Posts made by Obsolesce

Enjoying the solar eclipse. It peaked at 69.14% at 09:26 here.

@siringo said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@travisdh1 said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@dafyre said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@travisdh1 said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@nadnerB said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@scottalanmiller said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@nadnerB said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Moving from iOS to Android...
Honestly wasn't ready to but events have transpired to move things along.

Not sure how I feel about it.

I liked it when I did it. And then regretted it when the instability and hardware problems came, and the lack of vendor protection. It's weird the things you don't think about in iOS are often the killer features. From an interface and usability standpoint, I liked the Android better.

The whole vendor support thing really irks me, as some vendors support for their phones varies by model.
Luckily(?) I'm got the use of a Pixel phone and updates are good (just got Android 14 today!).

Even Pixel update support sucks monkey ****. They're great at getting updates out for supported devices, but devices are only supported for 3 years from the first day the device was sold in retail. For those of us that don't update phones regularly, that still blows. Apple has Google beat hands down in this area.

I say this while my personal phone is still a Pixel 3a XL. It works fine, but I've been growing more concerned over lack of updates for a while now. While I know I should upgrade, it's working great still.

Root it and install a custom rom? I've done that when I've managed to keep a phone beyond it's usual updates.

I've been looking, but haven't decided on a rom yet.

i've always had android, since smartphones began. just can't make myself get an iphone. now i no longer care, purchasing is based on cost. recently had to get, didn't want to, had to get, a new phone. hard to go past a samsung with more features in it than an iphone for only $AU350.00.

not saying android is better than iOS, I don't care, but I am saying that spending $350 is way better than over $1000.

I go for what is cheapest per year of having a phone.

If you can get a deal on a latest Samsung Android phone, it can be like $120-ish - $200 per year for 4 years (I got a new Samsung S23 for less than $500 locking myself in with TMobile for 2 years after I traded in my old one). I say 4 years because that's how long they (Samsung) typically support phones, providing security updates and such. Being what phones are today, it's a requirement to always use a phone actively receiving security updates.

Sure, you might be able to get an S20-S22 for like $2-300. But then you have to do it again in a year or 2 years or it will go out of support. Thereby increasing the per year cost of having a phone.

https://endoflife.date/samsung-mobile

@siringo said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

coffee#2

should i go with a cheap windows vps or zero tier to a home pc?
can get a windows 2019 server with 6gb ram and 2 vcpu for 9.95/month.
hmmm.

To do what?

@rjt said in Not much luck with Linux Distro's:

@rjt dang, most of what I typed up disappeared upon submit and reformatted not how I intended. Will have to try again from a desktop.

Not really. When you own and design the entire stack (hardware + OS) like in Apple's case, you get consistency and generally more stability.

Imagine this:
One operating system supporting a million difference manufacturers, hardware combinations & configurations, vendors, inconsistent serial numbers, etc.

Versus:
One operating system supporting exactly the hardware it was designed to support from the ground up, limited and known hardware combinations and configurations, consistent serial numbers, etc.

Yes they both have their pros and cons in different areas, but to say such a blanket statement like that is far from accurate.

@nadnerB said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@Obsolesce said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@WrCombs said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Got my very own first digital camera that isn't a cell phone

Just recently sold mine!

Whaaaat? Not doing astrophotography any more?

Still doing it, but in between cameras right now. I still have the planetary camera, but looking to get a dedicated astrophotography camera now. Couldn't justify keeping the mirrorless camera and wanted to sell it before Black Friday gets too close. I'm holding out for a deal on the camera I'm looking to buy, though it's tempting to get it used for a nice price.

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@CCWTech said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@CCWTech said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@Obsolesce said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@Obsolesce We're going to have to agree to disagree.

The peer-to-peer setup has been around since Token Ring that I can think of off the top and abides by Microsoft's licensing.

We've been through audits in peer-to-peer settings, as mentioned SMB was our bread and butter, with nary an issue with setups like the p2p mentioned in AVIMark for their tiny setup. We're usually the ones schooling the auditors anyway.

TTFN

So you're saying Microsoft licensing terms do not apply if installed on devices on peer to peer networks?

You've got a lot of theft under your belt, then. Willful ignorance of terms. MVP of SBS means shit... as does (wrongfully) convincing auditors of theft.

As mentioned, let's agree to disagree. TTFN

EDIT: If you really think you have a case then report it to the BSA.

Accusing someone of theft based on an subjective interpretation of terms and conditions is a pretty serious accusation.

Suffice it to say, put up or shut up.

It is theft. There is no other way to look at it. The fact that you have to interpret it subjectively and not objectively speaks volumes.

And it's not the BSA that investigates. Microsoft works with a different company. One of the vet clinics that I am personally aware of that believes you can do this is being audited because they got caught.

BSA is in Canada.

As I've mentioned, peer to peer has been around for a very long time.

What I'm being told here is that every peer to peer setup was illegal and thus theft. Yet, in the audits we've participated in when a peer to peer was involved none were knocked for it.

It's pretty easy to sling the mud and armchair quarterback like this.

Show me some Microsoft based resources that clearly interpret things they way that is being stated here. Since the semantics and legalese seem to be the catch let's see a clear statement from Microsoft that a peer to peer setup where folks are sharing files and a printer or two is indeed illegal and thus "theft" as it's being called here.

Show me the money.

A high school student could understand this. You can not use it to host a server with certain exceptions. Because AVImark is not using just file share services, it doesn't fit the exceptions. That's it. So easy to understand.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/UseTerms/Retail/Windows/11/UseTerms_Retail_Windows_11_English.htm

It just boggles my mind that the plain English, or the Queen's English if you're a Canucklehead like me, is right freaking there.

Seriously.

Dude, let's break it down (starting to feel like I'm explaining things to a 2 year old)...

The following services _ ONLY _: file services, print services, IIS

AVImark is not those ^ (additionally, the limit is 20 devices)

...synchronize data between devices

AVImark does not fall under synchronizing data between devicevs.

FURTHER MORE:

You may not use the software (Windows 10/11) on the device to operate the device as a server. (exceptions above, but we already covered them as a no-go)

This is what installing AVImark on Windows 10/11 does to the device. It turns the operation of the device into a server (peer to peer or whatever bullshit you're spewing doesn't matter). It's a database. It's a server. It does not fall under the exceptions noted.

EVEN FURTHER MORE:

you may not install the software (Windows 10/11) on a device for use only by remote users

AVImark is this. It's meant to be installed on a "server" from which all access is done remotely.

@WrCombs said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Got my very own first digital camera that isn't a cell phone

Just recently sold mine!

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@Obsolesce We're going to have to agree to disagree.

The peer-to-peer setup has been around since Token Ring that I can think of off the top and abides by Microsoft's licensing.

We've been through audits in peer-to-peer settings, as mentioned SMB was our bread and butter, with nary an issue with setups like the p2p mentioned in AVIMark for their tiny setup. We're usually the ones schooling the auditors anyway.

TTFN

So you're saying Microsoft licensing terms do not apply if installed on devices on peer to peer networks?

You've got a lot of theft under your belt, then. Willful ignorance of terms. MVP of SBS means shit... as does (wrongfully) convincing auditors of theft.

Open Source does not win by being cheaper

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@Obsolesce said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@CCWTech seems super clear to me, and always has been:

Seems obvious to me:

We've gone through plenty of audits where QuickBooks has a company file on one PC while there are two or more other PCs accessing that company file. No issues there.

If the app is behaving similarly then there's nothing wrong with the setup being on Windows 10/11. Especially if the vendor indicates that it is appropriate to do so. I'm sure they wouldn't be running afoul of Microsoft's licensing.

EDIT: It's important to define what the word "server" means in this context. It does not mean what we normally use that word for. Think lawyers not IT techs.

EDIT2: Those underlines are very selective. Why was internal missed after personal? That word is also very important along with the words that come after the word "purposes:".

EDIT3: There is a dearth of info on their site about anything product setup/install related. So, post something that shows requirements for their software to run please.

EDIT4: Waaayyyy down in the search results: https://software.covetrus.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2021/03/AVImark-hardware-specifications.pdf

Looks to be exactly like the QuickBooks setup when used in a tiny operation as indicated here. So, no brainer.

The Server/Client software clearly states a server operating system is required. Again, no brainer.

First and foremost, it says the following:

You may allow up to 20 other devices to access the software installed on the licensed device solely to use the following software features for personal or internal purposes: file services, print services, Internet information services, and Internet connection sharing and telephony services on the licensed device.

The personal/internal bit matters not.

AVIMark is neither file services nor print services at the core. It's a database. It's server software. Just like you can't put SQL Server on it.

Secondly, it says:

You may allow any number of devices to access the software on the licensed device to synchronize data between devices.

This means, for example, services like Windows Update Delivery Optimization (the built-in P2P stuff), BranchCache, etc.
It does NOT mean "whatever the hell I want to do between devices".

It doesn't matter, at all, what AVImark says. What matters is that putting AVImark on Windows 10/11 results in the device being operated as a server (plain and simple):

(v) use the software as server software or to operate the device as a server, except as permitted under Section 2(d)(iii) below; use the software to offer commercial hosting services; make the software available for simultaneous use by more than one user over a network, except as permitted under Section 2(d)(vi) below; install the software on a server for remote access or use over a network; or install the software on a device for use only by remote users;

@JaredBusch said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

Historically, QuickBooks has only used file sharing for this. The remote users are opening the QuickBooks data file over the network. This matches the restrictions last I knew.

exactly this.

@scottalanmiller

I have used the RPi 4 heavily. The only limitation I ran into that forced me to use a PC is video feed when I was doing planetary astrophotography. It couldn't keep up with the FPS and dropped most of the frames. It was such a bummer.

Otherwise, they are great.

I wonder if #5 would be able to?

@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 5 Announced Today:

Copy pasta

The best kind!

@scottalanmiller said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Kept them up for 2.5 years.

Tf?

@scottalanmiller said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Also, today is yet another day of slowly and expensively helping a company recover both their ProxMox and TrueNAS deployments that were done on ZFS and all was lost and no vendor had any means of recovering anything.

Did they back up their PRoxMox to their TruNAS and they both went under?

@GUIn00b said in Practical RAID Decision Making:

One particular situation where I'd find it not quite so straight-forward to go for RAID-10 vs RAID-6 is in a 4-drive setup. Some things to consider would be the performance capabilities of all devices at play (drives, HBA, CPU, etc.) as well as the performance demands of the users/services that need frequent access to said storage. For me, if I/O demand isn't real high for services (and probably using flash, not spindles) I'd be willing to go with RAID-6. Though both RAID levels can sustain 2 drive failures, the caveat with RAID-10 is as long as it's not the same member from each mirrored set. With RAID-6, ANY 2 drives could fail and still be operational and recoverable. I guess it would have to be a very specific concern to opt for the parity overhead in favor of the "added protection" over a statistically very rare potential failure scenario of 4-drive RAID-10.

OK nvm. RAID-10 + backups.

edit

https://www.arcserve.com/blog/practical-raid-decision-making

RAID 10 for four-disk array
Likewise, with a four drive array the only real choice to consider is RAID 10. There is no need for further evaluation. Simply select RAID 10 and continue.

Well, SHUT MA MOUTH!

Consider life expectancy of a RAID 6 over a RAID 10 as well. It's SIGNIFICANTLY more write amplification due to additional parity over RAID 5. RAID 10 would be the best option for having the best possible usage/life expectancy for your drives.

During rebuilds, RAID 6 is the devil. That could be enough writing to make more go belly-up. Then you're toast.

I'd argue that over the lifespan of a server, RAID 10 would likely save more money/resources and headache (and data), making the initial higher cost of capacity worth it. Not only that, but there's other benefits as you mentioned such as speed, iops, etc.

@Obsolesce said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

If the product says it can run on Windows 10 or 11 and falls under the 20 connection limit then go for it but with one caveat: Make sure the hardware has ECC memory to avoid a memory flipped bit error that can wreak havoc and at least a RAID 1 array between two SATA SSDs.

No, the 20 connection limit ONLY applies to the built-in Windows file and print services. File sharing and printing (leaving out IIS and the others as they don't apply).

That is exactly NOT AVImark Veterinary Software.

What you said to do is undeniable theft.

Remember, ignorance doesn't make you immune to laws etc.

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

If the product says it can run on Windows 10 or 11 and falls under the 20 connection limit then go for it but with one caveat: Make sure the hardware has ECC memory to avoid a memory flipped bit error that can wreak havoc and at least a RAID 1 array between two SATA SSDs.

No, the 20 connection limit ONLY applies to the built-in Windows file and print services. File sharing and printing (leaving out IIS and the others as they don't apply).

That is exactly NOT AVImark Veterinary Software.

What you said to do is undeniable theft.

@CCWTech said in Can you run a desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinaty Software?:

The minute you go beyond the very basic services offered in device connections, you MUST use a server OS.

Not only that, but specifies personal use only. Obviously that is commercial use in a dental office using Avimark.

@CCWTech seems super clear to me, and always has been: