RPM Distribution - System Verification (versys)

I have had this in my toolbox for a while and am always recreating it on any RPM based distribution.
So might as well dump it here

#!/bin/sh

export logFile=/var/log/versys.log

if [ $# -gt 0 ]
then
 if [ "$1" == "-r" ]
 then
  cat $logFile | grep -v ">>" | less
 else
  echo
  echo "$0 [-r]"
  echo
  echo "No args to generate, -r to view the report"
  echo
 fi
else 
 echo ">>>> VerSys Initialising: `date` <<<<" | tee -a $logFile
 echo ">>>> Writing to: $logFile <<<<" | tee -a $logFile

  echo ">>>> RPM list & Sort <<<<" | tee -a $logFile

 for i in `rpm -qa | sort`
 do
  echo ">>>> VERIFYING $i" <<<<" | tee -a $logFile
  rpm -V $i | tee -a $logFile 
 done
fi

bsdconfig(8) and FreeBSD 10.1 DVD

Seem's that you cannot use bsdconfig(8) out of the box with the FreeBSD DVD.

Below are the steps to get it working (may have to change CD label if using different architecture) to get for instance KDE installed

Step 1 only required if pkg has not been installed on the machine

1. pkg install pkg
2. mount -t cd9660 /dev/iso9660/10_1_RELEASE_AMD64_DVD /mnt
3. mkdir -p /dist/packages
4. cd /dist/packages
5. ln -s /mnt/packages/repos
6. ln -s /mnt/packages/freebsd:10:x86:64
7. ln -s freebsd:10:x86:64 FreeBSD:10:amd64
8. setenv REPOS_DIR /dist/packages/repos
9. pkg bootstrap
10. pkg install xorg-server xorg kde

Now this does not get me closer to understanding why a virtualmin backup/restore from CentOS 7 to FreeBSD fails.....

PacktPub - 2000th Book Celebration

Looks like PacktPub are celebrating there 2000th release with a buy one get one free across the entire range of ebooks. Now is the time to get that expensive book you were after!

See Here (bit.ly/1j26nPN) for more information.

Getting Started with SQL Server 2012 Cube Development

Packt Publishing have again asked me to review one of their books. At first I thought of declining the offer but then decided to invest the time. I am glad I did.

This book is an excellent resource for those who are starting their SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) journey. This is like a boot camp where you are given the relevant information to begin the journey of SSAS developer and/or administrator.

The book guides you through the complete install of SSAS and covers both multidimensional and tabular modes. I would have like to seen extra pages on the modeling aspect of the 3nf/Star Schema's.

If you want to quickly grasp the fundamentals that give you the foundation to take your skill sets further, then this is one those books to purchase.

NOTE: This should have been posted on 19th of January but was saved as a draft instead. 

Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting

As a parent of a 4 yo and a 7month toddler, I have just come to realise that this shooting was in a school filled with innocent young people.

I am truly lost for words on just how a human can inflict such pain and torture on another. How can we as a species talk about love and unity, when we are filled with such dark tortures and capabilities.

My thoughts go to all those effected, either directly or indirectly. May the souls of those who have been lost shine brightly.

14 of these children in the photo have been killed.

Image from: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4703371/dylan-hockley-death-adam-lanza-massacre.html

I am a gamer, and I find it amazing how quickly the link to Call of Duty is being supplied. I don't blame the game, I blame the gamer. Just looking at photo's of the suspect you can tell that something is not right upstairs.

I cannot point fingers, I don't know the truth. All I know is that several innocent humans are dead, and everyone is asking why.

I think everybody needs to be aware of mental health issues, they can effect us all. Regardless of culture, ethnicity, education or religion. Understanding that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength maybe the way forward.

So I will ensure my children are hugged more this day as I fear the future has more heartache to bring as we sink deeper into denial of who we are, and just what we are doing.

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Security Cookbook

This post is a review Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Security Cookbook from Packt Publishing.

Please note the publisher has not paid me for this review, I purchased the book myself.

Name: Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Security Cookbook
Authors: Rudi Bruchez
Released: September 2012
ISBN: 1849685886
Pages: 322

As somebody who has experience in both Unix systems and enterprise firewalls, I was impressed that the first chapter talks about how to secure the service, the server, the protocol and the network. However, it only does so in the context of the machine with which the server is operating on. For most DBA's this is sufficient information to possibly communicate the information to the perimeter administrators, if communication beyond site boundaries is required (which a corporate VPN would probably better suite).

The number one question I have seen on sites with beginning DBA's is the dynamic ports. This book addresses this question on page 40.  The information on how to hide it's presence was particularly useful those in even more high secure environments that don't want to expose that feature specifically (ie: Defence, Police).

You can tell the author is authoritative and passionate and also understands security from both internal and external influences. I was also impressed that the discussion of login SID's and how to replicate these between instances or remap from a restore process. Very handy recipes for DBA's in the field.

The section on SQL Injection Attacks should empower DBA's as to how these things occur so they can work with Developers to ensure that applications do not exhibit these flaws.  The information about SQL firewalls was particularly eye opening for myself as I did not know specialist products were now available for this particular method of attack.

The section on the other parts of the entire suite of tools that makes up Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack are not neglected either. While the provided information is small compared to the Database Services security, at least the author has not neglected these other crucial aspects of the suite.

The only part of the suite that gets no mention is securing SSIS but this is minimal in the grand scheme of things.

Overall, I think this book deserves it place on your bookshelf if you are an SQL Server DBA of any sort.

Windows 8 RTM - Automatic start from hibernate

Well, I use hibernate on my Windows 8 machine and have noticed at 12:54 every day the machine is turning itself on without my consent :(

1.  Open a command prompt with adminstrative priveledges
2. Run: powercfg /waketimers
3. Verified there is a scheduled task called mcupdate_scheduled
4. Open task scheduler 
5. Navigate to Task Scheduler Library\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center
6. Right click and select Properties on mcupdate_scheduled 
7. Click Conditions tab
8. Microsoft has set the flag for Wake the computer to run this task
9. Unticked the Wake the computer to run this task
10. Click Ok
11. Re-run powercfg /waketimers
12. Verified no other tasks set to wake this machine up without my control.....

Hopefully this little gremlin is resolved......

Now, it maybe due to my machine being an upgraded Windows 7 x64 Ultimate to Windows 8 x64 Pro RTM. Will have to check this on a fresh install as well.

Hope this helps anyone else uses hibernation during the day.