Unprotect PDF Documents

install GhostScript then run this command to unprotect PDF

gs -q -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOutputFile=OUTPUT.pdf -c .setpdfwrite -f INPUT.pdf

Posted via email from Daniel's posterous

Linux Guest VMs on Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Failover Cluster

If you are deploying any Linux VMs on a Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Failover Cluster (and I assume a Hyper-V R2 failover cluster) there is a problem I have  identified with them and their networking. I have replicated this on Debian Lenny and Red Hat so far.

If in your failover cluster, you have the node hosting the VMs fail, when they failover to another node in your cluster, you will lose networking on them. I believe that this is caused by the MAC address changing when they move over to the other node. Networking is not actually "lost" but the ethernet interface will have incremented, so eth0 will become eth1 assuming that you do not have an eth1 already, in this case I haven't tested what happens yet. To solve this (on debian) you need to edit /etc/network/interfaces and change any references to the broken interface to be set to the new interface, identifiable by running ifconfig -a

Then execute ifup eth<new>, where <new> is the new number you found from ifconfig -a and set in /etc/network/interfaces.

I believe this problem is preventable by setting the MAC address(es) to be static in either SCVMM or in Hyper-V manager. If you are using Failover Clustering and especially if you are using Cluster Shared Volumes, I *strongly* recommend that you use SCVMM or the version of SCVMM found in System Centre Essentials 2010 Plus. It makes managing them a lot easier than using Failover Cluster Manager, and a lot safer than using Hyper-V Manager.

I am carrying out further tests on this configuration to see if only static MAC addressing is required or if MAC spoofing is also needed. Multiple interfaces will also be tested.

Hope this helps someone 

Posted via email from Daniel's posterous

Voice - Missing, Reward offered

So this morning I've woken up and discovered that I've lost my voice. I have no idea what caused this as I didn't do anything differently nor am I feeling any more unwell (I've had a bit of a cold but I don't think that would do it)

It's quite a peculiar situation for me, when I'm talking to someone I can hear my proper (or at least my perception of it via bone conduction) voice in my head but what comes out is a complete whisper, I can raise my voice but it either feels like I'm shouting through treacle or leaves me exhausted.

So, if anyone phones me today I think I might just lay on some heavy breathing and make them think that they've gotten a wrong number.

Posted via email from Daniel's posterous

Plumbing.

Things I have learned today (or why I am damp and smell a bit like the
plumbing counter at a building suppliers)

1. Some plumbing is easy.

2. I am better at plumbing than I thought.

3. Plumbing is called a wet trade for a reason.

4. Toilets are a *bastard* to work around

5. The plumber that fitted our house out is a moron who I will *drown*
in what I had to take care of today if I ever meet him.

6. B&Q staff know fuck all squared about plumbing.

7. My toilet now no longer leaks over the floor but it cost me £60 in
parts and a tool to fix.

8. The smell at a plumbing counter at a builders suppliers is
"Plumbers Mait" it's a sticky, never setting mastic compound that is
waterproof and incredibly sticky.

I am now quite pleased with myself and am having some hot tea to
celebrate. I may or may not try to consume my own weight in Jaffa
cakes.

Posted via email from Daniel's posterous