methods kinda suck and its got some bugs, but mostly it rocks.

Whoo, my phone is announced!

So, most of you probably won't care, or aren't paying attention, but I have been waiting for quite some time for this announcement from Nokia. Now all I need is pricing...

I'm not dead!

I'm just busy. Got a job and while its very little like 'what I do' (its apache admin) it does pay the bills. Also, I'm getting back into embedded development -- now that I'm out from under those former "friends" and their NDA I can publish again. (Wow.. I spent a year getting poor and falling behind in my field while not learning anything new. Thanks a lot, "friend".) So first new release is here - some notes on building OpenZaurus under OE on an OSX box. (Don't worry - my kernel and my tivo are still irritating me too, so I'll be covering all the old stomping grounds again.) Oh, and I sold the first mac. So no more offers ;)

New Kinds of Fun

So I'm back from diving in the Bahamas. (I can't recommend Xanadu highly enough. Nor can I find words to properly express my disgust with the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach and RCI Vacations. Enough of that here, more below if you want the quick version.

In other, more pressing news, I'm unemployed again.(It comes down to not working for a friend unless that friend is an experienced manager.) So if anyone needs an experienced systems designer, programmer, systems administrator, manager (of most/all of the above) or lead, etc, let me know. Must be near/in DC or Baltimore, or involve some/all remote work. Travel is fine, sales-support is not (I hate lying to customers more than necessary.) So.... tag me.. I'll put my resume up here when its finished.