Category Archives: Information

Computer - Linux, Server Information

Installed UPS software and signalling cable on server

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CRAB-UPS

Well, when I replaced the server’s UPS batteries,  I noticed that when I upgraded the hardware in late 2010, I must have forgotten to set up the UPS software.  So, I dug out a UPS printer cable, attached that between the server and the UPS, and used yum extender (since the server is Fedora) to install apcupsd, apcupsd-cgi, and apcupsd-gui.  The screenshot shows apcupsd-gui running.  For those of you that are interested in compiling apcupsd from source code, I will try to add a comment to this post in a day or so.  😉

Server Information

Planning on changing UPS batteries today.

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Well, the replacement batteries for my APC Smart-ups 750XL finally arrived, and I am planning on ‘hot swapping’ the batteries today.  NO server downtime will be associated with this task.  Replacement is indicated because a few months ago, they started failing auto self test, then they passed for a month or so, then started failing again.  So, I think they are toast.  😉

Blog Information, Computer - Linux

Fixed WordPress blog ‘update’ plugin problem

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Well, there is start up issues with whatever web content, script or whatever that you are starting to run for the first time.  This is true, whether it’s server-based, such as happens with a blog, or running on your local desktop.

My security plugin scanned, and detected a new version, so wanted to update it.  The process puked and failed.  I tracked down the issue to the upgrade directory not having the right permissions.  I fixed it this morning by simply doing ‘chmod 777 upgrade’.  End of story.  It’s working as it should, now.

For now, user registration is off.  I am pondering the risks vs. advantages to enabling it.  So, if anybody wants a blog user account, simply message me on Facebook.

Blog Information, Server Information, Update

Informational Update

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Well, a lot of things have happened since my last blog fell by the wayside. I think I shall only focus on the most recent server stuff.

In November or December of 2010, I upgraded the aging (10-year-old) CRAB server to both new hardware, as well as Fedora 13 (from Redhat 7.3). I really need to update it a few more revisions sometime soon, as I think Fedora is up to 20 or something. They seem to be cranking out the updates at light speed.

Most recently, my ex-wife, Teri, stopped her job, sold her house, and bought an RV. She reached out to me to create a blog for her and her husband’s travels. Her blog is running on PivotX, and I password protected it to keep out unwanted viewers. Otherwise, I’d post the URL here.

On the server-side of the coin, I have just about filled up the 1TB storage drive, so I have already purchased a 2TB ‘upgrade’ hard drive. 🙂 I actually have all the blogs running on it, even though they are utilizing an SQL database structure on the system drive. Since I have the large storage and backup drives residing in ‘hot swap’ bays, I will pop out the backup drive, pop in the upgrade drive, and while the system is running (blogs being updated, music streaming, ftp clients connecting, etc), I will just do a ‘cp -rp’ Linux command, so that it will ‘clone’ the smaller drive to the larger drive (including ALL the filestamps and permissions). When done, I shall just unmount both, pull the smaller drive, and move the larger one to that bay, and reinstall the backup drive.

Bottom line is, my users should see *minimal* down time and inconveniences. 🙂

While I’m at it, I will need to ‘hot swap’ the server/modem/router APC Smartups 750EX UPS batteries, since they are dying.

I will keep y’all posted, but I intend to get proactive on all this the first week of September, or so. (Maybe even upgrading Fedora to 15 or 16, heh)