Dell Precision 5540, Windows 10 1909, and endless automatic repair cycle
Last month I created two Windows 10 1909 images for a Dell Precision 5540, one image for “naked” Windows 10 including all drivers, and another image complete with all our usual software. That laptop came with BIOS version 1.3.3, which was upgraded to 1.4.0 before any of the images were captured.
Read More → Dell Precision 5540, Windows 10 1909, and endless automatic repair cycleLessons learned switching from Python 3.6 to 3.7
If you use synth from ports-mgmt/synth and switch from Python 3.6 to 3.7 after having updated the ports tree and after synth have updated its own flavour index, you might see strange error messages such as:
Read More → Lessons learned switching from Python 3.6 to 3.7Switching main Python versions in FreeBSD
In my infinite (and possibly questionable) wisdom, I usually lock down various software to particular versions. This time I wanted to change the main Python from version 2.7 to version 3.6 on the FreeBSD builder at ${WORK}.
Read More → Switching main Python versions in FreeBSDDell Precision 5530 boot firmware 1.8.1 almost failed to recognize USB memory stick
Today, I received a brand new Dell Precision 5530 running boot firmware 1.8.1 to be handed out to a colleague. The first attempt at booting off an USB memory stick didn’t look promising as I never saw an entry for the stick in the F12 boot menu.
Read More → Dell Precision 5530 boot firmware 1.8.1 almost failed to recognize USB memory stickAutodesk AutoCAD 2020 shows splash screen only to disappear shortly
It’s the same story all over again. Manually repairing or installing x86 and x64 versions of MS Visual C++ Runtimes bundled with ACAD 2020 makes the latter finally run as expected.
Read More → Autodesk AutoCAD 2020 shows splash screen only to disappear shortlyBad distinfo for mail/dcc-dccd
synth(8) made the following complaint: The quick fix is: Someone else created PR 238734. Their patch matches mine except for the TIMESTAMP value:
Read More → Bad distinfo formail/dcc-dccd
iperf3 results between Chelsio T6225-CR and Intel X710-DA4
I ran two iperf3 tests between two hosts using Chelsio T6225-CR and Intel X710-DA4, respectively. Both NICs are connected to the supervisor interfaces on a Sup8E in a Cisco Catalyst 4500E chassis. Wirespeed is 10 Gbit/s.
Read More → iperf3 results between Chelsio T6225-CR and Intel X710-DA4Acceptable performance of cxgbe(4), and TOE almost didn’t crash the system
After upgrading this system to stable/12 r348672, my Chelsio T6225-CR NIC finally provided acceptable performance.
Read More → Acceptable performance ofcxgbe(4), and TOE almost didn’t crash the system
Lenovo ThinkPad T430s stuck in airplane mode
A student came by my office carrying his Lenovo ThinkPad T430s. Windows 10 was stuck in airplane mode. I saw no other alternative than disabling the Radio Management Service and reboot the computer.
Read More → Lenovo ThinkPad T430s stuck in airplane modeCitrix Hypervisor 8.0.0 and FreeBSD guests running with UEFI boot firmware
I installed Citrix XenServer 7.2 on a spare server, created a small VM running FreeBSD/amd64 head r347896, and updated the host all the way to XS 7.6. Upgrading to Citrix Hypervisor 8.0.0 requires boot media, and the procedure is pretty painless. I added the XS80E001.zip update and rebooted the host. Neither a license server nor a license […]
Read More → Citrix Hypervisor 8.0.0 and FreeBSD guests running with UEFI boot firmware