Hylafax with A01-PU3 WebRunner USB

HylaFAX is an enterprise-class system for sending and receiving facsimiles as well as for sending alpha-numeric pages.

The A01-PU3 is an usb PSTN modem that support the CDC ACM standard, and it works great on Linux!

A01-PU3

On Debian you can easily setup an Hylafax Server installing it by:

aptitude install hylafax

And configure your fax device with faxaddmodem:

faxaddmodem /dev/ttyACM0

At this point, the faxserver was correctly receiving faxes but the sending was constatly failing due to no carrier errors:

Nov 16 12:18:09 hylafax FaxSend[8506]: SEND FAILED: JOB N DEST XXXXXXX ERR [2] No carrier detected

You should add to /etc/hylafax/config.ttyACM0 for fixing the problem:

ModemResetCmds:         ATX3

You can find other useful information on:
DebianWiki
HylaFax Documentation
HylafaxFax Desktop Clients

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Rai.tv senza Silverlight su Linux e Notebook

Trovate tutto riassunto e condensato su OssBlog -> Come vedere i canali rai in streaming con vlc.

Vi par possibile che un servizio pubblico usi soldi pubblici (il canone è un canone solo di nome, di fatto è una tassa) per fornire un servizio streaming per nulla accessibile a tutti? Che vi costava usare soluzioni opensource?
Sicuramente molto meno di quanto avete speso (e continuate a spendere), e sicuramente con un risultato migliore (magari la batteria del portatile durerebbe 4 ore invece che 40 minuti).

Per chi si stesse chiedendo di cosa parlo, mi vien in mente la prima cosa a caso: OGG Theora (peraltro supportato nativamente da Firefox e in futuro da qualsiasi browser web HTML 5 compliant). Se uno mette IceCast è ancora più semplice e utilizzabile con qualsiasi video player su qualsiasi piattaforma.

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Exporting serial tty lines over TCP

On server:

socat tcp-l:54321,reuseaddr,fork file:/dev/ttyS0,nonblock,raw,echo=0,waitlock=/var/run/tty

On client:

while true; do socat pty,link=/dev/vttyS0,raw,echo=0,waitslave tcp:192.168.1.1:54321; done

A lot of fun exporting fax-modem serial line of servers geographically far and use a central hylafax server with multiple virtual modems =D

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Ai posteri.

Grazie Er Cipolla:

Me state a fa piagne’ dalle risa! eccoli lla! i saccenti della domenica! ahoo ma che state a di? Ma se con XP ce faccio gia’ tutto e bene, se xp e’ supportato fino al 2014, se xp me permette de gioca’ senza ave’ probblemi, se con xp ho gia’ tutti i softuears che me servono (pagati CARI), se le maggiori case informatiche ancora sviluppano tutto per xp, se con xp riesco ancora a far funzionare programmi ORIGINALI e PAGATI all’epoca! se xp pro SP3 e’ finalmente un OS stabile e maturo, se per XP se trovano una marea de programmi anche GRATUITI per la sicurezza (es.: Avira Antivir, COMODO, spybot S&D tanto per citarne qualcuno) PERCHE?!?!? perche’ devo da passa a windows7??? ha sempre la famosa falla di sicurezza che ciaveva anche (S)Vista (google:windows 7 falla sicurezza), INAUDITO!! inaudito che ci sia ancora!!! nonostante chiedono soldi FRESCHI!!! ma stiamo scherzando???me dovete da spiega che Azz ce passate a fa’ a seven? per la taskbar? per i gadgets? ma ripijateveeeeee! annate a lavora’ annate! che dopo che li sudate li sordi sapete anche spenderli bene! La versione migliore anche per gli smanettoni e la ULTIMATE, STICA E STOCA! costa come un portatile novo novo alla mediaworld!!! a ramare i campi vi manderei! altro che a posta minKiate sui forumme! annateve a leggere tutti i probblemi che cianno i gamers per gioca onlain per esempio! PBuster ve kikka, altro che compatibilita xpmode! si de sta ceppa! e se proprio ve piace il LUK di windows seven potete trovarlo gratuitamente!! (google:windows 7 xp theme) per cosa lo fate?? per le directx 11?? si e con quali titoli li potete usare? ve lo dico io.. so 18!! si avete letto bene.. 18!!(google:giochi compatibili con windows 7) perche’ tutti gli altri giochi si e no se vanno in compatibility ma in multiplayer online molti software di controllo ve kikkano dai servers!! e per tutti gli smanettoni (E SO’ CHE CI SIETE!!!) scordatevi i seguenti tools: – Ati Tray Tools – CamStudio [x64] – Catalyst Control Center [x64] – Daemons Tools [x86 e x64] Quindi per il momento, XP REGNA! tutto il resto E-V-A-P-O-R-A, come le CATAZZE che avete sparato! Billi Cancelli ha cannato de bbrutto! ha dimenticato na cosa IMPORTANTE!! la piena retrocompatibilita!! scusate n’attimo.. che me ricordi con W95 potevo usare programmi sotto dos vero? ecco allora c’era un motivo per fa la scerta.. os migliore… bellino.. compatibilita’ quindi non perdo i SORDI spesi.. stesso per XP compatibilita’ W95/98 e dos anche se non piena ma sappiamo OGGI che continuiamo tranquillamente a farlo! E LO SAPETE! oggi? dopo (S)Vista ciofecaz ce propinano sto upgreid di (S)Vista che costa no stonfio di soldi, retrocompatibilita’ minima o INESISTENTE, politica dei prezzi ASSURDA (ripeto.. il costo della licenza me ce compro un PC Portatile!!!! confrontate i prezzi delllo stesso OS in AMERICA!! sempre a noi ITALIOTI ce pijano per il QLO e a legge’ i commenti capisco i perche’!!!!) per cosa?? PER COSA???!”?!? AZIONATE IL NEURONE!!! me infervoro perche’ NOI facciamo il mercato!! smettiamola di sperperare i sordi a topa de gatta (per non di a CAzz de cane!!) NOn ha la compatibilita’ piena ai programmi precedenti che FUNZIONANO SEMPRE!!! e sono stati PAGATI!!!! per cosa passate a SEVEN, ve lo dico io perche seven=sette e bello.. si.. SETTEBELLO.. lo stesso nome del profilattico che billi cancelli vuole usa nel nostro reale sfintere!!! colca che gli ammollo le piotte!!! al max ritorno a stefano lavori! armeno me prendo un os serio (snow leopard)! Ricapitolando: Compatibilita’?: KOTIONSKJI mode.. come diceva fantozzi della corazzata.. e’ una cagata pazzesca! altro che le chiacchere delle testate citate, io ce so nato nell’era dei computerz (il mio primo “pc” fu uno spectrum ZX81..regolateve.. a me per il qlo non mi prendono…forse a voi si! retrocompatibilita’ pressocche’ NULLA ve dovrete ricaccia’ no stonfio de euri.. ma e’ da sempre la politica (incorect) di billi cancelli! Prezzo?: Assurdo! perche’ passare a sto Settebello quando XP me va na favola?? perche’ fare l’upgreid da (S)Vista quando ho dovuto comperare un harduear potente per farlo girare ed ora me se chiede na cifra pazzesca per sta PATCH?!?!? gaming?:DA PANICO! nun se pole gioca’ se non con 18 tiutoli per il momento.. i server online usano programmi anticheats (es.: Punkbuster) che ve kikkano se usate SEVEN! nun ce so cazzi e mazzi, almeno per il momento! Prestazioni? XP su molti test in giro su internette effettuati se porta quasi sempre in una ottima posizione, se poi si considera che su un harduear potente sul quale gira (S)Vsita ce istallate XP pro SP3, la resa e’ ESAGERATA! in confronto ai nuovi OS de billi cancelli! alla peggio se piazza sempre ad un onorevole 2 posto! ma in pochi casi! MOrale? siete i soliti beoni italioti? ve piace esser presi per il qlo coi soliti trucchetti magnasordi? non ve sudate i sordi? comprateve settebello!! lo potrete mostrare ai vostri furbi amici che ve rideranno in faccia, compreso l’impiegato alle poste che usa ancora XP!

Da un commento su: http://www.gizmodo.it/2009/10/23/hanno-detto-di-windows-7-27-pareri-sul-nuovo-os.html

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TopHost e la gestione dns azzoppata, opinioni?

Probabilmente in molti conoscono TopHost, primo fra tutti per quanto riguarda i prezzi delle loro offerte hosting in Italia.

Ora, qualcuno può spiegarmi perchè non è possibile avere un record A per il dominio di primo livello?
http://www.miosito.it funziona, http://miosito.it/ no.
Chi ha un dominio tophost provi pure, sembra sia così per tutti.
Purtroppo non è nemmeno possibile utilizzare il proprio server DNS per sopperire alla lacuna precedente.

Ovviamente sono passato ad altro, però rimango molto perplesso.

Clienti TopHost, che mi dite?

Edit 1: qualcuno se ne è accorto!

http://clienti.tophost.it/2008/12/17/il-sito-non-e-raggiungibile-senza-www-3/

Edit 2: nelle FAQ di TopHost http://www.tophost.it/aiuto/cat2/11/199/ dice che è possibile configurare un record wildcard per sopperire al problema del www. E se non volessi che tutti i record puntino allo stesso server perchè magari ho un server web e un server di posta separati?

Edit 3: ricevuta una nuova risposta dal supporto di TopHost, mi hanno indirettamente invitato a cambiare hosting. Non si tratta di una lacuna tecnica, ma di una precisa scelta aziendale.

Sayonara TopHost.

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Linksys WAG54G2 and slowness on p2p

It’s 3 weeks that I bought a Linksys WAG54G2 wifi adsl router, and I wasn’t very happy with it.
Even with a very low bandwidth allotment for my torrent client, the navigation on every site was very SLOW (~5 sec for http://www.google.it), with the latest firmware (1.00.17) and with default settings.

Today I probably found a solution for the WAG54G2 problems with high latency when using p2p. The problem is probably not the router itself, but it’s poor QoS implementation or its gui frontend.

Let’s look at my actual configuration:
Linksys WAG54G2 QoS
With this QoS configuration, I can happily browse the internet while torrenting. I don’t have any idea why the hell with QoS disabled, the opening of new connections is massively retarded.

For those who aren’t fluent in Linksys web interface, you should go to Applications &
Gaming -> QoS;
Set Internet Bandwidth to Manual (I have a 7mbits DSL, ~8000 should be good, I put 9000)
In Category -> Applications, Add a new application: name web, port range 80 80 on the first line, 443 443 on the second and 53 on the third. On the dropdown select Both, Priority Medium, then Add.
Save settings.
Finish.

If these settings solve your problems, please drop me a comment on this page, thanks!

Posted in Hardware, en_US | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tips for configuring Ubuntu Karmic on MacBook Pro

The new Ubuntu Karmic (9.10) will be release soon and it will greatly increase the support of MacBooks, thanks to the official Ubuntu Mactel Team (https://launchpad.net/mactel-support)

Here are a short list of tips for configuring your Macbook with Ubuntu Karmic.

To change the default behavior of the Fn keys, because I use much more the F1, F2, F3 ecc, than changing brightness of my screen, keyboard, etc.
Added in /etc/rc.local:

echo 2 > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode

The new hid-apple module has native support for keys for changing brightness on screen and keyboard, and also for the integrated light sensor. Unfortunately, hid-apple obey too much to the light sensor, changing every few seconds the brightness without taking care of manual changes to the brightness. In a few words, I cannot manually change the screen brightness because the light sensor reset it every time.
So I decided to reinstall ye good olde pommed to control everything.

sudo aptitude install pommed

For changing settings:

sudo nano /etc/pommed.conf

For mounting the mac hfs+ partition on Ubuntu:
sudo aptitude install hfsprogs
Add to /etc/fstab:
/dev/sda2 /media/mac hfsplus defaults 0 2
Important note: you *MUST* disable journaling on the hfs filesystem, because Linux doesn’t know how to handle the journal. You can disable journaling on the mac volume when you are on MacOsX running in a terminal:

diskutil disableJournal /

I have also changed on my Ubuntu /etc/passwd the UID of my user from 1000 to 501, so I don’t need to use my root account to access my mac home directory. You can also change the mac user UID from mac, using the Account applet in the System Preferences panel (but I don’t have tried yet)

Also remember to add to your sources.list the Medibuntu repository (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu) and Mactel PPA (https://edge.launchpad.net/~mactel-support/+archive/ppa)

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My network hints for setting up VirtualBox on Mac Host with Linux Guests

Virtualbox is one of my favourite OpenSource project, and I am actively following it’s rapid development, headed by Sun/Oracle.
You can use it very easily, and there are tons of howto out of here on how to setup, configure and run your favorite operating system inside another.

The default settings put on your virtual machine a single NAT device, which is good if you only need to reach Internet inside the VM, but it became pretty unusable if you need to access to the VM from an external machine. Here came in help the bridged networking mode, so your VM will get an IP address directly from the DHCP of your current network (both wired or wireless), so you can connect to the VM from everywhere, as you can with the host machine. This is the most flexible environment.
If you want to stay more secure (and probably gain some transfer speed), you can use the host only network: it’s a network managed with dhcp by virtualbox, and it’s only accessible from your host machine (it has a dedicated virtual interface).

Sharing files with the host machine:

  • If you need to access to your music collection inside the VM, the best way is to activate the file sharing function of your mac inside System Preferences, and after mount it inside the VM using both command line:
    mount -t cifs -o username=yourusername,password=yourpassword,uid=1000,gid=1000 //name.of.the.host.machine/yourusername /mnt/here
  • If you need to export a directory from the VM to the host (for me, it’s the /var/www, so I don’t need to ftp/rsync files when doing web-development), the fastest way is to setup a nfs server and mount it on mac. Apt-get nfs-kernel-server and edit /etc/exports with:
    /home/scorp 192.168.56.1(rw,async,no_subtree_check,insecure,all_squash,anonuid=1000,anongid=1000)
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The essential OpenSource Software for your Mac

How many of you will never buy a mac for it’s price and for the prices of his dedicated software?
Nowadays the history is changed, there is a lot of OpenSource Software ready for you and for your Mac (and Linux, and Windows..)
Here is a list with a description of all the software I currently use on my laptop.

  • Adium: one of the best piece of software for mac. If you want to chat with friends and collegues, you can’t not use it
  • AppCleaner: a problem of Mac is the absence of some sort of uninstaller for application. You simply put the application in the trash, but the user settings remains in your home. With AppCleaner you can remove them automatically.
  • AppFresh: useful for keeping an eye on the update state of your installed application
  • Burn: on Mac you can simply use Finder for burning files, but sometimes you need something more refined. Burn, it says everything.
  • CyberDuck: the ftp/ftps/scp/s3 uber client. You need it, I know.
  • DropBox: it’s a commercial cloud storage service, but it has a free account with 2 Gb of free spaces for your documents. It’s very good for sharing files with friends, to keep backup copies of your important documents and to keep in sync documents on different worktstation
  • FireFox: probably you are already using it
  • Gimp: I don’t have many pretending for a photo editor, so GIMP will fit perfectly for me
  • iBackup: frequently TimeMachine is enought for many people, but not for all. If you need something more powerful and refined than TimeMachine, go with iBackup
  • Nocturne: if you often work on dark light, you probably you find this little tool very useful. It will reduce notably the illumination effect of your monitor, even when you have the brightness level to minimun
  • OpenOffice: Office replace, it works, don’t blame us with “My Word doesn’t bla bla bla”
  • Smultron: it’s a text editor, there are so many out, pick up your preferred (or leave yours in the comments)
  • Thunderbird: I don’t use very much desktop user agent for mail, Gmail do it better, but I you need, here you are
  • TimeTracker: time is money, keep track of it! Very useful when working on different project at the same time
  • Transmission: if you are a torrent user, you will certainly like transmission. It has a nice web interfaces, so you can manage you download even when you are out of home
  • VirtualBox: it’s a virtualization solution I prefer. I will discuss deeply of it in a new article.
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The perfect working environment with OpenSource Software on a Macbook

I am writing this article for sharing my actual setup on my recently bought MacBook Pro Unibody.

After some week, I managed how to make a third-boot system with rEFIt, having MacOS, Windows (I like enjoying some videogame, the last was Fallout 3), and Debian GNU/Linux.
I wasn’t very satisfied with this choice, because i wasted a lot of my 300 GB hd, and the hardware support in Linux wasn’t has in MacOS:
- Soundcard not supported by alsa [bug: #4432]
- The nvidia proprietary driver fails to detect the integrated 9400 chip, so I was forced to use the 9600GT, which is a waste of battery lifetime when I am not gaming
- The only good way to share documents between OS is thru a HFS+ paritition with journaling disabled.

So I preferred to try out MacOS as my first operating system for dealing out with browsing, mailing, chatting and listening to music.
For the working aspect, I can’t find something good and flexible like a Debian GNU/Linux system: so I installed VirtualBox and installed linux on it.

Now I split my experience in two separated articles:

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