Sane defaults for dig command

Debian has replaced the old "host" command with a new version that I call "host for dummies"; so I have had to resort to using "dig" instead. The problem with dig is that it is very verbose. Luckily it has enough options to control the verbiage - but I don't use it often enough to remember them. Here is a simple ~/.digrc that trims the output down to the old "host" levels:

+noall +answer +nocl +nottl

If I need to display more info (e.g. the TTL) then it's easy to add "+ttl" to the end of the command line.

Android 2.2 (froyo) OTA update now available for my HTC Desire

I have an unlocked HTC Desire and am using Telenor in Norway. After manually checking for updates all weekend, I finally got this message:

A system update is available. Would you like to download the following system software update? System upgrade2.09.405.8 (90.0 MB) - Update: Android 2.2 and HTC Sense update.

After downloading and installing:

Congratulations! Your phone has been updated successfully to version 2.09.405.8.

Software information:

• Android version 2.2
• Baseband version 32.43.00.32U_5.09.00.20
• Kernel version 2.6.32.15-gf9c0527 htc-kernel@and18-2 #1
• Build number 2.09.405.8 CL218634 release-keys
• Software number 2.09.405.8
• Browser version Webkit 3.1

So far, so good. Have confirmed that 720p video filming works OK. No sign of the reported iTunes synchronization though.

Minor Android update for my HTC Desire

Not the much anticipated update for 2.2 but a check for updates on my phone offered this:
System Upgrade 1.21.405.2 (27.07 MB).

Currently running:
- firmware 2.1-update1
- baseband 32.30.00.28u_4.05.00.11
- build 1.15.4054 cl155070 release-keys
- software 1.15.405.4
- browser webkit 3.1

After the update:

- baseband 32.36.00.28u_4.06.00.02_2
- build 1.21.405.2 cl174215 release-keys
- software 1.21.405.2

Fixing smartd "Offline uncorrectable sectors"

You can mount a partition read only or unmount it.
Then you can run e2fsck with the following:

e2fsck -p -f -c -C 0
 -p  automatically repairs problems
 -f force the file system check
 -c run badblocks
 -C 0 display the progress bar

(clipped from http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug)

linux counter site is back online

Harald has obviously taken some time off from Real Life to get the Linux Counter back online. Many thanks Harald!

linux counter site is offline

I noticed that my recent automatic e-mail submissions to the Linux Counter have been returned as undeliverable.

Host or domain name not found. Name
service error for name=counter.li.org type=MX: Host not found, try again

So today I sent an e-mail to Harald Tveit Alvestrand to ask what was up with the project. I just got his reply:

I'm integrating a new backend server. The old one's power supply blew. It's taking longer than I want it to, but Real Life interferes. Hard.

So now I know. And so do you. This is Linux Registered User #7532 signing off.

Laptop protection