bit of a long time out...

oops, it has been a couple of days since my last post here... why? well, simply enough, it has been tough for me to actually work much on the desktop.

Current Situation:

• Unable to easily access files via windows workstations. even using samba (if I use DNS name, it takes forever and asks for a password, even though no password is set)
  
• Unable to locate any 3d desktop systems that aren't in beta or are installable on my current enviroment.
• unable to locate free virtual pc software
  
• unable to easily access windows files without using FTP or HTTP protocols
• unable to access email effciently using current software
• unable to do any of my normal programming
• tried to install a LAMP enviroment, but am unable to easily get apache going.

I am almost going to jump back into the Windows XP enviroment! oh well, I am going to fght this...

To Be Continued....

Day three

This day was useless, I didn't have a chance to do anything except type this blog onto the computer. Will do more later.


and the sun goes down, and a new day dawns... the end of day three and the begining of day four.

Day two

HURRAY!!!! now things are starting to go my way! I finally got Samba to work... found another website and followed to directions (rather long, and configuration of yet another file, how am I going to remember all of this?) now I need to get the files via DNS, not by IP address, shouldn't be to hard, it sounds like it is a windows issue. A little tweaking and no worries... NOPE!! I change the DNS to point hostname cerebellum to the right ip address (I also setup a static IP Address just for the hell of it) and it presents nothing is shared... finds it, but doesn't show it... hunch says, that it is in that smb.conf file... lets check it out.

Nope, no reference to the wonderful world of hostname in that file... SCREW THIS Config files, time to hit the gui shit! I install swat using the same website, and scour the site. nope... nothing I can easily see. Oh well, time to move on! at least I got my data and music.

I started playing with evolution, and finally got access to my email that way, just is REALLY FRICKIN SLOW! unfortunately it takes forever to actually do anything (yeah, I know, having over 9,000 emails in your inbox is a little obsesive). but at least I got access to it.

For my next major trick, I need to find a free Virtual PC and Virtual CD-Rom, after that I will be searching for a free RDP for windows and it.

and the sun goes down, and a new day dawns... the end of day two and the begining of day three.

Modest Beginings

ok, a little about me... I am a middle to advanced computer technician that deals primarily with Windows (windows 3.11 through 2003, Win me and the Server and Desktop version of 2000). I have programmed C, C++, assembly, VB, and ASP.net, .net 2.0. I am currently going to try to convert from a windows XP pro system attached to a Windows 2003 Small business server Standard to Ubuntu Linux.


Ok, what I am currently using the windows XP Pro workstation.

• Burning DVD/CD's using Nero 7
  
• File Storage (music and program ISOs)
  
• Remote Terminal Access from the internet
  
• Virtual PC
  
• Virtual CD Server using Daemon Tools
• Word Processing
• Programming in VB, VB.net 2005, ASP.net 2.0
• Backing up.
• Web browsing
• Email using MS Exchange and outlook
  

Why am I converting? ok, first, my desktop is not working quite right (got some nasty virus that screwed it up) and I have to reinstall it anyway. plus I have seen those really cool 3d desktops and wanted to check it out. So, lets kill two birds with one stone as the saying goes...

System Information
MB: KV8 Pro (VIA K8T800P-8237)
CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+
HD 0: 189 Gig
HD 1: 149 Gig
Ram: 2 x 512 mb sticks
Video Card: Radeon RV200 QW [Radeon 7500]
Sound Card: SB Live! EMU10k1

First for the fun part...
All of my HD are configured with NTFS (its windows of course...) and I need to transfer the information, I hoped to use the Live CD to actually move the files over to the second drive (remember, had nasty virus that screwed up my os after it was removed), but alas, nope... no support for NTFS, and I can't install any addons to correct this, so.... it is back to BartPE to the rescue (hmmm, windows scores here).

After moving my important files over to the other hard drive, it is time to actually do the conversion. I stick in the CD, bootup, and the liveCD is online and going... I resort to running the installation and *sigh* there goes windows! While I wait for the installation (which goes easier then any windows install... linux +1 here). Time for some fun while I wait, and I am going to do some browsing on the internet while I wait (this part is kewl! Score for linux). I check out some websites, but alas, mozilla doesn't support WMV files (DOH!!! Windows Scores). I get it all installed and then it is time to do damage control.

• Check settings
• need to link my folder over to the server (folder redirect is AWSOME for windows)
• Add 3d Desktop
• get access to workstation files from windows systems
• get my mail
• get access to my NTFS folder (need read/write access)
  
• Get some level of common control
• ensure it is secure

Things I know I can't get to

• Programming in VB and .Net 2.0

alright, well it is time to get my access to my D Drive... a quick look through google actually finds NTFS-Config application and a very easy to follow instructions on how to install it. Although.... it has a HUGE warning, this is in beta and is unstable, if you write, it might crash and corrupt the entire filesystem (do I risk it?!?!?!), oh well... lets try it. I have to edit the primary list of application servers, and then run the commands. It downloads and automatically installs, no problem. being an anal-retentive tech, I backup all of the files that I know it will configure and then follow the rest of the instructions. DOH! it messes up, and screws things up for a start. I restore the files and then do the other steps they recommend (thank God I backup). after I manually configure it (damn it) it works right and happiness abounds.

Time to access my files from another windows workstation (no FTP here). It is back to google I go. I search for the answer and find out that samba should do it, I find some instructions to install it... this is now the second installation that requires all command line instalations. Well, I am used to DOS, and command lines are nothing new, just annoying. well, it installs fine, and it is time to test it. I RDP into my main server (a windows 2003 SBS standard box) and then attempt to connect. \\cerebellum\music (of course the most important thing right?). Can not find host. DAMN! maybe it is the firewall... Time to kill the firewall on the ubuntu box, and try again. Can not find host. SHIT! ok, lets try doing the IP trick, maybe DNS isn't caught up yet. nope, no access to my files from windows to linux. Maybe.... maybe I can do it through HTTP access... ok, now it is time to download APACHE and start that fun world.

Installed APACHE, no joy! still can't find cerebellum, even with my wonderful firewall removed. ENOUGH! Windows +, Linux -.

Alright, lets check out the FREE OpenOffice, and see how it works, I pray that it is semi-similar to office XP-2003 (I know that it will not look like the office 2007 which I have been getting used to). I make sure that I have updated the entire linux box already, a fairly easy process, and I notice that I already have OpenOffice 2.0 (YEAH!). Here comes a plus for OpenOffice, it is almost identical to Office 2003 looks, haven't had much time to play with it, but I was able to create a document and do some fairly simple formatting as well, haven't gotten the nerve up to actually print to some of the network printers I have around the house.

and the sun goes down, and a new day dawns... the end of day one and the begining of day two.