Microsoft Security Essentials

About three years ago I change my anti-virus on my home Windows machines from TrendMirco's PC-cillin to avast! Free Antivirus. With the exception of a couple of false positives, I have been extremely happy with the free version of avast! It didn't drag my machines down performance wise and provided me with the level of protection that I am looking for in my home computers.

However, that being said, I have chosen to test out Microsoft Security Essentials on one of my home computers to see how it stacks up against the same model pc running avast. So far the verdict is positive for the Microsoft product. I can schedule scans, run automatic or manual updates, and can customize some features such as real-time scan settings and exclusion lists. I have also not noticed any hit to performance on the box running Microsoft Security Essentials, as a matter of fact it is using about half the RAM avast appears to be using.

I'll continue to run Microsoft Security Essentials for a while and report back on anything negative, but so far it looks like another acceptable free security tool for you home computer.

Caching DNS

A few days ago I walked you through doing a network install of Scientific Linux. With the install I did as part of that post I decided that I wanted to run a caching DNS server. Fortunately, this is very easy with a RedHat based distro such as Scientific Linux.

Rather than me type this out I decided to provide a link to a great page on the RedHat knowledgebase on how to do this. If you take the time to read through it and follow the directions you should have no trouble setting up a caching DNS server.

Caching-only Name Server

Scientific Linux - network install

Unlike other Linux distros, Scientific Linux does not come with a network install cd. However, not to worry, you can still do a network based installation following a couple of easy steps.

-> Boot off of disc 1
-> On the boot screen type "linux askmethod"
-> Select your language
-> Select your keyboard type
-> Select your install method, for this I'll use HTTP
-> Select your network configuration, I unselect IPV6, no reason to run protocols your not using
-> The next screen is where you will enter the server and location of the install files
----> I like to use the Argonne National Laboratory mirror, it's fast, mirror.mcs.anl.gov
----> I am using 5.4 i386, so my path looks like this /pub/scientific-linux/54/i386
-> Next screen lets you know it found your CD, I usually select skip on the scan
-> Now it will load the splash screen, select next
-> You now need to partition your hard drive, you can allow it to auto partition or select custom from the drop down
-> Next is the GRUB screen, I usually leave the default location
-> Next you get the option to customize your network settings and hostname
-> Select your timezone
-> Set your root password
-> Next is the software screen, depending on what you will use your install for will determine how much you customize this
-> The next screen will kick off your install, no need to worry about swapping discs
----> the amount of time it takes to finish the install will depend on your Internet connection
-> At some point you'll be ready to reboot
-> At initial boot you will be prompted with for some post install info
----> Firewall Config
----> SELinux
----> Initial user account, I didn't get this since I didn't install a GUI
-> You should now have a usable Scientific Linux install, enjoy

FreeBSD on Sparc

I have some old Sun v240 Sparc servers that I want to re-use now that they are no longer in production, but I didn't necessarily want to use Solaris on them. I decided I wanted to use Linux for a project and having always had good luck with Debian on non-x86 platforms I started there.

Using the netinst CD of Debian 5 I couldn't even get the kernel to load, so I figured I was probably missing something important and downloaded disc 1. Disc 1 got me much further, except for a minor problem of shutting down and not allowing me to bring the NICs back online.

I stepped away from this for a couple weeks and decided to try FreeBSD. I hadn't actually used FreeBSD for anything for a while, but decided to grab version 8 and give it a whirl.

Success, I am now running a fully functioning Sparc server running FreeBSD 8. Could I have gotten Linux running on this box, probably, but I was impressed that FreeBSD just installed like it has any other time I have used it. Will FreeBSD be my first choice for a solution going forward, probably not, but it is good to have as a standby.

sudo launcher

Every so often you need to be able to launch and app in Linux with elevated rights. One way to do this is to execute it with the sudo command from the command line.

Example:
sudo command

If you work mainly in a GUI such as Gnome you may choose to run these programs through a shortcut or launcher. This is done using the gksu command.

Example:

Right click on the desktop
Select create launcher
In the command area enter gksu command

You should now have a working shortcut that launches an app with elevated rights.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all from Tech Grab Bag.

Here is hoping the new year is full of innovations.