I've had much the same experience. I wanted to like OSX Server, but they make it so hard. I discovered one day that leaving the admin interface open sometimes de-configures Samba in such a way as to kick all my Windows PCs off the domain. Gah! Plus, Win7 clients are not supported to bind to the domain even if I wanted because Apple uses an ancient version of Samba.
I was already working on moving away from OSX Server, this move just seals the deal.
I posted above, but I think things were lost in the noise. I've been using anyInventory ( http://anyinventory.sourceforge.net/ ) for my electronics catalog. The bonus is that it is a web interface, so you can use any web browser to view/search/edit your inventory, which is a big plus over zparts, I think.
I have it setup to track these fields:
My 'part number' (which I put on schematics so I know what I used)
Vendor, price, Vendor part (for re-order and quick costing of a project)
Manufacturer, part, link to datasheet, part photo
Value, tolerance, power rating, package, etc
Location (more below)
Quantity on hand/order
geda footprint (for geda's PCB http://www.gpleda.org/index.html [gpleda.org])
My internal part numbering system is a 3x4 part number, ie, 100-0001, where the first 3 digits are a category of part (resistor, 74 series, whatever) and the 4 digit is just a number I assign to make it unique. This allows me to specify my part number on a schematic or BOM along with the refdes and value so I know exactly the part and footprint I need.
Secondly, I have a series of drawer cabinets, bins, etc as needed to store the parts, each labeled with drawer, cabinet, shelf (usually with a barcode for some future fun with a barcode reader).
My 'part number' (which I put on schematics so I know what I used)
Vendor, price, Vendor part (for re-order and quick costing of a project)
Manufacturer, part, link to datasheet, part photo
Value, tolerance, power rating, package, etc
Location (more below)
Quantity on hand/order
geda footprint (for geda's PCB http://www.gpleda.org/index.html)
My internal part numbering system is a 3x4 part number, ie, 100-0001, where the first 3 digits are a category of part (resistor, 74 series, whatever) and the 4 digit is just a number I assign to make it unique. This allows me to specify my part number on a schematic or BOM along with the refdes and value so I know exactly the part and footprint I need.
Secondly, I have a series of drawer cabinets, bins, etc as needed to store the parts, each labeled with drawer, cabinet, shelf (usually with a barcode for some future fun with a barcode reader).
Why go to all the bother? Seriously, I have hundreds and hundreds of parts. I work on circuits for a living, and trust me, not having the organized blows.
I started on another project at one point in time that would automate assigning parts to a 'product' or 'project' so you could wasily generate invoices or costing, but I have not completed it yet. I'll probably get back into that this year, though.
The POINT of ABS simple: a tire that can turn is a tire that can steer. That's it! You lock up your tires, it doesn't matter what you do with that wheel, you are no longer in control of the vehicle. You will continue along your force vector until you have lost your momentum.
There is a second thing at work here. The coefficient of friction is different depending on if the tire is skidding over the pavement or if it has not broken free. Thus, you have more stopping power at your disposal if you do not break traction, and as such, you can stop quicker.
ABS is a good thing. It's a computer handling the details of these two items while your mind is busy panicing. So, let's see... more stopping power, the ability to steer at maximum braking, vs... sliding along in the direction of your force vector getting a front row seat to the excitement?
It was a state job. The rules are entirely different. Your employer owns the jails and has no compunction about putting you in them, and, in fact, has clauses in your employment terms to that effect. Just ask anyone who has worked a state job in IT before.
A lot of states, though, most of the SAR personnel are out there as non-paid volunteers. In the state of NM, there is exactly one guy who is actually paid by the state to maintain SAR groups there. Everyone else, from field commanders to ground pounders, is there on their own dime.
It's said the state will reimburse your fuel if you respond to a search, but not many people take them up on that.
So who is left? You have state police and maybe some of the military helping out, and guess what, we've already paid for them via taxes. Billing for SAR efforts seems silly to me for the most part.
And here's the kicker: I've been on many searches as part of a dog tracking team, as part of a state recognized SAR team. I've trained and volunteered lots of my time. I'm not going to send anyone a bill for it!
I've been a consultant for almost 3 years now. Seems strange that it has been 3 years now, it seems I was starting out only yesterday. Before that I was a contractor in about the same position for about 2 years, so a fair spot of experience.
As I figure, there is really no employer->employee loyalty these days. I have friends who always ask me if I am nervous about finding work or paying bills, but you know, I seem to stay pretty stable while they fret about the next round of layoffs. After a while, you get somewhat used to seeing business opportunities here and there and it really keeps you going. Basically, I feel much more comfortable being personally in charge of my own destiny rather than the CTO of some big corporation deciding to downsize your position to improve headcount.
I work with big companies and small companies, and my take on it is that small companies really want someone who is willing to hold their hand and get them to a point where stuff just works. I find with some sensible recommendations that this is usually easy to accomplish, and if the company already has ideas of what they want, help them evaluate those ideas and change them to meet what they really want to get out of the overall system. Seems pretty simple, but you'd be surprised at how often other companies just want to book the revenue and sell them solutions that are either overkill or not practical.
Big companies like solutions that tie in well with what they already have, as they usually want to be able to maintain it on their own. I usually take pains to document and train employees on how to keep systems I setup running, as I find it builds good word of mouth marketing, plus it puts you first in line for new installs where you make your good money.
All that said, I am pretty much at the limit of amount of work one guy can do, but not quite willing to expand to more employees for fear of not having enough money for more than one person. However, I still have free time on weekends, the ability to just take a day off, and I typically don't get up before 9 or 10am most days, so no rush hour to mess with.
Also, bear in mind that you don't get paid like clockwork every 2 weeks. I get behind on invoices a lot, leading to living a poor month and then a huge payday. Annoying, but it actually works out pretty well, all said. I have a HSA health plan that seems to be working out, and I get to decide what directions I would like to expand in instead of being told what project I am going to work on next whether I like it or not.
I upgraded to Tiger, and attempted to connect to a Debian file server where I store most of my data. Could not connect, no matter what I did.
As it turns out, Apple now encrypts the password presented to the file server. I don't know how to turn that off, but I do know how to fix it so you can get into your server, provided you have root on it.
First off, set:
encrypt passwords = yes
In your smb.conf file.
This alone may fix you. I had to go a step further and do a 'smpasswd username' in order for Samba to actually authenticate me.
At this point, connecting to either smb://server/username or smb://server/ worked just fine to get to the username share.
Also note that Tiger has encrypt passwords turned on itself, so you'll need your windows clients to encrypt passwords to get to it.
Personally, the only reason I turned off encrypted passwords was so my mac could get to my file shares, so this is an OK workaround for me.
I use gschem mostly every day to get my job done, and it just works. The interface is the best part: almost everything you do has a two key shortcut to do it faster. It took me about a week to get up to speed with it, but I don't even have to think about it anymore to churn out professional schematics in no time.
That being said, the two areas that are lacking is the amount of symbols availible (I usually have to create 2 to 4 per project) and the lack of seemless integration with a PCB program. But I think this project has a lot to offer someone today looking to do electronic design.
I am not a hobbyist, but a small business that specializes in electronic design, and am very thankful this is one less program I need to budget!
Ford Motorsports at least used to sell a device that would let you interface a laptop computer to s special add on engine computer. With this device you could change fuel maps on the fly. The trick is getting it right... The factory could do a much better job unless you had access to a dyno and lot of time on your hands.
All in all, I think that Ford could care less about ppl hacking the computer systems right now. The trouble is that the EPA bends the car manafacutuers over backwards to make them meet emmisions requirements. If enough ppl modify thier systems without regard for emissions, someone WILL step in about it. Future cars emissions may be the factory's responsibility far after it rolls off the assembly line, at which time the car companies will be more apt to sell 'sealed' systems that the end user cannot modify at all.
I think modders need to learn environmental responsibility. Right now the quest for a few hundreds off thier ETA lets emissions go out the window. *shurg*
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I've had much the same experience. I wanted to like OSX Server, but they make it so hard. I discovered one day that leaving the admin interface open sometimes de-configures Samba in such a way as to kick all my Windows PCs off the domain. Gah! Plus, Win7 clients are not supported to bind to the domain even if I wanted because Apple uses an ancient version of Samba.
I was already working on moving away from OSX Server, this move just seals the deal.
Howdy,
I posted above, but I think things were lost in the noise. I've been using anyInventory ( http://anyinventory.sourceforge.net/ ) for my electronics catalog. The bonus is that it is a web interface, so you can use any web browser to view/search/edit your inventory, which is a big plus over zparts, I think.
I have it setup to track these fields:
My 'part number' (which I put on schematics so I know what I used)
Vendor, price, Vendor part (for re-order and quick costing of a project)
Manufacturer, part, link to datasheet, part photo
Value, tolerance, power rating, package, etc
Location (more below)
Quantity on hand/order
geda footprint (for geda's PCB http://www.gpleda.org/index.html [gpleda.org])
My internal part numbering system is a 3x4 part number, ie, 100-0001, where the first 3 digits are a category of part (resistor, 74 series, whatever) and the 4 digit is just a number I assign to make it unique. This allows me to specify my part number on a schematic or BOM along with the refdes and value so I know exactly the part and footprint I need.
Secondly, I have a series of drawer cabinets, bins, etc as needed to store the parts, each labeled with drawer, cabinet, shelf (usually with a barcode for some future fun with a barcode reader).
Anyway, I hope that helps.
Here's the solution I use to inventory my electronic components.
First, I have a database setup using anyInventory ( http://anyinventory.sourceforge.net/ ) that catalogs the important bits, ie:
My 'part number' (which I put on schematics so I know what I used)
Vendor, price, Vendor part (for re-order and quick costing of a project)
Manufacturer, part, link to datasheet, part photo
Value, tolerance, power rating, package, etc
Location (more below)
Quantity on hand/order
geda footprint (for geda's PCB http://www.gpleda.org/index.html)
My internal part numbering system is a 3x4 part number, ie, 100-0001, where the first 3 digits are a category of part (resistor, 74 series, whatever) and the 4 digit is just a number I assign to make it unique. This allows me to specify my part number on a schematic or BOM along with the refdes and value so I know exactly the part and footprint I need.
Secondly, I have a series of drawer cabinets, bins, etc as needed to store the parts, each labeled with drawer, cabinet, shelf (usually with a barcode for some future fun with a barcode reader).
Why go to all the bother? Seriously, I have hundreds and hundreds of parts. I work on circuits for a living, and trust me, not having the organized blows.
I started on another project at one point in time that would automate assigning parts to a 'product' or 'project' so you could wasily generate invoices or costing, but I have not completed it yet. I'll probably get back into that this year, though.
Good lord man, learn some physics.
The POINT of ABS simple: a tire that can turn is a tire that can steer. That's it! You lock up your tires, it doesn't matter what you do with that wheel, you are no longer in control of the vehicle. You will continue along your force vector until you have lost your momentum.
There is a second thing at work here. The coefficient of friction is different depending on if the tire is skidding over the pavement or if it has not broken free. Thus, you have more stopping power at your disposal if you do not break traction, and as such, you can stop quicker.
ABS is a good thing. It's a computer handling the details of these two items while your mind is busy panicing. So, let's see... more stopping power, the ability to steer at maximum braking, vs... sliding along in the direction of your force vector getting a front row seat to the excitement?
HAHAHA exactly. Nothing messes up a good 300 page tome like the feeling of a missing last page.
Because we all know anyone who would have that much gun powder always ends up on a killing spree...
It was a state job. The rules are entirely different. Your employer owns the jails and has no compunction about putting you in them, and, in fact, has clauses in your employment terms to that effect. Just ask anyone who has worked a state job in IT before.
Obvious, yet sarcastic humor oblivious, man strikes again.
A lot of states, though, most of the SAR personnel are out there as non-paid volunteers. In the state of NM, there is exactly one guy who is actually paid by the state to maintain SAR groups there. Everyone else, from field commanders to ground pounders, is there on their own dime.
It's said the state will reimburse your fuel if you respond to a search, but not many people take them up on that.
So who is left? You have state police and maybe some of the military helping out, and guess what, we've already paid for them via taxes. Billing for SAR efforts seems silly to me for the most part.
And here's the kicker: I've been on many searches as part of a dog tracking team, as part of a state recognized SAR team. I've trained and volunteered lots of my time. I'm not going to send anyone a bill for it!
Seeing as my nickname is hamster or cavehamster, I just have to say, tell it man!
Pisses me off when its spelled with a P. I swear I spend half my time correcting folks about this when they fist meet me.
I've been a consultant for almost 3 years now. Seems strange that it has been 3 years now, it seems I was starting out only yesterday. Before that I was a contractor in about the same position for about 2 years, so a fair spot of experience.
As I figure, there is really no employer->employee loyalty these days. I have friends who always ask me if I am nervous about finding work or paying bills, but you know, I seem to stay pretty stable while they fret about the next round of layoffs. After a while, you get somewhat used to seeing business opportunities here and there and it really keeps you going. Basically, I feel much more comfortable being personally in charge of my own destiny rather than the CTO of some big corporation deciding to downsize your position to improve headcount.
I work with big companies and small companies, and my take on it is that small companies really want someone who is willing to hold their hand and get them to a point where stuff just works. I find with some sensible recommendations that this is usually easy to accomplish, and if the company already has ideas of what they want, help them evaluate those ideas and change them to meet what they really want to get out of the overall system. Seems pretty simple, but you'd be surprised at how often other companies just want to book the revenue and sell them solutions that are either overkill or not practical.
Big companies like solutions that tie in well with what they already have, as they usually want to be able to maintain it on their own. I usually take pains to document and train employees on how to keep systems I setup running, as I find it builds good word of mouth marketing, plus it puts you first in line for new installs where you make your good money.
All that said, I am pretty much at the limit of amount of work one guy can do, but not quite willing to expand to more employees for fear of not having enough money for more than one person. However, I still have free time on weekends, the ability to just take a day off, and I typically don't get up before 9 or 10am most days, so no rush hour to mess with.
Also, bear in mind that you don't get paid like clockwork every 2 weeks. I get behind on invoices a lot, leading to living a poor month and then a huge payday. Annoying, but it actually works out pretty well, all said. I have a HSA health plan that seems to be working out, and I get to decide what directions I would like to expand in instead of being told what project I am going to work on next whether I like it or not.
All in all, a very worthwhile choice.
I upgraded to Tiger, and attempted to connect to a Debian file server where I store most of my data. Could not connect, no matter what I did.
As it turns out, Apple now encrypts the password presented to the file server. I don't know how to turn that off, but I do know how to fix it so you can get into your server, provided you have root on it.
First off, set:
encrypt passwords = yes
In your smb.conf file.
This alone may fix you. I had to go a step further and do a 'smpasswd username' in order for Samba to actually authenticate me.
At this point, connecting to either smb://server/username or smb://server/ worked just fine to get to the username share.
Also note that Tiger has encrypt passwords turned on itself, so you'll need your windows clients to encrypt passwords to get to it.
Personally, the only reason I turned off encrypted passwords was so my mac could get to my file shares, so this is an OK workaround for me.
I use gschem mostly every day to get my job done, and it just works. The interface is the best part: almost everything you do has a two key shortcut to do it faster. It took me about a week to get up to speed with it, but I don't even have to think about it anymore to churn out professional schematics in no time.
That being said, the two areas that are lacking is the amount of symbols availible (I usually have to create 2 to 4 per project) and the lack of seemless integration with a PCB program. But I think this project has a lot to offer someone today looking to do electronic design.
I am not a hobbyist, but a small business that specializes in electronic design, and am very thankful this is one less program I need to budget!
Ford Motorsports at least used to sell a device that would let you interface a laptop computer to s special add on engine computer. With this device you could change fuel maps on the fly. The trick is getting it right... The factory could do a much better job unless you had access to a dyno and lot of time on your hands.
All in all, I think that Ford could care less about ppl hacking the computer systems right now. The trouble is that the EPA bends the car manafacutuers over backwards to make them meet emmisions requirements. If enough ppl modify thier systems without regard for emissions, someone WILL step in about it. Future cars emissions may be the factory's responsibility far after it rolls off the assembly line, at which time the car companies will be more apt to sell 'sealed' systems that the end user cannot modify at all.
I think modders need to learn environmental responsibility. Right now the quest for a few hundreds off thier ETA lets emissions go out the window. *shurg*
Hey now, IBM didn't hire me, I just destroy hard drives for fun and profit!