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Canonical Voiceshttp://voices.canonical.com2015-06-30T11:20:01ZPrakash Advani: Open source is 'only reliable way' to preserve human history, argues Vatican2015-06-30T11:20:firstname.lastname@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2015/06/30/open-source-is-only-reliable-way-to-preserve-human-history-argues-vatican

OPEN SOURCE is key for humanity to preserve its history in the digital age, Vatican Library CIO Luciano Ammenti has argued.

"The Vatican Library is a conservation library. We try to preserve our history. We tried to expand the number of reading rooms available for people that want to use our library," he said.

"But we realised that reading rooms will never be enough. We have 82,000 manuscripts in total, and at any one time only 20 percent of them can be read in the library.

Read More: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2407221/open-source-is-only-reliable-way-to-preserve-human-history-argues-vatican

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Canonical Blog: Ubuntu Security Update on VENOM (CVE-2015-3456) [UPDATED]2015-05-13T17:43:17ZRobbie firstname.lastname@example.com://blog.canonical.com/2015/05/13/ubuntu-security-update-on-venom-cve-2015-3456/
A buffer overflow in the virtual floppy disk controller of QEMU has been discovered. An attacker could use this issue to cause QEMU to crash or execute arbitrary code in the host's QEMU process.

This issue is mitigated in a couple ways on Ubuntu when using libvirt to manage QEMU virtual machines, which includes OpenStack's use of QEMU. The QEMU process in the host environment is owned by a special libvirt-qemu user which helps to limit access to resources in the host environment. Additionally, the QEMU process is confined by an AppArmor profile that significantly lessens the impact of a vulnerability such as VENOM by reducing the host environment's attack surface.

A fix for this issue has been committed in the upstream QEMU source code tracker. Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Ubuntu 14.10, and Ubuntu 15.04 are affected. To address the issue, ensure that qemu-kvm 1.0+noroms-0ubuntu14.22 (Ubuntu 12.04 LTS), qemu 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.11 (Ubuntu 14.04 LTS), qemu 2.1+dfsg-4ubuntu6.6 (Ubuntu 14.10), qemu 1:2.2+dfsg-5expubuntu9.1 (Ubuntu 15.04) are installed.

For reference, the Ubuntu Security Notices website is the best place to find information on security updates and the affected supported releases of Ubuntu. Users can get notifications via email and RSS feeds from the USN site, as well as access the Ubuntu CVE Tracker.
Prakash Advani: Apache vs Nginx vs OpenLiteSpeed2015-04-17T03:48:firstname.lastname@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2015/04/17/apache-vs-nginx-vs-openlitespeed

We're setting up a new production web server for our own site and as it's a chance to start fresh, the thought of course turned to "what's the best web server for our site?" After looking around at various benchmarks and reviews of the more common web servers, none of the benchmarks seemed to have been run in the last few years or focussed on thousands of connections with static content. This wasn't the scenario I wanted to see data on.

So, I set about running a few benchmarks on what I considered to be the top 3 Linux based web servers for a moderately busy site. This is why I've labelled the article "Part 1", as I want to cover multiple scenarios in a few follow-up articles to encompass a variety of scenarios. For this test we'll be using WordPress, however I'll be testing other platforms in the follow-up articles as well.

Read More: http://www.texnologist.net/sec/right_sidebar_two.html

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Prakash Advani: Facebook's open-source Android debugging tool2015-02-23T09:31:firstname.lastname@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2015/02/23/facebooks-open-source-android-debugging-tool

Facebook said today that it's giving away a tool it built to spot errors in Android application code.

Facebook has gradually improved its main app for Android, as well as other apps for the mobile operating system, including Messenger, Facebook Groups, Facebook Pages Manager, and most recently Facebook at Work.

Read More: http://venturebeat.com/2015/02/18/facebook-unleashes-stetho-its-android-debugging-tool-under-open-source-license

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Prakash Advani: Sam Ramji takes lead at Cloud Foundry Foundation2015-02-13T07:23:email@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2015/02/13/sam-ramji-takes-lead-at-cloud-foundry-foundation

In 2015, many Linux and open-source vets still distrust Microsoft's conversion to open-source. In 2006, no one believed that when Sam Ramji, who oversaw BEA Systems move to open-source software, became Director of Platform Technology Strategy for Microsoft's Open Source Software Labs, that Microsoft was doing more than paying lip-service to open source. They were wrong. Now, years after leaving Microsoft, Ramji is returning to play a major open-source leadership role as the new CEO for the Cloud Foundry Foundation.

Read More: http://www.zdnet.com/article/sam-ramiji-takes-lead-at-the-open-source-cloud-foundry-foundation/

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Prakash Advani: Raspberry Pi 22015-02-06T06:53:email@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2015/02/06/raspberry-pi-2
Raspberry Pi 2 is here.

A 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU

1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM

Compatible with Raspberry Pi 1

$35

And now runs Snappy Ubuntu Core.

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Prakash Advani: The best open-source office suite, LibreOffice 4.4, gets new release2015-02-03T03:46:firstname.lastname@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2015/02/03/the-best-open-source-office-suite-libreoffice-4-4-gets-new-release

Who says you can't have fast, good and cheap? The Document Foundation's latest release of the most popular open-source office suite, LibreOffice 4.4 is quite fast on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows; it works well on all three desktop operating systems, and it won't cost you a penny.

Read More: http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-best-open-source-office-suite-libreoffice-4-4-gets-new-release/

Download Here: http://www.libreoffice.org/download/libreoffice-fresh/?version=4.4.0

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Canonical Blog: Ten years of Ubuntu2014-10-23T19:33:19ZJane email@example.com://blog.canonical.com/2014/10/23/ten-years-of-ubuntu/
Today marks 10 years of Ubuntu and the release of the 21st version. That is an incredible milestone and one which is worthy of reflection and celebration. I am fortunate enough to be spending the day at our devices sprint with 200+ of the folks that have helped make this possible. There are of course hundreds of others in Canonical and thousands in the community who have helped as well. The atmosphere here includes a lot of reminiscing about the early days and re-telling of the funny stories, and there is a palpable excitement in the air about the future. That same excitement was present at a Canonical Cloud Summit in Brussels last week.

The team here is closing in on shipping our first phone, marking a new era in Ubuntu's history. There has been excellent work recently to close bugs and improve quality, and our partner BQ is as pleased with the results as we are. We are on the home stretch to this milestone, and are still on track to have Ubuntu phones in the market this year. Further, there is an impressive array of further announcements and phones lined up for 2015.

But of course that's not all we do – the Ubuntu team and community continue to put out rock solid, high quality Ubuntu desktop releases like clockwork – the 21st of which will be released today. And with the same precision, our PC OEM team continues to make that great work available on a pre-installed basis on millions of PCs across hundreds of machine configurations. That's an unparalleled achievement, and we really have changed the landscape of Linux and open source over the last decade. The impact of Ubuntu can be seen in countless ways – from the individuals, schools, and enterprises who now use Ubuntu; to proliferation of Codes of Conduct in open source communities; to the acceptance of faster (and near continuous) release cycles for operating systems; to the unique company/community collaboration that makes Ubuntu possible; to the vast number of developers who have now grown up with Ubuntu and in an open source world; to the many, many, many technical innovations to come out of Ubuntu, from single-CD installation in years past to the more recent work on image-based updates.

Ubuntu Server also sprang from our early desktop roots, and has now grown into the leading solution for scale out computing. Ubuntu and our suite of cloud products and services is the premier choice for any customer or partner looking to operate at scale, and it is indeed a "scale-out" world. From easy to consume Ubuntu images on public clouds; to managed cloud infrastructure via BootStack; to standard on-premise, self-managed clouds via Ubuntu OpenStack; to instant solutions delivered on any substrate via Juju, we are the leaders in a highly competitive, dynamic space. The agility, reliability and superior execution that have brought us to today's milestone remains a critical competency for our cloud team. And as we release Ubuntu 14.10 today, which includes the latest OpenStack, new versions of our tooling such as MaaS and Juju, and initial versions of scale-out solutions for big data and Cloud Foundry, we build on a ten year history of "firsts".

All Ubuntu releases seem to have their own personality, and Utopic is a fitting way to commemorate the realisation of a decade of vision, hard work and collaboration. We are poised on the edge of a very different decade in Canonical's history, one in which we'll carry forward the applicable successes and patterns, but will also forge a new path in the twin worlds of converged devices and scale-out computing. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the journey thus far. Now, on to Vivid and the next ten years!
Canonical Blog: Ubuntu Security Update on Poodle (CVE-2014-3566) and SSLv3 Downgrade Attack2014-10-16T11:09:47ZRobbie firstname.lastname@example.com://blog.canonical.com/2014/10/16/ubuntu-security-update-on-poodle-cve-2014-3566-and-sslv3-downgrade-attack/
The following is an update on Ubuntu's response to the latest Internet emergency security issue, POODLE (CVE-2014-3566), in combination with an
 SSLv3 downgrade vulnerability.

Vulnerability Summary

"SSL 3.0 is an obsolete and insecure protocol. While for most practical purposes it has been replaced by its successors TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, and TLS 1.2, many TLS implementations remain backwards compatible with SSL 3.0 to interoperate with legacy systems in the interest of a smooth user experience. The protocol handshake provides for authenticated version negotiation, so normally the latest protocol version common to the client and the server will be used." –https://www.openssl.org/~bodo/ssl-poodle.pdf

A vulnerability was discovered that affects the protocol negotiation between browsers and HTTP servers, where a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacker is able trigger a protocol downgrade (ie, force downgrade to SSLv3, CVE to be assigned). Additionally, a new attack was discovered against the CBC block cipher used in SSLv3 (POODLE, CVE-2014-3566). Because of this new weakness in the CBC block cipher and the known weaknesses in the RC4 stream cipher (both used with SSLv3), attackers who successfully downgrade the victim's connection to SSLv3 can now exploit the weaknesses of these ciphers to ascertain the plaintext of portions of the connection through brute force attacks. For example, an attacker who is able to manipulate the encrypted connection is able to steal HTTP cookies. Note, the protocol downgrade vulnerability exists in web browsers and is not implemented in the ssl libraries. Therefore, the downgrade attack is currently known to exist only for HTTP.

OpenSSL will be updated to guard against illegal protocol negotiation downgrades (TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV). When the server and client are updated to use TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV, the protocol cannot be downgraded to below the highest protocol that is supported between the two (so if the client and the server both support TLS 1.2, SSLv3 cannot be used even if the server offers SSLv3).

The recommended course of action is ultimately for sites to disable SSLv3 on their servers, and for browsers to disable SSLv3 by default since the SSLv3 protocol is known to be broken. However, it will take time for sites to disable SSLv3, and some sites will choose not to, in order to support legacy browsers (eg, IE6). As a result, immediately disabling SSLv3 in Ubuntu in the openssl libraries, in servers or in browsers, will break sites that still rely on SSLv3.

Ubuntu's Response:

Unfortunately, this issue cannot be addressed in a single USN because this is a vulnerability in a protocol, and the Internet must respond accordingly (ie SSLv3 must be disabled everywhere). Ubuntu's response provides a path forward to transition users towards safe defaults:

Add TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV to openssl in a USN: In progress, upstream openssl is bundling this patch with other fixes that we will incorporate

Follow Google's lead regarding chromium and chromium content api (as used in oxide):

Add TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV support to chromium and oxide: Done – Added by Google months ago.

Disable fallback to SSLv3 in next major version: In Progress

Disable SSLv3 in future version: In Progress

Follow Mozilla's lead regarding Mozilla products:

Disable SSLv3 by default in Firefox 34: In Progress – due Nov 25

Add TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV support in Firefox 35: In Progress

Ubuntu currently will not:

Disable SSLv3 in the OpenSSL libraries at this time, so as not to break compatibility where it is needed

Disable SSLv3 in Apache, nginx, etc, so as not to break compatibility where it is needed

Preempt Google's and Mozilla's plans. The timing of their response is critical to giving sites an opportunity to migrate away from SSLv3 to minimize regressions

For more information on Ubuntu security notices that affect the current supported releases of Ubuntu, or to report a security vulnerability in an Ubuntu package, please visit http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/.

Prakash Advani: Tox: Secure and Open Source alternative to Skype2014-09-17T03:47:email@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2014/09/17/tox-secure-and-open-source-alternative-to-skype

The main thing the Tox team is trying to do, besides provide encryption, is create a tool that requires no central servers whatsoever—not even ones that you would host yourself. It relies on the same technology that BitTorrent uses to provide direct connections between users, so there's no central hub to snoop on or take down.

There are other developers trying to build a secure, peer-to-peer messaging systems, including Briar and Invisible.im, a project co-created by HD Moore, the creator of the popular security testing framework Metasploit. And there are other secure-centric voice calling apps, including those from Whisper Systems and Silent Circle, which encrypt calls made through the traditional telco infrastructure. But Tox is trying to roll both peer-to-peer and voice calling into one.

Actually, it's going a bit further than that. Tox is actually just a protocol for encrypted peer-to-peer data transmission. "Tox is just a tunnel to another node that's encrypted and secure," says David Lohle, a spokesperson for the project. "What you want to send over that pipe is up to your imagination." For example, one developer is building an e-mail replacement with the protocol, and Lohle says someone else is building an open source alternative to BitTorrent Sync.

Read More: http://www.wired.com/2014/09/tox/

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Canonical Blog: Supporting net neutrality and the Internet Slowdown2014-09-09T18:10:39ZRobin firstname.lastname@example.com://blog.canonical.com/2014/09/09/supporting-net-neutrality-and-the-internet-slowdown/
On 10th September 2014, Canonical are joining in with Internet Slowdown day to support the fight for net neutrality.

Along with Reddit, Tumblr, Boing Boing, Kickstarter and many more sites, we will be sporting banners on our main sites, www.ubuntu.com and www.canonical.com.

 If there were Internet slow lanes, you'd still be waiting.

 Protect Internet freedom.
 Defend net neutrality.

Take action

Net neutrality

From Wikipedia:

Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, and modes of communication.

Internet Slowdown day

#InternetSlowdown day is in protest to the FCC's plans to allow ISPs in America to offer "paid prioritization" of their traffic to certain companies.

If large companies were allowed to pay ISPs to prioritise their traffic, it would be much harder for competing companies to enter the market, effectively giving large corporations a greater monopoly.

I believe that internet service providers should conform to common carrier laws where the carrier is required to provide service to the general public without discrimination.

If you too support net neutrality, please consider signing the Battle for the net petition.

Also posted on my blog.
Canonical Blog: "Sometimes the best man for the job isn't."2014-07-14T13:36:54ZJane firstname.lastname@example.com://blog.canonical.com/2014/07/14/sometimes-the-best-man-for-the-job-isnt/
The social and business value of having a diverse workforce is well documented. Equally well documented is the relative lack of women in technology, and in open source.

At Canonical we are working hard to build a globally diverse workforce. We are well positioned to do so, particularly building on our open source roots, and in areas such as supporting geographic diversity we are quite successful. However, in terms of gender diversity, women make up only 13% of Canonical and, slightly more encouragingly, 18% of our managers. It is disappointing to me that despite having one of the most welcoming, collaborative, flexible and meritocratic environments I have known, we still have such a large gender disparity.

As a woman in technology and a CEO, I am aware of the power of positive examples. While we need to learn from and eliminate the discouragement, barriers and illegal behaviour which continues to haunt women in technology, we should also celebrate the possibilities, highlight the opportunities and help illuminate a path for others to follow. In that vein, I'd like to introduce you to a few of the amazing women in technical leadership roles in Canonical.

Alexis Bruemmer is the Engineering Manager for Canonical's Juju team – a team of brilliant engineers working to make cloud orchestration easy, portable and flawless. Alexis has been working in Linux since her graduation in 2005 and is passionate about open source. Prior to Canonical, Alexis was at IBM's Linux Technology Center. Beyond her work as a professional, she is active in the community promoting STEM outreach as Vice Chair for Saturday Academy and long time member of Society of Women Engineers.

Ara Pulido is the Hardware Certification Manager at Canonical, leading the team that defines and ensures the quality bar for desktops and laptops pre-installed with Ubuntu. She discovered Free Software at college, where she was a founding member of the local LUG back in 2002. She joined Canonical 6 years ago in the Ubuntu Engineering QA team. You can follow her at https://twitter.com/arapulido.

Leann Ogasawara is the Engineering Manager for our Kernel Team, following a series of promotions at Canonical from Kernel QA to Kernel Engineer to overall team manager. She has been involved in Linux and Open Source for over a decade. Before coming to Canonical in 2007, Leann was at the Open Source Development Labs.

Pat Gaughen is the Engineering Manager for the fabulous Ubuntu Server and Openstack Development team. She's worked in Linux since 1999, and has been in love with Operating System internals for even longer. Prior to Canonical, Pat was at the IBM Linux Technology Center.

Roxanne Fan is the Quality Assurance Manager in our Devices Commercial Engineering team. She has been working in data mining for software quality improvement and automation tool development for the past 12 years. She wrote her Masters thesis on the performance of innovative routing for wireless sensor networks in the Ubuntu system. Before Canonical, she was at Pegatron Corp.

There are of course many reasons why women join and succeed at Canonical – great technology, inspirational colleagues, the opportunity to innovate, and to fundamentally have an impact on people's mobile and cloud computing experiences. Some of the less visible yet fundamental characteristics of Canonical which allow women to succeed in leadership positions include:

A commitment to a respectful, collaborative, meritocratic environment sets the stage. One of the earliest manifestations of this commitment was encoded in the Ubuntu Code of Conduct. This clear statement of expectations has helped make the Ubuntu community a welcoming place for women, and applies in equal measure to Canonical.

Our recruitment philosophy of 'hire only the best people', largely unrestricted by geographical boundaries, provides us with the opportunity to grow and support a diverse workforce. It enables us to consider candidates of varying locations, economic circumstances, gender, and physical ability. Like all organisations we want the best person for the role, and leveraging our expertise in distributed, multi-cultural environments allows us to widen our recruiting net significantly. Across all Canonical companies, our staff is 30% UK, 32% US, and 38% rest of world. Those percentages are approximately the same when looking at all staff or management/leadership roles, thus providing excellent leadership opportunities in sometimes underserved markets.

We operate on a largely distributed environment and strive to support both home-based and office-based workers in equal measure. With 75% of our employees working remotely we have an extremely high trust environment, thereby empowering employees to integrate working life with home life. This approach has enabled us to retain men and women who otherwise may have left due to family demands.

I find the women above inspiring and am proud to work with them and many others of the same calibre. But we still have a long road to travel for our diversity figures to be where they should be. As with the root causes of the problem, the solution is multi-faceted and complex. We know that there is much more we can do to attract and retain greater diversity at Canonical, and are redoubling our efforts to do so. As a first step, come join us!
Prakash Advani: HP to Invest $1 billion in Open Cloud Services2014-06-06T08:36:57ZPrakash firstname.lastname@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2014/06/06/hp-to-invest-1-billion-in-open-cloud-services?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hp-to-invest-1-billion-in-open-cloud-services

The company has pledged to invest $1 billion in open cloud products and services over the next two years, along with community-driven, open-source cloud technologies.

"Just as the community spread the adoption of Linux in the enterprise, we believe OpenStack will do the same for the cloud," said Hewlett-Packard CEO and President Meg Whitman, in a webcast announcing Helion Tuesday.

Read More

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Prakash Advani: Seven Out Of Ten People Don't Use Microsoft Office Anymore2014-05-13T04:57:39ZPrakash firstname.lastname@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2014/05/13/seven-out-of-ten-people-dont-use-microsoft-office-anymore?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=seven-out-of-ten-people-dont-use-microsoft-office-anymor
If your usage is not much, use LibreOffice and save on your licensing costs.

If new data are true, Microsofthas a big problem.

According to a study done by SoftWatch, seven out of 10 employees don't use Microsoft Office to any extent.

The three-month study involved 148,500 employees at 51 global firms. SoftWatch found that most employees were using the applications, largely for viewing documents or very light editing.

Read More.

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Prakash Advani: Is Ubuntu affected by Heartbleed ?2014-04-30T07:23:00ZPrakash email@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2014/04/30/is-ubuntu-affected-by-heartbleed?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-ubuntu-affected-by-heartbleed
The Short answer is No. Ubuntu was patched on 7th April 2014 and the bug was widely reported on 8th April, 2014. If you are using other operating systems, you need to worry. Especially if its non-Linux based.

Read More: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Dear-Ubuntu-Users-Stop-Saying-the-Ubuntu-Is-Unprotected-Against-the-Heartbleed-Exploit-437846.shtml

The Heartbleed vulnerability that was discovered just last week took the world by surprise, but most of the affected services and operating systems have been patched. Unfortunately, some of the Ubuntu users haven't understood how the patching process works and have started to flood the forums and other social media with the message that Ubuntu is vulnerable.

Before the OpenSSL issues has become known to the general public, most of the Linux distributions affected by the issue were patched. Most of the media reported on the problem on April 8, but the patch for the Heartbleed vulnerability was already in place on April 7. This is how the security notification looks like in Ubuntu.

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Prakash Advani: UK's security branch says Ubuntu most secure end-user OS2014-04-21T07:41:35ZPrakash email@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2014/04/21/uks-security-branch-says-ubuntu-most-secure-end-user-os?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=uks-security-branch-says-ubuntu-most-secure-end-user-os

The Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG), the group within the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) that assesses operating systems and software for security issues, has found that while no end-user operating system is as secure as they'd like it to be, Ubuntu 12.04 is the best of the lot.

In late 2013, the CESG looked at the security of the most popular end-user operating systems for desktops, smartphones, and tablets [PDF Link]. This included: Android 4.2, Android 4.2 on Samsung devices; iOS 6, Blackberry 10.1, Google's Chrome OS 26, Ubuntu 12.04, Windows 7 and 8; Windows 8 RT, and Windows Phone 8. These were judged for their security suitability for OFFICIAL level use according to the UK Government Security Classifications (PDF Link). This is the UK's government lowest security level.

Read more: http://www.zdnet.com/uks-security-branch-says-ubuntu-most-secure-end-user-os-7000025312/

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Canonical Blog: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS2014-04-17T18:35:28ZMark email@example.com://blog.canonical.com/2014/04/17/ubuntu-14-04-lts/
Today is a big day for Ubuntu and a big day for cloud computing: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS is released. Everyone involved with Ubuntu can't help but be impressed and stirred about the significance of Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.

We are impressed because Ubuntu is gaining extensive traction outside of the tech luminaries such as Netflix, Snapchat and wider DevOP community; it is being adopted by mainstream enterprises such as BestBuy. Ubuntu is dominant in public cloud with typically 60% market share of Linux workloads in the major cloud providers such as Amazon, Azure and Joyent. Ubuntu Server also is the fastest growing platform for scale out web computing having overtaken CentOS some six months ago. So Ubuntu server is growing up and we are proud of what it has become. We are stirred up by how the adoption of Ubuntu, coupled with the adoption of cloud and scale out computing is set grow enormously as it fast becomes an 'enterprise' technology.

Recently 70% of CIOs stated that they are going to change their technology and sourcing relationships within the next two or three years. This is in large part due to their planned transition to cloud, be it on premise using technologies such as Ubuntu OpenStack, in a public cloud or, most commonly, using combinations of both. Since the beginning of Ubuntu Server we have been preparing for this time, the time when a wholesale technology infrastructure change occurs and Ubuntu 14.04 arrives just as the change is starting to accelerate beyond the early adopters and technology companies. Enterprises now moving parts of their infrastructure to cloud can choose the technology best suited for the job: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS:

Ubuntu Server 14.04 LTS at a glance

Based on version 3.13 of the Linux kernel

Includes the Icehouse release of OpenStack

Both Ubuntu Server 14.04 LTS and OpenStack are supported until April 2019

Includes MAAS for automated hardware provisioning

Includes Juju for fast service deployment of 100+ common scale out applications such as MongoDB, Hadoop, node.js, Cloudfoundry, LAMP stack and Elastic Search

Ceph Firefly support

Openvswitch 2.0.x

Docker included & Docker's own repository now populated with official Ubuntu 14.04 images

Optimised Ubuntu 14.04 images certified for use on all leading public cloud platforms – Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Joyent Cloud, HP Cloud, Rackspace Cloud, CloudSigma and many others.

Runs on key hardware architectures: x86, x64, Avoton, ARM64, POWER Systems

50+ systems certified at launch from leading hardware vendors such as HP, Dell, IBM, Cisco and SeaMicro.

The advent of OpenStack, the switch to scale out computing and the move towards public cloud providers presents a perfect storm out of which Ubuntu is set to emerge the technology used ubiquitously for the next decade. That is why we are impressed and stirred by Ubuntu 14.04. We hope you are too. Download 14.04 LTS here
Canonical Blog: An insight into supporting OpenStack2014-03-27T14:56:43ZMark email@example.com://blog.canonical.com/2014/03/27/an-insight-into-supporting-openstack/
It is pretty well known that most of the OpenStack clouds running in production today are based on Ubuntu. Companies like Comcast, NTT, Deutsche Telekom, Bloomberg and HP all trust Ubuntu Server as the right platform to run OpenStack. A fair proportion of the Ubuntu OpenStack users out there also engage Canonical to provide them with technical support, not only for Ubuntu Server but OpenStack itself. Canonical provides full Enterprise class support for both Ubuntu and OpenStack and has been supporting some of the largest, most demanding customers and their OpenStack clouds since early 2011. This gives us a unique insight into what it takes to support a production OpenStack environment.

For example, in the period January 1st 2014 to end of March, Canonical processed hundreds of OpenStack support tickets averaging over 100 per month. During that time we closed 92 bugs whilst customers opened 99 new ones. These are bugs found by real customers running real clouds and we are pleased that they are brought to our attention, especially the hard ones as it helps makes OpenStack better for everyone.

The type of support tickets we see is interesting as core OpenStack itself only represents about 12% of the support traffic. The majority of problems arise between the interaction of OpenStack, the operating system and other infrastructure components – fibre channel drivers used by nova volume, or, QEMU/libvirt issues during upgrades for example. Fixing these problems requires deep expertise Ubuntu as well as OpenStack which is why customers choose Canonical to support them.

In my next post I'll dig a little deeper into supporting OpenStack and how this contributes to the OpenStack ecosystem.
Prakash Advani: Thunderbird: Sending emails in the background2014-03-25T05:53:45ZPrakash firstname.lastname@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2014/03/25/thunderbird-sending-emails-in-the-background?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thunderbird-sending-emails-in-the-background
Mozilla Thunderbird is one of the most powerful email clients. However I used to find that it used to keep the active window open while sending emails. This was a bit irritating specially if the email has large attachments.

On searching for background send, I found that the feature exists but doesn't show up in the preference. You need to enable it.

After enabling it, it works very well. The only thing you need to be careful is not to send an email and immediately close your email client or shut down your PC. What happens is that email will not go as it take a few minutes (depending on the size of the email) for the email to go. The good part is that the email don't disappear, they still in the Outbox. It will try to re-send the next time you start Thunderbird, but there is no way for you to know if its gone or not, unless you check.

Read more: http://woikr.com/howto/send-emails-in-background-in-thunderbird-tips/

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Prakash Advani: Demand for Linux Skills Rises with Cloud Computing2014-02-24T03:11:46ZPrakash firstname.lastname@example.com://cityblogger.com/archives/2014/02/24/demand-for-linux-skills-rises-with-cloud-computing?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=demand-for-linux-skills-rises-with-cloud-computing

Demand for people with Linux skills is increasing, a trend that appears to follow a shift in server sales.

Cloud infrastructure, including Amazon Web Service, is largely Linux based, and cloud services' overall growth is increasing Linux server deployments. As many as 30% of all servers shipped this year will be cloud services providers, according to research firm IDC.

This shift may be contributing to Linux hiring trends reported by the Linux Foundation and IT careers website Dice, in a report released Wednesday. The report states that 77% of hiring managers have put hiring Linux talent on their list of priorities, up from 70% a year ago.

Read More: http://www.computerworld.in/news/demand-for-linux-skills-rises

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Originally written on Fox Sports Arizona | Last updated 2/16/13
Box score TUCSON, Ariz. Junior starter James Farris racked up a career-high eight strikeouts over eight innings and sophomore catcher Riley Moore reached base five times to score three runs as 10th-ranked Arizona defeated visiting Coppin State 14-1 before a crowd of 2,969 on Saturday at Hi Corbett Field. Arizona (2-0) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning and blew it open with three four-run innings. Moore finished the game 2-for-2 with three walks, three runs scored and a pair of runs batted in. Farris (1-0) set the tone early by retiring the Eagles in order the first time through the lineup. In the fourth, Chris Kashangaki led off with a triple and scored when the next batter, John Walls, singled home the tying run. From there, Farris dominated, retiring the final 15 batters he faced. To complement his career-high eight strikeouts, the right-hander did not issue a walk in the game. The Wildcats did not blink after giving up their first run of the season. Johnny Field...
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1869 $10 XF45 NGC. An extremely rare date, with a mintage ...
2004 January Long Beach Signature Sale #342
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Extremely Rare 1869 With Motto Eagle, XF45 NGC1869 $10 XF45 NGC. An extremely rare date, with a mintage of only 1,830 pieces, the 1869 is one of the premier rarities in the With Motto series, and indeed among all Coronet eagles. In fact, its rarity is such that, in the past, 1869-S examples with a weak mintmark have been offered as Philadelphia coins, and proofs have been offered as the rarer business strikes. As with all 1869 tens the fields are prooflike, yet this is definitely not a proof, as star 11 shows diagnostic repunching on several points (a feature not seen on the proofs). Not quite completely struck up, but a well defined and well balanced coin, albeit peppered with numerous abrasions. Population: 8 in 45, 17 finer (11/03).(#8655) (Registry values: P3) (NGC ID# 264R, PCGS# 8655)
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I am currently using /%category%/%postname%/ for my permalinks, but these get quite long and I do not want to use awe.sm (or the bit.ly hack). I would like Sociable to use the default permalink (http://website.com/?p=123)
Can anyone tell me how I can do this? I appreciate any response.
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Survey says 9 out of 10 of us have experienced a natural disaster but we still don't prepare
By Heather Alexander | July 8, 2014 | Updated: July 8, 2014 4:59pm
Photo By RJ Sangosti/Getty ImagesMajor Texas Natural DisastersStatistics show that almost all Americans have experienced a natural disaster but many skip vital preparation plans. Here are the major disaster declarations for Texas since the year 2000.
Photo By Deborah Cannon/MBOCentral Texas Halloween floodsA man walks through flood waters in Austin, Texas on Quicksilver Boulevard, Austin, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013. Heavy overnight rains brought flooding to the area. The National Weather Service said more than a foot of rain fell in Central Texas, including up to 14 inches in Wimberley. (AP Photo/The Austin American-Statesman, Deborah Cannon)
Photo By Associated Press / File photoWest ExplosionOn April 17 2013 an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West Texas killed 15 people and injured 160 more.
Bastrop WildfireThe Bastrop County complex fire in 2011 was the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, destroying 1,673 homes and and estimated $325 million in property damage.
Photo By HOHurricane AlexHurricane Alex was the only major hurricane to directly hit the United States in the 2010 hurricane season. 51 people were killed as it passed over Central America and the Gulf Coast. NOAA/The Associated Press
Hurricane IkeIn October 2008 hurricane Ike devastated Galveston and the Texas coast with winds of 110 miles and hour and a 22 foot storm surge. In Texas 17 people are known to have died, $50 billion of damage was caused.
Hurricane DollyMassive waves from Hurricane Dolly pound Crystal Beach shores and Casey Sauer, 37, on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise
Photo By Jerry LaraTropical Storm ErinA dog sits in the heavy rains from Tropical Storm Erin on San Antonio's south side Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. Erin's remnants soaked rain-weary Texas, snarling rush-hour traffic and killing at least one person. (AP Photo/San Antonio Express-News, Jerry Lara)
Photo By Rod AydelotteFloodingJulia Ferrin carries a baby fawn she rescued from high water near her home in Clifton, Texas, Wednesday, June 27, 2007. Ferrin was forced to evacuate after the Bosque River overflowed its banks, closing roads and flooding low lying areas. (AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Rod Aydelotte)
Photo By TOM REELFloodingRicky Gonzalez looks down the street over the entire contents of his grandmother's home put out on the road during cleanup in the aftermath of flooding in Eagle Pass. on June 16, 2013, Eagle Pass was also badly flooded in 2007,
Photo By DARRELL BYERSTornadoesKim Holy holds a pug named Gracie shortly after the dog was rescued from the wreckage of a home in an unincorporated area of Collin County, Texas, Wednesday, May 10, 2006. Storms overnight spawned tornados that destroyed several homes in the area. (AP Photo/Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Darrell Byers)
Photo By TONY GUTIERREZWildfire 2006A partially burned calf stands outside a fence line on a county road in Roberts County, Texas, Tuesday, March 14, 2006, as the charred land behind it is seen following Sunday's wildfires. Firefighters said they were making progress Tuesday against a string of wildfires ravaging the dry Texas grassland, but the good news was tempered by a threat of shifting winds and the distress of evacuees returning to charred homes. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Photo By RALPH LAUER/MBRHurricane RitaVehicles, some overheated, broken down or out of gas, sit in the median of Interstate 45 in The Woodlands in September 2005 during Hurricane Rita evacuation. After Rita, a contra-flow system for regional interstate highways was put in place to ease congestion during storm evacuations.
Photo By ERIC GAY/APHurricane ClaudetteGov. Rick Perry, left, talks with Connie Hunt during a visit to an emergency shelter in Port Lavaca, Texas, Thursday, July 17, 2003. Hunt was seeking assistance for those affected by Hurricane Claudette.
Photo By GEORGE TULEYSouth Texas tornadoesFour days after Corpus Christi, Texas was hit by tornados and torrential rains another line of heavy thurnderstorms innundated the city Monday, Oct. 28, 2002, and brought traffic to a standstill. Augustine Mendoza, left, and Shythina Marshall, right, wade through water that was at times waist deep. (AP Photo/Corpus Christi Caller-Times, George Tuley)
Photo By Steve Ueckert/Houston ChronicleTropical Storm Allison: The great storm of 2001.Remnants of Tropical Storm Allison inundated the Texas Medical Center, looking north at the Fannin underpass at Holcombe, completely filled. The clearance under the underpass exceeds 14 feet. Photo by Steve Ueckert / Chronicle
Almost everyone in the U.S. has bore the brunt of a natural disaster according to a new survey by insurers Allstate, but practically no one prepares properly.
In a questionnaire produced by the firm, 90 percent of Americans said they had personally experienced a natural disaster, defined as hail, heavy snow, hurricane, earthquake, weather related flood, tornedo or wildfire.
Despite this personal knowledge that disasters do happen, however, hardly any of us prepares properly. According to the survey, 19 percent of people admit to being caught completely off guard when a disaster happened.
"I think the surprise from the results is not that they've been through it, it's the preparation component," said Allsate spokesperson Kristen Freis, "Even though they have experienced them, they're not prepared for the next one."
Freis highlights survey results which showed that 90 percent of people have not practiced an evacuation plan and 64 percent have not made a home inventory.
"Those are key preparation pieces that should take place," said Freis, "Preparation is a family's best defence."
Allstate suggests that several factors go into people's decision to remain inactive in the face of frequent weather phenomena. The idea that it will happen somewhere else next time seems to be a big player, the lightning never strikes the same place twice theory.
According to emergency planners, that theory does not bear out, especially in Houston.
"Emergencies happen here much more frequently than you think," said Francicso Sanchez, spokesperson for Harris County office for Homeland Securtiy and Emergency Managment, "Harris County has more presidentially declared disasters than most other states in the country."
Sanchez said Houston's Emergency Operations Center was activated 14 times just last year most times because of weather related incidents.
"We need a culture change, it's not a matter of if, it's when," Sanchez said, highlighting the number of new people moving to the area every year with little or no experience of flash flooding or the more extreme storm: hurricanes.
"We have about 200,000 new people each year that move into the Harris County area, that means since (Hurricane) Ike we have about a million new people that have little experience in dealing with hurricanes," Sanchez said.
It's the same story across the Texas. The website for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shows that there have been 20 declarations of major disaster in the state since 2000.
As well as the five hurricanes listed, there are three cases of wildfire and one explosion, in West, Texas, last April. Nationally, the number of disaster declarations has nearly doubled in the past 20 years.
Sanchez said preparation does make a difference, adding that the number one thing to do in preparation for emergencies is to stay informed.
"Go to readyharris.org and sign up for alerts or follow you local office of emergency management on social media," he said.


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Phones Shop osCommerce Template 19306
osCommerce 2.2 RC2a Template that was composed by our webmaster artist Di.
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This OSCommerce mobile store template has a gray background with a dark gray header and a white content area centered over them, an over-all light theme, and uses mostly white shades of gray, pink, red, and black. The header has a thin font pink and white "Mobile Store" logo on the left and a set of utilities on the right. The logo can easily be customised or replaced with your own logo. The tools include a set of language selection flag icons, a white and gray currency exchange drop-down, and a shopping cart status area with pink text and a pink cart icon. The top of the content area has five white tabs with black links for Home Page, New Products, Specials, My Account, and Contact Us. Under that there is a medium height banner image with a pink prism background, a black phone image on the right, and some white sales text on the left. The banner can easily be customised or replaced with your own banner. The content section of the template is split into two main columns, a thin sidebar on the left and a set of four featured products cells on the right. The top sidebar block has a dark gray background with a cut off top-right corner, a white title, and underlined white category links with white arrow list item bullet icons. Next there is a specials block that has a white background, thin light gray border around it, red section and item title text, a short wide thumbnail image in the middle and a pair of black price links on the bottom. Each cell in the right column has an underlined red title on top, a large thumbnail image in the middle, and a light gray tool bar on the bottom which includes a black price label on the left and a pair of purple and black gradient details and cart buttons with white labels on the bottom-right. Some of the items this template might be used to display include mobile phones, cellphones, mobile air time, pre-paid calling cards, phone cases, screen covers, Ericson phones, Motorola phones, Apple iPhone accessories, and various other mobile related items. The footer has a light gray background with Paypal, Visa, and Mastercard logos on the left and red text and links on the right. Phones Shop osCommerce Template 19306 is available in the following sources: .PSD, and .PHP. Software required includes Winzip 9+ (Windows) or Stuffit Expander 10+ (Mac) for uncompressing .zip files, Adobe Photoshop CS+, Adobe Dreamweaver 8+ (or any php-editor), Apache Only (on Unix/Freebsd/Linux/Windows), and Hosting with PHP5x and MySQL5x. It has had a total of total of 3 downloads since it first appeared.


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Jenny Craig Center - Rockville, MD
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What It Is
Jenny Craig isn't a Janie-come-lately to the diet field. The program began in 1983 in Australia and started U.S. operations in 1985.
The Jenny Craig method is a three-level food-mind-body plan to...
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: Prospect Info:
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Why not? He's doing it playing with Aucoin and McDonald. Once he gets bumped up into the top-six(which I'm pretty sure will happen) his numbers could get even better.
If Okposo eventually gets dropped from that top line, Ullstrom has to be the top candidate at this point to get his spot. I wouldn't be surprised if Ullstrom blows up when that happens(ala Moulson, Parenteau). The kid is a real deal prospect. He's proving that now.
I'm so glad Ullstrom's hard work is turning into meaningful NHL Production so quickly. I'm also happy that Islander fans now get to see him perform and are beginning to understand what kind of talent he has. I was basically laughed at/dismissed prior to the start of the season for suggesting Ullstrom get a shot on Tavares line. Now it's not such a ridiculous notion. I'm sure there are still a lot who feel Ullstrom is a 3rd liner, but that typecast seems to be fading, and rightfully so. He has a long way to go, but I have no doubts that if he can get his playing time he will continue to produce at a high level.
This sort of thing happens far more frequently to players who are brought along at their own pace. He's a 23 almost 24 year old rookie with tons of Experience in SEL, WJC, and AHL. Anyone think Ullstrom would be doing this good as a 19 year old kid without most of that experience?
For me it's obvious that Matt Donovan is the next one that will get called up and enjoy great success fairly quickly in the NHL (Same Draft Year as Ullstrom) and has played several years in NCAA, WJC, And AHL with same level of success as Ullstrom. I look forward to watching Donovan in the AHL ALl-Star Game tonight (that should be his final non NHL achievement).
I can't help but wonder where Bailey would be if the Islanders had the same development plan for him and made him earn his way and pile up Junior and AHL accomplishments before letting him step on the Ice.
Rueffner can shove it. He's an AGENT, not an NHL scout or player development personnel. Would he rather his client enjoy success and participate in an AHL All-Star game on his road to eventual NHL Stardom, or struggle to score goals in the NHL allowing his client to go multiple seasons without being an impact player? Oh wait, he gets paid a lot more if his client struggles in NHL. Never mind.
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I found Philip and his creation, "Bandit" playing outside the cathedral in Bath, England. Bandit is a unique musical machine of Philip's design which...
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These fun and flattering vintage-style suits blend the best of the old with the best of the new.
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As if straight from the pages of a children's book, this cotton tea towel adds a shot of happiness to a hard-working kitchen.
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Simple and sweet, this digitally printed cover—inspired by an original painting—will add a pretty pop of color to her sofa. Insert sold separately.
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Journey to Palomar | Preview | PBS
Duration: 00:30
Program: Journey to Palomar
The story of American astronomer George Ellery Hale's dramatic public and private struggle to build the four largest telescopes in the world.Tags:
Journey to Palomar | PBS
Full Program: The film traces the story of the Chicago-born astronomer George Ellery Hale as he struggles to build the greatest... 01:26:54
PBS NewsHour | Supernova Burns Bright in a... (#10149)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientists recently discovered a supernova about 21 million light years away... 05:45
PBS NewsHour | Asteroid Is a Dance Partner for... (#10120)
Asteroid Is a Dance Partner for Planet Earth 04:31
Brian Greene previews NOVA's "The Fabric...
At PBS' recent Annual Meeting, physicist and acclaimed author Brian Greene discusses his return to NOVA with "The... 02:11
The Parent Show | How do you raise a...
Common mistakes parents make that discourage kids from thinking scientifically. 03:15
Symphony of Science | 'The Big Beginning' (ft....
"The Big Beginning" is the eighth installment in the Symphony of Science music video series. It deals with the... 03:01
NOVA scienceNOW | Profile: Arlie Petters | PBS
A boy from rural Belize becomes a world-class mathematician and cosmologist. 08:54
Symphony of Science | 'The Case for Mars' (ft....
"The Case for Mars" is the sixth installment in the Symphony of Science music video series. It features Robert Zubrin,... 04:00
Secret Life of Scientists | Neil deGrasse Tyson...
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Secret Life of Scientists | Caroline Moore | PBS
Teen Astronomer / Singer 06:32
NOVA | The Pluto Files | PBS (#3706)
Full Program: Take a cross-country journey to explore the rise and fall of America's favorite planet. 52:53
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Join astrophysicist and host of NOVA science NOW Neil deGrasse Tyson as he travels across the country to explore the... 01:26
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Join astrophysicist and host of NOVA science NOW Neil degrasse Tyson as he travels across the country to explore the... 01:27
NOVA | The Pluto Files | Interview with host... (#3706)
Astrophysicist, host and author Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses what it is about cold, distant Pluto that captures... 03:30
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Starting Tuesday, Feb 16th we challenge you to go to NOVA's Web site and come up with a mnemonic appropriate for... 00:54
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From the scientists trying to classify Pluto to die-hard Plutophiles, Neil degrasse Tyson meets a fascinating cast of... 00:33
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Neil deGrasse Tyson follows the amazing story of Pluto's discovery and the captivating science that surrounds this... 01:16
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A musical tribute to two great men of science. Carl Sagan and his cosmologist companion Stephen Hawking present A... 03:34
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29 Mar 2013, 10:56am by Rivers McCown
Free agency shenanigans and Ed O'Bannon litigation bluffs! This and more in the month's best quotes.
14 comments, Last at 30 Mar 2013, 4:11pm by Rivers McCown
27 Mar 2013, 06:37pm by Rivers McCown
Greg Peshek of The Sideline View measures Barkevious Mingo, Dion Jordan, Bjorn Werner, Cornelius Carradine, and Alex Okafor against each other with data from STATS.
14 comments, Last at 13 Apr 2013, 9:16pm by Scott Crowder
25 Mar 2013, 11:59am by Rivers McCown
This week Peter talks Baltimore's offseason, waxes about Ed Reed and Brian Urlacher, and, naturally, spends some words on career Jaguars center Brad Meester.
19 comments, Last at 03 Apr 2013, 3:36am by MC2
19 Mar 2013, 05:49pm by Rivers McCown
The yin and yang of Houston Texans defenders: J.J. Watt and Bradie James.
27 comments, Last at 27 Mar 2013, 8:11pm by Mr Shush
19 Mar 2013, 01:34am by Rivers McCown
The Ravens and Falcons lead the way with four additional picks, while the Texans, Titans, and Chiefs each land an extra third-rounder from the compensatory formula.
9 comments, Last at 25 Mar 2013, 6:49am by Edward E. Patel
19 Mar 2013, 01:32am by Rivers McCown
Chase Stuart explores how teams should hypothetically adjust their game plans in light of the now-capped rookie deals.
5 comments, Last at 26 Mar 2013, 5:12am by Subrata Sircar
19 Mar 2013, 01:28am by Rivers McCown
Philly Magazine's Sheil Kapadia looks at Arrelious Benn's fit in the Chip Kelly offense. Seems like we could see a lot of screens in Mr. Benn's future.
3 comments, Last at 20 Mar 2013, 3:39pm by JasonF
18 Mar 2013, 09:47am by Rivers McCown
In this week's MMQB, Peter discusses early gains in free agency (and trades) made by the NFC West, the agenda at this week's owners meetings in Phoenix, and grades the best free-agent signings ... so far.
40 comments, Last at 21 Mar 2013, 12:54pm by Insancipitory
16 Mar 2013, 02:18pm by Rivers McCown
Over at Football Study Hall, our own Bill Connelly dissects a sample of college football snaps with no running backs and tests some truisms with the data.
19 comments, Last at 22 Mar 2013, 2:15am by Jennie P. Bryant
15 Mar 2013, 11:15am by Rivers McCown
Keep up with all the latest signings, releases, and re-signings. (Click to read more.)
65 comments, Last at 20 Mar 2013, 5:50am by Bright Blue Shorts


text: Getty Images NASCAR Post-Race Brawl Is All Kinds of Nuts [VIDEO] By Townsquare Staff November 3, 2014 The AAA Texas 500 started out as a car race, but ended up more like a WWE match. Read More|Comment Category: News, Racing, Sports Tags: Brawl, NASCAR Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


text:
Peanut Butter Peanut Brittle
|Smooth peanut butter
|2 Cup (32 tbs)
|1 1⁄2 Cup (24 tbs)
|Light corn syrup
|1 1⁄2 Cup (24 tbs)
|1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs)
|2 Tablespoon
|Raw peanuts
|2 Cup (32 tbs)
|Sifted baking soda
|1 Teaspoon
|Vanilla extract
|1 Teaspoon
Butter two large baking sheets.
Warm the peanut butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water.
Butter the inside of a heavy 2 quart saucepan.
Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in the prepared saucepan over medium-high heat.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Cook to 275 degrees on a candy thermometer, soft crack stage, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat to medium.
Add the butter and stir until melted.
Add the peanuts.
Cook for five minutes longer or until candy begins to turn brown and thermometer registers 295 degrees, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat.
Sprinkle the baking soda quickly over the peanut mixture, stirring constantly.
Stir in the vanilla.
Add the warm peanut butter, stirring gently until well combined.
Working quickly, pour the candy immediately onto the prepared baking sheets; spread as thin as possible with a spatula.
Let stand until cool and break into pieces.


text:
A node is removed/added from a network with minimal disruption by actuating a mechanism on an adjacent node that provides an indication to a controller node, which commands a wrap of the adjacent nodes. Once the node is added/removed, the wrap can be removed to resume normal operation. With this arrangement, disruption of traffic flow is minimized as nodes are added and removed from the network.
1. A method for non-disruptively modifying a network having a control node and a plurality of additional non-control nodes physically connected in a ring, comprising:
receiving a first indication from a first non-control node of the plurality of additional non-control nodes that the first non-control node will be physically removed from the network, the first indication having been generated by the first non-control node in response to actuation by a user of a topology change notification mechanism implemented as a physical actuation mechanism on the first node;
in response to the receipt of the first indication, modifying data flow in the network to avoid data flow through the first non-control node while maintaining the data flow in the network;
receiving a second indication that the first non-control node has been physically removed and that the ring has been reconnected; and
resuming the data flow over the ring network in response to receiving the second indication.
2. The method according to
3. The method according to
4. The method according to
5. The method according to
6. The method according to
7. The method according to
8. The method according to
9. The method of
10. A method for non-disruptively modifying a ring network having a control node and a plurality of additional non-control network nodes physically connected in a ring topology, comprising:
receiving a first indication from a non-control network node, the first indication having been generated by the non-control network node in response to actuation by a user of a mechanism dedicated for topology change notification implemented on the non-control network node as a physical actuation mechanism coupled to a circuit carrier device in the non-control network node, wherein the first indication is to request physical removal of the non-control network node from the network;
in response to the received indication, modifying data flow in the network to avoid data flow through the non-control network node while maintaining the data flow in the network;
receiving a second indication indicating that the non-control network node has been physically removed and that the ring has been reconnected; and
resuming data flow over the ring network in response to receiving the second indication.
11. The method according to
12. The method according to
13. A method for non-disruptively modifying a ring network having a control node and a plurality of additional non-control nodes in a ring topology, comprising:
receiving at the control node a first indication from a first non-control node of the plurality of additional non-control nodes, the first indication indicating that the first non-control node will be physically removed from the network, the first indication having been generated by the first non-control node in response to actuation by a user of a mechanism dedicated for topology change notification implemented on the first non-control node as a physical actuation mechanism coupled to a network interface card in the first non-control node;
in response to the received first indication, modifying data flow in the network, by the control node, to avoid data flow through the first non-control node while maintaining the data flow in the network;
receiving at the control node a second indication that the first non-control node has been physically removed from the ring network and the ring network has been reconnected; and
resuming the data flow over the ring network, by the control node, in response to receiving the second indication.
14. A non-control network node for use in a ring network, the non-control network node comprising:
a circuit carrier device to enable the non-control network node to communicate with other nodes on the ring network; and
a mechanism dedicated for topology change notification coupled to the circuit carrier device and implemented on the non-control network node as a physical actuation mechanism, in response to actuation of which the non-control network node transmits an indication onto the ring network, to a control node, to indicate to the control node that the non-control network node is to be removed from the ring network, wherein the mechanism dedicated for topology change notification comprises:
a first actuator, actuation of which signals that a node is to be inserted onto the ring network adjacent to the non-control network node in a first direction from the non-control network node; and
a second actuator, actuation of which signals that a node is to be inserted onto the ring network adjacent to the non-control network node in a second direction from the non-control network node.
15. A non-control network node as recited in
16. A non-control network node as recited in
17. A non-control network node as recited in
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/312,847, filed on Aug. 16, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Not Applicable.
As is known in the art, nodes in a so-called ring network, e.g., FDDI Dual-Attached-Stations (DAS) and SONET Bidirectional Line Switched Ring, are typically daisy chained together. Each node has a link to the previous node and to the next node. The nodes automatically detect a link break and switch over to an alternate path as shown in
When it is desired to add a node to an FDDI ring, for example, an operator intentionally breaks the ring by disconnecting the cables going to a node. The nodes surrounding the break assume that the link was broken by a fault and will "wrap the ring" until the ring is restored. Thus, the system behaves no differently than it would during an actual fault event: the system initiates a conventional protection mechanism and suffers a momentary loss of network connectivity. This is acceptable for some networks, as the addition or removal of a node is expected to be an infrequent event. For a data network like FDDI, the brief downtime while the network goes into protection mode is not problematic. SONET networks are designed to minimize fail-over time, specifying a maximum recovery time, because they can carry thousands of circuits that may be sensitive to even brief outages. However, in certain high-availability data networking environments, zero downtime with zero data loss is desired, even if a node needs scheduled maintenance or other activities that require disconnecting a cable.
It would, therefore, be desirable to overcome the aforesaid and other disadvantages.
The present invention provides a network topology change indicator mechanism that can be actuated by an operator (or automatically by the network) prior to addition/removal of a network node. With this arrangement, the network can adapt in advance to impending network topology changes so as to minimize traffic downtime. Although the invention is primarily shown and described in conjunction with multi-fiber optical networks in a ring topology, it is understood that the invention is applicable to networks in general in which it is desirable to minimize traffic downtime due to node insertion and removal.
In one aspect of the invention, a network includes first, second, and third nodes and a headend interconnected in a ring topology, where the first and third nodes are adjacent the second node. A network topology change indicator mechanism is coupled to the second node for enabling an operator to communicate impending node changes to the network. For example, the node adjacent a node to be removed can be wrapped prior to node removal by actuation of the indicator mechanism. In one embodiment, the network topology change indicator mechanism includes a first device corresponding to removal of the second node from the network, a second device corresponding to insertion of a first new node upstream of the second node and a third device corresponding to insertion of a second new node downstream of the second node. Actuation of the appropriate device in the indicator mechanism enables the network to prepare for the network topology change, e.g., node removal/addition.
The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention provides a mechanism for non-disruptively adding or removing a node from a ring network. While the network topology change indicator mechanism is primarily shown and described in conjunction with a button for informing the network of an impending topology change, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternative mechanisms can be used without departing from the invention. Exemplary mechanisms in include buttons, keypads, levers, toggle switches, slide switches, rocker switches, rotary switches, DIP switches and other multi-position switches having at least two states.
In an exemplary embodiment, actuation of a push button informs the system that a link is about to be broken for the purposes of adding or removing a node. Informing the system in advance allows it to gracefully switch to protection mode before breaking the link, thus minimizing downtime and lost packets. That is, nodes can be added and removed non-disruptively. This is in contrast to the system detecting a broken, i.e., faulty, link after a period of time.
For example, conventional FDDI rings are designed to operate without such notification because it is assumed that the few seconds that it takes to detect and heal the artificial failure is acceptable. In known SONET networks, a planned node addition/removal might be entered into a network management system that suppresses alarms that are sounded when a link is intentionally broken. However, the system still experiences a brief outage, e.g., up to 50 ms in SONET, while the ring is being wrapped.
With the manual informing mechanism of the present invention, there is no loss of network traffic, and the operator need not communicate with a network management station. Alternatively, the indicator mechanism can be actuated automatically by the system under predetermined conditions.
As shown in
Upon actuation of the insert West button 204 a on NODE C, for example, the node sends a message to the headend indicating that a node NODE D is to be added between nodes NODE B and NODE C. In one particular embodiment, the button must be depressed for a predetermined amount of time, e.g., five seconds, in order to initiate the non-disruptive node addition. The delay reduces the likelihood of accidental actuation of the switch. The headend then modifies the optical switches on NODE B and NODE C to wrap the connection, as shown in
Referring now to
In one embodiment, a series of indicators (e.g., LEDs) can provide an operator with status to facilitate adding and deleting nodes. For example, a LED can indicate that after depression of an insert node button wrapping is complete so that cables can be disconnected and connected to place the new node in the ring network. Upon detecting that the cables have been reconnected, for example, the headend commands the nodes NODE B, NODE C to place their optical switches in the normal position. The headend then discovers the new node D and resumes normal ring operation (
In one embodiment, depressing both the insert east and west buttons simultaneously indicates that the node is to be removed from the ring. In a further embodiment, consecutive actuation of an insert node pushbutton cancels the operation.
While the invention is primarily shown and described as a push button, it is understood that a variety of mechanisms can be used. Exemplary mechanisms include keypads, dials, punch keys, and the like.
Consider a two-fiber ring network as shown in
Suppose node C needs to be removed from an operational network. To do so, the administrator presses the Remove button on node C, which sends a control message to node Z. Node Z then sends messages to all nodes commanding them to pause all further transmissions, followed by a message to nodes B and D commanding them to wrap the ring, as shown in
A similar procedure is used to add a node. Suppose node C is to be returned to the ring. The administrator presses the "Insert East" button on node D, which sends a message to node Z. Node Z pauses traffic flow on the ring, commands nodes B and D to wrap, and then resumes traffic flow while node C is being reconnected to the ring. Node Z detects the presence of node C on the ring, and then commands nodes B and D to unwrap the ring. Again, this procedure minimizes the network downtime, and eliminates lost packets due to a sudden disconnection/reconnection of a cable. Instead of pressing the "Insert East" button on node D, one could equivalently press the "Insert West" button on node B.
It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art can easily construct many variations of the exemplary embodiments shown and described above. It should be recognized that the methods described above can be used in a variety of networks, of differing physical mediums, topologies, and medium access protocols (MAC).
For example, the network can include a four-fiber cable, a manager node that implements a centrally controlled MAC, and NICs that use line-switching instead of protection-wrapping, as shown in
It will be readily apparent that button pressing can be coded to reduce the number of buttons on the front panel. For example, instead of having a "Remove" Button, the Insert buttons could be instrumented such that simultaneously pressing both Insert buttons invokes the node removal operation.
The interface card can use LEDs to indicate the status of the NIC and to provide other feedback to the operator. For example, LEDs can be used to signal when a card is ready for physical disconnection, or when it is functional after insertion into the ring. Multicolor LEDs and flashing, blinking, or Morse-code like patterns can convey additional information.
In this example, shown in
Although the multi-fiber cable MFC is serially connected to the nodes in the network in an apparent "daisy chain", the nodes are in fact passively and optically tapping each optical fiber in the multi-fiber cable. The nodes Node 1-5 make passive optical connections to the fiber-cable loop; they do not repeat or terminate the previous node's transmissions, nor do they perform any processing or modification on them; therefore, there are no optical-to-electronic-to-optical ("O-to-E-to-O") conversions at the nodes.
The Collection fibers C1, C2 are used to carry data from the nodes to the headend HE; C1 runs clockwise from the headend, and C2 runs counterclockwise. The Distribution fibers D1, D2 are used to transmit data and control from the headend HE to the nodes; D1 runs clockwise, and D2 runs counterclockwise. During normal operation, C1 collects transmissions from the nodes and directs them to the headend, with C2 serving as a standby fiber that is used if the fiber-cable is cut. The headend receives data from the nodes on C1 and distributes the data back to the nodes on D1, with D2 serving as a standby fiber in the event of a fiber cut. Nodes "speak" on the Collection fibers, and "listen" on the Distribution fibers. Note that the transmitting node's message passes through the headend HE before being heard by the receiving node, even if the receiving node is downstream of the transmitting node on the Collection fiber, again because nodes do not listen on the Collection fibers. Note that the directions of the fibers can be changed, so long as C1 and C2 propagate in opposite directions around the loop, and similarly with D1 and D2. In another embodiment, the network can allow downstream nodes to listen to the Collection fiber instead of the Distribution fiber.
The Distribution fibers D1, D2 also carry control messages from the headend HE to the nodes Node 1-5, on one or more wavelengths (the "control channel(s)") separate from the data wavelength(s) (the "data channel(s)"). The headend HE sends the control messages on both D1 and D2, and sends a control signal (a "pilot tone") on C1 and C2 over the control channel. These pilot tones are used to determine if a fiber-cut has occurred, and are ignored by the nodes.
At the endpoint of each optical fiber at the headend HE, there are detectors (
An exemplary protection switching mechanism for this network operates as follows. During normal operation of the network, nodes receive a continuous stream of control messages from the headend on D1. In the event of a fiber-cable cut, nodes downstream of the cut will no longer receive the stream of control messages; this will trigger the node to switch over to D2 to obtain control messages. Once the nodes downstream of the cut switch to D2, all nodes in the system will be receiving the control messages being sent by the headend indicating the presence of the fault. At this point, the headend and all the nodes are aware of the fault, and all nodes know on which side of the cable-cut they are located by virtue of the Distribution fiber that is still functional.
Inserting a node in the network entails temporarily breaking the loop. In order to minimally disrupt network operations during the addition of the new node, the headend needs to be informed in advance that the loop is going to be intentionally cut. The headend will then instruct the nodes to use the Collection and Distribution fibers that permit network operations during the planned cut. After this has been done, a new node may be inserted into the loop, and the headend will ignore fiber-cable cut alarms, as it is expecting this to happen. With the new node in place and the fiber-cable reconnected, the headend will begin the automatic discovery to learn the identity of the new node, and restore normal operation of the loop.
In one embodiment, a pushbutton on a node's network interface, such as that described above, is used to inform the headend HE of the planned break in the loop. Pressing the appropriate push-button ("East" or "West") on the node adjacent to the location of the insertion point of the new node initiates a message sent from the node to the headend. Upon receiving this message, the headend will command all the nodes in the network to pause their transmission, followed by a command to each node to arrange its optical switches so that it can communicate with the headend during the planned cut, as described above. Once all the nodes have properly switched to the alternate paths, the headend HE will allow transmissions to resume. At this point, it is safe to insert the new node into the ring. The headend will know that the new node has been inserted when the pilot tones and control signals are detected again. After detecting the new node, the headend will briefly pause transmissions from the nodes, command them to switch to their normal positions, and then resume transmissions. Thus, during the process of adding the new node, no transmissions are lost from abruptly breaking the loop.
A similar process is used to remove a node. Simultaneously pressing both the "Insert-East and "Insert-West" pushbuttons sends a message to the headend announcing that the node is to be disconnected. The headend pauses traffic on the ring, commands all the nodes to change their optical switch settings to appropriate positions, and then sends a message to the node that is to be disconnected, informing it that it may now be safely removed. This can be indicated by the appropriate LEDs on the faceplate of the NIC. After the node is removed and the fiber cables reconnected, the headend will sense that the ring has been reconnected and will command the node switches back to their normal positions, and then finally resume normal traffic flow.
In a further embodiment, one or more network nodes can include a network topology change indicator mechanism that includes a device corresponding to each node in the network. With this arrangement, an operator can actuate a push button or other such device for any node in the network that will be removed. Thus, an operator at the node can select any node in the network for removal from that one node. In addition, the mechanism can include a means for indicating that a new node will be added between any two existing network nodes.
While various network and cable configurations are shown, it understood that variations to the exemplary network and cable embodiments will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and well within the scope of the present invention. For example, while a four-fiber cable is illustrated with the fibers in a given order and having an exemplary direction, it will appreciated that the number, order and direction can vary. In addition, the indicator mechanism can be modified to signal other impending changes, such as the upcoming removal of a NIC, which is contemplated by the present invention. For example, simultaneous actuation of East and West insert node buttons can indicate removal of the NIC for that node. The particular network configurations shown and described herein are intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention without limiting the invention thereto. For example, a ring network, as used herein, should be construed broadly to include various ring-type network and bus configurations.
One skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the invention based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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text:
Think tank Rogare calls for a fourth fundraising regulatory body to set code of practice
30 Jun 2015
Fundraising think tank Rogare has today called upon the minister for civil society to create a fourth,...
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The HMRC has stressed that under its new gift aid small donations scheme, a charity will get one £5,000 top-up allowance only, regardless of whether it is broken up into regional branches.
Members of HMRC met with representatives from the charity sector on Friday to discuss this and other "design issues" outlined in its Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme Consultation Document, published on 27 March.
The document aims to find "the balance between fairness and complexity" in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposal to enable charities to claim a top-up payment equivalent to gift aid on up to £5,000 of small donations they collect each year. HMRC is welcoming feedback from the sector to iron out the details of the scheme.
One thing that the HMRC states in its consultation document, and reiterated at Friday's meeting, is that it "wants to prevent organisations that are a single charity from fragmenting into smaller organisations in order to access more small gift aid (GASDS) payments". This would also apply to those who have such a structure already in place for historic reasons, and presents a distinct "design challenge". For example, the Roman Catholic church is one national charity, but each Church of England parish is its own charity.
"Some charities that carry out charitable activities in local communities operate through local groups that are registered charities in their own right," the document states under the heading 'policy design considerations'. "If the government simply allocated a £5,000 maximum limit for donations to each recognised charity, these groups would receive a greater number of allocations than other charities that may have a more centralised structure with local groups or branches that form part of the same charity."
The document shows that HMRC is trying to find ways to ensure that some charities are not disadvantaged by their structure. Splitting the allowance or allocating a 'lead charity' were some of the possible ways to counter such fragmentation discussed at Friday's meeting.
Cathy Wilson, policy team leader for HMRC Charities and Nick Jones, policy adviser, chaired the Westminster meeting and fielded questions from representatives of a range of charities that have an interest in the scheme.
The agenda of the two-hour consultation session primarliy covered the abovementioned 'connected charities' issue and two other main points that the HMRC was seeking opinions on: matching (a proposal designed to prevent abuse of the scheme, wherein a charity must match – either exactly or to a set degree – their small donation claim to their gift aid claim) and community buildings, a proposal to add an extra £5,000 limit for charities for each community building it collects donations in, regardless of how many different individual groups fundraise within that building.
Answering questions from the floor, HMRC emphasised that the GASDS would require evidence, but specifics of this would be decided as consultation progressed. It was only for UK taxpayers, so the issue of students and foreign donators (such as tourists visiting a church and putting money in the collection plate) needs to be dealt with; inspections for GASDS will largely reflect those for gift aid; and the scheme is designed to be for physical, spontaneous donations only – ruling out text and online giving.
"This policy is about spontaneous giving – such as putting a few coins in a bucket or collection tray – where someone could have given a gift aid declaration, but administratively it was not convenient or practical either to the donor or that charity itself," summarised Wilson.
GASDS, intended to be introduced from 6 April 2013 with no fixed end date, is designed to help charities and community amateur sports clubs to claim a 'gift aid-style' payment on donations made in situations where donors either don't or won't give their details – such as bucket collections or a plate passed around during religious services – in the way required by the existing gift aid scheme. The scheme will only apply to small donations of £20 (raised at Budget 2012 from the previously-stated limit of £10).
Unlike gift aid, GASDS is not a tax relief and payments through it are not repayments of tax; instead it will be funded through public expenditure and legislated separately from HMRC's current annual Finance Bill process. It is not, HMRC stressed, a replacement for gift aid, rather a concurrent scheme, designed to help smaller charities to get the same benefits as larger organisations. HMRC will, however, administer claims in the same way that it does for gift aid claims – so the full £5,000 figure would actually top up by another £1,250.
Since GASDS would have fewer records, it raises the issue of possible fraud and abuse. Therefore HMRC spoke of certain eligibility criteria that a charity would need to fulfil: it would need to have at least a three-year record of good compliance with gift aid and to keep this standard up during its participation in GASDS (this means that GASDS will not apply to 'pop up' charities that are born out of a specific event, until they are at least three years old and have proved their compliance). Claims on the scheme will be based on the tax year from 6 April, regardless of which quarter the particular charity files its accounts, and will need to be made within one year of the end of the tax year in which the small donations are collected.
The full consultation document, which includes a more in-depth explanation of the GASDS, is available on the HRMC's website here.
The scheme is only at the proposal stage, and the government will consult on this draft guidance later this year, taking into account the reaction of the voluntary sector, before finalising it for the 2013/14 financial year. The closing date for comments is 25 May 2012.
Mike Wade
Director of Fundraising and Communications
1 May 2012
As a trustee of a number of small charities, my concern is that the government has allowed what could have been a great opportunity for small charities to be completely strangled by red tape. They claim that the scheme is "designed to help smaller charities to get the same benefits as larger organisations". Yet by introducing a requirement for small charities to have a 3 year track record of compliance with the exisiting Gift Aid scheme, they are exluding the many thousands of small charities, run by hard pressed volunteers, who find Gift Aid too challenging or scary, and had high hopes of this initiave. They have been let down.
Please - time for a rethink on this. The bean counters can always find potential risks that can be covered off with yet more red tape. Let's cut the small charities some slack here and Get Britain Giving .
Richard King
Head of Charities & Schools
Tozers LLP
30 Apr 2012
I bashed off my earlier reply before absorbing the whole article. When I did so I realised the full implications of what it was saying: that HMRC were (apparently) seriously considering treating groups of separately registered and managed charities in the same sector as if they were one. That is clearly preposterous.
How on earth can HMRC decide which are autonomous charities and which are not?! Doubtless the burden would be on the poor old charity to prove it is separate from any other. Frankly who would want to go to the trouble and expense of fragmenting their charity just to gain multiple £5000 allowances? It seems madness, and totally impractical.
Richard King
Head of Charities & Schools
Tozers LLP
30 Apr 2012
A useful update, thanks, but the RC/CofE analogy is false in that to say that "the Roman Catholic church is one national charity" is wrong. That Church may look like a single entity (with a national charity serving the Catholic Bishops' Conference based in London) but it is manifested locally in at least one charity for each diocese in England and Wales (Scotland being a separate Conference). These and many other Catholic charities (including religious orders) are represented by members of the Conference of Solicitors for Catholic Charities (CSCC, which I happen to chair);
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Budget 2012: What civil society wants from Osborne
Budget 2012: What the Chancellor didn't say
30 Jun 2015
Fundraising think tank Rogare has today called upon the minister for civil society to create a fourth,...
30 Jun 2015
Fundraising charities with incomes over £1m would have to join the FRSB, according to amendments proposed...
29 Jun 2015
Friends of the Earth has written to registered supporters to ask if they were happy with the way the charity...
30 Jun 2015
Breast Cancer Now has reduced staff numbers by a quarter since the merger, through a mix of redundancy...
30 Jun 2015
A charity has been ordered to seek independent advice on reclaiming £130,000 of missing income after...
29 Jun 2015
Trustees must do more to give the public confidence in charities, and must make sure charitable donations...
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There is a "massive future" for charity donations using contactless payment technology, according...
22 Jun 2015
Kew Gardens has denied claims that it pressured travel site TripAdvisor into deleting negative reviews...
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A charity set up by JK Rowling ten years ago to close children's institutions and orphanages in developing...
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