I had to replace a string in a bunch of files and wanted to do it quickly.
1. cd to the directory where your files live.
2. Run this:

for i in *; do perl -i -pe 's/oldtext/new better  text/g' $i; done

for i in *; do sed -e 's/oldtext/newtext/g' -i $i;  done

To convert a DOS text file (end-of-line = ^M^J) to a Unix text file (end-of-line = ^J).

# apt-get install sysutils (if using Debian) 

$ dos2unix dosfile

To have VI(M) in Debian to act like it does in Redhat, create a file named .vimrc (Note the dot) in your home directory and add this to it:

syntax on
au BufReadPost * if line("'\"") >  0|if line("'\"") <= line("$")|exe("norm '\"")|else|exe "norm  $"|endif|endif

hdparm -t /dev/sda with my new RAID5 array was shockingly slow. I added this to my startup:

blockdev --setra 19969 /dev/sda

Much quicker
/Happy dance

The easiest (and the best way) to install java on Debian is as follows:

1. Verify that “contrib” is listed in your /etc/apt/sources.list

deb http://debian.oregonstate.edu/debian/ stable  main contrib

2. Update APT

apt-get  install java-package

3. Go to java.com and download the latest java bin file.

4. Create the deb package

fakeroot  make-jpkg <java_file_just_downloaded>.bin

5. Install it

dpkg -i <java_youjustmade_xxxxx>.deb

6. Happy dance.

Ever need to recover a lost partition? Here’s how:
1. Go to http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download and download Testdisk.
2. Run Testdisk, search the desired drive, find the deleted partion(s), write them to the disk and reboot.
3. Do happy dance.

Article Update.

I’ve just finished updating my article in the Technical section on installing Postfix MTA with Amavis, ClamAv, and Spamassassin, now for Debian Etch!. Although it is specificly written for Debian Linux users, many of the concepts are the same on other Linux distros. It also covers setting up SMPT AUTH via TLS to authenticate users for mail relay.

See it here:
How To Install Postfix, Dovecot, Amavis, ClamAV, and Spamassassin (Etch)

And remember, all articles are up for discussion in the forums.

Setting Up 802.1x Authentication with Debian Linux and FreeRadius – Part1 –

I just added a new how-to on setting Up 802.1x Authentication with Debian Linux and FreeRadius

It’s a complete walk though on installing from source and configuring FreeRADIUS for use with PEAP. You’ll be up surfing the net securely on your laptop in no time!

See it here:
Setting Up 802.1x Authentication with Debian Linux and FreeRadius

And remember, all articles are up for discussion in the forums.

Install Asterisk VOIP PBX on Debian.

I just added a new how-to on installing Asterisk on Debian Linux in a pure voice over IP environment.

It’s a complete walk though on installing from source and configuring Asterisk to use Broadvoice as a VOIP gateway. You’ll be up and making calls over the internet in no time

See it here:
Install Asterisk on Debian

And remember, all articles are up for discussion in the forums.

Fat of the LAN Upgraded!

The Fat of the LAN server has been upgraded to a new Dell PowerEdge server. It is now also co-lo’d in a cabinet at Infinity Internet so things should be much faster now.

UPDATE – Well the server died today. I think the mainboard gacked, but fortunately I had another identical server on hand that hadn’t gone out yet. Just swapped out the drives and put it back in the rack so Dell can repair this one. Expect an outage in a day or two.

You can read more about the Dell blade server on their site, along with some of the tips on setting up your own.