Friday, October 25, 2019

How to Reset the Toner in Your Brother Printer



Do you have a Brother printer that's telling you that the toner is low or empty? Don't worry, you can reset the toner counter and keep using your printer until the toner cartridge is actually empty.

To reset the toner in your Brother printer, follow these steps:
  • Turn off the printer and open the front cover.
  • Then turn the printer on.
  • The printer will display “Cover is open” or “Close cover”, then press the 1 key to display the Reset menu.
  • Locate the correct toner option to reset and select it.
  • If performed correctly the printer will display “Accepted“.

Here are some tips for resetting the toner in your Brother printer:
  • Make sure that the printer is turned off before you open the front cover.
  • If the printer is still displaying the “Cover is open” message after you close the front cover, press the 1 key again.
  • If you are not sure which toner option to select, consult your printer's manual.
  • If you have a Brother printer with multiple toner cartridges, you will need to reset each toner cartridge individually.

Here is a table of the toner cartridge code system that Brother uses:

ColorCode
BlackK
MagentaM
CyanC
YellowY
TonerTNR
Starter cartridgeSTR
Standard tonerSTD
High yield/high capacity tonerHY or HC

How to setup Bigpond.com (Telstra Mail) in Mac desktop email app

If you don't have an email account set up, Mail prompts you to add your email account.

To add another account, choose Mail > Add Account from the menu bar in Mail. Or choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Internet Accounts, then click the type of account to add.
  • When adding an account, if you get a message that your account provider requires completing authentication in Safari, click Open Safari and follow the sign-in instructions in the Safari window.
  • If necessary, Mail might ask you for additional settings.

IMAP Settings

IMAP Server: imap.telstra.com
IMAP Port: 993
IMAP Security: SSL/TLS
IMAP Username: Your full email address
IMAP Password: Your Bigpond.com password

SMTP Settings

SMTP Server: smtp.telstra.com
SMTP Port: 465
SMTP Security: SSL/TLS
SMTP Username: Your full email address
SMTP Password: Your Bigpond.com password

How to hardware reset Alienware x51 BIOS



The Alienware X51 is a small form factor gaming PC that packs a serious punch. It's the perfect choice for gamers who want a powerful machine that doesn't take up too much space.

The X51 is available in a variety of configurations, so you can choose the one that's right for you. The base model comes with an Intel Core i3 processor, 6GB of RAM, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 645 graphics card. This is enough power to play most games at 1080p resolution.

If you want more power, you can upgrade to a Core i5 or Core i7 processor, more RAM, or a more powerful graphics card. The X51 can even be configured with a VR-ready graphics card, so you can experience the latest virtual reality games.

In addition to its powerful hardware, the X51 also has a sleek and stylish design. The case is black and silver, with a honeycomb pattern on the front. The X51 is also relatively quiet, even when it's under heavy load.

Overall, the Alienware X51 is a great choice for gamers who want a powerful and compact gaming PC. It's not the cheapest option on the market, but it's worth the investment if you're serious about gaming.


Here are the steps on how to reset the BIOS to factory default settings on an Alienware X51:
  1. Lay the system on the right side.
  2. Remove the stability foot.
  3. Remove both the left and right side panels.
  4. Locate the CMOS jumper (CLEAR_CMOS1) on the system board. It is a small jumper with two pins. The pins are labeled 1 and 2.
  5. Use a small screwdriver to remove the jumper plug from pins 2 and 3.
  6. Place the jumper plug on pins 1 and 2.
  7. Wait for approximately five seconds.
  8. Remove the jumper plug from pins 1 and 2.
  9. Replace the left side panel.
  10. Replace the stability foot.



Note: Resetting the BIOS will erase all of the custom settings that you have made, such as the boot order, the time and date, and the power settings. You will need to re-enter these settings after the reset.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

TOP 5 QNAP Server Software Alternatives - Free and Open-source Network Attached Servers


Here are the free alternatives for QNAP:
  1. FreeNAS
  2. NAS4Free / XigmaNAS
  3. OpenMediaVault
  4. Openfiler
  5. Rockstor

FreeNAS - https://www.freenas.org


FreeNAS is an operating system that can be installed on virtually any hardware platform to share data over a network. FreeNAS is the simplest way to create a centralized and easily accessible place for your data. Use FreeNAS with ZFS to protect, store, backup, all of your data. FreeNAS is used everywhere, for the home, small business, and the enterprise.

FreeNAS is a free and open-source network-attached storage (NAS) software based on FreeBSD and the OpenZFS file system. It is licensed under the terms of the BSD License and runs on commodity x86-64 hardware. FreeNAS supports Windows, macOS and Unix clients and various virtualization hosts such as XenServer and VMware using the SMB, AFP, NFS, iSCSI, SSH, rsync and FTP/TFTP protocols. Advanced FreeNAS features include full-disk encryption and a plug-in architecture for third-party software.

XigmaNAS - https://www.xigmanas.com



XigmaNAS is an embedded open-source NAS software distribution based on the latest release of FreeBSD. It developed from the original FreeNAS 7 code and updated to work with the current latest FreeBSD releases. However, "XigmaNAS preserves FreeNAS’s original m0n0wall/PHP architecture and introduces experimental support for the ARM architecture."

XigmaNAS supports sharing across Windows, Apple, and UNIX-like systems. It includes ZFS v5000, Software RAID (0,1,5), disk encryption, S.M.A.R.T. and email reports etc., with the following protocols: SMB, Samba Active Directory Domain Controller AD, FTP, NFS, TFTP, AFP, rsync, Unison (file synchronizer), iSCSI (initiator and target), HAST, CARP, Bridge, UPnP, and BitTorrent. All of this is configurable by its web interface.

OpenMediaVault - https://www.openmediavault.org

openmediavault is the next generation network-attached storage (NAS) solution based on Debian Linux. It contains services like SSH, (S)FTP, SMB/CIFS, DAAP media server, RSync, BitTorrent client and many more. Thanks to the modular design of the framework it can be enhanced via plugins.

openmediavault is primarily designed to be used in small offices or home offices, but is not limited to those scenarios. It is a simple and easy to use out-of-the-box solution that will allow everyone to install and administrate a Network Attached Storage without deeper knowledge.

Openfiler - https://www.openfiler.com


Openfiler is an operating system that provides file-based network-attached storage and block-based storage area network. It was created by Xinit Systems, and is based on the CentOS Linux distribution. It is free software licensed under the GNU GPLv2

The Openfiler codebase was started at Xinit Systems in 2001. The company created a project and donated the codebase to it in October 2003.

The first public release of Openfiler was made in May 2004. The latest release was published in 2011.

Although there has been no formal announcement, there is no evidence that Openfiler is being actively developed since 2015. DistroWatch has listed Openfiler as discontinued. The official website states that paid support is still available.

Rockstor - http://rockstor.com


An overview of top features in Rockstor.
  • Linux, BTRFS based open source storage OS. Runs on commodity hardware.
  • Bitrot protection, checksums, compression and other advanced filesystems (BTRFS) features.
  • Simple GUI installer and secure browser-based management.
  • Copy-on-write Snapshots of Shares on demand and on schedule.
  • File sharing and access from Linux, Mac, Windows and Mobile devices.
  • Instant and efficient Clones of Shares and Snapshots.
  • Fast and online vertical capacity scaling.
  • File backup with Rsync, Apple Time Machine and Windows Backup.
  • Disaster recovery is made easy by Rockstor to Rockstor replication.
  • Apps(Rock-ons) for media streaming, backups, cloud storage and more.
  • REST API for application developers.
  • Resource monitoring with customizable Dashboard and SNMP.

Can't find a network/ethernet device driver Windows 7?

Download Driverpack solutions from https://drp.su/en/foradmin. Extract the file to a USB drive and run the program. It will automatically detect and will offer to install or update drivers for Windows 7.

Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Minetest: The Open-Source Minecraft Alternative


Minetest is a free and open-source sandbox game inspired by Minecraft. It features a similar block-based world that players can explore, build in, and modify. However, Minetest has a number of unique features that set it apart from Minecraft, such as its modularity and its focus on community-created content.

Download link: http://www.minetest.net/downloads/


Modular Gameplay


Minetest is a modular game, which means that it is made up of a number of independent modules. This allows players to customize the game to their own liking by installing or removing modules. For example, there are modules that add new blocks, mobs, and features to the game. There are also modules that change the way the game is played, such as modules that add a survival mode or a creative mode.

Community-Created Content

Minetest has a large and active community that creates mods, textures, and other content for the game. This content is available for free on the Minetest website and forums. This means that there is always new content to explore in Minetest, and players can find mods that cater to their specific interests.


Here are some of the things you can do in Minetest:


Build anything you can imagine: Minetest has a wide variety of blocks that you can use to build anything you can imagine, from simple houses to elaborate castles.
Explore the world: Minetest has a procedurally generated world that is full of surprises. Explore caves, dungeons, and other hidden places to find new resources and treasures.
Fight monsters: Minetest has a variety of monsters that you can fight. Defeat them to earn experience points and loot.
Play with friends: Minetest is a multiplayer game, so you can play with friends or strangers from all over the world.
If you're looking for a fun, creative, and open-source sandbox game, then Minetest is a great option. With its modular gameplay and community-created content, there's something for everyone in Minetest.


Here are some tips for getting started with Minetest:


Start by exploring the world. This is a great way to learn about the different blocks and features that the game has to offer.
Build something simple. Once you're familiar with the basics, try building something simple, like a house or a bridge.
Find mods. There are many mods available for Minetest that add new blocks, mobs, and features to the game. Find mods that interest you and install them to customize the game to your liking.
Play with friends. Minetest is a multiplayer game, so you can play with friends or strangers from all over the world. Find a server that interests you and join in the fun.
I hope this blog post has given you a better understanding of Minetest. If you're interested in learning more, be sure to visit the Minetest website and forums.

Basic Controls

Most of these can be changed in the “Change Keys” menu. For a more complete list of keyboard controls, see Controls.

The default and most important controls are:

  • W/A/S/D: move
  • Space: jump
  • Left mouse button: Punch, mine blocks, move an item stack in an inventory
  • Right mouse button: use (e.g. open chest or furnace), place blocks, move one item or split items in an inventory
  • Shift+Right mouse button: place blocks
  • Middle mouse button: move 10 items in an inventory
  • Mouse wheel: select item in the Hotbar
  • 0-9: select item in the Hotbar
  • Q: drop block, item or tool in hand
  • I: open or close the inventory menu
  • T: open the chat window
  • Shift: descend on ladders or sneak (walk slower, prevents falling off ledges)

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

[SOLVED] Fantech Gaming Mouse Driver Settings not Saved

I recently got my hands on the Fantech X9 Thor Macro RGB Gaming Mouse, and I'm loving it so far! It's a great budget-friendly mouse with a ton of features, including RGB lighting, customizable macros, and a high-precision sensor. However, I did run into a bit of a problem. The driver that was posted on the PH site is actually for the X11 mouse, and it has a bug that causes the macros to be lost when the computer is rebooted or the mouse software is closed.

The correct driver is called Thor_X9_v1.0_191220.exe, and you can download it from the Fantech website. The reason for the bug is that the Fantech gaming mouse driver is installed in an administrative privileged folder named c:\Program Files or c:\Program Files (x86). This folder is protected by Windows, so the driver cannot write to it.

The solution is to install the driver outside of the program files folder. You can create a new folder anywhere on your computer, such as c:\Fantech Gaming Mouse. Then, extract the contents of the driver file to that folder. Once the driver is installed, your macros should be saved properly even after you reboot your computer or close the mouse software."

I hope this is more informative and entertaining! Let me know if you have any other questions.


Monday, August 26, 2019

Latest version of Proxmox is now available for download


VIENNA, Austria – July 16, 2019 – Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH, developer of the open-source virtualization management platform Proxmox VE, today released its major version Proxmox VE 6.0. The comprehensive solution, designed to deploy an open-source software-defined data center (SDDC), is based on Debian 10.0 Buster. It includes updates to the latest versions of the leading open-source technologies for virtual environments like a 5.0 Linux kernel (based on Ubuntu 19.04 "Disco Dingo"), QEMU 4.0.0, LXC 3.1.0, Ceph 14.2 (Nautilus), ZFS 0.8.1, and Corosync 3.0.2. Proxmox VE 6.0 delivers several new major features, enhancements, and bug fixes.

What’s new in Proxmox VE 6

  • Ceph Nautilus (14.2) and improved Ceph dashboard management: Proxmox VE allows to setup and manage a hyperconverged infrastructure with a Proxmox VE/Ceph-cluster. Version 6 integrates the features of the latest Ceph 14.2 release, and also brings many new management functionality to the web-based user interface. This includes: a cluster-wide overview for Ceph being displayed in the ‘Datacenter View’; a new donut chart visualizing the activity and state of the placement groups (PGs); the version of all Ceph services is displayed, making detection of outdated services easier; the configuration settings from config file and databases can be displayed; users can select the public and cluster networks in the web interface with a new network selector; encryption for OSDs can be activated easily during creation with a checkbox.
  • Cluster communication stack with Corosync 3 using Kronosnet: with Proxmox VE 6.0 the cluster communication stack has been updated to Corosync 3 by which the on-the-wire format has changed. Corosync now uses unicast as default transport method. This provides a better control of failovers as different networks can now be prioritized. A new selection widget for the network is available in the user interface helping to choose the correct link address and preventing users from making typos.
  • ZFS 0.8.1 with native encryption and SSD TRIM support: the new features for ZFS include enhanced security and data protection thanks to the added support for native encryption with comfortable key-handling by integrating the encryption directly into the `zfs` utilities. Encryption is as flexible as volume creation. TRIM support is included. The subcommand `zpool trim` notifies devices about unused sectors, thus TRIM can improve the usage of the resources and contribute to longer SSD life. Also checkpoints on pool level are available.
  • Support for ZFS on UEFI and on NVMe devices in the ISO installer: the installer now supports ZFS root via UEFI, for example you can boot a ZFS mirror on NVMe SSDs. By using `systemd-boot` as bootloader instead of grub all pool-level features can be enabled on the root pool.
  • QEMU 4.0.0: new QEMU functionalities are included in Promxox VE 6.0. Users can now use the web interface to live migrate guests with disks backed by local storage, and to set more VM CPU-flags. Support for more Hyper-V enlightenment has been added thus improving Windows performance in a virtual machine under QEMU/KVM.
  • Custom Cloudinit configurations: Proxmox VE 6 brings support for custom Cloudinit configurations and lets users store it as Snippet. The command `qm cloudinit dump` can be used to get the current Cloudinit configuration as a starting point for extensions.

Other Notable Changes in Proxmox VE 6.0

  • Automatic clean-up of old kernel images: the old kernel images are no longer marked as ‘NeverAutoRemove’ which helps to prevent problems when /boot is mounted on a small partition.
  • Guest status display in the tree view: Additional states for guests (migration, backup, snapshot, locked) are shown directly in the tree overview.
  • Improved ISO detection in the installer: the way how the installer detects the ISO has been reworked to include more devices, alleviating problems of detection on certain hardware.
  • Pool level backup: it’s now possible to create a backup task for a whole pool. By selecting a pool as backup target instead of an explicit list of guests, new members of the pool are automatically included and removed guests automatically excluded from the backup task.
  • Automatic rotation of the authentication key every 24h: by limiting the key lifetime to 24h the impact of key leakage or a malicious administrator are reduced.
  • The Node view in the user interface provides a faster syslog view.
  • By using Proxmox VE 6 as an open-source alternative to proprietary virtualization management solutions, enterprises are able to centralize and modernize their IT infrastructure and turn it into a cost-effective and flexible software-defined data center.


Proxmox VE 6.0 is available for download at https://www.proxmox.com/downloads

Checklist tool ‘pve5to6’

Users can check their installation before, during and after the upgrade process with the checklist tool ‘pve5to6’. It’s included in the latest Proxmox VE 5.4 packages and will provide hints and warnings about potential issues.

Upgrade from Proxmox VE 5.4 to 6.0

Distribution upgrades from Proxmox VE 5.4 to 6.0 should follow the detailed instructions as a major version of Corosync is present (2.x to 3.x). There is a three-step upgrade path for clusters where users first need to upgrade to Corosync 3, then upgrade to Proxmox VE v6.0, and finally upgrade the Ceph cluster from Ceph Luminous to Nautilus.
For detailed upgrade guides please see https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Upgrade_from_5.x_to_6.0 and https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Ceph_Luminous_to_Nautilus

Distribution upgrades from a beta version of Proxmox VE 6.0 is possible with apt. It’s also possible to install Proxmox VE 6.0 on top of Debian Buster.

Proxmox VE is published under the free software license GNU Affero GPL, v3. Enterprise support is available from Proxmox Server Solutions on a subscription basis starting at EUR 79,90 per year and CPU.

Facts

The open source project Proxmox VE has a huge worldwide user base with over 270,000 hosts. The web-based management interface is translated into 19 languages. More than 40,000 members are active in the community support forum. Tens of thousands of customers from companies regardless of sector, size or industry rely on a Proxmox VE support subscription, a service offered by Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH.

About Proxmox VE

Proxmox VE is the leading open-source platform for all-inclusive enterprise virtualization. With the central web interface you can easily run VMs and containers, manage software-defined storage and networking functionality, high-availability clustering, and multiple integrated out-of-the-box tools like backup/restore, live migration, replication, and the firewall. Enterprises use the powerful yet easy-to-manage all-in-one solution Proxmox VE to meet the core requirements—less complexity, more elasticity— of today’s modern data centers ensuring to stay adaptable for future growth thanks to the flexible, modular and open architecture.

Top working proxy servers for 2019

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Thursday, August 22, 2019

[FIXED] Proxmox VE 5.4 Failed to update

I recently updated my proxmox VE 5. Running an "apt update" produced this error:

Err:5 https://packages.sury.org/php stretch InRelease
  The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY B188E2B695BD4743
Hit:6 http://download.proxmox.com/debian/pve stretch InRelease
Reading package lists... Done
W: GPG error: https://packages.sury.org/php stretch InRelease: The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY B188E2B695BD4743
E: The repository 'https://packages.sury.org/php stretch InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.


The solution would be is to download a new key from the repository. DPA has a new signing key that causes this error

wget -O /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/php.gpg https://packages.sury.org/php/apt.gpg

After download, run the apt update again ang everything will work now.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

TOP PISONET / CYBERCAFE GAMES FOR 2019

To manage and run a successful pisonet cafe or cybercafe, one must know what games the customers like to play. Given that some pisonet shops have modest to low-budget tiered computers. New game titles might not run well on these systems. But even a very low-end computer in 2019 like the Intel Core2Duo and AMD A-series, with a minimum of 2GB memory and at least an Nvidia Geforce GT-210 graphics card, there are semi-modern and old-titled games that are still being played and is still in-demand. The AMD A-series even without a graphics card will be able to handle the following games as well. Good internet access is a requirement here, minimum bandwidth 2Mbps with a decent bandwidth management tool that is featured in MikroTik and pfsense routers. Here is the list of the most played games in a typical pisonet cafe in the Philippines.

1. CROSSFIRE

A first-person shooter with a freemium game that has two mercenary factions named the "Global Risk" and the "Black Risk". The game is an object-based scenario that requires both teams to complete. Each game mode can support 16 players divided into an 8-man team.

There is a progress ladder for players wherein they are promoted through various military ranks, beginning at trainee and the highest rank of Marshall.

Players can customize their players and their character's equipment through an in-game transaction or freemium service.

Official website: http://cf.ph.gameclub.com/main/cfmain.asp

2. LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

League of Legends is a competitive, fast-paced online MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game that blends the intensity and speed of a Real-Time-Strategy with Role-Playing-Game elements. Two teams with powerful champions fight to destroy each others' bases. The first team to destroy their enemy's base wins.

It is a team game composed of a 5-man team on each side.

Official website: https://lol.garena.ph/

3. ROBLOX

Is a massively multiplayer game creation platform that allows users to design their own games and play a wide variety of different types of games created by other users.

Robux is the virtual currency in Roblox that allows players to buy in-game items. Roblox allows players to buy, sell and create virtual items.

Official website: https://www.roblox.com/

4. WORLD OF TANKS BLITZ on STEAM

World of Tanks Blitz is a Massively Multiplayer Online Freemium game. It is an action shooter featuring a huge roster of battle tanks. Take on short, action-packed 7-vs-7 tank battle.

Official website:  https://store.steampowered.com/app/444200/World_of_Tanks_Blitz/

5. STARCRAFT 1 and 2

Wage war across the galaxy with three unique and powerful races. StarCraft II is a real-time strategy game from Blizzard Entertainment and is now free to play on battle.net. Experience the game that redefined the Real-Time-Strategy genre. Terran, Zerg, or Protoss - The galaxy is yours to conquer.

Official website: https://starcraft2.com/en-us/



Sunday, August 11, 2019

[FIXED] Closing Laptop lid causes CPU 100% usage in Linux

"Hey there! I hear you're having trouble with your Acer Aspire netbook. It sounds like you're experiencing a BIOS issue that's causing the internal lid switch to repeatedly send a "closed" message to the OS, which is maxing out y
our CPU.

The good news is that there's a simple fix. You can either update your BIOS or disable ACPI. Updating your BIOS is the preferred solution, but it's a bit more technical. If you're not comfortable doing that, you can disable ACPI instead.

To disable ACPI, open a terminal window and run the following commands:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/logind.conf

This will open the logind.conf file in a text editor. Find the line that says LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=no and change it to LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=yes. Save the file and close the text editor.

That's it! Once you've done that, the lid switch should no longer be sending a "closed" message to the OS, and your CPU should stop maxing out.

Just a few things to keep in mind: disabling ACPI may affect your ability to control the display backlight, and the operation of the (physical) power button may be different. Also, if you ever decide to update your BIOS, you'll need to re-enable ACPI.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions."