PROBLEM: could not ssh between Synology nas and Qnap nas using commandline ssh. Putty from windows worked fine. Symptom: SSH timeout occurs at “expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_REPLY” stage. SSHd config file must be fine because I am able to putty from a…
Read more → This is a technical note for a solution to a re-occurring problem with my Synology DS1815+ NAS and DX513 expansion unit. PROBLEM: IO Errors appear on one or more hard disks. Array enters degraded mode. Re-seating the drive puts the…
Read more → Here is an example of a user interface that uses an “on/off” control on a negative assertion. In other words, “On” will “Disable” a feature. A control that uses “Enabled/Disabled” or “On/Off” and a positive assertion would have been simpler….
Read more → Zipato’s Zipabox looks promising. It uses an MIT Scratch approach to rules creation that my kids know how to use. As of version 0.9, the product is in alpha state with potemkin features, silent failures and dysfunctional operations. It had…
Read more → Vera Lite with the U17 version of the interface was my first z-wave controller. It is a low-cost controller that is popular on Amazon (at least in October 2014) with acceptable user reviews. It is one of the worst computing…
Read more → Adobe announced its security breach on 3 October 2013. The private, custom email addresses I use for Adobe and Macromedia started receiving Russian spam in January 2013. My Macromedia-specific email address existed prior to its acquisition by Adobe. The lack…
Read more → An email address I use solely for my Verizon Wireless account has received a phishing scam email. This is a strong indication that Verizon Wireless’s systems have been compromised. A few days prior, I contacted the porting department of Verizon…
Read more → Microsoft Windows hides extensions for known file types. This “feature” is used by hackers to disguise executable and zip viruses as benign PDF files. It is a “feature” exploited by the CrytoLocker virus writers. Hiding extensions undermines users. The steps…
Read more → Technical Note puppet: Could not retrieve catalog from remote server Error 400 on SERVER “Could not parse for environment” getcwd Puppet Master Version 2.7.18. Puppet Agent Version 2.7.18. Intermittent 400 error “could not parse environment: dev’ occurs on an otherwise normally…
Read more → Ah … Foreman does not support OpenVZ containers. OpenVZ is very efficient with computing resources. That means I can use lower-cost servers and pack them with 30 or more containers, as long as they all operate the same Debian operating…
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