Posts made by NashBrydges

Is it just me or are we hearing about these things almost every other day?

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/05/05/intel_amt_remote_exploit/

I get that the Canadian dollar isn't all that hot right now but...damn! Not quite the $18 bucks.

Bringing back memories of Netscape Navigator vs. Microsoft of years ago.

I should also mention that within a year or two, our numbers will probably grow to 20 or more people so that would definitely rate in my evaluation of a solution. Both in terms of cost and value.

So how would the alternatives rate? I run a very small company (just grown to 6 employees) and we're really at that point where this makes sense. Looking at JumpCloud, I see their offer is free for fewer than 10 employees but I'd be interested in opinions on which option people here would go with. What other criteria would you consider important before making your decision?

I already have an Office 365 E3 subscription if that makes a difference.

I'd love to see a category created for all of these how-tos. I'm seriously running an ever growing bookmarks list and would love to be able to just refer to a category to look for these.

@JaredBusch Awesome. Tks Jared. Tested and works beautifully!

Did you have to change these settings to point to your Let's Encrypt certificate?

# TLS parameters
smtpd_tls_cert_file=/etc/ssl/certs/ssl-cert-snakeoil.pem
smtpd_tls_key_file=/etc/ssl/private/ssl-cert-snakeoil.key
smtpd_use_tls=yes

@scottalanmiller said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@NashBrydges said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@Minion-Queen Always had my equipment shipped so that if they billed me tarifs, I could go back to the shipper for a refund.

Americans can't do that. Only works on your side.

That may be true. Sucks.

@scottalanmiller said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@Minion-Queen said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@NashBrydges said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@scottalanmiller said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@NashBrydges said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

Other than the exchange rate (which right now is a killer), I found that often, suppliers in the US don't know that shipping servers or parts to Canada is supposed to be customs exempt (no additional duties other than the HST tax). That's bit me more than once.

Well, YOU say that it is exempt. But Canada doesn't agree with you. I can tell you that they demand customs at the border and saying that it is not required isn't really something that you get to decide at that time. They might tell citizens that it is exempt, but they are lying to you.

No, actually, the tarif is 0 (at least to Ontario it is). Encourage you to have a read...

https://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/185674026/computers-office/laptops-pcs-tablets/servers/import-duty-rate-for-importing-dell-r710-server-from-united-states-to-canada-is-0/

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2013/01-99/01-99-t2013-eng.pdf

Look for section 8471.41

When paperwork properly completed (and this is where the failure happens most often - no lying needed), I've purchased goods from the US on dozens of occasions with zero tarif. Only paid HST.

I have tried that more than once. With all the proper paperwork. And still had to pay tariff fees. We used to use a Colocation facility up there and had to do stuff more than once.

It was a regular problem and causes a LOT of cost that makes American colocation cheaper, even when the Canadian ones are so close.

I don't doubt that it's a huge misunderstood process that fails more often than not. If I were in your shoes I'd probably have done the same. Hell...that's the reason why I try to buy in Canada first.

@Minion-Queen Always had my equipment shipped so that if they billed me tarifs, I could go back to the shipper for a refund. It's a massive hassle which is why I don't do it often. But the tarif is supposed to be 0. Anything else = someone didn't take the time to properly do paperwork or shipper is too lazy and won't bother looking it up. Lol

@NashBrydges said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@scottalanmiller said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@NashBrydges said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

Other than the exchange rate (which right now is a killer), I found that often, suppliers in the US don't know that shipping servers or parts to Canada is supposed to be customs exempt (no additional duties other than the HST tax). That's bit me more than once.

Well, YOU say that it is exempt. But Canada doesn't agree with you. I can tell you that they demand customs at the border and saying that it is not required isn't really something that you get to decide at that time. They might tell citizens that it is exempt, but they are lying to you.

No, actually, the tarif is 0 (at least to Ontario it is). Encourage you to have a read...

https://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/185674026/computers-office/laptops-pcs-tablets/servers/import-duty-rate-for-importing-dell-r710-server-from-united-states-to-canada-is-0/

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2013/01-99/01-99-t2013-eng.pdf

Look for section 8471.41

When paperwork properly completed (and this is where the failure happens most often - no lying needed), I've purchased goods from the US on dozens of occasions with zero tarif. Only paid HST.

For definitions purposes, read page 1058 section 84-ii.

5. (A) For the purpose of heading 84.71, the expression "automatic data processing machines" means machines capable of:
   (i) Storing the processing program or programs and at least the data immediately necessary for the execution of the
   program;
   (ii) Being freely programmed in accordance with the requirements of the user;
   (iii) Performing arithmetical computations specified by the user; and,
   (iv) Executing, without human intervention, a processing program which requires them to modify their execution, by logical
   decision during the processing run.
   (B) Automatic data processing machines may be in the form of systems consisting of a variable number of separate units.
   (C) Subject to paragraphs (D) and (E) below, a unit is to be regarded as being part of an automatic data processing system if
   it meets all of the following conditions:
   (i) It is of a kind solely or principally used in an automatic data processing system;
   (ii) It is connectable to the central processing unit either directly or through one or more other units; and
   (iii) It is able to accept or deliver data in a form (codes or signals) which can be used by the system.

@scottalanmiller said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@NashBrydges said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

Other than the exchange rate (which right now is a killer), I found that often, suppliers in the US don't know that shipping servers or parts to Canada is supposed to be customs exempt (no additional duties other than the HST tax). That's bit me more than once.

Well, YOU say that it is exempt. But Canada doesn't agree with you. I can tell you that they demand customs at the border and saying that it is not required isn't really something that you get to decide at that time. They might tell citizens that it is exempt, but they are lying to you.

No, actually, the tarif is 0 (at least to Ontario it is). Encourage you to have a read...

https://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/185674026/computers-office/laptops-pcs-tablets/servers/import-duty-rate-for-importing-dell-r710-server-from-united-states-to-canada-is-0/

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2013/01-99/01-99-t2013-eng.pdf

Look for section 8471.41

When paperwork properly completed (and this is where the failure happens most often - no lying needed), I've purchased goods from the US on dozens of occasions with zero tarif. Only paid HST.

I wish Xbyte had Canadian distributors. Other than the exchange rate (which right now is a killer), I found that often, suppliers in the US don't know that shipping servers or parts to Canada is supposed to be customs exempt (no additional duties other than the HST tax). That's bit me more than once.

@scottalanmiller said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

@NashBrydges said in Hardware Design for SAM-DR Small Rackmount Backup Device:

There's no talk of vendor here so I'll just ask Would these come from XByte?

That would be my recommendation In the US at least. @MattSpeller is in Canada, so while he can do that, the benefits are not the same.

Yeah I'm in Canada as well and last time I got a quote from XByte once and it was significantly higher than a local provider. Granted, they aren't the same in terms of NBD support, etc.

There's no talk of vendor here so I'll just ask Would these come from XByte?

@DustinB3403 said in Where to start?:

@NashBrydges said in Where to start?:

@coliver said in Where to start?:

@scottalanmiller has a really good list of projects to work on. I saved it for offline use but here it is quoted.

• There are some books in addition to the one I am writing here.
• Start with CentOS (I think he advocated Fedora now for most tasks)
• If you are serious about making a huge transition, phase out Windows in your life (temporarily at least) and go to a full Linux desktop / laptop to force yourself to change your mindsets about everything (Linux on the desktop teaches you nothing about Linux, but it might teach you something about perspective.) Use Fedora because it is closer to CentOS 7 and will prepare you for CentOS 8 when it comes.
• Build a Linux testing environment (you have XenServer today, replace it with KVM so that you have exposure to both Linux-ecosystem hypervisors.)
• Replace every Windows system you have with Linux, one at a time.
• Make loads of new Linux systems you don't have with Windows...
• • Home web server / intranet
• • Home info portal, WordPress
• • Home shared data site, MediaWiki
• • Home ticketing system, osTicket
• • Home NextCloud or similar storage
• • Home NFS shares
• • Home PBX
• • Home media server
• • Home chat server (OpenFire, Rocket.Chat, MatterMost)
• • Home minecraft server
• • Home Jump server
• • Home Ansible or Salt (or both) server
• • Home backup server
• • Home monitoring server (zabbix, zenoss, nagios)
• • Home logging server
• • Home firewall
• • Home repo for faster updates with less bandwidth

It's funny, this was my starting list and I've got most of them setup and running as VMs now.

I would setup this kind of thing for my home, but wouldn't have a use for any of it really. Do your family members use these or no?

If I could get some justification for setting up these kinds of solutions, then I would absolutely do it.

Yeah, my family definitely uses these applications, even if they aren't aware of where they are and how they are running. Shared anonymous network folder is huge help to transfer files between users at home. I have a gamer teenage son so I have Minecraft and a TeamSpeak server running for he and his friends (up to 20 players at a time). My home phone and office phones are using the FreePBX VM. I have Odoo running that I'll try as a CRM and Kanban board for myself. I have a time tracking server that a friend's team uses for billable hours. I have Plex running for the entire household and family. Wiki to keep track of home lab and my son also uses the wiki to provide documentation for projects he's working on. Hard to believe I've found lots of use for almost all of these and installed them only within the last year or so.

@coliver said in Where to start?:

@scottalanmiller has a really good list of projects to work on. I saved it for offline use but here it is quoted.

• There are some books in addition to the one I am writing here.
• Start with CentOS (I think he advocated Fedora now for most tasks)
• If you are serious about making a huge transition, phase out Windows in your life (temporarily at least) and go to a full Linux desktop / laptop to force yourself to change your mindsets about everything (Linux on the desktop teaches you nothing about Linux, but it might teach you something about perspective.) Use Fedora because it is closer to CentOS 7 and will prepare you for CentOS 8 when it comes.
• Build a Linux testing environment (you have XenServer today, replace it with KVM so that you have exposure to both Linux-ecosystem hypervisors.)
• Replace every Windows system you have with Linux, one at a time.
• Make loads of new Linux systems you don't have with Windows...
• • Home web server / intranet
• • Home info portal, WordPress
• • Home shared data site, MediaWiki
• • Home ticketing system, osTicket
• • Home NextCloud or similar storage
• • Home NFS shares
• • Home PBX
• • Home media server
• • Home chat server (OpenFire, Rocket.Chat, MatterMost)
• • Home minecraft server
• • Home Jump server
• • Home Ansible or Salt (or both) server
• • Home backup server
• • Home monitoring server (zabbix, zenoss, nagios)
• • Home logging server
• • Home firewall
• • Home repo for faster updates with less bandwidth

It's funny, this was my starting list and I've got most of them setup and running as VMs now.

@NerdyDad said in Where to start?:

@scottalanmiller said in Where to start?:

@NerdyDad said in Where to start?:

I am not really interested in the application on top of CentOS as I am concerned about CentOS, itself. I am trying to find me a foothold coming from Windows into Linux. I can install about anything on Windows and manage Windows itself, pretty easily.

What do you "manage" on Windows, though?

Really nothing much more than the IP address, updates, activation, joining to domain with a computer name and that is it. I know how to get into the registry and make changes, if guided, but would not know where to go on my own to fix a problem. I know there is a loopback file but would not know where to go without doing some googling. I can manage disks and partitions within the GUI, but not command line. Otherwise, everything else is application layer on top.

And I think that's been the key for my approach at learning. Because I simply spin up a VM for every single application I install, I've compartmentalized my learning specific to that OS + that application. Because that's all I need. I'm not worried about learning MySQL on Ubuntu for ScreenConnect because it isn't installed and I don't use it. But I have a website that I built that uses MySQL on Ubuntu so I learned about that as it relates to that function. It also uses PHP so had to learn about that and some PHP scripting. It also runs on HTTPS so had to learn about Lets Encrypt.

As I'm describing this, maybe that's the best way to learn this is to setup applications that extend your use of the particular OS without having to chew on the entire OS at once. Learn it...piecemeal.

Do you want to learn CentOS or do you want to learn how to manage an application on CentOS? I ask because, as a Linux noob, I found that when I installed Nextcloud on Ubuntu, I didn't learn a lot more about Ubuntu, but I learned how to install and manage Nextcloud.

I'm now at about 15 VMs running various flavors of Linux and each running it's own application.

While I've learned quite a bit by getting these applications setup, I don't know that I learned a ton about CentOS or Fedora or Ubuntu except as related to the installation and maintenance of those apps or websites.

I'm interested as to what will be suggested here to see if I should change my approach.