Boot From a VHD in Window 7

Friday, July 3, 2009 in nerdiness | Tags: | Leave a comment

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard this today on DNR show number 458 (great show by the way).  Scott Hanselman was explaining how he mutli-boots his machine not using partitions but VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) files.  There is a way in Window 7 to point your boot loader to, and run from a VHD file.  The OS DOES NOT run in a VM, it is running on bare metal!  The only down side is a slight reduction in disk I/O, but hell, what a traid-off!

My first question is that VHD transferable to a VM?  Sure all the hardware would change but would it work?  I’d really not like to go the other way, that seems even messier to me.

Ah hell what does it matter, I can boot OS’s from a file!, save them easily and move them around.  What a great/easy way to checkout new software.  Seeing that I am just getting into vs2008 and vs2010 beta 1 is out and I want to check it out.  This way I can with out plowing my machine or messing up my current build.

I know I am going to try this one out on my new Windows 7 RC1 installation.  I will write it up here while I am doing it.

Here is an artical from Keith Combs and another from TechNet Edge

Loading Windows 7 RC 1

Sunday, June 28, 2009 in experiment, nerdiness | Tags: | Leave a comment

There has been a lot of positive buzz about Windows 7; a lot of stuff that has me excited about it.  As a user of Windows XP, I want to move on.  Vista is ‘nice’ but didn’t really deliver anything extra for me.  Sure some nice eye candy, and perhaps nicer plug and pray, but what a pig.  It’s just a system hog, and I wasn’t ready to update any computers yet.

With the release of Windows 7 on October 22nd. 2009 I will be purchasing a new laptop with windows 7, and will probably get a version for my main desktop machine.  Though it’s only an AMD 4000, I don’t think I will have any trouble running Windows 7.  It’s that machine I am installing on today so I will be able to compare performance from the same system running Windows XP and Windows 7.

I received a product key, downloaded the iso and burned a new DVD.  For the system I grabbed an old 80GB hdd I am not using any longer and put it as the sole drive.

Never really using Vista myself (of course I have seen it and helped others with it) I don’t know it intimately.  This is going to create a bit of a learning curve here.  The installation moved along pretty smoothly; couple reboots, nothing special–then it happened.

Black screen.  I had a black screen with nothing more then version informaion at the lower right hand corner:

Evaluation copy. Build 7100.

I was still able to move the mouse pointer around the screen, but couldn’t do anything else.  I tried restarting, removing unneeded stuff, reloading.  Nothing was fixing it.  Time to hit the web.  It didn’t take too long to find, ten-fifteen minutes, I ran into this website, http://windows7forums.com, and they had a thread on this very issue.  It is definitely a monitor/video issue, though some of the resolutions where slightly different.

For me, it was having two monitors connected while loading.  Once I disconnected the second monitor from my system, Windows 7 was able to finish it’s “first time boot” and setup the environment.         Wow there is a lot of eye candy here!

I am running around setting stuff up, checking things out.  (cool wallpaper schems).  Let’s set up taskmgr to launch on start up.

Hey, why can’t I add a new shortcut on a right-click?  That’s a pain, what am I missing?

I created the shortcut to taskmgr on the desktop and copied it to the startup folder.  When I did that I was prompted for Admin rights to do that.  That is interesting, not sure if like that. I guess I need to take some time to look into security.  Specially since that was the single reason so many people hated Vista, it locked up so many areas breaking shit.  Whatever, as long as they haven’t totally abstracted everything away, there will be a solution.

Since I am trying out a new OS, I might as well load up a beta IDE too.  So I am now in the middle of loading up VS2010.  I have no idea if I will have any time to work with it, but I hope I make the time.

Windows 7 changing the wallpaper automagically is weird.  I dig it though.

Interesting, SQL 2008 (bundled with VS2010 beta) must be at SP1 or higher to work with Winows7.  I am glad it let me know while loading it.

Everytime I reboot and see that long-lived black screen, I get nervous that the system will lock again.

At this point, I will have to say that Winows 7 is running as well as a new installation of winows XP does.  It boots as fast plus launches and runs apps as fast.  Can’t wait until I get more stuff loaded.

Ruby Update

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 in computer hell | Leave a comment

My trip through ruby has been an interesting one.  It’s a pretty straight forward language.  I need some ideas to build so I can get more practice.

I have starting into rails to try that out, and it’s amazing how much of ASP.NET MVC seems to modeled off of it.  I really do love the MVC pattern.  What I am not loving is the total pain in the ass it is to work with rails configurations.  It’s like everything Linux, config, config, config.  Granted I really don’t know what I am doing when it comes to Apache, but things should not be this cumbersome, and not have a straight answer on setting up things like .htaccess files.

I am using my Dreamhost account to run my rails apps and I took a break from trying to get the static stuff to show on the site and not be sent through rails.  Items like css files, image file, etc.

I am assuming it’s something I need to do in an .htaccess file or something, but I am no positive, and there are direct configuration instructions on what to do.  So its trial and error, and there are a lot of it.  Shit, I can’t build anything because I am too busy configuring my server.  So sure Ruby on Rails may be great for rapid development, but if I can’t get it running, I am not getting anywhere.

Well, enough ranting, back to it….

Had another thought.  This really is where Microsoft shines and why they are used over other options, their stuff works.

I can remember back in July of 2008 or so when ASP.NET MVC was in beta one or three and I was tyring it out, I made it a hell of a lot further in a couple of days then I did with rails.  One thing to note is that I know IIS pretty darn well, and don’t know Apache that well at all, and perhaps that is the difference here.  Working with IIS for so many years much of is just natural, you don’t think about it.

Ah but wait, that is not it, because when I was writing ASP.NET MVC I was in VS2008 and the browser being used was  cassini web server (built into Visual Studio).  In this note, I guess that is the same as using WEBRick which I have not had issues using.  So perhaps all of this is due to my lack of knowledge of Apache?

I’ve decided, Ruby

Monday, June 1, 2009 in Internet, nerdiness, programming | Tags: | Leave a comment

For months and months now I have asked myself, “Self, what language next, Ruby, Python, something else?” and has driven me crazy.  Someday I will ask myself why I spent so much time thinking about it instead of just digging in to something.  Well the real truth to that is time.  Sure I have spent time on the Ruby site going through browser-enabled 15 minute intro and some general reading.  It never really sticks until you throw together a couple of apps.

Over the last eight months I have been on a big web front end kick, getting myself up to speed on web display stuff like CSS, JavaScript, and jquery.  It’s been a lot of fun, but I really am not a good page designer, so besides reproducting current layouts there wasn’t a real lot for me to do.  

And there is always ASP.NET MVC which I have been following and learning off and on since August of 2008.  Having the web skills when putting together some learning MVC sites was really useful.  Don’t worry, I wont go on another, “I love MVC…”, rant.

Saturday morning I was in our local library with my two sons picking out movies reading some books, messing around and found myself at the card catalog computer screen.  Hey do you remember actual card catalogs, the rows and rows of drawers which contained cards of all the books in the library.  Here is one area computers help one-billion percent.  Anyway, I did my usual search for ASP.NET, came up with the same books as usual.  A 2008 book I had already checked out (and didn’t like too much) during my web learning, and some older stuff.  Oh hum I thought….

Than I had an idea and started typing

ruby programming

A match, wow a match and a recent book too.  I was was feeling a bit excited.  Okay, let’s try another

python programming

Ah, nothing on that one.  Well that settles it—right, wrong or indifferent, I will start with Ruby.  Well, I have always been leaning this way anyhow.  The exposure I have had, I have liked, now to come up with an app to put together.  Then of course if I get my arms around the language I will have to move on to Rails, and Iron Ruby (Uses .NET’s DLR).

Social Network

Thursday, May 7, 2009 in Internet, interesting view, life | Leave a comment

Take control of your social network, don’t let your social network take control of you!

Trying out Planet Small Business hosting

Friday, May 1, 2009 in Internet, nerdiness | Tags: | Leave a comment

After searching and searching for a new web host who can provide me with Windows 2008 server and decent number of MS SQL databases without breaking the bank (>$20 / mo.), I finally found one to sign up with and try out.  That company is Planet Small Business hosting, wish me luck!

5/1/2009@1600:
First thing to run into, is that it seems account setup is a manual (human-driven) process.  I couldn’t pay and keep going with the setup.  Just for the record, I finished my payment by 1600 on Friday, May 1, 2009.

5/1/2009@1620:
OK, Site was available in about 20 minutes, that is acceptable.  Well as long as it’s automated and I can set up stuff at 2am.

5/1/2009@1645:
45 minutes into this setup, and no email from them about the site.  I do have access to it though.  What are their DNS addresses, I can’t find them anywhere.

5/1/2009@1808:
I sent a ticket into tech support asking about DNS server address and email, and they replied in 10 minutes.  I sent this at 1805 and received it at 0614, that’s good response(!).  Once DNS propagates, I should be good to go.  With n0t getting the email, I wonder if Yahoo! has blacklisted them; it happens.
Well not in this case, the emails where in my junk folder, not sure how I missed them the first time. Oh well, one of these days I will learn how to use an email client.

5/1/2009@2030
The host uses a new version of Plesk.  Pretty easy finding things, speed is tolerable.  Now it’s just taking the time to configure the server and how they run things.  So far it’s looking OK.

5/1/09@2130
Hey cool!  I have been a little bummed over the fact that PlanetSMB only allows one domain (unlimited aliases).  I was wondering how I was going to host all of my domains.  I wasn’t really interested in purchasing separate packages, as it would be a pain flipping between them.  Well I discovered it just now, their reseller plans support multiple domains, and at a fair price, and still with UNLIMITED MS SQL databases.  Pretty sweet if you ask me.

But before I get too excited here, I need to get my applications loaded up on the site and see how the run.

5/4/09@2259
I have loaded up two of my ASP.NET MVC applications and they are both running perfectly.  One of the two uses SQL2008, and that is working great to.  I must say I like Plesk 9.2 a whole lot better than HELM 3.16, which is getting quite dated.  All the stuff available to me for $5 a month is just great.  If you are a .NET developer and need a place to throw your stuff, this is it.  The systems are ready to rock ‘n roll.

OK here is a big wtf they are pulling.  The mid level developer package I am using only allow 1 mailbox.  Yeah you read that correctly, one mailbox.  You can alias other email addresses to it, but still only one box.  Very, strange.  Even their reseller packages are pretty restricted on mailboxes.

There is no doubt, if service levels remain the same, I will move all my domains over to planetsmb.com using a reseller package for multiple domain support.

5/26/2009: It’s been a few weeks I have been using PlanetSMB and everything is fine.  I setup a DotNetNuke portal pretty painlessly and haven’t had any issues with my .NET 3.5 sites.  I like the fact that I can setup a new database for whatever and not have to worry about running out of allotted databases.  Makes life much easier when your host doesn’t get in your way.

Come this August I will be moving all my domains from iHostasp.net to PlanetSMB, as my iHostasp.net account lapses in September.  I am planning for a happy future with my new host.

iHostasp.net Speaks, “No plans for IIS7 hosting”

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 in Internet, computer hell | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Chomping at the bit to get ASP.NET MVC up and running on my regular hosting environment, iHostasp.net, I sent their support a ticket today asking if they plan IIS7 installations in their shared hosting environment.

Brett Slaski
Posted On: 29 Apr 2009 10:50 AM
Greetings,

I just wanted to check to see if there is an ETA on any IIS7 installations for shared hosting?

Thank you,

Brett

Their response, unfortunately:

Clint Schleeper
Posted On: 29 Apr 2009 02:06 PM
Hi Brett,

At this time we have no plans for incorporating IIS7 into our shared hosting environment.

IHOST, LLC
Customer Support
https://support.ihostllc.net
support@ihostllc.net
Local/International: 1.440.793.0323 x2
Toll-free: 1.800.593.0238 x2

So now I have work to do, find a host with a like offering as iHostasp.net running IIS7, is there such an animal?  I have tried in the past and haven’t come up with anything so any suggestions is highly appreciated.

I find it ironic that I needed to send iHostasp the support ticket today, from work, out of the blue.  When I got home today, my copy of Professional ASP.NET MVC 1.0 arrived on the door step from Amazon.  A book I pre-ordered shortly after the release of Scott Gu’s free first chapter, now available in HTML.

Please post comments if you know of a good hosting company providing shared hosting of IIS7.

Thank you.

My current plan, which runs around $16/mo, $88.83 every 6 months.  I have to say the two things I like the best is dedicated memory pool for each domain and 3 MS SQL databases.  Three databases was the major reason I went with them in the first place.

  • Dedicated application pool for each domain!
  • Customer accessible database backups!
  • Storage – 2400MB
  • Bandwidth – 20GB
  • DNN Installations – 3
  • Parent portals – 60
  • Child portals – Unlimited
  • MSSQL 2005- 3 x 250MB each
  • MySQL 4/5 – 6 x 250MB each
  • Mail – Unlimited POP3/SMTP/IMAP/WEB MAIL Accounts. Accounts. MailFoundry spam & virus filtering included.
  • FTP – Unlimited FTP accounts with ability to set user permissions.
  • Sub domains – Create & manage your own 3rd level domains.
  • Statistics – Detailed real-time statistics to track your visitors.
  • ASP.NET 1.1/2.0/3.0/3.5, ASP 3.0, PHP5 supported
  • Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX extensions
  • Can run wide array of other ASP, PHP, .NET based web applications without any limits
This is a bit silly, but I couldn’t resist.  I replied to thier support email and simply said

Please?!

And their reply:

Hi Brett,

We do not have IIS7 available within our shared hosting environment and do not have any plans to incorporate it in the near future. However, we do offer virtual dedicated server hosting environments and we could set you up with IIS7 on a virtual dedicated server. Our virtual dedicated server packages can be viewed at the link below.

iHost Virtual Dedicated Server Hosting Packages:
http://www.ihostasp.net/HostedAppliance/Default.asp

IHOST, LLC
Customer Support
https://support.ihostllc.net
support@ihostllc.net
Local/International: 1.440.793.0323 x2
Toll-free: 1.800.593.0238 x2

Right Click Menu, Google Chrome

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 in general | Leave a comment

Recently I have been using Google Chrome more often.  It really is wicked-fast running Javascript.  Anyway, there is a small annoyance which catches me almost every time I use it.

Firefox my primary browser of choice for the last few years now allows you to right click on a link and select to open it in a new tab, window, etc.

Chrome of course has this option too, it’s nothing really special, but there is one BIG difference between the two:

Firefox right-click menu:
Open Link in New Window
Open Link in New Tab
…

Chrome’s right-click menu:
Open link in new tab
Open link in new window
…

You know they had to of done this on purpose.  I am sure most of the code jockeys at Google used Firefox prior to their own browser.  Even Internet Explorer is setup similar to Firefox and probably why I never had an issue with this switching between them

IE 8’s right-click menu:
Open
Open in New Tab
Open in New Window
…

See open in new tab is still the second option.  I am curious to see how long, if ever it will take me to not open a new link in a new window in Chrome, when I was unconsciously trying to open the link in a new tab?

Installing ASP.NET MVC On iHostasp.net server

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 in computer hell | Tags: , | Leave a comment

** To save you time of reading through this, you can’t cleanly use MVC on iHost**

I have been playing around with ASP.NET MVC for at least six months now and was estatic when the version 1.0 released during MIX09.  

Some time around preview 3 I wanted to put one of my MVC sites out at iHostasp.net where I host all my Microsoft technology-based stuff.  I first hit a roadblock because the .NET 3.5 Framework wasn’t available for my domain.  I looked at iHost’s website and found it listed and asked, wtf?

It was a simple enough request, they just moved my domains over to one of their servers with the 3.5 framework installed.  The only issue this caused is that I lost all of my site statistics.  The moved forced me to reconfigure SmarterStats (a decent free offering from them) for the new server.  

Figured I was all set now, but no, MVC required IIS7 to work with regular routing.  Well it failed and I went over to godaddy and ran it on a free (came with domain purchase) server instance (which is horrible) for some testing, etc.  

Now I am back and documenting my findings for whatever.
First to note is that in the ASP.NET 1.0 Release Notes.doc file a reference is made to Phil Haack’s website for Bin Deploying ASP.NET MVC.  Searching for this on Phil’s site yeilds nothing, so I have linked it above.  

It’s really simple to do, just set the following references to “Copy Local”.

System.Web.Mvc
System.Web.Routing
System.Web.Abstractions 

From VS2008, locate the references section in the Solution Explorer.  Locate each of the three references (dll’s) above, right click on them, and choose properties.  From the Properies view, change Copy Local: False to Copy Local: True.

That’s it.  When you compile or publish your solution the DLL’s for those three references will be added to the bin folder.  

After all of that, it still will not work as the routing will not work correctly without hacking iis settings a bit.  Forgot about this and I had actually tried all of this already about 45 days ago.  

As stated in Using ASP.NET MVC with Different Versions of IIS there are two options available for IIS6 and below:

  1. Modify your route table to use filenames (ewe)
  2. Create a wildcard script map (requires access to IIS) 

So the [my] only option is to wait for an unknown amount of time until iHostasp.net decides to start ii7 installations.   Their support told me that they plan to, but have no schedule set. This is a real bummer about ASP.NET MVC, but I’ll get over it.  :)

Installing WordPress on iHostasp.net

Thursday, March 19, 2009 in computer hell, nerdiness | 2 comments

OK John I couldn’t wait, so I tried it out now, this is what I did.  It installed for me, no problem, only took a couple of minutes.

Here are the basic steps I took:

  1. Created a new sub-domain, wp (wp.brettski.com)
  2. Downloaded wordpress and unzipped the files (version 2.7.1 right from home page)
  3. Uploaded my wordpress file to the server
  4. Created a version 4 MySql database
    1. Create a user for the database
  5. Followed the “Famous 5-minute install” instructions located on this page.
    1. Edited the wp-config.php file as instructed in 5-minute install and the file itself.
  6. Once I did that ran, Http://wp.brettski.com/wp-admin/install.php
    1. -That opened to a page, I entered the blog name and my email address, and clicked install.
  7. A few moments later I was greeted with a success page and my admin username and password.

If you like you can look at it here: http://wp.brettski.com