goblinbox

How to kill and restart HTTP service on a Cobalt RAQ web server.

Ya need to be logged in as root. At the command prompt, type:

tail /var/run/httpd.pid

It’ll return the process ID, eg. 2739. Then type:

kill -HUP 2739

HTTP should come right back up.

A handy tool for figuring out what clients have on their connections (after looking up the MAC address in the router): Vendor/Ethernet MAC Address Lookup and Search

DNS Stuff: DNS tools, WHOIS, tracert, ping, and other network tools is a lovely, lovely tool when you’re trying to troubleshoot routing issues! I love it!

Interpreting Traceroute Results is a good primer if you think you understand what tracert’s really doing but don’t: “When using ping or traceroute as troubleshooting tools, consider ping a good way to determine connectivity, traceroute a good way to determine path and connectivity but neither should be used as the final say in determining the cause or location of latency.”

These are notes for an Intranet HTML-based manual I was writing for 1st level tech support, back when domain name email support was added to their duties.
Read the rest of this entry »

These are notes for an Intranet HTML-based manual I was writing for 1st level tech support, back when DSL support was added to their duties.
Read the rest of this entry »

These are my training notes from when I transferred into Engineering in 2002 or so. I keep them on the web because I still refer to these now and again… generally for Unix commands I’ve spaced. Heh!

DNS FOR NEW WEB SITES – NEW WAY

cd /usr/local/bin

./add_domain domain.com ipaddress

./add_domain domain.com IP.IP.IP.IP

cd /etc/namedb

vi domext.db

:%s/86400/300/g (‘g’ to change refresh/TTL globally)

/usr/local/bin – ./remove_domain dom.ext (remove and rename to domext.old.db)

DNS FOR NEW WEB SITES – OLD WAY

1. In FM db, locate next In Process record.
2. Check whois to determine if the domain is available.
(a) Use F9 on Madison, and/or
(b) Use whois at OpenSRS or at Network Solutions.
3. Go here and apply for the domain name.
(a) Choose Place Order Manually. Enter the request for the domain name.
(b) Always copy the domain name from the FM record to avoid typos.
(c) Contact email is always admin-at-lisco-dot-com
(d) For renewals:
i. Check on the primary DNS server first, to see that the record is really expired.
1. F9 and domain name
ii. If they want it renewed for more than one year (the default), remember to change it after it’s been approved.
4. Update the FM record with the application info.
(a) Remember to copy the SRS ID number back into FM db.
5. Get the next available IP address.
(a) cd /etc/namedb
(b) vi XXXX.XX-rev.db
(c) add a new record at the bottom of the file:
i. Ctrl-F to page down
ii. o to create a new line and start with insert mode
iii. Copy info on preceding line (or type it in)
(d) Write down the new domain’s IP address.
(e) Update the serial number (page up is Ctrl-U)
(f) to Save the file.
6. Edit/update all three DNS servers.
(a) vi /etc/named.conf
(b) Find the entry alphabetically preceding the new domain (/domain_name to find) and copy it.
i. Ctrl-F to page down
ii. 5yy (DNS1) or 8yy (DNS2, DNS3) to yank lines
iii. Insert the copy (P to paste).
(c) Update the new entry with the new domain’s info.
i. Delete the old name (dw = delete word)
ii. Shift-Ins the domain name (copied from FM)
iii. Verify the type of domain (ex. .com, .org, .net)
(d) to Save the updated file.
(e) On DNS1, copy the temp file and make a new db record for the new domain name
i. cp temp.db domain.db
ii. vi domain.db
1. :%s/temp/domain/g
2. If a suffix other than .com:
a. :%s/domain.com/domain.net/g
b. change the “com” on the ORIGIN line to proper suffix.
(f) Change IP by adding the final octet
(g) Change/update serial number
i. r for replace
(h) to Save the updated file.
(i) After completion, reload all three (F11) on DNS1.
i. dbreload
7. Check log for errors on all three servers.
(a) cat /var/log/daemon.log |grep domain
8. Create the site on web server.
(a) Go to http://webserver_name/admin/ and add a virtual site.
(b) Add a user.
i. Get the requested username and password from the FM record.
ii. Make sure you give this user admin access.
(c) Test the site.
(d) Email welcome.
9. IF the site is to be FrontPage enabled, telnet into web server and enable FrontPage extensions.
(a) Enable FrontPage.
(b) Enable subwebs.
10. Do a whois a day or so later to determine that the application is complete.
(a) F9 then type domain name.
(b) Email welcome domain when the domain is active in whois.
(c) Change status in FM to Active.
Read the rest of this entry »

How to ping from OSX: In Mac OS X, how can I check to see if a computer is on the network?.

Welcome to my RJ11 and RJ45 pin-out cheat sheet!

Wire colors:
wo = white orange
o = orange
wg = white green
bl = blue
wbl = white blue
g = green
wbr = white brown
b = brown
Read the rest of this entry »

Every time I reinstall SecureCRT I discover I’ve managed to lose my hotkey file. Below are those damn commands that I need all the time but don’t have memorized.

F1 r7

F2 whois -h whois.arin.net

F4 cp /usr/home/mushlette/temp.db /etc/namedb

F5 cd /etc/raddb\rvi users\r/#LISCO\r

F6 10yy9jpdwi

F7 \e:x\r

F9 whois -h whois.networksolutions.com

F11 kill -HUP `cat /var/run/named.pid`

F12 logout \r logout \r

The old Cobalt RAQ and RAQ4 servers had their own special quirks. Below are instructions for fixing a couple of the more common ones.
Read the rest of this entry »

List of telco numbers; to report trouble on circuits (LADS, EELs, UNEs, etc.)

AT & T 800-325-123
GTE Circuit Repair 800-483-2000
GTE Multi-Line 800-262-4831
GTE Bus. Office 800-483-2000
GTE Acct Rep 813-273-2927
INS 515-830-0440
INS 515-830-0496
ITS 877-905-4692
C & W Circuit Repair 800-663-9932
USWest-circuit repair 800 227 2218
USWest Telephone Repair 800-223-7508
UWest ISP Repair 800-660-8987
USWest Rep 800-879-6300 Ext 4348
UsWest Cir Enterprise 1-800-373-1368
IES 800-822-4348
Sprint Phone: 1-800-877-5045
Routing Phone: 1-800-232-6895 option 3
INS Pone: 515-830-0440 Option #1
Quest Switch People 888-678-7070 x31
Quest Ticket Center 800-233-7508 x21