Pages

Friday, February 20, 2009

Connecting Ubuntu 8.10 with Atheros Wireless Driver

This setting was a major nuisance to me. I search all over the net for a working solutions. From Madwifi to Ndiswrapper but still, nothing works on my Presario C700 unit. I even fully updated Intrepid release. Thanks for that, the system hit by kernel panic and I need to reinstall the whole OS again. But the working solution is just under my nose. Read on...

Well, not really my nose, it's documented in the Ubuntu help page, under the WifiDocsDriverAtheros topic.

My unit preference is Compaq Presario C700 with Atheros AR242x chip and Ubuntu 8.10 (fresh install). I connect to internet through ethernet cable (wireless is disable duh). If you have similar setup and I assume you know how to set your repository, this might work. This is how I done it:
  1. Update only the essential part. Open the terminal and run this command.
    sudo apt-get install build-essential
  2. Deactivate the installed Atheros Driver. Since we're going to get the new one, disable the default driver which is auto-install during installation.
    System > Administration > Hardware Drivers and click the "deactivate" button.
  3. Run this command
    sudo reboot
  4. You now need to get the backport module. After the reboot, run this command
    sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-intrepid-generic
  5. Run this command
    sudo reboot
  6. For some other unit the wireless might be working now. But mine is not working yet. This may be the result of a conflict with either ath_hal or ath_pci, or ath5k might be blaclisted somewhere. So let isolate the ath_hal & ath_pci first. Run this command on the terminal:
    sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
    and add the following lines to the bottom of the file:
    blacklist ath_hal
    blacklist ath_pci
    save the blacklist file
  7. Run this command
    sudo reboot
  8. By now my unit is able to detect wireless connection and manage to connect using WPA2 Personal pass key. But if your unit still doesn't, the last possible cause is the ath5k being blacklist somewhere, posibbly in modprobe.d. So run this command in terminal:
    grep -r "ath5k" /etc/modprobe.d/
    You just need to comment lines that have "blacklist ath5k" and then run this command:
    sudo reboot
Hopefully by now your unit is able to detect and connect to any wireless connection. Good luck and remember patient is a virtue.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

From Windows 7 Beta to Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex



The story begin when my notebook (Compaq Presario C700) had an overheating problem. Originally I installed a WindowsXP pro in this unit. Everything when well for 5 months. But then whenever I run a movie or flash application the system automatically shutdown. I try to search the problem source for months but still the problem remain. So what should I do? Read on...

It seems that the notebook can't hold too much concurrent process in one time. Even though formating with a fresh new OS is the last option in my recovery list but I had no choice. Then, Windows released the Windows 7 Beta to the public. I've read all the review (almost) and saw some cool and awsome stuff in their demo video. Even though I knew that it will last until August 2009 and the minimum RAM is 1GB, still I decided to give it a try.



The first distinct different change is the taskbar and much improved on UAC and desktop windows experience which is way better than Vista or XP. The rest was just almost the same like Vista. I have nothing against this new Windows 7 but it doesn't improved my experience with the problematic Compaq C700 notebook. So the quest continue.

The next possible move is to get a less stressful processor & RAM eater operating system. My best bet is the Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex with the Linux kernel (2.6.27-11 as in my grub boot menu.lst). I used to play around with Gutsy Gibbon (v7.10) in VMWare. I just love the way they named their release which is using an adjective and an animal. If you notice, this code names are in alphabetical order since Breezy Badger.

I personally think that you can customized this OS into anything that you want without burning holes in your budget. It does provide an alternative program for each Windows Office tools and it's almost FREE. But you must not be fooled. FREE in Linux realm comes with some "price". For a noobs, it is just like entering a twilight zone. Each release or even update comes with a risk of unworking driver or worst "kernel panic". I guess the best way is to separate the system partition with your data partition and keep the best setting for your unit. Every problem has possible solutions in various forum boards. I guess the Open-Source community just love to share or tell their own story. Sometimes I find myself reading too much suggestion for a single problem. Imagine if normal user had to face such nuance problems.

But for the sake of Compaq Presario C700 that I have here, now I can almost eliminate the overheating problem. At least I can watch the entire movie in full screen mode in peace with no auto shutdown.


P/S: I wonder what is the best linux application with functionality at par with Photoshop.

Friday, February 06, 2009

Linux System Admin Tips



I'm not an avid Linux user but there is no harm learning some of tricks that only the experienced Linux admin would know. Check out this tips from Mike Chirico. It has 200 over of Linux tips and tricks. From setting and keeping the correct time on your computer, permanently deleting documents with shred, making files "immutable" so that root cannot change or delete, setting up more than one IP address on a single NIC, monitering users and processes, setting log rotate to monthly with 12 months of backups in compressed format, creating passwords for Apache using the htpasswd command, common Perl commands, using cfengine, adding users to groups, finding out which commands are aliased, query program text segment size and data segment size, trusted X11 forwarding, getting information on the hard drive including the current temperature, using Gnuplot, POVRAY and making animated GIFs, monitoring selective traffic with tcpdump and netstat, multiple examples using the find command, getting the most from Bash, plus a lot more.


Another article that I manage to digest from the same author is "Breaking Firewalls with OpenSSH and PuTTY". A very interesting reading material. The article shows you how remote Linux and Windows users can gain access to firewalled samba, mail, and http servers without monkeying the firewall. However the author said that those steps only applicable if you have a valid account on all targeted servers. In other words, to get a valid account is another art of hacking.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Level of Education Required to Read My Blog

One of the best practice in SEO is to deliver your content as clear and precise enough based on your target audience. To do that you will need to hire a suitable copy writer and start building the content using your guideline. Unfortunately not everyone can afford to hire one. But now there is an online tool than can help you rate your content and match it with the level of education required to understand your content.


I tested the tools several times and here are what the range of result that I get.





After done playing with it, I conclude that this is merely a tool to get the traffic to the site. Why? Because if the webpage is in other language beside English, it simply rate it as GENIUS. Well the tool itself is another practice in SEO.

Drifted


I swear that I read this from someone's blog....oh yeah it's from my previous colleague, Sue. For the past 3 weeks, I feel like "drifted" into an open water. No sense of direction, lost, tired and desperately need to be saved. Like Sue, I also not sure how to deal with this situation. During the new year eve I said, "2009 is again another challenging year, even tougher than before". But I never expect it to be happened so soon.

Enough wining, let's start to work

Thursday, January 01, 2009

2009 - A Challenging Year Ahead


I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year of 2009. Some said that this is going to be a tough and challenging year. But with a strong faith, I believe nothing is impossible.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Don't bother

I've been ask if can built an online survey for this particular organization that I don't want to reveal, in just 5 days. After reviewing the project scope, I said yes, it can be done. Since the time is insanely short and their budget is also low, I decided to customize an existing full fledge online survey available.


It is called Lime Survey. Looking at the online demo survey on their website, I thought this is more than what the project requires. I manage to built the entire survey within few hours and send the prototype to the project manager for their evaluation.

The very next morning, to my surprise, I was told that the deal is off. Sigh! Luckily I didn't built from scratch. What we learn that day is that the next time we hear such low budget with short time of deliverable we will politely advice them, "please don't bother us, go look for a freelancer". So many mouth to feed with so little piece of pie, it's simply not worth it. 

So, if you want this similar kind of online survey in the future, you now know what & who is the most suitable to look for.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

So many things yet so little time

 There are so many thing to write here but so little time to spend. Most of my time will be spend on development and research studies. But what can I do? For instance I want to talk about:
  • How similar the phpCake & Codeigniter is
  • The linux beginner delema, with GUI or pure terminal console
  • How to crack WPA & WEP with backtrack3
  • Flex framework for beginner
  • How to develop application with Adobe AIR or what Adobe Air? is all about
  • WebTV development
and so on... Until I can find ample time, nothing much can I do for now.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

My Streamyx is Down.....again

The nightmare of TM's Streamyx downtime is back. My Streamyx Combo is down since  18 October 2008 (Saturday I guess). This is not my first time. Read more about my first Streamyx downtime.

The only time that we're at home is between 8PM or 9PM which is out of TM's Technical working hour (8AM-5PM). Yup, if you're planning to get TM's Technical service, you must take a leave. Otherwise (if you're lucky enough) try to arrange it on Saturday. I did take a leave once during my first Streamyx downtime, but the technician didn't show up on the promised day. I was mad as ever. Please TM, I'm begging you, please improve....pleaaaaaaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Update:
My complain were immediately attended the following day. Apparently the technician told me that he change the connection port so that the connection will properly reset. The connection will reset itself when there is a power problem from TNB. In my case, after the reset state the connection were just stucked or hang.

The call centre then called me to check if everything were OK on Saturday and the technician called back on Tuesday to confirm if the problem were fix. I'm glad that the service providedby TM Support lately is much much better than before. By the way thanks Mr Kamal (TM Technician) for your service.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

jQuery for UI Engineers


If you don't know what jQuery is:
jQuery is a lightweight JavaScript library that emphasizes interaction between JavaScript and HTML - Wikipedia


For me, it is another JavaScript library that you don't want to miss. It is a single JavaScript file, containing all the common DOM, Event, Effects, and Ajax functions. Just add this the <head></head> tag:




Not only that, you can add in your own methods and functionality in a mechanism called plugin and put it just below the jQuery.js like this:





The community behind it is quite a number. This is evidently seen in the plugin submitted by the user in the plugin section. It cover the most AJAX functionality that you can think off. With all these, I'm certain that it can help your UI design alot. Maybe I shall implement it in my future Blogger Template design.

Friday, September 12, 2008

What is dedication?

Got this from my mailbox today....


If opportunity doesn't knock at your door, you go knocking at it!!!

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Google Chrome - A new browser


Google launch their own internet browser called Chrome yesterday to join the already crowded browser market. At first I thought, don't we have too much browser already? What's the catch? Isn't it obvious. To dominate the internet browser world or at least to lessen the Microsoft's Internet Explorer domination in browser market share. But what about Firefox? Since the Chrome project already started, I won't be surprise if Google acquire Firefox later on. So what are the juice inside the Chrome browser?

Normally I won't read the technical spec sheet too much, but the Google Chrome team has come out with a different approach. Instead of pages of boring technical writing, they release a comic sheet to tell in depth what is Chrome browser is all about.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Wanted Blogger Template



This template were based on Wanted 2008 Movie (IMDB). At first I saw the wallpaper photo and I thought maybe I could come out with a blogger template. Well here it is, 2 column Blogger template:

To copy the code, click on "View Plain" and copy the template code:



OR you can DOWNLOAD.

Monday, August 25, 2008

How to scan text directly into Microsoft Word using OCR

One day my boss asked me to get a soft copy of an annual report. He gave a 400 pages report book and he want it done by the end of the day. Luckily he just needed some portion of it but still the amount were a lot and can't possibly done in one afternoon. So I'm thought that it would be better if I can scan the text report directly using a scanner and grab the text and past it into a Microsoft Word document. And that was exactly what I did.

I'll show you how I done it. This method require a copy of Microsoft Office 2007 or later. What you need to do is to install the Microsoft Office Document Scanning tool. It is shipped with Microsoft Office as an optional tool However the tool is not install during the Microsoft Office normal installation.

Step 1: Go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs. Search for Microsoft Office 2007. Click change button. Choose add or remove feature on the next screen. Next you will get this pop-up

Step 2: Scroll down to the 'Office Tools' and expand it. Expand the 'Microsoft Office Document Imaging'. You will get the following options feature.
Select 'Run on your Computer'. That's it, you are done.

How To Change Blogger Favicon

What is Favicon?
Favicon (abbreviation of "favorites icon" and also known as a page icon), is an icon associated with a particular website or webpage that is displayed in the browser address bar next to a site's URL.By default, Blogger inserted their own favicon. Do you know that you customize and install your very own favicon? Here's how...

Before we start, you will need an icon image with .ico extension. If you don't have any, there several tools that you can use to create one. But if you're totally clueless, you can create it using an online tool. Once generated, save it on your desktop and follow this step:

Step 1: You need to host the icon image somewhere by uploading the icon to your favorite image hosting. You can try Oogle Toogle or imageshack if you want. Copy the published url as your reference.

Step 2: Go to your Blogger Dashboard > Layout > Edit HTML.
There find the title tag which looks like this:-

<title><data:blog.pagetitle/></title>

and add the following code:



Change the URL-of-your-icon-file to your actual icon URL that you get from step 1.

Step 3: Save the template, refresh your blog and you are done.