David Adams Archive

Network stack developer Andre Opperman appeals to the FreeBSD community to support three months of full time work. The primary focus will be to optimize the IP network stack and estimates a potential perfomance increase of 40-50%.

If you're interested in PBX systems or Virtual Private Servers, there's an interesting article on using Virtual Private Servers to secure and even run multiple instances of Asterisk (open source PBX software) on one machine. It's like running a small telco in a box!

Some weeks after Neal Walfield implemented POSIX semaphores for libpthread, Marcus Brinkmann has now implemented SysV shared memory for the GNU Hurd in glibc, based on some earlier work done by Neal. This was probably the last commonly used POSIX feature missing in the Hurd, and having shared memory available will make several programs work much better.

Microsoft has acknowledged that it is working on a patch for a potentially serious security hole in fully patched versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2.

A denial of service vulnerability reportedly affects the Windows Remote Desktop Protocol. Either disable RDP or make sure you have a firewall enabled for port 3389 until a fix is available.

Macworld Boston ended yesterday. Didn't realize it was going on at all? You're in good company. Since Apple didn't have a presence there and there was no Steve Jobs rock concert product announcement, nobody paid much attention to the Mac-oriented trade show, notes Wired News.

The FreeBSD 6.0 release cycle has begun. According to the FreeBSD team, "FreeBSD 6.0 will be a much less dramatic step from the FreeBSD 5 branch than the FreeBSD 5 branch was from FreeBSD 4. Much of the work that has gone into 6.0 development has focused on polishing and improving the work from 5.x These changes include streamlining direct device access in the kernel, providing a multi-threaded SMP-safe UFS/VFS filesystem layer, implementing WPA and Host-AP 802.11 features, as well as countless bugfixes and device driver improvements."

Aeronix used Linux to build a $99 instant messenger appliance aimed at kids. Naturally, hackers soon took an interest in expanding the device's functionality. The Zipit includes an 802.11b/g WiFi radio, 16-color greyscale LCD with QVGA (320x240) resolution, and a thumb keyboard with rubber buttons. It's based on a 90MHz ARM720T-based Cirrus embedded processor, running a 2.4.21 Linux kernel. This detailed device profile of Aeronix's Zipit showcases several Zipit hacks, and offers device vendors advice on how to sell more units.

Japan's electronics makers have been working on methanol-based fuel cells for years, noting that the latest small electronic gizmos' thirst for power is outstripping the Lithium Ion battery's abilities, and also appreciating the benefit of near instant "recharge" by inserting new fuel. Prototype cells and chargers have been on display at recent trade shows, and manufacturers estimate that commercial versions will be available within a couple of years.

Fujitsu has developed a new thin film display that maintains its image and color even while being bent. It also contains built-in Nonvolatile memory to keep the image stable.

Appleinsider is reporting that developers who have received Apple's developer-only Intel Macs are very pleased with the performance of Mac OS X on them. Some even claim that they are faster than high-end dual G5s. Developers also report that Apple's Rosetta technology, which allows Intel Macs to run PowerPC software, is fast and seamless.

Oracle Corp has released the second version of its Database 10g product, but in a move that highlight's Linux's ascendancy on the server, this version will be initially available only on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Hot on the heels of an AMD antitrust lawsuit against Intel and a recent ruling in Japan that found that Intel abused its monopoly power, European Comission officials and competition authorities from several European countries raided the offices of Intel and several computer manufacturers. These "inspections" were probably carried out under article 81 of the EU Treaty, which prohibits price fixing and other distortions of competition within the EU.

Microsoft has paid two unnamed informers $250,000 for help in tracking down the author of the Sasser worm. The Sasser worm infected over 18 million computers worldwide within its first week in the wild, costing businesses estimated millions.