Dale's World

Due to an illness, it's been some time since I made any posts to this page.  I apologize for my unannounced hiatus and will try to make updates at least once a week. 

The aforementioned illness is trigeminial neuritis/neuralgia.  I don't know the difference between an 'itis and an 'algia and I'm content to leave the distinctions in the hands of trained medical people.  Suffice it to say, the pain has been quite severe at times but the medication is now keeping it at a fairly constant LOW level.  The side effects of the medication is, for me, an inability to keep my mind focused on much of anything and, more often than not, I stagger around like I've been drinking...too much.  I could deal with the latter symptom if more booze were involved.  Oh, and sometimes I forget things.

Needless to say, I haven't written a single line of code since this started.  On the other hand, for those of you who like to call me a brainless oaf, you're at least half wrong.  I've got pictures. 

If the machine seems to be accessing data slowly but otherwise appears alright, open a DOS console and change directories to C:\MySQL\bin.  Now run the following command:  mysqlcheck -o <database> replacing <database> with the name of the database you wish to optimize.  There are two databases that apply to this simulation environment so you'll have to execute the command twice. 

Set the variables in my.ini to take advantage of the available RAM.  I'll post a new my.ini that works on simulation PCs later on today.  Also, if you wish to look up some ways to configure MySQL, you can look it up in Linux Server Hacks by Rob Flickenger.  The variable settings are on page 177.  If you're working in a Linux/Unix environment, the file name is my.cnf. 

I've added several entries to my book list and added a new category for Linux and Win/Lin Integration and another for Print and Desktop publishing.  All books listed on my page are books I actually own and use as desktop references.  I enthusiastically recommend them all. 

Windows PowerShell 1.0 is now available as a final release for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista.  I'm rebuilding my old CBS_Admin script suite to accomodate the newer, more versatile, more secure scripting engine. 

I've also been expanding my documents for shop use.  As always, I'm accepting input from any and all field techs for inclusion in these documents.  Email me a MS Word document or a plain text file (.txt) and I'll get it into the manual.  Anything you had a problem with or found tedious and error-prone is an excellent candidate for inclusion. 

There's also the matter of system administration automation.  To date, I've received no comments or suggestions from anyone on the team.  Don't be shy, Gentlemen.  It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease (or the non-petroleum-based lubricant of your choice).

The image for the next exercise is complete and, as far as I can tell, fully functional.  Even the Active Desktop web page works correctly on the pushed images. 

While I'm not too thrilled about missing the guys last week, it did give me time to tweak things a bit.  As long as the directions I provided are followed, there won't be any issues that I can detect in my little lab. 

I had the image ready on the day before Thanksgiving but I got to the office about 20 minutes too late.  I took advantage of the opportunity to double-check my work and make sure everything is as it should be. 

The only thing that may be an issue is the mapspecific.ini.  Although I've got a release newer than the original release, I have no idea whether that particular file is included in the release I have.  The guys will want to make sure they get that file from the good folks at the NSC.

I'll be in the office first thing on Monday morning to give the guys a copy of both the base image and the exercise image.  A document is being prepared to show all the major changes to the image.

I didn't get much done this weekend so today and tomorrow are pretty much full up.  I've got to capture the master image and build a flexible, properly configured simulation image. 

The latter image will have both sets of maps installed.  If time permits, I'm also going to build a small program to switch from one map to the other and back again. 

The downside of this approach is that the image will be larger than absolutely necessary.  That means it'll take longer to push it out than an image with only one map and terrain file.

While progress on the documentation project has been good, it is still taking a LOT longer to complete than I'd initially believed it would.  Nevertheless, things are progressing.  I put the replacement Battle Book files up on http://damselflysoftware.com this morning. 

On the down side, all this install, verify, document stuff is keeping me from writing much-needed software for the Sys Admins.  I've got a range of project designed to make life easier for them when they go to a remote site.  It's all very frustrating.  The projects page at http://damselflysoftware.com has details about most of the things I need to do.

This is a "catch-up" entry for last week.  I finished the Conventions portion of the Master Image Creation document. 

I am also going through the Dell 670 BIOS section by section and creating a Workstation BIOS Worksheet.  There are enough different items in the BIOS that I believe a worksheet will be helpful in ensuring the correct BIOS settings have been applied.  The worksheet will be added to the document as Appendix D. 

Today's plan is to get the minutia verified and documented; the small but important bits of configuration we use.  Once that is completed, I'll capture the image and move on to the CBS-specific portions of the setup.  Once I'm into the CBS setup, I'll start on a Dell 670 PCComms node document.

NOTE:  If you're still using the CBS Admin scripts with .vbs file extensions, they are development scripts that should NOT be in service.  The correct scripts should have a .vbe file extension and display a copyright notice. 

Last week I received an email that prompted a complete code review of all applications I have developed and am developing.  Development versions of some CBS Admin scripts contain verbatim sample code to test concepts.  The release version of the CBS Admin scripts do not contain these bits of code and are copyrighted material.