Upgrading Python

Looking at the Torrentflux requisites there is one that a full upgraded Cobalt OS 6 doesn't have: Python release 2.2 or greater. The OS of a Cobalt RaQ 4 only has Python 1.5.3. I don't know why but I downloaded Python 2.2.3 sources (maybe I can use a newer release, I'll try later) from the Python RPM page. I downloaded the Redhat special version.

This time not tar zxvf, the command is rpm -i python-2.2.3-26.src.rpm, and then the sources must be located in the /usr/src/redhat/sources/Python-2.2.3 folder. You know... change to that folder and be root: cd /usr/src/redhat/sources/Python-2.2.3, then type su and intro the root/admin password.

After this you can do the usual compilation/installation from sources:

1 ./configure

2 ./make

3 ./make install

Now the executable is /usr/local/bin/python. In the case of the Cobalt OS we need this file in /usr/bin: cd /usr/local/bin, cp python2.2 /usr/bin/python2.2, cd /usr/bin, cp python2.2 python. The last command overwrites the old executable (it remains as python1.5).

The last thing to do is reboot the server and ...... voilà.

Installing the no-ip client

I don't have static IP from my Internet provider, so I need use a Dynamic DNS server system to access my servers from everywhere I go. There is two major service providers: DynDNS and No-Ip.com. Some time ago I used the No-ip service in another project and I tried this now for hat reason and because I like its web interface (No tests with DynDNS are made but...). First decision made here comes the second: In what server install the client software? EASY, in the Cobalt RaQ 4... low power needed to run and usually it's running 24/7.

The process is very easy:

1. Download the client software to te Cobalt appliance. In my case I download it with my workstation and then used FTP to put the file in the admin folder, but there is a beter and faster command to do: log as admin with any telnet client and the write wget http://www.no-ip.com/client/linux/noip-duc-linux.tar.gz,
2. Uncompress the file. Write tar zxvf noip-duc-linux.tar.gz and press enter. Now you have a new folder called noip-2.1.7 -Obviously the numbers can change with a new release of the client-. go into the new folder with cd noip-2.1.7.
3. Compile the client program. First you need become root user. Type su and press enter. You will be asked for the password, this password is the same as the admin one. The prompt must chage from $ to #. This means you are root and you can do everything, including deleting something important and crash the sever. Now type make and press enter, the server is compiling the software.
4. Installing and configuring. When the compilation is done, type make install. Now the software is being copied to the destination folder -/usr/local/bin- and then the configuration wizard starts: it asks for your No-ip.com account user id and password, if you want to update all the existing domains or subdomains (in my case YES), and the time of check the domains.
5. Starting the daemon at boot. First we need a script to turn the daemon ON, OFF and RESTART. With the client there is a script -redhat.noip.sh- that is ready to use. Copy it to the folder cp redhat.noip.sh /etc/rc.d/init.d/noip and make it executable: chmod +x noip. Now we need to link the script in the runlevel folders (3 is the default runlevel when the server is running, 6 is for reboot and 0 for HALT status):

# ln -s noip /etc/rc3.d/S99noip
# ln -s noip /etc/rc6.d/K99noip
# ln -s noip /etc/rc0.d/K99noip

And that's all.

P.D.: One question: Why I need to see my server from outside my home?....... to check how my torrents are going with torrentflux!!!!!!!

Links:

No-ip.com linux download page: http://www.no-ip.com/downloads.php?page=linux
The Newbie's Guide to the No-IP™ Linux Client: http://www.no-ip.com/support/guides/update_clients/setting_up_linux_update_client.html

System OS's

The last three nights I was installing the System OS in the Cobalt. The first attempt was with the original Restore CD shipped with the appliance. It went well and fast and I played some time with this fantastic GUI. Unfortunately the OS only recognized 4GB of my 40GB harddisk, it is a common fault with old cd's and can be arranged restoring with a newer disc.

The next day -wednesday- I tried the Zeffie's Restore CD. It started OK but freezed when the Checking disk... messaged apeared. At this point I turned off the RaQ4: BIG MISTAKE, I explain later. The last attempt was with the last Sun Restore CD available and it was, as the first disc, easy and fast to install. What a luck that I keep an old 3Com PCMCIA card in one of desks!!!

Then, thursday and friday, I spent my time uploading all the patches availables to the Cobalt. It was easy and fast at the start but when more patches were installed, more time needs the server to boot -like Windows ;D-. In one of this reboots I saw a message for a long time in the LCD, and then the servers start to run: Checking disk..., here I discovered my fault, the server was not freezed with the other cd, it was checking something and maybe it is checking the RAID system. Another message: RAID status OK, wouw!!! a need another disk to check. 72 Patches were installed, 54 are the original Cobalt Networks and Sun patches and the rest are a Zeffies creations.

In the Zeffie website, as a lot more like Raqport.com, Nuonce, Raqtweak or Solarspeed, is some newer packages but only paying the remote installing service (no download available). The next time I want to check the new OS from RackStar (Raqtweak) and Strongbold. Both OS are modified BlueQuartz GUI and a linux system OS, Fedora for RackStar and CentOS for Strongbold. There are ISO downloads and also normal PC's releases. For the CentOS+Bluequartz flavour, the download is available in NuOnce Networks. I will try RackStar (its free as NuOnce download) in my Gigabyte server, but Strongbold has to be paid because the efforts they did with the Cobalt installer (?).

Yesterday night I uploaded some more free packages (PKG):

1. phpMyAdmin 2.2.6 & Midnigth Commader 4.5 .- I know these are very old releases but it's a good point to sart playing with this system. Unfortunately the phpMyAdmin package doesn't make new items in the Cobalt GUI and only can be used adding /phpmyadmin to the site address. These PKG's can be downloaded from Raqport.com.
2. AWStats 6.1 .- Also an old PKG of this fantastic tool. Obtained from NuOnce it has some troubles when running the log script, permission problems, and I have to take a look to the instructions but seems to run OK, this is nothing important and I check later. Also from that web site I downloaded OpenWebmail, I installed it but not used.

Really, I'm impressed with the easy to use feeling of this appliance, the first Qube was introduced 10 years ago when PHP and databases were not well developed to web serve purposes.... God Job guys!!!

I am alive: NEW SERVERS!!!!

A lot of time without updates... chilren, job and travels have the fault. But this month I started a long awaited projects: my file server and a small web server. For the first one I bought a Gigabyte GA-SR114R as a attached raid array controller, but I don't have the array yet. For the second roject I have a Cobalt RaQ4.

Gigabyte GA-SR114R
This is a low spec 1U profile rack server. Now it has a Pentium IV 2.000 MHz and 1GB of RAM. It also has a LCD+Keybad attached in the front to use it as a appliance. My idea is put some linux but while I don't have the array I use it for testing. Solaris is installed for now but no more test are done...

Cobalt RaQ4
This is my first preference to buy from a lot of years ago. Now the prices are very low (it cost to me less than 100€) and are fantastic machives to play and use it as personal blog pages, etc. The Raq is arrived without system installed and the hard disk in the wrong IDE bus. After changing the wires and the position of the hard disk I was able to load the Sun Cobalt OS 6.0 on it.
The appliance is labeled as RaQ4i (expanded version no RAID) but loading the OS the LCD says it is a 3001R. May be it has a RAID mainboard?... the second IDE channel is welded... unfortunately no hard drive is in my house to try.

I expect to do some more test this weekend. Stay tunned!!!!