LibreOffice 3.5 RC2 has been released, check it out at: http://www.libreoffice.org/download/pre-releases/. Includes some cool new features and a host of improvements. Watch out Microsoft, you may be popular now….
Saturday January 21, 2012 — 10:02 AM
Jan
21
Deploying Adobe Reader…. Properly!
Unfortunately Adobe has not made it easy to deploy their Reader software. It poses a number of challenges:
- Adobe only release MSI installers for major releases.
- Adobe release MSP installers for minor releases.
- MSP installers can not be deployed through a GPO.
- Adobe Reader had an EULA and a user update prompt by default.
We can, however, get around this… hold on to your hats!
Step 1: Download the latest major release as an MSI, at present 10.10 (http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/888/cpsid_88814.html)
Step 2: We now need to create an Administrative Installation Point (AIP) to wok with the installer. To launch the AIP install open a command line and type the following:
c:\> msiexec /a [location of file]\AdbeRdr1010_US.msi
You will be prompted to specify a location for the AIP, this is probably best done in the location you wish to deploy from.
Step 3: Download the latest minor, MSP, update – in our case version 10.1.2. Patch the AIP with the MSP by opening a command line and typing the following
c:\> msiexec /p [location of file]\AdbeRdrUpd1012.msp /a [location of AIP (step 2)]\AdbeRdr1010_US.msi
Step 4: Customise the AIP. Download the Adobe Reader Customization Wizard X (http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4950).
Point the wizard at your AIP and disable features that are unrequired – in most cases this will be EULA display and auto-update ability. Once finished save the changes to create an MST file.
Step 5: Deploy the update using a GPO making sure that you select Advanced when it prompts you for a deployment method; selecting the Modifications tab and adding your MST file from Step 4.
There is a more advanced way of applying your MST to your AIP MSI but as I thought this may lead to confusion I have purposely omitted this. Please contact me if you would like to find out my method!
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2012/01/deploying-adobe-reader-properly/
Dec
08
The Need For Speed
I have working a lot this week on a VMware backup solution involving a HP vCentre server and an iSCSI NAS device.
Aim
The aim was to create a high performance iSCSI network and a fast link to our ESX hosts for a Veeam Backup & Replication job running overnight.
Background
Veeam is a product designed for the backup of VMware virtual machines in their entirety whilst being application aware and implementing advancing compression routines. The Local Area Network utilises two Dell PowerConnect 6248 L3 switches in a stack whilst the iSCSI setup uses PowerConnect 7024 switches. These switches are very capable providing configuration via browser based Graphical User Interface or CLI. Being from a networking background the only real option here is to use the CLI. Anybody used to the Cisco IOS will feel right at home using the Dell PowerConnect CLI with only slight syntax differences evident.
Method
Firstly a fast network connection from our Veeam/ vCentre server to two ESX hosts was required. Having a quad port gigabit NIC installed on our vCentre meant that NIC teaming was possible, this allows two or more physical NICs to be teamed together to form an aggregate link. In my example, this was setup very quickly from the included HP application. The switch ports also required link aggregation configuration on our LAN. The port aggregation itself uses IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation Control Protocol to negotiate the port channel and provide failure detection. Once the port channel was configured on the switch the server soon registered the new 2Gbps aggregated links – job done!
The switch configuration is the same with the iSCSI as it was with the LAN connection. The only problem I have come across is that the iSCSI initiator in Windows Server 2008 does not save the connection configuration following a reboot. The only way to manage your connections is to take the iSCSI drive offline, logoff the session, logon the session with the correct connections and then reconfigure any fail-over routes. The difference with the iSCSI configurations is of course that your storage device also needs configuring with teamed LACP negotiated ports.
To optimise this setup ensure enough bandwidth is available from your vSwitches in VMWare for any backups. Also ensure jumbo frames (MTU 9216 on PC6248 & PC7024) and flow control are enabled on your switch infrastructure. Don’t forget spanning tree port fast (state forward on port activation) on your port channels and credentials on your VMware infrastructure for Veeam. My configuration also incorporated fail over paths over multiple stacked switches for both VMware and iSCSI, providing a degree of resiliency.
Results
Backup speeds increased by 5MBPs (That’s bytes NOT bits!!) and remote availability to our vCentre server is much more reliable.
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2011/12/the-need-for-spee/
Nov
08
Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot
Over the past few weeks I have been testing out the latest version of Ubuntu Linux – version 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot. This version was released on 13th October 2011 and includes many enhancements over previous versions. Let me go over some of my more notable observations:
1) Gnome UX – Gnome 3.2, included in this release, is a much more polished experience. Having not been a fan of the original Gnome 3 branch, I am now happy to report that this is becoming a very mature and extremely usable interface. It is actually a pleasure to use and easily gives Windows a run for its money!
2) Software Centre – Included is a much improved Ubuntu software centre which is much easier to navigate than older versions. It is very intuitive to use and operations flow very well through the application allowing you to carry on working/ browsing whilst software is being downloaded. The new centre reminds slightly of the Steam desktop application from Valve.
3) Responsiveness – Oneiric seems to be very responsive in terms of the UI and application processing. Even from within a VM environment performance is very good. I have also tested OpenSuse 11.4 on my Intel Core i5 laptop in such an environment and Ubuntu is noticeably the quicker of the two distributions.
Version 11.10 has certainly persuaded me to go back to the Ubuntu Linux distribution. It is clear that the OS has come along way and should have Microsoft watching their backs. This is a very capable and usable operating system and would it not be for me administrating a Windows Server based domain during the day I would definitely be considering Ubuntu as my main desktop OS.
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2011/11/ubuntu-11-10-oneiric-ocelot/
Oct
21
BTCC Season End
Last weekend saw the end of the 2011 British Touring Car Championship season on Silverstone’s national circuit.
The championship provided great entertainment all season, so much so that it all came down to the last race of the season; with Team Dynamics Honda team mates Gordon Sheddon and Matt Neal battling it out for overall victory. As with most championship battles there can only be one winner and Matt Neal left Silverstone the 2011 BTCC champion.
I have thoroughly the touring cars this season and everything to look forward to in 2012. Pirtek racing have announced a switch to the Honda Civic from the Vauxhall Vectra, TH Motorsport have announced their come back in a Skoda Octavia VRS NGTC and the Honda Integra has now had its final outing.
The action starts again on Sunday 1st April 2012 at Brands Hatch ….. can’t wait! 
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2011/10/btcc-season-end/
Sep
11
ASP to PHP – Time To Dig Out The Cross Reference!
Some time ago, whilst back at school, I decided to learn the Microsoft Active Server Pages server side programming language to further advance my abilities as an amateur web developer. As part of this development I built a small suite of web applications and knitted it all together around a very secure, self-built, authentication system. This provided me with an excellent show case for some time.
However, this ‘portal’ was being hosted by myself using Internet Information Services server built into Windows XP. Now those that are technically informed will realise two potential problems a) ASP is an old programming language and support is dwindling b) most of the web runs on Apache which favours PHP. As PHP is still being actively developed and Apache is open source and Linux compatible both fit nicely into my open source and platform independent ethos.
It was decided about 18 months ago to learn the PHP language, which although very similar, has distinct differences. This learning process started quickly with several projects completed in a very short length of time and lead to the migration from a Windows host to the Linux host this website is currently deployed on.
I have now decided, as part of this learning process, that a lot of the work from the original ASP suite should be converted and improved further into PHP and used as a foundation for future projects and as a personal show case in PHP.
The work includes the conversion of a large authentication and log in system, a personal message type mail application and customisable user portal. This is anticipated to take some time to complete outside of working hours however will hold much personal gain looking forward.
The Projects page will be updated shortly with developments as well as my new project portal available at: http://projects.jrbell.co.uk
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2011/09/asp-to-php-time-to-dig-out-the-cross-reference/
Aug
30
End User Migration
Having accepted a position at a large manufacturing company just north of Greater Manchester – I have recently moved to the West Yorkshire town of Halifax. Due to the short time scale to get things organised unfortunately my blog had taken a bit of a back seat over the last month.
Rest assured that I now have an ADSL service activated and my virtual machines are on standby for testing and future blogging! Stay tuned!
The touring cars head out to Knockhill circuit this weekend and you can be kept up to date with all the happenings at btcc.net or watch the full races at itv.com/btcc after the event.
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2011/08/end-user-migration/
Jul
24
A Change Of Scenery
Marking the milestone of the new WordPress 3.2 branch release – I thought it may be time to change the theme used on the site. The new theme will load quicker, according to the Google Page Speed API, as well as providing a host of new features including a Twitter side bar and graphical post slider on the home page.
Along with WordPress development the LibreOffice productivity suite has reached 3.4.2 release candidate 2 with a final build expected this Wednesday. Along with the bug fixes for the 3.4 branch – development of 3.5 is well under way including the Visio import filter being developed by a GSoC student.
Another change of scenery this week was the migration of my main Linux virtual machine over to OpenSUSE from Ubuntu – on first glance it is much easier to use albeit a few initial problems with the updater. I will be using this distribution from now on and hope to move from a WAMP to LAMP stack for web development in the near future to carry on my shift to open source applications and operating systems.
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2011/07/a-change-of-scenery/
Jul
15
Graduation
Awarded Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Network Engineering.
Passed with First Class Honours
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2011/07/graduation/
Jul
04
Summer Holiday
I have just returned from a wonderful holiday on the Greek Island of Rhodes. Having never visited this part of the world before I was amazed at both the stunning scenery, especially over the Aegean towards Turkey, and the Greek hospitality.
During my time on the island we visited the beautiful old town of Lindos which, due to it’s narrow roads/ lanes, is still only accessible on foot and by donkey! Being on the Mediterranean coast the sea is crystal clear with fantastic beaches all the way down that side of the island. On our way through we passed the Italian built Kolymbia town and the 7 springs in the forests. Here we took the opportunity to walk through the 186m water tunnel in the pitch black dark!! the water feeds a reservoir for the town, also built by the Italians.
Rhodes town features both stunning views over the Aegean sea as well as the beautiful old walled town, where you literally do walk back in time through the culture of Rhodes. Taking a few moments to take in the scenery and expensive boats in the old Mandraki harbour is a must.
There’s something about the Greek lifestyle – the views, people, beers, wines, and foods – that really makes a holiday on Rhodes that much more relaxing and enjoyable.
And apologies but the engineering side of me can not resist a few facts:
Travelled on a Boeing 767-300 with retro-fitted blended winglets for increased fuel economy due to the reduction in wing tip vortices causing drag. On the outbound flight we reached a top speed of 607 mph at 37,000 feet and returned at a top speed of 510 at 38,000 feet.
Permanent link to this article: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2011/07/summer-holiday/
Loading tweets...