From: adam@address.invalid   
      
   Moe Trin wrote:   
   > On Sun, 17 Feb 2013, in the Usenet newsgroup alt.os.linux.mandriva,   
   > in article , Adam wrote:   
      
   >> the problem was getting 'ifup wlan0' to connect consistently.   
   >   
   > No, not finding the right driver (in which case TJ's suggestion   
   > sounds right) or no, not the problem - it was getting a link   
      
   Pretty sure the problem was getting ifcfg-wlan0 and associated helpers   
   configured correctly.   
      
   >> "helot" now consistently gets assigned 192.168.1.61.  The only   
   >> difference is "connection type" depending on the distro.   
   >   
   > OK, is this with both Debian and CentOS or only one   
      
   It's assigned 192.168.1.61 with either distro.  Difference is, when   
   Debian connects the router reports it as a static connection, while when   
   CentOS connects the router reports it as a dynamic connection.   
      
   > Debian has always offered more packages - a note from one of   
   > the developers at the end of June 2009 spoke of "more than 20,000   
   > packages, many mutually exclusive"   
      
   But is "many mutually exclusive" good or bad?  Sounds like there could   
   be 2000 graphing programs there.  Actually "helot" probably needs less   
   than a dozen apps.   
      
   >> I'm putting my effort (what little I can summon up) into CentOS there,   
   >> and ignoring Debian for now.  Seems like the main task is getting rid   
   >> of all netstat "listening" ports (except for SSH), or am I forgetting   
   >> something?   
   >   
   > That sounds reasonable. How much is open still?   
      
   [root@helot ~]# netstat -anptu   
   Active Internet connections (servers and established)   
   Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address               Foreign Address State   
      PID/Program name   
   tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:22                  0.0.0.0:*     LISTEN   
   1791/sshd   
   tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:631               0.0.0.0:*     LISTEN   
   1652/cupsd   
   tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:25                0.0.0.0:*     LISTEN   
   1871/master   
   tcp        0      0 192.168.1.61:35012          23.66.230.75:80   
   ESTABLISHED 2543/clock-applet   
   tcp        0      0 :::22                       :::*     LISTEN 1791/sshd   
   tcp        0      0 ::1:631                     :::*     LISTEN 1652/cupsd   
   udp        0      0 0.0.0.0:631                 0.0.0.0:*   1652/cupsd   
   udp        0      0 0.0.0.0:68                  0.0.0.0:*   2020/dhclient   
   [root@helot ~]#   
      
   I know I want sshd, although maybe on a different port.  clock-applet   
   (ntp) was installed at my request, seems innocuous and isn't listening   
   anyway.  cupsd and master need to be removed, without losing the ability   
   to print and send/receive mail when helot requests it.  dhclient (port   
   68) -- what the heck is that?  I don't want anybody else connecting into   
   helot; I just want to establish a DHCP connection with a nearby router,   
   whether mine or Starbucks'.   
      
   > yet I do want (at least) SSH access   
   > at home, and maybe even some file transfer mechanism.  It's security   
   > by obscurity, but you could move your SSH daemon to an uncommon port   
   > and then set your firewall allow access to that port from "everywhere"   
   > as a single setup - the trade-off is PROBABLY acceptable if the SSH   
   > server demands a certificate or similar level of security   
      
   Ok, sounds good enough.  By "uncommon port" do you mean uncommon for SSH   
   (but possibly the usual port for some other service), or a port that's   
   pretty much unused by anything?  Is there an upper limit for that?   
   Eventually I intend to get sftp working (probably on some weird port   
   number) and scripts to sync a few files.   
      
   [router]   
      
   >>> You purchased a spare router last year - have you looked at   
   >>> that to see if it's similar?   
   >   
   >> No, but when I did have it hooked up I don't recall any differences.   
   >   
   > Do you recall looking at that?  I must confess I'd never look that   
   > high.   
      
   No, but as 224.0.0.0/3 is completely filtered on this router (the rev. D   
   that VZ sent me in 2007), I don't think it's worth looking into.  BTW I   
   notice that I have 802.11a/b/g but not 'n' but that sounds like NBD as   
   99+% of my traffic will be through my router anyway.   
      
   [printing]   
      
   >> the differences seem to be mainly speed and cost per page.   
   >   
   > and the availability of Linux drivers.   
      
   I don't think /that/ varies within any one brand, e.g. all HPs = good   
   Linux support (even their cheapest printers), all Canons = no Linux support.   
      
   [homemade laptop desk: "_laptop_]" ]   
      
   >> I doubt I'll stain anything   
   >> -- don't want to make it look too tempting to others.   
   >   
   > ;-)  As I said - I like the color of an oak or walnut, so I tend to   
   > stain.   
      
   I dunno here -- I don't want to make the think look too tempting to   
   thieves.  I also /know/ not to use the same finish as v1, unless I'm   
   prepared to spend about two hours mixing it first.   
      
   > To prevent water damage, I almost always put "something" over   
   > the wood - usually a polyurethane or similar.   
      
   Is that before or after attaching the weatherstripping?   
      
   >>> I'd even consider [a small UPS] one for the eris and helot in the   
   >>> bedroom.   
   [...]   
   > a 350 VA APC "Battery Backup" unit two weeks ago for $35.   
      
   NewEgg occasionally has similar deals but given eris's usage, I think   
   several hundred other things are more important.  Any "real" work will   
   be done on stolid anyway.   
      
   > My wife carries a small surge   
   > protector with her laptop - it's a small inductor, and two metal   
   > oxide varistors (General Electric or Harris MOVs) and a 3AG Normal   
   > fuse in a container about 1 x 1 x 4 inch in size - no name on it.   
      
   You mean I'm not done spending money on helot? :-(  I used to see a lot   
   more single-outlet surge protectors (usually with phone line protection)   
   a couple of years ago; there are relatively few now.  (The LJ is plugged   
   into an old one.)   
      
   [bookcases]   
      
   >> Actually I get first choice of all the electronics and books, and   
   >> that's going to take some self-restraint.   
   >   
   > Only restraint I tend to worry about is "where am I going to put this   
   > stuff while I sneak it into the house".   
      
   That's what I mean, except I don't have to consider anybody else's   
   opinions.  I still have to find room for anything I bring in.   
      
   >> There's about 3.5" between the bookcases and the wall, to allow for   
   >> the hot-water radiator.   
   >   
   > I'm guessing, a baseboard type of radiator?   
      
   Yep, the usual around here.   
      
   > I'd like to avoid   
   > blocking air circulation if practical.  In this case, I'd have   
   > something under the book cases to allow cool air to be drawn in and   
   > rise through the radiators.   
      
   But what?  Bricks or concrete blocks?  I'm not sure the bookcases could   
   handle only being supported at their ends.   
      
   > The new resident is "Taz" - a 5 year old domestic medium hair calico.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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