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Re: Screen Res. Was alternate OS voids warranty
by mjones11 01 Jun '13

01 Jun '13

-------- Original message -------- From: Russell Coker <russell(a)coker.com.au> Date: 30/05/2013 11:25 (GMT+10:00) To: luv-main(a)luv.asn.au Cc: muzza <mjones11(a)tpg.com.au> Subject: Re: Screen Res. Was alternate OS voids warranty On Wed, 29 May 2013, muzza <mjones11(a)tpg.com.au> wrote: > woefully pitiful especially considering that some MS Windows configuration > windows often have the OK and cancel buttons below the bottom of the > screen and you have to tab to them and hope you know which one you > selected. This is even worse in linux for some reason. OK I digress - the > point is why are they Hold down the ALT key, then you can click the mouse anywhere in a Window to drag it around. This allows you to get access to the bottom of a window which is larger than the screen resolution. Yes this works and it is possible to get around those problems in windows as well. Its just a pita that developers don't consider and testers are slack

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Re: fast fail on specific entries not defined in /etc/hosts
by Petros 01 Jun '13

01 Jun '13

From: andrewv(a)melbpc.org.au > This one sounds like the most viable option for me. I can run a DNS > resolver on the same host as the application is running on, and configure > it just for this application, and change the DNS search order to consult > this local DNS service first (and then the ones it currently uses). I can > use multiple domains if needed (not just company.com) You could use the local DNS server and configure this to forward everything else (not needing "special treatment") to the "normal" DNS servers. /etc/resolv.conf would need 127.0.0.1 only. Regards Peter

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Re: fast fail on specific entries not defined in /etc/hosts
by andrewv＠melbpc.org.au 31 May '13

31 May '13

Hi, Thanks for the feedback. See my responses below: > andrewv(a)melbpc.org.au writes: > > > Assume I have (at most), all of these entries in /etc/hosts > > > > custom1.company.com nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn > > custom2.company.com nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn > > default.company.com nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn > > That won't work. It's > > <address> <canonical name> [<alias> ...] > Sorry, you're right - my typo :) > > where nnn is some specific IPv4 address number > > > > I want to lookup the hosts in say this order: > > > > custom2.company.com > > custom1.company.com > > default.company.com > > It doesn't work that way, sorry. > I wasn't clear enough - I meant the application will specifically attempt to look up custom2.company.com, and if not found, will try to look up custom1.company.com, then if not found, will lastly try default.company.com. I wasn't trying to say that this search order had anything to do with how the lookup/resolving will be done for me by the lookup service. > > If the custom2 entry is not found, I want to try custom1, and if not ok, > > then I want to try default. > > You're talking about reverse resolution (IP to FQDN)? > No, I mean this is what my application will explicitly attempt, in that order. > > Importantly, I do _not_ want _any_ DNS lookup to be performed for > > _these_ _specific_ host lookups, because I want an immediate failure > > if the entry is not defined in /etc/hosts. > > I don't think you can have that, at least not on a per-host basis. > ok > The way different name services (such as flat files and DNS) are used is > governed by nsswitch on eglibc/glibc-using (and most other) systems. > > You can probably add > > 1.2.3.4 canthappen.invalid > > And if nsswitch has "hosts: files dns" then it will hit that first, and > not try DNS. You can't have an absence in /etc/hosts -- hosts(5) has no > support for the equivalent of an authoritative NX RR. > ok > > Note: I want an _immediate_ failure initially, _and_ for every lookup > > thereafter - an initial DNS lookup that fails after a DNS lookup > > timeout, and then perhaps caches that failure result is no good, > > because every lookup must respond immediately (and of course > > /etc/hosts and DNS service entries can change at any time so even > > then, cacheing is not useful). > > You can't have this with hosts(5). > ok > Your best bet is probably to point resolv.conf at a local DNS resolver > that is configured to return spoof results for particular domains > (including, obviously, the C.B.A.in-addr.arpa for the PTR RR). > This one sounds like the most viable option for me. I can run a DNS resolver on the same host as the application is running on, and configure it just for this application, and change the DNS search order to consult this local DNS service first (and then the ones it currently uses). I can use multiple domains if needed (not just company.com) > You could, alternatively, disable DNS altogether and ensure that all > hosts you need to reach are hard-coded in /etc/hosts. > Not an option, because many other lookups are performed aside from those servicing this application. > > Assume that I am using software that I cannot change, and so workarounds > > like actually reading the /etc/hosts file to see which entries exist, > > cannot be wired into the software. > > LD_PRELOAD might still be a viable option, though I don't recommend it. > Considered that one, I see it as last resort stuff, but yes, viable if nothing else hits the mark. > > I am thinking of something functionally like a like /etc/disable_dns_lookup > > that I can also copy all 3 of the above entries to, and linux will _never_ > > try DNS if the entries appear in /etc/disable_dns_lookup. > > AFAIK no such feature exists. > > This all sounds like an xyproblem; what is the ACTUAL problem you're > trying to solve? > I want to be able to use the configuration entered in /etc/hosts, as the sole data driven means of configuring host selection order, assuming the hosts are always going to be on an internal network, with well known addresses. > _______________________________________________ > luv-main mailing list > luv-main(a)luv.asn.au > http://lists.luv.asn.au/listinfo/luv-main Message sent using MelbPC WebMail Server

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fast fail on specific entries not defined in /etc/hosts
by andrewv＠melbpc.org.au 31 May '13

31 May '13

Hi, I wanted to know if the following was possible on a linux (in particular) box: Assume I have (at most), all of these entries in /etc/hosts custom1.company.com nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn custom2.company.com nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn default.company.com nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn where nnn is some specific IPv4 address number I want to lookup the hosts in say this order: custom2.company.com custom1.company.com default.company.com Now sometimes, I may only have the default entry, and sometimes I may have the custom1 and / or custom2 entries also in /etc/hosts. So, any combination from 0 to all 3 entries is possible at any point in time. This configuration would not change often, but any combination of entries is possible. If the custom2 entry is not found, I want to try custom1, and if not ok, then I want to try default. Importantly, I do _not_ want _any_ DNS lookup to be performed for _these_ _specific_ host lookups, because I want an immediate failure if the entry is not defined in /etc/hosts. Note: I want an _immediate_ failure initially, _and_ for every lookup thereafter - an initial DNS lookup that fails after a DNS lookup timeout, and then perhaps caches that failure result is no good, because every lookup must respond immediately (and of course /etc/hosts and DNS service entries can change at any time so even then, cacheing is not useful). Assume that I am using software that I cannot change, and so workarounds like actually reading the /etc/hosts file to see which entries exist, cannot be wired into the software. I am thinking of something functionally like a like /etc/disable_dns_lookup that I can also copy all 3 of the above entries to, and linux will _never_ try DNS if the entries appear in /etc/disable_dns_lookup. Any solutions / ideas ? Thanks Andrew Message sent using MelbPC WebMail Server

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Re: Screen Res. Was alternate OS voids warranty
by mjones11 30 May '13

30 May '13

-------- Original message -------- From: Toby Corkindale <toby.corkindale(a)strategicdata.com.au> Date: 30/05/2013 10:54 (GMT+10:00) To: luv-main(a)luv.asn.au Subject: Re: Screen Res. Was alternate OS voids warranty On 29/05/13 21:16, muzza wrote: > In the past yoiu could get decent res:- 1280x1024 or above and quite commonly > 1600x1200 and at 2ms response times. However it seems that some idiot > somewhere decided that we only watch videos on our computers so we only need > 1920x1080 at 5ms response times, and for crappy lappies only 1366x768. 27" Dell Ultra Sharp ultra U2713H - 2560x1440 - $799 27" X-Star DP2710 (Samsung panel) - 2560x1440 - $295 I would consider the ultra Sharp to be expensive. Never heard of the X-Star so can't comment Murray

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Re: Screen Res. Was alternate OS voids warranty
by zlinw＠mcmedia.com.au 30 May '13

30 May '13

On Thu, 30 May 2013 10:54:03 Toby Corkindale wrote, > In the past you could get decent res:-1280x1024 or above and quite commonly > 1600x1200 and at 2ms response times. However it seems that some idiot > somewhere decided that we only watch videos on our computers so we onlyneed > 1920x1080 at 5ms response times, and for crappy lappies only 1366x768. 27" Dell UltraSharp U2713H - 2560x1440 - $799 27" X-Star DP2710 (Samsung panel) - 2560x1440 - $295 There are options for higher-res screens; they've been around for a while too. They're just not as common. Lindsay Replies, 16x10 monitors (business class) are certainly easier to get now than a year or 2 back. Particularly 2560x1600. I only use 16x10 monitors as the others simply do not have enough height. I have two 2560x1600, I purchased one a Samsung 305t some years ago at great expense. I liked it ___SO___ much I purchased a HP ZR30w a few months ago, it was around $1300 from a shop in Shepparton. The 30 inch monitors were originally purchased for graphics and photo work. But they are ___absolutely___ made for train sims, Really!!!! The 2560x1440's do not have enough space for a decent cabview, most loco cabs being more or less arranged in a vertical fashion. (the 2560x1600 do not really have enough space either but the don't make 2560x1920 monitors and probably never will). Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm two 2560x1440's vertical side by side may be interesting. I know someone who has gone for three 1920x1080's vertically side by side specficly for trainsim work. Lindsay

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Re: alternate OS voids warranty
by Petros 28 May '13

28 May '13

From: "Andrew McGlashan" <andrew.mcglashan(a)affinityvision.com.au> > Also today, you can get a Google Pixel Chromebook, but it's not > widescreen (which is a real pity) and you can't run "proper" Linux or > other OS on it easily; they make it painful. Hi Andrew, what's the problem? I am curious, I considered this (but I will not buy anything right now - the next "home investment" is at least a few months away) Regards Peter

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Re: alternate OS voids warranty
by Petros 27 May '13

27 May '13

From: "Russell Coker" <russell(a)coker.com.au> > It depends on what Dell stuff you buy. The only Dell warrantee > request I have > ever made was from a PowerEdge tower system that gave an ECC error when > running Memtest86+. They had a technician on site the next day with a spare > motherboard just in case. I got similar on-site service for a Dell notebook, replacing screen and keyboard. It was running FreeBSD then. It didn't matter. Well, I got nearly all my laptops with Windows on it. I left it there, just shrink it and make a multiboot installation. Most of the time I "forget" the Windows boot option after a while but there was occasional use for it (tax return comes in mind). Regards Peter

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FSF fires a broadside at W3C
by Lev Lafayette 27 May '13

27 May '13

The World Wide Web consortium is considering a proposal to specify standards for HTML extensions to implement Digital Restrictions Management (DRM). The proposal is supported by Netflix, Microsoft, Google and the BBC. HTML was initially designed to describe the semantics of text and give control to the browser over how to present it. Since it became common for companies to have web sites, they have steered the development of HTML towards precise control over what the user sees and the behavior of the page -- arguably going in the wrong direction, but not an injustice ... until now. Of course, the W3C cannot prevent companies from grafting DRM onto HTML. They do this through nonfree plug-ins such as Flash, and with nonfree Javascript code, thus showing that we need control over the Javascript code we run and over the C code we run. However, where the W3C stands is tremendously important for the battle to eliminate DRM. More at: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/w3c-soul-at-stake All very important and interesting given next month's LUV main meeting will have Adam Bolte giving a talk about DRM in HTML5. -- Lev Lafayette, mobile: 61 432 255 208 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt

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xterm escape codes for some things sometimes screwy
by Tim Connors 27 May '13

27 May '13

Every now and then, I don't release the shift key in time before pressing <enter> in a terminal, and it just works and I don't cry. Sometimes, after running *something* that I haven't identified yet, it doesn't just work - it craps out and puts in some escape sequences: goodterm> cat -v <shift-enter> badterm> cat -v <shift-enter> ^[[27;2;13~ Anyone know how to restore the previous mappings and/or identify what screws it up (presumably some damn ncurses crap)? -- Tim Connors

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