Speeding up multiple windows xp installations

We set up a lot of windows boxes, and invariably they require quite a bit of patching before we send them out the door.

Sometimes we set up 3 at a time, which can be a real big hastle when you have to download the patches all at once. Lots of waiting, coming back, checking, etc.

So I thought, why not set it up to where we proxy the windows update files. It used to be that windows update would use WPAD to find the location of the local proxy server, but according to various sources on the internet, you now have to manually configure the proxy using the proxycfg tool. More details can be found from this article and the squid faq.


Windows Update v5 and squid (squid wiki)

Another very useful article from javier arturo rodriguez:

JR's article on windows update and squid

ipod backup info.

Interesting article on backing up your ipod. very relevant since I want to switch my ipod from hfs to fat32 for better interplay between my windows and linux systems.

The blog is pretty interesting too, worthy of more research

Wouldnt mind having a console server

I could really use a console server about now. My most important of edge routers have their failsafe menus accessible via serial port. I'd really like to be able to jump in and fix them remotely should the need arise.

Was reading This really cool report on how to make a console server using FreeBSD and the conserver package.

There are quite a few really neat four port PCI serial cards out there, including some with RJ45 jacks on the card itself, which makes it convenient for routing around a data room, because the final step is just a simple RJ45 to DB9 adapter.

photo © Darren Hester for openphoto.net CC:Attribution-NonCommercial

My jeep build moves forward at breakneck speed.

My jeep build is moving forward at breakneck speed. Yea right. It's just pissing me off to see my transfer case sitting in the garage just waiting to be installed.

I really need to find a decent weekend job so I can make some more cash to work on the jeep. Driving Safari Vehicles for TheGreatAndWonderfulThemePark is cool, but it pays next to nothing. Some super fun jobs are like that.

photo © Zbigniew Twardowski for openphoto.net CC:Attribution-ShareAlike

Guide on adding mp3 encoding profile to Ubuntu after using automatix

If you just used automatix to add lame support to Ubuntu for mp3 encoding, you will probably notice that you still cannot rip to mp3 using the sound juicer application. This is because you need to add a profile for it using a gnome audio profile editor.

See this guide, they will set you up. Once you are done, you will be able to rip straight to mp3. You can then push the files over to the ipod at will.

http://www.emcken.dk/weblog/archives/99-MP3-encoding-with-Sound-Juicer.html