Regular Debian ISO does not work with XenServer which was a disappointment. From the Xenserver link I found the important thread

http://community.citrix.com/display/xs/Debian+Lenny

Took me a while to create the ISO that would work. I used jingo and a centos VPS to create it.

After this I created the VPS but ran into many problems. Especially with the OS not installing. It might be the local NFS server issue. I will have to check that later.

Turned out to be the NFS server issue (I ran the local NFS for thin provisioning which turned out to be a mistake).

During the install, I installed the desktop option.

Installing XenServer tools went without a hitch.

2 major issue after this.

First I wasn’t able to get remote ssh to work for some reason. You’d think being very famililar with centos would allow me some hints but no love.
This wasn’t a major issue as I could just use the console.
The fix was to edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config to allow ssh and to install ssh as its not installed by default (sudo apt-get install ssh).
Now I can ssh in.

Second issue was a real headache. Basically I wasn’t able to resolve anything. I was able to ping just IPs and not domain names. Because of this I couldn’t run any updates. I thought correctly that I need to edit resolv.conf but it still wasn’t working and after the reboot the config is wiped. I finally found the solution here (http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=41949). Way at the bottom it mentions dhcp service which rewrites the resolv.conf file. What I finally did was to remove all the symlinks to stop the dhcp service from starting (S24dhcdbd in /etc/rc.2 to rc.5). That finally fixed it. Also bind9 has to be installed (sudo apt-get install bind9)
Note: (vi /etc/network/interfaces) to configure IP.

Now I went ahead and started following the openflow instructions.

http://www.openflowswitch.org/wk/index.php/Debian_Install

Took forever to switch to debian unstable

One of the apt-get asks to mount the dvdrom but I wasn’t able to (VDI error). The only way to fix that error is for a reboot and I can’t do that so I added the universe repo.

sudo su -c ‘echo deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian lenny multiverse restricted universe >> /etc/apt/sources.list’

http://forums.citrix.com/thread.jspa?threadID=252843&tstart=-1

Installing VNC

http://www.debian-resources.org/node/126

I already had xwindows installed during the install.

Install the VNC packages

apt-get install tightvncserver xtightvncviewer

(su – user) first or else the vnc will be created in root
after issue this command:

vncserver :1 -geometry 1024x768 -depth 16 -pixelformat rgb565

It’ll ask you for the VNC password. Now we’re ready to login (10.10.10.10:1). I use RealVNC

to kill a VNC session:

vncserver -kill :1

To decide on which desktop environment to use, edit the following file:
$HOME/.vnc/xstartup
and replace:
Minimal XWindos desktop
twm &
To use KDE:
startkde &
To use GNOME:
gnome-session &

Continuing the OPENFLOW STUFF

I use the Git method

sudo apt-get install git-core automake m4 pkg-config libtool
git clone git://openflowswitch.org/openflow.git
cd openflow
./boot.sh

Install your Debian Tools
Install them before the wireshark install (I had some issues compiling)

sudo apt-get install wireshark libgtk2.0-dev

This ask me for the Debian cdrom which I mounted using Xenserver. Took a while to install since it was 190megs. Not sure whats going on but its taking forever and uninstalling a ton of packages.

cd utilities/wireshark_dissectors/openflow
make
sudo make install

Skipped the regression update. Plus it killed my install and is unnecessary.

notes:
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX120880

I need to build myself this..

This post is if they wanna make some comments or questions or just tell me how crappy that page was.

Why Chinese? Most of my friends do not know how much Chinese culture has influenced me. It is a similar story to how Japanese culture has shaped me. Although for the past few years Chinese influence on my life has waned somewhat as I focus a lot of my time on computers and networking. But lets roll back down on memory lane.

I grew up in Thailand and when I was a kid, Chinese wuxia series were hugely popular. I use to run home all the time from school to watch the series. Yet I watched them dubbed in Thai so I never even knew their real names. Even now in my head I can remember some story lines and cool stuff that I wish I can find to watch it again. At the same time of my fascination with the series, Chinese movies also entered my imagination. This of course is mainly movies from Hong Kong. Actors such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li really kicked ass and who doesn’t like any of their movies. The more darker and fantasyish movies like the bride with white hair, fallen angels, and the blade captured the essence of what I considered cool and gritty back in the days. Of course, I still recall when stormriders came out and blew my mind and most of my friends who are into Chinese movies. One of my newer goal in life is to play the newer updated game in Chinese and actually be able to play it.

Chinese culture also made an entry into my gaming habits. There were of course the mindless hack and slash like Dynasty Warriors series but those I never really played much. The one series of games that captured my imagination was a similar game to civilization (which sucked me up). It was called Romance of the three kingdom which was based off the novel. Since I couldn’t read Chinese I played the translated version which was old but was incredibly addictive. From this game I learned of that period of Chinese and became familiar with many of the great characters such as Lui Bei, Cao Cao, Zhuge Liang, etc. I used to create characters in game based on my friends and then of course try to take over China with them. Looks like there’s a new ROTK11 is translated into english. I gotta make some time for that.

When I got to the US, and during my period of isolation, I went deep into Chinese entertainment. This was mainly in the form of HK movies. I bought many dvds (ordered 30 at a time from HK) and watch many of the classics and became familiar with many famed Chinese directors such as John Woo, Wong Kar-wai, Tsui Hark, Ronny Yu and Zhang Yimou. I became huge fans of actors/actresses such as Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Gong Li, Chow Yun Fat, etc.. I wasn’t just into action and fantasy now. I started delving more and more into artsy and dramatic movies and started to appreciate the more intricate stories woven into these masterpieces.

After this eventually I got to the point where I bought and read the translated novel of Romance of the Three Kingdom which was comprised of 4 books. Since I have always been interested in ancient history (At one point I wanted to be a history major), I started reading Chinese history and listened to recorded college lecture such as The teaching company’s lecture on Chinese history. Of course I also became interested in politics and social issues during this period so I read the more recent history on China. I read biography by Jan Wong on China and read up on Mao and try to understand modern China. One day I saw Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn being interviewed on cspan about their upcoming book. I snatch up the book which was called China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power. Of course the situation in China is moving so fast that half of these books are probably outdated. In any case, I am fully aware of China and especially its rising economic might.

I don’t know what are the reasons for many of the people who learn Chinese in my class. Most probably are learning it because its a smart thing to do with the growth of Chinese power. For me though its both a practical and genuine interest in Chinese culture. I also consider Mandarin a beautiful language (although Thai got it beat for now) and it is a challenge for me. Its actually the first language I will study to learn because the 3 I speak right now I obtain just by growing up around them. Hopefully I can learn well and use the resources I have to improve my Chinese. It definitely is a long commitment.

So I was watching this movie last night since the review were good and it was suppose to have inspired Bruce Lee’s fist of fury. I have to say I was impressed by the movie. It was pretty good for an older style of martial arts and filming style.

I also watched it dubbed in English and the dub was great. They seem to be inserting alot of artistic creativity in the dub with all the cussing in the movie. Of course you also get alot of Chinese slapstick which you have to be used to enjoy it.

The thing that seriously cracked me up was the “Pinky Promise” scene that keeps occuring.

First example, the young warrior meets his teacher and they decided to make a promise to keep secrets.. Now the boy then do the pinky promise.

All right. So it seems reasonable that the teacher would do the pinky promise with his new student to humor him.

Since he was a nice fellow and all.

Now as the movie progressed, the teacher left while the boy was still a kid. The boy becomes a powerful warrior by reading a book that the teacher left behind. He grew older and stronger and surprised his father by kicking the ass of a guy who came to take over his dojo. He starts to represent China and beat up a Russian boxer and some other random funny characters.

As fate would have it, he eventually meet his teacher again. Now what do you think the first thing he would do is? I mean they movie really cracked me up when as a kickass warrior now meeting his now really old teacher.. The first thing he does is this.

WHAT THE HELL?? I laughed so hard.

This movie rocks.  I just saw it last night and it blew me away.  Not only is it one of the best movie production from Thailand (looks damn good) but its one of the slickest in style and fights.  And I’m not just saying that because I grew up in Thailand.

Ever since watching Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong, I have been a Jaa fan.  While this one took a while to make, you can tell where that time and quality went to.  Visually I think its stunning and the plot is not bad.  I didn’t expect much on the plot and I hate people who rags on about plot in these kinds of movies.  I also wouldn’t compare it to wuxia type of epic movies that people tend to do.

The fights are pretty brutal and is a joy to watch Jaa do amazing stuff with his body.  I also personally like the sword fighting in this movie.  I thought it would be a little cheesy but it works in my book.  The dancing scene was also a joy to watch.  I haven’t seen stuff like that done so well for Thailand.  It was definately visually appealing to me and definately a movie Thai people can be proud of.

The only complain I have is the way they titled it.  Although its a marketing scheme, for people who knows the stuff its a bit “weak sauce”.

In a time like this when the big names in MA are slowly deteroriating, its pretty amazing to see a someone from Thailand takes up reign for the next generation.  I never saw this one coming.

All I can say is.. MAKE MORE OF THIS JAA.

I ran into an interesting band awhile ago that I’ve been listening to alot.  Not exactly manly music but thats ok.  You know the ying yang, staying in balanced idea which includes girly music

The story how I ran into them is interesting so I’ll recite it here.  A website that was promoting many bands (including them) had an issue so I sshed into the server and started to investigate the problem.  The owner gave me a link which was showing an error.  I figured out that it was an apache permission issue and resolved it.  I refresh the link and it wasn’t showing up the error anymore.  Then a song started playing since the error was fixed.  The song is called “Feel The Same Way” and I thought to myself, this is pretty good!  I did check out the other bands but none of them really had that catchy tune of that song.

I went to their myspace (http://www.myspace.com/poemamyspace) and listened to the other songs.  Good stuff.  The interesting thing is that their songs are simple melodies that just work.  Heck I can play their songs on the guitar myself.. but I won’t sound good thats for sure.

The thing I like about them is the purity, simplicity and good clean music.  They remind me of what I love about many classic Thai songs.  So now during work I cycle through their songs on their page.  I should purchase the songs sometimes soon

A few days ago I started to watch a program called Churchill’s Bodyguard.  It was about Sgt. Murray who was with Churchill for many years trying to protect him from many different types of threats.  Interestingly on one of the episodes, he talked about the trip to the ME and how Lawrence of Arabia had saved Churchill with his incredible popularity with the Arabs.

I’ve heard about the individual before but never really looked him up.  Since the episode was really fascinating, I got my hands on the classic movie and watched it.  I have to say this is one of the best movie I’ve seen.  Peter O’Toole play a great character and he did the character justice.  Now I gotta go out and buy the book.

Since Lawrence died so early I wonder what he would have done for the Arabs if he lived into an old age.  The movie potrayed him as someone who fought for the Arabs and tried but ultimately failed to unit the people.

What I’m really interested in knowing is what the contempory Arabs think of his contributions.

Do they consider him just a British agent using the Arabs as a tool? Do they think he truly tried hard to help them in gaining their independence?  Do they see him as a tragic character? I really wonder what Arab intellectuals think of him.

Since I live in a small town, its pretty difficult to find anyone who is truly interested in things such as this.  I’ll have to find a way to gather some info in the near future.

You know its really weird and strange and so awkward.  But I don’t even think it really matters in the grand scheme of things anymore.  But it does to me and that is because I feel the need to say something.  For the longest time I had a section inside of me which felt shameful, angry, confused, baffled at myself.  Me shrinking into the void for a long time away from everyone and you is something that I still don’t completely comprehend myself.  Perhaps I was out of the loop for so long, I didn’t feel that it would be appropriate if I reappeared.  I also didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin for the longest time until recently; about 2 years ago.  I don’t honestly know how I made it without the friendship of everyone because I felt so invigorated on my trip.  It made me more aware of things and how some of them are so obviously unimportant and confused at myself on why I was clinging to some of them.  But these days I’m liberated and don’t feel trapped anymore and so I am back with a vengeance!

Anyway I hope everything is cool between us.  I’m sure it is.  Why wouldn’t it be? And if it isn’t then you can forgive this moron.  I know you’re a nice person at least thats what I remembered.

Whats the point of adding another blog in the world.  There’s so many out there in the cyberworld already; and most of them are pointless.  So why do I want one?  I don’t know.  I think I’ll eventually have an answer as I go along.