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Ethernet programming question
by Chris Green 28 May '12

28 May '12

I'm doing some programming of a Nanode board (not far removed from Arduino) which has an ethernet interface based on the ENC28J60. I'm only modifying the existing software rather than building from scratch but would like to tidy things as much as possible. The ethernet initialisation etc. is standard library code so is cast in stone as it were but I'm puzzling over the higher level ethernet message handling stuff a bit. The system basically handles incoming requests sent over the ethernet interface and replies with instrument data, this part of the code is pretty straightforward. However the loop that waits for ethernet packets and deals with them seems a bit odd to me, in psuedo-code it's something like:- while (not reset) { get a packet from ethernet handle DHCP message handle message requesting local display on LCD handle ARP request handle DNS request handle NTP request if (still something left) { if (ping) { respond to ping } if (UDP message for us) { handle our message } } } What I'm not clear about is whether one packet can only be one of the above things. Hence, if a DHCP request of some sort has been received and handled can the *same* packet contain other requests? If not then why is the code going through all the other calls? OK, it makes for simpler looking code, no conditionals and/or switch/case but it somehow seems wrong (and a bit inefficient as each handle function gets called even if the packet has already been handled). -- Chris Green

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Ripping MP3s
by Chris Walker 23 May '12

23 May '12

I have a Creative Zen MP3 player which I use in my car. I want to tidy up a load of CDs which have accumulated over the years before they go to the bin. They're freebies from newspapers and so aren't worth anything and have the usual half dozen decent tracks followed a dozen rubbish tracks. But I'm stuck trying to rip them to MP3. I've tried k3b but that doesn't offer MP3 as an output option. I've also installed soundkonverter (rather than soundconverter as I'm using kde for a desktop) but despite saying that it can use FFmpeg as a plugin, there is still no MP3 option. Am I doing something wrong? The system is Mandriva 2011 64 bit.

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[very off topic] drill press
by David Reynolds 22 May '12

22 May '12

Hi guys, Does anyone in the Norwich-ish area happen to have (or have access to) a drill press I could use? I am building a guitar from a kit and I need to drill 4 holes with said drill press. Can anyone help? -- David Reynolds david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk

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Tonight's Ipswich ALUG meet
by samwise 22 May '12

22 May '12

Well, looks like there's at least three of us out tonight. I thought I'd suggest that after giving it half an hour or so for stragglers, that we might want to try moving back to our old venue The Milestone (now The Mulberry Bush) tonight. It's been reinvented and is a proper real ale pub now, and may well be an improvement on McGinty's ... plus the poker night that turfed us out has long since gone. :) Not sure of the wi-fi situation but it can't be worse than McGinty's! So anyone who wants to come out to play tonight who might be late, come find us at The Mulberry Bush! Peter.

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Can't get 1000Mb/s on ethernet port which should be capable
by Chris Green 19 May '12

19 May '12

I am backing up some data from a Dell Vostro V13 laptop which is currently running xubuntu 10.04 (the reason for the backup is that I'm aiming to install 12.04). The ethernet port is running at only 100Mb/s whereas it's supposed to be a gigabit capable port. Running ethtool shows:- Settings for eth0: Supported ports: [ TP MII ] Supported link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full 100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full 1000baseT/Half 1000baseT/Full Supports auto-negotiation: Yes Advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full 100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full 1000baseT/Half 1000baseT/Full Advertised pause frame use: No Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes Link partner advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full 100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full Link partner advertised pause frame use: No Link partner advertised auto-negotiation: Yes Speed: 100Mb/s Duplex: Full Port: MII PHYAD: 0 Transceiver: internal Auto-negotiation: on Supports Wake-on: pumbg Wake-on: g Current message level: 0x00000033 (51) Link detected: yes Running ethtool on my desktop machine connected to the *same* switch shows:- Settings for eth0: Supported ports: [ TP MII ] Supported link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full 100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full 1000baseT/Half 1000baseT/Full Supports auto-negotiation: Yes Advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full 100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full 1000baseT/Half 1000baseT/Full Advertised pause frame use: Symmetric Receive-only Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes Link partner advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full 100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full 1000baseT/Full Link partner advertised pause frame use: Symmetric Receive-only Link partner advertised auto-negotiation: Yes Speed: 1000Mb/s Duplex: Full Port: MII PHYAD: 0 Transceiver: internal Auto-negotiation: on Supports Wake-on: pumbg Wake-on: g Current message level: 0x00000033 (51) drv probe ifdown ifup Link detected: yes So why are the two machines seeing different "Link partner" settings? I tried Googling for "Link partner" but couldn't find anywhere that actually tells me what they mean, it *sounds* like it's what the 'other end' is advertising but from what I see above maybe it isn't. By the way I have tried changing the ethernet cable, no change at all. Can anyone elucidate things? -- Chris Green

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Back issues of Linux Format (97 Oct 07 - 127 Jan 10)
by Andrew Williams 19 May '12

19 May '12

Hello all. I'm having a clear out of some of my older Linux Format issues. Would anyone like them before I consign them to the recyling bin? Most DVDs also included. Cheers, Andrew.

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[ALUG Announce] 3rd Monday Monthly Ipswich Social Meeting : McGintys, Northgate Street ALUG ALUG
by samwise 18 May '12

18 May '12

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- The monthly "Third Monday" ALUG Ipswich Social Meeting is back next week - Monday, 21st May, at 20:00: P J McGinty & Sons 15 Northgate Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3BY Tel: 01473 251 515 Map/Directions URI: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=IP1+3BY WWW: http://www.pjmcgintys.co.uk/ McGintys pub is in the centre of Ipswich. It's directly opposite the town's central library and has a reputation for good Irish beer. We're usually to be found in the lowest section of the bar, near the library entrance to the pub. All are welcome, novices and experienced users. Feel free to ask for further information on the Main ALUG mailing list. Peter. ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Anyone managed to acquire a Raspberry Pi?
by Anthony Anson 15 May '12

15 May '12

-- Tony Anson www.girolle.co.uk/

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Some help with regex would be appreciated.
by Barry Samuels 14 May '12

14 May '12

I have to admit that apart from the simplest expressions I don't understand regex. I want to set up a logcheck ignore expression to ignore the following: kernel: [220359.596744] [drm] nouveau 0000:06:00.0: Setting dpms mode 0 on tmds encoder (output 2) The 220359.596744 number varies and so does the single mode digit, 0 in this instance, but the rest doesn't change. I have tried by copying some expressions parrot fashion but can't get it to work. Any help would be appreciated. -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

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CD based Linux which works with FaceBook
by Ian Douglas 11 May '12

11 May '12

Hi playmates, My wife's laptop (Samsung R20) currently runs MS Windblows Vista and now takes so long to boot she can make a cup of tea while waiting (literally). I have found an old 2005 version of Knoppix laying around and she is amazed at how quick it is (running off the CD) but I was wondering if there is an even faster/leaner distro she could use. The distro must run off the CD and the browser must be capable of accessing Facebook (about all she uses the computer for!). Any suggestions welcome. Ian.

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