Monday, March 16, 2009

Moved to new blog. / 已搬到新的 BLOG。 / 新しいブログに行きました。

Still waiting for domain name allocation:

仍在等待域名的獲取:

ドメインネームを撮る事がお待ちです:

http://67.23.9.108/blog/

Friday, October 31, 2008

Hacking Virgin Broadband (HSDPA / 3G) with Huawei E220 Modem

An usual day to work, I have a Virgin Broadband HSDPA USB modem on grass after a morning rain. I spent $25 to unlock it and insert my Three AU SIM card, then it worked.

The recent release of prepaid mobile broadband services tempted me for ordering $50 5GB/60days services. The SIM arrived at office on WED.

Activated the SIM and charged $50 for 5GB/60days online with LAN connection, plugged the SIM to modem and plugged modem to my EeePC via USB. Light flashes green (2G) > blue (3G/HSDPA, purple is HSDPA and blue is 3G but I inherited colour weakness).

Created new connection settings on NetworkManager: Mobile Broadband. Click on the icon and such connection. Connection failed within 1 second. I tried the above procedures with Three SIM and work laptop but it works. At the same time, my younger brother tested Modem + VirginSIM and it works on XP. Therefore, should be problem from Linux (Fedora).

Checked the log file on EeePC for clue... Permission Denied for /usr/sbin/pppd. With something looks like SELINUX context in error message. I disabled the SELINUX and reboot . Tried again and the NW icon rotated longer, seems some progress. Then same result rejected my assumption.

I also input username 'blank' as instruction card mentioned. NW asked for password and both 'blank' and real blank password are not making any differences. I backed on googling.

Was thinking if I could setup something like system-config-network profile or something for ifup/ifdown. And tools called wvtool and gnome-ppp were discovered from wikipedia. So I yum install that.

wvdial has problem in sending password to modem, gnome-ppp is just GUI wrap of wvdial. No luck again.

Actually Virgin Broadband AU is using PAP authentication. I aware that NM connection settings on GUI has flaws that some of the input fields are not saved. i.e. fews are fake controls. :P

Especially, I couldn't disable any authentication methods, to force it uses PAP only. Every time I clicked OK but all of them are checked. Google pointed my to a page that says user settings are stored in gconf.

Open gconf and went to /system/networking/connections/3/ and found the profile. No key about authentication at all. How could I know what key I should create for specify PAP to be only authentication method?

I created a new connection of pppoe, it allows me to disable any authentication instead. I referred to that on gconf and found 'refuse-chap=false', 'refuse-eap=false', 'refuse-mschap=false' and 'refuse-mschapv2=false' are appropriate for the mobile broadband connection settings.

Finally, I clone that in gconf, replugged the modem, click on icon and select the created profile.

Bingo!

=====

In a nutshell, to get Huawei E220 working on Fedora 9 (or any similar distro):

0. Turn off SELINUX. This is USELESS for normal users!
1. Ensure your SIM is activated and has usable credit (sorry, if you don't have win32 please ask your friend for help).
2. Insert SIM to modem when it is unplugged.ar
3. Plugged in the modem.
4. Click on NetworkManager applet tray bar > edit connections > mobile broadband > new.
5. Input as much as settings specified by ISP.
6. Unplug the modem.
7. Use gconf-editor under current user.
8. Go to /system/networking/connecctions/[mobile-broadband-connections]. You will know which one is by the keys 'id'.
9. Put 'refuse-chap=false', 'refuse-eap=false', 'refuse-mschap=false' and 'refuse-mschapv2=false' as new keys in /system/networking/connecctions/[mobile-broadband-connections]/ppp/ (If your ISP requires chap, then 'refuse-chap=false' will be 'refuse-pap=false'. Just like if ISP requires other authentications mentioned).
10. Plug in the modem.
11. Click on NetworkManager icon and click on the mobile broadband profile.
12. It should be successfully connected.

=====

Played with it a bit in my house. The speed is acceptable but the connection is unstable because the house is used to be bad signal reception.

Will test it on transit tomorrow. :)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

[引用+回應] win-win 雙嬴

剛剛用 GOOGLE 找 雙嬴 的 嬴 字如何寫的時候看到這篇文章,忍不住寫了回應:

[071115] winwin 雙嬴


一直以 來都極度討厭「雙嬴」這個詞語。記得第一次聽到這個詞語是在一個傳銷的推介會上,那時自己快將畢業,有朋友致電問我是否想找工作,並約了我在尖沙咀見工。 那天向我推介的也是我的中學同學,在那冗長的疲勞轟炸下,記憶最深的就是那句「公司跟我們個人都有得著,是個雙贏的局面」。當時不懂世情的我差點就著了他 的道兒,可幸最後仍力保不失,全身而退。
在那時起,就極度討厭這個字眼,世上那有甚麼 「雙贏」的局面,有的只是平衡、中庸、妥協…就像最近的工資保障廣告,僱主及員工的雙嬴反過來看就是僱主多付了工資、工人失業及工作壓力增大的「雙輸」。 究竟世界上是否有一個情況可讓兩個不同層面的人或事無條件的雙雙得到益處?我想應該沒有甚麼可能吧!回應我的親身經歷,「雙嬴」大概是煽動一眾沒思考的群 眾一個最誘人的糖衣毒藥吧!

--- 我的回應 ---

  1. かいお(Kaio) Says:
    「雙嬴」本身不是指單次的,而是指長期的考量。

    那個傳銷裏的人以「雙嬴」這詞語來誤導人,是他們的技倆,請先不要有先入為主的概念去否定「雙嬴」。他們說的「雙嬴」和「雙嬴」的意義是完全沾不上邊的。

    個人認為,「雙嬴」是雙方各退一步達至一個大家都能接受的協議。你可能會說,這是大家都有損失的「雙輸」,就單一次來講,你是說得對的。

    可是反過來說,雖然大家這一次各承擔了部分損失,但是免除了後續冗長的爭議、談判、追討、甚至訴諸法律程序。相對那些耗費大量人力物力的不必要浪費,一個大家「雙嬴」的平衡、中庸、妥協,將會是對雙方有益無害的結果。

    總的來說,我們看「雙嬴」是要看全局,而不是只着眼於當下;儘快把事件告一段落,然後大家各自利用省下來的時間去為自己打拼 ,才是積極的態度。


Sunday, October 26, 2008

Fedora Chinese Forum is UP

上星期天開幾小時車來回了 Scarborough 海邊,享用了要排長隊的 Fish & Chips $16.50(剛好沒有人排,我付錢後竟然突然出現二十人的人龍):


=====

談了一段日子,約一個星期前才把事情下了決定,經過了幾天的部置和測試, Fedora 中文使用者論壇 終於建立了!

這個網站的建立,有望標誌着分散的 Fedora 中國 大中華 甚至 世界各地 的使用者能夠團結起來,從互相交流知識之中,產生華人對 Fedora 以至 Linux 更大的影響力。

在下有幸身為初代該組織 7 人核心成員之一,深感使命之重要性,定必在任期內盡力提高網站和組織的知名度,發揚 Fedora 渴求創新和追求進步的精神。

=====

剛剛把某些東西寫得很結構。XD

這是否從高中在 '中國語文及文化科' 被練出來的議論文病?還是在大學被趕出來的論文病?還是於工作關係變出來的報告病?

可是這應該是非理性的事阿!

Friday, October 17, 2008

EeePC 1000H (1000) Resolution Limit.

Plugged in my 22" LCD with 1680x1050 to my EeePC at home. Add Viirtual 2704 1050 (2704 = 1024 + 1680) and wrote a script with xrandr, it could be displayed.

However, due to possible weak processing power of Intel integrated chips with Atom CPU, fps is not enough during scrolling in firefox.

Tested with some combination, such as an off for built in LCD and 1680x1050 for external one but no luck. The followings is the best satisfied scenario:

xorg.conf:
Virtual 1440 900

xrandr:
- off LVDS.
- on VGA 1440x900.

Only this provides me satisfied speed with default Gnome + Metacity on Fedora 9.

EeePC 1000H (1000) 的解像度極限。

家裏一台 22" LCD 最高 1680x1050,在 xorg.conf 加了 Virtual 2704 x 1050,還有用 xrandr 寫了一個小 script, 能顯示。

不過,可能 intel 的多合一晶片效能不夠,捲 firefox 的時候會有 FPS 不足的情況。

測試了幾種組合,例如關掉內置 LCD 只用外接輸出 1680x1050 還是一樣;最後個人所能接受的情況:

xorg.conf:
Virtual 1440 900

xrandr:
- 關掉 LVDS.
- 開啟 VGA 1440x900.

唯有這樣才能在保留 Fedora 上預設 gnome + metacity 之下,得到滿意的顯示速度。

(其實如果單單不常移 window 或捲 firefox 的話,比如只做演講,原來速度是還可以的。)

以上

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Fedora 何去何從?

我以一個套件維護者的身份角度,思考 FEDORA 缺乏支技的原因,可能是由於申請成為 package maintainer 的程序太麻煩了,我曾經嘗試幫助一位有志接手我對 emesene 維護的人快點完成那步驟,結果真的花了很大力氣還是沒有成功。

要成為套件維護者,必先得到 packager permission;得到這個權限的唯一來源,就是要得到擁有 packager sponsor 權限的人(就是比較資深的人)的認可。

可是能得他們的信任可不是一件易事,工作關係那時候我的主管有 sponsor 權限可以即時批准我;不過以公眾身份而請求加入的話,就像前述一樣很煩複。

這種勞心過程直接大大影響了參與者要付出貢獻的熱情,這是非常悲觀的事實。

相比 Debian ,他們成為 debian developer (相當於 fedora package maintainer) 的程序不比 FEDORA 簡單,不過他們的發行週期卻約為每三年一次,不像我們一樣每次趕 ALPHA 衝 BETA;不要說在套件上進行增加功能或修復錯誤的開發,我連把原作者的新版本更新到本地 CVS 再打包成新版本 RPM 都把大部分精力都用完了!

相比 Ubuntu ,他們雖然在我們的角度看是比較亂搞,但是這也是他們活力所在;不單來自 Canonical 主公司對項目的金錢資助,也有對 Ubuntu Desktop (相當於 Fedora) 的客戶服務,再加上 LaunchPad 和他們其他網上配套設備,這種對初級至中級使用者的吸引力是 Fedora 無可比擬的。

相比 CentOS ,這根本只是 RHEL 的重編版,就是把所有 RHEL 的 SRPM 編成一個 DISTRO,換上非 RH 商標的圖案,忘記客服,就這樣而已;作為一個沒有客服的服務器發行版,個人想到會使用它的,只會是內部有 RHEL 管理資格的人員,或是希望獲得 RHEL 管理能力的個人而已。這裏完全是沒有創新的期望。

相比 RHEL , Fedora 就是它的測試版,網上一切能用的開發,都有可能被加入到 repo 裏,不管本身已存在有多才個功能重複的套件;另一方面 RHEL 本身只有內部員工才能碰,而且大多都是修復而不是增加功能。個人認為 RH 系只是被 RHCE 及其他認証之知名度撑起來而已。

Fedora 的人氣不濟,造成很多的套件都是由 RH 員工所維護(當然有不少是自發而不是主管指派);可惜 FEDORA 獨立運作的性質在立場、方向、優先處理的決定,有時候又與 RH 有分岐甚至相反,這種不磨合的情況個人認為會繼續蠶食 FEDORA 的活力,最終會影響 RHEL 的銷售。這種負面循環效應又會影響 FEDORA 得到的資助,令這一系的發行版走行衰亡。

Debian 作為正統,應該會一直被傳承下去; Ubuntu 作為最創新和活力的結構,也應該會一直吸收 WIN32 和 其他 LINUX/UNIX 的使用者; RHEL/CentOS 作為服務器和想成為 LINUX 系統管理人員的人的首選,可能會被架空到純技術的象牙塔慢慢變得 BSD 化; Fedora 的話,我不知道如何下一個很準確的定論,今後也許會被其他基於 Fedora 又以 Ubuntu 發展方式的版本取代吧!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Who invented exam? >:-(

Got my internal exam cancelled, *again*. 4-5 times already, either 'not enough ext candidates' or 'needed by ext candidates'.

Just a meaningless motivation to personal initiatives of self-development that would finally benefit the company, with indefinite frustration to every prepared internal candidates. Last to be concern and reward, first to be sacrificed and punished. We are only some labors.

*****

Question: How much a candidate's ability could be determined from a 2 hour programming test?

My answer: Better than nothing.

Been requested to attend such test from someone. Java will be used... emm... something sounds familiar in my head... Oh it's what I have done during uni 8 years ago. :P

Will be there for test, as 'sightseeing' or life experience. Have some ideas of how a big enterprise check out candidates' skills might be fun to see.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Eee PC 1000H BIOS update journey.

Downloaded latest BIOS (1103) and searched how to apply.

A laptop with no floppy, no disc drive, but USB slots. My mind is still standing at the ages when BIOS update = Floppy + DOS 6.X + CLI tool + ROM. This just make my head pain whenever thinking how could I get a USB floppy drive to 'burn' a floppy with DOS.

No instructions online of how to update BIOS of a 1000H, but someone mentioned on forum about 90X series. It was mentioned that starting Eee PC with Alt-F2 will bring user into BIOS flash screen. Then, filename '900.ROM (700.ROM for 700 series)' will be loaded from USB pendrive for update.

I followed the steps which includes requirement which the USB pendrive has to be formatted in FAT16. Firstly, `fdisk /dev/sdb` and remove all previous partitions, create new partition, set it as FAT16. Secondary, `mkfs.msdos` (I've also tried mkfs.vfat) and copy the BIOS ROM file into it. Finally, boot up Eee PC and press Alt-F2.

"USB device not found."

Took the pendrive to my brother's Vista and formatted it as FAT16. Copied the ROM and redo procedures. It is safely updated.

Back checking `mkfs.msdos`, FAT16 needs to be specially argumented in line of command.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

No mic on F9 x Eee PC 1000h

Was gonna play Skype with my friend in Melbourne. Connected voice and video with him but everything is fine except him hearing my voice.

It worked just two days ago with another friend of mine with same settings. Researched on the forums and it came out the followings:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=451178

Anyways, it just mentioned the solution of model 700 (7 inches). Haven:t got the modprobe command works for me yet. Now plugged in an external mic and considering whether a downgrade of such 'updated' kernel or just wait F9 push by maintainer.

As a Fedora maintainer, I mostly push all rawhide updates to last release (namely F9 at the moment) as timely as I could. Rawhide isn't a choice for me on this PC as I need it for development.
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