Planning Servers for FailurePlanning Servers for Failure
Sometimes computers fail. If you run enough computers then you encounter failures regularly. If the computers are important then you need to plan for the failure. An ideal situation is[...]
Some Tips for Shell Code that Won’t Destroy Your OSSome Tips for Shell Code that Won’t Destroy Your OS
When writing a shell script you need to take some care to ensure that it won’t run amok. Extra care is needed for shell scripts that run as root, firstly[...]
First Dead Disk of SummerFirst Dead Disk of Summer
Last night I was in the middle of checking my email when I found that clicking on a URL link wouldn’t work. It turned out that my web browser had[...]
Debian SSH and SE LinuxDebian SSH and SE Linux
I have just filed Debian bug report #556644 against the version of openssh-server in Debian/Unstable (Squeeze). Â It has a patch that moves the code to set the SE Linux context[...]
Backing up MySQLBacking up MySQL
I run a number of MySQL databases, the number of mysqld installations that I run is something like 8, but I may have forgotten some. With the number of servers[...]
What to do When You Break a ServerWhat to do When You Break a Server
Everyone who does any significant amount of sysadmin work will break a server. Most people who have any significant experience will have broken several. Anyone who has never broken one[...]
Links November 2009Links November 2009
Credit Writedowns has a populist interpretation of the latest Boom-Bust cycle [1]. It’s an interesting analysis of the way the US economy is working. Bono writes for the NY Times[...]
I’m an AspieI’m an Aspie
I’ve recently been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS) [1]. Among other things this means that I am genetically predisposed to have an interest in solving technical problems and give lectures[...]
New Play MachineNew Play Machine
Update: Thanks to Sven Joachim and Andrew Pollock for informing me about /etc/init.d/mountoverflowtmp which exists to mount a tmpfs named overflow if /tmp is full at boot time. It appears[...]
Exetel StupidityExetel Stupidity
Anand Kumria has an ongoing dispute with Exetel, the latest is that a director of Exetel has libeled him in a blog comment [1]. Having public flame-wars with customers generally[...]