Besides maintaining oss.mmu.edu.my that hosting Mozilla mirror, I also maintain archive.mmu.edu.my which hosting the Ubuntu mirror.  So here is something I find out recently when I’m preparing myself and the server for upcoming Ubuntu release, Ubuntu 11.10 – The Oneiric Ocelot.

Running an OSS mirror required communication with the OSS Project team.  On most of the project wiki, they will ask mirror admin to join mailing list or hop on to their IRC channel.  However, things doesn’t always looks good or works the way it suppose to be.  Ubuntu being 1 of the major Linux distro actually has very “quiet” mirror admin team.  Few weeks ago, I submitted an email to the mailing list, until now I haven’t get any reply from them.  So I went on to their IRC channel and ask them what are their plans on the upcoming Ubuntu 11.10 release.  Yet there wasn’t any response yet.  A member at the channel responded to me that he asked the same question too and also getting no response.

On Ubuntu wiki, the guidelines says that,

Mirror Guidelines

To keep your mirror up to date and working, please follow these guidelines:

Be committed to being a mirror. Obviously, each offer to be an Ubuntu mirror is great and users appreciate it. However, it’s in nobody’s interest to go and change the sources.list every time a mirror disappears. So if you’re not planning on creating a mirror for the long run, don’t register it. People might get disappointed in you and/or Ubuntu.

So what are the people at Ubuntu project are thinking?  They themselves can’t even respond to us who are volunteering and willing to help.

Few things to add on:

• From Ubuntu mirrors listing page, https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+mirror, we can see that the frequency of checking mirror health is about 2 days.  You can always see outdated mirrors there, but are they outdated?
• Ubuntu doesn’t provide any details whether they have a primary sync server for other official to sync. Unlike Opensuse or Mozilla, it is written in their wiki. Do they have a primary server?

Running a mirror is something suppose to be fun and I don’t get any benefits (besides some technical skills) from running the mirror. I’m just hoping that the product users can get fast download speed and up-to-date updates.  When they are happy, I also feel happy.

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Been trying to install Mac OS X Snow Leopard from original retail DVD to my lovely Intel 945GCLF2 but it failed.

I’ve followed,

1. http://doctorevil30564.blogspot.com/2009/06/intel-d945gclf-atom-hackintosh.html – Unable to start installation as it stuck at selecting devices.
2. http://sites.google.com/site/nozyczek/home/hackintosh/how-to-install-snow-leopard-10-6-8-on-intel-d945gclf2-atom-330 – It boots and then stuck at “still waiting for root device”.

I haven’t give up yet. Will update once again after my last attempt on USB key method. Stay tuned!

Update (17 September 2011):

OK, I’ve manage to install Mac OS X 10.6 onto my Intel 945GCLF2 system and updated it Mac OS X 10.6.8.  nozyczek’s guide turn out to be a good guide to follow if you are planning to install Snow Leopard onto your Intel 94gGCLF2.  The error I’m getting turn out to be I was using SATA DVD-RW drive.  After resting a while, I Googled for “creating snow leopard USB image” and found this, http://osxdaily.com/2009/09/02/install-snow-leopard-from-external-firewire-or-usb-hard-drive-or-how-to-upgrade-to-106-without-a-dvd-drive/.  Using my MacBook, I manage to create the USB image and then I booted the Empire EFI image through my SATA DVD-RW and straight it detected the USB Drive with DVD Installation image.  Selecting the drive and once again following nozyczek’s guide, and I’m happy to have my Hackintosh installed.

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it just feel so good when something that you did benefit a lot of people.

Hi all, I’m the sysadmin for oss.mmu.edu.my

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Last time I used to go to cyber cafe just to try to stream this video in .rm format which was optimized for 56Kbps dial-up connection without success.  Now, internet in Malaysia has improved a lot.  I can stream 480p smoothly without any delay.

Here is the video I was talking about.

p/s,

Blink 182 rocks!

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I had my Unifi installed on last Monday.  After a few day testing, all I can say is so far so good.  On my own testing method, direct download and torrent seeding, I’ve come with a conclusion of, RX: 2.2MBps ; TX: 1.2MBps.  A test on the speedtest.net reveal this,

Unifi VIP20 speedtest.net result

While speed test on TM’s own speed test for Unifi, I get this,

Speed test done on TM's server

I’m living at high raised building in Cyberjaya which I can’t get FTTH instead I’m using the old VDSL technology.  The speed is good considering I’m using VDSL and connected to TM’s server at Kelana Jaya. Now, off to setup my own server for hosting some of my own project.

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The other day, I was chatting with my friend about getting an e-book reader.  So it came to my mind that getting a netbook and turn it into an e-book reader by installing some cool Linux Netbook Distro.  So, I went to survey some netbook and see what are they offering.

First stop, www.dell.com.my. Dell was my first choice because they have online store with easy-to-use purchase options.  I always know Dell laptop/netbook, even their desktop come with Microsoft Windows operating system.  When I was thinking of getting a laptop last time, I had a look on all their models available on their website. None of it comes with other operating system than Windows.  End up, I get myself my first Mac, a Macbook White.

This time, I once again contacted them with email, asking them whether or not I can get myself a netbook without Microsoft Windows pre-installed with it and even if I have to get that Windows, can I have a refund.  So, I wrote to them,

I’m interested with your Dell Mini.  How can I get a Dell Mini without Windows 7?  Kindly advice.

The next day afternoon,  I get their reply,

Hi Mr XXX,

We are very sorry to inform you that All DELL’s Mini comes with Windows 7 OS.
We are unable to remove the OS as per your request.

Thank You.

As expected, I know they will reply like that so I proceed to ask them if I can get a refund if I return the Windows operating system untouched. Soon, the sales representative reply me .

Hi Mr. XXX,

We are sorry, the Windows 7 is pre-install to the Mini & it is not refundable.

Thank You.

Hmm…Not Refundable.  Few articles on the internet bout user sending back the untouched operating system back to get refund.  It seems like, it will never happen here in Malaysia or their policies has changed since then.  Without giving hope, I reply to them again.

How about any Dell laptop/mini product that doesn’t come along with Windows that you can recommend to me?

I just hope that maybe somewhere in the online store, I missed a page about laptop that comes with Linux. Their final reply came and it reads,

Hi Mr. XXX,

All DELL’s laptops / products is pre-installed with Windows 7 right now.

As we are standardizing the process for all products that has OS, it has to be Windows 7.

Thank You.

So, I ended the email inquiry by thanking them for their precious time.

Not until tonight, my friend sent me a link, Dell expands Ubuntu Linux desktop offerings.  I end up tell him bout my experience on Dell that just happened few days ago.  There goes the discussion bout the issue which always ended with AWARENESS.

So now,  I’m here thinking why Dell is not giving me, who live in Malaysia, an option to get the laptop with Linux and also why Dell is asking every buyer in Malaysia to pay for Microsoft Windows when they buy Dell’s laptop/netbook?  Now, it is your turn to think bout it. Can you and me make a change to have Dell Malaysia offer laptop with Linux?

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