RAID failure, loss of data and anger

RAID is not a good alternative to backing up data. Data may become damaged or destroyed without harm to the drive(s) on which they are stored. For example, some of the data may be overwritten by a system malfunction; a file may be damaged or deleted by user error or malice and not noticed for days or weeks; and, of course, the entire array is at risk of physical damage.

Note that a RAID controller itself can become the single point of failure within a system.

Launch TightVNC using the Computer Name - or - How to Get IP from Computer Name in MS-DOS cmd.exe batch file

First, knowing the name of a computer, we want to get its IP. The script 'GetIpFromName' does that..

Second, we need to call `StartVncViewer MyServerName` to start VncViewer..

See scripts below:

TightVNC is a great Open Source alternative to Remote Desktop Connection!

In a previous post we've seen that Remote Desktop Connection (embeded with Windows XP PRO) is a great tool that allows you to work on a distant computer and to use its graphical environment.

But what do I do if I only have an XP Home Edition? You might consider using TightVNC then! Besides, even if you have the license for Remote Desktop Connection you might consider using TightVNC anyway because... it rocks!


1/ Install the VNC server

Visit http://www.tightvnc.com.

2/ Start the VNC service
3/ Update the Firewall

Authorize the server executable and open ports 5800 and 5900:

4/ Get the IP of the Target

Ping the server from your other computer (the client) and read its IP.

5/ Connect to the Target using a VNC Viewer

Connect to the remote computer using its IP:

6/ VNC Security considerations

There is one fundamental difference between TightVNC and Remote Desktop Connection: the remote computer's monitor will display an open session when you log using TightVNC (eg. you will see the mouse move, etc.) whereas it will display a "locked computer" when you use Remote Desktop Connection.
From a security point of view, you need to ask yourself if it is a problem having your session left open on the remote computer. Who are the people who have physical access to this computer?

On the other hand, having the session open is very convenient if the remote computer performs Graphical Automation: for example, AutoIT doesn't work correctly if the computer is locked! In which case TightVNC might become a life saver!

Last but not least, you can combine both behaviors by using a Virtual Machine on top of the physical one: the physical machine can then be locked and the data and processes running on the Virtual Machine will be protected from the outer world while you are using TightVNC!

Work around AutoIT stdin limitation

The fastest way to implement a small script and to process a file (or a chunk of data) is to use the standard input rather than file-handles.

1/ It is easier to redirect a file instead of providing parameters to a program.

2/ When you use redirections, the operating system works for you: it opens the file and feeds the program with its content.

C:\> AutoIt3.exe DiffPrettyfier.au3 < MyInput.txt > MyOutput.txt

The content of the script is straight forward:

$myInput = ConsoleRead()

; do something here

; (...)

ConsoleWrite($myOutput)

But there is one problem that makes this a bit harder: AutoIT 'ConsoleRead' doesn't handle input bigger than '65535' characters. So here is a little workaround: use the function 'StdinRead' below instead of 'ConsoleRead':

;-----------------------------------------------------------------

; Name .........: StdinRead

; Description ..: Wrapper for ConsoleRead because it doesn't

; handle big files

; Warning ......: This is a workaround but it has limitations too,

; I used a big file to test this function but it

; might fail on a VERY big file (eg. if the file

; contains 2 147 483 647 characters)

; original big file tested: 18 030 950

; biggest string size allowed: 2 147 483 647

; Parameters ...: n/a

; Return .......: String read on STDIN or empty String "" if

; nothing found on STDIN

;-----------------------------------------------------------------

Func StdinRead()

Const $MAX_BUFFER = 65535

$eofReached = False

$fileContent = ""

While Not $eofReached

$buffer = ConsoleRead($MAX_BUFFER)

If @error Or $buffer = "" Then $eofReached = True

$fileContent &= $buffer

WEnd

Return $fileContent

EndFunc ;==>StdinRead

NOTE: For "ConsoleWrite" to work as expected (redirecting output to stdout), you need to compile the script using the "/console" switch.

Automatic logon

There are three ways to get this done.

First, you can edit the registry. Point regedit to the section called "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" and edit the following string-keys:

• DefaultUser
• DefaultPassword
• DefaultDomain
• AutoAdminLogon (set to "1")

Alternatively, you can create a script called "Winlogon MyUserName.reg":

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"DefaultUserName"="MyUserName"
"DefaultDomainName"="MYNETWORK"
"AutoAdminLogon"="1"
"DefaultPassword"="MyUserPassword"

Finally you can download "TweakUI" (Power Toys for Windows XP) and use this tool instead.

Convert '%date%' into format 'yyyy-mm-dd'

The format returned by '%date%' is different between Windows 2000 (eg. 'Mon 16/06/2008') and Windows XP (eg. '16/06/2008').

The snippet below works on Windows XP:

%date:~6,4%-%date:~3,2%-%date:~0,2%

but this one works on Windows 2000 too:

%date:~-4,4%-%date:~-7,2%-%date:~-10,2%

Use another processor for heavy tasks... (Remote desktop connection)

Compiling can be a very annoying task: it takes ages and it uses all your CPU resources; it's especially true when your software project contains a few hundred thousands lines of code and that you have to perform a "Rebuild All" compilation.

Well, that was until today... because from now on, the "Rebuild All" doesn't run on my computer anymore... thanks to "Remote desktop connection"!

You can find this utility among the programs shipped with your Microsoft Windows XP PRO SP2 Operating System (and above):



Remote Desktop Connection allows you to connect to another computer using its address (IP or local network name):



If you want the other computer to work on your local data you may have to share your drive C:\

Warning: of course, you must trust your local network very very very much to do this! Or find another way...

Now, assuming that your computer's name is "\\MyComputer", you can make the second computer work on your data; just map the network drive using "Explorer > Tools > Map network drive":



And here you go... you can have an other processor doing the heavy tasks for you:

Compare Microsoft Office Word documents using WinMerge... well, almost!

I am creating a software testing benchmark: comparing data between reference data and test output data is key for that matter. I came across an interesting feature in WinMerge: there is a plugin that allows you to "unpack" (aka. "dump") a MS Office Word document (".doc") into a text file (".txt").

It can be activated in the menu:


Unfortunately it doesn't take into account the text formatting (but I guess that would be an interesting enhancement to do). Also images are replaced by just a little "square" and there is no reference to their name. Well that's a start...

Configure Common Places in "File Picker" dialogs (open file, save file, etc.)

If you are using Windows Vista operating system, you probably noticed that, in terms of purpose, the "C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%" directory have replaced "My Documents". Now, for instance, "My Music" or "My Pictures" are now siblings of "My Documents" rather than being its children.

This new data organization is much more coherent and I would like to apply it on my old Windows XP operating system.

But Windows uses a nickname for the folder "My Documents" and whenever you try to go to the parent folder, you actually end up in "My Computer". This means that there is no convenient way to quickly access "C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%" and that you have to browse each time from the root directory. And this is particularly annoying in the "&Open File" and "&Save File" dialog windows :(

Fortunately a little modification to the registry allows you to change your favorite places displayed in the sidebar.




More information about this manipulation can be found on the MSDN at this address: Cutting Edge: Customize Your Open File Dialog -- MSDN Magazine ...

And, below, is a screenshot of the manipulation:





-- Edited 2008-09-22:

I just discovered another way to do this: download "TweakUI" (Power Toys for Windows XP)... much simpler!

BringBackFromTray: for MinimizeToTray extension users (Firefox or Thunderbird)

The first extension I installed on Firefox was MinimizeToTray. I love it.

Sadly, It's easy to minimize my prefered browser (Ctrl+Shift+M) but there is no keystroke to bring it back from the Tray: I though for a long time about implementing a global hook that would wait for the keyboard shortcut and activate the Firefox window.

My brand new Logitech keyboard provided a much easier solution! This keyboard has special buttons that can be configured to launch the program of my choice. So I wrote the program below (AutoIT language). Feel free to use it. But, as usual, take note that this program is provided without any guarantee:

; static variables
$program_name="Firefox"
$program_path=_
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

; set AutoIT options
AutoItSetOption("WinTitleMatchMode", 2)

; Get state of the firefox window
; (eg. 21 minimize to tray =  1 + 4 + 16 )
; (eg. 23 minimize = 1 + 2 + 4 + 16 )
$state = WinGetState($program_name)

; not runing ?
; -> launch the program
If Not $state Then
 Run($program_path)
; not visible ?
; -> bring from the tray
ElseIf Not BitAND($state, 2) Then
 WinActivate($program_name)
; visible and active ?
; -> MinimizeToTray
ElseIf BitAND($state, 8) Then
 ControlSend ($program_name, "", ""_
 , "{SHIFTDOWN}{CTRLDOWN}m{CTRLUP}{SHIFTUP}")
; visible but not active ?
; -> activate
Else
 WinActivate($program_name)
 WinWaitActive($program_name)
EndIf

I recommend you have a look into this great tool called AutoIT: it is extremely useful and efficient in a day-to-day basis; and its syntax is very simple (Basic-like).