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Debian Apache 2 error: Invalid query name 1

mark — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:25:35 +0000

I've seen this error in my Apache 2 logs on my Debian server for a while, and tonight I found the solution: Symptoms: the Apache 2 error.log file (usually /var/log/apache2/error.log) shows a somewhat constant flow of errors which simply state "Invalid query name 1". Cause: The error is caused by a bug in the host util that is used for IP and DNS lookups. Solution: Replace the default host utility with the Bind9 host util, easily done with APT:

apt-get remove host apt-get install bind9-host

On some systems the removal of the original host utility also removes the dnsutils package, which can easliy be reinstalled with the command:

apt-get install dnsutils

Ahhhh...error-free logs. Beaut!

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Gimme powerrrr

mark — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:17:42 +0000

There was a power failure at the NIKHEF data center tonight, one of the (if not THE) biggest AMSiX hubs. Ouch! All connectivity lost to the super data center my little server is in. So...server doing fine, data center doing fine, upstream data link dead. Damn. Back up inside two hours is pretty good though, tip 'o the hat to the engineers over there.

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Too funny - literal music video song texts

mark — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:19:15 +0000

This really cracked me up...what if songs lyrics were actually about what's happening in the music video? Check it out: [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HE9OQ4FnkQ]

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Twitter marketing - it works (on me)

mark — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:19:32 +0000

I just started using Twitter again about a week ago, and I got a reply to a tweet I ... erm ... tweeted. My message was: "I have a podcast and audiobook fetish. No support groups for me.", and the reply I got from 'podiobooks' was "We can be your support group for your podcast and audiobook fetish! :)" It turns out that Podiobooks is a free audiobook podcast service with quite an interesting selection of books. No major mainstream names here, but mostly independent authors. Users can donate to an author if they like his/her work, and of every donation 75% goes directly to the author in question. A very cool system (I have an account now and will be enjoying my first downloads in the car tomorrow), and first proof that Twitter marketing actually works. On me anyway, but still...

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Total geek fetish: The Hardcore Reactor

mark — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:00:03 +0000

Most PC's are air cooled, some extreme machines have water cooling, but this little puppy is 'Liquid Submersion' cooled. Yes, you read that right: the buzzing insides of this uber-performance PC are submersed in a non-conductive liquid (an oil, really). The patented cooling system allows for extreme performance without frying your boards or chips. The system circulates the coolant through a radiator at 2.5 gallons per minute, effectively providing a cool heat-exchange medium to every component on every available millimeter of surface. The Hardcore machine uses oodles of custom or customised parts and can run up to three top of the line graphics cards without breaking a sweat. There's two fan-cooled, 3.5" SATA hot swap bays in the rear of the case but the Reactor has three 2.5" slots which are outfitted with three Samsung SLC-based SSD drives. Do not put normal harddisks in these slots folks, they will most likely die in the liquid. Oh, and the machine has redundant power supplies, so you will probably expire before this puppy does. Available from around USD 4000 for the base model the price is hefty compared to your run-of-the-mill system, but not when you take into account all that this powerhouse delivers. The stats are awesome and the full spec list is yummy. Go check it out, Maximum PC did an excellent test & write-up of this beast. Hardcore Computer via Maximum PC

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Whoa...Apple is getting nasty?

mark — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:07:58 +0000

I just watched Apple's new set of "I'm a Mac / I'm a PC" ads, and I must say that even though I still like the products I do think the marketing is getting nastier. Where before they were quirky and funny yet generalised, now they're really putting the boot in. I'm not sure I really like it. Or maybe I'm just a big softy. Check it out for yourself: [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RotldEfKXqk] [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_18RKPHD6CU] [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHtymB-lQIc] [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50DHHMBIJf8] [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0PSPALFUhM]

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Rock Band kicks ass

mark — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:15:25 +0000

Okay, I'm behind the times on this one, but I had my first full Rock Band experience tonight with my friends Robert and Liesbeth. I've played Guitar Hero parts 1, 2 and 3 before, as well as the Aerosmith edition (Robert and I finished it on medium in one afternoon) and even the sucky Rock the 80's encore thing. But: Rock Band beats 'em all.

The game itself is what you'd expect but better than before: The addition of the drum set and microphone really clinch the 'band' feel, and the base version (PS2 that is) containt 61 (!) tracks and some really great ones too. The interface is slicker but then again takes longer to load, although you only notice that the first time and we were yapping and high-fiving though the loads anyway. The drumming is *F*U*N*, but harder than you'd think. Especially the pase bedal messes you up (and cramps up your shins really quick when you're starting out), but it feels great to be hammering out those beats. The singing...well, let's leave that to the professionals. On a regular-sized TV the song lyrics could (or should) have been bigger, we we sitting down right in front of the TV to be able to read them, but it's actually quite easy if you know the song beforehand. If you don't, you'll mess up pretty quick, so don't go trying that in public right away ;-) On the whole we head a great time, for me this is the best game I've played this year so far. It's more fun than Guitar Hero, although we can't wait for the new Guitar Hero World Tour game with a full band set as well (and improved drums).

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Word of the day: Asslete

mark — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:49:47 +0000

I was laughing all afternoon, thanks to PvPonline:

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Noteboek - just brilliant

mark — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:41:29 +0000

Quite the brilliant piece of animation: Noteboek by Evelien Lohbeck [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP-reW1eLYE]

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What a difference a month makes

mark — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:33:06 +0000

Okay, it's been closer to 7 weeks than a month since I've posted anything here, but what the hey, post titles need to pop a little as well ;-) So, what is my brilliant excuse now? Well, mainly work to be honest. My first day back at work after my vacation my boss asked me in for a chat and announced that:

Two of the five teams in our unit (the two field ops teams) were being disbanded as teams and the people therein moved to our other office to join both field ops groups together in one unit. Makes sense, but it was a bit on the quick side.
All the remote management and service tasks from one of those teams was to be moved to my team. Ouch, extra work on systems and networks we normally rarely touch. ooooo..kay....
My team (which used to be 6 people including yours truly) was shrinking to 4 people. One of my guys decided to leave to pursue his former career (before getting into IT), and one was moved to the field ops unit as well. Ouch!
There was some major higher-level-management stress going on about achieving targets, which really, really didn't help. Sigh.

So...the overall conclusion: we were getting more work, and we were going to have to do it with less people, under more stress. Never a good sign I thought. Let's just say it has been a very, very intensive first three two weeks (not helped by the fact that 2 of my remaining guys were on holiday at the same time for two of those weeks) which at several times made me seriously doubt staying in this company. And then getting job offers left and right at the same time...well, let's say it has taken some determination to stick with it. But I did. In retrospect I must say that I quite proud that we've pulled through. The two weeks with just A. and me to handle the work and stress was no fun, also because we could only handle the top-priority stuff and not really get some structural work done, but now that E. and K. are back we've stabilised the whole thing again. Everyone has gotten used to the new structure (well mostly, anyway), and my manager K. and his boss H. have actually been very good about everything: always honest and open about what was going on and understanding about the pressure we were under. I must thank A. for his great contribution and thank E. and K. for stepping up to the plate and handling a *lot* of stuff once they were back. Life is slowly returning to normal again, which frees up some time for a social life again. Yay.

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