Category: Uncategorized

Dial 1 for Linux

Post author By Pete Prodoehl
Post date 2004-11-01

In Linux Under the Desktop I mentioned one way Linux can creep into the enterprise. Here’s another: Asterisk.

Yes, Asterisk is one of those things some people might consider a “killer app” for Linux. Ok, it runs on Mac OS X as well, but Windows support just ain’t there, so if you want Asterisk running now, you’re looking at a *nix solution…

And I know at least one company full of Windows servers who is willing to stick a Linux box in the mix just for Asterisk.

So to me, this looks like one of those “foot in the door” opportunities for Linux. I’ll be interesting to see what happens…

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Connection Report

Post author By Pete Prodoehl
Post date 2004-11-01

I mentioned that my ISP is less than reliable, so what is a geek to do? Write code…

The sample, a work in progress, is the Connection Report, which should show the result of pinging my ISP’s server each day. The presentation needs some serious hacking, but like I said, it’s a work in progress.

I’m using Net::Ping to do this. I was using nmap, but Net::Ping was a little easier to deal with.

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Asterisk Testing

Post author By Pete Prodoehl
Post date 2004-10-28

I’ve installed Asterisk on two machines now, an old PowerMac G3 and a Linux box running Fedora. It all went pretty smooth. Configuration is another issue.

While I’m not a huge phone-dork like some people, Asterisk is cool to hack at. I managed to get Xten’s X-Lite SIPphone working with it, though I’m getting a bunch of crashes on one machine that I’m not sure if they are due to my Mac, or the Linux box. I’ll keep hacking at it.

My ultimate goal is to be able to use my Asterisk box which sits at home, behind the firewall as an answering machine for SIP calls from the internet. Not sure if that’s (easily) doable, but it’s worth a try. The Asterisk section of the VOIP-info wiki should come in handy.

Tags asterisk, linux, voip

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iNewton?

Post author By Pete Prodoehl
Post date 2004-10-28

Mark my words… As more and more features get added to the iPod (Audio? Photos?) it will eventually become the Newton.

Yes, you read that right. The Newton.

It will happen, and when it does, Steve Jobs will be the one laughing, and you will all be calling him some sort of genius. Maybe ‘marketing genius’ or maybe ‘evil genius’ I’m not sure, the only thing I am sure of is the price, it will sell for $2,499 – wait – I mean $666 – ok, I’m not sure of that either, I’m just sure that I still won’t be able to afford one. :(

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iHalloween Costume iDea

Post author By Pete Prodoehl
Post date 2004-10-27

iPod costume

Need a Halloween costume? I won’t be using this, so feel free to take it and run with it.

Get a large piece of cardboard
Make it white using paint or white paper glued onto it
Make it look like one of those fancy iPod Photos all the cool kids are drooling over
Go Trick or Treating!

Details: Make sure you cut a big hole for your face to fit in, right where the photo would be displayed, and fasten something to affix it to your body/head/shoulders, like string, or gum or something…

Oh, if you use this, Send me some candy!