Archive for the 'Open Source' Category

Slackware 11 Beta

Published
by
Tyler
on July 31, 2006
in Linux, Open Source and Personal
. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Isn’t it about time for Beta 1 of Slackware 11 to be released? I’d surely think so, especially with all the updates being made to the slackware-current changelog lately. I was thinking that Patrick would take a chance and make 2.6 the default kernel in Slackware 11, I don’t think that’ll happen now. 2.4.32 or 2.4.33 will most likely be the default kernel found in Slackware 11. I say this due to the changes that have been made to the kernel 2.4.32 packages in -current.

I’ll continue waiting patiently for Slackware 11 Beta 1…

Popularity: 4% [?]

WordPress Security Issue

Published
by
Tyler
on July 28, 2006
in Internet, Open Source, Personal, Security and WordPress
. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Dr. Dave, the dude behind Spam Karma, has issued a warning to all WordPress users. A message popped up on my Spam Karma 2 dashboard warning of a potential security vulnerability in WordPress. Here’s part of the warning:

If you are running Wordpress as your blogging platform and if you have been trusting enough to leave User registration enabled for guests, DISABLE IT IMMEDIATELY (in wp-admin >> options: make sure “Anyone can register” is not checked).

Additionally, delete or disable ANY guest account already created by people you are not sure about.

Leaving it open and letting people sign-up for guest accounts on your Wordpress blog could lead to incredibly nasty stuff happening if anybody so desired. And trust me I am not exaggerating this. So don’t wait a second to disable this option and please relay the message.

Now, the WordPress development team was apparently notified a “while back”. They supposedly haven’t done anything yet to rectify this problem. Dr. Dave has received a lot of questions due to his initial post. In turn, he’s made another post in which he addresses some of those questions.

Hopefully we’ll see WordPress 2.0.4 out within a few days.

UPDATE: WordPress 2.0.4 Beta is out. It should be safe to open user registrations under WordPress 2.0.4. I’d expect to see the final 2.0.4 release next week.
[via Ryan Boren]

Popularity: 3% [?]

Restoring a Hacked Linux Server

Published
by
Tyler
on July 18, 2006
in Internet, Linux, Open Source and Personal
. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

This is a great post at MDLog. Marius goes into great detail on how you should respond when you know a linux server has been compromised.

It’s an interesting read if you’ve ever had the opportunity to be the administrator of a linux server. Probably interesting if you haven’t had that opportunity. None of my systems have ever been hacked, and I admin about 5 linux servers both at home and work. I’ve always sort of had a plan of attack though in the event it did happen. And, I’m happy to say, it would look very similar to Marius’s post.

Data Recovery Lost Data? Hard Drive Crashed? Software Corrupted? Wrong choice in data recovery solution or services might mean losing the data forever.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Looking Ahead: Slackware 11

Published
by
Tyler
on June 13, 2006
in Linux, Open Source and Personal
. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Crossposted from Slackware Blog.

Well, we’re getting closer to a Slackware 11 release. What kind of software goodies can we expect from this release? On May 31st, KDE released KDE 3.5.3, which has since been included in slackware-current. Unless KDE makes another release soon, I expect we’ll see KDE 3.5.3 included in Slackware 11.

Slackware 11 is still using a 2.4 kernel by default, with the 2.6.16.20 kernel in “testing”. Chess Griffin is guessing Slackware 11 will be released on June 25th. I don’t think that’s gonna happen, but Chess made that guess back in May. I am guessing that Slackware 11 will be released around August 11th. I say that because we haven’t even seen Slackware 11 Beta 1 yet.

I would expect to see a 2.6 kernel as the default kernel in Slackware 11. Having a 2.4 kernel as the default is something people like to poke fun at Slackware for. Now that kernel 2.6 has been around for a few years, I expect Patrick will set it as the default. Patrick will make the right decision, as he always has, no matter which kernel he chooses to set as the default.

Other new software that will be included in Slackware 11 is MySQL 5.0, Apache 1.3.36, PHP 4.4.2, Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.4, Mozilla Thunderbird 1.5.0.4, and X11 6.9.0. Now, this is software that’s currently included in slackware-current, so the version numbers may change slightly before Slackware 11 is actually released.

So far, it looks like we can expect a nicely polished release of Slackware 11, as usual. I’m just hoping Patrick decides to go with a 2.6 kernel by default.

On a somewhat releated note, this guy here at wordpress.com seems to be addicted to his Slackware box. Apparently it’s caused him to miss a few lunches, he’s having trouble dragging himself away from the beauty that is Slackware.

Somebody should drag me away from my PC. Ever since I installed Slackware on it, I could not get myself to stay away from the damn thing. My eyes are hurting, and my stomach is grumbling from missed lunches.

Popularity: 4% [?]

WordPress Widget Plugin

Published
by
Tyler
on March 30, 2006
in Internet, Open Source and Personal
. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

Want to change your WordPress sidebar but don’t wanna edit any code? The WordPress Widgets Plugin is just what you’re looking for.

It made it’s debut on Wordpress.com a few months ago and is now being released for public consumption. If everything goes well, it might get included in the next WordPress release.

Widgets are an easy way for you to arrange and rearrange your sidebar to your hearts content without touching a line of code. We first launched WordPress Widgets (WPW) it on WordPress.com a month ago and the response was great. Now we’re ready to release the plugin to the world. If adoption goes well, we’ll consider rolling it into the next version of WordPress.

You can get the plugin here. WordPress Theme Park notes that theme developers will want to try to make their themes work out-of-the-box with this plugin. It’s apparently pretty easy.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Here’s Performancing Metrics

Published
by
Tyler
on March 15, 2006
in Internet, Open Source and Personal
. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

Performancing, the guys who brought us a great blogging tool for Firefox, have recently launched Performancing Metrics. It’s their new statistics package, designed specifically for blogs. Now, I love Mint, it lets me easily see how many people read posts and all that good stuff. Performancing Metrics basically gives the same types of data, they just have a different (and in my opinion better) method for displaying the data.

Performancing Metrics is still in beta, although they’re still accepting new signups. The service is free and will most likely remain free. In the most recent post at the Performancing blog, they mention they hope to release Performancing Metrics as an Open Source package eventually. That is absolutely, 100%, certified, killer!

About 24 hours after Performancing Metrics launched, 2500 blogs were already being tracked. I think Performancing is really on to something here. They’ve got a very unique interface for displaying all the data. You can even track more than one blog from your Performancing account.

Rather than me going into details, just go to Solution Watch and read what Performancing Metrics has in store for you. They’ve got a really nice write-up along with screenshots. ProBlogger also has an extensive review of Metrics.

Popularity: 3% [?]

cheap xbox 360 games - buy from zavvi
cheap xbox 360 games - zavvi

No Teletrack Payday Loans - mobile phones - Web Design - Debt Consolidation - Credit Counseling - Credit Card - Loan
Search Engine Optimisation - Mobile Phone - Bike Insurance - Landlords Insurance - Search Engine Marketing - Mobile Phone