Unit six, finally some troubleshooting fun

Talking about HTML

So to begin learning about HTML I went to the tutorial and started reading this and that.  About the time the words were muddling together and my eyes were crossing I decided it was time to start trying my hand at updating my 504 webpage.  Logged into WinSCP and pulled up my index.html file.  Ahh, some of the memories were coming back.  I always think of HTML as being a cousin to MARC.  Just have to know the right tags and you are golden.  So I went back to the tutorial links and selected some I might want to play with.  AH HA, decide to go with some sort of layout fun.  Put in the code....and well, let's just say my web page is as ugly as sin right now, but you can get the idea of what I am going for.  I also created a subfolder on the WinSCP function for DigIn.  My hope is to have embedded links for the DigIn files, and a link to my blog.  We shall see what comes with that.

Installing a new server and the issues within

I decided to install another server as the optional but highly recommended tag made me think I should really have a second server to play with.  Installation went well, smooooooth in fact.  I was thinking it was going to be another assignment with no interesting fun.  However, I forget to install webmin and forgot to bridge the system.  The fun ensued.  So I backtracked to webmin and tried to install.  Only I could not get the computer to access outside sites.  I could ping the IP address I gave to the second VMserver, but I could not see the internet from the server itself.  HMMMMMMM.  Try to figure it out then recalled I had not bridged the system.  Went to bridge and it did not fix the problem I still could not see outside of the VM.  SO, in the interest of not knowing why I deleted the file and decided to reinstall the entire second server again.  Second time was the charm.  I was able to see the computer, the computer could see out and I was able to install webmin AND set the static IP and bridge and still see out after all that was done.  I am pretty sure I had some human error in there, perhaps not going in the right order as once I did follow the right order there were no issues.  All in all it was fun trying to figure it out. I was definitely getting faster at typing the right codes and not having to check my notes.  I am super excited now.

..... if only I can fix my website now.

Unit Five

So, getting reading to post unit six and then I noticed something.  I never posted five.  Pretty sure this is one of those instances where I wrote something in my head, posted in my head and neglected to verify if my wishful computer to human brain interface was able to directly upload without the use of typing hands.  Someday... someday.
The variety of materials has been useful.  I love having text based information to read, but without actually using some of it right away the readings have little relevance at this time.  This causes my technology literacy rate to slow.  I know in time some of the information will re-surface and come in handy, but I fear the amount of reading is difficult to absorb.  I do not think there is enough time to do the text and the practise of the text in one full class, so it is up to me to motivate myself.
The videos and podcasts are a great help.  I still have yet to have an issue with any of the tasks other than minor easy to troubleshoot problems.  As a scientists, I am used to following complicated directions without error, so this makes for pretty boring blogging and discussion posts.  To overcome this I probably need some major project to motivate me, and one that does not have explicit instructions.  Not that I want that, it scares me, but it would probably make me have to think a lot more.  I have a mix of learning styles.  I can learn by reading if I can picture it in my head.  Otherwise, I have to kinestethically do something to learn.
Overall, I would say there is a decent amount of variety, just a wee too much text to read.  It feels like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book.

Unit four continuation

Reinstall of the desktop was successful.  Now the desktop launches and all functions and programs work properly.  As for a formal comparison. well obviously the users and groups method was the easiest and most complete method of handling the process of user creation and management.  The group function looks like it could be a useful tool in the future.

So far the problems have been minimal.  A few minor glitches here and there but nothing major or hard to handle.  Biggest issue is the typo. I was constantly hitting the wrong key and having to figure out how to zig instead of zag.  Other than that it is a piece of cake.  Not sure why I balk at doing this since it is not difficult once I get down to it.  Sure it will get harder as we move on.

Unit Four

Finally made it through the end of my last week of work and I am ready to focus on this class.  Doing this assignment was a breeze....until it was not.
Following instruction was fairly straightforward.  Type this... and this will happen, check check.  I hit a snag when I forgot my username for the server, was blocked using Chrome but then switched to Explorer.  Went to change password in the server and noted that my username is not the username I had originally thought, so problem solved.
Then I breezed through the next set of instructions until I went into less, and promptly forgot how to exit out of the list.  That required a bit of backtracking on the reading until I found the magical 'q' button that would exit me out of less.
Adding a user via the command line was pretty easy with the directions in front of me.  Would be harder to replicate without instructions but at some point I am sure it would be more intuitive.

Then went on to Ubuntu and realised there is an issue.  It never launches the utility so I usually type in startx and it launches the desktop.  However, it is still not working.  Going to reinstall the desktop and try to finish.  Part two to come later........

Unit Three Tough Week

This was week of major procrastination.  The mental block was strong this week and it was difficult to motivate myself.  WHY?  No idea.  When I finally went to the assignments, installed the server, practised vimtutor, checked connectivity.  You name it, it worked.  No issues, no hiccups, no problems.  I did have moments where I excited into Normal mode when trying to insert text in vimtutor and had a partial panic until I figured out I was in normal mode.  I still need to practise configuration but anticipate it will not be an issue.  As for configuration, never have done it before this week, at least not that I recall.  Hmmm, I did install a 2400 baud modem once, that might count.  I still do not know how I did it but it worked.  As I am used to reading and conducting lab experiments, I think this helps me to follow written instruction accurately and allows me to not have issues with installing servers or doing text editors.
Continuing to read the Stephenson text.  He is a fantastic author and I loved the description of the old dial in box that would grab onto the phone and you hoped it would attach correctly.  Reminded me of an old B sci fi movie.

words to look up- heck some may reappear again

sudo
syslog
ftp
directories
job
baud