Archive for category Windows
MySQL Default DATETIME Value – A Quick Rant
Posted by jervin in BSD/Mac OSX, Linux, MySQL, Windows on November 20, 2009
I was reviewing a year old code which I am adding a feature to. It so happened I came to a familiar issue about having two timestamp/datetime columns, one which should have the CURRENT_DATE / NOW() as default value and the other with an 'ON UPDATE CURENT_TIMESTAMP'. Examine the simple structure below:
CREATE TABLE `stories` (
`id` INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY ,
`title` VARCHAR( 255 ) NOT NULL ,
`text` TEXT NOT NULL ,
`creationdate` DATETIME NOT NULL ,
`lastupdate` TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
) ENGINE = MYISAM
When you want to store stories, you would also want to record when it was originally created as well track the last time it was updated. The problem here is that adding a `DEFAULT NOW()` clause will not work for the `CREATE TABLE` query above as it is not supported. So when your insert a new story you will have to explicitly add a `NOW()` function for the `creationdate` row so it will reflect the current date as creation date. This should've been a simple schema functionality, turns out after more than a year MySQL seems to ignore for some reason.
Go on have yourself a read here http://bugs.mysql.com/bug.php?id=27645
How about you, how many times have you have to work around this from your application code?
MSFTPSVC Event ID 8
Posted by admin in FTP, Networking, Server Security, Windows on November 8, 2009
Source MSFTPSVC Event ID 8: FTP Server could not create a client worker Thread for user at host xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. The connection to this user is terminated the data is the error. (No error Code)
Where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the host attempting to connect.
The MS KB article here http://support.microsoft.com/?id=293637 proposes a solution with regards to a related metabase error and how to delete such. However some users may not have the "ipsecurity" error described in the KB, so instead you will have to check each of you individual FTP sites. Make sure that in the Properties -> Directory Security tab, Granted Access is selected. If in any case Denied Access is selected, make sure the connecting host above is added in the exception list.
After making changes to the Directory Security property, double check with the KB article again as changes to the metabase have been made.
After the two checks above and you are still getting tons of Event ID 8, you can also check here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc783062%28WS.10%29.aspx
VMWare: Windows 2003 Host, CentOS 5 Guest – Bridged Networking
Posted by admin in Linux, Networking, Virtualization, Windows on October 28, 2009
We would usually just setup a NAT based VM appliance for any new requirement. Most of the time, access is limited to ones desktops. When the need arise for a shared Linux VM on our local Windows 2003 server, the inexperienced may find it trouble setting up the CentOS guest as a reachable application server just like its host OS.
To achieve this, make sure the following items a re true:
- HOST » VMWare » Edit » Virtual Network Editor
- Automatic Bridging - "Automatically choose an available physical network adapter to bridge to VMNet0" is UNCHECKED
- Host Virtual Network Mapping - VMNet0 is mapped to you chosen physical adapter, NOT automatically.
- You can disable NAT, DHCP and Host Virtual Network Adapters
- HOST » Control Panel » Network Connections
- Right click your chosen physical adapter, then Properties. Make sure "VMWare Bridge Protocol" is CHECKED.
- GUEST - Assign an unused static IP, the same network/netmask and gateway that is used on your host's physical adapter.
Other items worth checking when inbound and outbound connections from the guest OS:
- Host firewall
- Guest DNS server settings, resolv.conf.
This checklist should get you up and running with a virtualized development platform with the same network visibility as a physical machine in your office.
Services Behind a NAT Router and a Multihomed PC
Posted by jervin in Linux, Networking, Windows on September 27, 2008
Because of the job demand I recently acquired a second internet line for redundancy at the office. Thinking that the new second line will go stale and unused I bought an Edimax BR-6624 Dual WAN router. However since I only have 2 PCs and a laptop. Either load balancing or backup connection, the second internet line will be rarely used. So I decided to experiment.
As you can see, I have two routers 1) an Edimax BR-6624 Dual WAN router where ISP1 goes to and a 2) Linksys WRT300N where ISP2 goes. The Windows XP PC connects to both and now it is multihomed. I have configured the PC to use the Linksys router as default gateway so my browsing and downloads goes through ISP2 and my services will listen on the connection from the DUAL WAN router.
Another thing to notice is that the Dual WAN router has its failover connection from the Linksys router which is effectively ISP2. So if ISP1 fails the other PC connected to the Dual WAN router will connect through ISP2.
There is only a tricky problem which I am not able to resolve until this time. I want my HTTP and FTP services available to the internet via ISP1 which have the static IP. I have configured port forwarding for this services to the Windows XP PC. Oddly enough it is not working, and I am clueless.
I have as well tried NAT aliasing which does not work, DMZ which as well does not work. So I am wondering if the WIndows XP PC is the point of failure. I haven't got enough help to resolve this however I will keep looking and will update this post.
Flashy.exe and How To Fix
We were recently affected by an old backdoor malware called Flashy.exe. This is StartUp type program, not visible on Task Manager and disables Task Manager, Folder Options, Regedit to name a few.
After hours of searching and testing everything my GoogleFu instincts have told me there was one shining star that saved me. Download and fix, yes, that simple. Check out these list of Useful Tools from Eset Thailand website and you'll find a list of very useful virus removal tools including one for our Flashy friend.
Here's the link: http://www.nod32th.com/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,67/Itemid,290/lang,en/
Remote Desktop Client after Windows XP SP3
Posted by admin in Linux, Networking, Windows on July 2, 2008
When Windows XP SP3 was officially out I eagerly installed without a problem, so I guess MS did something right this time. However a couple of months later, I needed the Remote Desktop client for work and there, MS blew up again or may I say as expected.
The pre-release version of Remote Desktop Connection has expired. To download the full version of Remote Desktop Connection, go to Windows Update or contact your system administrator.
What? Expired? Why? No Kidding!
Looking for clues, it seemed that there are two options for me to solve the situation, 1) download and install a standalone version Windows XP SP2 RC2 or later. Unfortunately MS has managed as expected to hide the download from the public sometime around March as any effort to download from their site means no joy. 2) Another option is to use a previous working version of mstsc.exe (the RDP client executable) stored at C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\ with which I have gladly settled. Putting a shortcut of the file to my Desktop is better than chasing MS.
Stay tuned as I will continue to hunt for Windows XP SP3 RC2 download, and when I do find them I'll post some links here.