Poscribes - Apache, PHP and MySQL Tips and Scripts

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2

TrueCrypt - How To
2008-07-21 18:21:00
Quite some time ago I published on another site (http://www.teqhead.com) a flash-based tutorial on how to use TrueCrypt, the FREE open-source disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux. While the version I based the how-to on is a few releases behind now, the principle and the general functionality all remain the same. You can choose to view on line by going to the following link: http://www.poscribes.com/files/truecrypt. swf Or you can choose to download the external application for viewing in your own time, at the bottom of this post or here. Enjoy! Dave

MySQL Database Connection
2008-07-14 23:14:00
The script that follows provides for an example way to use PHP to connect to a MySQL database through the use of a PHP Function. The code that follows I will call db.php <?php function connect($sql) { // The following values should all be adjusted to suit your MySQL install. $host="localhost"; $user="root"; $pass="password"; $db="users"; if(!($connect=mysql_connect($host,$user,$ pass))){ printf("Error connecting to the database"); email_error("Server Connection Error", mysql_error()); } if(!($dbselect = mysql_select_db($db, $connect))){ printf("<p>Error connecting to the database</p>"); email_error("Database Connection Error", mysql_error()); } $result=mysql_query($sql); if (mysql_errno() == 0){ return $result; } else { email_error($sql, mysql_error()); $result = "Null"; } } ?> Being the ever vigilant system administrator we want the site to alert us of failed connection errors, which may be hack attempts. To do so we can get the web server to send out via it'...
More About: Mysql

Multi or Two Factor Authentication Project
2008-06-24 18:37:00
Quite some time ago I put together a proof of concept illustrating the relative simplicity by which a multi factor authentication system, sometimes referred to as two factor authentication could be established for web services. My basic design concept was to use server-side technologies to create and store an authenticated session key having achieved strong authentication with the client browser. A couple of design parameters that I set myself early on during the development stage was to ensure ease of integration with existing web sites and the lowest possible cost in development time and maintenance while achieving the primary goal of strong authentication. Having achieved this basic concept (a demo site can be seen at http://www.david-c-evans.com/mfa) I have now decided to breath new life into the project and improve upon the design while hopefully streamlining the and enhancing the code. **NOTE: There appears to be a problem with the demo site login right now. I will fix this...
More About: Project , Multi , Authentication , Factor

5 Steps to MySQL Replication on Windows
2008-05-23 20:32:00
In establishing a high-availability web application you need to consider multiple levels of availability and redundancy. In this first installment discussing MySQL replication I am referring to omni-directional replication. In my follow-up on the subject, next week, we will be covering bi-directional replication or creating what is otherwise known as multi-master replication, and yes I am doing this on Microsoft Windows . As previously discussed in my post on the hardware upgrades for the Poscribes website, I am introducing multiple levels of redundancy to ensure availability not only with load-balanced web servers but also replicated databases and ultimately fail-over internet connectivity (still working on that one!). Why Windows? Well, doing it with Linux is the norm these days and I just wanted to see how easy it would be. In this situation I am using MySQL 5.0.51b-community-nt to replicate between my primary or master database running on a single 2.8Ghz Intel Xeon CPU with 1....
More About: Mysql , Steps

Apache Name Based Virtual Hosting - How To
2008-05-22 15:56:00
Over the years I have had many people ask about how to do Virtual Hosting . Despite many demonstrations, much coaching and plenty of examples, it seems that where I work at least, nobody can grasp it or as I suspect maybe they simply don't want to! I find this a little amazing considering how simple it really is. Anyway, what I am going to show today is a basic how-to on Virtual Hosting for the 1.x and 2.x Apache Web Server. The configuration for both these variants is controlled almost exclusively by a single file, httpd.conf. Version 2.2.x varies in that they have exploded the configuration into several files that refer back to the httpd.conf. I will be explaining more on the Apache 2.2.x virtual hosting configuration for this site specifically in the near future as I continue my series regarding the reconfiguration of Poscribes.com along with the integration of load-balancing and replication also. But enough of that for now, let's get stuck in and cover the basic eleme...

Disabling USB Storage Devices
2008-05-20 18:14:00
Controlling what information can be moved around via thumb drives, i-Pods, cameras and other forms of removable storage media has gained a lot of focus over the past 12-months. It's not to say the need hasn't been there for much longer, because it has, just that media attention following exposure and loss of personal information, for instance social security numbers, has resulted in auditor attention. There are a number of third-party products that claim to control usage of and the functionality thereto in terms of read or read-write capability for USB storage devices, however, in my experience the simplest approach is usually the only approach that stands the test of time. What I am referring to here specifically is the control through local security settings and in the case of Windows also through Group Policy and Active Directory. The NSA have produced a rather enlightening document that not only addresses the need as relates to Microsoft Windows but also that of Linux and Sol...
More About: Storage , Devices

Minnie to MINI
2008-05-19 14:09:00
Well it was bound to happen eventually! My wife has been dreaming of the day she would own a MINI (old or new) and having driven her Mitsubishi Eclipse for the past 8 years it was definitely time to make a change. The Eclipse has served her well during this time covering around 125K but these past few weekends I've had to perform maintenance that proves the car is getting old. What's with the title of the post you may ask? It's actually quite simple really, a few years back Lea was Minnie Mouse at Disneyworld, a character she played along with others for about 5-years and now she is driving one, hence the Minnie to MINI reference in the title! [Click Image To Enlarge] The new MINI Cooper is actually a great little car with plenty of power for its size and good economy too. I'll be interested to see what MPG Lea can get out of this on her many trips back and forth to Orlando. An interesting note that I can't believe I didn't already know is that the MINI Cooper and Coo...
More About: Mini

Poscribes - Hardware Update
2008-05-15 18:25:00
Over the past several weeks/months I have been collecting together the components necessary to update and enhance the hardware supporting this and several other websites that I maintain from my home. The original configuration in a self-hosted model was that of a single PC. This thankfully was replaced by better hardware a couple of years ago that could be best described as powerful desktops or low-grade, non-redundant, server equipment. Well today I am pleased to announce that through a little begging, a little borrowing and a little scavenging I have established not only a redundant configuration in terms of multiple web servers but also a load-balanced and highly available configuration. Here's a quick overview of the setup as it stands now.   [Click Image To Enlarge]Home Network Diagram   As you can see there are now two web servers and two database servers. A little overkill for the current setup maybe; but enough room to grow for the foreseeable future too....
More About: Hardware , Update

Drupal Update and User Registration Problem
2008-05-15 16:02:00
Over the past few evenings I have successfully upgraded the site to the latest release of Drupal , now at 6.2! Having hit a few speed bumps with incompatible modules it's taken a little while to get back to the level of functionality there before the upgrade. That said, it was a necessary upgrade for many reasons most obviously to me being that of the hundreds of fake user accounts that have been springing up on a daily basis. At points during any given day there were tens of new users accounts being registered every hour. To combat this problem I have introduced the reCaptcha module that makes use of the reCaptcha web service for 'human' recognition versus the annoying scripts that have been invading the site. At the same time, and I apologize to all this affects but I have removed all user accounts that weren't personally known to me or accessed within the last 12-months. Please re-join whenever you get the chance and again sorry for the inconvenience. As part of this up...
More About: Update , User , Problem , Registration

Responsible Personal Wireless Networking
2007-08-28 16:08:00
(A.K.A. CHANGING THE DEFAULTS TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT!) My intention with the information that follows is to better equip the casual home user in addition to the road warrior in establishing and utilizing, in a responsible manner, the now VERY ubiquitous networking technologies known as ?wireless?. Without delving into the technical abyss I have chosen to separate this advisory or set of basic guidelines into two distinct components of wireless connectivity: 1. Client (Desktop or Laptop) Configuration 2. WAP (Wireless Access Point) Configuration Before I begin let me point out a few sometimes overlooked items that must be restated. Securing wireless networking is an ongoing battle between manufacturer and hacker requiring new methods of authentication, validation and encryption to safeguard network traffic. This in turn spurs on the creation of new capturing, interpretation and cracking tools in a perpetual game of cat and mouse with YOU, the end user, caught in the middle. So with...
More About: Personal , Networking , Sona , Workin

Honeymoon Plans - Take 2
2007-07-22 23:26:00
This past week took an eventful twist when we were notified that our honeymoon plans for December in Switzerland were CANCELLED! What the heck, we both said (or words to that effect if you get my meaning). RCI (the timeshare people) through who we had booked a weeks exchange called to say that due to a cable-car being out of service the booking was now cancelled. Something didn't sound right so Lea pursued it further. Firstly she found out there are 3 cable-cars in addition to a train that run to Murren, Switzerland, so why the cancellation? Upon further investigation and feedback from the guys who frequent TripAdviser.com she called the hotel. First time around speaking to a very apologetic guy who simply didn't understand what she was asking (it was midnight their time). Lea called again in the morning to find out the hotel is not open in December even though RCI had taken our booking, money and sent us all the appropriate paperwork back in October of last year! Needless ...
More About: Plans , Honeymoon , Take 2

Site Upgrade to Drupal 5
2007-06-25 23:56:00
Let me begin by stating that on the whole I have been using the same version of Drupal for well over a year with zero functionality or stability issues to report. Quite simply, it works!! As a firm believer in the old saying, "if it ain't broke don't try to fix it!" I have chosen to leave it alone during this time. That said I had a pressing reason to perform an upgrade for some time now in addressing a very annoying condition.........let me explain. Over the past several months I have been getting seriously plagued with spam comments and well, just 'not-nice' crap including porn messages, drug solicitations and others. While the content has been controlled to sitting in the approval queue for comments, it has nevertheless been a painstaking process for me going through and deleting several pages of junk at a time. While I know I could have saved myself time in the long run by including a captcha module several months back I just didn't have the time. Well, the problem i...
More About: Site

Site Upgrade to Drupal 5
2007-06-19 15:55:00
Let me begin by stating that on the whole I have been using the same version of Drupal for well over a year with zero functionality or stability issues to report. Quite simply, it works!! As a firm believer in the old saying, "if it ain't broke don't try to fix it!" I have chosen to leave it alone during this time. That said I had a pressing reason to perform an upgrade for some time now in addressing a very annoying condition.........let me explain. Over the past several months I have been getting seriously plagued with spam comments and well, just 'not-nice' crap including porn messages, drug solicitations and others. While the content has been controlled to sitting in the approval queue for comments, it has nevertheless been a painstaking process for me going through and deleting several pages of junk at a time. While I know I could have saved myself time in the long run by including a captcha module several months back I just didn't have the time. Well, the problem i...
More About: Site

User Registration Issues
2007-03-09 02:35:01
I apologize to those of you who have tried to register recently. I have been experiencing a few issues with my automated email attendant which will be resolved this evening for sure. Normal service can be expected to resume from tomorrow morning.
More About: Issues , User , Trat , Stra , Registration

Big News Flash!!
2007-02-09 02:21:01
Wow, I can't believe I have been so busy that is now more than a month since I last posted! Anyway, back to the big news. At long last after 6-months, 4 of which I have been paying 2-mortgages I have finally sold my house! For now it doesn't seem real having been making trips 2 or 3 times a week to check on things for what seems like forever. I think it will be another month or so before the financial benefits really start paying off and we can begin diverting a good portion of the extra income we will have toward the Wedding and Honeymoon at the end of the year. I am certainly not going to miss cleaning the swimming pool every week along with the routine trips to the supply store for jugs of chlorine. Well that's the big news, so 'what else has been happening?' you may be asking. Most recently I had dental surgery along with the extraction of one of my wisdom teeth as it was causing quite a lot of pain. The hole left behind still feels a little strange but I'm told it wi...
More About: News , Flash , Big News , Lash

Poscribes Web Site Update
2006-12-21 01:47:01
As I previously reported in my Anniversary post I have been making some changes both in front and behind the scenes to try and stream line as well as monetize some of my efforts here at www.poscribes.com. To date I have experimented with a couple of advertising services and currently I can report that AdBrite has proven the most successful (about $80 in two weeks). Google Adsense on the other hand is proving to be more of a black art in showing some signs of success. In the same time frame I have only made $3.70. Having consumed numerous posts from reputable bloggers, today marks the start of another phase in advertising experimentation. This time around I have chosen to display a couple of the 300x250 Ads (1 Adsense, 1 Adbrite) per recommendations found at John Chow's site, in a sort of head-to-head challenge. John seems to have experienced great success with Google Ads of this size and with my small success to date with AdBrite I decided to do a simultaneous test. Both ads wi...
More About: Site , Update , Crib , Web site , Scribe

Laminate Wood Flooring
2006-12-21 01:47:01
Not long ago, I ventured down the road of putting in laminate wood flooring. Having never undertaken such a task before and with limited prior home improvement experience I took on the challenge with suitable enthusiasm (and the desire to buy more tools - Any excuse you understand!) Now, before beginning I had a number of decisions to make such as - what type (hardwood or laminate), manufacturer, color, etc. In fact I think it quite probably took me a good couple of months searching around and looking in various stores as well as online. Not to mention also the decision of to glue or nail or go the floating floor route (which is what I did). I knew going into the project that I wanted something fairly easy to install, hard wearing and not too expensive. Three basic requirements, don't you think? Now not everyone is into wood floors and I have to say I wasn't exactly sure before I started but once I got underway it was a real transformation to say the least. Ripping up the exi...
More About: Flooring , Wood , Ring , Nate , Mina

Top 10 New Year Resolutions
2006-12-18 01:45:02
As we get closer to the day the jolly guy in the red suit comes sliding down our chimney, so do we get closer to the start of a new year. For many the thing that starts the year afresh is a set of resolutions, commonly called 'New Year Resolutions'. These are things that we aspire to achieve in search of some kind of better condition for our lives. The most popular resolutions always seems to be losing weight, exercising more or spending more time with loved ones. Anyway, curiosity got the better of me recently and I decided to check around and see what would make up a Top 10 Resolutions for 2007. In no particular order, here is what I came up with: 1) Lose Weight 2) Get More Exercise 3) Eat Healthy 4) Quit Smoking 5) Drink less Alcohol 6) Manage Finances Better 7) Learn something new 8) Reduce Stress 9) Travel More 10) Spend more time with family The idea for the New Year Resolution has been around for quite some tim...
More About: Solutions , Solution

Rejected From Donating Blood!
2006-12-18 01:45:02
The Holiday season often leads to a higher demand for blood donation and so being a giving person I answered the call. Only problem is, as I found out, my blood is not suitable for donation, and at this point may never be! So, this must have many people thinking, he's a drug user or he's got some kind of disease; NOT SO PEOPLE! I am perfectly healthy, feeling good and living a pretty normal healthy lifestyle. Apparently, and I have since checked this with the World Health Organization, the rule is as follows. (Probably in need of a little background here for any new visitors to the site, but I am originally from the United Kingdom or the southeast of England to be more precise, anyway back to the issue at hand): Excerpt from the American Red Cross - Blood Donation Eligibility Guidelines You are not eligible to donate if: From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK), or From January...
More About: Rejected

Top 10 Christmas Gifts for 2006
2006-12-14 13:42:02
As a follow up to my earlier post of Top Christ mas Gift s for 2006 I have decided to put together a listing of what I believe, will be among the Top 10 Christmas Gifts or Presents for 2006 when looking back on this season. Individuality will hopefully define the choices made with specific reference to likes/dislikes of the person being gifted. That said, here are my selections, again in no particular order, for everyone in 2006. As it is readily apparent there are plenty more than 10 ideas listed below, however among this list are possibly the resulting Top 10 Xmas Gifts for 2006. I guess we won't really know until 2007 when it's all said and done! Board games (Trivial Pursuit, 24 DVD, Blokus, DaVinci's Challenge, Brew-opoly, Scene-it?, Deal or No Deal) Video Games (NFL/NHL/NBA 2007, Tony Hawk Project 8, Call of Duty 3, ATV4, Destroy All Humans 2, Mortal Kombat - Armageddon, Hero2 Guitar) PlayStation 3 Nintendo Wii XBox 360 Apple iPod, Video iPod, Bose iPod SoundDock Microsoft Z...

How You Can Protect Your Personal Computer
2006-12-13 13:41:01
I recently had a couple of friends ask me for advice on what they should be doing to better protect themselves when surfing the net. Taking into consideration that not everyone is as technical or computer savvy as the next person, I dispensed the following pieces of advice that should realistically reduce the chances of something bad befalling you PC. 1. Ensure you have Anti-Virus Protection and that it is updated daily. 2. Ensure you have Anti-Spyware Protection (which may or may not be part of your A/V solution) and update it regularly. 3. Do not download files, launch attachments or click on links in email from people you don't know or trust! 4. Use a firewall - if you can't afford or don't know how to set up a hardware-based variant, get a software one (if you use Windows XP you already have one, so use it!) 5. Use a secure browser to protect yourself and ensure you use HTTPS type communication when performing credit card or banking transactions. If you are uncertain of a sit...
More About: Personal , Computer , Comp , Your , Person

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-116) - Night Launch Video
2006-12-10 13:40:01
Following the previous attempt to launch and the resulting decision by NASA to scrub due to less than favorable weather conditions, today was a different story. This evening in Brevard County, Florida the roads were extremely busy as the many onlookers merged on the eastern shore line to watch the first night launch in 4-years of Space Shuttle Discovery begin it's journey to the International Space Station. For many this was the first chance to witness such a launch and with the ever present doubts that accompany every launch in that this might be the last one, this was definitely a show to remember. Fortunately I live fairly close as the crow flies from the launch pad and so armed with my video camera I headed out into the yard to capture on film for all to see, the spectacular night time launch. Those that live in Titusville have often referred to prior night launches as being a comparable experience to that of watching the sun rise over the horizon just as dawn breaks, only with...
More About: Video , Night , Cover

Top 10 New Year Resolutions
2006-12-07 01:38:01
As we get closer to the day the jolly guy in the red suit comes sliding down our chimney, so do we get closer to the start of a new year. For many the thing that starts the year afresh is a set of resolutions, commonly called 'New Year Resolutions'. These are things that we aspire to achieve in search of some kind of better condition for our lives. The most popular resolutions always seems to be losing weight, exercising more or spending more time with loved ones. Anyway, curiosity got the better of me recently and I decided to check around and see what would make up a Top 10 Resolutions for 2007. In no particular order, here is what I came up with: 1) Lose Weight 2) Get More Exercise 3) Eat Healthy 4) Quit Smoking 5) Drink less Alcohol 6) Manage Finances Better 7) Learn something new 8) Reduce Stress 9) Travel More 10) Spend more time with family The idea for the New Year Resolution has been around for quite some tim...
More About: Solutions , Solution

99 Top Tips To Keep Your Heart Pumping - Wise Words For Sure
2006-12-05 13:37:01
Some of you may have already caught this article, but for those who have not you'll probably learn something interesting in doing so. http://ririanproject.com/2006/11/24/99-wa ys-to-keep-your-heart-pumping/ Ever since my Dad died, (without any warning signs I might add) a few years ago from a heart attack I have been ever more interested in what I can do to extend my term in this world. I don't know about you but I intend to live a long and healthy life so advice like this I always find interesting. You see, my family has a rather unsettlingly short life expectancy on the male side. My Grandfather died early, my Uncle had a triple heart bypass that kept him going a few more years before he died early and then my Dad without warning had the same happen to him. When a pattern starts to emerge you have to wonder if there is a way to break the genetic cycle or at least control it better. A couple of factors I have in my favor from the start are that I don't smoke, like eating fish...
More About: Tips , Word , Words , Hear , Your

Dining Out at Top Disney Irish Eatery - The Raglan Road Iris
2006-12-03 19:35:01
Saturday night we dined out at the Raglan Road Iris h Pub in Downtown Disney . The reason for the hour and a half trip to Orlando being to meet up with some friends of Lea's who were visiting from Blackpool, England and staying at the Disney Vacation Club. The pub itself is apparently authentic having been made in Ireland by Irish craftsman and then shipped to the U.S. along with items of reclaimed furniture sourced from public houses (pubs) and Victorian houses that date back over a hundred years. The management company is also Irish although I felt the overwhelming pressure from Disney probably dressed the place up a little more than the original design may have called for. In other words, for a pub, it's kind a posh looking! We were there for the food and that's exactly what we went straight after. I had the fish'n'chips, and Lea had the Shepherds Pie: While both were good, these are two dishes that restaurants routinely fall short on and I have to admit they could hav...
More About: Dining

Happy 3-Year Anniversary for www.Poscribes.com
2006-12-03 01:33:02
Time flies when you are having fun, or so I am told! It's hard to believe that it was 3-years ago today that I registered the domain name of www.poscribes.com. Happy Anniversary ! Those that know me, are familiar with the symbolism of the name but for those that aren't I will provide a quick recap. In a previous life I was a member of Her Majesty's Royal Navy serving in the Writers Branch. The job itself covers mostly clerical type duties (to keep it short and non-specific!) Anyway, members of the Writers Branch are historically referred to as 'scribes' because of their role dating back to times when quill pens were used to scribe information into ledgers and journals. With me so far? Okay, good! Upon leaving the service I had reached the rank of Petty Officer or 'P O' which is the equivalent of a Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy (comparison chart). So when you put them together you get 'p o' and 'scribes' or 'poscribes'. During the past 3-years this site ha...
More About: Crib , Year , Scribe

Web Site Tracking and Statistical Reporting (Web Stats)
2006-12-03 01:33:02
Keeping an eye on your web site statistics (web stats) as they grow is an exciting thing. The saying 'if you build it, they will come' is all well and good but until the traffic starts arriving you are left with feelings of 'I like it', 'sure looks good', 'but where the heck is everybody?'. Now of course this could open up a whole bigger subject of search engine listing, optimization (SEO), reciprocal links and so on, but the thing I want to cover today is web site tracking statistics. I think practically every web server upon their default install has the capability for logging visitors turned on, but other than troubleshooting when first creating or installing a web site, the log review process tends to fall by the way side over time. On top of this, if you don't rotate your logs or roll them over into effectively a new file (after a predetermined period of time or level of site activity), your site will likely slow down and even possibly 'blue screen' your serve...
More About: Site , Report , Port , Stats , King

The ICE car from Richard Markham
2006-12-03 01:33:02
At last weekends Central Florida Auto Show there was an impressive exhibit on display from Rich ard Mark ham. This exhibit was in the form of a 2000 Toyota Celica that had been lovingly modified. I managed to take several pictures while there and they can be found starting here: Link. The car itself boasts not only the exceptional artwork of Richard Markham but some very cool (if not down right ICEy!) (or should it be In Car Entertainment, you decide!) modifications, they include (information sourced from www.richardmarkham.com): Exterior On the exterior we see - reactive strobes and streetforce LED-s (all blue), there is a veilside kit with Mustang vents and a viper style flip nose, the doors have shaved handles with 'celica' cut outs that are then sealed with plexiglass and the Toyota logo has been cut into the hood and also sealed with plexiglass, both of which glow! Interior On the interior we find the entire video and audio setup provided by the Blaupunkt Thin Series. The c...
More About: Hard

AGLOCO Update - How To Get Paid To Surf The Web
2006-12-03 01:33:02
So far so good, I now have 5 members in my direct referral network and with those people finding additional members for their own referral networks we could be on to something good, of course we are all going to need more than single-digit membership before we have anything to write home about. I mean, just how easy can it be? It's FREE, you use a computer to do all sorts of things such as read email, check the weather, update yourself on worldly affairs as well as play games and so on. While doing this wouldn't it be great to know you were earning a buck or two here and there for doing something you were going to do anyway? In fact, even if you sign-up and nobody else does, according to the AGLOCO calculator you could still be earning 6.25 a month! Five hours for up to 6.25 a month for just you and if there are others in your referral network it just goes up from there. One point worth noting is that the AGLOCO website encountered such a terrific rate of success over the wee...
More About: How To , Surf , Paid , Update , The Web

House Warming Party!
2006-12-03 01:33:02
Just to bring you all up to speed, a little over a week ago we had our house warming party! It's taken about a week to catch up with everyone and get the photos together, so I kept delaying putting together a post to thank everyone who came, and say a very big THANK YOU for all the wonderful gifts we received. We had an enjoyable time and I hope you all did too! Right now we are planning on hosting a New Year's Part y (December 31st, of course!) as my Mum (note different spelling!) and brother (Richard) will be visiting. During the interim we hope to get a few more things completed around the house. Anyway, here is the link to the photos again in case you missed it up above. Just click on the thumbnail images to make them more viewable. Thanks again everyone! Dave and Lea --------------------- http://www.poscribes.com
More About: House , House Warming , War