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Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by Stephen Daukas

FCC recently mandated that cable/staellite providers must continue to provide traditional analog (420i, if memory serves) until the year 2012 (maybe 2014?), despite the 2010 "shut-off" date for over-the-air broadcast of " traditional TV"... So, looks like the drop in TV prices I was hoping for in the next year or two won't take place for a while longer! (sigh) Steve On 9/15/07, John Stoffel <john(a)stoffel.org> wrote: > > > John> Thanks to Frank and Stephen for their suggestion to try out the > John> Analog side anyway, maybe I'll still have basic analog on there. > > And I do! Cackle cackle cackle! Of course, I won't be surprised if > sometime down the line, Analog cable get shut off when they convert > everywhere to pure digital feeds... :] > > Thanks again guys, life is pretty good now. > > John > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > -- Stephen C. Daukas Engineer, Geoscientist, Environmental Analyst ________________________________________________ - Please, before printing, think about the environment -

Sept. 16, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by Aaron Haviland

Mike Leo wrote, on Sep 15, 2007 at 10:50 EDT: > Also, it looks like my debian desktop calls it atsar for some reason > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: "kstratton(a)fastmail.us" <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org>; Worcester Linux Users > Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:58:15 AM > Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics > > Could you provide more information abdout "sar"? > > I tried wikipedia.com, and on my system: man, info, apropos and emerge > (a gentoo distribution tool) for "sar". I did not find anything I > thought was relevant.... on Debian/Ubuntu systems, sar is an alternative provided by either the sysstat or atsar package. The command line options, and formatted output are NOT the same, so any scripts won't easily port from one to the other. In my experience, people are generally referring to the version included in 'sysstat' -- Aaron Haviland

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by John Stoffel

John> Thanks to Frank and Stephen for their suggestion to try out the John> Analog side anyway, maybe I'll still have basic analog on there. And I do! Cackle cackle cackle! Of course, I won't be surprised if sometime down the line, Analog cable get shut off when they convert everywhere to pure digital feeds... :] Thanks again guys, life is pretty good now. John

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by kstratton＠fastmail.us

Thanks, I am now able to find both on www.freshmeat.net. Gentoo linux has an ebuild for the sysstat package that includes the sar command. Thanks for the help. On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 07:50:09 -0700 (PDT), "Mike Leo" <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> said: > Also, it looks like my debian desktop calls it atsar for some reason > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: "kstratton(a)fastmail.us" <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org>; Worcester Linux > Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:58:15 AM > Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics > > Could you provide more information abdout "sar"? > > I tried wikipedia.com, and on my system: man, info, apropos and emerge > (a gentoo distribution tool) for "sar". I did not find anything I > thought was relevant.... > > > On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:18:22 -0700 (PDT), "Mike Leo" <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> > said: > > I learned about "sar" last night due to a server outage...check it out. > > > > I think it will server your purpose > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> > > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > > Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 5:42:55 PM > > Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics > > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > Michael Long wrote: > > > Hi All, > > > > > > I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears > > > that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. > > > However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps > > > aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so > > > I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working > > > harder than before as well. > > > > > > What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of > > > the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid > > > (MegaRAID) for the other drive. > > > > > > I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been > > > using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come > > > bundled with kde. > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Mike > > > > HI Mike, > > > > Here's what I would try: > > > > a) Are you sure that the disk activity light on the case is properly > > wired to your MB? Is the light constantly on, or does it flicker? > > > > b) unplug the network cable to insure that the disk activity isn't > > caused by something on the network > > > > c) If you are sufficiently patient and wait, does the activity stop (say > > in 5-10 minute)? > > > > d) What happens if you run "tail -f /var/log/messages" as root ? Lots > > of messages here could cause disk activity. > > > > I'm sure other folks with have other ideas, but that's my 2cents, > > devalued for inflation. > > > > HTH, > > > > Andy > > > > > > - -- > > Andy Stewart, Founder > > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > > > iD8DBQFG6wBfHl0iXDssISsRAmW4AJsF4LyFbM4xr0iZbSZX4aEFkSrh8gCfbTpP > > /Cqxnygs6eR/rWTvB5/euKs= > > =Gr5U > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > > > -- > > kstratton(a)fastmail.us > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > -- kstratton(a)fastmail.us

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by John Stoffel

Thanks to Frank and Stephen for their suggestion to try out the Analog side anyway, maybe I'll still have basic analog on there. Right now in my basement I have: -------linein-->four way splitter, -7db per ------- cable modem ------- phone box ------- upstairs living room ---- two way splitter, -3db each ----- digital box ----- not sure, VCR? ------- god knows where... :] I've got a rat's nest to untable behind the Entertainment unit, so once I get more cleaned up, I'll see how it goes. The digital picture is nice, as is BBC America. :] And the TiVo can tune the settop box without a problem, which is nice. John

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by John Stoffel

Jared> A word to the wise, make sure that they actually can port your Jared> number before you switch. I moved into a new place in Uxbridge Jared> a couple years ago. So new that they didn't even have the Jared> cable company's lines - so I just got a package through Verizon Jared> that included DirecTV and DSL. The number ported over just fine. I called on the old in the morning, and called again in the afternoon on the new. Painless. Now we'll see what Verizon says in my final bill. :] [ editout horror story... ] Jared> In the end, I was able to get my original Verizon number back Jared> and get my DSL and DirecTV turned on again, but it was the most Jared> painful experience that I have gone through in quite a while. Jared> I actually still have Charter, but just for the local cable Jared> access package ($13/mo) so that I can watch the selectman's Jared> meetings and stuff like that. Thanks for sharing! I do appreciate it. So far, it just works. And the new connection seems louder to my wife too, so it's a plus. No complaints so far. John

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by Gregory Avedissian

kstratton(a)fastmail.us wrote: > Could you provide more information abdout "sar"? > > I tried wikipedia.com, and on my system: man, info, apropos and emerge > (a gentoo distribution tool) for "sar". I did not find anything I > thought was relevant.... > I'm not sure, but I'll guess that 'emerge atsar' will do it. If not, here's the freshmeat page for atsar - http://freshmeat.net/projects/atsar/ Greg

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by Mike Leo

Also, it looks like my debian desktop calls it atsar for some reason ----- Original Message ---- From: "kstratton(a)fastmail.us" <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org>; Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:58:15 AM Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics Could you provide more information abdout "sar"? I tried wikipedia.com, and on my system: man, info, apropos and emerge (a gentoo distribution tool) for "sar". I did not find anything I thought was relevant.... On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:18:22 -0700 (PDT), "Mike Leo" <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> said: > I learned about "sar" last night due to a server outage...check it out. > > I think it will server your purpose > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 5:42:55 PM > Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Michael Long wrote: > > Hi All, > > > > I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears > > that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. > > However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps > > aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so > > I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working > > harder than before as well. > > > > What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of > > the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid > > (MegaRAID) for the other drive. > > > > I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been > > using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come > > bundled with kde. > > > > Thanks, > > Mike > > HI Mike, > > Here's what I would try: > > a) Are you sure that the disk activity light on the case is properly > wired to your MB? Is the light constantly on, or does it flicker? > > b) unplug the network cable to insure that the disk activity isn't > caused by something on the network > > c) If you are sufficiently patient and wait, does the activity stop (say > in 5-10 minute)? > > d) What happens if you run "tail -f /var/log/messages" as root ? Lots > of messages here could cause disk activity. > > I'm sure other folks with have other ideas, but that's my 2cents, > devalued for inflation. > > HTH, > > Andy > > > - -- > Andy Stewart, Founder > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFG6wBfHl0iXDssISsRAmW4AJsF4LyFbM4xr0iZbSZX4aEFkSrh8gCfbTpP > /Cqxnygs6eR/rWTvB5/euKs= > =Gr5U > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > -- kstratton(a)fastmail.us _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by Mike Leo

I wont trick you...i know very little, but a senior was helping me the other day and showed me it. sar - Possibly one of the most useful (and vexing) commands you can use to monitor a system, System Activity Reporter gathers the specified information from the system on a scheduled basis and builds logfiles that you can then report on or mine specific timeframes to see what was going on between a set of time ticks. You can monitor many things with sar, including: file access routines, buffer activity, system call activity, block device activity, paging and much more. http://schogini.us/wordpress/index.php/2005/11/01/useful-linux-performance-… http://www.remote-dba.net/unix_linux/monitoring_commands.htm Using lvm? http://linux.about.com/library/cmd/blcmdl8_lvmsar.htm http://oklinux.org/oracle/Oracle9i_by_guppy.txt ----- Original Message ---- From: "kstratton(a)fastmail.us" <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org>; Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:58:15 AM Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics Could you provide more information abdout "sar"? I tried wikipedia.com, and on my system: man, info, apropos and emerge (a gentoo distribution tool) for "sar". I did not find anything I thought was relevant.... On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:18:22 -0700 (PDT), "Mike Leo" <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> said: > I learned about "sar" last night due to a server outage...check it out. > > I think it will server your purpose > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 5:42:55 PM > Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Michael Long wrote: > > Hi All, > > > > I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears > > that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. > > However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps > > aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so > > I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working > > harder than before as well. > > > > What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of > > the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid > > (MegaRAID) for the other drive. > > > > I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been > > using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come > > bundled with kde. > > > > Thanks, > > Mike > > HI Mike, > > Here's what I would try: > > a) Are you sure that the disk activity light on the case is properly > wired to your MB? Is the light constantly on, or does it flicker? > > b) unplug the network cable to insure that the disk activity isn't > caused by something on the network > > c) If you are sufficiently patient and wait, does the activity stop (say > in 5-10 minute)? > > d) What happens if you run "tail -f /var/log/messages" as root ? Lots > of messages here could cause disk activity. > > I'm sure other folks with have other ideas, but that's my 2cents, > devalued for inflation. > > HTH, > > Andy > > > - -- > Andy Stewart, Founder > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFG6wBfHl0iXDssISsRAmW4AJsF4LyFbM4xr0iZbSZX4aEFkSrh8gCfbTpP > /Cqxnygs6eR/rWTvB5/euKs= > =Gr5U > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > -- kstratton(a)fastmail.us _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by Jared Greenwald

A word to the wise, make sure that they actually can port your number before you switch. I moved into a new place in Uxbridge a couple years ago. So new that they didn't even have the cable company's lines - so I just got a package through Verizon that included DirecTV and DSL. Then about 6 months later they finally attached the street hookups for our development so we could get it. They sent out reps to our houses to sell us on the services inlcuding phone. The rep swore up and down that we would be able to keep our number that we'd gotten from Verizon, so we got all signed up. When the installation day came, I was then told that I could not get my number ported and there was nothing they could do about it. I fought tooth and nail and filed complaints with every level of manager I could to figure out why. Come to find out that my town is serviced by two different high-level telephone routers and that one router is setup to process 278 exchange and the other is setup to handle 266 exchange. There is some arbitrary line in my area that if you fall on one side of the line you get 278 and the other gets 266 - totally bogus. I tried to reason with them that the phone switch in my house was just a network device and that, once on the network, they could route whatever number to it that they wanted, but the customer reps I talked to that could actually understand what I was talking about just weren't having it. I finally just accepted it and figured I'd have to just suck it up, but then I found out that the service didn't work with the phone system I had at the time (multi-cordless with base that cost like $150+). They tried to tell me to just get a new phone and I was like - so you're going to pay for that same feature set on a new set of phones for me? At this point I had already canceled all of my other services including the DSL. Another word to the wise on that front. Don't ever cancel your DSL unless you are 100% certain you don't want it. It takes a minimum of 10 days to get your new DSL connection setup, yet when you cancel your service it goes dead nearly immediately. So, if you accidentally change your mind, you have to wait 10 days to get it back on. In the end, I was able to get my original Verizon number back and get my DSL and DirecTV turned on again, but it was the most painful experience that I have gone through in quite a while. I actually still have Charter, but just for the local cable access package ($13/mo) so that I can watch the selectman's meetings and stuff like that. Just figured I'd share my experience. -Jared On 9/15/07, Stephen Daukas <scd(a)daukas.com> wrote: > We upgraded to the digital/phone/Internet package and installed only one > digital box wit the rest of the house on analog. While I can only speak > definitively about Shrewsbury Cable, I can't see how this wouldn't work > anywhere... > > Depending on the equipment the cable provider uses, one or more splitters > with the appropriate notch filters on each output, may be necessary to > separate out the unwanted packets and phone signals for each device. In > Shrewsbury's case, the gear they now use doesn't require the filters, so I > split the incoming cable using the town's original 1:3 splitter, connected > one output to an amplified splitter (Radio Shack) to provide analog to the > rest of the house (via additional splitters - everything is configured as > what's called a "home-run" to the basement), and connected each of the other > two outputs to the digital box and phone/cable modem respectively. The tech > from Shrewsbury had no problem with this configuration because if you want > independent digital signals, you need two or more digital tuners. If you > want to see what this looks like, I'll send a link to pics on picassaweb. > > Since I have finished the basement as something of a Pub, I have a little TV > mounted in a corner above the bar. I am about to split the signal from the > digital box's output, in the same way as described above for the whole > house, so that both the larger TV and the "bar TV" can be driven by the one > digital tuner - the digital box output to the TV is analog. > > There is one very important issue to remember when playing "cable guy": > Avoid putting an amplified splitter, or even a cheap splitter, in-line > between your digital (or phone) gear and the outside world! These digital > devices are bi-directional and the amplifier is essentially a capacitor that > will block all but 60Hz(+/-) and will typically not allow return signals to > pass. Sometimes, a cheap splitter's internal configuration is such that the > return signal is degraded so much that it too is essentially blocked. > (Anyone who has had trouble using BSRs to control lights or other appliances > working on some outlets in the home, but not others, is fighting a similar > issue with the circuit panel being the culprit). You can buy cable amps > that will accommodate digital devices, but a good splitter was less > expensive the last time I checked. > > And one last tidbit... As of July (?) of this year, cable providers are now > required to allow you to purchase the digital box if you don't want to pay a > monthly rental fee. I'm not sure if you can be restricted to the one being > provided by the cable provider, or if they are required to support any > digital tuner the customer may have... This could be a savings if you have > several TVs because the typical monthly fee for a digital box is ~$8/month, > or ~ 100/yr. > > Later, > Steve > > > On 9/15/07, Frank Sweetser <fs(a)wpi.edu> wrote: > > John Stoffel wrote: > > > Before we had a splitter in the analog cable, with one feed going to > > > the TV directly, the other going to the TiVo. This way we could watch > > > live TV (commercials and all!) when the TiVo was recording something > > > we wanted, but didn't want to watch at the moment. > > > > > > Now that we have digital cable, I don't think I'm going to be able to > > > do this anymore. Dammit. This is an oversight/gotcha that I didn't > > > realize. > > > > > > I'll see how much extra it will cost to get another digital set top > > > box, which I'll dedicate to my TiVo's use I think. :] I > > > dunno... maybe there's a way to do this. Anyone know for sure if the > > > Scientific Atlanta set top box has analog output of *all* channels, so > > > I can just tune up and down using the TV tunner? Even if I don't get > > > over channel 99 on there, I'd be ok with that. > > > > > > I suspect (strongly) that it doesn't work that way and that I'm > > > screwed, sorta. Not terrible actually, but annoying. > > > > Actually, it does. If you throw a splitter in, you'll find that all of > the > > analog signals are still there just as before. > > > > One thing you'll need to be aware of, though, is that depending on where > you > > put them, adding in too many splitters will now degrade the signal quality > for > > your phone as well as just your television picture, so make sure you give > the > > phone box priority. > > > > -- > > Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu | For every problem, there is a solution > that > > WPI Senior Network Engineer | is simple, elegant, and wrong. - HL > Mencken > > GPG fingerprint = 6174 1257 129E 0D21 D8D4 E8A3 8E39 29E3 E2E8 8CEC > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > -- > Stephen C. Daukas > Engineer, Geoscientist, > Environmental Analyst > ________________________________________________ > - Please, before printing, think about the environment - > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > >

Sept. 15, 2007