Steps for install Django on Dapper Drake with Apache2, MySQL5, and Python2.4 already installed:

1. sudo apt-get install libapache2-mod-python python-mysqldb python-docutils
2. wget http://www.djangoproject.com/download/0.95/tarball/
3. tar xfz Django-0.95.tar.gz
4. cd Django-0.95
5. sudo python ez_setup.py
   
6. sudo python setup.py install
7. start creating a Django app
   

Other notes:

• python-setuptools included with Dapper is not recent enough for Django 0.95

Since I need to reinstall all my Firefox extensions due to a hard drive failure, I’ve decided to make a list:

• del.icio.us firefox extension: A great addition to bookmarks. It hasn’t managed to replace them completely for me, but pretty much anything that would have landed deeper than one folder in my bookmarks menu now goes into del.icio.us.
• Web Developer Extension: Building websites without this extension is like driving a car without tires.
• Google Toolbar: First thing I do is hide everything except spellcheck and the form filling plugin. Those two functions make installing this worthwhile. I expect FF 2.0 to render the spellcheck redundant
• Google Broswer Sync: Keeps the bookmarks which are not in del.icio.us up to date on my different computers. Also works great as a browser backup utility.
• Forecastfox: because it’s nice to always know what the weather will be like tomorrow
• Adblock: The ads that slow down my dual core system get blocked. Ads should never be allowed to use so much processing power that I can notice it.

I’d like to convert my extra Linksys WRT54G access point into a Nintendo DS access point. Ideally it will:

• be stand alone
• use small amounts of power
• be completely open, no encryption or passwords
• have a large coverage area
• allow only Nintendo DS and DS Lites to connect to it

My current problem is that I’m not sure how to limit the network traffic to be DS only. I’m guessing port limiting using iptables will allow me to do this, but I’ve yet to find a good source of ports used by the DS. Another idea is to only allow traffice to/from the range of IP addresses used by the DS game servers. But this will only work if the game traffic is also routed though the servers.

Update: Some information at Nintendowifi.com showing which ports need to be open. Unfortunately 80 and 443 are listed, which I would need to turn off to keep casual laptops from browsing the web. Hopefully these are only listed for the upcoming DS Browser to work. Also listed are some IP ranges, but they are for internal networking of the Nintendo USB adapter and computer.

TCP:
Allow traffic to all destinations on ports: 28910, 29900, 29901, 29920, 80, and 443
UDP:
Allow all traffic to all destinations. (Necessary for peer-to-peer connections and game play). The Network Test tool can be used from a computer behind your firewall to test if outbound UDP is allowed.

Creating a system guide appears to be popular these days, with my favorite guides coming from Ars Technica, The Tech Report, and Anandtech. I thought I’d throw another guide on the net with the main focus being price, with usability and upgradability coming in a close second. Several notes about this guide, everything is from Newegg, because they have a great reputation and ship quickly. No refurbished/open box items are considered, and I have not actually build this machine, these are just parts which look like they would work well together.

• Motherboard/Video/Sound/Network: ECS C51GM-M Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $60
• Processor/Heatsink/Fan: AMD Sempron 64 2800+ Manila 1600MHz HT Socket AM2 Processor Model SDA2800CNBOX - Retail - $50
• Memory: OCZ Value Series 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Unbuffered System Memory Model OCZ26671024V - $69 (after $8 MIR)
• Hard Drive: HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 HDT722516DLA380 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 8 MB Cache Hard Drive (3 Year Warranty) - $54
• Optical Drive: NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model ND-3550A - Retail - $36 (same price as OEM w/shipping)
• Case/Power Supply: Antec NSK 4400 Black/Silver 0.8mm cold-rolled steel construction ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply - $72

Total: $349 + $26 Shipping = $375 ( -$8 mail in rebate)

(read more below the fold to see the reasoning behind my choices)

(more…)

I finally ran a successful backup, which took 16 hours to grab ~750 GB of data. Future runs will be much shorter, as rsnapshot will only be grabbing changes. Scripts now run the backup when the machine is powered on, then email me the results and power the machine down. Next up, getting the machine to power up without me asking. I guess I need to invest in a WOL network card.

I have to be at work in less than 6 hours, tomorrow will be a long day.