tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86594778786692688462024-03-13T04:57:35.666+00:00Confounded TechnologyA collection of thoughts, ramblings and experience of making technology work for me. It may include some further diversions.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-83193872282007863962023-10-07T23:12:00.002+01:002023-10-07T23:12:31.379+01:00Upgrade / update Home Assistant HASS docker container...How to upgrade HASS Home Assistant docker container on Linux... without docker-compose...#1. Backup HASS from GUI backup optionSettings > System > Backup# 2. Download latest image, if this returns "Image is up to date" then you can stop heredocker pull ghcr.io/home-assistant/home-assistant:stable# 3. stop the running containerdocker stop homeassistant# 4. remove it from Docker's list of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-15136417265456646252023-02-02T22:28:00.004+00:002023-02-02T22:28:51.894+00:00Shred in WSL on Win10 | Secure erase on windows subsystem for linuxHow to use the linux shred tool on a windows machine to secure erase an external disk. This guide assumes the WSL has already been setup.Mount drive in WSL1. Open powershell as administrator2. Determine the physical disk address in windows to mount in WSLGET-CimInstance -query "SELECT * from Win32_DiskDrive"3. Expose the disk to wsl, from powershell wsl --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVEX --bareStartUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-15468090200015987122021-04-10T19:51:00.000+01:002021-04-10T19:51:12.406+01:00Enable hard drive standby / Advanced Power Management on LinuxMy disks don't spin down, here's how I fixed it:To check status without waking the drive:sudo smartctl -i -n standby /dev/sdaTo check status may wake drive:sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdaTo help hard drive goto sleep:sudo smartctl --offlineauto=off /dev/sdaDisables SMART scrubbing (automatic offline testing), which helps the drive is to enter "standby". Note: offlineauto=off value is saved in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-68531940436248391932020-07-31T02:12:00.004+01:002021-04-10T19:53:43.118+01:00Ubuntu as an Apple Time Machine capsule with Netatalk 3
In 2016 I wrote "Apple's TimeMachine now works with Samba SMB2. Apple also is moving to depreciate AFP which was the previously underpinned TimeMachine" Fast forward to 2020 - what a year:
I have finally upgraded from Ubuntu 16.04 LTS > 20.04 LTS
Samba was never really hugely reliable for TimeMachine in my experience
Netatalk is still around now at version 3
MacOS I'm running is High Unknownnoreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-24382601301710128712018-01-21T15:42:00.004+00:002018-01-21T15:43:23.728+00:00Linux firewall settings for Apple Airplay (Shairport / Shairtunes / Shairplay)
VS.
The following has taken me an eternity to figure out. I use Airplay from a Linux server to Apple and other airplay devices on my network. Configuring the firewall properly for this to work has not been simple - many guides are vague and lack the specifics needed.
My actual configuration centres around Logitech's squeezeboxserver now known as logitechmediaserver 'LMS' whereby I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com92tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-13351558059703632392017-10-10T19:05:00.000+01:002017-10-10T19:05:14.564+01:00VNC Clipboard not working fix
Clipboard not working over VNC to Linux? To share clipboard over VNC if its not working (e.g. on xfce) try autocutsel.
sudo apt install autocutsel -y
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-32443475997649959172017-04-30T18:00:00.000+01:002017-04-30T18:00:01.076+01:00Logitechmediaserver LMS enable the CDplayer plugin on a Ubuntu server
To enable the LMS logitechmediaserver cd player plugin by BPA:
1. Install cdda2wav which is required to ensure that the cd can be extracted to a wav file for LMS to play the stream
sudo apt-get install cdda2wav
If your version of linux does not have cdda2wav use icedax
2. [OPTIONAL - Install icedac - this wasn't critical on Ubuntu 16.40]
sudo apt-get install icedax
3. [Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-67328393661676279362017-03-21T21:47:00.001+00:002017-03-21T21:47:10.408+00:00Apple Script - prevent Mac OSX login items opening Script Editor at startup / login
To prevent Apple Scripts from opening the Apple Script Editor on Mac OSX login the script should be export to an application within Script Editor. The application (.app) should be added to OSX login items, not the script (.scpt).
To do this From the Script Editor menu, choose File -> Export and select “Application” from the File Format dropdown.
This is necessary because if you only save Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-2891104635269056912016-08-07T14:23:00.004+01:002016-08-07T14:23:55.184+01:00Set up ipsec VPN with Strongswan on Ubuntu with PSK for roadwarrior use
This post shows how to setup an ipsec VPN connection in roadwarrior fashion. Roadwarrior mode is where you typically have a mobile device which has a dynamic address and you want to connect back to a VPN server. This post uses a simple pre shared key to establish the VPN connection using strongswan. This is much simpler than my past openswan approach which also relied on L2TP, Pluto etc. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-32150730859964095362016-08-04T21:12:00.001+01:002016-08-04T21:12:15.320+01:00Ubuntu as an Apple Time machine capsule with Samba SMB2
Apple's TimeMachine now works with Samba SMB2. Apple also is moving to depreciate AFP which was the previously underpinned TimeMachine. Since Yosemite OSX 10.10 it is possible to use samba which in my view is easier and simpler to set up. Read on...
This post assumes that samba is already installed and working with users set up.
1. Create A Sparse Image
First we create a sparse Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-62815185385614327572016-02-14T15:55:00.001+00:002016-02-14T15:55:05.681+00:00Get BBC iPlayer working on Logitech Media Server with Squeezebox Touch & Classic
Getting BBC iPlayer to work on Logitech Squeezebox has not been simple in the last 18 months due to BBC's ongoing changes to their iPlayer infrastructure. Here's how I have it working as of February 2012 on a Logitech Squeezebox Plus and Logitech Squeezebox Classic, read on...
This is based on using Ubuntu and Logitech Media Server 7.7.3. The latest versions are:
BBC iPlayer Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-66071502160700842972015-09-12T22:01:00.002+01:002016-02-14T16:39:42.778+00:00Tail a log file for specific strings
I needed to tail a logfile in realtome for specific strings to understand why mpd was failing to update all of my music. To do this I tail the log file as follows:
tail -f filetofollow
This follows the output of the log file, however this includes everything; including a lot of unwanted noise.
Grep can be used to search through text for specific strings, filtering out the noise.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-34491783392874107352014-10-04T20:30:00.002+01:002014-10-11T23:57:07.958+01:00PC audio & music to Squeezebox without the hassle
I've wanted for a while to play music / all audio from my linux PC on my Squeezeboxes, with ease. I've tried in the past to do this with BPA's Squeezebox WaveInput plugin but this route isn't for the faint hearted. It also limits the audio source just to the Squeezebox Server local machine unless you are advanced. Here is a very simple method which allows you to stream from any linux PC on your Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-64512533324735463602014-07-05T13:50:00.001+01:002014-07-05T13:50:03.313+01:00Enable Xubuntu remote desktop access with Vino VNC
Xubuntu 14.04 does not come with VNC working out of the box which is frustrating and feels like a step backwards. So here is how I enabled VNC on Xubuntu...
1. Install vino the VNC server: sudo apt-get install vino-server
2. Run vino preferences: vino-preferences
3. Set them as follows:
4. Update the firewall: sudo ufw allow from any to any port 5900
5. Update the encryption Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-75498016701923957412014-04-18T17:44:00.002+01:002014-04-18T17:48:45.895+01:00Dyndns no longer free...an alternative
DynDns has closed its door and support for free accounts. Try afraid.org for a free alternative dynamic dns service.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-43301894970618853742014-04-18T17:42:00.001+01:002014-04-18T17:48:37.475+01:00AirPlay to Linux / Ubuntu with Shairport v1.0
Linux can receive AirPlay audio using a program called Shairport that I covered over a year ago. Shairplay has since been re-written by the original developer James Laird to no longer rely on perl. The latest version is v1.0-dev here's how to get AirPlay working on Ubuntu using Shairport and iTunes to test it.
1. Download AirPlay (Shairport)
cd /tmp
sudo git clone https://github.com/abrasiveUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-61394278267226883312014-03-01T20:00:00.000+00:002014-03-01T20:03:05.015+00:00DynDns keep an active account with autologin
DynDns now requires users with free accounts to login every 30 days in order to keep their accounts... painful. Here is how to overcome the manual login using a scheduled auto-login script developed by kopf (thanks!).
1. Install python-mechanize which is a python module for navigating through web forms. On Ubuntu/Debian this can be done as follow:
sudo apt-get install python-mechanize
2. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-63471254362413100392013-12-28T18:34:00.000+00:002020-01-02T00:30:32.498+00:00Setting up password authentication for windows file sharing / samba (smb / cifs ) shares
Adding password based authentication to windows file shares / samba sharing on linux is never as simple as I'd expect. With the spread of cryptolocker (ransomware which can encrypt your network shares!) I have been working to enhance the security and resilience of my windows samba network shares. Here are some simple pointers from my experience of setting up authentication on a Ubuntu Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-66333244501455481662013-07-19T22:42:00.001+01:002013-07-19T22:42:20.562+01:00Check integrity of file / folder transfer - recursive md5sum checksums
How to check that directories of copied files retain their integrity on linux. I use this command to check my photographs from my digital SLR SD / CF cards retain their integrity when copied to my PC. Read on...
1. Change directory into the parent source directory and run the following command which recursively checks the source directories and files, and creates a file containing md5 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-63270255474791725842013-06-08T23:29:00.002+01:002013-06-08T23:29:33.308+01:00SSH from Linux CLI
The following is a basic command for verbose ssh with a private key to a ssh server running on a custom post:
ssh -v user@domain -p $port -i "/private/key/file/path"
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-9206370766913036912012-12-17T19:50:00.000+00:002015-03-11T08:37:59.724+00:00AirPrint to any printer (without official AirPrint support) using Ubuntu and iOS
This is an update of my previous AirPrint escapade to get AirPrint working with Ubuntu 12.04 and iOS / OSX using a generic printer. I'm still using the Epson SX600FW and SX610FW family which have both been great to date, I spent an hour updating the config to enable AirPrint compatibility. Read on...
Setup
I use an Epson SX610FW which is a network printer connected wirelessly to a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-56491736677583533502012-12-16T00:17:00.000+00:002013-05-22T22:55:53.082+01:00Ubuntu 12.04 run a custom command on CD / DVD insertion (EAC and audio CD)
In Ubuntu 12.04 the option to run a custom command on the insertion of removable media has disappeared (this is a very frustrating regression!). Previously I had a custom shell script that would intelligently automate the ripping of audio CD to FLAC, ALAC and MP3 using EAC. This script had become redundant due to the missing option of running custom commands on CD insertion. Here's how I now runUnknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-11345637974349520312012-12-15T15:40:00.002+00:002012-12-15T15:40:22.314+00:00Add/fix undetected or missing monitor display resolutions to X on Ubuntu 12.04
I am using a DVI to VGA converter on my Ubuntu 12.04 machine to connect the graphics card (which doesn't have native VGA) to a Dell 2405 monitor on VGA. The Dell 2405 can handle resolutions up to 1920x1200 however the use of the VGA adapter has prevented Ubuntu from correctly reading the EDID data that the monitor provides, to detect the resolutions the monitor is capable of. At current I am Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-23345713622286264602012-12-14T22:52:00.002+00:002012-12-14T22:52:45.255+00:00Fix TightVNCServer not showing Unity menu & tool bars under Ubuntu 12.04
XTightVNCServer under Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin does not start correctly. Using the default settings on Ubuntu 12.04 the remote desktop session is not started properly when VNC Server is launched. A user connecting to VNC Server in Virtual Mode will see a desktop background but will not see any other desktop features such as the Unity toolbars or launcher. To fix Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659477878669268846.post-31772614868093461472012-12-14T20:26:00.002+00:002012-12-14T20:26:39.449+00:00Fix VNC (Vino-server) screen refreshing in Ubuntu 12.04
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin's default VNC server for remote desktop sharing is vino (vino-server). Out of the box under the Unity interface it is incredibly slow to refresh for me. To speed it up I've tried to disable the background desktop wallpaper on client connection and to optimise the settings. Here are the tweaks I tried...
Disable xdamage
This does seem to improve Unknownnoreply@blogger.com61