Archive | February, 2006

Oracle, MySQL, Interbase, Firebird, Ashton-Tate and XENIX, oh my!

By Ted Roche on February 21, 2006 in MySQL, OpenSource, Technology

I’ll try to put together a more comprehensive post later, but wanted to log a series of links I want to revisit. This is a WeB Log after all:

Firebird News: MySQL to adopt Firebird Architecture

MySQL to adopt Firebird architecture

Database Journal: “Oracle’s purchase of InnoDB, their release of Oracle Express, and the effect on MySQL” 9 Nov 2005, By Ian Gilfillan
http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mysql/article.php/3561731

“MySQL’s response to Oracle’s moves:” http://www.greenman.co.za/b2evolution/blogs/index.php?title=mysql_s_response_to_oracle_s_moves&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

“Pressure on MySQL increases as Oracle purchases Sleepycat, with more to come” 15 Fwbruary 2006, By Ian Gilfillan
http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mysql/article.php/3585266

Slashdot’s reaction: http://it.slashdot.org/it/06/02/20/1337227.shtml

Wikipedia’s notes on Jim Starkey, InterBase, and Firebird

Exciting times.

Dan Bricklin: When The Long Tail Wags The Dog

By Ted Roche on February 21, 2006 in Technology

At Dan Bricklin’s Log: Essay about the Long Tail and general purpose tools. “For months and months I’ve been wanting to write an essay about some thoughts on the Long Tail. I’ve finally had the time. (The material was part of the talk I gave for TTI/Vanguard and I had time on the plane to turn the slides into an essay.)

The basic idea is that the value of the Long Tail isn’t just that you make money selling an awful lot of unpopular things. The value comes from…” read more

Microsoft facing more antitrust actions?

By Ted Roche on February 21, 2006 in Microsoft, Technology

Computerworld News notes Microsoft faces another antitrust suit. “A California computer services and hardware retailer last week filed a federal civil suit accusing Microsoft Corp. of continuing to violate antitrust laws.”

Malware released to counter MSFT patches in 72 hours

By Ted Roche on February 17, 2006 in Microsoft, Security

Computerworld News reports Hackers follow Microsoft patches with malware. “Hackers have posted attack code that takes advantage of two recently patched Windows Media Player bugs and could allow them to take over a Windows PC that doesn’t have the latest security updates.”

Did I mention that you need to get patching? What are you waiting for?

Office Twelve / 2007 introduces new SKUs, Servers, Licenses, Confusion

By Ted Roche on February 17, 2006 in Microsoft, Technology

InfoWorld: Top News is reporting It’s official: Office ’12’ to become Office 2007.

(InfoWorld) – “Microsoftæis set to unveil on Thursday its long-awaited branding, packaging, and pricing for the next version of Office, which is expected to be available later this year… There will be seven Office suites in the 2007 Microsoft Office System, including one new enterprise package, Office Enterprise 2007, as well as two packages that have been rebranded…”

“Long awaited?” Now there’s something I’m sure their customers demanded: seven different versions! “Two packages have been rebranded?” They’re not sold under the Microsoft label? No, they’ve been renamed, so the package you buy is not the same as the one of the same name. Other industries call this bait-and-switch.

“To help companies purchase some of the new licenses that will be required to use Office 2007’s collaboration capabilities, Microsoft will offer a new Enterprise Client Access License (CAL). ..”

Oh, Microsoft is helping customers!

“Microsoft also will add new server software to the Office family. The company will combine its portal and content management servers into one server called Office SharePoint Server 2007… n addition, the company will offer Office Forms Server 2007… Another new offering, Office Project Portfolio Server, complements the existing Office Project Server…”

Now, Office is a “family.” I’m not sure which I find more disturbing: Microsoft’s packaging, or the reporter’s straight-faced use of MicrosoftSpeak without any objection.

Seven different versions. Dozens of applications, with various features disabled. Nightmarish new licenses. New servers. What a mess! All this to print documents, calculate spreadsheets and do other routine office work? I think Microsoft is overreaching here. They may sell to their captive audience, but new computer users whose machines come with Corel Office or OpenOffice are going to be hard-pressed to find a reason to switch.

If you haven’t tried OpenOffice.org, there’s no better time than the present!

RIAA et al. says CD ripping, backups not fair use

By Ted Roche on February 17, 2006 in Technology

Ars Technica is reporting that the RIAA et al. says CD ripping, backups not fair use. What a disturbing idea. I avoid Digital Restriction Management because I don’t want a hard disk failure or the bankrupcy of my supplier to invalidate my ability to play what I’ve paid for. I rip my CDs to enjoy them on the media players of my choice, in the sample rates and formats of my choice and to have backups of CDs so easily scratched. (The RIAA argument that the only legitimate backup is one that I can purchase again doesn’t fly.) Didn’t these guys study Sony v. BetaMax? Time-shifting, place-shifting, media-shifting needs to be recognized as a right of the user.

Linux port to Intel-Mac boots

By Ted Roche on February 16, 2006 in Linux, Technology

Linux-Watch.com reports Mactel Linux up and running. Very cool. A dual-boot Linux Mac dual-proc laptop is about as cool as it gets.

One True Way?

By Ted Roche on February 16, 2006 in OpenSource, Technology

Linux-Watch.com evangelizes Open Source — the one, true way to develop software “Today, the mainstream software business is the open-source business. “

Andy Bair demos WebJob at GNHLUG-nashua tonight

By Ted Roche on February 16, 2006 in Linux, OpenSource, Technology

Who : Andy Bair

What : WebJob

Where: Martha’s Exchange

Day : Thur 16 Feb (*TONIGHT*)

Time : 6:00 PM for grub, 7:30 PM for presentation

WebJob is a client-server system, where a tiny client requests and
downloads a program from a server, executes that program on the client,
then uploads the results to the server.

WebJob provides a mechanism for running known good programs on
damaged orpotentially compromised systems. It is ideal for remote
diagnostics, incident response, and evidence collection.

WebJob also provides a centralized management framework. It thereby
supports and automates a large number of common host-based tasks such
as: periodic system checks, file updates, integrity monitoring,
patch/package management, and so on.

Andy plans to discuss the tool, its architecture, and one or more
demos.

Details at http://www.gnhlug.org

Andy adds:

WebJob is a client-server system, where a tiny
client requests and downloads a program from a
server, executes that program on the client,
then uploads the results to the server. WebJob
is useful because it provides a mechanism for
running known good programs on damaged or
potentially compromised systems. This makes it
ideal for remote diagnostics, incident response,
and evidence collection. WebJob also provides a
framework that is conducive to centralized
management. Therefore, it can support and help
automate a large number of common administrative
tasks and host-based monitoring scenarios such
as periodic system checks, file updates,
integrity monitoring, patch/package management,
and so on.

Here is the outline for the discussion:

High-level View
Details: Client–Server Interaction
Advantages
Disadvantages
Execution Example
WebJob in Action
Demos

The WebJob paper (what-is-webjob-paper.pdf) and
presentation (what-is-webjob-presentation.pdf) are
located at the following URL.

http://webjob.sourceforge.net/WebJob/Papers.shtml

Let’s patch the patch that patches the flaw that…

By Ted Roche on February 15, 2006 in Microsoft, Security

Computerworld News is reporting that Microsoft patch fails to install for some users. “Microsoft found an installation problem with one of its security patches released yesterday that requires some users to take additional steps to install it.”

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