Billy (Oct 23 2007)

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Profile Matt Lebofsky
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Message 665250 - Posted: 23 Oct 2007, 21:58:02 UTC

Lots of little things today. Jeff and I are working on the automated data pipeline in preparation for the data recording to come back on line - where recording, reading, copying to offsite archives, splitting, deleting, etc. happens via a set of automated scripts. Bob is fairly convinced the science database replica is working adequately - we tested various shutdown scenarios and it came back on line after each one.

I spent some time working on wiki-fying parts of the SETI@home website. There's been a growing list of planned edits/upgrades to our website that none of us ever got around to, so this has been a long time comin' (and it's far from useful yet). Speaking of lists of things to fix: I got that client-connection-types page working again. It's a permissions problem that break every time linux automatically updates httpd.

I grow weary of having to read manuals (very few well-written) every time I need to install/upgrade/fix anything. Things used to be much more intuitive and simple. Nowadays standards are pretty much entirely abandoned and direct contact with actual bits and bytes has been abstracted to death. It's like having a garage full of simple tools (c-clamps, screwdriver, jigsaw, etc.) that you don't have direct access to anymore - the garage is now guarded by Billy who will gladly obtain the proper tool and do whatever you tell him to do with it. Billy doesn't speak English - and the language he comprehends changes all the time - some days he only speaks Portugese, sometimes Estonian, sometimes Afrikaans - every few months a new language is added to the list. You just want to hang a stupid picture frame in your hallway but there you are, desperately trying to figure out how to say "hammer" in Japanese. Billy doesn't like it when you yell.

- Matt

-- BOINC/SETI@home network/web/science/development person
-- "Any idiot can have a good idea. What is hard is to do it." - Jeanne-Claude
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Profile Neil Blaikie
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Message 665309 - Posted: 23 Oct 2007, 23:15:41 UTC

I know how you feel about small things getting in the way. Am in the process of re-wiring 300ft of Cat5 cable in an office with supposedly a roof void, 125ft in, brick wall with rebar in!

Linux while good for some things really sucks at times, had the same problem with httpd on many occasions causing permission problems. 3 different manuals with little color codes for the relevant httpd issues.

Keep up the good work guys and thanks again for the information Matt, had a look at your website the other day, nice pictures from your camping trip in the mountains, like the GPS info included as well.
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Message 665463 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 2:56:18 UTC

I don't mean to laugh at your frustration, but I found your analogy of your problem quite humorous.
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Message 665500 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 3:49:25 UTC - in response to Message 665250.  

Speaking of lists of things to fix: I got that client-connection-types page working again. It's a permissions problem that break every time linux automatically updates httpd.

How often is the list updated?

Contribute to the Wiki!
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Message 665565 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 6:03:41 UTC

Can you take a digital camera ad shoot some sots of the SETI hardware?

Would be nice to see the source of your frustration?


Thanks


E J Cox CPP
Never engage stupid people at their level, they then have the home court advantage.....
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Profile John Neale
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Message 665651 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 10:15:14 UTC - in response to Message 665250.  

Billy doesn't speak English - and the language he comprehends changes all the time - some days he only speaks Portugese, sometimes Estonian, sometimes Afrikaans - every few months a new language is added to the list.


Matt, thanks for the update and the humour. Both are (as always) appreciated.

And when Billy insists on speaking Afrikaans, drop me a line - I can help! :)

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Message 665656 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 10:38:16 UTC - in response to Message 665565.  

Can you take a digital camera ad shoot some sots of the SETI hardware?

Would be nice to see the source of your frustration?

Some old shots are here:

Switching Over

Sunday at the Lab


I have enough fun with just 3 servers and a comms rack crammed into a 'closet' at one location. (And I've soon to squeeze another 3 machines and more switches in there 'soon'...) At least that one is just a 'one'. I've got much less of a headache for other servers and nothing like the s@h headaches. Having room to move and being able to keep everything tidy is very worthwhile! (Work area excepted!! :-p )


All good fun.

Happy crunchin',
Martin

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)
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Message 665752 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 14:41:47 UTC

Matt, good thing Billy isn't your boss! Remember things could be worse.
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Message 665798 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 16:42:30 UTC
Last modified: 24 Oct 2007, 16:45:06 UTC

Matt, I don't think that your fix to the client-types script worked... I'm still getting "Of the 0 last connections to the scheduler:" every time I look at the page... (4 times spaced over 3 hours today)

Shouldn't that be "Of the last #### connections to the scheduler:", instead of "#### last connections" BTW?
.

Hello, from Albany, CA!...
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Message boards : Technical News : Billy (Oct 23 2007)


 
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