Backing up a Remote Linux Machine With Windows (Using Rsync and Cygwin)
KB ID 0000892 Problem The goal here was for me to get a backup of my VPS server (Running CentOS 6). My background is primarily Windows based, so I wanted a solution where I can just run the backup from a Windows machine, (i.e. my my laptop) and let it connect, login and perform the backup. What is Rsync? If you are familiar with Robocopy it’s similar, it can perform a backup/sync of data and encrypt that data while it’s...
Postfix – Change The ‘Welcome Banner’
KB ID 0000907 Problem After my recent DNS troubles, I was checking my mail server’s (MX) records, and got a warning about not having any reverse lookup records (PTR) configured properly. I telnetted to the mail server on port 25, and saw it was responding with the servers host-name. I know my records are correct for the FQDN of the server, I just needed to change its welcome banner. Solution Change the Postfix Welcome Banner by...
Dell Inspiron 1525 – Bluetooth Problem
KB ID 0000402 Problem I promised to take a quick look at one of my mum’s friends laptops the other evening, the brief was; they had a problem opening office attachments, and their wireless mouse was’nt working. I assumed they needed the document conversion pack and probably had a flat battery, so I downloaded the update, and slung some batteries in my laptop bag. The attachment problem was sorted (by re-installing office...
Lenovo ThinkPad – ‘Where is the Pause/Break Key?’
KB ID 0000930 Problem Much as I like my new S531 work ThinkPad, I thought after discovering it had no serial port, no RGB monitor port, and the worst touch-pad in the entire history of input devices (I now carry a mouse it’s so bad!), that my bad experiences were over. That was until I needed to reset a password on a Cisco Router, and needed to send a ‘Break’ keystroke. There is no pause break key? Solution Initially...
IP (v4) Networking Crib Sheet
KB ID 0000832 Problem You would think by now I would have committed a lot of this to memory, but seeing as I always have to visit my own Subnet Calculator, I thought it was about time I had a ‘handy reference’. Feel free to copy and print it off. Solution Click for larger image. Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links Online Subnet Calculator IPv4 and IPv6
BT Domains Center – Setup Your Mail Server DNS Records
KB ID 0000900 Problem If you are used to setting up DNS records, then the BT Web Portal (btdomainmanager.com) can be a little confusing. I was stuck yesterday, luckily I had another client I could get to check their records for me. Solution In the example below I’ve got two IP addresses to which I want mail delivering to, 123.123.123.123 and 123.123.123.125, (yours may be on completely different ranges, that’s OK.) In addition...
Browser Hijacking
KB ID 0000056 Also See KB0000183 Spyware / Malware Rogue AV and Rogue Antispyware “Scareware” Problem There is currently an alarming trend of companies and websites that think its quite OK to change your web browser without your permission. What most of them try to do is, 1. Modify your homepage. 2. Modify your default search page. Sometimes your default connection will be pointed at sites that carry adult material or...
Firefox 7 – Restore the Full URL / Address Bar
KB ID 0000517 Problem Firefox 7 came out today (Download Firefox 7), and the new version has decided to shorten the URL displayed in your address bar, to put it back to its old style you need to change a setting. Solution 1. In the address bar type about:config, and then click “I’ll be carefull, I promise”. 2. Locate the browser.urlbar.trimURLsentry then double click it to change it from true to false. ...
Internet Browsing Slow? Speed up by Changing your DNS
Internet Browsing Slow KB ID 0000200 Problem Note: This is only applicable to your HOME Internet connection, if you are on a corporate domain then DO NOT change your DNS Servers. However if you want to perform this on your domain DNS servers, you can find out which are the quickest DNS servers. and add them to your forwarders. This process aims to speed up your internet browsing by changing your IP address settings, so that all the...
Secure and Encrypt USB Drives
KB ID 0000060 Problem We would be lost without the good old USB Key/Thumb drive in this day and age, now the floppy drive is officially dead its our primary method of moving files and software about. I have the habit of leaving both CD/DVD’s in clients servers and my thumb drive onsite because I have a head like a sieve =[ I did this the other week, and thankfully I was going to be away on course for the following week, so I...