Category: English
Stuff written in English
Network Connection Status Indicator (NCSI)
… Windows machines try to request two URLs (www.msftncsi.com/ncsi.txt and ipv6.msftncsi.com/ncsi.txt, the former over IPv4, the latter over IPv6) to ascertain whether a given network is routed to the Internet and if there is a captive portal in the way (NCSI stands for “Network Connection Status Indicator”). Ref.: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/even-when-told-not-to-windows-10-just-cant-stop-talking-to-microsoft/ See also: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/networking/2012/12/20/the-network-connection-status-icon/.
Read More → Network Connection Status Indicator (NCSI)Ad for Windows 10 camouflaged as a security update, how low can one sink?
KB3146449 is another update one should avoid installing. From its own description: Updated Internet Explorer 11 capabilities to upgrade Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 And: This update adds functionality to Internet Explorer 11 on some computers that lets users learn about Windows 10 or start an upgrade to Windows 10.
Read More → Ad for Windows 10 camouflaged as a security update, how low can one sink?KB2977759 and KB2952664 now available in WSUS
A couple of KBs, KB2977759 and KB2952664, related to the dreadful Appraiser stuff, appeared in our WSUS instance this week. The former just made it on my list of KBs one should avoid. Both was promptly declined. The list encompasses: KB2952664, Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7 KB2977759, Compatibility update for Windows 7 RTM KB3022345, […]
Read More → KB2977759 and KB2952664 now available in WSUSPreparation for Star Trek Online 11.5 gone wrong?
I ran the stand alone launcher for Star Trek Online tonight. It wanted to patch 103 MB, a download of roughly half that size. That was a bit surprising as the last maintenance was done late last week and no new maintenance has been announced. I clicked on the Engage button and nothing happened. I ran […]
Read More → Preparation for Star Trek Online 11.5 gone wrong?security/gnupg breaks when deselecting NLS option
GnuPG 2.1.11 was recently added to the FreeBSD ports collection, in r409152. Deselecting the NLS option breaks the building of GnuPG.
Read More → security/gnupg breaks when deselecting NLS optionUpgrading PostgreSQL 9.4.6 to 9.5.1
All commands were done as the root user unless indicated.
Read More → Upgrading PostgreSQL 9.4.6 to 9.5.1Plotting dual stack targets with MRTG when SNMP is IPv4-only
I realised today that MRTG must be told when SNMP is IPv4-only on an otherwise dual stack target.
Read More → Plotting dual stack targets with MRTG when SNMP is IPv4-onlyAnother bad KB? KB3123862
Earlier this week Microsoft released another batch of Windows updates. Among them are KB3123862. As usual, the title displayed by Windows Update gives no clue to what this update actually does: “Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3123862)”. Clicking on the More information link reveal the following: Updated capabilities to upgrade Windows 8.1 and […]
Read More → Another bad KB? KB3123862graphics/py-pygraphviz renamed from graphics/py-graphviz
graphics/py-graphviz was renamed to graphics/py-pygraphviz in r408353. Run these two commands to get back on track:
Read More → graphics/py-pygraphviz renamed from graphics/py-graphvizApache 2.4 and authentication from specific domain names and IP addresses only
I upgraded Apache from 2.2.31 to 2.4.18 on one of my servers. For one particular directory and its subtree, I needed authentication from specific domain names and IP addresses only. If the request doesn’t come from one of the whitelisted domain names or IP addresses, then Apache shouldn’t bother asking the user for authentication, but […]
Read More → Apache 2.4 and authentication from specific domain names and IP addresses only