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What's New? :

Check out my ChangesLog section to see what's been added, editing, or changed since you've last visited.
[Something on my site changed:
Updated: 03/04/24]

Last -10- (or so) Changes:

• 03/04/24: Updated the Raspberry Pi documentation covering: shift from iptables to native nftables for IPv4 / IPv6 firewalling, tuned logwatch for better daily hw/security monitoring, improved the SSH section to use stronger SSH keys and address an issue with too many SSH keys, and added more Rpi5 and Zero 2W centric updates including known GUI Wayland server issues, Rpi5 specific RTC support. Also updated the doc to fix some Linpac and ax25mail-utils packaging issues, mention currently known AX.25 in-kernel bug scenarios, updated on doing SD card image backups and using pistrink to restore to SMALLER SD cards.
• 10/28/23: Final set of major updates to the Raspberry Pi documentation including all sections being updated for the new and very disruptive Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm release. Updated the doc and build scripts to support the new Direwolf v1.7 release.
• 10/04/23: More improvements and refinements to the Raspberry Pi documentation around the SDR104 SD card, the function of the RP1 ASIC, details on the upcoming Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm / Debiam 12 release, etc.
• 09/30/23: Updated the Raspberry Pi documentation to cover the newly announced Raspberry Pi 5 and associated accessories that are due to be on sale mid-October 2023. I've updated all the hardware sections to show how the new Rpi5 it compares to the older Rpi generations, etc. I'll add more details once Debian 12 / Bookworm is released for all Raspberry Pi SBC boards.
• 09/20/23: Wow.. it's been too long since I've published any updates but I have been working the various docs! Updated the Rpi4 doc: Added more RPi board revisions to the HW section; Made doc-wide updates to be clear I'm using the 32bit version of Raspberry Pi OS; Updated the Direwolf DEV instructions to support 1.7G; Added verbage around turning OFF any AGC on the sound card input for Direwolf; added a blurb of why NOT to use cheap radios for packet radio usage (Baofeng, etc); added clarifications on the Digirig and USB other sound devices; Updated the IPv6 iptables section; Updated the predictable ethernet naming convention section; and made some readability improvements when setting various alsamixer settings (mute vs. un-mute). Updated the HamPacket doc: Added the mention of the QtSoundmodem soft-tnc program (but I'm not going to document how to use it - I prefer Direwolf), added the mention of various serial and packet terminal programs; fixed URLs for Qsstv

• 01/15/23: Updated the Rpi4 doc: Added a fully automated Direwolf build and packaging script; added a new section on alternative SBCs to consider since buying Raspberry Pi hardware has been nearly impossible for quarters now; Added the disabling of modemmanager and brltty daemons; Updated the Wifi sections a bit; made mention of WPA3 support; fixes for the Linpac section for users not running as root; Added mention of the Raspbery Pi Foundation Codec Zero sound HATT; Added some detail to the Bluetooth section regarding deleted pairing; Added mention of the Digirig sound card device. Updated the HamPacket doc: Updated details on PTT with ARDOP; improvements to the APRS Services section; Mention of the SigDigger digital mode analysis tool; added some additional informational URLs for persistent sound device enumeration; new URL for Qsstv application; updated Official AX.25 repo URL; Added mention of SDRAngel (very good) and sodiraSDR SDR programs for Linux

• 08/07/22: Updated the Rpi4 doc: Updated the gpsd chapter to warn users about gpsd v3.22 being broken; Additions to the Direwolf section detailing decode issues due to cabling crosstalk using TRRS connectors; Updated the Wifi AP section to improve the details, troubleshooting, etc; Improvements to the variable speed fan section as well as be native Python3 now; Improvements to the shutdown button section; Added a few URLs for more I2S sound HATs; updated the example output to relfect changed display output from "aplay -l"; updated the logrotate section to include some final run checks; Improvements to the iptables firewall section; Updated the review-rpi-cpu.sh script a bit for more detail. Also updated the HamPacket doc: Added mention of the WoAD (Winlink on Android app) and Pigate Raspberry Pi image for Winlink users. Expanded the list of hardware AX.25 TNCs as well as available APRS server and client programs.

• 04/09/22: Updates to the Rpi4 doc: Updates to support the removal of the "pi" user in Bullseye images; major additions for headless aka pre-configuration settings before first-boot; updated details on 64bit OS availability; updated RAM drive sizing for /tmp and /var; improved PWM fan speed script and improved testing; updated shutdown button script to move away from the deprecated wiringpi library; complete shift from apt-get to apt for improved dependency tracking; updated notes on Rpi ZeroW-2 wifi performance; significantly improved image and rpi file backup scripts; updates to IPv6 iptables rules and added NFLOG redirection support; Updated the RTC section to be fully Bullseye compatible; update on Rpi Foundation on OS default change to NOT enable predictable ethernet interface names; Improved Postfix section using mailx; improved error checking in some scripts. Updates to HamPacket:: Updated some URLs.

[Previous Documented changes]

Who am I?

[Updated 07/07/10]

What do I do?

I work for Juniper Networks where I am the Director of Engineering Data Center Infrastructure world wide. To learn more, click on the "Who Am I" link above.

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Topics I like to Tackle!:

HAM / Amateur Radio
Radio has always facinated me in how it works, the expected and unexpected noises that can be heard, etc. It can be pretty complicated stuff but mixing HAM / Amateur Radio it with Linux creates some powerful tools!

[Updated 03/04/24]

TrinityOS
My step-by-step guide to setting up, configuring, and securing a feature-packed Linux server [IP-Masq, DNS, Sendmail, Diald, PPP, cablemodems, etc] from a common example.

[Updated 05/22/05]

IP Masquerading HOWTO
I re-wrote the Linux Documentation Project's IP-MASQ-HOWTO and almost doubled it's size with IPCHAINS, 2.2.x kernels, FAQs, etc.

[Updated 11/13/05]

Other TrinityOS-like documents:

Function.s: My UNIX crib sheet!
IPMI: How to enable IPMI on Fedora Core3 with a Supermicro MB
Encoding and iPod on Linux: My Grip encoding scripts for encoding CDs to high quality FLAC and MP3s files at once as well as details on how to use an Apple iPod on Linux using Gnupod with both Firewire and USB.
IEEE 1394: Benchmarking Linux Firewire with various 1394 to IDE bridges


[Updated 01/06/06]

Various Linux Bookes and Articles

I have written several books and magazine articles about Linux much in the style of TrinityOS.

Rocko: I co-developed and still administrate the Economic/BSS's Linux Internet, Mail, FTP, WWW, etc server with over 1800 accounts and counting.

Other excellent URLs: The Linux Webring, The Linux Documentation Project, and much more!

[Updated 05/22/99]

PC Hardware:

Check out my extensive research on buying CD and DVD writer drives!

PC's common cable pinouts for NULL serial, Parallel, Ethernet


PC's common IRQ and I/O Port settings


Evaluating Hard Drive Performance (internal transfer rate)
Hard Drive interfaces (SCSI / IDE, etc)
System Benchmarking
AMI CMOS BIOS Beep codes and BIOS tuning tricks
IBM PC power supply pinouts/voltage troubleshooting
PC Chipsets (and their differences)


The ASUS GX4 486 and P2L97 Pentium-II motherboards

.. and more!

[Updated 04/20/07]

Remote Access Technology:

News and technical details on the new 56Kb/s Modems
xDSL technologies such as ADSL and HDSL2
My comprehensive setup and optimization tips for ML/PPP connections for various platforms such as Windows v3.x, 95, NT and UNIX!

[Updated 08/28/99]

Networking Topics:

• IPv6: A complete TCP/IP version 6 presentation in HTML

  [Updated 12/17/99]

Researching and picking an ISP:

[Updated 08/28/99]

Security:

PGP: Talks about what PGP is, how to install it, and look at my simple but good PGP sign/encrypt flow diagram! This really shows you how PGP works!

Also check out my Security section on my Linux page for more URLs and info.

[Updated 12/26/99]

ISDN: Check out my ISDN pages on many topics including:

News: Up and coming ISDN technologies like AO/DI, links to other ISDN reviews, etc
Real user cost comparisons for ISDN, ADSL, and cablemodems (ISDN costs using Pacific Bell ISDN and both CSU Chico and 3rd party ISPs)
ISDN Configuration tips and ISDN BRI and PRI Error Cause codes
ISDN BRI/PRI provisioning tips
ISDN performance optimizations
My personal reviews on both ISDN enduser and server side hardware from manufactures like:
• 3Com
  
• Ascend
  
• Cisco
  
• Gandalf
  
• Motorola
  and
• USR to name a few...
[Updated 07/19/98]

Cablemodems:

• Direct cost and performance analysis between ISDN, ADSL, and Cablemodems
  
• Check out my own experience with @Home Cablemodems in the East Bay, CA
  
• Read up the Chico,CA original (and superior) cablemodem pilot that they killed in favor of a much poorer design
  
• Check out other links such as:
  • Check out how cablemodems work
    
  • How crappy GTE's cablemodem really works
    
  • Etc..
    
  [Updated 04/02/98]

Trinity Designs:

I own and manage Trinity Designs, a private consulting business specializing in Networking, desktops/workstations/servers, and LAN/WAN designs.

Interested in starting your own small business? All points for starting a small company from resellers licenses to sales tax is covered!
[Updated 07/24/97]

I have removed my bookmarks here as were so old (previous update was Feb 1998!

ACE: Association of Computer Engineers - The club for the hardware/software hackers of CSUC!

Check out MIT's awesome mirror of EVERY major FAQ and Usenet group FAQ known to man!!!

Page last updated: 03/04/24

Page Views since: 2/17/2014

[ HOME ] [ Linux ] [ HAM Radio ] [ RAS ] [ Networks ] [ PC Hardware ] [ ISDN ] [ Cablemodems ] [ Eval ISPs ] [ Security ] [ Trinity Designs ] [ Who am I ] [ Bookmarks ] [ ChangesLog ] [ Email me ]