The Libre Graphics Meeting is putting out a call for donations after one of their big sponsors didn’t come through. Given the amount of time I’ve spent in Inkscape and GIMP recently (writing manager-friendly documentation for the current cluster project) I think I should really pony up some cash to help get the developers together in the same room. So I did.

Another kernel update so I go into my usual habit of

vmware-config.pl
..rebuild modules etc

when it dies on it’s arse.
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/vm_basic_types.h:170: error: conflicting types for ‘uintptr_t’
include/linux/types.h:40: error: previous declaration of ‘uintptr_t’ was here
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/x86.h:23,
from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:15,
from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:53:
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/x86cpuid.h:381:1: warning: "BIT_MASK" redefined
In file included from include/linux/kernel.h:15,
from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:15:
include/linux/bitops.h:7:1: warning: this is the location of the previous definition
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/vmci_kernel_defs.h:26,
from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./common/vmciContext.h:19,
from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:21,
from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:53:
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:37:5: warning: "VMW_HAVE_EPOLL" is not defined
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:43:5: warning: "VMW_HAVE_EPOLL" is not defined


Fortunately someone in the community has already fixed it. All the magic you need is contained in vmware-any-any-116.tar.gz

…I can now see three chillers the size of transit vans.

This is a very good thing.

I’m in the middle of drawing up an equipment list for the new workshop and machine room. So far I’ve come up with the following:

• Decent workbench
• Steps (to work on the machines at the tops of racks)
• Lots of storage bins and shelves
• technical vacuum cleaner
• work lights/torches
• toolkits
• lifting gear (possibly a scissor lift of some kind?) Are there affordable lifts that will get heavy machines up to the top of a normal rack?
• a trolley or truck

Any advice on items I’m missing or good suppliers for this stuff in the UK is gratefully received.

My aged Nokia 6600 died the day before going on holiday. Generous souls might want to text me their numbers.

Anyone mentioning backups will be met with a rant about broken SyncML implementations.

I wish FIC would hurry up and release their consumer phone.

The unfortunate limerick cascade on the Linux Kernel Mailing List is a horror to behold.

However I have to share with you Alan Cox’s song about memory management to the tune of the Beatles Eleanor Rigby.

Ah look at all the laundered pages
Ah look at all the laundered pages

Handling Pages
Pick up the list and the link where kswap has been
A paging scheme
Runs down the I/O
Watching the queues that now keep me a list of the store
Who is it for

All the laundered pages
Where do they all come from
All the laundered pages
Where do they all belong

Meeting bdflush
Writing the pages of a disk file that no one will clear
No task comes near
Look at it working
Sleeping a lot in the night when there’s no pressure there
What does it care

All the laundered pages
Where do they all come from
All the laundered pages
Where do they all belong

Ah look at all the laundered pages
Ah look at all the laundered pages

Oracle DB
Died under load and was freed along with its name
No admin came
Good old bdflush
Wiping the dirt from the pages as it walks down the chain
Nothing was aged

All the laundered pages
(Ah look at all the laundered pages)
Where do they all come from
All the laundered pages
(Ah look at all the laundered pages)
Where do they all belong

Is about to start..

http://www.lugradio.org/live/2007/index.php/Main_Page

I am feeling a bit fragile today due to excessive beerage. Fortunately I’m not speaking this year so I can find a quiet corner to go collapse in..

I’m supposed to be going on a site-visit to Birmingham University today. Instead I will be in the office because none of the trains I need are running.
Apparently rain is now an adverse weather condition.

edit 26/06/2007
OK given that thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, maybe it does count as adverse weather.

The first election I very nearly didn’t vote for. In the end I voted so that I can still complain about them for the next three years. At least the scots get to vote for people who can actually legislate.

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!