Two Factor Authentication in cPanel.

Two factor authentication has become very popular these days, and with good reason.  Extra security measures, while mildly annoying, are always better than the alternative of being compromised.  HSW has enabled you ability to use two factor authentication in cpanel.  Here’s a quick way to set it up.  Note, you’ll need a smart device with either Authy or Google Authenticator.  I’m sure there’s more options, these are just the two we’ve tested so far. Continue reading

FCC to vote on net neutrality

Hello, Citizen of the Internet!  Today the FCC is going to vote on Net Neutrality, something we should all (for the most part) support.  It’s expected to pass.  The problem is, now, we’re not entirely sure what all is being proposed OR if the FCC even has jurisdiction over broadband providers (which may open a whole other can of worms).  So if NN is going to pass, there will no doubt be a massive landslide of lawsuits.  What IS expected to be a part of net neutrality are a set of rules keeping providers from outright blocking legal content on the internet.  Some speculate that while this will protect the customer, it may create a loophole that will allow broadband providers such as Comcast and AT&T to charge “congestive” services such as youtube and netflix a fee to pass data through their networks – something we’ve already seen happening.  All-in-all this is definitely something to watch – especially this close to the holidays.

Comcast tries to charge fee to Level Three; net neutrality and Netflix

Ok, so here’s the deal – Comcast, whom we all love dearly, has decided they want to charge Level 3, the company that helps stream Netflix, to deliver content to their own customers.  Wait, what?  Yup.  Check it:

On November 19, 2010, Comcast informed Level 3 that, for the first time, it will demand a recurring fee from Level 3 to transmit Internet online movies and other content to Comcast’s customers who request such content. By taking this action, Comcast is effectively putting up a toll booth at the borders of its broadband Internet access network, enabling it to unilaterally decide how much to charge for content which competes with its own cable TV and Xfinity delivered content. This action by Comcast threatens the open Internet and is a clear abuse of the dominant control that Comcast exerts in broadband access markets as the nation’s largest cable provider.

Grasping straws are we, Comcast?  This is kind of the opposite of what we were worried about when the whole net neutrality debate started, but it’s equally disturbing.

Continue reading

Now I am become NetFlix, the destroyer of internets.

Run for your lives!!!  NetFlix is going to destroy the internet!!  Their streaming awesomeness will shake the webbertubes until they burst,  so says The Slate.  I mean, look at the numbers – 10% of Canadians visited netflix.com in the first week of its launch!  PANIC!!!1!!!!!

You’re not buying this, are you?  I even put ‘panic’ in all capital letters, just for you.  I also put in numbers and stuff, you know like percentages.  Ok, fine, NetFlix will not destroy the internet and I’ll tell you why after the jump.

Continue reading

Must not sleep. Must warn others.

Chances are if you’re a geek meets nerd, semi-anti-social, A&E broadcast family addict – that is to say, anything like myself – you probably enjoy a little bit of  ‘ye olde  paranormal musings’.  If, for no other reason, the stories seem to be well thought-out.  It’s September, which, according to my local Walgreens, means it’s almost Halloween.  Let’s have a little spooky fun.  We’re going to thrash the transmission by skipping the clutch and slamming it into reverse warp!

And now for something completely different… Continue reading

Dearest Halo, I don’t love you anymore.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  There’s a new Halo release today and I’m not sick with the Halo Flu.  I’m not even buying it today.  Does this mean I’ve fallen off the gamer wagon?  Absolutely not.  It’s just… Well it’s not you, Halo, it’s me.  Just kidding, it’s you.  ODST was bad.  Don’t lie to yourself.  The only thing ODST was good for was being traded in for credit on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.  Yup.  I said it.

Continue reading

Here We Go Again

cNet is reporting that on Thursday a bill was introduced to require ISPs, coffee shops, even home users to keep logs of wireless internet access for at least two years.  The bill itself is titled “Internet Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today’s Youth Act”, which does indeed sound like a good thing; however, two years is a long, long time to keep log files on everyone who connects to a dhcp enabled wireless network.

Continue reading

Windows 7 to kill Linux; Linux to retaliate and firebomb Windows 7

It’s the same old story every year: Linux will finally dominate Windows, Windows will finally kill off that pesky open-source Linux. My dad’s better than your dad; my mashed potatoes can beat-up your mashed potatoes. The truth simply is it’s not going to pan out like that. Linux will still dominate the server world and Windows will still dominate the desktop world (and if you think vista’s failing is a sign of Microsoft’s slipping, I kindly ask you to remember Windows ME followed by the popularity of XP). So what’s new to the battle front? Well, honestly, it’s not really ‘new’ it’s just what people are talking about these days. ‘Netbooks’. And I highly doubt it will be some epic battle of Good Vs. Evil, either. Continue reading

helm 3 fixes

Helm is a powerful control panel for windows hosting – it can also be a total pain in the behind. Recently I tried removing a domain from our helm cluster (which consists of 4 machines) only to receive a generic ‘unable to remove domain please contact support or try again later’. Normally I’d just reboot the cluster and try again with great success; however, this did not work. There’s an almost ‘be all, end all’ fix for helm that I’ve known about for a while now, and I continually refine and add to it. After the jump I’ll share these words of wisdom and hopefully save you a few hair ripping frustrations. So without further delay, let’s lace up our best kicking boots and get ready to stomp out some fixes…

Continue reading