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Why now? And by now I mean in the last 2 years.

PHP5 was released in 2004 becoming the only stable version under development in 2008.  It has a full object oriented language model. The PHP Data Objects (PDO) extension was added to provide a lightweight interface for accessing databases.

PHP4 was a very popular, easy to use, open source front end language.  I remember phpwebsite, ez-Publish, gallery, phpBB among others making use of the easily hosted, easy to template solution back in the late 90′s early 2000′s.  I quickly adopted it for datadriven dynamic websites because I didn’t want to deal with ASP or the hassle of Tomcat / Java / JSP.  I was not alone.

The problem was the simple dynamic sites that were so easy to build wound up scaling out into monster procedural messes. It takes a team of top notch Software Architects to refactor and redesign most of these sites.  Although sometimes Senior PHP developers are hired to do this.  In my opinion, from what I’ve seen, its better to toss out and re-design then to build a house on a rotten foundation.

FOSS / OSS has become popular with businesses during the last six years or so. The LAMP stack CMSes like Drupal and Joomla (which I actually consider children of the older PHP4 CMSes now since converted to PHP5), have really taken off.  Why rebuild the wheel when you can get the car for free?  It’s at this point PHP developers are being hired to write plugins and mods, re-skin and re-design these types of applications.

Another hot area of PHP5 usage right now is in the framework department.  PHP is scripting language that has a lot of useful functions that make adding dynamic content to web pages easier.  What PHP is not (and something like Rails is) is a framework. In software terms, frameworks are generally tools and pre-built objects that help you create a solution faster by not reinventing the wheel.  So if you don’t exactly find a FOSS / OSS app out there to your liking, or maybe you do but need to tweak the HECK out of it, you probably want to take a look at some of these PHP frameworks:

http://framework.zend.com/ – zend framework

http://cakephp.org/ – cakephp framework

http://phpsx.org/ – psx framework

http://pear.php.net/ – PEAR – PHP Extension and Application Repository – not really a framework, but will make life easier.

Along with PHP5 development is a dire need for mySQL development and administration.  I’ll talk a little bit about how they go hand in hand in my next post.

Ive been doing some Prototype work lately.  Keeping true to the FOSS tradition I am using, not Dreamweaver as a Web Design IDE, but KompoZer which I find to be the closest thing from a visual layout perspective.

Kompozer – the FOSS Web Design IDE

Although I prefer publishing files remotely from a Web Design tool via SFTP, KompoZer only supports FTP.  That being said it does support SSL enabled FTP.  I am very lucky to know some excellent Sys Admins.

FTP – Secure?

The consensus seems to be that vsftp is pretty darn secure if set up right.  One amazing Sys Admin, Kevin Korb, uses a home grown ftp server born and bred @ FutureQuest by Bruce Guenter which he says can’t be beat.  Its called twoftp and you can get here: http://untroubled.org/software.php.

vsftp setup on CentOS 5

Here’s how I got vsftp nice and secure with KompoZer publishing to my server. Please note my server distro is CentOS 5 32bit kernel v. 2.6.18-92.el5.

Creating a user

I created a user with:

• a primary group of apache (httpd group)
• a second group ftp
• starting shell /bin/bash
• password of xxxx
• home directory of /var/www/html – where my website files reside on the server
• a login name of jewelsjacobs

# useradd -gapache -Gftp -s/bin/shell -pxxxx -d/var/www/html jewelsjacobs

Installing vsftp

I installed vsftp server via yum:

# yum vsftpd

Configuring vsftp

I modified the /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf

# vi /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf

This is what mine looks like:


# Example config file /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf
#
# The default compiled in settings are fairly paranoid. This sample file
# loosens things up a bit, to make the ftp daemon more usable.
# Please see vsftpd.conf.5 for all compiled in defaults.
#
# READ THIS: This example file is NOT an exhaustive list of vsftpd options.
# Please read the vsftpd.conf.5 manual page to get a full idea of vsftpd's
# capabilities.
background=YES
#
# Allow anonymous FTP? (Beware - allowed by default if you comment this out).
anonymous_enable=NO
#
# Uncomment this to allow local users to log in.
local_enable=YES
#
# Uncomment this to enable any form of FTP write command.
write_enable=YES
#
# Default umask for local users is 077. You may wish to change this to 022,
# if your users expect that (022 is used by most other ftpd's)
local_umask=022
#
# Uncomment this to allow the anonymous FTP user to upload files. This only
# has an effect if the above global write enable is activated. Also, you will
# obviously need to create a directory writable by the FTP user.
#anon_upload_enable=YES
#
# Uncomment this if you want the anonymous FTP user to be able to create
# new directories.
#anon_mkdir_write_enable=YES
#
# Activate directory messages - messages given to remote users when they
# go into a certain directory.
dirmessage_enable=YES
#
# The target log file can be vsftpd_log_file or xferlog_file.
# This depends on setting xferlog_std_format parameter
xferlog_enable=YES
#
# Make sure PORT transfer connections originate from port 20 (ftp-data).
connect_from_port_20=YES
#
# If you want, you can arrange for uploaded anonymous files to be owned by
# a different user. Note! Using "root" for uploaded files is not
# recommended!
#chown_uploads=YES
#chown_username=whoever
#
# The name of log file when xferlog_enable=YES and xferlog_std_format=YES
# WARNING - changing this filename affects /etc/logrotate.d/vsftpd.log
#xferlog_file=/var/log/xferlog
#
# Switches between logging into vsftpd_log_file and xferlog_file files.
# NO writes to vsftpd_log_file, YES to xferlog_file
xferlog_std_format=YES
#
# You may change the default value for timing out an idle session.
idle_session_timeout=600
#
# You may change the default value for timing out a data connection.
data_connection_timeout=120
#
# It is recommended that you define on your system a unique user which the
# ftp server can use as a totally isolated and unprivileged user.
#nopriv_user=ftpsecure
#
# Enable this and the server will recognise asynchronous ABOR requests. Not
# recommended for security (the code is non-trivial). Not enabling it,
# however, may confuse older FTP clients.
#async_abor_enable=YES
#
# By default the server will pretend to allow ASCII mode but in fact ignore
# the request. Turn on the below options to have the server actually do ASCII
# mangling on files when in ASCII mode.
# Beware that on some FTP servers, ASCII support allows a denial of service
# attack (DoS) via the command "SIZE /big/file" in ASCII mode. vsftpd
# predicted this attack and has always been safe, reporting the size of the
# raw file.
# ASCII mangling is a horrible feature of the protocol.
#ascii_upload_enable=YES
#ascii_download_enable=YES
#
# You may fully customise the login banner string:
ftpd_banner=Welcome to blah FTP service.
#
# You may specify a file of disallowed anonymous e-mail addresses. Apparently
# useful for combatting certain DoS attacks.
#deny_email_enable=YES
# (default follows)
#banned_email_file=/etc/vsftpd/banned_emails
#
# You may specify an explicit list of local users to chroot() to their home
# directory. If chroot_local_user is YES, then this list becomes a list of
# users to NOT chroot().
#chroot_list_enable=YES
# (default follows)
chroot_list_file=/etc/vsftpd/chroot_list
#
# You may activate the "-R" option to the builtin ls. This is disabled by
# default to avoid remote users being able to cause excessive I/O on large
# sites. However, some broken FTP clients such as "ncftp" and "mirror" assume
# the presence of the "-R" option, so there is a strong case for enabling it.
#ls_recurse_enable=YES
#
# When "listen" directive is enabled, vsftpd runs in standalone mode and
# listens on IPv4 sockets. This directive cannot be used in conjunction
# with the listen_ipv6 directive.
listen=YES
#
# This directive enables listening on IPv6 sockets. To listen on IPv4 and IPv6
# sockets, you must run two copies of vsftpd whith two configuration files.
# Make sure, that one of the listen options is commented !!
#listen_ipv6=YES

pam_service_name=vsftpd
userlist_enable=YES
tcp_wrappers=YES
ftp_username=ftp
max_per_ip=4
force_dot_files=NO
listen_address=21
#hide_file=
#anon_max_rate=
#local_max_rate=
chroot_local_user=NO
anon_upload_enable=NO
anon_mkdir_write_enable=NO
anon_other_write_enable=NO

# Enable SSL
ssl_enable=YES
allow_anon_ssl=NO
force_local_data_ssl=NO
force_local_logins_ssl=YES

rsa_cert_file=/etc/pki/tls/certs/vsftpd.pem

Create the secure certificate

# cd /etc/pki/tls/certs
# make vsftpd.pem

FTP settings for KompoZer

Here are my settings in KompoZer:

I was surprised how easy it was to set up in Pidgin, the Linux IM app I’m using.  I thought I’d share the joy.

Here’s how to make it happen.

Once Pidgin is installed and good to go, add an IRC account by clicking Accounts > Manage Accounts.

In the Accounts window click the Add button.

Choose the IRC Protocol

In the Basic Tab, choose a new Username and Password.  Your password cannot be the same as your username. You will register it in a minute.  Keep Server irc.freenode.net.

Click the +Add and Close out of both windows.

You will see a an irc chat window that looks like this (ignore the other tabs):

Type REGISTER <your password> <your email address>

You will receive an email with instructions on how to proceed.

Now if you go to Buddies > Join a Chat and pick your IRC account you can click the Room List button to see a list of rooms or type a room name to join that room.

Have fun!

Added 1/12/2010 – Definitely a gift. I’m loving life on this laptop with Ubuntu. All is well. Other than needing to install the Realtek Wireless LAN driver – see below – I’m in karmic with the latest kernel and couldn’t be happier.

Two weeks ago I got an early Chanukah present – A Toshiba Satellite A505-S6981 Laptop. I’ve never gotten, nor purchased, a Windows laptop outside of a work related engagement.  This one came pre-installed with Windows Home Premium 7.  My plan was to have a duel boot setup – Windows + Ubuntu. Simple enough.

Note: As of 1/12/2010 I got rid of Windows. Everything works so well in Ubuntu now on the laptop, there’s no need.

When I opened the box I couldn’t find the Windows install disk.  I needed it. Aaarrrggg.  I called the vendor.  Where was it? I was told Windows laptops have not shipped with install disks for the past three years. But there is the option to burn the the OS when you start up the laptop.  OK, no biggie.

I started up the laptop and performed what I thought was an OS burn but what turned out to be a 6 DVD backup. Turns out I had to shell out about $100 for the OEM DVD. 6 coasters and a partridge in a pear tree.

Before I took the plunge (by the way here’s a great guide on creating a Windows 7 / Ubuntu 9.10 duel boot). I did some googeling to make sure I could run Ubuntu on the laptop.  I saw the list of Linux supported Toshiba laptops. My model wasn’t exactly on it but . . look . . here’s Toshiba’s Linux Support Portal!  Good enough for me.

Why be wireless?

It was all smooth sailing as long as I was hard wired into the network.  In order to get my Realtek wireless LAN happening, I needed to install a driver.  After two days of searching, including finding out ndswrapper isn’t 64bit friendly I found this page.  It was my beacon of hope.

Here’s what needs to be done:

1. Download the driver.
2. Download this patch.
3. su yourself into root userdom
4. Extract driver.
5. Run the patch file with the command patch -p0<rtl8192se_091211.patch
6. cd into the driver dir
7. type make
8. type make install

Reboot and you should see a list of available networks in the Network Manager.  If not, check out that link I mentioned above for answers.

Its important to note I had all of the default Ubuntu software repositories activated. I ran updates regularly.  This fixed problems I ran into.  For information on how to set this up, click here.

Note: The following issues are no longer plaguing me. I have a Vizio 37″ HDTV that works just fine connected via HDMI.

HDM-oh my what resolution is that?

I was sooo psyched to see that HDMI port on the laptop.  I’ve got an AppleTV, Roxio and a PS3. Its not enough.  I want more.  I joined laptop to my lousy CRT HDTV with a too short HDMI cable and pulled up hulu.com.  I experienced double frustration being in an uncomfortable position and noticing the Display Manager did not recognize the 1900×1200 monitor.

The handy lspci command shows that this laptop model has the:

Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)

I needed a driver.  Luckily there’s a repo for that. Here’s how its done:

To add this repository, go to System > Administration > Software Sources, click on the second tab: “Third-party Software”, and add these:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/xorg-edgers/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/xorg-edgers/ppa/ubuntu karmic main

Now import the PGP key for this repository, using the following command:
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 8844C542

Then go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager and do a search for ‘intel’.  You can also restrict the results to the xorg-edgers repo. Grab your drivers.

I wish I could say this fixed the problem.

I further googled and tried messing with the xorg.conf and xrandr but didn’t get anywhere.  If your brave you can delve deeper. More info here.  Note that this problem does not occur in Windows so I have to alternate OS’ when I want to watch that episode of House I missed.  If anyone has solved this problem LET ME KNOW!

Life was pretty good.  For a while.  Then as luck would have it, I would need to install an app for a (potential) work related situation that was only supported on the Windows and CentOS / Red Hat platforms.  I backed up my files and got ready to switch to CentOS5 . . .

Note: I’ve got a CentOS5 Cloud Server now.  I don’t recommend running CentOS5 64 bit as a Desktop OS.  If you want to run desktop and server apps together, try Fedora.

Travel light

• Drop Windows, MSSQL, Oracle, etc. Start off with a clean slate.
• Virtualize the Infrastructure.

Stay Open

• Make sure to keep in contact with the Open Source Development community. Get IM account IDs.
• Have a Sandbox environment outside of the internal network which mirrors the development environment. Give developers in the community access to help with issues.
• Contribute by submitting bugs, enhancement requests, documentation, patches, and plugins. Participate in the software’s direction.

Be inspired

Open Source Software grows and changes fast. The good apps get a lot of add ons, enhancements, modules and mash-ups. There are many important ideas out there in the OSS community. What benefits one organization will most likely benefit another. Take the opportunity to let those, and others improve your organization.

If Prometheus would have taken that raw passion, done better planning in identifying the needs of the stakeholders (there are always more than meets the eye) and infected them with the same passion would the Board, I mean Zeus, repeatedly attempt to kill his enthusiasm for innovative technology?

Leaders need vision.  Passion is the fuel that sustains vision.  The BIG mistake that I’ve learned when bringing the fire of Open Source applications to an Enterprise Organization is that ALL of the STAKEHOLDERS HAVE NEEDS.  Not just C-Level leadership.  Not just IT.  Not just end users. Not just department sponsors.

For example, here are just a few additional players and things to consider:

Open Source Software is typically supported by an international community, and core developers which tend to form consulting groups. A lot of them can’t accept payment the same way commercial software vendors and consultants can. Accounts Payable has preferred methods of paying vendors.  Legal has specific types of contracts and agreements which may need alteration. What training resources are available and how do they prefer to work.  Is there supporting documentation or tech writers if not? The list goes on. . .

There is a complicated web – a string of relationships that all need to be prepared for Open Source.

Before a solution can be presented with confidence and certainty all of these factors must be considered.  Then and only than will all of the parties involved see how this new way of doing business will not only save money and increase productivity but BRING THE FIRE OF INNOVATION INTO THE RUT THAT CAN BE THE SAME OLD SAME OLD.

First you need to request that your share be cifs vs. nfs

Here is an example of the syntax:

Add to /etc/fstab:

//sharehost/share$ /path/to/mount/directory cifs username=svc_username,password=somepassword

Note the svc account needs to be Linux / AD

Then run

mount /path/to/mount/directory

Has some JavaScript to accommodate Bar Code Scanners.

Enjoy!

JJ

Vaco – an excellent resource relations company (I can’t even call them a staffing company because its too limiting) is hosting another exciting event:

The Brand – YouWho Are You and What Do You Want?

Learn how to deliver your vision and mission to influence decision makers.

When: Tuesday, November 17th 4:00-6:00

Where: Vaco Orlando, LLC

485 N. Keller Road

Suite 451

Maitland, FL 32751

RSVP: Please rsvp by Friday, November 13th to Brittany Smith at bsmith@vaco.com or 321-445-2100 or Gilda Diaz at gdiaz@vaco.com or 321-445-2121.

I’m not sure if its too late to sign up.