Ben Kevan’s Blog

Linux, Apache, MySQL & PHP on openSuSE 10.2, Kubuntu 7.04, Ubuntu 7.04 & Fedora Core 7

So today I decided to give a few linux distro’s a shot in setting up a LAMP server (LAMP is Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP). The distro’s I went withwere: openSuSE 10.2 (my default), Kubuntu 7.04 (decided this on top of Ubuntu since some things are different as much as people want to say they are the same thing), Ubuntu 7.04 and for yucks, Fedora Core 7).

The first distribution up for the works was openSUSE 10.2. The installation was done during the installation and to my suprise everything was great right when I booted up, although I had to enable apache2 and mysql in the RunLevel Services to start in both Run Level 3 and 5. Once this was done, I tested PHP and Apache and both worked fine without any configuration changes. I logged into MySQL and changed the root password, and then decided to install phpMyAdmin from YaST and tried to log on and got “Access Denied”, well it seems that when installed on SuSE that it wants to login with root with no password. So I logged back into mysql and changed the password (Just in case you wanted to know the commands they were:

mysql -u root
mysql> USE mysql;
mysql> UPDATE user SET Password=PASSWORD(’assign_new_password’) WHERE user=’root’;
mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

If you change the root password on the openSuSe and need to change it back login to the DB with:

mysql -u root -p mysql

I did the same on all distros)

Ok, was all done with that one. Now it was for Kubuntu / Ubuntu:

As expected the Kubuntu / Ubuntu installations had to be done after the installation of the OS with apt-get. This was kind of a bummer since I kind of like doing it during the installation of the OS packages, but this is one of the downfalls of the single CD installation. Once installed all went as planned and testing fine. So I install phpmyadmin, and login with the mysql root account that I had setup. All went well, I was pleased and moved on pretty quickly.

Fedora Core 7 I was able to install during the installation and tested good. One thing I didn’t like at all, was my user wasn’t added to the sudoers file and I think that is REDICULOUS. But with all that said, it all went well, and phpmyadmin was tested without issues, this was quick painless and Fedora Core 7 looks alot better then the last Fedora distro I used which was FC4.

I would honestly have to say from all the installs Fedora Core 7 was the easiest for a LAMP server, since it was installable from the beginning and did not need any configuration post installation like openSuSE needed. If Ubuntu / Kubuntu ever decided to make a DVD install, and included the install during boot, it would have been marked as the best during my test.

openSuSE 10.2 is still my desired distro, but if Ubuntu 7.10 outshines openSuSE 10.3 I may have to switch, hopefully Novell and get their heads together and fix their package manager and zen updater.

Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 (”Codenamed Longhorn) on VMWare ESX 3.0.1

I decided to off load all my VM’s that were locally on my machine to a VMWare ESX 3.0.1 box, and one of the machines installed was Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 (”Codenamed Longhorn”). Instead of just running VMWare Converter on the machine, I decided I would start from scratch on an ESX box.

First, I created the VM, and copies the ISO to my datastore. Pointed the CD to the ISO and was on my way. Powered on the VM and immediatly the Server installation starts, first thing I notice is it still says Longhorn.. Maybe they don’t trust that Server 2008 will actually come out in 2008? So on we go.. and whammmm what the hell, it says no device driver. Luckily http://www.google.com is nice enough to give us this link http://sti.epfl.ch/intranet/informatique/virtualisation/drivers-vista-rtm-esx.flp.zip which will give you the drivers you need to start the install. So I download, unzip the flp image, and scp it to my datastore, and point the floppy drive to the flp. Browse to A and voila, it starts the rest of the install. I put in my good ol’ serial number provided by Microsoft and again continue on my journy. Oh yeah, did I mention I love the fact that you can “Set it and Forget it” (I hope that isn’t copywritten by the Ronco Showtime Rotisserie).

 

 I check back a while later and it’s done.. I bring it up, log in and set the Admin password. Now it’s time for DCPROMO and all the other fun things you have to install on a real test enviroment. I will be installing the following services:

AD, DHCP, DNS, CA, RADIUS, RAS, IIS, and a few others to muck with..

 Later-on folks

Windows XP Virtual Desktop PowerToy

A long time ago I installed the XP Virtual Desktop PowerToy since I had the capabilities in Linux, but due to many glitches and just poor performance, I decided to remove it. Since then I’ve really learned to fully utilize it in Linux and it helps with my production and keeping everything cleaned up on my workspace.

With that said, I have decided again to give the Windows XP Virtual Desktop PowerToy, that can be downloaded here http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/DeskmanPowertoySetup.exe another shot.

Here is a quick shot of how the desktops look while spanned out:

Sorry for the uglyness of my desktops etc, I am typically a Linux person and do not log onto my Windows machine alot, and when I do log on it sure isn’t trying to make it look better. Now back on track with the PowerToy.

The installation is really straight foreward, you download the EXE above, you double click it, then it extracts an MSI (why don’t they just pulish the MSI?). The MSI install launches and your done. But then where is your desktops? Where are the instructions on what to do next? Well, now what? Well, what you have to do is right click your task bar and choose toolbars and check “Desktop Manager”. That will give you the MSVDM (Microsoft Virtual Desktop Manager), and it’s 5 associated buttons. 1 to span the desktops, and the last 4 dedicated to switching to the desktops. Now you can right click on the MSVDM toolbar to change your settings or shortcuts.

Now to the limitations, if you are used to Beryl / XGL / Compiz.. or whatever you want to call it (Is it now Compiz-Fuzion, or CompCom?) then you will be greatly dissapointed, but if you’re a total windows guy and have never seen any of Beryl / XGL / Compiz or Linux at all, then you might be impressed. Not being able to drag applications across won’t bother you, not being able to send a window to another workspace won’t bother you, you’ll probably forget you have 4 desktops, and will be happily ever after.

It also seems to be very glitchy, and its animations are horrible, but hey, it’s 4 desktops and it helps with cleaning your workspaces and productivity…

I won’t bash it much more, or i’ll be tempted to remove it again.

The little guy and his new found fun, Swimming

Whelp, at about 4.5 months I decided while going for a swim to bring the little tyke in the pool, and to just dip his feet. At first he cried, but then I put him in again, and he loved it. We bring him swimming a few times a week (coating in tons of sunscreen) and he hasn’t cried once in the pool, we can even put his face in for a brief second and he doesn’t mind. It also helped him in the bath, he really enjoys them now. We picked up a little toy for him in the pool to float around in, and he loves it. Here’s a picture, more can be found in the gallery:

Ben Jr. Swimming Gallery

Got the keys to the house

Whelp, going to be moving from the apartment to a house, so things are going to be very busy next weekend. But this weekend I get to go see my parents with little guy and Sarah. They haven’t seen him since he was about 3 months, and he’s grown a LOT. Time to start packing..

UFC 73 Post Event

Well, I know this is a few days late but i’ve been really busy at work and my co-worker is out at training for the week. UFC 73: Stacked was a great live event to go to. The crowd wasn’t as bad as the PPV made it out to be, and the fights were really good (Especially if you enjoy Jiu-Jitsu like myself). Here are a few pictures that we got:

We went with some people I train with and can’t wait for the next live one near my area.
You can find more photo’s here: UFC 73 Photo Gallery

Quick UFC 73 Analysis

Whelp, really wish I would have spent more time on this, but here is just a quick analysis on some of the bigger fights:

Anderson Silva vs Nate Marquardt:

First off this is much more of a war then most new MMA fans can understand. Nate is not new to the MMA game and has been fighting professionaly for many years now. He even sports some wins over high profile veteran fighters like Yves Edwards and Shonie Carter. The most intresting aspect of this fight is that most of Nate’s wins have come from Submission and what most people don’t know is that Anderson Silva is no fluke on the ground, and he proudly sports his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which we all know is supplemented with great Muay Thai and a great clinch game. This to me may be the best fight of the night ending via 4th round KO with Anderson Silva getting his hand raised.

Rashad Evans vs Tito Ortiz:

This is the hardest fight to score on the night. But to me it’s time for Rashad to show what he’s made of. Tito without his athletisism is not a great fighter and I do not think his cardio will carry him through this fight. Tito has to remember that Rashad is not a over the hill Ken Shamrock, and has to be sure to bring it. Rashad on the other hand has to make sure he doesn’t come out looking sloppy like he did against the inexperienced Sean Salmon. Tito is a much better wrestler then Sean, and Sean was able to drag Rashad down at will (if he would have chosen too more often), Rashad then scrambled to get back to his feet which he will have a MUCH harder time doing against the relentless Tito Ortiz. If the Rashad that shows up is the same person that beat the hell out of Jason Lambert then I call the fight a UD by Rashad Evans (29-28 across all cards, the final round being won by Tito). If the Rashad that fought Sean comes out, it will be a split decision for either fighter, and will really depend on the judges that are ringside.

Sean Sherk vs Hermes Franca:

Boy oh Boy.. Hermes in my eyes has nothing that Sean Sherk hasn’t dealt with in the past. I have no idea how Hermes can make that statement that Sean is not experienced. For christ sake, the guy has beat everyone in his way except the most dominant Welterweight Ever in the new UFC, and the only guy that has beat him recently.. They are no other then Hughes and GSP. Wish I could say more about this, but I doubt it will go all 5 rounds. Hermes will gas out, and while throwing some ugly looping right with his head turned and eyes closed, will get caught with a combo barage by Sean Sherk that will end in a referee stoppage in the 3rd.

Big Nog vs Crazy Horse

Just had to add this one last minute. Their 3rd fight, which is not a rubber match :(, will be no where near as awesome as their first 2. Heath will be stopped in the second, and continue his UFC losing streak.

Whelp, that is all I am going to comment on at this time, some big things happened today like my 6 month olds shots and checkup, along with Sarah’s sister giving birth to her 3rd child.

If your going to UFC 73, I can’t wait to see you there.. I’ll be 8th row in Floor Section 5

Ben Jr has his 6 month check-up and shots today

Well, not such a bad thing. We get to ask the doctor about his little lingering cough, and he’s pretty good with shots. Except for his first set, he got pretty sick. Oh well, wish him luck, hopefully he won’t get sick this run.

Gracie Open 2007 and Lingering Injuries

Well, this past week was Gracie Open 2007 and I entered in the No-Gi Light Heavyweight Division. First off, the event was long, and very un-organized. But was good to see Kit Cope, Diaz Brother and Jake Shields there. Ok, so time for my match (8 hours after I got there) and the clinch was even, the guy is strong so I break the clinch and secure a take down, where I then get subbed via armbar after attempting to pass the guard. I made a mistake and got subbed, kind of disappointing, and I almost spun and pulled out of the guard, but it was early and he had one hell of a grip. Now I have time to sit back and let some lingering injuries heal, like my ankle, my arm and hit the weights a little and put some weight back on. Looking forward to training in about 2 weeks.

Changed the look of www.benkevan.com

So, I decided that the current theme for www.benkevan.com was cool, but I was getting tired of the Java pull down, so I am going with a new flavor. I am still working on a few things, like the lines on the blog, and will be working on some new images, and replacing a few things here and there. I hope you enjoy it, and give any feedback you would like.