Re: [GLLUG] Off the shelf "Smart Home" devices

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Thanks for the link to Home Assistant and information about what is likely to 
work, it appears to be exactly what is needed. I am not trying to control the 
world, mainly just one or two lights at first, although it is nice to be able 
to avoid systems that may not work. 

-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Off the shelf "Smart Home" devices

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
There are several brands of "Smart Home" devices available. Most can provide 
an "App" for a mobile phone, but I have not seen much evidence of 
interoperability. Are any recommended for use with Linux control software? Any 
links from the RaspberryPi series? Thanks for any information
-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Printer page layouts

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 17 January 2024 11:11:30 GMT John Southern via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi Chris,
> 
> The texlive-extra-util package may be able to help with the pdfjam and
> pdfbook2. You could pipe these together with the pdftk-java package which
> has a shuffle option.
> 
> Although I think something like LibreOffice Writer has all these options
> including the brochure print.
> 
> Regards
> John

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look again.
My old RiscPC was switched off about 10 years ago when I was being treated in 
hospital. I managed to survive and slowly recovered, the HDD never recovered.
Apparently RiscOS took over the Computer Concepts Impression series, so I am 
also looking at installing 
https://www.riscosopen.org/content
on to a replacement disk on my original RISCPC
There is even a version of RISCOS for the RaspberryPi.
A friend who does not know much about computers picked up a HDD that was 
ticking and not reaching operating speed. He turned it upside down and dropped 
some light oil on to the bearing, and a few days later it started working. I 
found it difficult to believe, but would be willing to try.

-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Printer page layouts

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
A long time ago now, I had a package for Acorn computers named Acorn Publisher 
which could adjust the printer whole-sheet layout for multiple pages on 
multiple sheets.
A friend working as a professional "jobber" printer would pass an individual 
file through a chain of processes using software running on multiple operating 
systems to adjust edge definition, colour balance, gamma, random noise, and 
perhaps select individual colours for Lithographic Masters, then finally Acorn 
Publisher would lay out pages so that the sheets could be guillotined and 
would appear in the correct order after binding. It worked with any original 
shape and size of sheet (perhaps A4, perhaps oversize A0+), to create any final 
shape and size ready for binding.
I used it to quickly and easily double-side print something like A6 pamphlets 
or instuction manuals on to A4, then I would cut the pages using a hand 
operated guillotine, and simply staple the result. It could place page 1 
inside or on the front, alongside the last page, with the centre pages 
together. If the printer could not print double sided it could print every 
other side of sheet, then turn the stack and print the other sides.
Is there anything that is able to do the same job in Linux/Debian?
Thanks for any info.
-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Using sftp with debian and KDE

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 20 September 2023 12:42:12 BST Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> Hello,
> My main box is still using debian 11. I have been using ftp / sftp for many
> years to transfer files between boxes connected via my own local networks,
> usually using KDE "konqueror" because firefox has tended to complain. I have
> recently found that both are now blocked, and konqueror claims that I have
> aborted the attempt and refuses to retry. I have also discovered that duck-
> duck-go now jumps in uninvited.
> I run dnsmasq on a local router, and bind9 is running on the same local
> network.
> I have also tested using boxes that have been re-installed with debian 12
> and KDE, and they are showing the same problem.
> All are happy to connect using SSH. I also need to connect to other
> legitimate sites such as my remote server.
> Can someone please explain what is going on?

All the boxes that I am attempt to connect using sftp through KDE Konqueror 
are currently connected using ssh, but konqueror is failing to open sftp, 
claiming that there is an authorization problem, yet it appears that firefox 
sftp is working at the moment.
I might try debian with a different desktop next time.

-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Using sftp with debian and KDE

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
My main box is still using debian 11. I have been using ftp / sftp for many 
years to transfer files between boxes connected via my own local networks, 
usually using KDE "konqueror" because firefox has tended to complain. I have 
recently found that both are now blocked, and konqueror claims that I have 
aborted the attempt and refuses to retry. I have also discovered that duck-
duck-go now jumps in uninvited.
I run dnsmasq on a local router, and bind9 is running on the same local 
network.
I have also tested using boxes that have been re-installed with debian 12 and 
KDE, and they are showing the same problem.
All are happy to connect using SSH. I also need to connect to other legitimate 
sites such as my remote server.
Can someone please explain what is going on?
-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Comments please

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Saturday, 22 July 2023 17:36:40 BST bap--- via GLLUG wrote:

> So here's a plan:
> 
> 1.Create an open-source healthcare discussion group.
> 2.Create an international standards body for backbone systems
> 3.Along with the NHS design and develop
> primary/secondary/tertiary healthcare management tools
> 
> a.To build a free-as-in-beer system for healthcare administration
> in the third-world
> b.Introduce more free-as-in-speech software to the NHS and
> government
> 
> 4.In a mutual backscratching exercise persuade the NHS to use
> their management and development resources to take over maintenance for
> some of the orphaned open-source utility and infrastructure projects.
> 5.By working with the NHS and third-world healthcare providers
> develop a consultancy arm of the NHS to co-ordinate international
> systems integration. Open-source by default.
> 6.By making the NHS the go-to people for large-scale healthcare
> systems position them as the obvious people to implement universal
> healthcare in the USA when the time is right
> 7.Make the NHS revenue-neutral.
> 
> 
> 
> Bernard Peek
> 
> 30 Rosemary Crescent, Wigan WN1 3XF
> 
>   b...@shrdlu.com

It might be a good time to start. I believe that a high proportion of IT staff 
in general would prefer to move to Free Open Source Software, but they are 
fighting against several generations of management whose education curriculum 
did not include how computers work, only how to use simple Microsoft end user 
programmes. I was introduced to Linux years ago by the IT person where I was 
based, but he told me he was not permitted to change anything, just follow the 
corporate instructions and keep fixing things as they went wrong. The 
curriculum has now been effectively reverted. The government is building a new 
high security data centre a few minutes walk from my house in West London, and 
plans to update its systems.
-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] IPv6 address allocation changes

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
>From www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-682
The minimum IPv6 address block allocated to end users is expected to be a /48.
The minimum IPv6 address allocation to an ISP is a /32, but they are only 
leased, and any block could be re-assigned at any time after 24 months to 
simplify overall allocations, so in effect all are dynamic addresses. This 
could affect huge numbers of networks and devices with various Times To Live. 
Would it be expected that any change should be instantaneous, or could both 
old and new allocations be accepted for a limited period? A change would not 
have noticeable affect for many users, but larger and more complex sites could 
be seriously affected.
Are applications expected to automatically accept a random change to the first 
few (up to 48) bits but keep the following bits up to the standard /64 to 
retain a possibly huge network structure? Should the first 64 bits be 
automatically re-calculated as a precaution?

-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Roll-out of FTTP / FTTH

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 12 April 2023 15:06:39 BST Peter Grant via GLLUG wrote:
> Analogue telephone switch off isn't the same as removing usage of copper
> lines for data provision. Via A, I have a copper line with data provision
> but not telephone, at first as a specific provision from them but now a
> standard option from Openreach for new orders.
> It just means that the line has no dial tone and cannot be used to place or
> receive calls at all, even emergency numbers. If I want a "landline" phone
> number that can be called, it has to be via a VoIP service of some sort.

Hello Peter,
Your exchange may have an earlier "stop sell" date. I assume that you will 
move to FTTP as soon as it is available. However the intention is to remove 
and scrap all the copper as soon as it is no longer required.
I used to work as an outside broadcast engineer and we used to get temporary 
connections which were a mix of any old pairs available, usually not amplified, 
including some phantom or super-phantom circuits as available. We had our own 
power supplies and ringer generators. 
> 
> My area is down to receive FTTP by December 2026, rollout in progress. No
> idea when I'll get it, but I really hope soon, as I don't even have the
> option in my block to use Virgin, only physical media provider is Openreach
> at the moment. No indication that either Community Fibre or Hyperoptic is
> looking at my block any time soon, so I suspect Openreach will be my only
> option for a long while.
> Peter

You may find more information on the map provided by thinkbroadband.com

-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Roll-out of FTTP / FTTH

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
A fresh look at the FTTP/FTTH progress map on the openreach.com website 
indicates that many areas previously shown as complete are now listed as still 
being connected, and some not expected to be completed until over a year after 
the analogue copper telephone system was due to be switched off. Is there a 
shortage of manpower, fibre, or hardware? Perhaps just over optimistic 
politicians? My house is in a small line of terrace blocks sandwiched between 
a major road and a cemetery within one of the areas not listed at all, while 
communityfibre.co.uk tell me that they do plan to provide FTTH, but not any 
time soon. Much of their local installation work is being done by Kelly 
Communications, who are also major contractors for Openreach.
-- 
Chris Bell
www.chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] An obscure VOIP problem

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Saturday, 8 October 2022 17:48:28 BST John Winters via GLLUG wrote:
> On 08/10/2022 17:38, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> [snip]
> 
> > Almost everything works fine except when dialling a telephone number that
> > requires a subsequent button press to select the required service. This
> > always works or always fails, depending on the destination.
> > She has a new Siemens Gigaset C570HX handset, C575A DECT base station,
> 
> I use Gigaset stuff for VoIP and the button stuff seems to work fine.
> There are settings in the base station (under advanced VoIP settings) to
> tweak relating to this.  You are right in assuming that they are
> transmitted digitally and not as tones.
> 
> As always, using Andrews and Arnold will save you a world of pain.
> 
> Cheers,
> John

I am suspicious that the problem is due to the dialled number (in this case 
the local ASDA supermarket) not registering the brief DTMF, and needing a 
replacement for their old PABX.
I am not sure which way we are heading with VOIP.  It seems to me that we do 
not need a fully working top quality DNS system as well as a telephone 
numbering system. Businesses could arrange as many different direct dial 
systems as they need for their services, with no requirements for subsequent 
button presses.
OpenReach do not have a schedule for installing FTTP In this area, and there 
is no choice of supplier because it is cost effective for a single supplier to 
cable an entire local area. Some huge tower blocks are getting Hyperoptic, a 
large nearby business area gets ITS Technology,  while residential areas are 
getting CommunityFibre.co.uk. You can get a different supplier, but the cost is 
prohibitive.
CommunityFibre offer a basic internet connection with all dynamic addresses and 
a very restricted optional residential VOIP service, and the choice is between 
that and arranging an independent VOIP supplier, more than most of their 
customers are able to cope with. Many of the alternatives aim to provide a 
full business class service, probably way beyond their capabilities and needs.
I purchased a Gigaset N300A DECT base station with analogue and VOIP 
capabilities for myself, even though I do not expect FTTH here any time soon, 
and may eventually have to get another for my sister.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] An obscure VOIP problem

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
My sister has direct FTTH with an Analogue Telephone Adapter provided by 
CommunityFibre.co.uk. She has dynamic IPv4 and dynamic IPv6 addresses.
Almost everything works fine except when dialling a telephone number that 
requires a subsequent button press to select the required service. This always 
works or always fails, depending on the destination.
She has a new Siemens Gigaset C570HX handset, C575A DECT base station, plus a 
pre-configured Grandstream HT801 Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) supplied by 
CommunityFibre.co.uk. There is a continuous internet data link from the ATA 
indicated by flashing LED's, but I do not know how the system sends the 
original DTMF. There is a suggestion that the DTMF might be converted and sent 
as digital codes by the ATA instead of audio tones, and converted back before 
being passed on to the current Public Service Telephone Network (Plain Old 
Telephone System, POTS), and might suffer corruption if the original DTMF is 
not completely removed first. The Siemens Gigaset equipment probably meets the 
precise DTMF requirements, but I have no control over the current VOIP system 
or the destination PABX.
We are both long since retired and would prefer not to pay much higher charges 
for a business class connection, but I may have to choose a different VOIP 
supplier who can still retain her original telephone number.
Any information and suggestions welcome. Thanks.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Direct Fibre To The House

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 29 August 2022 16:54:12 BST aidangcole--- via GLLUG wrote:
> On 29/08/2022 15:08, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > On Monday, 29 August 2022 13:40:54 BST aidangcole--- via GLLUG wrote:
> >> Would using Headscale / Tailscale simply solve this without all the
> >> routing hassle and admin ?

> 
> Tailscale/Headscale would not solve any ISP connection issues.
> That said, it uses it's own private address space (both v4 and v6)
> allowing you to just ignore what the ISP is doing.
> Basically, it's a creative and very functional way to use Wireguard and
> IMHO it's worth looking at and learning.
> https://tailscale.com/
> https://github.com/juanfont/headscale

I can have a look.
At the moment I just have basic FTTC with a single static IPv4 address.
A domestic FTTH would cost less than half what I am paying now.
If I end up with a dynamic IPv6 address block my system would need to 
automatically confirm the current prefix frequently. I could route everything 
through an external static address or domain, but would need to pay extra for 
the data transfer, so it may be cheaper to pay around five or more times the 
domestic price for a basic commercial connection.
I am well past retirement and not running a business, so am reluctant to pay a 
premium when RIPE.net say that there is no shortage of IPv6 addresses, and 
providers should always supply a static address block.
I am not responsible for the current general lack of education, and do not 
consider it to be a valid reason why it should hinder future progress when IT 
and computing are now a part of the curriculum. Yes, many kids are more 
capable than their parents, and would like to do more than I can dream of.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Direct Fibre To The House

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 29 August 2022 13:40:54 BST aidangcole--- via GLLUG wrote:

> Would using Headscale / Tailscale simply solve this without all the
> routing hassle and admin ?

Sorry, not understood. I have had to use port forwarding over a single IPv4 
address together with careful firewalling to do anything.
An assigned static IPv6 block was designed to sort many problems and also 
reduce the need for customer support if there is any local neighbourhood 
distribution problem which could cause loss of lock, and re-assign all local 
addresses together. I have already needed to power cycle my sister's 
connection twice. FTTH is available to the entire estate, but there have not 
been many customer connections yet. I understand that some people have seen 
too many reports of problems associated with the analogue telephone 
replacement system provided.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Direct Fibre To The House

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 29 August 2022 13:08:07 BST Martin A. Brooks via GLLUG wrote:
> On 2022-08-29 12:33, Andy Smith via GLLUG wrote:
> > I would expect most domestic broadband to come with non-static IPv6,
> > yes.
> > For no other reason than that a static v6 assignment is useful to a
> > minority, and therefore worth charging extra for.
> 
> Speaking for two ISPs I use, Zen and AA, both allocate static IPv6
> blocks by default at no additional cost.

Although they are both more expensive than the offer from CommunityFibre.co.uk.
You are allowed to choose the data rate and whether to accept their VOIP 
telephone replacement system, but nothing else. They do not provide any kind 
of email system.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Direct Fibre To The House

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 29 August 2022 12:33:20 BST Andy Smith via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi Chris,

> 
> If you don't like the v6 addresses on your LAN changing you can use
> a network from ULA space¹ with a default gateway out to the v6
> Internet for any other destination.
> 
> Cheers,
> Andy
> 
> ¹ https://blog.apnic.net/2020/05/20/getting-ipv6-private-addressing-right/

I have always had a static IPv4 address but no assigned IPv6 block, and my 
system has been using that kind of local network addressing system behind a 
firewall for ages. It does not enable reliable direct remote monitoring of CCTV 
and security systems installed by other family members. I used to run my own 
websites, with local routing through the firewall, now provided externally 
after problems arranging CA certificates. I had hoped that many problems could 
be solved by static IPv6 addressing.
Schools are now teaching IT and computing, and remote control systems are 
becoming popular, but not when the dynamic address could change at any time.
A current general lack of  education should not be a permanent block.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Direct Fibre To The House

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
BT have no scheduled plans to bring FTTP to many areas, including the west 
London area where I live, but coverage is being offered by other suppliers. It 
is cost effective to connect entire specific areas, which results in little 
choice of supplier. My house is in a small isolated line of terrace blocks 
sandwiched between a busy main road and a mainly industrial area, and I have 
been told that CommunityFibre.co.uk plan to provide a service eventually, but 
with no estimate on when.
My sister has domestic FTTH with VOIP telephone replacement provided by 
CommunityFibre.co.uk which includes a dynamic /48 IPv6 and an IPv4 over IPv6 
tunnel. The Linksys Velop WiFi unit supplied (Cisco sold the brand name to 
Belkin) then distributes just the first /64. The Analogue Telephone Adapter 
(ATA) stops if more than one telephone is connected, so several old phones had 
to be replaced by a new DECT system. There are no restrictions on incoming 
telephone calls, but outgoing is limited to only non-premium UK destinations. 
The fibre connection has been almost faultless but has required total power 
cycles to restore connection on two occasions, and there have been three 
different IPv6 prefix blocks in less than 6 months. Commercial customers pay a 
much higher price but get a very different set of terms and conditions. I am 
long since retired, and not running a business.
RIPE.net published their "Best Current Operational Practice" for providers 
requesting a static /48 for all, or a minimum static /54.
There are many full fibre suppliers, so is this the normal for UK domestic 
customers? Many domestic customers have no idea about IP addressing, and are 
used to having a single dynamic IPv4 and NAT. An IPv6 dynamic /48 allocation 
appears to me to make no sense, but introduces direct access restrictions 
affecting security monitoring, CA certification, etc. Are other VOIP providers 
able to connect a dynamic address?
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Read only?

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Tuesday, 24 May 2022 17:36:59 BST Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> On Tuesday, 24 May 2022 17:05:35 BST James Dutton via GLLUG wrote:
> > There are some SD cards that can have the CID reset. If you know what you
> > need it set to, you can maybe set it.
> > You used to be able to do it with Samsung EVO Plus 32GB MicroSDHC cards.
> > https://github.com/beaups/SamsungCID
> > 
> > 
> > Kind Regards
> > 
> > James
> 
> This one was supplied by RaspberryPi with software installed and a
> RaspberryPi logo on the front as part of a kit. I have a small number, and
> all fail the diagnostics speed test in a model 3B+. I do have some uses in
> model 2B's, or as simple storage, but I now buy best versions from Samsung
> or SanDisk.

It seems the MicroSD card is dead. I tried hdparm on a laptop with a real 
internal SD-MMC reader and it told me it is write protected. I tried

/dev/mmcblk0:
 readonly  =  1 (on)
 readahead = 256 (on)
 geometry  = 490976/4/16, sectors = 31422464, start = 0

 hdparm -r 0 /dev/mmcblk0

/dev/mmcblk0:
 setting readonly to 0 (off)
 readonly  =  0 (off)

hdparm /dev/mmcblk0

/dev/mmcblk0:
 readonly  =  0 (off)
 readahead = 256 (on)
 geometry  = 490976/4/16, sectors = 31422464, start = 0
 
but it still refused to accept a write, and a re-seat showed

/dev/mmcblk0:
 readonly  =  1 (on)
 readahead = 256 (on)
 geometry  = 490976/4/16, sectors = 31422464, start = 0

The original partions and files are still there, and do not appear to be 
corrupted.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Read only?

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Tuesday, 24 May 2022 17:05:35 BST James Dutton via GLLUG wrote:

> 
> There are some SD cards that can have the CID reset. If you know what you
> need it set to, you can maybe set it.
> You used to be able to do it with Samsung EVO Plus 32GB MicroSDHC cards.
> https://github.com/beaups/SamsungCID
> 
> 
> Kind Regards
> 
> James

This one was supplied by RaspberryPi with software installed and a RaspberryPi 
logo on the front as part of a kit. I have a small number, and all fail the 
diagnostics speed test in a model 3B+. I do have some uses in model 2B's, or 
as simple storage, but I now buy best versions from Samsung or SanDisk.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Read only?

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 23 May 2022 23:05:28 BST Carles Pina i Estany via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Try hdparm -r 0 [device] before partitioning.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
Thanks, I think that has worked before, but this time it appears to have 
actually died. I have now twice tried the above command for the whole device 
and each partition separately, followed by fdisk, then mkfs for a single 
partition, then an attempt to dd fresh data to the device, and it still shows 
the original two partitions and the original data. None of the above showed 
any error message, all appeared normal. I will try again later using a laptop 
which has a known working internal SD card reader rather than a USB plug-in.


-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Read only?

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 23 May 2022 18:32:32 BST Andy McGarty via GLLUG wrote:
> If using an adaptor does it have the write protect tab moved? I've
> sometimes moved it when taking cards out my camera.
> 
> Andy
I was trying to re-partition several cards at the same time, and all others 
were OK. I have had similar problems before, but they were usually eventually 
fixed using standard methods, then they happily worked on.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Read only?

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 23 May 2022 17:58:45 BST John Winters via GLLUG wrote:
> You could try dd'ing a few blocks from /dev/zero onto it.

Tried that, but it tells me device is read only. Either it has been corrupted 
or is actually dead. I have also tried the normal fdisk, etc. What I do not 
know is what happens if a partition is deliberately set to read only.


-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Read only?

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
I have a MicroSD card that has been used in a RaspbrryPi that appears to have 
been corrupted in an attempt to re-use it, and now shows as read only. No 
great monetary value, but I could not find any software that appears able to 
re-partition any device, whatever its value, once set to read only. Is that 
correct, or is this just a dead device?
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Rocky Linux on HP ML350G6 - Motherboard failure??

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Sunday, 15 May 2022 13:37:10 BST Ken Smith via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi All, This might seem a bit of an off the wall question. Would running
> the 5.4 Kernel stress a system such that it could cause a motherboard
> failure? I can't think how but.
> 
> 
> Any pearls of wisdom either about my question or about recovering a
> miscreant ML350 motherboard that won't boot anything or go into the
> setup pages.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Ken

Hello Ken,
I had a very lightly loaded ML150 running last year when suddenly it totally 
stopped (but without any permanent damage) when the ambient room temperature 
reached its maximum working temperature.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Update was Re: Information please about FTTH/FTTP

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Thursday, 31 March 2022 12:23:30 BST James Roberts via GLLUG wrote:

> > PS They have a chat facility on the website. I got most of that info
> > form their tech guy who seemed very competent. If you ask tech questions
> > sales will pass you to tech.
> > 
> > MeJ

It was even easier when I helped an elderly friend between Pimlico and 
Westminster because it was a warm day, their door was open just across the 
road in Page Street, and they were able to give immediate advice. He is now 
delighted to be viewing the output of a RaspberryPi on his 40 inch TV at 97.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Emails

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 30 March 2022 21:08:47 BST John Winters via GLLUG wrote:
> On 30/03/2022 16:15, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> [snip]
> 
> > I do need to refer to old emails. I do not want to have to re-boot from
> > debian 11 bullseye into debian 10 buster every time I need to refer back.
> > There must be a better system that can save, index, and retain old mail
> > across different versions. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.
> 
> Store your e-mails on a server - either your own or someone else's - and
> access them with your IMAP client of choice.  They will then be readily
> available on every system which you choose to use.
> 
> HTH
Thanks for the reply. It does seem that many more tools are available to 
handle IMAP backups, copying, syncing, etc, rather than relying on a single 
provider that tries to do everything itself in-house.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Emails

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
I have been using email for many years, recently using kmail on debian 10 
buster, kde, and now debian 11 bullseye, kde, with kmail which dumps new mail 
as local mail. Both versions come with their own export/import system, and I 
end up with an incomplete copy of the previous configuration which then 
requires re-editing, and a dump of the previous emails in a totally different 
location, and does not provide effective access. I can see the location, the 
emails appear to be there as cur, new, or tmp, under various folder names, but 
there is no index available.
I do need to refer to old emails. I do not want to have to re-boot from debian 
11 bullseye into debian 10 buster every time I need to refer back.
There must be a better system that can save, index, and retain old mail across 
different versions. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Hello, a homeuse case question (old EeePC)

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Thursday, 24 March 2022 20:50:44 GMT MJ via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi,
> My Phenom MOBO went kaput, PSU + PCU or MOBO duno/
> 
> NOW only hardware daily I have is EeePC for emails, but everithing is
> Slooow. My last kernel compile was Pentium 450Mhz running Mandrake, in
> late 90ties. Would specific kernel compile specific to EeeePC improve
> speed, or is this mostly bloated desktop even LXDE?
> 
> Thanks

For a quick test of a standard "Intel" style PSU, disconnect all outputs 
including the motherboard. Supply power and the fan should not spin. 
Disconnect the power input, then insert a special tool (a U-shaped piece of 
wire cut from a  standard paper clip) into the large multi-way connector that 
normally supplies the motherboard so that it shorts the green wire to a black 
(0v) wire. Apply mains power and the fan should spin. It may make an initial 
noise indicating that the fan bearing needs oil, if so peel the adhesive label 
from the fan bearing, drop in some high quality oil (I am using oil designed 
for car automatic gearboxes), and re-cover the bearing.
The main PSU fan can also be oiled, it can usually be removed from the 
heatsink without removing the heatsink from the main processor which would 
then require a clean and fresh thermal paste.
I try to do that kind of mechanical maintenance when I shut down for a major 
software update.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Hello, a homeuse case question (old EeePC)

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Thursday, 24 March 2022 22:27:48 GMT James Dutton via GLLUG wrote:
> 
> A Raspberry Pi is more like less that 5W, so even more power money is saved.
> 
> Kind Regards
> 
> James

Last November I ordered two RaspberryPi 4B's, each with 8GB on-board RAM 
because they can not be updated later, from CPC.Farnell.com. The latest 
estimated delivery date is after 24th November 2022.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Information please about FTTH/FTTP

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 25 February 2022 16:24:53 GMT James Roberts via GLLUG wrote:
> Chris, they have just done my street. I am interested.
> 
> I don't have full info, but:
> 
> - they do dual fibre to the premises with (according to a fibre optic
> guy on a forum) decent termination into the media box
> 
> - they supply a modem with RJ45
> 
> - they supply a Linksys mesh wifi thingy to plug in to that, something
> else on the fastest speeds as it can't do 3Gbps
> 
> - there's no problem plugging the modem into a firewall instead but they
> don't tech support that
> 
> - they use CGNAT on services below 300Mbps so no port forwarding or
> services going out
> 
> - it's fully symmetrical
> 
> That's all I know so far. Applies to my area (NW10 xxx), I suppose it
> might vary in different areas
> 
> MeJ

Hello John,
I am in W3, so very close to you. My 97 year old friend lives in a basement 
flat very close to the registered address for CommunityFibre, and they were 
quite helpful when he was connected, but his requirements were simple, he just 
wanted it to work.


-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Information please about FTTH/FTTP

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello
CommunityFibre.co.uk are using BT ducts to feed multicore distribution fibres 
near both my house and my sister's house, and I understand that they will 
eventually offer FTTH/FTTP, but they have not replied to my requests for 
connection information, while they provide little information on their 
website.

I understand (from seeing what an elderly friend has been given) that they 
will probably supply a small wall mounted box which converts from fibre to 
ethernet cable and must be powered, plus a small Linksys WiFi unit which must 
also be powered. There will be a dynamic 192.168.x.x IPv4 address and a static 
/48 IPv6 prefix. The Linksys WiFi will have a single ethernet input and a 
single ethernet output. If a SIP telephone adapter is also supplied it is 
expected to be connected to the Linksys output.

Where are the IPv4 dynamic and IPv6 /48 addresses extracted, and where can I 
insert a local firewall-router or unmanaged switch? Must it be after the 
Linksys, or can I insert my own firewall-router or a local (unmanaged) switch 
immediately after the fibre termination to allow cables to be routed separate 
from the Linksys, or not even connect the Linksys? I do not use WiFi at home, 
although WiFi is currently in use at my sister's house, where the best WiFi 
location is not the best distribution point for wired access.

Thanks for any information.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] basic IPv6 questions

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 20:12:46 BST Carles Pina i Estany via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi Andy,
> 
> On Oct/03/2021, Andy Smith via GLLUG wrote:
> > On Sun, Oct 03, 2021 at 02:57:51PM +0200, Carles Pina i Estany via GLLUG 
wrote:
> > > I have a Raspberry pi connected to a BT router that recently has
> > > "switched" to ipv6 only (yay?!). This is helping me to test a Gandi
> > > server ipv6 configuration.
> > 
> > > Raspberry pi: /sbin/ifconfig eth0:
> > First of all you should get into the habit of using "ip address" and
> > "ip route" commands instead of "ifconfig" and "route".
> 
> [...]
> 
> > So, I understand that there may be a muscle memory issue with
> 
> I have solved some muscle memory with "alias" :-)
> 
> Not an excuse, you are 100% right, just for a Sunday laugh:
> 
> I have human parsing issues! I read the output of "ifconfig" and "route"
> without any effort. I need some effort for the output of "ip a", "ip r"
> and I miss some parameters sometimes.
> 
> It's about 20 years that I moved from "pine" to "mutt" and I still use
> "p" to start "mutt":
> carles@pinux:~$ alias p
> alias p='LANG=en_GB.UTF8 mutt'
> carles@pinux:~$
> 
> (my system's locale is in Catalan but I prefer mutt in English)
> 
> I've followed with interest your email (THANKS EVER SO MUCH!). I'll add
> some comments in some places with some small question or for me to
> confirm that I understood some parts correctly...
> 
> > immediately reaching for "ifconfig" etc — I experienced the same
> > myself and still do with some of the "netstat" replacements — but
> > there's nothing to be done about that except try to learn the new
> > tools!
> > 
> > > eth0: flags=4163  mtu 1500
> > > 
> > > inet6 fe80::56d8:5a6c:fc11:16f1  prefixlen 64  scopeid
> > > 0x20
> > > inet6 2a00:23c6:2c01:b801:2817:ffe3:d3aa:5d8c  prefixlen 64 
> > > scopeid 0x0 ether b8:27:eb:b0:9d:76  txqueuelen 1000 
> > > (Ethernet)
> > > 
> > > Gandi server: /sbin/ifconfig eth0:
> > > eth0: flags=4163  mtu 1500
> > > 
> > > inet 213.167.241.144  netmask 255.255.254.0  broadcast
> > > 213.167.241.255
> > > inet6 2001:4b98:dc2:53:216:3eff:fe82:b1fb  prefixlen 64  scopeid
> > > 0x0 inet6 fe80::216:3eff:fe82:b1fb  prefixlen 64 
> > > scopeid 0x20
> > > ether 00:16:3e:82:b1:fb  txqueuelen 1000  (Ethernet)
> > > 
> > > -inet6 2a00 and 2001 ipv6 addresses: they are global ipv6 routeable from
> > > 
> > >  the internet (google.com is 20aa:..., dns.google is 2001:...).
> > 
> > Yes.
> 
> As said below by you and thanks to "sipcalc 2000::/3":
> Anything from 2000::::::: to
> 3fff::::::: belongs to the global unicast
> addresses.
> 
> > >  by the DHCP server of each network (or static configuration).
> > 
> > Yes, although dynamic IPv6 configuration is more often done by
> > StateLess Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC) rather than DHCP. SLAAC
> 
> I suspect that 20 years ago I studied this at uni. Sadly I've forgotten
> many things and I think that we never did a hands on setting up of an
> ipv6 network :-(
> 
> > works through announcements by the network segment's router(s)
> > telling devices on that network segment which addresses they can
> > choose and what their default gateway should be.
> > 
> > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv6_address#Stateless_address_autoconfi
> > guration
> I've read also the linked (and specially the first two paragraphs):
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighbor_Discovery_Protocol
> 
> If the Raspberry pi + BT router used SLAAC is this more or less what
> happens?
> -Raspberry pi sends a broadcast using NDP probably type "Router
> Solicitation (Type 133)"
> (https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4861.html#section-4.1)
> -Router probably answers with a "Router Advertisement (Type 134)"
> (https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4861.html#section-4.2)
> 
> The Router Advertisement includes the IP of the router (in the "Source
> Address"?)
> 
> > DHCPv6 does exist though so it is possible that this is used in
> > addition or instead of SLAAC.
> 
> good to know!
> 
> When I had to setup a Linux box in a LAN I sometimes use
> isc-dhcp-server. If I wanted to setup ipv6 devices with SLAAC: what
> would be the way to go?
> 
> For example, the last time that I had to do this I used isc-dhcp-server
> for very basic things like:
> -Setup the DNS of the clients
> -For some of the clients a static assigned IP (e.g. host with MAC
> address X is always the IP Y)
> -Setup the gateway of the clients (some clients didn't have a gateway,
> some had a gateway)
> 
> Is this something that could be done using SLAAC? Or should be done with
> a DHCPv6 server?
> 
> > > -Any difference between 2a00 and 2001? Any other addresses like this?
> > 
> > They are conceptually as similar as 12.0.0.0/8 and 185.0.0.0/8 in
> > IPv4m, for example. Just different globally routable address blocks.
> > Out of the entire 128-bit space of IPv6 addresses, 

Re: [GLLUG] scam phone call

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

So a 13 digit number is possible?

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] scam phone call

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
I have received a scam telephone call to my landline and caller display shows 
the caller as 0031625679475, a 13 digit number. Is this likely to be a genuine 
number from something like an IP digital phone? My sister has received several 
similar calls with long numbers starting with 003
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] IT does cost

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 11 August 2021 14:07:17 BST Iain M Conochie via GLLUG wrote:

> 
> heh heh heh. After 2 years working for a European wide hosting company
> in the early 2000's, I had 3 maxims:
> 
> Evolution, not Revolution
> Strategy, not Tactics
> No is a positive word
> 
> Cheers!
> 
> Iain
> 
Do you expect, and get, suitable documentation? I have heard that is not 
always the case.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] IT does cost

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 6 August 2021 12:05:43 BST Marco van Beek via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi Chris,

Hello Marco,
> 
> Thirdly, open source software comes with no warranty, and that scares
> civil servants who want someone else to blame.
> 
What warranty comes with Microsoft other than you can pay someone to look at 
the problem?
> 
> Oh dear, this seems to have turned into a rant...
> 
Perhaps more people should submit their opinions and hopefully be heard.

> :-) Marco
> 
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] IT does cost

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58085316
is an article about the £2.3bn government spend on patching old computers and 
systems compared with the £4.7bn total government IT spend. There are also 
several comments below.
I do not know how much is spent on desktop system replacement, but there is an 
argument raging about the security aspects and costs of writing replacement or 
upgraded software systems.
There is one comment about existing specialised hardware such as an MRI 
scanner built by a company that no longer exists but would be extremely 
expensive to replaced, (although replacement FOSS may already exist).
I am not a developer, but would be interested in the implications and costs of 
writing and maintaining government software systems using Free Open Source 
Software compared with Microsoft.
I assume that high level languages could be used, and I know what I would 
prefer, but that does not always convince the decision makers who are probably 
not IT experts.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] IPv6 addresses

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 19 July 2021 13:40:28 BST Tim Woodall via GLLUG wrote:

> 
> Ah, yes. I misread the OP.
> 
> https://community.bt.com/t5/Archive-Staging/IPV6-Settings/td-p/1699523
> and
> https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2016/11/bt-broadband-lines-now-support
> -ipv6-internet-addresses.html
> 
> Seems to suggest that you should get a /56. Does the OP get a /64 from
> the same /56 each time or is it a different /56 each time?

I have re-checked, and the IPv6 address appears to have settled, and that 
could be true, although I am unable to check at the moment. So far I am not 
sure about DNS
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] IPv6 addresses

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Sunday, 18 July 2021 11:03:06 BST John Winters via GLLUG wrote:
> On 18/07/2021 10:33, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> [snip]
> 
> > Is there a cost involved in providing a static address, or are UK
> > customers
> > considered to be incapable of safely using a static address? Perhaps it
> > just allows them to charge extra for a "business" broadband.
> 
> Back in the days of dial-up, providing a fixed IP address was quite a
> hard problem to solve, given that each time you dialled in you almost
> certainly came in on a different modem/port.  Most ISPs simply assigned
> an IP address to each port and thus that's what you got.  Demon went to
> a lot of trouble to switch the routing around for each customer and thus
> give you a static address.

Yes, I joined Demon dial-up, but obtained my own domain name then left when 
they were sold.
> 
> I suspect that that problem no longer exists, so it's probably just a
> mechanism to differentiate between cheaper and more expensive packages
> anyway.
> 
> Just another reason not to use BT as an ISP.  Go to a serious provider
> and save yourself infinite amounts of hassle.
> 
> John

I paid a single one-off £5.00 for a static IPv4 address but no IPv6 from 
Plusnet (now owned by BT), but am less bothered now as my websites and
emails are handled by Mythic-Beasts, with CA certificates, and a low total cost 
including the Plusnet charges.

A friend living in a Grosvenor Estate flat in Westminster is now delighted to 
have the output of a RaspberryPi on his 40 inch TV with full fibre to the flat 
provided by CommunityFibre at £24.00, less an agreed discount because he is 
96. He has a 192.168.0.0/16 address but I have yet to discover whether his 
IPv6 address is actually static.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] IPv6 addresses

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On 16th October 2017 RIPE published their "Best Current Operational Practice 
for Operators: IPv6 prefix assignment for end-users - persistent vs non-
persistent, and what size to choose". Their recommendation was that ISP's 
should issue a permanent static 48-bit prefix (/48) to every customer, so that 
their customers could add another 16-bits to enable multiple separate /64 
local networks, leaving 64 binary bits to identify each network device, with 
all the address bits visible on the internet without NAT. If this appeared 
wasteful they pointed out that if every human on earth was allocated a /48 
block and none were recovered then there would be enough to last around 480 
years.
My sister has a relatively new domestic BT broadband connection. The IPv4 
address was expected to be dynamic despite BT claiming to have sufficient IPv4 
addresses, while the IPv6 address so far has had a static /48 but dynamic /64. 
Is there a cost involved in providing a static address, or are UK customers 
considered to be incapable of safely using a static address? Perhaps it just 
allows them to charge extra for a "business" broadband.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Networking standards

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Tuesday, 27 April 2021 10:59:49 BST Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> On Tuesday, 27 April 2021 10:41:17 BST Marco van Beek via GLLUG wrote:
> > Given that you can now get 10Gb/s over cable and 10GB switches off the
> > shelf reasonably affordable (at least affordable when compared to the
> > same in fibre), I think that the only reason at the moment to use fibre
> > is distance unless you have a very specific requirement. My guess is
> > that by the time 10Gb/s speeds becomes common and needed, we will have a
> > 100Gb/s over copper standard. Fibre is too brittle for day to day use in
> > a workplace.
> > 
> > Cheers,
> > 
> > Marco.
> 
> Hello Marco,
> Another problem would be making efficient terminations, while I assume that
> eventually optical plastics will be available for use over shorter distances
> which could be more able to withstand abuse.

Farnell.com list shorter distance optical polymer cables from several 
suppliers which are claimed to be robust and easy to terminate, together with 
single, twin, latching, and non-latching connectors, but is there an 
interconnection standard? The original IBM "Personal Computer" was thrown 
together using a number of parts available off the shelf, and they were adopted 
as standards. Perhaps it is still too early for a new standard to be accepted.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website https://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Networking standards

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Tuesday, 27 April 2021 10:41:17 BST Marco van Beek via GLLUG wrote:
> Given that you can now get 10Gb/s over cable and 10GB switches off the
> shelf reasonably affordable (at least affordable when compared to the
> same in fibre), I think that the only reason at the moment to use fibre
> is distance unless you have a very specific requirement. My guess is
> that by the time 10Gb/s speeds becomes common and needed, we will have a
> 100Gb/s over copper standard. Fibre is too brittle for day to day use in
> a workplace.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Marco.
> 
Hello Marco,
Another problem would be making efficient terminations, while I assume that 
eventually optical plastics will be available for use over shorter distances 
which could be more able to withstand abuse. 
-- 
Chris Bell
Website https://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Networking standards

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
Standard local networking rates have been faster than connections to the 
internet for many years, but fibre is slowly being laid around the UK so the 
internet is starting to catch up. I assume that sooner or later local 
networking will move on from Cat 5 or Cat 6 to all local fibre networks, 
prompted by whatever equipment suppliers choose as a standard. Is there any 
sign of this happening, and which standards are being considered?
I have been viewing websites such as millsltd.com and farnell.com, both able 
to supply multiple varieties of fibre and connectors, but I am interested to 
know about any prospective standard, rather than which hardware might be 
available to adapt between different types.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website https://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] SMS text scam warning

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Monday, 26 April 2021 14:45:54 BST you wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I received the classic post office scam sms message.
> I forwarded it to 7726, and to be fair, the web site was taken down
> fairly quickly.
> 
> Kind Regards
> 
> James
> I woul hope that they were able to do rather more than just take the website 
down. Unfortunately a very high proportion of the junk I have received appears 
to point directly to Russia.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website https://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] SMS text scam warning

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
bbc.co.uk/news/technology have relayed a warning from GCHQ about huge numbers 
of messages sent to UK mobile phones claiming that there is a parcel on its 
way, please download the "app" to get tracking details. It is nothing to do 
with a parcel, the "app" is spyware aimed mainly at Android phones.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website https://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] How to repair an unallocated hard drive?

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Saturday, 10 April 2021 12:54:01 BST Mark Preston via GLLUG wrote:

> Regards,
> 
> Mark Preston

That looks like hard work!
I am currently trying to work out how I am going to upgrade several old boxes 
to Debian 11 "Bullseye" which it seems should be released soon, most have 
space reserved, plus a few using derivatives of Debian which should follow 
soon afterwards.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website https://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Using IPv6 addresses with Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 12 March 2021 10:15:04 GMT John Winters via GLLUG wrote:
> On 11/03/2021 15:14, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > Hello,
> > IPv6 is designed so that a single address can be allocated to multiple
> > interfaces, for example in a round-robin, and a single interface can have
> > multiple addresses.
> > I am using Debian 10 Buster on various computers including RaspberryPi and
> > find that I can manually add addresses to a running computer, but if I
> > attempt to configure multiple addresses only the last is accepted, and
> > all but one is lost after a reboot.
> 
> I've found various ways of configuring additional IPv6 addresses on
> Raspbian / Debian Buster.  It depends to a large extent on whether it's
> headless or using a graphical desktop - where there are desktop client
> components which want to get involved.
> 
> On a plain (headless) Raspbian system, what I did was to edit
> /etc/dhcpcd.conf and added the following two lines at the end:
> 
> interface eth0
> static ip6_address=2001::4001/64
> 
> That causes dhcpcd to allocate that one in addition to the one it
> calculates from the MAC address.
> 
> On another headless Raspberry Pi, but running plain Debian Buster (not
> Raspbian) I put the following in /etc/network/interfaces.d/eth0
> 
> auto eth0
> allow-hotplug eth0
> iface eth0 inet dhcp
> 
> iface eth0 inet6 static
>   address 2001:
>   netmask 64
> 
> This causes the interface to be configured with *just* that IPv6 address
> (no auto-calculated one) but you can always put additional ones there too.
> 
> I suppose it depends on whether you're running dhcpcd or not.  Raspbian
> does by default, but Debian doesn't.
> 
> HTH
> John

Thanks for the suggestion, which I will try, but I have had problems with even 
dhcpcd.conf on a raspberrypi. Systemd instructions go into great detail, but 
it still does not enable more than one IPv6 address per interface. I hope that 
debian 11 Bullseye will work.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Using IPv6 addresses with Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

> 
> In fact I want to be able to use the addresses as source addresses under
> specific conditions, such as local or global use. This has been working for
> some time, and RADVD is configured to specify which to use. Given a choice
> of prefix the one chosen should automatically be the one which has the
> nearest to the destination prefix.

There are valid reasons for a single interface to have more than one current 
source prefix, including multi-homed sites with connections provided by more 
than one ISP for reliability (perhaps one preferred if available for cost 
reasons) and when using site-local addresses.

RFC3513 Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) Addressing Architecture
defines fe80::/64 as link local, still current
defines fec0::/10 as site local, now deprecated by

RFC 4291 IP Version 6 Addressing Architecture

but

RFC4193 Unique Local IPv6 Unicast Addresses
defines fc00::/7 as site local, although fd00::/8 is the only one currently in 
use, (October 2005, and has no current amendments)

RFC6724 Default Address Selection for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)
specifies how the correct address should be selected

The Shorewall(6) firewall system is designed to cope with these possibilities 
and can be used to enforce the way different addresses may be used.

I have been receiving SMTP to my RaspberryPi email gateway using exim and 
spamassassin, and the gateway could only access my RaspberryPi hubbed host 
mail server, again running exim and spamassassin, using my site local network 
addresses, and the gateway managed to block huge numbers of direct attacks.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Using IPv6 addresses with Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Thursday, 11 March 2021 15:22:35 GMT Martin A. Brooks via GLLUG wrote:
> On 2021-03-11 15:14, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > IPv6 is designed so that a single address can be allocated to multiple
> > interfaces, for example in a round-robin
> 
> That's not a "design" of IPv6 but rather a function of 802.3ad.
Thankfully the IETF have spent a lot of time and effort designing and 
specifying that, with multiple RFC's.


-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Using IPv6 addresses with Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Thursday, 11 March 2021 15:22:11 GMT Andy Smith via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi Chris,
> 
> On Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 03:14:42PM +0000, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > I am using Debian 10 Buster on various computers including RaspberryPi and
> > find that I can manually add addresses to a running computer, but if I
> > attempt to configure multiple addresses only the last is accepted, and
> > all but one is lost after a reboot.
> 
> I don't see a concrete question in your email, but for what it's
> worth I add multiple IPv6 addresses on Debian by using pre-up hooks
> in the /etc/network/interfaces file, e.g.:
> 
> iface eth0 inet6 static
> address 2001:ba8:1f1:f019::2
> netmask 64
> gateway fe80::fcff::feff:
> pre-up ip -6 addr add 2001:ba8:1f1:f019::3/64 dev $IFACE preferred_lft 0
> pre-up ip -6 addr add 2001:ba8:1f1:f019::4/64 dev $IFACE preferred_lft 0
> 
> The "preferred_lft 0" bit is so that the addresses are present and
> usable for daemons to bind to, but will never be used as a source
> address for outgoing traffic. Without that, the last added address
> will be used as the source address.
> 
> Cheers,
> Andy
In fact I want to be able to use the addresses as source addresses under 
specific conditions, such as local or global use. This has been working for 
some time, and RADVD is configured to specify which to use. Given a choice of 
prefix the one chosen should automatically be the one which has the nearest to 
the destination prefix.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Using IPv6 addresses with Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Thursday, 11 March 2021 15:22:11 GMT Andy Smith via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi Chris,
> 
> On Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 03:14:42PM +0000, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > I am using Debian 10 Buster on various computers including RaspberryPi and
> > find that I can manually add addresses to a running computer, but if I
> > attempt to configure multiple addresses only the last is accepted, and
> > all but one is lost after a reboot.
> 
> I don't see a concrete question in your email, but for what it's
> worth I add multiple IPv6 addresses on Debian by using pre-up hooks
> in the /etc/network/interfaces file, e.g.:
> 
> iface eth0 inet6 static
> address 2001:ba8:1f1:f019::2
> netmask 64
> gateway fe80::fcff::feff:
> pre-up ip -6 addr add 2001:ba8:1f1:f019::3/64 dev $IFACE preferred_lft 0
> pre-up ip -6 addr add 2001:ba8:1f1:f019::4/64 dev $IFACE preferred_lft 0
> 
> The "preferred_lft 0" bit is so that the addresses are present and
> usable for daemons to bind to, but will never be used as a source
> address for outgoing traffic. Without that, the last added address
> will be used as the source address.
> 
> Cheers,
> Andy
Thanks for the reply, I will try that.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Using IPv6 addresses with Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
IPv6 is designed so that a single address can be allocated to multiple 
interfaces, for example in a round-robin, and a single interface can have 
multiple addresses.
I am using Debian 10 Buster on various computers including RaspberryPi and find 
that I can manually add addresses to a running computer, but if I attempt to 
configure multiple addresses only the last is accepted, and all but one is lost 
after a reboot. However I have used crontab as root to
"@reboot root ip address add " multiple addresses to a single interface which 
has worked until aptitude updated some raspberrypi computers without doing a 
reboot, and they forgot all but one IPv6 address. I now receive an error 
message "/bin/sh: 1: root: not found"
man crontab tells me to add "-u " before the user, but then I receive a 
message "illegal instruction".
I have also tried to add a daily reminder about the addresses via crontab, but 
still get the same messages.

I have yet to try Debian 11 Bullseye, but the RC1 might be available soon.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] How to repair an unallocated hard drive?

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 1 January 2021 01:01:11 GMT Mark Preston via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi all and I wish you all a happy New Year,
> 
> I was trying to create a bootable persistent Linux Mint 20 USB stick
> with EFI support from a linux mint20 .iso downloaded from the internet.
> but something went wrong and...now I get an unallocated hard drive message.
> 
> I would like to know how to repair / fix an unallocated hard drive, if
> possible, preferably without losing the data on it.
> 
> The computer was was purchased in 2015 from dnuk.com and came as follows:
> 
> Deskstar D540 R3
> sda1 100GB ext4 /
> sda2 8 GB swap
> sda3 1700 ext4 /home
> Raw capacity 2000 GB
> Intel core i5-4430
> GFX Controller NVIDIA GT 610
> I might have reduced / to 10 GB, but I can't remember for sure. It was
> running Linux Mint 19.0 and originally Debian 7.7
> I've also had the following:
> Bad magic number in super block error
> 
> I'm hoping to make it bootable again and return to using it as before,
> if possible. It seeems to be advisable to copy the dev/sda disk to
> another hard drive using GNU ddrescue. Something like ddrescue
> --no-split /dev/sda /media/usbdrive/image /media/usbdrive/logfile onto a
> 4 TB portable drive maybe. Just in case anything else goes wrong and so
> I'll have a copy of what's on the hard drive.
> 
> Then maybe use parted rescue START END to rescue lost partitions one at
> a time near START and END.
> 
> Any suggestions as to how to proceed and hopefully restore the existing
> data on the "unallocated space" would be welcome.
> 
> I've used a Knoppix 8.6 USB stick to boot the computer and had the
> following:
> 
> knoppix@Microknoppix:~$ df
> Filesystem   1K-blocksUsed Available Use% Mounted on
> rootfs 1980020  52   1979968   1% /
> /dev/sdb1  4916840 4521048395792  92% /mnt-system
> tmpfs  3170304   0   3170304   0% /ramdisk
> /dev/cloop 9459128 9459128 0 100% /KNOPPIX
> /dev/cloop12262876 2262876 0 100% /KNOPPIX1
> /dev/cloop2 148074  148074 0 100% /KNOPPIX2
> /dev/mapper/KNOPPIX-DATA  25545968   43032  25502936   1% /KNOPPIX-DATA
> unionfs   25545968   43032  25502936   1% /UNIONFS
> tmpfs204803240 17240  16% /run
> tmpfs10240   4 10236   1% /UNIONFS/var/lock
> tmpfs   102400  76102324   1% /UNIONFS/var/log
> tmpfs  2097152   4   2097148   1% /tmp
> cgroup  12   012   0% /sys/fs/cgroup
> udev 20480   0 20480   0% /dev
> tmpfs  2097152   0   2097152   0% /dev/shm
> knoppix@Microknoppix:~$ fdisk -l
> Disk /dev/ram0: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram1: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram2: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram3: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram4: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram5: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram6: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram7: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram8: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram9: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
> 
> 
> Disk /dev/ram10: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 

Re: [GLLUG] IP address problems.

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Thursday, 12 November 2020 11:49:25 GMT John Winters via GLLUG wrote:
> On 12/11/2020 11:44, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> 
> [ about difficulties configuring persistent IPv6 addresses ]
> 
> Hi Chris,
> 
> I've found that I needed to use two different strategies depending on
> whether the initial address is configured statically or picked up
> automatically.  If you tell me which you're doing I will dig out my
> notes on the relevant approach.
> 
> Cheers,
> John

I am trying to get both working, with dedicated RaspberryPi boxes normally 
sitting in the DMZ but sometimes pre-configured in another network, mainly 
dedicated boxes in another network, and mainly random boxes used for general 
web access, etc, in another. I am trying to set up a replacement firewall, but 
I discovered a few more problems when one of two boxes running Bind9 locally 
died a few days ago. It seems that some of the RaspberryPi boxes have changed 
the name of their ethernet interface again, and could no longer find the IPv6 
gateway.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] IP address problems.

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
"Every interface can have multiple IPv6 addresses, while multiple interfaces 
can respond to a single IPv6 address."
Unfortunately I find that boxes generally forget all but the last IPv6 address 
allocated remotely.

I have multiple networks behind a firewall and want to allocate local IPv4 NAT 
addresses, 2001::/16 global IPv6 addresses, and local fd00::/8 IPv6 addresses, 
all of which which will survive a re-boot. All regular boxes are running up-
to-date Debian 10 Buster with or without KDE, and the RaspberryPi boxes are 
running the equivalent RaspberryPi version of Debian Buster, although some 
started as Raspbian while others the more recent Raspbios.

My ISP Plusnet has failed to provide IPv6 as promised, and my contract does 
not expire until next March. I have tried to configure an IPv6 in IPv4 tunnel 
via Hurricane Electric, but it is not yet working through my firewall. I have 
also followed the instructions in RFC 4193 to generate local IPv6 addresses, 
but they have frequently been forgotten after a re-boot.

My firewall is running dnsmasq and RADVD, and I have another box running bind9 
which should be available locally.
I can use "ip address add" for IPv6 addresses, but they have not always 
survived a re-boot.
I have tried entering all IPv4 and IPv6 addresses in /etc/network/interfaces 
but with inconsistent IPv6 results, although I have had some success using 
files in /etc/systemd/network/...

The RaspberryPi default is to use /etc/dhcpcd.conf to specify either a set of 
static addresses or a set of static fallback addresses, but the name of the 
ethernet device has not been consistent. The device name read from "ip address 
show" has varied over time between "eth0", and "enx" followed by the twelve 
HEX characters of the MAC address without any ":". The configuration fails 
every time the device name changes, although I have found that the MAC address 
does correctly match the hardware following a change of MicroSD.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] request for IT security assistance

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 23 October 2020 21:06:45 BST MJ via GLLUG wrote:
> This is a request from private, non commercial, non legal human being.
> I'd appreciate if some one lands me a hand.
> 
> Much appreciated

Perhaps you are moving from Microsoft and new to Linux?

-- 
Chris Bell



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Moving from a Paradox database on Microsoft to Linux

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 29 July 2020 19:09:24 BST Bernard Peek via GLLUG wrote:
> That's a problem but it's manageable. If your data comes from multiple
> tables you do need to understand the relationships between them. You also
> need to understand the difference between tables and queries/views and the
> terminology used by both databases. Check which tables have indexes. Check
> whether the system you are extracting data from enforces any validation or
> business rules. That might be handled by code in data-entry forms.
> 
> I recommend importing raw data and adding keys and indexes afterwards. You
> may well find that adding those rules generates errors. If you get an error
> it's almost certainly because you haven’t understood the data.
> 

Thanks for the advice, forwarded to Rosco.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Moving from a Paradox database on Microsoft to Linux

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:40:36 BST John Winters via GLLUG wrote:
> On 28/07/2020 17:01, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I have been asked how best to transfer the data from a Paradox database to
> > something suitable on Linux. Any information welcome. Thanks.
> 
> When called upon to move large datasets between systems, I've generally
> done it via CSV files, which makes it easy to check the data and
> identify which half - export or import - has a problem if there are
> issues.  A quick web search indicates that there are a wide range of
> exporters which will turn Paradox into CSV.
> 
> The biggest issue which I've found is with character encodings.  You
> need to check what the existing database uses, and then check further
> that the text fields do indeed contain data in that encoding.  Sometimes
> I've found that the source database claims one encoding, but then some
> of the text fields are in a different one.  The matter is further
> complicated when you have to deal with third parties who don't know what
> a character encoding is and behave as if you've invented them just to
> annoy them, mentioning no names, cough, iSAMS.
> 
> Importing into any Linux database from a CSV file is easy-peasy and can
> be accomplished in 5-10 lines of code.
> 
> HTH
> John
Thanks for the info, I am passing all the information on.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Moving from a Paradox database on Microsoft to Linux

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:31:47 BST Martin A. Brooks via GLLUG wrote:
> On 2020-07-28 17:01, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I have been asked how best to transfer the data from a Paradox database
> > to
> > something suitable on Linux. Any information welcome. Thanks.
> 
> A little googling suggests there are tools for automatically converting
> paradox database to Postgres.  You could try one of those.
> 
> 
> 
> Mart.
Hello Mart,
Thanks for the reply, that is what I guessed. About all I know about databases 
is that there are many available, and Postgres has been recognised as one of 
the best for a long time.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Moving from a Paradox database on Microsoft to Linux

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
I have been asked how best to transfer the data from a Paradox database to 
something suitable on Linux. Any information welcome. Thanks.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Openssl and certificates

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
Openssl makes it easier to create my own CA and issue certificates for local 
boxes with specified uses such as WWW and EMAIL, but I am not clear on the best 
approaches for multiple domains and boxes. I have dedicated individual boxes 
to use as web server, email gateway, and email server, and multiple boxes for 
each job to enable online backup and offline upgrades. Should individual 
certificates be created for individual boxes or should the same certificate be 
shared between all boxes allocated for each individual job?
Thanks for any information.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Systemd on Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Saturday, 23 May 2020 12:43:29 BST Andy Smith via GLLUG wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> On Sat, May 23, 2020 at 10:07:24AM +0100, James Courtier-Dutton via GLLUG 
wrote:
> > On Sat, 23 May 2020, 09:07 Chris Bell via GLLUG,
> > 
> > 
> > wrote:
> > > I am trying to assign IPv4 and IPv6, with named local IP
> > > addresses to individual networks for local access only,
> > 
> > I am curious. Why do you think ipv6 link local address is useful for what
> > you are trying to use it for?
> 
> The above is the only reference to "local" that I find and I didn't
> take it as meaning strictly link-local. They could just be global
> scope addresses that are only used internally. But in case it was
> wanted to use addresses that cannot be globally routed, there is the
> Unique Local Address range which is intended to be like RFC1918 but
> for IPv6:
> 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unique_local_address
> 
> So in that case OP should pick some random block within fc00::/7.
> 
> But if OP has been assigned some stable prefix by the tunnel broker
> then I would think it is perfectly fine to use a subnet of that for
> internal addressing, with appropriate firewalling.
> 
> Perhaps there is a desire to keep the same internal addresses even
> if the tunnel broker supplier were to change.
> 
> Cheers,
> Andy
In fact I have an assigned IPv6 address via the HE tunnel, I may at some time 
get an assigned IPv6 address from my ISP, and I am using fdxx::/8 with the 
correctly generated bits to make a 48bit prefix for local use (fcxx::/8 is 
officially not yet in use).
I am trying to enhance my shorewall(6) firewall without breaking it, and 
prepare an upgraded one for future use.
Out of interest, a relative has a brand new BT domestic FTTC connection which 
came with a dynamic IPv4 address and an IPv6 address with TTL 10 years, but 
the Hub6 tells me that it does not have IPv6 DNS.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Systemd on Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 22 May 2020 19:56:33 BST Andy Smith via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> On Fri, May 22, 2020 at 04:57:15PM +0100, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > Systemd attempts to rule the world of Debian Buster.
> 
> The usual way to define your network in Debian is still ifupdown as
> configured by /etc/network/interfaces so it seems to me that you are
> the one choosing to use systemd-networkd for ruling your world.
> 
> > man systemd.network says
> 
> […]
> 
> > [ADDRESS] SECTION OPTIONS
> > 
> >Label=
> >
> >An address label.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > but there is no indication whether that should be a numerical reference or
> > a text string label such as DMZ.
> 
> It can (and for compat should) be a text string; it is the direct
> equivalent of "ip address … label …". If you look in man ip-address:
> 
> label NAME
> Each address may be tagged with a label string.  In order to
> preserve compatibility with Linux-2.0 net aliases, this
> string must coincide with the name of the device or must be
> prefixed with the device name followed by colon.
> 
> An IPv6label on the other hand is a completely different thing. It
> is a source address selection mechanism, like /etc/gai.conf but in
> the kernel. It's an interface to ip addrlabel which as you'll note
> is at a sompletely different command level to "ip address …". So the
> man page for that in iputils terms is man ip-addrlabel.
> 
> Cheers,
> Andy
Thanks for the reply. Yes that is what I expected. I am trying to assign IPv4 
and IPv6, with named local IP addresses to individual networks for local 
access only, and global addresses for grouped networks, all with the correct 
prefix used for sending and receiving. This is slightly complicated because I 
also need to tunnel IPv6 in IPv4 until my ISP wakes up and provides the IPv6 
promised several years ago, while making provision for it to appear at any 
time.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] How worried should I be ...

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 22 May 2020 16:37:57 BST Alain D D Williams via GLLUG wrote:
> The message below was put to all login sessions this morning. I have never
> seen this before. There is nothing more in /var/log/messages.
> 
> The machine is 8 years old, always switched on, AMD 8150 Eight-Core
> Processor.
> 
> Should I take this as a warning and look to replace the machine or just
> shrug my shoulders & mutter something about cosmic rays ?
> 
> TIA
> 
> 
> Message from syslogd@mint at May 22 07:27:09 ...
>  kernel:[Hardware Error]: MC4 Error (node 0): L3 data cache ECC error.
> 
> Message from syslogd@mint at May 22 07:27:09 ...
>  kernel:[Hardware Error]: Error Status: Corrected error, no action required.
> 
> Message from syslogd@mint at May 22 07:27:09 ...
>  kernel:[Hardware Error]: CPU:0 (15:1:2)
> MC4_STATUS[-|CE|MiscV|-|AddrV|-|Poison|CECC]: 0x9d5c4881011c011b
> 
> Message from syslogd@mint at May 22 07:27:09 ...
>  kernel:[Hardware Error]: MC4_ADDR: 0x00076f75be90
> 
> Message from syslogd@mint at May 22 07:27:09 ...
>  kernel:[Hardware Error]: cache level: L3/GEN, tx: GEN, mem-tx: RD

Several years ago there was an on-line demonstration of an SGI Purple computer 
which used terabytes of non-ECC RAM because of the price, and simply marked 
faulty sections as not available until they could be bothered to shut down and 
swap it.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Systemd on Debian

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
Systemd attempts to rule the world of Debian Buster. Many options are 
available to match individual requirements, although only a small number may 
be required.
man systemd.network says
__
[IPV6ADDRESSLABEL] SECTION OPTIONS

   Label=
   The label for the prefix (an unsigned integer) ranges 0 to 
4294967294.
   0x is reserved. This key is mandatory.
___

while a few lines above there are


[ADDRESS] SECTION OPTIONS

   Label=
   An address label.


but there is no indication whether that should be a numerical reference or a 
text string label such as DMZ.
Any information welcome. Thanks.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Internet Data Rate

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 13 May 2020 13:21:50 BST Marco van Beek via GLLUG wrote:
> With so few people having / using POTS telephones these days, it is
> really hard to explain to people that the quality of the line affected
> the quality of the data. Most of the time when I turn up to fault-find a
> xDSL line, I start by plugging a £10 handset into the line, and then
> have to tell them it is a voice fault and we need to report it to the
> telephone company, not the broadband company. They usually just don't
> get it.
In the days when telephones had to make the best of sometimes poor quality 
copper connections, the line quality was often tweaked to get an improved 
voice quality, but we had a much more complex "fairy fingers box" to extract 
the best possible result for broadcast use, and we had to remove any pre-
equalisation first.
Neither would be much use for broadband data because equalisation could 
increase higher audio frequencies, then produce a hard cut just above.
On the other hand, engineering control lines were often random pairs strung 
together without amplification, so you really had to shout if you were trying 
to speak over very long distances.
The best music quality lines used a "phantom" connection with each leg of the 
pair sitting on the transformer centre tap of an ordinary telephone pair.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Internet Data Rate

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 13 May 2020 13:21:50 BST Marco van Beek via GLLUG wrote:
> With so few people having / using POTS telephones these days, it is
> really hard to explain to people that the quality of the line affected
> the quality of the data. Most of the time when I turn up to fault-find a
> xDSL line, I start by plugging a £10 handset into the line, and then
> have to tell them it is a voice fault and we need to report it to the
> telephone company, not the broadband company. They usually just don't
> get it.
> 
> My rule of thumb is that with HiFi, cheap digital is better than cheap
> analogue, and expensive analogue is better than expensive digital, but
> in data transmission systems it is the other way round. A cheap analogue
> fix is always better than even an expensive digital fix.
> 
> :-)
I have not seen an intermediate panel, only the straight replacement. The 
original NTE5 box only has termination components in the rear section, and 
there is no isolation from the single BT Telephone socket on the front. The 
original lower front panel is designed only as an extension, so that an 
engineer can undo two screws and unplug the entire internal wiring, together 
with any internal faults, and give direct access to the incoming line and its 
termination via a standard BT outlet socket behind.
The straight replacement panel only replaces some of the termination 
components, the data is taken direct from the incoming line, then the 
replacement filter components are inserted only into the telephone outlet.
The original front panel will have normally unused IDC connections behind for 
internal wiring connections in parallel with the standard front BT output 
socket, the replacement may also have an additional pair connected before the 
replacement filter components specifically as an alternative for the front data 
connection. Most original boxes will not have wiring to the rear of the lower 
panel but may have multiple adapters connected at the front.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Internet Data Rate

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 13 May 2020 11:45:39 BST Henrik Morsing via GLLUG wrote:
> On 13-May-20 11:01 AM, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > Hello Frank,
> > You could find that you get an improvement by using a replacement lower
> > front panel VDSL filter for the incoming BT NTE5 termination box which
> > will block the data from entering your internal telephone wiring. It will
> > bypass the line filter in the standard box, which destroys the balance
> > between the wires, and replace it with another after the data has been
> > isolated, preventing your telephone wiring from acting as tuned aerial
> > stubs.
> 
> Hi Chris,
> 
> Any chance of a pretty ASCII diagram of that? I'm sure I follow your
> replacement route and wiring.
> 
Undo the two screws holding the lower panel and remove it. You may need to 
transfer any telephone wiring originally connected direct to the back to the 
replacement panel, there should be similar IDC connection points on the new 
one, then fix the new panel in its place. There will be one socket for the 
modem plus one standard BT telephone socket on the new one to replace the 
original single telephone outlet.
If there was any very old telephone wiring to the rear of the original lower 
panel it may have the old wiring colours, so make a note of the original 
connections before they are disconnected.
The replacement VDSL filter panel should cost around £15 to £20, usually 
available from CPC.Farnell.com


-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Internet Data Rate

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello Frank,
You could find that you get an improvement by using a replacement lower front 
panel VDSL filter for the incoming BT NTE5 termination box which will block the 
data from entering your internal telephone wiring. It will bypass the line 
filter in the standard box, which destroys the balance between the wires, and 
replace it with another after the data has been isolated, preventing your 
telephone wiring from acting as tuned aerial stubs.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Plusnet

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Tuesday, 12 May 2020 14:40:21 BST Tim Clarke via GLLUG wrote:
> I have plusnet fibre 80-mbps and it works fine  - although speed is
> around 70mbps
> I have a feeling 80 is rarely achieved unless right on top of the
> cabinet!
> 
> However, beware it comes with the phone line and their call charges
> are pretty awful.   I just ue the landline for incoming calls and
> my mobile for outgoing (unlimited free!)
> 
> Tim

Yes, I paid the one-off £5 for a static IPv4 address. Mine is capped at 40Mbps 
down, 10Mbps up, but my modem tells me that the maximum achievable down has 
varied between about 40Mbps and 90Mbps, highest when the ground is wet, now 
72.79Mbps. The cables are old, mostly installed around 1930-1940, and the 
ducts are badly damaged, so BT are reluctant to touch them.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Plusnet and BT

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
I have been with Plusnet long enough to know that emails could be downloaded 
using pop3 from pop3.plus.net, but that failed recently. Their website now 
says that mail.plus.net should be used, but they had not provided the DNS for 
that name.
They have now provided the same set of eight IPv4 addresses for both 
pop3.plus.net and mail.plus.net so both are working.
I am still waiting for IPv6 to appear, promised "soon" for several years.

The recommendation to ISP's from RIPE is that every human on earth could be 
allocated an IPv6 /48 without problems for about 480 years and without needing 
to reclaim and re-assign any, although ISP's may wish to restrict some non-
commercial users to only a /64 from each allocated /48.

I have looked at a new standard BT FTTC connection supplied with a new BT 
Hub6. It has both a dynamic IPv4 and an IPv6 address, and is issuing standard 
IPv4 192.168.x.x/24 addresses, plus IPv6 /64 addresses with a TTL of 10 years, 
although it says that IPv6 DNS is not available. Is this the best that they 
can manage after so many promises?
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Adding openvpn to an existing configuration

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
I have used several versions of debian, and have found that there are several 
networking and DNS resolver packages that could be used by default but 
generally do not take over if another is already running, so I end up checking 
all unless I know which is the only default. Debian version 10 "buster" 
appears to default to using systemd if it is configured, but many options could 
be automatically reset if re-booted.
I have a computer running shorewall on debian 10 "buster" using dnsmasq for 
DHCP allocation to local networks, with access to recursive resolvers via 
local networks. Dnsmasq will not start if another package has grabbed port 53. 
I tried to add openvpn but then discovered that openvpn grabs port 53 on re-
boot, and that blocks dnsmasq, so need to find a way to ensure that dnsmasq is 
started that will not be changed by any system update.
Should the symlinks from /etc/systemd/system/ be used for this, with their 
BEFORE and AFTER settings?
Thanks for any advice.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Possible mis-named file

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 1 January 2020 16:18:59 GMT you wrote:
> Hi Chris
> 
> On Wed, Jan 01, 2020 at 02:43:08PM +0000, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > Hello,
> > A RaspberryPi running spamassassin on the "raspbian" version of Debian was
> > giving errors.
> > FuzzyOcr.cf,real is looking for /usr/bin/gifinter but there is only a file
> > 
> >  /usr/bin/gifinto which appears to work if I simply move it to the other
> > 
> > address. I have not yet found which is the correct name, although I
> > suspect
> > that it is the installed file that has the wrong name, or which package
> > (spamassassin, spamc, or another) should provide it.
> 
> Could your problem be related to this Debian bug?
>   https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=808572
> (giflib-tools: gifinter is no longer shipped with the package)


Thanks, that does seem to be the problem, and earlier versions of giflib-tools 
show both  /usr/bin/gifinter and  /usr/bin/gifinto plus many more.


-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Possible mis-named file

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
A RaspberryPi running spamassassin on the "raspbian" version of Debian was 
giving errors.
FuzzyOcr.cf,real is looking for /usr/bin/gifinter but there is only a file
 /usr/bin/gifinto which appears to work if I simply move it to the other 
address. I have not yet found which is the correct name, although I suspect 
that it is the installed file that has the wrong name, or which package 
(spamassassin, spamc, or another) should provide it.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Downside of FTTP

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Wednesday, 4 December 2019 16:07:25 GMT you wrote:
> On Wed, 4 Dec 2019, 15:50 Chris Bell via GLLUG, 
> 
> wrote:
> > Hello,
> > Someone has posted a message on a local forum that his Redcare link to ADT
> > was
> > cut without any warning from BT when he was re-connected by FTTP.
> > ADT have offered an upgrade for £1,711.
> > --
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Do you have a link to the forum?
> A quick google of "Redcare link to ADT", says it is a GSM link, so should
> not even touch the FTTP.
> I don't have Redcare or FTTP, as I use alternatives, so I don't really know
> how Redcare connects.
> 
> Kind Regards
> 
> James
I think that Redcare may run over a standard line in a similar way to ADSL. A 
local company had several telephone lines, with ADSL on one and Redcare on 
another. Unfortunately the company did not which line carried which service, 
so there was confusion every time there was a line fault, with the BT engineer 
only sent to fix a fault on a particular (wrong) line and unwilling to touch 
anything else.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

[GLLUG] Downside of FTTP

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

Hello,
Someone has posted a message on a local forum that his Redcare link to ADT was 
cut without any warning from BT when he was re-connected by FTTP.
ADT have offered an upgrade for £1,711.
-- 
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk



-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Internet Utopias Survey

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 22 November 2019 19:51:16 GMT John Winters via GLLUG wrote:

> 
> That rings a few bells.  I've written some FOSS software for schools,
> but in my experience of dealing with school IT people their knowledge of
> IT is generally slight to non-existent.  To make matters worse, there
> are some big suppliers to schools who really prey on this deficiency.
> They very much rely on schools having no-one capable of calling out
> their bullshit.
> 
A friend was asked to set up a server and some desktop computers in a local 
junior school. The school had a contract with a major education "provider" 
which required their IT system to be provided and maintained only by that 
company, and the school was not allowed to access the system, so the new 
computers were to be a totally separate independent system and hidden from 
the contractor.

-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk

-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Internet Utopias Survey

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Friday, 22 November 2019 16:57:20 GMT Christian Fuchs via GLLUG wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> As part of an AHRC research network, I conduct a survey about
> Internet/media utopias.
> 
> In the time of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and fake news, we
> experience a crisis of Internet platforms. Many people think we need
> Internet and media utopias today. But how could they look like?
> Indivduals engaged in the free software community might have good
> ideas...  I want to invite you to participate:
> 
> https://psmutopias.limequery.net/879161
> 
> Answering will take about five minutes. A number of participants with
> very visionary ideas will be invited to a workshop in 2020 in London,
> where participants will work on co-writing/co-authoring an
> Internet/Media Utopias Manifesto.
> 
> Kind regards, Christian Fuchs

Hello Christian Fuchs
I find that most people who contribute to local on-line forums in my area do 
not wish to know any more about IT than they are forced to, and are happy to 
accept any advice, good or bad, if it explodes in front of them. They think it 
is too difficult, and are simply not interested.
A few years ago I visited the BETT show and a teacher explained that she had 
just been appointed as head of the school's IT department, so had come along 
to find out what it was all about.
A friend offered the local council Adult Learning section a long course to 
include comparisons between Unix-compatible FOSS and well-known commercial 
systems. He spent a year answering requests for ever more detailed information 
before being told that they had no idea what he was talking about, so no 
thanks.
He is now in New Zealand where even the sheep are more intelligent.
The developers who built one of the local multi-storey tower blocks agreed to 
donate the entire ground floor for local community use, but one of the local 
councillors objected to a community computer club because "kids might join and 
learn how to access the internet". It has remained empty and unused for the 
several years since it was built.
At the end of the summer term last year a 12 year old distant relative in 
Devon handed his school a long list of serious software problems in their 
system, with details of some of the parts he had accessed. He told me that it 
was unchanged in the autumn.
I hope that UK education is improving, although sometimes there seems to be 
more interest in remote African villages.


-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk

-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug

Re: [GLLUG] Want to learn PoE

[Chris Bell via GLLUG]

On Thursday, 24 October 2019 09:31:25 BST nickmount91 via GLLUG wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> I have some Cisco CP-7911G VoIP Phones that I want to use on a fibre
> broadband connection. Some of them have PSUs, but some don't. Can anyone
> point me towards resources where I can learn about Power over Ethernet,
> please?
> 
> regards
> Nick
> 
> Sent with [ProtonMail](https://protonmail.com) Secure Email.
Hello Nick,
If they are using 10/100 base ethernet they will only be using two of the four 
pairs, and PoE could be supplied via the other two pairs, which is what I do 
with CCTV cameras, I just separate the unused pairs and provide close to 48v 
DC correct polarity via self re-setting fuses and let them take whatever 
current they require via their own switchmode regulator.
However I assume they are using gigabit ethernet.
The full procedure is fairly complex, with the PoE sender chatting to the 
device and increasing the output on demand over up to all pairs, so the 
easiest method is to use a commercial PoE inserter or a PoE enabled bridge/
switch. Expect non-PoE ethernet devices to link transformer centre-taps to 0v, 
and short PoE.
They are listed at millsltd.com and cpc.farnell.com
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk

PoE_802.odt
Description: application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text
-- 
GLLUG mailing list
GLLUG@mailman.lug.org.uk
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug