The lonely tech post thread.

[UnderOpenSky]

Thanks alex_

Had another training weekend at work today, which was pretty cool. Last time we were just learning our way round the linux command line and iptables. This week it was more focused as we'll be rebuilding all our linux servers over the next few months. Mostly with scripts the boss has written, but still feels quite a big deal seeing as I've only been doing this just over a year. We did a UniFi controller which was quite cool after I've set up all the TP Link Omada stuff at home recently. He's trying to all of his new scripts in powershell, partly to make it easier for us (which is touching that he must think my powershell is better then it is).

Is it common to administer Linux with powershell rather the bash?

 

[alex_]

Thanks alex_

Had another training weekend at work today, which was pretty cool. Last time we were just learning our way round the linux command line and iptables. This week it was more focused as we'll be rebuilding all our linux servers over the next few months. Mostly with scripts the boss has written, but still feels quite a big deal seeing as I've only been doing this just over a year. We did a UniFi controller which was quite cool after I've set up all the TP Link Omada stuff at home recently. He's trying to all of his new scripts in powershell, partly to make it easier for us (which is touching that he must think my powershell is better then it is).

Is it common to administer Linux with powershell rather the bash?

Never heard of it - but powershell is a very useful skill to have on your cv, as it can be used for orchestration of azure, 365, windows all sorts.

 

[Chz]

I've never seen it used as that, but even as a Linux Guy I find I sometimes have to use Windows systems and a bit of powershell is invaluable.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Had to reset a surface hub and fuck me don’t do this because it’s been like half an hour and still on 50 percent

 

[existentialist]

Had to reset a surface hub and fuck me don’t do this because it’s been like half an hour and still on 50 percent

That reminds me a bit of when Microsoft decided to enter the mobile phone market with a Windows-based phone. From my recollection, they were pretty and nice, but a bastard to manage.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

That reminds me a bit of when Microsoft decided to enter the mobile phone market with a Windows-based phone. From my recollection, they were pretty and nice, but a bastard to manage.

They've done it twice in fact. Their first go even had a start menu.

 

[Artaxerxes]

I’ve bricked it walks away whistling innocently

 

[existentialist]

I’ve bricked it walks away whistling innocently

You probably did someone a favour.

 

[2hats]

Is it common to administer Linux with powershell rather the bash?

Hell no. I provide pwsh to the odd .NET victim but would gouge my own eyes out with my torx screwdrivers before I admined with it.

Might be a fancy for those long-term fully wedded to 'doze who then find the need to run one or two Linux machines, I guess.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Minor gripe of the day. I wish RDP was better if you wanted to use it with 2 of 3 screens, especially if they are at different resolutions. Luckily it's not something I want to do often, but I've tried editing the file to do and it works, but it never plays that nice.

It also sulks a bit on my 4k screen, but suspect that's more to do with my VM at the datacenter rather then RDP as such.

 

[Sasaferrato]

How do I get videos from facebook reels over to Urban please.

 

[Lazy Llama]

Hmm. Looks like they don’t embed properly. Will see what I can find.

 

[Sasaferrato]

Hmm. Looks like they don’t embed properly. Will see what I can find.

Thank you.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Ugg. Monday morning and dealing with MFA registration problems remotely and currently hating MS (again)

So we've used per user for other clients, but it's being deprecated in 2024, so I used the newer security defaults for a client who has been resistant up till now. They don't have a P1 Azure AD, so can't use conditional access. I know security defaults is the "free tier" but it's annoyingly nerfed. I can't even see who has done it yet and despite it not being able to authenticate over text, was broken for a user until I manually entered their phone number. Luckily the guy I work with there has said their users will just have to deal with installing the app, but I don't think I'd get the same response from other clients

And Microsoft licensing. I've tried to avoid having to think about this to much, but this has all forced me to pay more attention. Like why does the Business Premium include P1 but the more expensive Office 365 E3 not.

I think it's time for strong coffee.

 

[alex_]

U2f tokens are the solution for people who don’t want to use phones

 

[UnderOpenSky]

U2f tokens are the solution for people who don’t want to use phones

Yes, we've got Yubi keys (although I don't use then much). Boss thinks that suggesting them to clients will be a headache.

 

[alex_]

Yes, we've got Yubi keys (although I don't use then much). Boss thinks that suggesting them to clients will be a headache.

The good thing about u2f is you don’t end up responsive for rando smartphones which don’t support authenticator.

 

[Sasaferrato]

You’d probably be best disabling the onboard Bluetooth (in Device Manager) and just using the more powerful adapter.

How do I do that please?

 

[Artaxerxes]

Ugg. Monday morning and dealing with MFA registration problems remotely and currently hating MS (again)

So we've used per user for other clients, but it's being deprecated in 2024, so I used the newer security defaults for a client who has been resistant up till now. They don't have a P1 Azure AD, so can't use conditional access. I know security defaults is the "free tier" but it's annoyingly nerfed. I can't even see who has done it yet and despite it not being able to authenticate over text, was broken for a user until I manually entered their phone number. Luckily the guy I work with there has said their users will just have to deal with installing the app, but I don't think I'd get the same response from other clients

And Microsoft licensing. I've tried to avoid having to think about this to much, but this has all forced me to pay more attention. Like why does the Business Premium include P1 but the more expensive Office 365 E3 not.

I think it's time for strong coffee.

Yeah we've had some headaches with it and deprecation of basic auth.

I've set CA up to auto-scan for licensed users and then demand MFA outside of the trusted network. People haven't quite grasped the MFA screen you go to via the 365 portal doesn't really tell the truth yet.

Surface Hubs meanwhile apparently don't like using text based MFA so we have to tell people to use Auth, apparently this is a problem.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Yeah we've had some headaches with it and deprecation of basic auth.

I've set CA up to auto-scan for licensed users and then demand MFA outside of the trusted network. People haven't quite grasped the MFA screen you go to via the 365 portal doesn't really tell the truth yet.

Surface Hubs meanwhile apparently don't like using text based MFA so we have to tell people to use Auth, apparently this is a problem.

We only have CA on some tenants, but it appears that even for those without you can use the text function, even though Microsoft's docs say you can't. It's marked as preview, but appears to function the same as when it was per user MFA. It seems very mean spirted of MS to block access to a single screen where I could see who has set it up for those with free Azure AD, but I found some power shell scripts that seem to be getting close to doing what I want.

 

[Lazy Llama]

How do I do that please?

Not at my PC but you should be able to find Device Manager using the start menu search.
Then it should be easy to find the Bluetooth device, right-click and “disable”.

It’s also usually possibly to disable Bluetooth in the BIOS settings (accessed at boot time by pressing “del”).

 

[Sasaferrato]

Not at my PC but you should be able to find Device Manager using the start menu search.
Then it should be easy to find the Bluetooth device, right-click and “disable”.

It’s also usually possibly to disable Bluetooth in the BIOS settings (accessed at boot time by pressing “del”).

I am nowhere near brave enough to go near the BIOS settings.

The last time I did, it took my very techie neighbour two hours to restore normal service. His words as he left 'If you feel like fucking about in there again...DON'T!'.

 

[existentialist]

It seems odd to me that, on Twitter, if I get a notification that someone has replied to a tweet of mine, I can't access the conversation from the notification - all I can do is see the reply tweet.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Turn notifications off.

Sorted!

 

[UnderOpenSky]

New wide-screen setup. One of these years I'll find a better way to deal with cables.

 

[two sheds]

One of these years may not be too far off

FridgeMagnet recommended these to me and I have to say they are superb. I thought 100 was excessive but I've used most of them already not just for cables - good for tying plants and things, too.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

One of these years may not be too far off

FridgeMagnet recommended these to me and I have to say they are superb. I thought 100 was excessive but I've used most of them already not just for cables - good for tying plants and things, too.

Yes, I got them so can do some stuff. I've also got that wrap around material. Part of the problem is I need two cables for each screen and additional cables to switch my mouse and keyboard I use my laptop when working from home.

I've looked at proper KVM switches but the ones with a high enough resolution and refresh rate are more then I want to pay.

 

[two sheds]

Part of the problem is I need two cables for each screen

I use these for the cables to my screen they're spiffing

and additional cables to switch my mouse and keyboard I use my laptop when working from home.

they still make corded usb mice and keyboards?

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I use these for the cables to my screen they're spiffing


they still make corded usb mice and keyboards?

Think that's your original link?

It's actually pretty rare to see wireless mechanical keyboards. When I was on an eBay peripheral buying mission last year I didn't think that much about it, but would be nice. The main one I'd like is a wireless headset both gaming and speaking to customers.

 

[two sheds]

Think that's your original link?

yes

It's actually pretty rare to see wireless mechanical keyboards. When I was on an eBay peripheral buying mission last year I didn't think that much about it, but would be nice.

ah like the old IBM PC types? I've found Logitech sort of keyboards fine for touch typing - you not get on with them?