To minimize the range of open ports for iptables to allow “Passive” or “PASV” connections
in /etc/proftpd insert:
PassivePorts 60150 60200
Put in under the “Port” entry
then in Iptables rules:
iptables -t filter -A INPUT -p tcp –dport 60150:60200 -j ACCEPT
What a great pair of gems I found last night for my BlackBerry.
When I am away form the office I use a BlackBerry 7100v [i] to receive my pages, e-mails, calls, etc. The device has proven to me to be indispensable .. but last weekend I found myself needing something it didn’t had .. SSH.
I was sitting on a Cafe when I got paged one of my server’s FTP was down, I knew that server’s FTP service sometimes requires a simple restart,, and I wished I had SSH right there and then, so I didn’t had to send a mail out too a tech to do it for me, another option was, if I had AIM/ICQ I could just ask one of the tech that works with me to do it,, and not need to wait for the email to reach somebody … it was not to be.
So I decided to look around,, see if this device could do SSH .. and boy,, does it ever ::)
I found Idokorro SSH [i] for the Blackberry .. costs only 99$ and it does both SSH 1 & 2 as well as Telnet,, it also has true ANSI and VT100 modes .. I installed the trial and after fiddling with the BlackBerry settings to Activate TCP/IP direct mode, it worked !!, (BTW,, for Vodafone UK TCP settings are: APN: Internet, User: web, Password: web).
The screenshot doesn’t make it justice .. the letters are very clear and legible (thanks to the superb display the 7100v has), but the camera blurred it out .. so I tried to SSH to a server and restart proftpd .. and it did just that 
SSH on all it’s glory
Once I got that going, I decided to do some more digging,, what else is available for this thing I tough .. the answer .. Verichat [i].
Verichat allows me to have always on (thank you BlackBerry) AIM, yahoo, MSN and ICQ .. great feature to have on those long Train rides when you suddenly need to talk to somebody on one of those protocols.
Now I can chat on the Loo
I was surprised how nice it works, the chat is instantaneous like on a normal internet connection,, and it can run in the background, when somebody sends you a message, a warning pops up with a sound alert, so you can reply .. just great .. and at about 30$ per annum, a bargain
So now I am now looking for more goodies that can make my life easier on the Blackberry .. and to think it only costed me 50£ 
Yesterday the SWMUG ((South Wales Mac User Group) got together at a place called McArthurGlenn Outlets .. we only meet there and then departed to a nearby pub.
Today i decided too goo back and check it out a little better .. it’s just like any outlet compound in the USA .. quite nice.. lots of different stores with Ok pricing.
I saw a Apron with Home Simpson on it which i was to grab on the way out, but forgot, I’ll goo back sometime this week and snag it.
A few pictures of it, it’s actually quite a big place,, the corridors on the pictures are actually two different sections, easy parking as well.
I then went to the food court .. were I ordered a hot-dog .. the clerk told me they didn’t had that kind, so i asked another, and he says they don’t have that sauce .. so i ask him if he’s got ANYTHING,, he replies … NO .. we closing the business … ok …
Today I finally picked up my new car .. a Fiat Multipla JTD ELX (2001 / 38K Miles).
Before driving off the lot, I double check everything,, made sure the service had been done, the car was properly clean .. everything checked fine.
As I am driving on the Motor-way, 3 miles from the dealer,, the car .. DIES.
It simply turned off, and it would not go back on, after waiting for 10 minutes and calling the dealership bitching, it finally turn ON again, so I try too drive it back to the garage .. but as luck would have it,, a few miles down the road, it dies again.
So I called the dealership again, and they sent a crew out to get me and the car .. by then I am quite worried.
We took the car back too the garage, and after close inspection the mechanic found the RPM sensor (which had been replaced) was not properly setup in place, and since it was a bit dislodged,, it would overheat and make the car stall.
They plugged it in properly and took it for a long drive .. man,, what a difference the car was driving smooth as silk.
So in the end it was all OK .. just a minor nuisance .. and it’s now proudly parked on my driveway
What a relieve .. the Passport arrived yesterday on FLA .. and today in the British Consul in NY.
I was getting worried .. but glad it turned out ok
What a nice day today, the sun is just radiant, and the temperature is very mild .. perfect for a day out.
Unfortunately I am stuck working, but at least I got this wonderful view from my home office:
Pic Taken Today
On another bright note, the Fiat dealership called today, I can go pick up my Multipla next Thursday
Last week I sent my passport to the US, so the wife can send it to the British consulate (they need it to approve her settlement VISA).
Unfortunately now it seems the package is lost .. it is way late .. something we didn’t expect.
I called the consulate, and they asked me to send my Portuguese ID and Birth certificate, and they will try and work with that.
Just my luck…
I just got approved for a Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD ELX
The car is exactly what I was looking for, it is fully loaded (even had double sunroofs).
It has 39k Miles, and it’s a 2001 Y reg.
It is now going to be fully serviced and clean, and I shall have it on Monday or Tusday (1 week or less from now)
Very excited, with the family coming over next month, I needed a larger vehicle for all of us, but mostly, i wanted something newer and more reliable than my 94 Vauxhall.
The outside is metallic grey and the inside is blue, it’s a 6 seat configuration like the example picture below
This week we finally got the tickets for Sally and the Girls to fly to the UK.
They will leave FLA on the 9th of May .. and Arrive at 6:30 AM on the 10th .. even so the flight itself is 7 hours, due to the time-zone shift, they will arrive 12 hours after they leave.
One of our friends (Betty) will accompany Sally and the girls on their trip here, while her husband Jim, will come a week earlier (2nd) .. so we can just hang out for a while before everybody arrives.
I’m very excited, I have been away from the family for way too long, and cant wait to see my daughters .. about time our family reunites.
We will have been apart for 8 months, an incredible long time .. but it had to be done now while the girls are still young, a few months on and they wont remember they were ever apart from me.
On a lighter note .. I need to enjoy my last semi-bachelor days .. when the girls arrive, I’ll have my hands full (and happy to).
A few months ago I saw a report on a TV program called “Watchdog” on how clients complaint the NTL was terrible, some of the stories were of people trying to cancel their service and basically only finding blockades everywhere.
So when I got ready to call them today to cancel my old apartment’s service, i was a bit weary .. and did I had reason to be.
The people are Jerks .. and the biggest pain in the ass to work with .. I spend 42 minutes on hold just to have a rep tell me I had to call another department (apparently “CANCELLATIONS” was not the right dept. .. then I was on hold for another 20 minutes before another rep picked up the phone and before I could say “hi” hang it up on me … and I had to start it all over.
What is this ? not wanting to sound paranoid, but I felt like they were trying to see if I was on hold long enough I would not bother to cancel ? what kind of company can make their clients (for the next 20 minutes) be on hold for 40 minutes .. it’;s disrespectful (especially when you get a message saying wait time can be UP to 10 minutes ,… they forget the other 30)
Then when I finally (after another 40 minutes, and several minimal wage reps.) I got the right rep. .. she is trying to tell me I cant cancel because I have a 1 year contract (I know I do, but the reason I want to cancel is they cant move my service to my new place) .. so this tech goes on and on on wanting to put me on a BT line .. and all sorts of crap .. or I have to pay all of my contract.
So I told her Fine .. I’ll pay for the contract, as long as you give me EXACLY what I ordered (which I know they cant, they got no service here) .. eventually I was sent to another Rep .. which gave me no grief and just cancelled the bloody thing.
Almost 2 hours on the phone with some of the rudest, most stupid people I have ever spoken with.
I used to think BT was a bunch of twigs .. but now .. long live BT and Sky …
Geeez.