Adding phpShield to Linux Hosting

SSH into the server
Run:
​​/usr/local/bin/php-config --extension-dir
The result shows the PHP extension directory
/usr/local/lib/php/extensions/no-debug-non-zts-20100525
​
​Upload the latest version of ixed.5.4.lin to this directory using WinSCP or similar file transfer tool
Find the location of php.ini​
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How to reset a network card in Windows

Open Control Panel
Click Hardware and Sound
Click Device Manager

In Network Adapters, find the LAN card you want to reset – this is often something like:

• Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
• Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller
• Intel PRO/1000MT Network Adapter

Right click on the adapter and click Uninstall
You will be warned that this will remove the device from the system – ensure that ‘Delete the driver software’ is *not* ticked if this is shown

Note: Clicking OK will disconnect your remote access session if you are connected!

Click OK
The icon will disappear, and the network adapter will be disabled
At the top of the device manager list, the PC name is displayed
Right click this PC name and select Scan for hardware changes

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Countdown to End-of-Support for Windows XP

On April 8th 2014, Microsoft will end support for its decade-old Windows XP. This means, you will no longer receive security updates, fixes or online technical support for PCs still running Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003. The security and privacy implications of this event could have significant impacts on your business, so if you’re running either of these products you should plan to take action soon.
As a precaution, we would recommend all our clients to consider upgrading to the latest supported operating systems such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Customers migrating to these platforms will benefit from enhanced security, broad device choice for a mobile workforce and higher user productivity.
Why upgrade now?

1. No support: Microsoft support, including online and phone-based technical support, will end. As a result both Jaytag and any other IT support company will not be able to properly support Windows XP.
2. Security Risks: Critical security updates will stop, making machines much more vulnerable to viruses. Hackers are waiting to take advantage of this insecurity. If your computer gets a virus your machine will not only not perform properly – it may shut down entirely. Moreover, you are at risk for losing files and having your personal and business information stolen. Anti-virus software will also not be able to fully protect you once Windows XP itself is unsupported.
3. Compliance: Businesses that are governed by regulatory obligations may find that they are no longer able to satisfy compliance requirements e.g. PCI compliance.

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Has your router been cracked wide open?

We have had a number of customers report recently that their internet browsers have been hijacked. Quite simply, this means that when they try to browse to a website, such as google.com they are redirected somewhere else.
These websites that are displayed often ask for Adobe Flash player to be updated, or inform you that a virus scan needs to be completed on the computer.
These sites are not genuine. In fact, the reason that the pages are shown is because the settings on the internet router have been changed by a 3rd party.
More information about this security vulnerability is available here: http://www.isssource.com/routers-hacked-via-email/
This of course is extremely worrying, as it means an outsider has successfully accessed the computer network, and may in future try to infect connected computers with viruses, or otherwise attempt to illegally access data.

- See more...

Sporttracks v2 – Map problem fixed

 

With Sporttracks v2, there is an issue that the Terraserver map plugin no longer functions correctly. Maps cannot be zoomed, and over time, none of the routemaps appear to display at all. Thankfully, there is a user created plugin called Apply Routes. Apply Routes provides a number of extensions to the SportTracks functionality: It adds a number of MapProviders (google, microsoft, openlayers, geoportail) - See more...

Send test email via telnet

It’s often useful to test an email server manually – to ensure the port is open and redirected properly, and also that the server is delivering messages to the mailbox correctly.
Here is how to send an email manually with telnet:

Open a command prompt on the PC you will send the test email from telnet server.server.com 25​

HELO jaytag.co.uk (response will be 250 OK)

MAIL FROM:dmcmillan@jaytag.co.uk (response should be 250 OK – mail from dmcmillan@jaytag.co.uk)

RCPT TO:james@stephenrjames.com (response should be 250 OK – Recipient james@stephenrjames.com)

DATA (response should be 354 Send data. End with CRLF.CRLF) - See more...

No DAHDI modules on the system. Not starting

You need to retrieve the correct kernel-devel for the kernel of linux you are running, and remake DAHDI from source
SSH onto the machine and run: uname -r
Note the kernel version. then, google for kernel-devel (kernel version) find a suitable download source (i.e. from rpm.pbone.net) then on the machine rpm -ivh ftp://ftp.is.co.za/mirror/centos/6.5/updates/x86_64/Packages/kernel-devel-2.6.32-431.1.2.0.1.el6.x86_64.rpm - See more...

Office365 – Distribution list blank return path

When you are using Office365, you may find that external email addresses in a distrbution list do not recieve mails sent to the distribution list email address.

Many spam filters will block emails with a blank or empty return path, but Office365 sets this blank as default, to prevent email bounce loops.
This is normal behaviour – a large distribution list shouldn’t distribute a bounce/DSN report to the entire membership.
For a single membership list for use with Zendesk, Help Scout or other similar mailbox monitoring applications, it may be necessary. - See more...

Session setup failed: NT_STATUS_INVALID_PARAMETER

When trying to link to a Windows Vista, 7 or 8 shared printer from Mac OS 10.6 or newer, you may find that the printer gives this error message.
Essentially, SMB printing from CUPS (the Mac OS printing system) seems broken – it does not pass along the correct user name and password (even when entered manually). The solution is quite long winded… Firstly, ensure that the printer is shared on the Windows machine - See more...

On Hold (Authentication Required) – Mac OSX and Windows printing

The solution to this issue is the same as another error: Session setup failed: NT_STATUS_INVALID_PARAMETER We have detailed the solution here.
Read more...

Windows XP Recovery Console – KB310994 download

Windows XP Recovery Console – KB310994 download

To manually install the Windows Recovery Console, you have to have the necessary updates. It seems Microsoft have removed the link to the recovery console that used to be linked to from here.

This makes running tools like ComboFix for example, quite difficult.
I’ve sourced the files (at least for SP2 and up) they are mirrored here: windowsxp-kb310994-sp2-home-bootdisk-enu.exe – For Windows XP Home SP2 and newer. windowsxp-kb310994-sp2-pro-bootdisk-enu.exe – For Windows XP Professional SP2 and newer. - See more...

Office 365 – Set the default domain

When you first setup Office365, Microsoft provides you with a default domain – usually companyname.onmicrosoft.com – for example, the Jaytag domain is jaytag.onmicrosoft.com.

This can cause a small headache – as it’s not obvious when you have added your companies domain where to set this as default – so when you add new users, the primary email address will be emailaddress@companyname.onmicrosoft.com.

To set the default domain to the domain you have added, login to Office365 and click into the adminin - See more...

Turnpike Six v6.07 entire.exe download

Since Demon internet discontinued support for Turnpike, it has been impossible to source a copy of the software – especially since the Demon FTP site has also gone the way of the Dodo.

However, we have sourced a copy of the installer for Turnpike Six v6.07 it is downloadable here:
http://www.jaytag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/entire.exe
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OSX Citrix Client Installation – Auto open ICA files from Safari

 

We have come across an issue recently with the new version of the Citrix online plugin (now called Citrix Reciever). Installation of the Citrix Reciever software from the OSX App store is not sufficient to allow the downloaded ICA file to auto open. The result is, you install Citrix Reciever and login to the Citrix site only for the ICA file to download, but not open. This makes it look like Citrix isn’t working properly.

The fix is simple:

• First, you have to modify what Safari considers as a “safe” file. Ensure that in Safari’s Preference panel that ‘Open “Safe” files’ is checked. 

• Next, download this zip file: http://www.jaytag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Auto_Open_ICA.zip Extract the plist (preferences file) from the downloaded zip file 

• Drag and drop the file to /Library/Preferences. (On OSX Lion, type \library in the ‘Find’ box and double-click into the preferences folder) 
• Restart Safari

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A simple MySQL Backup Tool

A simple MySQL Backup Tool 

 

If you administer a website (or indeed a number of websites) you may need a tool which will allow you to simply backup a MySQL database on a regular basis. Although there are a number of tools available online, none quite fit our needs. As a result, we’ve quickly written a simple MySQL backup tool in PHP. Features

• Tested compatible with PHP version 5.2.14 and MySQL 5.0 
•  Allows for SQL and ZIP export of a single MySQL database 
• Lists previous backups made This is version 0.1a – it is no doubt buggy. 

We would appreciate any feedback if you do decide to use the tool. The application is fairly self explanatory in its usage. 

Installation 

• Extract the Zip file 
• Copy the contents to a directory on your server 
• Browse to the directory you saved the files to with your browser 

Features to be added in v0.2a (Release date 4th February 2011) Improved documentation Backup multiple databases Additional security (password for created ZIP files, and password for the utility) - See more... 

Blocking browsing to website subdirectories – 1&1

If you are using a webhost like 1&1, you may find that adding additional domains to your hosting package sets the default directory (the ‘home’ directory) as a subdirectory of the main site. Imagine you have two sites: www.abc.com www.newsite.com After adding the newsite.com entry to your list of domains the home directory may be set to www.abc.com/newsite/ – this will allow a user to browse to www.abc.com/newsite and access the new site. Why is this a bad thing? It’s uncertain whether sites like google treat multiple domains pointing to content as a bad thing – there is some information out there, like here, but the situation isn’t 100% clear. The best situation is to have the content isolated properly, so that the new site we have created newsite.com cannot be browsed in this fashion. There are two methods to resolve this issue: Set the home directory of the primary website to a subdirectory

• Configure abc.com to have a home directory of /http_docs/abc.com (or similar) 
• Configure newsite.com to have a home directory of /http_docs/newsite.com (or similar)

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Scheduled Tasks – Running Tasks Without A Password in Windows XP

 

If you try to run a scheduled task in Windows XP, it will balk if you don’t enter a password (or if your main account has no password, it won’t let you proceed). There are two potential fixes: Run the task as the administrator (i.e. your-machine-name\administrator) You can then enter the administrators password. You may need to set this in Computer Management first: Right click My Computer Click Manage In the right hand window, click into Users and Groups Right click the Administrator account, and click Change Password Enter a password of your choice. You can then run the task as the system administrator. - See more... 

Enable Telnet Command in Windows 7

 

Telnet is a simple but extremely popular protocol for exchanging data between two computers. It is often used for testing computer programs. The Telnet utility is included with Windows Vista and Windows 7 computers although it is not enabled by default. Enable Telnet for Windows Vista/Windows 7 If you would like to enable Telnet, follow these steps: 1. Go to Control Panel. 2. Click into Programs and Features. 3. Click Turn Windows Features on or off. - See more...

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)

 

This is a common problem with Windows Vista – most typically, the CD-ROM or DVD drive will fail to function correctly. Here are the steps we take to fix the issue (be cautious – you’ll have to edit the registry of the computer) Click the Start button, and then in the search box, type regedit. Press the Enter key. NOTE: If prompted for an administrator password or a User Account Control prompt is displayed, type the appropriate password or click Continue. In the Registry Editor window, in the left pane, double-click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder. - See more...

Sporttracks v2.1

 

Sporttracks is an excellent piece of software if you like to keep a record of your performance, training or fitness over time. Version 3 of the software was released back in September 2010, and it’s very, very good. However, it does cost $35 after a 30 day trial. I’ve been happily using Sporttracks v2 for some time (although the mapping is now quite flaky…). I had to reinstall it recently, and found it hard to find. - See more...