I think I once knew this, but forgot about it. Still, the fact remains:
I Did Not Know about multitail.
I’m watching eight different log files from a Windows server through CIFS on my Windows 7 desktop where I’m running Cygwin and multitail. This is both pleasant and awesome-looking, which is not normally the case for watching eight different log files, especially on Windows.
I don’t do a lot of Solaris anymore, and though I’m interested in several of the new features in the upcoming Solaris 11, I wasn’t aware until today that it wouldn’t run on most legacy UltraSPARC systems:
Support for legacy systems that have included the UltraSPARC I, II, IIe, III, IIIi, III+, IV and IV+ processor architectures (as reported by the Solaris ‘psrinfo -pv’ command) has been removed. All Oracle SPARC Enterprise M-Series Servers and Oracle SPARC T-Series Servers will continue to be supported.
Source: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/systems/end-of-notices/eonsolaris11-392732.html
I’ve always liked the T-Series systems, and have personally achieved what I consider impressive workload consolidation using a few of them. It’s not entirely clear what Oracle means with the above statement, but rumor is that support for the sun4u architecture is gone. That’s a big change from the Solaris 11 Express HCL. I imagine there are lots of places where this means “we will never ever run Solaris 11.”
Reminds me of a certain fruit company. Time marches on.
As usual, some of the most interesting (to me) new features in the next release of Mac OS X are in the cheap seats, not on the highlight reel. The following items are excerpted from http://www.apple.com/macosx/whats-new/features.html after today’s WWDC announcement of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion:
You can now add birthdays to your contacts without including a year.
FileVault 2 supports encryption of external USB and FireWire drives.
When you try to combine two folders with the same name, the Finder now offers to merge them into a single folder.
OS X Lion includes a built-in restore partition, allowing you to repair or reinstall OS X without the need for discs.
In OS X Lion, your Mac can wake up for services such as file sharing, backup, and more without the need to turn on the monitor or attached USB devices.
Lion includes support for NFSv4. // Not that I’ll use it, but anything that helps NFSv4 is a good thing in my book.
If you open a video and it’s upside down or sideways, just rotate it to make it right.
You can drag downloaded files from the Downloads list to your desktop for easy organization.
You can remotely log in to a Mac with any user account on that computer and control it, without interrupting someone else who might be using the computer under a different login. // This is going to be a Really Big One for some people.
With OS X Lion, you can migrate all the information from your old PC to your new Mac. Lion automatically transfers your documents, contacts, calendars, email accounts (Outlook and Windows Live Mail), and photos stored in Picasa, and puts them in the appropriate applications. // Family IT guys, REJOICE!
Now you can create a custom solid color from the color picker. // Solves a longstanding embarrassment, which is always good news.
OS X Lion lets you take the Time Machine experience with you when you’re away from your Time Capsule or backup drive. Time Machine keeps a spare copy of the files you create, modify, or delete right on your Mac. Now if you accidentally delete a file while on the road, you can recover it from a local copy.
Keep your Time Machine backups secure by backing up to an external USB or FireWire drive encrypted with FileVault 2. // This is a Really Big One in general.
You can now resize a window from any side or corner. // Solves another (and more annoying) longstanding embarrassment.
I’m looking forward to the big stuff like Versions and Mission Control (not to mention the kinda-amazing Lion Server deal), but these little things are always my favorite part of a new Mac OS X release.
This is going to be sad.
Maggie is gone.
She had been sick for the last several months with nearly every horrible thing that can happen to a Boxer dog, and finally it just became too much. We took her to the emergency vet on Sunday and she didn’t come home. She’s better off, the pain is gone, she has found peace, and so on. All the standard things people always say absolutely apply here, and as usual, none of them help very much.
Maggie knew how to press the top of her head right into my chest when I needed it. Maggie smelled like maple syrup. Maggie loved having her belly rubbed, and cheese, and her big pillow on the couch. Maggie hated thunderstorms and wanted to hide under my office desk until they were over. Maggie limped out on arthritic hips and a bum leg to hop around in the yard under the giant oak tree with me because no matter how old she got or how much it hurt, she was still a puppy on the inside and she wanted to play.
Maggie was the first dog to notice Simon in his crib as we brought him home, and I will never forget the amazing look on her face when she saw him.
For eleven years, this beautiful, soulful dog loved me and I loved her. I have a 77 pound hole in my chest, and it hurts. I hope it always does a little bit; in that way, she’s still here.
I have a personal re-org announcement for you:
Yesterday was my last official day as a system administrator at The University of Memphis. I’m starting at the end of this month as a Enterprise Network Storage Architect† at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
I was at the U of M for a little over five years, and for the most part, I really enjoyed it. I worked with some good people in the IT Division and throughout the University. I did interesting technical work and had my share of successes. I developed professional and personal relationships that I truly appreciate. I started and finished a graduate degree in my spare time.
Most importantly, I met Molly.
I’m looking forward to St. Jude. It’ll be fun to work on projects where you can say “petabyte” with a straight face. I’m excited to contribute to the work the researchers are doing, and a quick walk through the halls of the main buildings makes it obvious that this work is important and often miraculous.
Most importantly, I can occasionally have lunch with Molly. And Simon.
† – Yes, this is a mouthful.