Got email password recovery setting notification, and think

When I logon google email account today, Google mail notified me that I have not set email password recovery options yet.

It recalled my painful experience on password recovery: when I reset yahoo email password a year ago, somehow I can not logon the yahoo mail with either the old one and the new one; Then I tried to use reset password, and realized that I could not remembered my secondary email address to retrieve password, because I set it up 10 years ago. I also could not answer the tricky questions from yahoo mail: when you registered your account, and what is your zip code etc. In addition, the yahoo technical support could not do anything more than what the web provided, then I gave up my yahoo account, which is my primary account for 10 years, since then, I step away from yahoo.

Password recovery quit often happens. When password recovery is needed, the user really expect it work with security and convenience. Traditionally, we use web-based questionnaires. It is good for this application, not so good in the real world. When we have set same answer to the same/similar question on different web sites, the risk of identity fault is increased.
The new ways to deliver password recovery are desired. Google Mail uses secondary email, or SMS text messages as additional options for password recovery.

Notification is also important to get the user update information. the obsoleted information might caused unpredictable inconvenience during the password recovery as I experienced. If yahoo mail sent notification to me and remind me to update my answer to the questionnaires periodically, I might have chance to recovery the password and I might still primarily use yahoo mail .

netapp management port only allows single session

When an open session with netapp controller management interface, you would not get ping, telnet and ssh to the same session through the network. By disconnecting existing session, I was able to connect it from another location. I assumed that this feature prevent multiple management session on managing same device.

reduce AIX installation time

by default, it would take 2 hours to install AIX 6.1 BOS by restoring 454 files and 77 addtional files from 4 CDs. it is quite human interactive on this installation procedure. To prevent human involving, and to reduce installation time, many options are avaliable:
1. setup NIM for the iscsi installation, or
2. install minimum set of lpp source.

for the option 2, the installation time would improve to around 1 hour by deselecting graphical software, and system management clients package. the first CD is sufficient to the installation, saving effort on swapping CD.

install AIX 6.1 on IBM PowerVM client partition ( iscsi disk only )

Would it be nice to have diskless IBM PowerVM client partition by using iscsi disk? The following steps provides guideline.

step 1 : boot from CD

step 2 : select console and keyboard in the BOS installation menu

step3 ; configurat iscsi. without this step, the iscsi disk would not be available for the installation.

iSCSI Configuration -- SW Initiator

Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.

[Entry Fields]
* Ethernet Interface en0
* IP Address of Ethernet Interface [172.16.8.33]
* Network Mask of Ethernet Interface [255.255.254.0]
* Gateway to iSCSI Target [172.16.8.1]
* iSCSI Target Name [iqn.1992-08.com.netap>
* IP Address of iSCSI Target [172.16.8.49]
* Port Number of iSCSI Target [3260]
* iSCSI Initiator Name [iqn.2009-03.net.junip>

you should get hdisk configured in the result window, as shown in the following

172.16.8.1 host 172.16.8.49: gateway 172.16.8.1
en0 changed
inet0 changed
iscsi0 changed
sh: /usr/sbin/savebase: not found
mkiscsi: 0321-007 Failed to execute savebase command.
hdisk1 Available N/A

Step 4: choose the recognized iscsi disk to be installed, then start installation.


Is it be nicer to have nim or eznim setup for the iscsi installation ?

Can not load HMC console in I.E.

I attempted to launch IBM PowerVM HMC ( hardware Management Console, V7R3.4.0.0) with I.E. 6.0 and got message: Please wait while the login page is loading, For more information, click "Help", then the page hang forever.

The rootcause of issue is that there is no Java runtime environment installed in this machine, and I.E. 6.0 did not report the issue correctly.

The workaround solution is to download firefox, and use firefox to access HMC, then firefox prompt the request on installing Java Runtime Environment.

lost blog in blogger.com

I just lost a blog in blogger.com

1. bugpy: EZ NIM at AIX 6.1

Jun 17, 2009 ... EZ NIM tool in AIX smit menu is indented to be easy for the use. Indeed, it is if you know all the major steps to configure and use NIM. ...
bugpy.blogspot.com/2009/06/ez-nim-at-aix-61.html - 4 hours ago - Similar -

Switching to previous RDP session

When you reconnect the remote desktop session with RDP, you want to reconnect to the same session you left. However, you might not get the same session you useed in the last time, Since other person used it with same user id, or the system just initial a new session for you.

The obvious and idea solution is to implement active directory to enhance identity management on the machine, so that each user has his/her own unique session, distinguished by one's user id, to avoid session taking over.

Having said that, in case you logon to the remote desktop session with RDP, and the session is not what you left in the last time. luckly, you still can do one more attempt to switch from current session to the previous left-over session:

1. Select Terminal Service Manger in the Administrative Tasks
2. You will see all the available session: the session with the green colored user icon is the one you currently login;other sessions are either used by other users or the one you used in the last time. the one you used should be in the "Disconnected" state.
   
3. Select one session which is in Disconnected state, with supplying password, you will swtich to the new session.

Configure iscsi disk in AIX

It may be quite confusing to configure iscsi disk in AIX 6.1 in the very beginning, because you might not get full context on the information center, like http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/systems/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.aix.commadmn/doc/commadmndita/iscsi_config.htm

then, you might confuse on the following commands, files, and menus:

• mkiscsi, lsiscsi, cfgmgr -l
  
• /etc/iscsi/targets
• smitty iscsi

finally, you might confuse on how to get parameters from the iSCSI target server, like netapp.

In general, I use smitty iscsi for the configuration, and use commands to verify the configuration due to its simpligicity.

I used netapp FAS2020 for the iSCSI target server, and attempted to configuration iscsi disk in AIX which use a LUN in FAS 2020.

• The FAS2020 use 172.,16.1.49:3260, and define by default initiator group, iqn.1992-08.com.netqapp:sn.xxxxxxxxx
• within FAS2020, an LUN with an initiator group: iqn.2009-03.net.2web:sn0002
• iSCSI protocol device is for the LUN, so

Then here is the steps:

• define /etc/iscsi/targets

172.16.1.49 3260 iqn.1992-08.com.netqapp:sn.xxxxxxxxx

• smitty iscsi, and choose iSCSI Target Device Parameters in ODM

adding iSCSI Target Device in ODM with file /etc/iscsi/targets

• you can verify the setting/change with the lsiscsi command

• smitty iscsi, and choose iSCSI Protocol Device

change/Show characteristics of an iSCSI Protocol Device with your LUN initiators.

• you can configure the iSCSI disk now with the above setting by using command cfgmgr

cfgmgr -l iscsi0

• verify the disk with lspv, you should get new disk

other useful URLs:

http://unix.ittoolbox.com/groups/technical-functional/ibm-aix-l/re-configuring-iscsi-access-with-aix-52-and-ibm-san-1183309

French Doors with Phantom Screen

I have not opened french doors for months due to bugs.

With Phantom Screen, it is first time to open them without worrying on bugs.

find a kid's book at palo alto public library

It might be quite difficult to find any recommended book in the public library for the kid in certain age. For instance, recommended for 5-years-old kid. at least I have been struggling in find kid's books, and even hard to find a recommended one.

Recently I found a way to solve this difficulty at Palo Alto public library by using its “ Staff Picks” booklist under "Best Seller List" catalog.

here is the steps:

1. Use “Best Seller Lists Browse” as search catalog, and
2. Search for “Staff Picks”
3. Selects the right pick to shows the list of book titlesStaff Picks - Kids - Help For Parents: Picture Books on Topics of Interest to Parents of Young Children is for 5 year old kid in general.

Inspired by Google Chrome Comic book

I attended Google IO event last week. Surprisingly, each attendee got a Google phone. I also got a Google Chrome comic book due to earlier registration.

Although I heard story about chrome comic in last year, I overlooked at it in the beginning. While reading it page by page, I found it quite entertaining; I must say that it expressed well on the technical motivation and product advantage. Furthermore, the personnel with different posture made story vivid, thereby the story is stick to my mind. I noticed that most of them liked to cross their arms.

Comparing to bullet points in PowerPoint, Comic is a new way of communicate with young audience: it develops plot or thought process to the audience; it attracts audience' attention by applying wide-angle, or narrow angle for big picture or for details,

the comic is good way to convey the vision and the message, just like cartoon movie from Walt Disney. How about practice it by drawing couple of comic slice on daily life?

COM32 professor

Once upon a time, there is class com32 at S. campus.

Garbage Can in the school

Once upon a time, Garbage Can was public used in the school.

1.

2.

3.

Paint Garage Floor ( a failure project )

Paint Garage Floor ( ~ 550 SF for 2 car garage )


I choose home depot for paint since paint's price is cheaper. total cost is ~150.

• Behr Floor cleaner(1 bottle)
• Behr Concrete bonding (optional, 2 gallons), and
• Behr 1-part epoxy paint ( silver grey, 2 gallons) from home depot

Steps and Hours spent

1. ( 1.5 hour ) Clean up and wash the floor generally. the pressure washer does not work when you use water vault from heating tank, so It takes time and uses more water to wash the floor
2. ( 1 hour ) Clean up floor with Behr Cleaner, 1 bottle cleaner dilutes with 5 gallons of water. the cleaner apply to floor for 10-20 minute
   
3. ( 0.5 hour ) Rinse the floor
   
4. ( 2 hours ) Dry up. I use fan to accelerate drying process
   
5. ( 1.5 hours ) Apply Concrete bonding adherence. Although I used it, I would not use in next time since it is optional; even worse, I ruined part of it by stepping on it ( it is very sticky, DO NOT step directly on it, you can apply 1-part epoxy paint on it, then step on the paint to protect the bonding)
   
6. ( 8 hours ) Dry up over night.
   
7. ( 2 hours ) Apply first coat of 1-part epoxy paint. ( please wash the roller and other tools for later use
   
8. ( 1 hour ) Apply second coat of 1-part epoxy paint. since I found the pain is too THIN in some area, or some paint are cracked
9. ( 3 days ) Dry up before heavy traffic
10. ( so far 2 weeks ) still dry up .....

After having painted walls and the ceiling, you will felt it is easy job to paint the floor, However, any minor mistake will unbearable Since we heavily use floor daily than walls and the ceiling.

Q&A
1. Does contractor do better Job ? maybe, but it will cost ~1000USD.
2. Alternative products? http://ucoatit.com/pgs/main.htm maybe do better job ; I am interested in COSTCO's garage flooring tile, 2 dollars per squre feet, cost ~1000USD.

recover network setting after stop SSL VPN tunnel.

I use ubuntu in my laptop for the work, and access corporate network with SSL VPN "network connection" . it works well on establishing tunneling, and maintaining connection. the "network connection" creates a tunnel interface tun0-00 with alllocated IP from coportation network, and addes coporates defaut gateway in the routing table along with my home default gateway. It works well .
However, I alway lost internet connection after I signout or stop "network connection". I found that "network connection" not only deleted coporate default gateway entry, but also deleted my home default gateway entry, and caused no default gateway setting.
Big issue? In windows, It may be, however, in ubuntu, I do not think so. To recover all the network setting include default gateway entery, I use a single command : /etc/init.d/networking restart.

New iPod apps

The Top cool ipod apps I used so far:
1. note2self, I can send my voice greeting to my friends instantly
2. say who, voice recognition app, I got person's phone number by just saying his/her name
3. Pandora, instant music
4. Camera, I sent pic instantly to my friend with email.

cool nmap

I like to use nmap to scan the servers in the lab


Starting Nmap 4.53 ( http://insecure.org ) at 2008-11-07 16:03 PST
Interesting ports on server( x.x.x.x):
Not shown: 1707 closed ports
PORT STATE SERVICE
21/tcp open ftp
23/tcp open telnet
80/tcp open http
280/tcp open http-mgmt
515/tcp open printer
631/tcp open ipp
9100/tcp open jetdirect

Nmap done: 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 10.579 seconds

walkie talkie at home

living in condo townhouse is not as convenient as living in single family house. in California, the popular single family is one flat floor, and condo townhouse normally is multiple floors. we live in 3 floors condo townhouse. recently we found that it is inconvenient for echo between person when they are in different rooms which in different floor in our case. one time, my wife is calling me for help from 2nd floor bath room, and I barely heard her calling since I am in the kitchen and kitchen fan is on. if I am in 3rd floor study room, she must make it real loud from first floor. sometime, she sent her royal army, i.e. my daughter, to carry message to me, this kind of service is off after 9:00p.m. since my daughter get into sleep. How to solve this inconvenient situation? We thought about walkie talkie. walkie talkie is definitely a good idea; however, today we just found a good alternative way: just carry the cellphone, and put it into speaker mode. Since talk time is free between family, we are enjoy this feature due to free!
I will always carry my cell phone, even in the house.

google IO 2008

Keynote Speaker - Marissa Mayer

Imagination is a musicale

- Muscle need exercise periodically, so do imagination

- Exercise Imagination and build product prototype: Google book, Google map street view

Numbers, numbers, numbers

- Accuracy for prediction

- Quantity and quality

- Test methodology : Split A/B testing

Urgent drown Important

- 50% of go-live product came from 20% time

- Accuracy for prediction

URLs

You Tube

http://code.google.com/p/hello-youtube/

Open Social Lab

http://code.google.com/apis/opensocial/articles/tutorial/io.html

http://chrisschalk - evangelist web site

http://incubator.apache.org/shindig/

http://sites.google.com/a/opensocial.org/opensocial/ opensocial.org

Map API

http://imagine-it.org/google/articles/mapsapi_codelab.html

http://imagine-it.org/google/articles/mapsapi_codelab2.html

Gears API

http://imagine-it.org/google/articles/gears_codelab.html

use * for string duplication

I have not used * operation to duplicate string until recently:
valueStr2 "( %s" + ",%s"*(len(dict)-1)+")"

rather than the following c-type implementation
tempL = []
for i in dict.keys():
tempL.append("%s")
valueStr2 = "(" + ",".join(tempL)+")"