Learned another thing today. The ports tree is just a repository of available software, it can be deleted & regenerated. Why would some one wants to delete the ports tree? It needed to be delete and regenerated because some patch was downloaded incorrectly and the problem stubbornly persists.
Sample of the error :
===> Applying FreeBSD patches for exim-4.71
Ignoring previously applied (or reversed) patch.
2 out of 2 hunks ignored--saving rejects to src/daemon.c.rej
=> Patch patch-src-daemon.c failed to apply cleanly.
=> Patch(es) patch-OS::Makefile-FreeBSD patch-scripts::exim_install applied cleanly.
*** Error code 1
Stop in /usr/ports/mail/exim.
*** Error code 1
Stop in /usr/ports/mail/exim.
The error complained about a patch file which the patch file did exists.
What have been tried :
-
portsnap fetch update;make --> NO, it didn't work
-
make clean;make rmconfig;make --> NO, it didn't work
-
make config, deselect all options, make --> NO, it didn't work
-
rm -rf /usr/ports/distfiles/exim then make --> NO, it didn't work
After meddling around for a few minutes, still no clue. Is time to check out :
IRC server : irc.freenode.net
IRC channel : #freebsd
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Since FreeSBIE have not been updated since year 2007, its kernel recognizing new hardware starts to worry me as it is based on FreeBSD 6.2 and it is going to reach EoL (end of life) by end of this year, 2010. Is time to experiment on new way restoring backup.
The FreeBSD installation process does mentioned about “Fixit” CD booting. After meddling around with it, it’s actually referring to another bootable CD which its label name consits of “livefs” (Live File System). It’s also known as “disk 2″ prior to FreeBSD 7.
e.g.
Installation disc -- > 8.0-RELEASE-i386-disc1.iso
Live File systems disc --> 8.0-RELEASE-i386-livefs.iso
Do take note that the dump/restore instruction from the previous post “Freebsd – Backup & restore for disaster recovery” is still valid. This post is served as a “update” as it won’t be using FreeSBIE, rather, it will using the livefs to start the restoration of the partition(s).
Without further ado, here’s the instruction :
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File integrity checking has been built in for ports, checksum of file. Comparing checksum of a file is automatically done when ports is going to extract the compress file. It’s a important process to make sure that the file downloaded are not altered in anyway, be it missing bits during download or some one maliciously change the contents of the original compress file. Imaging, what would happen if some one insert a trojan house or some spyware into the installation file and happen to be download and installed by users on the internet. The consequences is un-imaginably scary.
But this may not always be the case as ports takes its source from well known web sites and the ports are written by the author of the program which happen to be a commiter port maintainer which (please correct me if this is not the case) gone through a thorough process of checks & verification.
Warning of checksum error may most of the time caused by bumpy download connection that break the downloaded file. e.g. missing bits, halfway terminated file download process.
During installation of the ports, it will complain an error :
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This will be the last post from me of this year and i think i owe my favorite OS too much and hopefully this will slightly, tiny, little, bitty post make my conscience feels better.
Please donate to FreeBSD Foundation.
About the FreeBSD Foundation
What is the FreeBSD Foundation?
The FreeBSD Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the FreeBSD Project. The Foundation gratefully accepts donations from individuals and businesses, using them to fund projects which further the development of the FreeBSD operating system. In addition, the Foundation can represent the FreeBSD Project in executing contracts, license agreements, and other legal arrangements which require a recognized legal entity. The FreeBSD Foundation is entirely supported by donations.
What can I expect from the FreeBSD Foundation?
The FreeBSD Foundation will support both the development and the popularization of FreeBSD, the world’s best open source operating system. Here are some of the projects that the Foundation can and will support in the future:
- Development of software for FreeBSD to benefit the user and developer community, including contract development of critical system infrastructure, porting of closed source applications such as Java(TM).
- Obtaining computers and other equipment for developers to use toward improving FreeBSD, such as the network performance cluster, FreeBSD.org cluster, and personal development systems for developers.
- Providing additional Internet infrastructure to aid in the development and distribution of FreeBSD.
- Support developer communication and coordination, including financial support for developer summits and developer travel.
- Encouraging the formation of FreeBSD user groups.
- Cultivating press coverage and advertising the utility and availability of FreeBSD.
As you read, FreeBSD Foundation helps the FreeBSD community and that means it helps make FreeBSD a better OS. Unlike other OS that have funds to create hypes and noise, FreeBSD has always been “quiet and working” OS.
Major servers runs on FreeBSD. Major hardware runs on FreeBSD. FreeBSD deserve a better support in terms of funding.
In this seasons of giving, give some to FreeBSD. Donate to FreeBSD Foundation.
Peace.
The FreeBSD Ports repository have a rich base of software. As of today, it has 21000 ++ ports. As we all know, all software have bugs. Some bugs leads to vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities opens door to unwanted access, at least not to those have ill intentions.
Every now and then, FreeBSD sysadm tends to install or upgrade new ports. As such, we should be more aware of what bugs or vulnerabilities that comes with it. Even we may not be able to fix it, but at least we should be aware of it so that we can find alternatives to secure it.
For ports, there is a utility to check on what vulnerabilities have been reported on it. Here is how to install and update it frequently :
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Any of us easily owned a dozen accounts on different services on the internet. Be it Google, Yahoo, WordPress.com and others, these are just a few well known service providers. How about others? e.g. Slashdot (http://slashdot.org/), Stack Overflow(http://stackoverflow.com/), Server Fault(http://serverfault.com/) and the list goes on.
Luckily these sites are equip with OpenID. OpenID make our life easy by having 1 single sign on account (registered with the service providers) authenticate against multiple web sites.
e.g. an account with Google (or gmail) can be sign on into Slashdot, Stack Overflow, Server Fault and others.
Often, these website equip with OpenID sign on service have this “OpenID URL“, but how do we get this “OpenID URL“? Or, what is this “OpenID URL“?
Here it is, the “OpenID URL” :
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It has been weeks since the last time blogging about Perl. My day to day job has been tying most of my free time and blah blah blah excuses … :p
My job deals with FreeBSD server, 90% of my time. Daily routines includes checking server health status. FreeBSD has these periodic scripts that will report server health status to sysadm daily, but the emails are always being “ignore” as the info in it are too vast. So, i decided to cough out a simple Perl script that will use SSH to connect to the servers and pull some health status report. This post will talk about using cpan module’s, NET::SSH::Perl, to execute commands then print out the results.
Purpose of this script :
- connect to server using ssh
- authenticate only using public key
- run a command and print out the result
Perl modules used :
- Perl::Critic = perl’s best practice
- Net::SSH::Perl = the basic of using ssh in perl
- Net::SSH::Perl::Key::RSA = authenticate using public key
- Class::ErrorHandler = needed by Net::SSH::Perl::Key::RSA module
To reduce the hiccups, install the modules listed above by using CPAN shell.
Here is the script :
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Net Book Remix is another spin off of Ubuntu. It’s strength is to make Ubuntu to run on Netbook, miniature laptop which target for internet applications users. Typically, the screen size are small (from 9″ – 12″), thus it is light (0.8kg – 1.5kg) and runs on Atom processor. The kernel and programs on NBR (Net Book Remix) are tune to run leaner, to accommodate the limited processor speed. The limited processor is in fact a good thing, less heat generated and generally, NBR are quite “cool”.
The most notable difference about NBR and the usual Ubuntu linux distribution is, it’s menu. The “Ubuntu NetBook Desktop” is the menu that covers the whole desktop with menu items. But people like me, still prefer the “Classic Desktop“, with the menu panel on top and windows panel at bottom. Most desirably is the desktop are visible with the frequent access files and programs in it.
So, how do we change the “Ubuntu NetBook Desktop” to the usual “Classic Desktop“? Here is how to do it :
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By default, ports uses 1 connection to download and thus unbearably slow when a server rate limit the connection. Alternatively, we can tell ports to use external utility in order to open multiple connections and download simultaneously.
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