Darryl Hoytt's Personal Blog

September 22, 2006
by dhoytt
2 Comments

SELinux SELinux Policy Settings HTTP Requests From Fedora 5 Web Server

I’m trying to live with the
benefits of SELinux instead of disabling it every time I discover find it
disallows the action I’m trying. I am testing a demo version of an application
I’m thinking about using on my Radio Blog that allows users to make
requests and dedications. I’m testing it on one of my other Linux backup systems
not published to the public of course.

Oh today I don’t feel like using
specific ports and application names since I don’t know if I will used the
application. I still have a bit more testing and configuring to do with this
application.

The requests mechanism is HTTP generated
and uses a specific port. Well using Webmin tool I believe I successfully
added a rule allowing for this port to be accessed. The issue now that I’m
writing about it may be in the functions of the application itself.

A bit of background: The application runs on
Windows with a MySQL database instance on that Windows system. I have
another MySQL database instance running on my Linux web server system
that gets the updates via a utility from the other MySQL instance on the
Windows system. That works fine and the information on the two MySQL
instances is identical and my Linux web server can access its local MySQL
instance to draw its information to run the website. I also have some PHP
files I ftp’d over to my Linux system that runs my PHP generated web site
and performs various functions such as the HTTP requests and dedications.

The request and dedications via HTTP are
the issue here and wait to be received via “the request line port” on my
Windows server that runs the application. Well I kept getting permission denied
errors when trying to make requests. I confirmed that this port was open on my
router, that it showed with “netstat” as listening on that port on the Windows
system waiting to hear the request. I was even able to successfully telnet to
“the request line port” on that system. I then went and looked at where the
request would be coming from, my Linux Web Server, and insured it had
permissions in the allow file of the application from the LAN (both NIC’s) and
the WAN. The WAN I knew worked since the alternative method of asking for
request worked fine from another source on the WAN.

So now the issue was what is blocking the
requests from my Linux system! Well I started looking around and of course the
requests go through just fine with SELinux in permissive mode or
disabled. I had the “the request line port” enabled but then I started
thinking what if the request which are handled via a PHP file aren’t going out
via “the request line port”!

Plus the fact that the
“system-config-securitylevel” utility didn’t allow me to add that port the
same way I added the port for MySQL. I believe this is because that port is not
listening or running any application on my Linux server and mysql is running on
my Linux system.

So now I’m completely up against it I cannot
add the port and the policies I added in SELinux via Webmin for that
“the request line port” is not having any affect. Then considering that the
“the request line port” may not be applicable from my Linux web server
and using a totally different port I started looking at the other SELinux
policy settings in the “system-config-securitylevel” utility. Since this
was an HTTP request looked in the “HTTPD Service” section where I
checked “Allow HTTPD scripts and modules to connect to the network” and
now all my requests work!

What does this mean? The PHP requests may go to
“the request line port” the Windows system where the application resides
but from the requesting system which will always be where the web server resides
it doesn’t use the “the request line port”. In the SELinux policy
settings I have to I checked “Allow HTTPD scripts and modules to connect to
the network” to allow request to propagate from the Linux web server.

June 20, 2006
by dhoytt
0 comments

Elliptical Trainers Maiden Voyage

Well just like a new girlfriend it wasn’t her first time around the block or my first tryst with a piece of cardio exercise equipment. This however was the first time for me and this CXT970 elliptical trainer’s sweating, huffing and panting together.
I guess I kinda took a few flirting stabs as I got things in order in my gym/garage to see if this elliptical trainer I purchased from the Salvation Army in Downtown Sacramento was truly functional. I even called and spent several awkward minutes getting acquainted after my traditional workout to see how she was.
Well today I plunged head first into the world of elliptical training and took a nice fragmented 30 minute voyage. The first 5 minutes were truly painful for my thighs which I noticed yesterday when I took my test spin. The burn was deeper in my quadriceps than when doing my sitting leg raises specifically designed for my quads.
I figured that there is no way I could get any cardio benefits for a long time if I had to deal with that type of burn in my cardio routine! I do not have your average pain threshold I can hang with a little pain, so I knew something was wrong. I then adjusted the pedals forward and this had the affect of placing the pressure more on the balls of my feet for a push off and that was the key to allow me to really get into a nice rhythmic workout routine with the elliptical trainer.
I just went with the manual program and the CXT970 counted off the time I worked out for me. I took a few breaks which I will not do once I’m used to the trainer and in my type of cardio shape and the trainer paused at these moments and kept track of the time.
I’m replaying that lucky day I purchased this nice used elliptical trainer over and over and it just shows you what happens when you give I guess. I gave a few truckloads of goods and found a treasure to help further my goal of staying in physical shape which helps the mental and emotional state in my personal experiences.
I think I will keep this CXT970 elliptical trainer around she can really take a guy on quite a trip and bring a smile of satisfaction!

June 18, 2006
by dhoytt
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Garage Gym Reorganization

Continue Reading →

June 18, 2006
by dhoytt
0 comments

Garage Gym Reorganization

Once again I’m reorganizing the gym setup in my garage after getting new furniture and having to place furniture out of my house into the garage temporarily and also getting a few new pieces of work out equipment. I’m still making changes since I still have quite a few things to move out of the house and of course the garage will be the temporary storage until the time I have to sell or otherwise dispose of it. This time though the purge of equipment will not once again interrupt my garage gym setup to the point I will not be able to work out.

June 5, 2006
by dhoytt
0 comments

Personal Portable Electronics Complete…I Think

Ok I love gadgets & technology so is it a big deal that I finally got me a PDA/phone? Well let me answer that for you the answer is yes to me it’s a big deal because for me to get some of this technology it has to have a practical application almost right away. The other criteria is it must be affordable
So what was my latest portable pickup? Actually in the last two weeks there have been two additions. About a week and a half back I took advantage of a sale and bought a “Creative Labs” “Nomad Zen Xtra” “40gb” mp3 player. Last week I purchased online an HP Ipaq HW6515 pocket PC which arrived today. Along with my HP R717 Digital camera and my CompaqNW800 laptop I appear to have all of my various portable electronic and computing needs covered.
For the NW8000 laptop I have my hard core computing or multi-media I may need taken care of and with the various peripherals I have for the NW8000 I can do quite a bit. Actually thinking about it I probably should include the laptop as items that make my portable electronics a complete package. I have the “Hercules DJ Console” which allows me to treat mp3’s as vinyl records. I also have an HP external DVD640 Lightscribe DVDRW and an 80 GB Western Digital USB drive. I can put together some serious music without lugging around a bunch of CD’s or records and still have the same affects and more!
Now it may seem like a duplication to have all of these devices but it really depends on what needs to be done and how long you may be on the road and for what purpose.
The digital camera just gives me the ability to have good resolution on picture I really care about and helps me since I’m not a very good photographer.
The laptop and all of those peripherals I have mainly for the musical purposes but also for those long trips when I may to do some PowerPoint or heavy computing at a hotel or resort.
The Zen mp3 player I couldn’t pass up since the price was so good at less than ½ price. With the mp3 player I can plug into my car stereo and not worry about switching from music to phone to handle a phone call. Plus at a small get together or in a resort I can easily setup a nice little mood and not have it interrupted by calls.
The HP IPAQ is first of all a phone and organizer always at hand but can also perform some very general low horse power computing chores. This will be very nice when I’m out looking at auctions liquidations etc where a laptop will be a hindrance. I can also use this as the one device I will not leave behind if I can only take one it can do everything in a limited way. Also the price was less than 1/3 of the normal cost with warranty still.
Anyway all these electronic items I have purchased help me expand the things I like to do already and enhance the experiences. I have been actually looking at these various devices over the past years as they developed and waited for my needs and cost to come together before purchasing them.
Now I have to look at a few accessories!! Well come on I have to have 1gb of flash RAM in my IPAQ if that’s what’s in my camera sine they are interchangeable! Plus I need a car kit and an underwater case for the camera.

April 21, 2006
by dhoytt
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UPS Proving Their Worth

This evening I’m getting some strange power issues and
having UPS on my systems have limited any issues. Normally with these
types of power fluctuations I would need to reboot and re-sync my systems but
not today.

I went to take a shower on my way out to get a bite to eat
and all of the sudden I was in darkness. Well my UPS have kept all of my
systems up and running during these sporadic power fluctuations this evening
without an issue.

I have had several issues with the wiring of this house
which prompted me to go out to a local surplus store and purchase some heavy
duty UPS. I was also able to come up on some UPS at some government
auctions where they were bidding off surplus equipment.

The UPS I have you normally don’t see in a home
environment even one that has all of the equipment that I have!

I have 2 “APC Smart UPS 2200” and a rack mountable
“Compaq R3000 XR”. I have the “APC 2200’s” on “PC skates”
out on the floor and the “Compaq R3000 XR” in one of my racks with my
Web, Music, Windows and Linux servers and my routers and switches. I use the
“APC 2200’s” for my floor main systems and one switch.

I also have an “HP Powerwise 1000” and an “APC
800 RT” that I’m not using at this point. I intend to use the UPS I’m not
using on my entertainment equipment and will probably move on of my “APC
Smart UPS 2200” into another room to use with some of my audio or video
equipment as well.

For the very small price I paid since they were surplus and
auction pickups for less than 5% – 15% of normal cost they do excellent work.
Even when UPS are not keeping equipment up from a power outage they also filter
the power and knock down surges and spikes so they are well worth the investment
to protect your valuable computer systems presently and in the future when you
are going to purchase new equipment.

April 10, 2006
by dhoytt
0 comments

Weight Room/Garage Cleared…Again

Once again I had to clear items out of my garage to be able to access my weights and perform an acceptable work out. The issue was that I had run into some very nice auctions with unbelievable deals for furniture stores going out of business. I made some unbelievable purchases before I was able to move items out of the house.
I’m not talking about those fake going out of business sales where you get 20 % – 40% or even 70% off of list price which means that normally you are getting 40% at the most @ 70 % if you even get that.
These were no reserve auctions for stores actually going out of business since the owners were retiring etc…
Anyway I have figured out what pieces I want to keep and took pictures of the others to place in ads in various places on the web and possibly my shopping cart web site once its ready (almost there). I had to place some of the pieces in storage for a minute since it has kept raining so often preventing decent day of staging things outside.
The furniture is nice Ashley, Schnadig etc… but I had no room to move in the house. I had a garage sale after upgrading some furniture like this in October so I will do something similar when I know we will not have rain for the weekend or just do the newspaper or internet sale thing
Now time to hit that iron!!

April 7, 2006
by dhoytt
0 comments

Comments Section fixed In Blogs

I was testing some items on my blogs and found that I was unable to leave comments. I looked through my settings and had comments enabled properly. I looked at the plugins and none of them affected the ability to leave comments.
I then went to Sixapart and found the following in their knowledge base article: http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/kb/comments/comment_and_tra.html
That article set me straight and after setting my “Preferred Archive Type” to “Individual” my blog will now accept comments again.
I had to make this change individually on each blog

April 6, 2006
by dhoytt
0 comments

Memory Fails In Web Sever

This past Sunday 4/02/2006 one of my memory modules failed today on my “Web Server”. I came in from working on my front lawn and then seeding & fertilizing the lawn. I then decided to take a moment to update my “Main Blog” and then of course couldn’t make any connection to my “Web Server”.
My “Music Server” was still streaming music and I could see a number of people listening to this Music on Winamp. I checked my other systems as well and they were all up so I knew there was not a power hit or anything that affected all the systems
I checked my KVM switch and hooked my web server directly to a monitor and received no response. I then tried to ping my “Web Server” from my “Music Server” and that didn’t work so I logged into my backup Linux server and couldn’t ping it from there either.
I then slid my “Web Server” out a bit on the rack and began isolating the issue. Once I determined it was the one stick of 512mb RAM I located my receipt called the store I bought it from and found that since I had purchased it as a package I had to return it as a package.
Anyway now I have my 1gb of RAM back and my web Server intact.
I now need to get my backup “Web Server” up to speed again. With all of the changes I have made to my main “Web Server” I have ported none over to my backup system! I should have been ready for this scenario!