Category: Random

Update: Not sure when this happened but I was checking the requirements for FS on Linux at Dropbox.com and apparently they DO support BTRFS once again. So the process outlined in this post is no longer necessary.

See announcement: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/19/07/22/1534200/dropbox-brings-back-support-for-zfs-xfs-btrfs-and-ecryptfs-on-linux

Old article: This is less of a write up and more of a PSA:

Want to put BTRFS on every device you have like me because you can’t get enough of CoW FS? Especially for operating systems? Because snapper? cgroups? timeshift? machinectl? The list goes on…

Continue reading “Want BTRFS CoW snapshots but need to use Dropbox?”

PSA: Stop using password login for root on your router! NOW!!!

OK, now that I got your attention, here’s how I did it in Git Bash (MINGW64) on Windows LTSC. I promise this is QUICK and EASY, so there’s NO EXCUSE not to do it.

Continue reading “Quick and dirty SSH key for pfSense / OPNsense gateway”

So I’ve been playing with some of the Turnkey Linux VMs, which are nice a lightweight Debian Linux OS core packaged with purpose-built software.

Continue reading “Tricks for Importing VMware Workstation VMDK to ESXi 6.7”

I saw this on a German web site called speicher.de and I thought it was pretty significant so I thought I’d share a copy of the translation to English

The Asrock J4105-ITX is a useful low-power build that has been confirmed to work as an ESXi IGD GPU passthrough computer with 4K@60Hz HDMI 2.0. It can be had for around $110 for the motherboard.

The real sticking point for ESXi, besides the realtek NIC, is who wants to run an ESXi host that can only support up to 8GB RAM? As that is the official specifications listed on the Asrock web site…

Well this group of hardware testers in Germany has laid that myth to rest by doing their own testing, and they confirm that configurations of up to 32GB work just fine. Have a look:

Continue reading “Asrock J4105-ITX 16GB and 32GB memory configuration tests”

Make your Windows experience more nerdy!

I tend to notice Windows users fall into a few major categories:

1. Unaware any OS besides Windows exists
2. Uses Windows because that’s what they’re most comfortable with
3. Doesn’t like Windows per se, but can’t afford a Mac, and doesn’t want to grapple with Linux
4. Likes posix-compliant OS better, but trapped by vendor lock-in requiring use of proprietary software only available on Windows

If you’re like me, you’re in the 4th category. I love package managers, bash shells, am most comfortable with nix commands and regex, and while I think powershell is a step in the right direction, the syntax is unfamiliar enough that I still have to consult references in order to do most things. It’s also ridiculously verbose compared to posix OS.

Continue reading “Linux or MacOS lover, but have to use Windows?”

This review is for the Anpviz IPC-B850W-D 5MP@15FPS security camera w/ mic and Micro-SD card support.

Full disclosure: I purchased this camera and was later reimbursed for writing this review. However, I will do my best to offer a totally objective viewpoint on the pros and cons of this model.

Since I was hired to do installation and maintenance of a TVI DVR system at a local restaurant, I’d been wanting to set up a couple cameras around my home.

I’m not so worried about theft or break-ins like the restaurant is, but even in a mellow, low-stress area like ours recording a few key areas can still be helpful. For instance, we share a fence with a parking lot, so it gets hit by cars occasionally and we’d like to know who did it if we’re not home. Also, you never known when someone might take an Amazon delivery off your doorstep, as that is becoming common even in nice neighborhoods.

Continue reading “Musings about Home CCTV setup, and a review of Anpviz 5MP@15FPS POE security camera”

Disclaimer: Sorry for the phone pics of my screen, I was using an installer disk for this procedure and there was no screenshot feature.

I’m migrating a MacOS install but the source drive is 256GB and the destination is 250GB. It’s not too much of a mismatch, but still prevents a straight-across restore.

What ever to do?

Continue reading “Using APFS features to migrate from a larger disk to a smaller one”

OK, so I’ve been fighting it, but I decided learning WordPress is a necessary evil. Supposedly according to website tech stats WordPress is powering 25% of all websites. I’m not sure if that’s entirely relevant if 15% of those sites are as bad as mine, but I figured if even 10% are decent then it’s probably worth learning.

I use the W3Techs extension in Chrome to look at what technology websites I visit use and WordPress comes up time after time. Some of them are significant players, like a lot of online newspapers and major companies. So here I am, in the middle of the bell-curve, going along with the crowd, jumping on the bandwagon, and flinging myself off a bridge because my friends did it.

Continue reading “Hello, banana!”