Wi-Phye Website Support Blog

Linux backup software. The old standby and the scrappy new kid.

Amanda vs Bacula Open Source / Free Backup Software
One of the most popular questions I get concerning using Linux in a production environment is how to back the system up without having to resort to non-open source solutions.

Backing up Linux isn’t any different then backing up any of it closed source counterparts. The options range from simply writing a script to copy your most critical files to a CD to making a complete copy of the system with an imaging program such as ghost. These options are great if you are backing up an end user system, such as your laptop but, don’t really meet the requirements of a sound backup strategy when a production server is the concern.

To answer that question I thought I’d compare and contrast the two open source Linux backup software options I use day to day. Amanda and Bacula.

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How to print out a list of your files and folders in windows.

A coworker of mine recently asked me how he could get a printout of his files and folders. I replied “why are you asking me? I don’t freaking know” (In my defense, I have been out of Zoloft for a week) So as an apology, I did some research and found a program that will print out his crappy files and folders.

The program is called JR Directory Printer and let’s you choose the directory and then sends the map of the folder/drive you specify to a notepad file from which you can then print. I believe it only works in Windows XP, but if it works else where, let me know. Now that I have appeased him, I can get back to my nap time for the next 8 hours. Work is for suckers. Check out the examples and the link for the download on the next page.

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What’s on your computer’s hard drive? Analyze this…

Here is another great free utility/program so you can calm the OCD voices in your head. Xinorbis is a simple but powerful hard drive analyzer. It gives the user an overview of the contents of your hard disk or directory, complete with graphs, tables and tree displays. It works for (Windows […]

How to fix the web in 5 minutes with the Grease Monkey and Firebug plugins for Firefox.

If you don’t know what Grease Monkey is, it is a Firefox plugin that allows you to run your own java script on any page you are viewing. Now why would you want to do that? Well, basically it allows you to fix or enhance any web page out there to meet your requirements and not those that the designer wants to force on you. In order to help you write the java script you might need, you can use another plugin for FireFox, Firebug.

Firebug allows you to hover over a certain section of the web page and it will show you the relevant code that generates the selected object. Very useful.

Once you put these two utilities together the possibilities are endless. If you are not interested in writing the java script yourself, there are tons of free scripts for Grease Monkey located at userscripts.org for you to freely use.

Check out the funny and useful demo video after the break.

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Windows explorer folder size utility for XP and 2000

This little handy and free utility lets you see how big your folders are in Windows explorer. This way you can find out which folders are taking up all your space on your hard drive instead of just randomly guessing. Now you will have time to do your chores around the house… lucky […]

Windows explorer with tabs just like good ole Firefox.

How much do you love the tabs in the Firefox web browser? If I could have tabs on everything, including life, I would. Seeing that it makes life so much easier, I often wondered why Microsoft didn’t incorporate tabs into their operating systems. Well, now I don’t care cause I found a program that does just that. Hello QTTabBar!!

It only works for Windows XP or Windows Vista, but now you can add tabs to all your windows explorer windows. (that was a mouthful… yuck) Best of all it is free!! Windows XP users need to install the .NET 2.0 framework from Microsoft if you don’t already have it.

Example:

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Forget talk radio and news shows. My top 10 list of useful podcasts and IPTV shows for techies.

I figured it was time to take a break from the tutorials for a moment and have some fun. Well, that’s not completely true. NPR is having one of their two week fund drives and I can’t personally stand to sit through that on the way to work. It would be different, if once you made your donation, you could some how stop hearing all the fund raising breaks. Something to work on.

Anyway, seeing I’m solely depending on the content on my iPod to entertain me during my commute, I thought I’d share my top ten favorite podcasts and IPTV shows with you.
Safety Tip: Only use the IPTV shows if you take the Bus.
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Free utilities to help you remove spyware and malware.

Almost daily I am asked how to remove spyware and malware from an infected windows system so, I thought I would compile a list of the free utilities I use to perform that task. That way I could point those poor souls here instead of spending thirty minutes explaining all the options.

These programs can help […]

The internet can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. Morons beware!!

This story comes to you from Philadelphia where Jesse McPherson spends his days as a front-end web developer, but in reality he claims to be a Rock Star. On March 12th, Jesse’s house was burglarized and his xbox 360, an old powerbook (which they grabbed the wrong charger for) and TV that was ripped off the wall were all stolen.

Having little faith in the local authorities to locate and recover his stuff, he took it upon himself to do his own detective work. He used google maps to locate the nearest pawn shop and contacted them about his missing items. The pawn shop owner remembered someone trying to sell a G4 powerbook without the charger and a dead battery (same as Jesse’s), but the shop’s owner wouldn’t buy it from him.

Luckily, this pawn shop had cameras and he let Jesse view them and take pictures of the suspect. After getting the photos, he contacted the detectives for his case but he waited around for 3+ hours and no one ever showed up. (I guess there must have been a buy 12 get one free donut sale going on) He waited about a week and still no response.

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Why do Monster Cables cost so much? Here’s your answer.

Why do Monster brand audio video cables cost so much? Do they really give your A/V equipment a better signal path from component to component. Is there some magical gas or material that is used to magically turn your system into the most efficient high bandwidth entertainment machine known to the planet. […]