The easiest way to try different OS’es is to have the installation media network mounted, and just PXE boot the device, choosing OS in pxelinux.cfg (if trying linux OS’es that is). I set it up as follows (since I have a ubuntu machine anyway), but a similar approach will work for other distribution/OS’es. You will need to install a tftp server, dhcp server and a http server. Your “server” which will serve these three services need to have a static IP and other dhcp servers need to be turned off on that network.

1) Make sure your ALIX is ready with the CF card inserted, and network cable connected to your first/rightmost interface (closest to the power input)
2) Setup and start a tftp server on the machine you will be using as a server. On ubuntu, the easiest way would be using

apt-get install <package>

I chose “tftp-hpa”
3) Setup and start a http server on the machine you will be using as a server. You might already have one running, so check before. I already had lighttpd running.
4) Setup and start a dhcp server on your network. Either on you server or if you have a dhcp server, make sure it can swallow options for PXE clients. I used the ISC dhcp server on the same host as above. Package: isc-dhcp-server
5) Download ipcop-<version>-install-netboot.i486.tgz and ipcop-<version>-install-cd.i486.iso to your server host.
6) Untar the first (netboot install file) to the tftp root, then copy the “ipcop-pxe-serial-<version>.model” file to “default” in the same directory, then copy the “pxelinux.0″ file in “<tft-root>/ipcop/<version>/i486/pxelinux.0″ to your tftp root
7) Make ipcop iso available via your http server either by copying the contents of the iso to a directory in the http root, or mount it to a directory in your http root. I symlinked my mount to ipcop_iso in the root.
Configure your dhcp server to have your tftp servers ip as “next-server” and make sure to pass the pxelinux.0 file in the config for pxe as well. I added these lines to dhcpd.conf:

next-server <my.servers.ip.address>;
host alix {
hardware ethernet <mac address of the alix>;
filename “pxelinux.0″;
}

9) Connect the ALIX using serial to a machine with a serial port (maybe your server above), and fire up your choice of serial terminal. I used minicom, and since I don’t have a serial port but a USB to SERIAL converter, the device was specified as the device created when the converter was inserted:

minicom –device /dev/ttyUSB0 –baudrate 38400 –8bit –statline”

10) Connect power to your ALIX board. You should see output on your serial terminal immediately. Something like this:

PC Engines ALIX.2 v0.99h
640 KB Base Memory
261120 KB Extended Memory.

Press “S” to enter bios configuration, “E” to enable PXE boot and “Q” to quit, choosing “Y” on the “Do you want to save” prompt.

Your ALIX board should now PXE boot. Follow the install instructions. You will get prompted what media you want to use to install. Choose HTTP and enter the server where you put your ipcop iso, together with the full http path. If your ALIX board did not PXE boot, search the logs and check your DHCP/tftp setup. These are the only ones used during PXE boot.

Now, I had issues with ipcop not wanting to boot after the install. I got Boot error straight after the POST sequence. I am running a 8GB CF card, and though that might be an issue (since IPCOP docs state it supports cards up to 4GB), but after mocking around a bit, I decided to re-install – and that solved it (ugh..). I am guessing something failed during the first installs MBR write to the CF card. I can’t really re-wind now and check the MBR out.. Should have done that in the first place.. I did however get a tip (on the ipcops.com forum) to update to the latest ALIX bios (which I already had on the board). tinyBIOS 0.99h.

I look out the window before I leave for work, and it’s cloudy, but no rain and the streets are dry..

I take the elevator down, pass through the lobby, open the door and am faced with hard rain. I turn around to get a different jacket (one with a hood).

Get up to the apartment, put a hoodie on and get out again. Pass the lobby, open the door – no rain.. I walk to the subway (tube), take jubilee line then change in green park for piccadilly. Arrive in leicester square 20 minutes later, get out of the tube station and it’s pouring down again.. ugh..

As you read before – After extensive testing, I realized that the drive was faulty. I created a RMA with WDC and called them since I was requested to send in my faulty drive at my expense. I got the answer – Yes, you need to pay for shipping. So I packed the drive, but just before I sent it off, I emailed Customer support at WDC.

After some days of email conversation the outcome is: The drive was DOA (Dead On Arrival) which qualifies for WDC paid shipping. However since I did not install the drive right away (took a week) and did extensive testing to make sure the drive was broken before I ship it out – They will not pay shipping. Why? Because you have 10 days to get back to them in case the drive was DOA. If you don’t, then you pay the shipping.

So, if an exchanged drive is showing any signs of failure. Don’t bother with testing it to make sure. Just contact WDC right away and have them instruct you on what you should do. If your initial report is within 10 days of receiving the drive you are safe no matter how extensive testing you will have to do after the initial contact.

Oh, by the way: I am not complaining about WDC. Their rules are their rules. Just to bad I did not know anything about this and did not get informed about this when I received the drive in question. The WDC customer support have been helpful, and I understand that the agent that has been in touch with me can’t stretch the case further. Her managers said no, and that’s it for her. It’s my own fault that I did not act sooner. This post is purely informational.

Just my five cents worth of..

Recently I came across Drobo, and the model I chose was the drobopro. Pretty neat little box. For those of you who does not know what it is, chek it out here: drobopro details. Basically it’s a box for 8 SATA drives that dynamically takes care of your raid volumes. You set it up like a kind of thin-provisioning, and then just add drives as you go. Drobo calls it BeyondRAID technology. With the drives currently on the market, you can theoretically get 16TB of storage, all attached through FW800, USB or iSCSI. I bought it for private use. Primary to solve my current and future storage needs in a easy way, but also to test the unit. This can be a cheap online backup storage for small to medium sized companies. It has a rack mount option, so for those that don’t need and don’t have the cash for a NexSAN SATABeast, SASBeast, SATABoy or SASBoy, this could be a option. And what an option considering the BeyondRAID technology..

So far, I have unpacked the Drobo, hooked it up to the computer of choice (Mac mini) through FW800. I have wanted to do some performance tests, but am currently stuck with very poor performance. I have 3x2TB WD green drives (WD20EADS). Gives me a total of 6TB raw capacity (4TB with data protection). I have been in contact with Drobo support when I had time left over between work and travel, and we are slowly solving the problem. It might be a hardware fault in the drobo itself, but I will get back later on this topic. So far, even though the Unit has not met my personal needs, I am excited about it, and hope that I will get it to work with good performance soon.

http://www.slideshare.net/papablues/mysql-ha-presentation

Will also write a short summary on MySQL UC tomorrow.

For thise that has been checking this blog on ocasions have seen that i was supposed to speak today at 11.55am. Said and done, my presentation together with Anders Karlsson from MySQL/Sun went under way at that time. The session was actually pretty crowded considering it was just before lunch time.

This was my first presentation ever, so the first minutes were a bit nervous. I will be posting the presentation files here, and you are welcome to mail me if you have any questions or want to talk about ideas that you have. Maybe i can help to shed some light about issues you are facing, or if you just are hesitant with some choice. When it comes to performance, we/I have tried pretty much everything out there; hardware and software.

If you attended the session, i would like to thank you for your attention and wish you happy HAing.

I just upgraded to the latest and grates, and man is there a difference. I love the new dashboard and everything. I can truly recommend upgrading if you are thinking about it.

What i want to save/post is just general stuff about life and some pictures for family to recap on what they have missed.. Some information about me and maybe a bit of my hobbies..

We’ll se if i stick to it or if i do something else..