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Monday, November 24, 2003

QtFairUse: Cracking iTunes' DRM

As long as there are locks out there that people say are un-crackable, thousands of idle minds will stop at nothing until they can say they cracked it….

<snip> 

If the sound plays through your speakers, it must exist in decrypted form somewhere in your computer's data path. If it exists in decrypted form, you can tap it and extract the decrypted data.
[infoAnarchy]

Tritton's new network drive

I’ve been looking at getting another network attached blob of disk..  This looks like it might be a winner…. 

A new 120GB hard drive with an Ethernet from Tritton that connects to router so that the files on it can be accessed by all of the users on the network. The TRI-NAS120P also has a USB 2.0 print server for hooking it up to a shared printer. Read...
[Gizmodo]

The sight of Phil in a towel

 Vegitales folks will get that, but it seems that my last post caused MT to go bezerk!!!  After doing some fancy footwork, I have restored everything to its proper place.

 

Note to self: No more talking about naked stuff as it hurts the movabletype. J

Sunday, November 23, 2003

QtFairUse: Cracking iTunes' DRM

As long as there are locks out there that people say are un-crackable, thousands of idle minds will stop at nothing until they can say they cracked it….

<snip> 

If the sound plays through your speakers, it must exist in decrypted form somewhere in your computer's data path. If it exists in decrypted form, you can tap it and extract the decrypted data.
[infoAnarchy]

Tritton's new network drive

I’ve been looking at getting another network attached blob of disk..  This looks like it might be a winner…. 

A new 120GB hard drive with an Ethernet from Tritton that connects to router so that the files on it can be accessed by all of the users on the network. The TRI-NAS120P also has a USB 2.0 print server for hooking it up to a shared printer. Read...
[Gizmodo]

Friday, November 21, 2003

Conference calls: excuse for nudity and websurfi

One more try:  For those of you at SOI, I was *ALWAYS* dressed for my con calls… Really, I was! 

An international survey reveals that nudity and inattention are astonishingly common among particpants in conference calls:

So what are they doing instead? Twenty-nine percent of British workers say they doodle, while 22 percent of Germans surf the web. Twenty percent of Americans say they have side conversations with someone else during conference calls.

It gets weirder: 22 percent of Hong Kong workers admit they weren't fully dressed during their last teleconference, while 14 percent of them were doing their makeup or hair.

Link (via FARK)
[Boing Boing Blog]

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

Blogstipated

It’s been a while but I am still here.  I have finally gotten my home media center server (Not the MS OS) running.  I feel it has reached the level of completeness that I can at least talk about it.

 

I have an older 700Mhz Duron machine that is running windows XP.

I installed a GeForce NVidia card (the 128 meg kind) and an AverTech TV tuner in the thing a while back and also purchased SnapStream from http://www.snapstream.com a while back.  This is almost, but still not quite, a replacement for my Tivo.  The one thing I like is the fact that you can stream the shows to other computers on your network (even the internet as some of you know).  I have it hooked into the entertainment center in the living room so that we can switch between Tivo, SnapStream, DVD, Xbox, and oh yeah… A VCR. K

Since my buddy TechnoDaddy got me hooked on SLIMP3 (http://www.slimdevices.com) I have been on a quest to make it also live on my media server.  That is now complete.  I have quite a bit of tunes now and the kids have all learned how to watch their cartoons (recorded on the snapstream) and also listen to the music recorded on the media server.

Add to that, I just got my hands on an Audrey made by 3Com.  It took some poking around but I found a reference with google on how to fix a shoutcast streaming MP3 error and applied that to my device.  Viola!  I am now able to listen to my SLIMP3 stream on the Audrey…  The music quality on this device is awesome!.

Lastly I was trying my darndest to get my iPAQ to listen to the SLIMP3 stream too as it already can watch shows from the SnapStream.  I found a program last night called gsplayer that runs on the PocketPC that will stream mp3 music quite well.  It even shows the song that is playing, unlike windows media player on the PC…  My PC only shows “Welcome to SLIMP3” but on the PocketPC it will show the track and song title derived from the MP3 tag info…Kind of cool.

That’s all for now, I have a few servers to build today.

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Exchange 2003 Move Mailbox

First off, let me say WOW.  I am so happy to see this in the mainstream client.  Having said that I should also add: “About time!”  Some of us, Thanks Mr. Odom, have been able to do this for quite some time now. J

 

It looks like it *was* a good idea after all. 

Over the next few weeks/months, I'll be looking at the new administration features in Exchange 2003. I'll start by looking at how the ability to move mailboxes in Exchange 2003 has been vastly improved.

Moving Mailboxes With ESM

The most obvious new feature is that you can now move mailboxes from within Exchange System Manager (ESM) in addition to the old method of using Active Directory Users & Computers. In ESM, you drill down to the mailbox store that contains the desired mailbox and underneath the mailbox store you'll find the Mailboxes object. Clicking this object reveals a list of mailboxes contained within the mailbox store. If you now right-click the mailbox you wish to move, you'll see the familiar Exchange Tasks menu, as shown below. Don't forget that you can select multiple mailboxes by holding down the CTRL or Shift keys, which is really useful if you need to move multiple mailboxes at the same time.

ESM Exchange Tasks

Multi-threaded Moves

Whilst on the subject of moving multiple mailboxes at the same time, this leads nicely onto one of the major performance benefits of moving mailboxes in Exchange 2003. The move mailbox task is now multi-threaded to the point where four mailboxes can be moved at the same time. Although you could select multiple mailboxes for moving in Exchange 2000, the actual move task occurred one after another; the new move mailbox task will actually move four mailboxes in parallel. If you are about to embark on your Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003 migration project using the move mailbox method, you can already see that you should be able to generate significant savings in time during the move mailbox process.

Scheduling Your Moves

You can now schedule when your mailbox moves will take place, as shown in the figure below. The obvious benefit here is that you can set the move to occur during periods of low activity on your system. You'll also notice an option to cancel the move tasks that are still running after a certain time. The good thing about this is that if a mailbox is currently being moved when the finish time is reached, the messages are rolled back to the source server; all other mailboxes that have been moved will remain in their new location.

Schedule Moves

Handling Corrupted Items

One of the more annoying features of the Exchange 2000 move mailbox task was that if it failed to move one of a series of mailboxes, the entire process would stop. I bet that there's quite a few administrators out there who, like me, have kicked off the moving of a batch of mailboxes and then gone home, only to find out later on that the move mailbox task failed on mailbox number 2!

The new move mailbox task gets around this issue because it can now handle corrupted items. There are two options available within the task, as shown below.

Corrupted Item Handling

If you elect to just create a failure report, a report is created for the problematic mailbox and that mailbox is not moved. If you elect to skip the corrupted items, then you should understand that this option assumes that the corrupted items are to be deleted when the mailbox is moved. Also, if the number of corrupt items exceeds your stated threshold, then the messages that have already been moved are moved back to the source server.

Move Mailbox Reporting

A detailed log file of the move mailbox operation is saved in XML format into the \My Documents\Exchange Task Wizard Logs folder. To make these a bit nicer to read, just apply an extensible style sheet to the log files. The Exchange 2003 SDK has XSL/HTA files that show how the format of XML reports can be changed to a more readable format.

And Finally....

Another useful snippet of information for you. If users try to login to their mailbox when it is being moved, the following event log will be generated. This includes access via OWA as well as via MAPI clients.

Event 9660


[MS Exchange Blog]

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Two New Exchange Articles

This sounds neat!  I know a few of you out there are messing with E2k3 so check these out. 

Two new useful articles have been published over at www.msexchange.org.

First, Jakub Synoradzki gives a run-through of the new improvements in Exchange 2003. This article details new features such as the Recovery Storage Group, Query-Based Distribution Lists, etc.

Second, Lee Derbyshire gives the low-down on the useful feature Outlook Web Access Segmentation, which allows you to hide various folders/features from the view given to users in OWA.


[MS Exchange Blog]

Friday, November 7, 2003

Thanks Technodaddy!

I’ve started using slimp3 quite a bit now thanks to a phone call with the great TechnoDaddy.  Check it out on http://www.slimdevices.com and you will find out what I am talking about.  I haven’t gotten a device yet, but I am able to stream the music to my laptop quite well.  The kids can all listen to what ever they want in their rooms and I am going to try (but I expect it to just work) using my iPaq this weekend to listen while in the back yard. 

You say to-may-co; I say to-mac-co

I was going to pass this one over until I read that the tomacco plant has nicotine in it!!!!  This is just too darn funny.  Want to kick that smoking habit? D’oh!

Mmm . . . tomacco: Oregon man crosses a tomato with tobacco plant
[Ars Technica]

Sony hypes "next-generation Walkman"

OK, so Ars has lots of cool things today.

 

This looks way cool.  But you wouldn’t want to clip it to your belt.  The concept pictures look awesome.  I would want it to dock at my desk and become either USB storage or just replace my laptop by having a docking cradle (like a tablet PC) to hook a keyboard/mouse and monitor.  Having that with cell phone/MP3/gameboy stuff in it (along with calendar/contacts, etc.) would make this the end-all device eh?

 

We shall see…. 

Sony yesterday showed off a prototype of its new gaming/cell phone/mp3/video device
[Ars Technica]

Behold the Google Deskbar

I know quite a few people who use the IE plugin so here is something new for your googling. 

Google has done it again. We all know about the Google toolbar... probably one of the most redeeming factors for sticking with Internet Explorer (it doesn't work on other browsers). Now meet the Google Deskbar for Windows.
[Ars Technica]

DARPA Robotwars++ worth $1,000,000

This is just too darn cool.  Follow the robotic cars link to get more on the story but it seems that they are putting together a competition to put Robot-Wars to shame.  One step closer to robots on the ground (instead of just the air) in combat.

The DARPA said last Thursday that 86 teams have submitted technical papers describing their proposed robotic cars that can drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on an off-road course in 10 hours, with a top prize of $1,000,000
[Ars Technica]

Fiber gets faster

Looks cool!!!  When can we get it to the house/desktop? 

The ITU approves a new standard for transmitting data across optical fiber. And it's fast. Very fast.
[Ars Technica]

Thursday, November 6, 2003

Thanks Technodaddy!

I’ve started using slimp3 quite a bit now thanks to a phone call with the great TechnoDaddy.  Check it out on http://www.slimdevices.com and you will find out what I am talking about.  I haven’t gotten a device yet, but I am able to stream the music to my laptop quite well.  The kids can all listen to what ever they want in their rooms and I am going to try (but I expect it to just work) using my iPaq this weekend to listen while in the back yard. 

You say to-may-co; I say to-mac-co

I was going to pass this one over until I read that the tomacco plant has nicotine in it!!!!  This is just too darn funny.  Want to kick that smoking habit? D’oh!

Mmm . . . tomacco: Oregon man crosses a tomato with tobacco plant
[Ars Technica]

Sony hypes "next-generation Walkman"

OK, so Ars has lots of cool things today.

 

This looks way cool.  But you wouldn’t want to clip it to your belt.  The concept pictures look awesome.  I would want it to dock at my desk and become either USB storage or just replace my laptop by having a docking cradle (like a tablet PC) to hook a keyboard/mouse and monitor.  Having that with cell phone/MP3/gameboy stuff in it (along with calendar/contacts, etc.) would make this the end-all device eh?

 

We shall see…. 

Sony yesterday showed off a prototype of its new gaming/cell phone/mp3/video device
[Ars Technica]

Behold the Google Deskbar

I know quite a few people who use the IE plugin so here is something new for your googling. 

Google has done it again. We all know about the Google toolbar... probably one of the most redeeming factors for sticking with Internet Explorer (it doesn't work on other browsers). Now meet the Google Deskbar for Windows.
[Ars Technica]

DARPA Robotwars++ worth $1,000,000

This is just too darn cool.  Follow the robotic cars link to get more on the story but it seems that they are putting together a competition to put Robot-Wars to shame.  One step closer to robots on the ground (instead of just the air) in combat.

The DARPA said last Thursday that 86 teams have submitted technical papers describing their proposed robotic cars that can drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on an off-road course in 10 hours, with a top prize of $1,000,000
[Ars Technica]

Fiber gets faster

Looks cool!!!  When can we get it to the house/desktop? 

The ITU approves a new standard for transmitting data across optical fiber. And it's fast. Very fast.
[Ars Technica]

Stick it in your ear

Hehee, now this is funny..  I would use one but what happens when the person you are talking to wants to say something to the kids?  Here son, let me put my finger in your ear. J 

From Japan (of course), a wristwatch phone called the Finger Whisper that uses vibrations to turn your finger into an earpiece -- the catch is that you have to actually stick your finger into your ear to get it to work, something that might get rather tedious. Beginning or finishing a call with the Finger Whisper is as simple as touching your forefinger to your thumb. Read...
[Gizmodo]

Exchange 2003 Tools Descriptions

For my Exchange friends out there. J

 

 

You should now already be aware that Microsoft provide Exchange 2003 tools all in one handy place on the main Exchange site. After all, it has been mentioned on this blog before, you know!

However, I'd like to share with you a nice description of each tool, along with a direct link to that tool. It's great to have this information all on one link!

Add Root Certificate

Use the Add Root Certificate tool to add your own root certificate onto your Pocket PC device. For security, organizations often wish to use secure connections (SSL) when syncing or accessing a server. A number of Pocket PC 2002 applications use root certificates and SSL. If your organization prefers to use its own root certificate, you must install a custom root certificate on to the device. This tool will help you do so. Please note that this tool is for Pocket PC 2002 devices only. Pocket PC 2003 devices do NOT require a tool to install certificates.

Address Rewrite

Use Address Rewrite to rewrite return e-mail addresses on outgoing messages sent from a third-party mail system to Exchange, and destined for external or Internet addresses. This feature is similar to the Exchange 5.5 tool, ReRouteViaStore. Address Rewrite enables address rewrite on each SMTP virtual server. The intent of this feature is to rewrite addresses only for mail coming from the partner/subsidiary company (externally SMTP submitted) coming into your company’s e-mail servers and then going out to the Internet. Address Rewrite is useful in merger or acquisition scenarios in which you want all e-mail addresses to reflect the parent company’s name.

ArchiveSink

Use Exchange 2003’s enhanced ArchiveSink to log all message and recipient details of an e-mail message for incoming and outgoing messages on an Exchange server. ArchiveSink, a diagnostic tool, is a custom script that enables message archiving. When message logging is enabled, ArchiveSink will create an additional XML file for each message that is archived.

Authoritative Restore

Use the Authoritative Restore tool to force a restored directory database to replicate to other servers after restoring from a backup. This tool allows you to restore one server (the server with the most recent pre-mistake backup) rather than all servers. With the Authoritative Restore tool, object versions and USNs can be advanced on all writable objects held by that directory so that the data held on the backup appears to be more recent than any copy held by other servers. You can receive assistance using this tool from Microsoft Product Support Services.

Importer for Lotus cc:Mail Archives

Use the Importer for Lotus cc:Mail Archives tool to import cc:Mail archive files to folders in an Exchange 2003 mailbox store or to one or more personal folder (.pst) files. After you install the archive importer, you can import all cc:Mail archives yourself or you can distribute the archive importer program (Ccmarch.exe) to users who need to import their own cc:Mail archive files. The archive importer imports cc:Mail archive files containing e-mail messages directly from users' desktops to Exchange folders.

Disable Certificate Verification

Use the Disable Certification Verification tool to allow users with Windows Mobile devices to connect to Exchange servers without verifying the root certificate authority against the certificate trust list on the device. The device still uses SSL to connect to Exchange, but the Exchange Certificate check allows certificates from un-trusted certificate authorities to be used without generating errors.

DNS Resolver

Use the DNS Resolver tool to simulate the SMTP service’s internal code-path and print diagnostic messages that indicate how DNS resolution is proceeding. The tool must be run on the computer where the DNS problems are occurring. DNS Resolver works only on Exchange servers running Windows Server 2003.

Error Code Look-up

Use the Error Code Lookup tool to determine error values from decimal and hexadecimal error codes in Microsoft Windows operating systems. The tool can look up one or more values at a time. All
values on the command line will be looked up in Exchange’s internal tables and presented to you. If available, informational data associated with the value or values will also be shown.

Exchange Server Stress and Performance 2003

Use Microsoft Exchange Server Stress and Performance (ESP) 2003, a highly scalable stress and performance tool for Exchange 2003, to simulate large numbers of client sessions by concurrently accessing one or more protocol servers. ESP includes multiple modules that you can use to simulate a wide variety of protocols and loads. You can run modules concurrently from multiple hosts, thereby more realistically simulating physically separate client machines. There is no limit to the number of computers on your network that can host ESP modules.

Inter-Organization Replication

Use the Inter-Organization Replication tool to replicate free and busy information and public folder content between Exchange organizations. The tool allows for the coordination of meeting, appointments, contacts, and public folder information between disjointed Exchange organizations. The tool consists of two programs: the Replication Configuration program (exscfg.exe), and the Replication service (exssrv.exe). The Replication Configuration program creates a configuration file for setting the replication frequency, logging options, folders to be replicated, and accounts to be used. The Replication service continuously updates information from one server (designated as the Publisher) to one or more Exchange servers (designated as Subscribers).

Exchange Deployment Tools

Use Exchange Server Deployment tools and documentation to lead you through the entire Exchange Server 2003 installation or upgrade process. To ensure that all of the required tools and services are installed and running properly, it is recommended that you run Exchange 2003 Setup through the Exchange Server Deployment Tools. When you use Exchange Server Deployment Tools, you can run specific tools and utilities to verify that your organization is ready for the Exchange 2003 installation.

Mailbox Merge Wizard (ExMerge)

Use the Mailbox Merge Program to extract data from mailboxes on a Microsoft Exchange Server and then merge this data into mailboxes on another Microsoft Exchange Server. The program copies data from the source server into Personal Folders (.PST files) and then merges the data, in the Personal Folders, into mailboxes on the destination server. The ability to merge data to and from an Exchange Server makes this program an invaluable tool with a variety of uses- especially during disaster recovery. The program can also replace existing data instead of merging new data if specified by the Administrator. Mailbox Merge has some limitations. Please read the tools documentation before using this program.

GUIDGen

Use the GUID Generator to generate globally unique identifiers, or GUIDs, that you can use to identify your ActiveX classes, objects, and interfaces. The GUID is copied to the Clipboard in one of four different formats for insertion into your application's source code.

Jetstress

Use Jetstress to verify the performance and stability of a disk subsystem prior to putting an Exchange server into production. Jetstress helps verify disk performance by simulating Exchange disk Input/Output (I/O) load. Specifically, Jetstress simulates the Exchange database and log file loads produced by a specific number of users. You use Performance Monitor, Event Viewer, and ESEUTIL in conjunction with Jetstress to verify that your disk subsystem meets or exceeds the performance criteria you establish. After a successful completion of the Jetstress Disk Performance and Stress Tests in a non-production environment, you will have ensured that your Exchange 2003 disk subsystem is adequately sized (in terms of performance criteria you establish) for the user count and user profiles you have established. It is highly recommended that the Jetstress user read through the tool documentation before using the tool.

Load Simulator 2003

Use Microsoft Exchange Server Load Simulator (LoadSim) 2003 as a benchmarking tool to simulate the performance load of MAPI clients. LoadSim allows you to test how a server running Exchange 2003 responds to e-mail loads. To simulate the delivery of these messaging requests, you run LoadSim tests on client computers. These tests send multiple messaging requests to the Exchange server, thereby causing a mail load. LoadSim is a useful tool for administrators who are sizing servers and validating a deployment plan. Specifically, LoadSim helps you determine if each of your servers can handle the load to which they are intended to carry. Another use for LoadSim is to help validate the overall solution.

Information Store Viewer (MDBVU32)

an style='font-size:12.0pt'>Use Information Store Viewer (also called MDBVu32) to view or set details about a user’s message storage files, which consist of the private information store, the personal folder file (.Pst), the public store and the offline folder file (.Ost). The Information Store Viewer shows the properties available for each message, how you can use them, and in what format they appear.

Management Pack

The Exchange 2003 Management Pack extends the capabilities of Microsoft Operations Manager by providing specialized monitoring for servers running Exchange 2003. This Management Pack includes a definition of health for an Exchange 2003 Server and will raise an alert to the administrator if it detects a state which requires intervention.

MTA Check

Use MTA Check, a command line tool, to check the MTA database consistency of Exchange message transfer agent (MTA) and to repair the MTA database if necessary. MTA Check will analyze and correct problems in the MTA. Run MTA Check if you suspect corruption in the MTA database or see errors written in the Event Log.

SMTP Internet Protocol Restriction and Accept/Deny List Configuration

Use the SMTP Internet Protocol Restriction and Accept/Deny List Configuration to programmatically set or view Internet Protocol (IP) restrictions on an SMTP virtual server and to add or remove IP addresses from your global accept or deny lists. Microsoft Exchange 2003 provides connection and relay control for its Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) virtual servers. Additionally, Exchange 2003 provides connection filtering that allows you to configure IP addresses from which you want to accept connections or from which you want to always deny connections. These settings are configured in global accept and deny lists in Connection Filtering. An administrator can use these controls to limit the computers that can connect to a virtual server or that can relay e-mail to outside the Exchange organization.

Up-To-Date Notifications Troubleshooting

Use the Up-to-Date Notifications troubleshooting tool to solve common notification issues. An administrator can input user and administration information (on the default page of this application). The information page shows the user’s device information (a list of devices the user has, what delivery method and address the device uses) to help an administrator narrow down notification issues that the user might be having. The tool also allows an administrator to send test e-mail to the specified devices.

WinRoute

Use WinRoute to determine the link state routing information as known to the routing master. The WinRoute tool connects to the link state port, TCP port 691, on Exchange 2000 or 2003 server and extracts the link state information for an organization. The information is a series of GUIDs that WinRoute matches to objects in Active Directory, connectors and bridgehead servers, and presents in human-readable format. This tool should be the first step in troubleshooting routing in an Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003 mail-handling environment.


[MS Exchange Blog]

Wednesday, November 5, 2003

Stick it in your ear

Hehee, now this is funny..  I would use one but what happens when the person you are talking to wants to say something to the kids?  Here son, let me put my finger in your ear. J 

From Japan (of course), a wristwatch phone called the Finger Whisper that uses vibrations to turn your finger into an earpiece -- the catch is that you have to actually stick your finger into your ear to get it to work, something that might get rather tedious. Beginning or finishing a call with the Finger Whisper is as simple as touching your forefinger to your thumb. Read...
[Gizmodo]

HP to introduce desktop blades

Sounds more like a 1-to-1 Terminal Server environment to me, but what do I know….  Someone out there know what the heck they are talking about and why it’s a good idea? 

Hewlett-Packard is set to take the desktop off the desk later this month when it unveils its latest blade computing system for businesses. The setup stores workers' PCs on a central rack.
[CNET News.com - Front Door]

Matrix Revolutions (spoiler-free)

I have seen that some people are disappointed by the last installment of the Matrix series.  They just don’t get it.  For those of you out there who may read this before seeing it yourself I will wait and not talk about any of the plot.  The special effects were simply incredible.  There was only one spot in the movie that looked somewhat cartoonie (like the burly brawl scene in the second one) but even that was short and immediately covered up with other simply awesome special effects.  Well done to everyone that had anything to do with this awesome movie!

 

More comments later, once I am sure others have had a chance to go see it. J  

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

HP to introduce desktop blades

Sounds more like a 1-to-1 Terminal Server environment to me, but what do I know….  Someone out there know what the heck they are talking about and why it’s a good idea? 

Hewlett-Packard is set to take the desktop off the desk later this month when it unveils its latest blade computing system for businesses. The setup stores workers' PCs on a central rack.
[CNET News.com - Front Door]

To The Driver Of The Seat Leon...

Hehehe someone else who uses their blog as a place to fuss at darn drivers. 

who purposely and insanely cut me up for no reason at the roundabout near Sainsbury's in Wellingborough this evening.

Sexual self-sufficiency isn't something to be proud of, and driving around like Mr fucking Magoo does nothing for your sub-zero, glorified shopping cart street-cred, you asshole.


[memoria technica : The Official Gary Turner™ Weblog / Moblog]

SF Chronicle: Building a crash-test Internet. The new test network, called the...

Isn’t that how the real internet was started?  I will know more in 24 hours but it kind of sounds like a Matrix vs. Zion type of scenario.  What happens if someone on the internet calls the deter network? J 

SF Chronicle: Building a crash-test Internet. The new test network, called the Cyber Defense Technology Experimental Research Network, or DETER, will contain lots of routers and switches imitating the complexity of the real Net. It won't be nearly as big as the real Internet -- the goal is to eventually hook up 1,000 PCs -- but the researchers hope it will be comparable in behavior.
[Tomalak's Realm]

The PFDavAdmin Tool

Boy, I wish we had this back when I was with the big S. 

If you've ever had anyone who's mucked with permissions in the M: drive, you'll know that the repercussions can be serious. The most common thing seen is where someone modifies permissions to public folders via the M: drive, which changes the order of permissions from MAPI canonical to NTFS canonical. The result is that if you then try to add someone to the permissions list of the public folder via Exchange System Manager, you get the classic Invalid windows handle ID no: 80040102 error, as documented in MSKB 313333.

In MSKB 313333, you are advised to use PFINFO.EXE to resolve the problem. Well, there's another tool on offer to resolve such problems - PFDavAdmin. This is a fantastic tool which I had to use recently on a customer site, after I couldn't add any permissions to the Organizational Forms library. I've managed to get Microsoft to upload the PFDavAdmin tool to their PSS site. The tool can be found here. However, you should note that this utility is not supported, and that you use it entirely at your own risk.

If you download the tool, you'll find a Word document attached that nicely explains the features of PFDavAdmin. PFDavAdmin must be run on a computer that has the .NET Framework 1.1 installed, running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 2003. It must also be a member of the forest in which the target Exchange 2000 server resides. The user running the tool must be logged into Windows as an Exchange Administrator.

This utility lets you do several things:

• Modify folder permissions on folders in the MAPI tree using an interface similar to ESM
• Propagate the addition/replacement or removal of one or more ACEs down the public folder tree without overwriting the entire ACL
• Fix non-canonical and otherwise damaged DACLs on folders in bulk
• Report the DACL state of folders in bulk
• Export and Import folder permissions on both public folders and mailboxes
• Export and Import replica lists
• Propagate changes to the replica list down the tree without overwriting
• Check for and remove item-level permissions in bulk
• Check for event registrations
• Exceed limits imposed by the ESM GUI for values on the Limits tab

This tool accesses the store via webDAV, so you will notice that bulk operations are quite slow and will take a long time to complete against thousands of folders when running against Exchange 2000. If you use this tool against Exchange 2003, it is much faster. Be sure to check out the Known Issues section of the document before using it.

The screen shot below shows you PFDavAdmin looking at the permissions on the Organizational Forms library folder. In the top-right corner, you'll see the DACL state listed as Good. This is what you'll expect to see once the utility has done its magic, assuming of course that you had problems with the folder in the first place. Of course, the utility can work against normal public folders and mailboxes too.

PFDavAdmin Utility

Be sure to check this tool out, as it will make a very good addition to your toolkit. Treat it with the respect it deserves, though.


[MS Exchange Blog]

New Outlook 2003 Command Line Switches

Coolness. 

Sue Mosher has kindly pointed out that there are a number of new command line switches that have been added with Outlook 2003... there's a full list here... thanks Sue!


[MS Exchange Blog]

Three degrees to Kevin Bacon

Here is a snip from Marc’s Voice.  Go figure… MS stands up to the RIAA. Hehe

 

 

Microsoft has a social networking environment - called Three Degrees - which allows folks to listen to music - at the same time.  I thought that that music could ONLY be 'legally purchased' from Microsoft - but it turns out it'll let you 'share' listening with up to 10 people - with any MP3.

This is key, as apparently Microsoft went to the RIAA - to work out the 'deal' ahead of time. It seems like Microsoft lawyers pointed out (I'm sure very politely) that indeed, the copyright laws do allow us to 'fair use' and since we're Microsoft and we just beat you in court on outright monopolistic policies - we Microsoft - have every intention of exercising our Constitutional/Bill of Rights/Copyright rights - and we're gonna enable some 'fair use'.

That's called a precedent folks. That means WE can do the same thing, and hide behind Microsoft on this one.  And THAT's how to perceive and use Microsoft - in today's day and age. 

<snip>

[Marc's Voice]

Microsoft Announces Availability of Windows RMS for W2K3

Oh Joy!! K 


[NeoWin.net]

Xbox to Switch to PowerPC

Whoa!  This is some news…  I wonder what this will mean in the long run? 

The chip that powers the Macintosh will soon be in Microsoft's gaming console. That's good news for IBM and a bad sign for Intel. By Leander Kahney.
[Wired News]

Monday, November 3, 2003

To The Driver Of The Seat Leon...

Hehehe someone else who uses their blog as a place to fuss at darn drivers. 

who purposely and insanely cut me up for no reason at the roundabout near Sainsbury's in Wellingborough this evening.

Sexual self-sufficiency isn't something to be proud of, and driving around like Mr fucking Magoo does nothing for your sub-zero, glorified shopping cart street-cred, you asshole.


[memoria technica : The Official Gary Turner™ Weblog / Moblog]

SF Chronicle: Building a crash-test Internet. The new test network, called the...

Isn’t that how the real internet was started?  I will know more in 24 hours but it kind of sounds like a Matrix vs. Zion type of scenario.  What happens if someone on the internet calls the deter network? J 

SF Chronicle: Building a crash-test Internet. The new test network, called the Cyber Defense Technology Experimental Research Network, or DETER, will contain lots of routers and switches imitating the complexity of the real Net. It won't be nearly as big as the real Internet -- the goal is to eventually hook up 1,000 PCs -- but the researchers hope it will be comparable in behavior.
[Tomalak's Realm]

The PFDavAdmin Tool

Boy, I wish we had this back when I was with the big S. 

If you've ever had anyone who's mucked with permissions in the M: drive, you'll know that the repercussions can be serious. The most common thing seen is where someone modifies permissions to public folders via the M: drive, which changes the order of permissions from MAPI canonical to NTFS canonical. The result is that if you then try to add someone to the permissions list of the public folder via Exchange System Manager, you get the classic Invalid windows handle ID no: 80040102 error, as documented in MSKB 313333.

In MSKB 313333, you are advised to use PFINFO.EXE to resolve the problem. Well, there's another tool on offer to resolve such problems - PFDavAdmin. This is a fantastic tool which I had to use recently on a customer site, after I couldn't add any permissions to the Organizational Forms library. I've managed to get Microsoft to upload the PFDavAdmin tool to their PSS site. The tool can be found here. However, you should note that this utility is not supported, and that you use it entirely at your own risk.

If you download the tool, you'll find a Word document attached that nicely explains the features of PFDavAdmin. PFDavAdmin must be run on a computer that has the .NET Framework 1.1 installed, running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 2003. It must also be a member of the forest in which the target Exchange 2000 server resides. The user running the tool must be logged into Windows as an Exchange Administrator.

This utility lets you do several things:

• Modify folder permissions on folders in the MAPI tree using an interface similar to ESM
• Propagate the addition/replacement or removal of one or more ACEs down the public folder tree without overwriting the entire ACL
• Fix non-canonical and otherwise damaged DACLs on folders in bulk
• Report the DACL state of folders in bulk
• Export and Import folder permissions on both public folders and mailboxes
• Export and Import replica lists
• Propagate changes to the replica list down the tree without overwriting
• Check for and remove item-level permissions in bulk
• Check for event registrations
• Exceed limits imposed by the ESM GUI for values on the Limits tab

This tool accesses the store via webDAV, so you will notice that bulk operations are quite slow and will take a long time to complete against thousands of folders when running against Exchange 2000. If you use this tool against Exchange 2003, it is much faster. Be sure to check out the Known Issues section of the document before using it.

The screen shot below shows you PFDavAdmin looking at the permissions on the Organizational Forms library folder. In the top-right corner, you'll see the DACL state listed as Good. This is what you'll expect to see once the utility has done its magic, assuming of course that you had problems with the folder in the first place. Of course, the utility can work against normal public folders and mailboxes too.

PFDavAdmin Utility

Be sure to check this tool out, as it will make a very good addition to your toolkit. Treat it with the respect it deserves, though.


[MS Exchange Blog]

New Outlook 2003 Command Line Switches

Coolness. 

Sue Mosher has kindly pointed out that there are a number of new command line switches that have been added with Outlook 2003... there's a full list here... thanks Sue!


[MS Exchange Blog]

Three degrees to Kevin Bacon

Here is a snip from Marc’s Voice.  Go figure… MS stands up to the RIAA. Hehe

 

 

Microsoft has a social networking environment - called Three Degrees - which allows folks to listen to music - at the same time.  I thought that that music could ONLY be 'legally purchased' from Microsoft - but it turns out it'll let you 'share' listening with up to 10 people - with any MP3.

This is key, as apparently Microsoft went to the RIAA - to work out the 'deal' ahead of time. It seems like Microsoft lawyers pointed out (I'm sure very politely) that indeed, the copyright laws do allow us to 'fair use' and since we're Microsoft and we just beat you in court on outright monopolistic policies - we Microsoft - have every intention of exercising our Constitutional/Bill of Rights/Copyright rights - and we're gonna enable some 'fair use'.

That's called a precedent folks. That means WE can do the same thing, and hide behind Microsoft on this one.  And THAT's how to perceive and use Microsoft - in today's day and age. 

<snip>

[Marc's Voice]

Tooth for a tooth

Now this, this is waaaaay cool.  Take a look at the link on ExtremeTech… It’s worth it. 

Once upon a time, people wondered what the heck Bluetooth was going to be useful for.

Now, one of most drool-worthy Bluetooth devices (well, besides the Smart car) is on the horizon, and believe it or not, it's *gasp* practical!

XtremeMac has announced the iPod Bluetooth adapter, which will enable the user to stream audio to headphones, speakers, and even your car (hmm, a Smart perhaps?). To me, this is the ultimate iPod accessory, since it gives you ultimate mobility. If this thing works (and works well), I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

FM transmitters, like my iTrip, are all fine and dandy, but I've had a few issues with it lately. I often fumble with it to find and tune an appropriate frequency. It also does not fit on my iPod when it is in its case (an iSee). Lately, it has also been acting a bit flaky about working at all. Long story short? I need a new drug.

More details on this Bluetooth device are available at ExtremeTech (it is mentioned near the end of the first page).

(via AkibaLive)


[geeky.chick.blog]

Nirotek's single speaker surround sound system

Wow, this is cool.  Someone smarter than me will have to explain what the heck they are doing to make this work… 

Two new single speaker surround sound systems from Nirotek. Both the NIRO 1.1 and the NIRO 1.1 PRO only need one speaker and a subwoofer to create 5.1 channel Dolby surround sound. Pioneer has something similar; their PDSP-1 is actually a single panel with 254 small speakers that project the sound in different ways to create the effect of surround sound. Read...
[Gizmodo]

Red Hat Linux Support To End

EEK!  The title alone is worth checking out the news. 


[Slashdot]

Microsoft Voice Command

This is a new app notice!  Microsoft has released a new tool for Pocket PC users.  Dale Coffing does a good rundown on this new product so go check it out at http://www.pocketpcpassion.com

Here is a snip.

<snip>

Here is a quote in the news release from a pretty reliable source that you may know ;)  "“Microsoft’s Voice Command sets a new standard in voice-controlled applications for mobile devices,” said Dale Coffing, editor in chief of PocketPCPassion.com. “The out-of-the-box experience for making phone calls, hearing the details of upcoming appointments and listening to music is superb. Being able to use my Pocket PC so easily while driving my car or just walking down the street is phenomenal.” Here is a Flash Demo at Microsoft  

Sunday, November 2, 2003

Tooth for a tooth

Now this, this is waaaaay cool.  Take a look at the link on ExtremeTech… It’s worth it. 

Once upon a time, people wondered what the heck Bluetooth was going to be useful for.

Now, one of most drool-worthy Bluetooth devices (well, besides the Smart car) is on the horizon, and believe it or not, it's *gasp* practical!

XtremeMac has announced the iPod Bluetooth adapter, which will enable the user to stream audio to headphones, speakers, and even your car (hmm, a Smart perhaps?). To me, this is the ultimate iPod accessory, since it gives you ultimate mobility. If this thing works (and works well), I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

FM transmitters, like my iTrip, are all fine and dandy, but I've had a few issues with it lately. I often fumble with it to find and tune an appropriate frequency. It also does not fit on my iPod when it is in its case (an iSee). Lately, it has also been acting a bit flaky about working at all. Long story short? I need a new drug.

More details on this Bluetooth device are available at ExtremeTech (it is mentioned near the end of the first page).

(via AkibaLive)


[geeky.chick.blog]

Nirotek's single speaker surround sound system

Wow, this is cool.  Someone smarter than me will have to explain what the heck they are doing to make this work… 

Two new single speaker surround sound systems from Nirotek. Both the NIRO 1.1 and the NIRO 1.1 PRO only need one speaker and a subwoofer to create 5.1 channel Dolby surround sound. Pioneer has something similar; their PDSP-1 is actually a single panel with 254 small speakers that project the sound in different ways to create the effect of surround sound. Read...
[Gizmodo]

Red Hat Linux Support To End

EEK!  The title alone is worth checking out the news. 


[Slashdot]