Arguing with MySQL on Windows

 Posted on October 16, 2012  |  Erik

It’s been one of those days where stuff doesn’t work as advertised. The problem of the moment in fighting a recalcitrant MySQL on a Windows box (I know, don’t do that). The error is Plugin ‘InnoDB’ init function returned error. A simple problem to fix on Linux when the InnoDB configuration changes and you blow away the log files. But under Windows that doesn’t solve the problem. Finally ran across this article which fixed things. [Read More]

ESXi, OS X and a Mac Mini

 Posted on October 8, 2012  |  Erik

I’ve been lusting after my very own ESX install at home for a while now, especially after following the news that you get ESXi 5 running on a Mac Mini. A key factor for me is that I want to run multiple OS X instances so the Mini is a requirement without going down the hackintosh route. The other is purely practical as I don’t really have any available space so whatever I build has to fit on my desk with the rest of the stuff already there. [Read More]

auto-replicate update

 Posted on September 26, 2012  |  Erik

I just updated the auto-replicate script to add in the zfs holds function so that snapshots that have been used to replicate a file system have a hold positioned on them so they can’t be deleted. It manages the holds so that once you’ve sent a new replication stream to a destination it will remove the old hold and add one to the latest snapshot. This should obviate the need to deal with missing source snapshots. [Read More]

From the IT WTF files

 Posted on September 6, 2012  |  Erik

OK, here’s one for the WTF file. Working on an electronic document library application that is fed from some automated processes that create and inject PDF files. Up until recently, all is working as expected, until users started complaining that a certain class of files won’t display. After much digging and gnashing of teeth, a colleague managed to isolate the problem which turns out to be the combination of the following factors: [Read More]

iTunes Library Management

 Posted on September 3, 2012  |  Erik

Here’s a useful little trick that somehow passed under my radar for quite some time concerning moving or using multiple iTunes Libraries. The basics An iTunes library is made up of two separate pieces: the library database (and some ancillary files) and the content. I’ve know for a long time that you can store the content on any available drive, and I’ve moved mine to the NAS due to the fact that it outgrew the 1Tb barrier of reasonably priced disks a few years ago and I am trying to keep the Media Mini as unencumbered as possible, given that it is front and center in living room, just under the TV. [Read More]

Nokia & Microsoft

 Posted on August 23, 2012  |  Erik

I’ve been following the new Microsoft Surface initiative with great curiosity and seriously wondering about Microsoft’s capacity to manufacture them in volume. Then comes this article from The Verge:Will Nokia become collateral damage in Microsoft’s battle with Apple?. I find it astounding that Microsoft didn’t profit from their partner’s well known expertise and competency in manufacturing at scale. That said, I think that the logical next step for Microsoft is that if the Surface turns out to be a big seller would be to outsource the production to Nokia in order to both support their sole significant Windows Phone manufacturing partner and to hopefully skip the growing pains that come with ramping up manufacturing on this kind of scale, cf. [Read More]

iCloud Document Sandboxing

 Posted on August 10, 2012  |  Erik

I’ve been wondering a bit about the document level sandboxing issues presented in 10.8 and noting some commentary railing against the practice of keeping documents limited to a given application. However, I’ve discovered that the multistep process of opening an iCloud document in another application can be simplified without going all the way to a generic Dropbox style shared filesystem1. If you want to edit a Byword document in BBEdit, you do need the application. [Read More]

Update to back to backups

 Posted on August 9, 2012  |  Erik

In light of the recent hacking catastrophe of Mat Honan, there has been a flurry of articles discussing the requirement to have a good backup plan in place and what makes for a good backup plan. Backing up I’ve already detailed my backup architecture here, but there are a few things that I see people adding as an absolute requirement for any backup plan, notably a cloud component. Several cite very useful services like Backblaze and Carbonite which are definitely good approaches if you don’t want to construct something as complex as my system. [Read More]

BB10 Licensing ?

 Posted on August 3, 2012  |  Erik

A few thoughts on Thorsten Heims’ recent comments about licensing BB10. After reading a few of the articles about the subject I think that we can draw a number of parallels between RIM’s position and Apple’s position pre-iPod. Even the number of their next-generation OS is the same. Apple was starting to see its market share decline with the arrival of Windows machines en masse. Very similar to RIM’s situation with the arrival of iOS and Android. [Read More]

First Mountain Lion casualty

 Posted on August 3, 2012  |  Erik

Up until now I’ve had no issues at all with Mountain Lion but inevitably there was going to be something. In this case, it appears that the Python Launcher.app has gone missing.

Poking around the internet, I don’t see anything about a 10.8 compatible version. Oh well, back to searching…