Jun 24 2005
Icarus
Welcome to Icarus, which if you come here often, is my shiny new server.
It took 8 days from ordering the server to getting the root password, mainly due to an issue with my installation instructions (seemingly using the Debian Installer to setup LVM is a tad complicated…) It even escalated when a dosey sales rep said I could get a reinstall done for an additional $100, when they had just made a mess of the intial install. In the end it worked out, seems the problem was hardware related. Not that I’m complaining, I got a 1.8GHz CPU out of it instead of the advertised 1.6GHz. Plus with 1GB of RAM and 10 IPs, I’m all set to play with Xen.
It’s partially setup at the moment, more websites, dns zones and my email to be moved over this weekend.
In other news, I’ve been keeping busy(ish) with nixers and nest design work while looking for a temporary contract somewhere. Still no luck, just millions of brainless HR people who seem to completely rewrite job specifications just to boost their application attempts for positions. *sigh*
Since I have been working at home, mainly on my wireless network, I kept getting frustrated with my wireless access point when it stopped responding. When I had to pull out it’s AC adaptor 6 times in less than an hour this week, I gave up on it and replaced it, with the ultimate AP.
It does everything: snmp, remote syslog logging, reliable network, RADIUS 802.1x authentication. Plus it solved my printing issue (WinXP was involved) by acting as a print server. I have yet to try AirTunes, but I’m definitely impressed.
Yesterday and today have been unusual though. After being told to sod off by the ATM at the local shops last night, I went to look at my bank account, where there is €492.04 missing from my balance. Two transactions for unrounded amounts at the location “ATM” have appeared on my statement and I don’t recall taking them out.
So, after cancelling my ATM card and going to visit my bank branch in person today, I’m now awaiting word from AIB who are looking into it, but it looks quite like fraud. At least I’ve used this as a good time to switch to using a Maestro card from now on as electronic cash.
Not exactly something I wanted to deal with though. Definitely unexpected though, would have though a credit card issue would be more likely, given recent events…