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In using Dynamips while now while I study for my CCNP and discovered that even though with a good idle_pc value, the CPU utilization spikes after the con session times-out. I initially noticed that once the router boots and you’re prompted ‘Press RETURN to begin!’ and the interfaces normalize, the CPU stays pretty high until you press RETURN to begin the console session. Same goes for when the console session times out.

Running 6 2600s at ~30% processor usage and having one session time out brings the CPU usage up to 90% until I press enter again to clear the ‘you’ve timed-out’ message. If several time out, the overall load goes up pretty quick, 7+ at times.

The key is to just set the exec-timeout to 0 -

Router(config)#line con 0
Router(config-line)#exec-time 0 0

With avoiding the time-outs, I should be able to load twice the number of routers now.

I’ve been able to trouble shoot and revamp CGI Perl code in my job that other people have written but never sat down and learned Perl well enough to write my own. Programming isn’t new to me. My first code was Basic like most peoples. Either drawing pixel images on my Commodore or simple text games on an Apple IIe. I’ve dabbled in BASH scripts a bit, mostly for parsing data or performing loop functions.
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We had went out for dinner one night, and I had something with cheese in it, or some fries with ranch dipping sauce. I took my normal 3 lactaid pills to help stave off most of the discomfort dairy has given me over the past 10 years or so, drank a pitcher of Guinness (read some where that it helped digest dairy) and felt no ill affects an hour or two later. Lactaid has never worked that well. It helped prevent some of the more unpleasant problems but always fell short of stopping all symptoms.
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Finished!

I had put my relay rack over the summer and slowly added parts to it. When I had to rewire the Cisco devices for study purposes or because I needed to change a computer out it was done with little regard to neatness (ie. sloppy is fast). I went from using the Costco special baker’s rack:

To a 7′ Chatsworth (that I got for free):

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I took the 640-801 test and got my CCNA on the first try. The Mrs. sacrificed a lot (leaving me alone to study, household projects went unstarted and those started, unfinished etc.) and to her I will be forever grateful. It was Cisco’s changing of their CCNA path that really drove me to complete the test prior to them changing the required info around. Next up will be the CCNP, but I can study without putting my family second.

I’ll finally be able to get started on the many projects that I’ve back burnered over the 2 years or so that I should of been studying for my CCNA. I’d usually come up with a good idea or something to upgrade somewhere and my ‘I shouldn’t be doing this because I don’t have my CCNA yet’ would promptly stop me.

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I’ve searched and searched and searched to find out how to enable serial console access to my servers. In searchng UbuntuForums I couldn’t find anything that would even give a hint as to what direction on what file to edit. So either everyone already knows or no one is asking.

When I was using Debian w/ LILO years ago I had to get serial access to a server and had to jump through so many hoops to get it enabled and wasn’t looking forward to it again. After some extensive Goolgeing I found the info that I needed, and it’s very simple too. Edit /etc/inittab and uncomment:

#T0:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS0 9600 vt100
#T1:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS1 9600 vt100

I also changed the port speed to because 9600, though most commonly set default console speeds on routers, switches and servers is way too slow for me:

T0:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS0 115200 vt100
T1:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS1 115200 vt100

Thats it. Really… Just reboot and you’re good to go.

This will allow you to login via a serial connection with another computer using a null-modem cable.

Now for some cooler and trickier modifications…

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Now it may just be me but I wonder what chapter mentions the removing of Windows and installing a more secure OS like Linux, BSD, or even OSX? I mean, if the city where I live needed to release a ‘Threat & Countermeasure Guide‘ I’d be the first to move to a city that didn’t NEED to have one.

This should be a manditory read for ANYONE that uses Windows, you know who you are.

It generally startles me when anything unexpectantly lands so close and the first thing I hear out of it is ‘Yak Yak Yak’. This was no exception. I was playing some game on my phone when out of no where *CLINK* “Yak Yak Yak”. No one’ll believe me if I tell them a bird landed on my truck door. After clicking this picture off I remember that my phone as video and after some very suttle fumbling, hoping not to scare it off, I got a clip of it Yaking at me. Pretty cool. I’m not much a bird watcher but when one presents itself so close and immediate I couldn’t resist trying to capture the moment.

Thanks to Bob & Mark, a local morning show duo on KWHL for introducing all of us to Dick Cheese.

Richard Cheese does Las Vegas lounge act styled covers of pop & rock songs like The Offspring’s ‘Come Out and Play‘, Korn’s ‘Freak on a Leash’, and Van Halen’s ‘Hot for Teacher‘. He is the equivolent Lounge Act to the Me First & Gimmie Gimmies who do punk out covers. “Hava Nagila” anyone?

Oh yes… People just love to park where ever they can find a spot:

For those squinting to check out the license plate, here it is:

Note: Don’t get me wrong, I’m more jaded about the asshat drivers that seem to think that a yellow traffic signal means hurry up and get through before it turns red and then you’ll have to wait a whole ‘nother 2 mins for a green light then I am with people ignoring well labeled parking restrictions. I was just putting my expensive, low-quality camera that doubles as a cell phone to some use.