port7 – co – uk

Recently been thinking, that if there is one thing that Open Source Community do really well is collaboration, and building community. Something that very few ‘Enterprise’ places do really well.

Considering why can’t an Enterprise do that, why can’t they? Is the question I am asking.

If I was starting a Open Source Project outside of work, I would be working the online community, frequenting IRC Channels, Mailing Lists, and Blogs of related projects. Announcing my new project and gathering a team around that.

Things like that just don’t seem to happen in Enterprise, sure there are no IRC Channels, or Mailing Lists. I guess the equivalent are teams, both support and project specific. To but in on those would be difficult.

Why can’t we do it?

So it’s been ages since I updated this blog, a lots happened in my absence. I blame the rise of the micro-blogging tools like Twitter and Facebook Status.

So in the meantime we have had a new addition to the family, Christina May Johnson, born 1st January 2010, and a bouncing 8lb. After an initial scare with Meningitis she is doing great and is now 5 months old!

I have been working at Lloyds Banking Group since last September and am loving that. Closest I have worked to home in nearly 10 years and enjoying the job there. I am also getting involved in helping shape their Linux strategy which is good.

I will try and get some more blog posts going, hopefully will have some interesting content over the next few months

Dear Lazyweb

I have a bunch on XP Workstations, that are in a Domain managed by a Windows 2000 Domain Controller (its actually MS SBS). It’s in a state and I want to build a new server for them

The intention is to build a new Windows 2008 based domain and then re-create all the users (only about 15) and then migrate all the workstations.

Does anyone know of a tool that will allow me to migrate peoples profiles on their workstations to the new domain?

I know changing the workstation is easy enough, but how do I migrate peoples profiles, as that’s where most of the noise will come from I suspect if there are issues.

Probably a number of you reading this will now have seen the announcement at Google I/O about the new product from the makers of Google Maps, what they are calling Google Wave.

What Google Wave is attempting to do its effectively re-invent E-mail, they asked themselves, what would E-Mail look like if it was invented today? The answer is something that looks like the lovechild of Gmail, Wiki, SubEthaEdit, Twitter, and Sharepoint. I think it could catch on.

As someone who makes his daily bread in the very conservative world of corporate IT, I can’t see it making inroads here (which is a shame), though the fact that Google are releasing the code and allowing people to host their own web-servers might make that interesting, especially with the federation aspect of the protocol.

I for one can’t wait to give it a test go, and I may even deploy it in some of my clients, if it grows in maturity.

Well done Google (again)

So yesterday I received a sales call, not a surprise as I get lots of them each day. But this time I was pleasantly surprised to discover that is was from Sirius IT, for those that don’t know Sirius are probably one of the more successful FOSS consultancy firms here in the UK. Having been around the Linux community since 1996 I have been aware of the good work they have done, and the growth they have enjoyed.

Unfortunately I couldn’t give them much work, as my current client is pretty much well served by a big outsourcing deal with Capgemini. Though I was pleased to tell the chap that they already use a significant amount of FOSS in the IT estate, and find it works very well thank you.

What encouraged me about this call was just that it indicated Sirius IT was growing into a serious contender in the UK IT industry. They have obviously started this cold-calling strategy to win business, and I hope it works from them. It certainly makes a change to hear a company calling and specifically mentioning Open Source software. In the current climate, I really think FOSS has a lot to offer business in the UK, and hopefully initiatives like this from Sirius will do a lot to make that happen.

So well done Sirius IT, I hope to send some business your way in the future, maybe not with the current client but maybe another one.

OK not posted for ages, blame life, kids, work and apathy!

Recently I needed to install Windows (XP) on my main laptop an IBM x60s, as I needed to use a program that to my knowledge has no Free software equivalent on any platform. The program is Mixmeister Express, and I use it for creating various mixes for various shows that Julie is involved in.

Now the main reason for this post is not to moan about the lack of a Free Software Mixmeister (though if you know of one let me know!), but I just want to list my favourite Free Software for Windows programs.

Now and then I get asked to help setup someone computer, or even in for my own reasons install Windows. I find myself installing the same set of standard applications, all Free. So if you *have* to use Windows, have a look at this list, there should be no surprises there.

• Openoffice.org – http://www.openoffice.org/
• Firefox – http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
• Foxyproxy – http:// foxyproxy.mozdev.org/
• Gmail Manager – https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1320
• Foxmarks – http://www.foxmarks.com/
• ClamWin – http://www.clamwin.com/
• Spyboy S&D – http://www.safer-networking.org/
• InfraRecorder – http://www. infrarecorder.org/
• VLC – http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
• Putty – http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
• Winscp – http://www. winscp.net/
• Audiograbber – http:// www.audiograbber.com-us.net/
• Pidgin IM – http:// www.pidgin.im/
• WinVi – http:// www.winvi.de/en

So that’s my standard lot for making Windows a more comfortable place, a lot of those are also available in portable format, so you can run them from a USB stick. I also realize that a few of those are not Free as in Freedom, but at least you are not having to shell out.

Landing Place, Tarasaigh

Originally uploaded by Sgeir Mhor

Came accross this picture of a place that I have visited several times. This is the amazing Taransay in the Outer Hebrides.

You would be forgiven in mistaking this for the Carribian or some other Tropical paradise

So this weekend has been one of thinking about refreshing some of my technical kit. First we had a visit to the Trafford Centre on Saturday and I took the opportunity to have a look at the G1 Google Phone in the T-Mobile Shop.

Was I impressed, to be honest on a touchy feely point of view, not much! From a UI angle, I still think the iPhone has the edge. In particular the finger gestures, pinch to zoom in etc. What I do like is the ability to sync Google Calenders, Contacts, Mail over-the-air. But I knew that without seeing one in the flesh. I was not that impressed with handset, if you can get a HTC Kaiser with Android then that would be my ideal. So despite all that, I will be moving to a Google phone, though when my iPhone contract expires, hopefully by that point there will be a few more handsets to choose from and any current bugs have been ironed out.

Then on Sunday evening, i decided to have some surfing time on the Macbook. And when I opened it the right hand 1/3 of the screen was all garbled. It looks like someone has stood on the laptop and broken the screen at that point. It still fires up and you can see some of the screen but from a usability point of view it is buggered. As to the culprit, we have our suspicions….

As Julie tends to use that one during the day she is now without a laptop. I don’t want to shell out for a new MacBook, as the next Mac I want is a PowerMac. But I think we will get some sort of netbook, prefrably with Ubuntu Netbook Remix on it. The current favorite is a MSI Wind, though that may change if there is one with an OEM Ubuntu.

So an expensive weekend, though both purchases can wait for a few months, and they are arguably optional.

Just got a mail from Visa, asking me to put my card details in to verify security!

The website is verified-byvisa.com, and the owner is a Mr Robert Thornton.

A more obvious phishing attempt could not be done! What a plank if he thinks people would fall for this.

Anyway if you want to send this guy some abuse here are his details

Registrant Name …………….. Robert Thornton
Registrant Organization ……… Robert Thornton
Registrant Address ………….. 539 Buffalo Creek Road
Registrant City …………….. Nashville
Registrant Province/State ……. TN
Registrant Postal Code ………. 37214
Registrant Country Code ……… US
Registrant Phone Number ……… +1.6158171380 –
Registrant Fax ……………… +1.6158171380 –
Registrant Email ……………. robert.thornton@interlayer.net

Had a very bizarre dream last night.

I was half-awake and really struggling with the problem of how to interface my crying daughter to an e-commerce platform for order dispatch confirmations.

Does that mean that I see my daughter as a software system or do I see my software systems as 2yr old’s who keep me awake at night?