Had to do this for a client today who’s using Putty on a Windows PC to access their server via SSH. Here’s how to use puttygen:
On Arch Linux its simple… - Read More -
May 16, 2013
May 10, 2013
Generating Secure Passwords for your Linux Server
Very often I have to setup new servers or harden existing servers during security audits. As a result, secure passwords have to be chosen for root, cPanel accounts, etc. There are many composite practices that make a server secure, but often overlooked is using secure passwords.
Notice I didn’t list SSH or MySQL passwords. This is because if you are serious about security these should not even be accessible via remote password login! For SSH, you should already be using authentication keys and set PermitRootLogin no in your ssh config. For MySQL you should use skip-networking if MySQL is on the same server to connect via socket or use bind-address= to restrict MySQL connections to the IP/hostname of the web server. Or use IPtables to allow specific multiple IP addresses. That said, using secure passwords for MySQL is still recommended.
May 10, 2013
Lenovo ThinkPad Trackpoint Replacement Caps
Its been 3 years that I’ve been using the Lenovo x301. The ONLY issue I’ve had is with the trackpoint caps. They don’t last that long. Or maybe 3 years is a bit long. Anyway, I really love this laptop and although I use both the Trackpoint and Trackpad, its safe to say that I use the Trackpoint most. I know, a lot of users HATE trackpoints but I cannot live without it. I’ve been using Lenovo/IBM Thinkpads for almost a decade.
Last week I found these quality replacement caps on Amazon (pictured above) for only a buck. (before shipping and sadly not Prime eligible). I decided to purchase them specifically because of the reviews and can now confirm they are good quality! Of course, you can spend a bit more and purchase the Trackpoints direct from Lenovo here and here.
April 18, 2013
Free Nginx (LEMP) AMI – CentOS, Nginx, MySQL & PHP-FPM
This Amazon EC2 AMI includes the latest Amazon Linux (Centos), Nginx 1.0.15, MySQL 5.1 & PHP 5.4 (PHP-FPM) custom installed and tuned for stability and speed. A demo WordPress site powered by this Nginx AMI can be tested here.
Screen of top stats. This AMI is optimized for efficiency and runs fast even on t1.micro.