Tips, Tricks and Information for the Modern Technologist

Category: Configurations


Problem installing PECL PHP extensions while /tmp is secured

Posted 21st November in Configurations, Linux, Shell. 3 Comments

I recently tried to install a PHP PECL extension on a server I manage, when I received this error: [root@xxxx PDO-1.0.3]# pecl install pdo downloading PDO-1.0.3.tgz … Starting to download PDO-1.0.3.tgz (52,613 bytes) ………….done: 52,613 bytes 12 source files, building running: phpize Configuring for: PHP Api Version:         20041225 Zend Module Api No:      20060613 Zend Extension [...]


Using Ubuntu as a 24/7 Lobby Display Driver

I recently took upon the task of setting up a presentation display in the lobby of our building. This display had previously used an old computer running Windows 2000, and displayed a fairly simple PowerPoint presentation with a few frames, mostly a schedule for anyone coming into the building. We did a renovation and this [...]


Adding a Module Position in a Joomla 1.5 Template

Posted 27th September in Code Samples, Configurations, Joomla, PHP. 6 Comments

Adding a module position in a Joomla 1.5 template is not as easy as it was in the 1.0 templates. It is a two step process: 1. Add code to template PHP file. For example, this would go in the index.php file in the template folder – or if you are adding it in an [...]


Outlook 2003 or 2007 Won’t Save Hosted Exchange Password

For many people using hosted Exchange services, password saving problems could plague you. That is mainly because Outlook doesn’t like it if the Exchange server’s domain doesn’t match your domain. Fortunately there is a way around this, because by the default way it is set up, you would have to enter your password every time [...]


Secure Drupal Admin Login Page

Posted 26th August in Configurations, Drupal, PHP, Security. 3 Comments

Drupal’s administration login area is not secure by default. Usually there is an option in the configuration area of content management systems to set a secure area for logins, otherwise your username and password are sent in plain text over the internet. Luckily, there is a module which enforces secure login on a Drupal install. [...]


Comprehensive .htaccess guide

Posted 29th May in Code Samples, Configurations, Linux, System Administration. Comments Off

The AskApache blog has a great comprehensive guide to .htaccess. A must read for anyone who does a lot of work with Apache. http://www.askapache.com/htaccess/apache-htaccess.html


Firefox Blinking Cursor Issue

Posted 8th May in Configurations, Programs. 22 Comments

For some reason, Firefox started to display a blinking cursor, like web pages I have been viewing were editable. Thinking that some errant plugin was causing this behavior, I manically disabled a few I had recently installed. However that didn’t fix the problem. Good ole Google to the rescue. Firefox has a ‘feature’ that lets [...]