linux - disable GUI

In Red Hat linux to disable GUI during startup
modify the file /etc/inittab to
'id:3:initdefault:'

to start GUI from shell use the below command
init 5

To shutdown use
init 0
or halt, poweroff, shutdown.

Old Laptop virtualization to New with VMWare VCenter

Three weeks ago I got a new work laptop with Vista. I downgraded it to XP after struggling with it for 2 days. My office VPN software wouldnt install.

However after xp install and setting up everything I still had 2 days to give my old laptop back. This is not enough time to configure all software and test it connects well.

So I installed VMWare Player on my new system and copied the whole old system to a virtual machine using VMWare Vcenter Converter Standalone. So essentially I am running my old machine in my new laptop.

I created a sharedfolder through which I am sharing files/folders between the two machines and setting up the software one by one as time permits.

The conversion process took around 2 Hours for my old system that had around 35GB of data. and copy and setup on the new system took another 2 hours.

I am running the VMWARE-old network as NAT so that it shares the host OS IP. This way I am not connecting again to VPN inside the guest system. If host is connected to VPN, guest inherits the same network.


VMWare Player is free, VMWare VCenter Converter is also free. We just need to register to vmware using our email address. Installation and the move were pretty straight forward and I did not face any issues.

open IKEYMAN - in X window from AIX Server using Cygwin

I was trying to start up ikeyman from our AIX - IBM-IHS to update SSL Certs I was getting the below errors

$ ikeyman
Xlib: connection to ":0.0" refused by server
Xlib: No protocol specified

The java class could not be loaded. java.lang.InternalError: Can't connect to X11 window server using ':0.0' as the value of the DISPLAY variable.
$

Turns out I need to disable security in X windows using command "xhost +" to allow connections from AIX Server. Also I had to add a rule in my laptop's McAfee Intrusion Detection System to allow connections

Notes Below
- Install Cygwin with x window and ssh components on your laptop (takes a while to install this)
- start up cygwin
- From the Cygwin window start Xwindow using startxwin. This will open up another X window.
$ startxwin

- Now every thing needs to be done in the X Window.
- First Step is to disable security
$ xhost +
access control disabled, clients can connect from any host

- Once security on local system is disabled, SSH to the AIX Server using the below
$
localuser@localmachine ~
$ ssh -l
$
$ su - httpadm
httpadm's Password:
$ export DISPLAY=:0.0
$ export JAVA_HOME=/usr/java14
$ ikeyman


Couple of internet links helped me, but the below helped me with the xhost command.
http://www.staff.uni-mainz.de/pommeren/DSVorlesung/Material/Xsecurity
********************************************************

Entrust SSL Cert on Windows 2003 - IIS 6

Installing a Entrust CA SSL Cert on IIS-6 Server.
1- Download Root Certificate as root.cer to the server
- double click it
- Install Certificate
- Next
- Automatically select the certificate store based on the type of certificate
- Next
- Finish
2- Download Chain Root Certificate Chainroot.cer to the server
- double click it
- Install Certificate
- Next
- Place all certificates in the following store
- Next
- Click the Show physical stores box, and then expand the Intermediate Certification Authorities folder. Select Local Computer and click OK.
- Next
- Finish

You will get the below error if you mess step 2
"The security certificate presented by this website was not issued by a trusted certificate authority"

3- Download Server Cert as ServerCert.cer to the server
- In IIS6 go to the website properties
- Directory Security
- Secure Communications - Server Certificate
- Next
- Process the pending request and install the certificate
- Next.
.....
- SSL Port 443
- review and finish