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Month: June, 2007

Compiling Zabbix SVN for CentOS 5.0

28 June, 2007 (09:54) | Computer Security | By: Ben

Zabbix is a complex monitoring tool that allows an administrator to easily view the state of the network. Easily view, that is, once it is set up completely.

At the time of this writing Zabbix has no RPMs to download for CentOS. I made mine with two scripts. It could have been one script if I wanted. getsvn and make_zabbix are the two scripts. Place both in the same empty directory and run getsvn. Update your release number so rpm -Uvh works. You can get some of the files needed by make_zabbix from a src.rpm on a similar platform. Fedora has a 1.4 src at a mirror. Use midnight commander open the src.rpm, navigate to CONTENTS.cpio and extract zabbix.spec, zabbix-agent.init, zabbix-logrotate.in, zabbix-server.init, and zabbix-web.conf. 

Now copy zabbix.spec to zabbixsrcrpm.spec and edit zabbix.spec. Before the make line add these lines:

make dist
# copy tar.gz file for src.rpm
cp %{name}-%{version}.tar.gz ../../SOURCES
# move in src.rpm .spec
mv ../../SPECS/%{name}srcrpm.spec ../../SPECS/%{name}.spec
cd ..
tar xvfz %{name}-%{version}/%{name}-%{version}.tar.gz
cd %{name}-%{version}

What this does is create a few more missing files like include/dbsync.h and creates a tar.gz file. This tar.gz file is what will be used for the src.rpm. It is also extracted in the same build directory and the spec file for the src.rpm is moved in place at this point too.  When your src.rpm is completed you can also run rpmbuild –rebuild zabbix*src.rpm and it should compile correctly.

File: getsvn

#!/bin/tcsh -f

set NAME=zabbix
set VER=1.4.1
set TARGZ=$NAME-$VER.tar.gz
set old_dir = `pwd`

# increment rpm numbers so rpm -Uvh works
nano zabbix.spec
nano zabbixsrcrpm.spec

svn co svn://svn.zabbix.com/branches/$VER
mv $VER “$NAME-$VER”

cd “$NAME-$VER”

aclocal -I m4
autoconf
autoheader
automake -a
automake

cd old_dir
tar cvfz “$TARGZ” “$NAME-$VER”
rm -rf “$NAME-$VER”
./make_zabbix

File: make_zabbix
#!/bin/tcsh -f

set TARGZ=zabbix-1.4.1.tar.gz
set RSPEC=zabbix.spec
set RSPEC2=zabbixsrcrpm.spec
set F1=zabbix-agent.init
set F2=zabbix-logrotate.in
set F3=zabbix-server.init
set F4=zabbix-web.conf

cp “$TARGZ” /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES
cp “$F1″ /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES
cp “$F2″ /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES
cp “$F3″ /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES
cp “$F4″ /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES
cp “$RSPEC” /usr/src/redhat/SPECS
cp “$RSPEC2″ /usr/src/redhat/SPECS

set old_dir = `pwd`
cd /usr/src/redhat/SPECS
rpmbuild -ba –clean –rmsource `basename $RSPEC`

mv /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/zabb* /usr/src/redhat/SRPMS/zabb* $old_dir
rm /usr/src/redhat/SPECS/`basename $RSPEC`

What Happened To The Whatchamacallit?

27 June, 2007 (17:03) | Fun | By: Ben

What ever happened to the Whatchamacallit?

Long before the days of Mint flavored 3 Musketeers, Whatchamacallit had the perfect candy bar formula. It had a quirky, easy to remember name and it had market share. Then in 1987 it was reformulated with caramel. It was never the same after that sad point in history and I stopped buying them altogether. Somebody must like them because they are still being sold everywhere, but sadly they are not for me.

How has your favorite commercially produced food changed over the years?

My Necessary Plugins for WordPress 2.2.1

27 June, 2007 (09:32) | WordPress | By: Ben

My list of the most necessary plug-ins for WordPress 2.2.1 include:

PlugInstaller 0.1.95: Author’s Site, Repository
This is one of those features I missed from the other CMS/Blogging systems. It allows plugin installation without using a ftp client. The author now has cleared up the problems I found in an earlier version of this plugin.

WP-DB-Backup 2.1.2: Author’s Site, Repository
Ever need to refer to a backup? This tool allows you to backup the WordPress database, package it up neatly and email it to you or let you download it. It can even be setup to run on automatically.

Front Page Excluded Categories 1.0.3: Author’s Site, Repository
This plug-in make it possible to put only a certain category of posts on the front page. When setting up select all categories then remove the ones you want to show on the front page.

Google (XML) Sitemaps 3.0b7: Author’s Site, Repository
This is one of those necessary evils. You have a page. You have to tell somebody it is there.

Google Analyticator 1.5.3: Author’s Site, Repository
This adds the Google tracking code to your page. You must setup a tracking account for this to be of any use.

All in One SEO Pack 0.6.2.6: Author’s Site, Repository
Just telling people that you exist is not enough. You also have to tell them a bit about yourself. This plug-in helps you do that.

Social Bookmarking RELOADED 2.2: Author’s Site, Repository
This is based off of Social Bookmarks. It is designed to easily submit a page to one of the major bookmark / blog bookmark sites. This one auto centered and fit better in my themes than some other social bookmarking plugins I tried.

WP-o-Matic 0.2-beta: Author’s Site
Almost ready for prime time. It took a bit to be able to install this. Once installed it creates posts from rss feeds. See what I have already written about this plug-in.

cforms II 5.0: Author’s Site, Repository
Allows creation of multiple mail-to forms.

There are other great plug-ins available. These are the plug-ins that I would argue on having in the WordPress download.

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Dodge has Commercial Vehicles again!

26 June, 2007 (13:37) | Dodge, Timberline | By: Russ

With Sprinter Vans & Wagons, Dodge Caravan Cargo Vans, and now the Ram Cab & Chassis series, Dodge has a commercial vehicle to meet most of your business needs.

The Dodge Ram Cab & Chassis comes in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations withs two cab styles (Regular Cab & Quad Cab). They can accommodate bed lengths to 16″ and have a gross vehicle weight of up to 19,500 lbs.

Stop by to see for yourself. Or call Russ Ficek @ 503-736-5180.

Electronic Stability Control

25 June, 2007 (14:36) | Chrysler, Dodge, Timberline | By: Russ

ESP is an accidnet avoidance feature designed to electronically detect and automatically assist drivers in critical driving situations and under adverse conditions. ESP technology works by constantly comparing the driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual course, detecting differences, applying the brakes to individual wheels and controlling engine power to help keep the vehicle on its intended path. ESP is available on the following vehicles:

Chrysler 300                                 Dodge Magnum

Dodge Caliber                                Chrysler Pacifica

Dodge Charger                               Chrysler Sebring Sedan

Chrysler Crossfire                         Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Dodge Grand Caravan                  Chrysler Town & Country

Dodge Avenger                              Dodge Nitro