History of my Linux servers

I’ve gone through quite a few Linux “servers” as I’ve acquired new computers and relegated the older ones to more menial (but still important!) tasks. Years ago, I had been running Linux on my old 486 with only 16mb of RAM and it did the job admirably by serving up MP3s and running a small web site. I also used it to tinker with and learn UNIX, shutting down unneeded services, experimenting with secure shell (SSH), etc. When I got a new desktop PC, I decided to finally retire the 486 from service and moved Linux to the replaced Pentium II/400 with 256mb of RAM. This allowed me to run a newer distribution of MandrivaLinux (formerly known as Mandrake). Even that Pentium II box was eventually retired and scrapped for parts.

Right now, my media/file server is my wife’s old Toshiba Satellite S157. It runs Samba 3.0.24 to share files with the other PCs on my home network, and Galleon to serve MP3s to my TiVo DVRs and save recorded shows in a central location. It also runs Apache 2.2.4 for a little personal web site. Since it’s a laptop, it runs a lot quieter (and cooler!) than the Pentium II tower, which is good since it resides in the guest bedroom closet near the wireless router and cable modem. My personal uptime record for this “server” is 155 days!

Sony 900MHz wireless headphones

Sony headphonesFor Father’s Day I received a pair of Sony’s 900Mhz wireless headphones (MDR-RF960RK), a perfect companion to my home theater system. Now I can watch TiVo, or a movie, at a comfortable volume (i.e., loud!) without disturbing the rest of the house late at night, or when other people are in the common area reading, or doing other things besides watching what I’m watching.

The base stand connects to any audio device via either the standard (or mini) headphone jack, or standard left/right audio cable. The base also doubles as a charging stand for the headphones’ rechargeable batteries. The stand is “smart” enough only to broadcast its 900Mhz signal when an audio signal is detected, and the headphones only turn on when they’re on my head … very well designed. The headphones are padded and comfortable to wear and contain a volume dial on the right side. The left side contains the rechargeable batteries, but the headphones are still well balanced.

Logitech Cordless MX Duo

MX700Much as I loved my old Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro, it had been discontinued by Microsoft, and the media keys didn’t seem to work to well with the latest players. Also, it was white, and everyone knows that black (for computer accessories) is the new beige. So it was time for a change, and why not go wireless? I now have the Logitech Cordless MX Duo, a wireless keyboard/mouse combination, which also replaced my Microsoft Optical Trackball Explorer. The keyboard has (as most do nowadays) several programmable hotkey buttons and dedicated media keys. The mouse features a scroll wheel, forward/back buttons, continuous scroll up/down buttons, and includes a handy charging cradle (which also contains the wireless receiver).

Logitech also has a Bluetooth version of this package, but since I don’t have any other Bluetooth devices (except my iPAQ), I decided to save the extra money and stick with the 27Mhz wireless version.

Brother MFC-3820CN multi-function printer

Brother MFC-3820CNMy old Brother MFC-7150 multi-function (color printer, fax, scanner, copier) was starting to get old. I hadn’t used it as a printer in months, maybe even years (it was at least before I got my Epson C80). It was still doing duty as my scanner, but that was about it, and it was time for a change.

Ever since I put in the home network, I’ve wanted to be able to scan over the network, rather than having to have the scanner directly connected to only one PC, so I decided my next multi-function would have to have network support. After surveying the field, I chose the Brother MFC-3820CN. For under $200, you get a flatbed/sheetfed color scanner, copier, printer, and fax machine. It also has media card slots to allow for printing photos right off Compact Flash, Smart Media, etc. The built-in networking capability allows me to print, fax, or scan from any PC on the network, and you can even scan to e-mail! Very cool.

hp iPAQ h1945

hp iPAQI’m a long-time PDA user. I got my first Pilot 1000 back in 1996, then eventually upgraded to the Palm III. Over the summer of 2001 I left the Palm world for the Pocket PC, or Windows Mobile as it’s referred to now. My first iPAQ was the 3135 (black-and-white version) and then I inherited an older color 3760 model from a colleague.

Currently I have the hp iPAQ h1945, which is smaller and cooler than any PDA I’ve had before. The high-resolution, 64,000 color screen is still the best in the industry, it runs Windows Mobile 2003, and has built-in Bluetooth connectivity. The newer iPAQs forgo the old expansion sleeves (to add on Compact Flash support) for an integrated Smart Media slot (which I’ve never used, actually). This means I don’t really have a need for my IBM MicroDrive anymore, but oh well … it’s not the first time I’ve bought something for the “cool” factor and then never used it. 🙂

Netgear WGR614 wireless router

Netgear WGE-101I was getting frustrated with my first-generation Linksys wireless router, the BEFW4S11, that I had originally purchased back in 2001. All I needed was a good price on Amazon, coupled with a manufacturer rebate to convince me to get the Netgear WGR614 wireless router to replace it for just under $50.

The WGR is a wireless G router, which means I get a 54mbs connection from my Sony VAIO to the router, but all of my existing B devices (other PCs, the TiVo, etc.) connect at the lower 11mbs. As with any router now-a-days, it’s easily configurable through a web interface and has very nice management features. It’s also smaller, and only has one antenna, but my site survey of my house seems to suggest that it has the same range as the dual-antenna’ed Linksys device. So far I am much happier with it than I was with the BEFW4S11 and am slowing migrating all of my Linksys hardware to Netgear.

Hacking the TiVo

Hacking the TiVoLast Christmas (2002), I received a little black box called a TiVo and it totally changed the way I watch TV (I know, I sound like an ad, but it’s true!). Exactly one year ago today I posted to this blog about it.

Now, one year later, my TiVo is a little bit cooler. For Christmas this year I got William von Hagen’s “Hacking the TiVo” book. After reading it through, I was able to upgrade my 40hr Series2 unit to 140 hours by replacing the stock 40gb hard drive with a new 120gb one. Not bad for about a $100 upgrade and three hours of my time.

As always, the TiVo Community Forum is a great place to go for more information.

Canon PowerShot A70

Canon A70

Two-year olds and technology just don’t mix: my daughter recently dropped my Kodak DX3600 and broke it. After hearing from Kodak that I could either send it in along with $125 to repair it, or trade it in for a discount on a newer Kodak digicam, I decided to shop around and get a new camera altogether. Magazine and peer reviews convinced me to get the Canon PowerShot A70. Smaller than my Kodak (but heavier due to 4 AA batteries), this little guy packs a 3.2 megapixed CCD, 3x optical zoom, 5-point auto-focus, and all of the other normal functions you’d expect to find on today’s modern digital camera. It has 12 (!!) different shooting modes, which cover just about everything. When I’m daring enough, I can switch into manual mode to play with f/stops, shutter speeds, white balances, etc. If I don’t want to mess with that, I just leave it on auto. It also records movies (with sound) in AVI format, with a maximum resolution of 640×480.

One thing I do miss about the Kodak is the EasyShare docking system. It was great to drop the camera into the dock, press the button, and have the pictures transferred onto my PC. The Canon, despite its USB connection, doesn’t show up as another storage device in Windows Explorer, and requires some fiddling with the included software to transfer pictures. It does have a TWAIN driver though, which allows me to import the pictures directly into Paint Shop Pro for editing. Another missing piece: built-in memory. The Canon requires a CF card (the Kodak took CF cards, but also had 8mb of internal memory in case my cards got full or I forgot them altogether). Now that I’ve got a 128mb CF card in the camera, though, space shouldn’t be an issue.

Belkin Home Office UPS

Living in Florida means living with power outages, especially during the heat of summer or wild electrical storms. This convinced me to at least try out a UPS. I currently have a single Belkin Home Office UPS 650VA. In my informal testing, it’s kept the wireless router, cable modem, and Linux server running for about 20 minutes. It comes with Windows-compatible software drivers, which I don’t use, but I was able to use NUT (Network UPS Tools) on the Linux server to enable it to monitor the UPS via the serial connection and shut itself down when the battery gets low.