Munin Ubuntu Lucid 1.4.4 TLS Problems

So I’ve just spent the last few hours trying to get Munin working using TLS on Ubuntu Lucid (Munin package version 1.4.4).

I was swearing and cursing until I discovered it was a well-known bug.

I was seeing entries in /var/log/munin/munin-update.log like:

2014/03/26 18:19:09 TLS set to "enabled".
2014/03/26 18:19:09 [WARNING] Failed worker localdomain;localhost.localdomain

and

2014/03/26 18:20:01 TLS set to "enabled".
2014/03/26 18:20:01 [ERROR] Munin::Master::UpdateWorker died with 'Undefined subroutine &Munin::Master::Node::logger called at /usr/share/perl5/Munin/Common/TLS.pm line 164,  line 1.
        ...propagated at /usr/share/perl5/Munin/Common/Timeout.pm line 66,  line 1.

The solution seemed to be downloading a Squeeze version of the munin package version 1.4.5 from the Squeeze munin-common all architecture download page.

Then installing with the command line:

dpkg --install munin-common_1.4.5-3_all.deb

.. which upgraded the existing package.

At which point the munin master started working again.

Google Docs Print Gives Me PDF With Clear Cache and Cookies Page

Using Firefox 23.0 I was using Google Docs to compose a letter with a photo in it.

When I went File -> Print from the menu I kept getting a PDF with the following text:

Clear cache and cookies

How to clear cache and cookies

Google Chrome

Review the instructions in the Google Chrome Help Center .

Windows Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Opera

Review and follow the instructions provided by your browser:

• Windows Internet Explorer
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Opera

---

Solution

It seems that trying to save in a different format might clear the problem.

I went File -> Download As -> Microsoft Word (.docx) – and downloaded a docx file.

Then I went File -> Download As -> PDF Document (.pdf) – and finally got a PDF with the letter I had been writing.

Methods That Didn’t Solve The Problem

• clearing the cache
• clearing Google cookies
• trying repeatedly to print

VirtualBox VT-x Disabled In BIOS

So you add a virtual machine into Oracle VirtualBox and get the following message:

VT-x is disabled in the BIOS

The message reads:

Failed to open a session for the virtual machine.

VT-x is disabled in the BIOS.
(VERR_VMX_MSR_VMXON_DISABLED).

> Details

Solution

I found the solution in this thread.

From the command line run:

c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe” modifyvm <VMname> –longmode off

If this does not work try also running what is suggested in this forum post:

c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe” modifyvm <VMname> –hwvirtex off

You Can Use A Sky Dish For Freesat Indoors

So I found myself with a Sky dish and a LG flat screen television with a satellite connector on the back.

I wondered if I could try out the dish indoors (before going to the trouble of having it installed outside).

It turns out that, yes, I can receive satellite transmissions indoors.

I put my Sky dish on top of a cardboard box (to give it height so I could put it out the window) and a wooden stick to elevate the dish as follows in this photo:

Using a Sky Dish Indoors

Next I tried getting my television to auto-tune the Freesat satellite. The Freesat satellite around London is ASTRA 28.2E. That has the following details:

• LNB Frequency: 9750/10600
• Transponder: 10714,H,22000
• LNB Power: On

I had to wiggle the dish to a position where it actually picked up programs. It seems rather sensitive to being moved either sideways or vertically. Different satellites may be right next to each other – so be warned, the position of the dish is very, very sensitive! But once I got it programs started being found:

Television Finding Freesat Programs

The LG TV has another useful function – after doing the automatic tuning then try selecting the manual tuning facility. It shows the signal strength!

Manual Tuning Reveals Signal Strength

The “signal quality” appears affected by my distance to the dish/cable – dropping from 100% to 70% as I walk towards it.

Questions

Would I Use The Dish Indoors?

Probably not for long. It is unsightly. And you need to be in a South-facing room high enough for a line-of-sight view of the horizon.

What Do I Think of Freesat?

Pointing the Dish Slightly Off-Target

Not many English-language channels. With 300+ to pick from it is a matter of luck whether I land on a channel I can understand – it’s almost not worth the effort.

Pointing the Dish in the Right Direction

There are hundreds of channels to choose from. A lot of them are different regional versions of the same channel for BBC or ITV. But there are a few others, and some high definition (HD) versions of channels that you can’t get on Freeview.

How Do I Flip Back To Freeview/Aerial?

On the LG TV press Guide, then the red button for “Programme Mode” (whichever is required).

Or press the “LIST” button, then the red button for “Programme Mode”.

New Samsung Fridge/Freezer Beeping Constantly

So you just had a new Samsung fridge/freezer delivered (e.g. model RL60GZEIH). The workmen are long gone having instructed you to leave it off for 4 hours (to let the compressor liquids settle at the bottom).

It’s the big moment! You plug in the fridge for the very first time! And flip the switch! It’s on…

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

What’s going on? Why won’t it stop beeping?

The display has the “speaker” icon on – and shows horizontal dashes or lines for temperature.

FEAR NOT: this is normal. In fact this is a “temperature” alarm to alert you to the fact that the fridge/freezer is too warm inside. This will usually happen after a power outage (according to the Samsung fridge/freezer manual) when powering on.

SOLUTION: press the “alarm” button to clear the alarm. If this doesn’t work hold down the “alarm” button for 3 seconds until the “speaker” icon disappears – this will disable audio alerts. You can re-enable them again once the fridge reaches operating temperatures.

Flashing Wash and Dry Lights on Bosch Dishwasher

I was using a Bosch table-top SKS51E18EU_IX model dishwasher.

When I turned it on I was confronted with the “wash” and “dry” lights (LEDs) flashing alternately.

First the wash light:

Bosch SKS51E18EU_IX wash light

Then the dry light:

Bosch SKS51E18EU_IX dry light

And then the wash light again and so on.

The cure? I had simply not selected a program using the dial (because I’d been twisting the knob to set the salt level earlier). Turn the dial until a washing program is selected!

Bosch SKS51E18EU_IX dial needs to be turned to select a valid program