Linux in a Virtual PC Image

I develop Microsoft Windows software during the day (yeah, yeah, I know - really it's not that bad), but I needed to test some open source C++ code and needed to check that it worked on a Linux box, so I had to install Virtual PC RC under Windows 7 and install Ubuntu 9.04 to try it out. Unfortunately I had to add the following string to Virtual PC to get it to boot correctly.

file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-server.seed initrd=/install/initrd.gz vga=791 noreplace-paravirt

Postfix and Blink Carbon Copying

We have a policy and the Fed's mandate it (if you're involved in a Federal lawsuit you must follow this) of keeping all incoming and outgoing email related to the corporation.

We do this using Postfix's BCC configuration as follows

In your /etc/postfix/main.cf
#ZHB ADDED THE FOLLOWING PER FEDERAL GUIDLINES
sender_bcc_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/sender_bcc
recipient_bcc_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/recipient_bcc

Then in /etc/postfix/sender_bcc
mailbox@domain.com tobcc@offsitedomain.com

Then in /etc/postfix/recipient_bcc
mailbox@domain.com tobcc@offsitedomain.com

Then run the following
postmap recipient_bcc
postmap sender_bcc

Then run
postfix reload

You're all set - I LOVE Linux!!!

Remote Debugging

I always forget how to setup remote debugging so here's some notes for me...

Prepare your remote host

First of all you need to prepare your remote host for accepting incoming debugging requests, this is done by running the Visual Studio Remote Debugging Monitor on the remote machine, which is found under C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\Remote Debugger\. Copy that folder to your remote host and place a shortcut to the msvsmon.exe on the desktop, so you have fast access to it whenever you need to debug.

The Remote Debugging Monitor is the one accepting your debug calls and the talking back to Visual Studio on your client, so to get these things to work you have to start the client as the user running Visual Studio (or have administrative permissions on the client). You can either log in to the remote host using that user or, as I prefer, right-click on the msvsmon.exe and choose Run As... Make sure that the user you are using to run the monitor with is member of the local Administrators group.

Now the Remote Debugging Monitor has started to waiting for new debugging connections. The debugging server was named with the username that is running the application and the server name, separated with an @-character. You can rename it using Tools->Options.

Prepare your client

Now it's time to prepare your client. First of all you have to run the Visual Studio 2008 Remote Debugger Configuration Wizard, which will open up the correct ports in your firewall. You will find the wizard under the Visual Studio Tools in your start menu. The wizard also allows you to run the Remote Debugger as a service on the machine which the wizard is run on, skip this step for this guide. When the wizard asks you for how you would like to configure your firewall, choose the Allow only computers on the local network... option and the finish the wizard.

Start Debugging

Now it's time to start Visual Studio 2008 and load up your solution and hook up the debugger to the remote machine. Prior to this you need to deploy the application to be debugged on the remote machine, including the .pdb files.

In Visual Studio choose Debug->Attach to process. In the Qualifier you have to enter the name that was given to the Remote Debugger Monitor and hit Enter, then all you need to do is attach to the process you would like to debug and set some break points!

That wasn't to hard?

Problems

Here are some problems that I have stumbled upon when trying to get these things to work.

Unable to connect to the Microsoft Visual Studio Remote Debugging Monitor named 'XXX. The Visual Studio Remote Debugger on the target computer cannot connect back to this computer. Authentication failed. Please see Help for assistance.

This one is due to the fact that the user running the debugging monitor are not allowed to access the client machine, make sure that the user running the monitor is either the same user running Visual Studio or the member of the Administrators group on your client.

You only see a few processes in the Attach to Process dialog.

First of all make sure you have checked the Show processes from all users check box, then make sure that the user running the monitor has access to the process on the machine, that is you have to make the user member of the local Administrators group. After adding the account to the Administrators group you have to restart the monitor.

Unable to connect to the Microsoft Visual Studio Remote Debugging Monitor named 'ibvsretail'. Logon Failure: The target account name is incorrect.

This one is pretty uncommon, but still I have had it. Somehow the server account in Active Directory had gone wrong so I hade to remove the machine from the domain and add it back.

MacBook Pro

I love it. That's it - pure and simple. Been using it for a couple of days. The only things I had to handle was the following....

I use 1 24" monitor at home so I close the MacBook, let it go to sleep and then hit a key on the external keyboard/mouse and it wakes back up on the main display and I can keep the MacBook closed.

Other than that - I still like having a two/three button mouse. I makes sense. Having to move your hands to create a right-click is time consuming and I don't use a Mighty Mouse - I don't like the feel or design of that.

I'm also running VmWare Fusion for the Windows 7 installation and it's working like a charm.

Installing Software to New Windows 7 Machine

I always forget what order to install the software in (in order to get a Officially Microsoft Supported Solution) when doing a new Operating System. I had to do this again with Windows 7. And this is more for my memory than anything else...

Zack's Installation List for New Operating Systems
Lastest List Update 8/6/2009 - Windows 7
I'm running all this with Windows 7 x64 on a Dell Latitude E6500 - and working fine. Your mileage may vary.



Before You Do Anything!
-----------------------
1.) BACKUP EVERYTHING using Acronis TrueImage to NAS or External HD
2.) Verify the Image - Make sure you can restore files from this image
3.) Also copy files and other project via Explorer if you want
4.) Backup Microsoft Outlook Folder (C:\Users\XXX\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook



Software I Use Daily (Install in this Order to achieve a fully supported system
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.) Clean Install Operating System and All Service Packs
As of date above - there are critical updates for Windows 7
2.) Install Office 2007 (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access/Outlook/OneNote/Publisher) and All Service Packs
As of date above - at Service Pack 2
3.) Install SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition and All Service Packs
After SQL Server Update - Install Service Pack 1 to address compatability errors
4.) Install Microsoft Project 2007 and All Service Packs
As of date above - Service Pack 1
5.) Install Microsoft Visio 2007 and All Service Packs
As of date above - Service Pack 1
6.) Install Visual Studio 2008 Team Developer Edition
See Service Pack Notice Below - also step 6-8 MUST BE installed in this order!
7.) Install Team Developer Foundation Software
8.) Install Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1
9.) Install Expression 3 Studio
10.) Silverlight 3 Tools for Visual Studio SP1
11.) Install DevExpress Studio
As of date above - at version 9.5.1 (with Beta 9.5.2 if you want)
12.) Install ESET Virus Scanner and Apply Updates Updates


Additional Tools
--------------------
1.) Mozilla Firefox
At Version 3.5.2
2.) Process XP/Process Monitor/FileMon - From Microsoft TechNet
3.) Virtual PC 2007 and All Service Packs
Don't Forget Service Pack
4.) Magic Disc (ISO Mounter)
5.) SQLiteMan
6.) SQLite.Net
7.) 7zip
8.) VideoLan.Org
9.) XVI32.exe
10.) iTunes 8.0.2
11.) SlingBox SlingPlayer
12.) SQLYog Enterprise
13.) FileZilla Client
14.) SyncBack Pro
15.) Putty and Tools
16.) Agent Ransack
17.) Pidgin
18.) PDF Creator
19.) FoxIt Reader


Addtional Notes
-----------------
All Drivers are installed as part of Windows 7 except Video. You can download a working driver from Nvidia
Video Drivers - 256MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M for Black Latitude E6500

Just Say You Don't Know

So part of my day job is doing development for another company. I pride myself on attempting to know as much as possible about technology, computers, software development and the like. You just have to, in order to be a competent developer.

Recently we had an employee in our head of marketing and public relations department, get fired. The boss decided to hire a relative that supposedly knew web development and was proficient in designing fliers and marketing pieces for the business using Photoshop and InDesign.

His first day here we set him up with a new computer, Microsoft Office 2007, Adobe Design Premium CS 4, dual monitors, etc. Hey if this guy was as good as he said he is - great.

Well I'm starting to find out that this guy knows jack shit about development and computers in general.....He calls my desk and it goes from there...

He says "I need more memory in my computer. Got any sticks of RAM?"

Me: "Why?"

Him: "I'm rendering on my computer and it's taking too long."

Me: "Ok let me come over and check it out. I'm not sure how much memory we stuck in that computer." I come to find out it's Windows XP Professional with 2 GB of memory. Should be plenty, but I can always kick it up if I need to.

Him: "I'm rendered this Photoshop picture and it took about 10 seconds."

Me: "That sounds acceptable to me. I can max out your computer with 4GB of RAM - but it won't help since 32-bit XP won't see all of it. We'd have to blow away your OS and put 64-bit Windows on it."

Him: "Oh - you can do that?"

Me: "Yes, but I'm not going to. You don't need it. I see you've got Photoshop, InDesign and Outlook running." (That's about the most memory hungry bunch of applications you can find on a computer - and he's got them all running at the same time. It's Microsoft Windows - not a Mac or Linux OS!)

I explain the whole process of OS memory management and 64-bit vs 32-bit memory addressing and all the other nuances. Keep in mind - I'm a developer. I know this stuff, but I'm no Raymond Chen of Microsoft. After his eyes finish watering from the fire hose of information I gave him....

Him: "Ok. I'll just save this and send the email."

I get back to my desk and a couple of minutes goes by and he calls me again.

Him: "My computer is running slow. I'm trying to send a 2 sentence email and it won't go."

I go over there again and he's right - his computer is slow. No Photoshop or InDesign running - just Oulook. I quick look and it's consuming 500+ MB of memory and growing. I check his Outbox and he takes a call. He's got an outgoing 88MB file! I whisper "You can't send that!" and he finishes his call and I go back to my desk. I'm assuming he has some knowledge - he's supposed to be a web developer and those guys have some tech savvy right?

I guess not....he calls my desk again.

Him: "How much bandwidth am I allocated?"

Me: "What do you mean? Do you want to know how big of a file can you send out via email?"

Him: "Yes"

Me: "It's not us - the system is currently set at 25MB files going in/out of our server anything else and your at the mercy of the recipient's mail server. But most balk at 10MB or larger" (yes I've got ours set generously - mostly because the rest of the employees for the company in question are about as bright as this guy.)

Him: "How do I send this to them?" (Keep in mind it was a list of like 10 people)

Me: "If it's a PDF - what are they going to do with it? Are they going to print it at a publishing house?"

Him: "No, it's just a flier for the company picnic."

Me: "Where are they going to print this then, their local printer?" (At this point I'm becoming irate about the whole situation - and I'm normally pretty cool.)

Him: "They'll probably take it to a Kinko's to get copies."

Me: "Really? Then they probably just need a 300dpi or 600dpi copy printed out. Why don't you re-render your flyer." (Whatever it is, there is no way a 1 page flier is going to even come close to 10MB)

Him: "How do I do that?"

Me: "Seriously? I thought you did this stuff at your last job. You click on File->Save As and when Acrobat comes up you can choose an output type and dpi setting." (My 5 year old knows this)

Him: "Ok. I'll try to figure it out and call you if I have problems"

The boss thinks this guy's going to eventually doing web development. Hah! I'm not letting him check in 1 character into source control. No way!

I'd love to check this guy's resume out. If you don't know what your talking about - don't fake it - but you have to get a clue at some point!

God help us all!

My Mac's Worldly Journey

Well, I got myself into a little pickle, but I won't go into that here.

Just writing to say that my MacBook Pro (and the free iTouch that came with it) are on it's way via FedEx. It's actually a neat journey they are taking....

The MacBook Pro is shipping from Shanghai, China and is currently in Anchorage, Alaska.

The iPod Touch is shipping from Shanghai, China (via Kunshan, China) and is somewhere in a cargo hold traveling at 40,000+ feet in a FedEx plane.

I just hope some crazy Sars or Bird Flu or other unknown illness comes with them!

The software shipped from trusty MacMall and that should arrive today - I just hope UPS leaves it on the porch or with a neighbor. I hate picking up signed for packages in Maumee - it's a pain.