I have some files I like to keep current between my 2 computers. The problem is that those 2 computers are about 30km apart from each other. Simply copying the files to a USB Stick manually was out of the question since the files in question are configuration/plugins/… from an application and a) I have no idea which ones change when and b) there are about 9000 files. So I went on a search in the Internet and found Allway Sync, works like a charm. I’ve been using it for the last few months, but as the number of files it has to monitor grows I more and more often run into warning messages from the program, that I should consider using the “Pro” version that costs $$$.

Since the files all aren’t big, just numerous. And since I more and more often forget to sync my USB stick I decided to build myself an own solution that works over the Internet with freeware. no more forgetting to sync the USB stick (or syncing and then forgetting to take the USB stick with me. doh.).
My new solution is basically based on 3 components. Storing the files online, connecting the online storage to the computers, and syncing the files. Storing and accessing the online storage with windows … well since my Linux server was going to be the storage and my windows clients were going to be accessing it, I couldn’t get around looking at Samba. Samba is not a good idea. Sure it’s nice for windows, just throw the IP, username and password at it and presto, it pops up as a drive letter. But trust me, anyone will tell you samba (or any windows shares for that matter) are not a good idea in the Internet. While searching for alternatives I found a program called Netdrive that allows you to connect a webdav directory as a drive letter. Very nice. So I set up webdav on my webserver and use a Microsoft program Synctoy for synchronisation.

So that was basically what I did this morning between watching comics in TV and waiting for lunch.

Here are my vim settings, makes working with vim a whole lot easier. Vim doesn’t have to be a pain in the butt, it’s just configured to be that way by default due to backwards compatibility to vi.

/etc/vim/vimrc.local or /etc/vim/vimrc.local

/etc/vim/vimrc.numbretoggle

I found a cute little tutorial here on how to create a Jigkick / Pandora Battery / Stick. Took me a bit to follow through with the whole procedure, but it was well worth it. Now I can upgrade/downgrade any PSP, no matter what firmware it is currently running. Nice to be able to switch so easily between the official firmware and the “open” firmware that allows homebrew software to run. Also nice to be able to “upgrade” other peoples PSP by simply putting my battery and memory stick in their PSP and pressing a button, takes about 5 min. tops.
Downside is that for some reason my system name and wifi setting get copied to the PSP when upgrading, as far as i can tell the rest of the setting get set back to factory default (e.g. menu background). Nice to be able to play around with my PSP without fear of messing ob something beyond repair.
http://www.psp-hacks.com/forums/post-1202693.html

Well it seems SOMEONE reads my blog, since I almost always have more “hack” attachs from noob script kiddies when I’m abroad. I’ll take care of those when I get home. I see lot’s of emails going out to abuse@… 😉

Since I’m not going to be reading any email for the next few weeks I finally got around to setting up a sieve script to automagically sort my email serverside into folders. So when I come back home I won’t be overwhelmed by emails from my server about the 15 people trying to break in each day or other crap.

require “fileinto”;
if header :matches “Subject” “\*\*\*\*\*SPAM\*\*\*\*\*” {
fileinto “user.blargh.SPAM”;
}
elsif address :domain :is “from” “blargh.ipxserver.de” {
fileinto “user.blargh.Server”;
}
else {
keep;
}