hardware category archive

Updating the Linksys BEFSR41 Router Firmware from GNU/Linux

One of the challenges you run in to when moving to GNU/Linux is that simple little things may not be supported. For example, updating the firmware on your router. Linksys provides some rinky-dink program to install the firmware from Windows, but doesn’t tell you how or if you can do it from GNU/Linux. (At least there wasn’t anything I could find on their site about this.)

I’ve had a Linksys BEFSR41 4-port wired router since 2000, and in the early days I upgraded the firmware from Windows a few times, but now haven’t touched it in many years, getting by just fine with the 1.37 firmware from Jan ‘01. Recently I’ve been trying out OpenDNS, and from their site gathered that a newer firmware might allow me …

At Night, the Robot Slept

Blame it on Luis Villa. He wrote about his Roomba and got me thinking. I had also previously heard good things. Hmm…

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto, doing the jobs that I don’t want to?

The wife was skeptical at first, but I mentioned the good things I was “hearing,” that the prices were coming down, and likewise got her thinking. If it works, it might be one of those things like TiVo that you wonder how you lived without. (Later we found out they offer a money-back guarantee after a month trial, including shipping charges in both directions, so it becomes much less risky to at least give it a try.) She came back a few days later with a model that she said I could buy. “Really? I can bring him …

system76 creative alternative support

I’ve been happy with the system76 desktop machine I bought last year pre-installed with Ubuntu. I got it partly to support a company selling GNU/Linux machines, and partly to avoid the Microsoft tax and possible complications with buying a cheap Dell machine and replacing Windows with Ubuntu. (This was before Dell started offering Ubuntu.)

I’d consider going back to system 76 before buying a Dell Ubuntu machine. Dell hasn’t particularly earned my loyalty after my past experience with them, although I hope the Ubuntu machines sell well for them and they keep it up.

The machine has worked out great, but then recently there was the problem with the integrated Ethernet NIC on the motheboard. After throwing in a spare card and getting …

HOWTO: Samba and the NSLU2: Remote Drives in GNU/Linux

Yesterday’s post seemed a bit garbled to me. I wanted to work on a hastier posting style, but then see what happens? I make even less sense than usual. I’d like to set down this latest migration adventure for posterity. I’d be happy if it helps even one person in the future. This post is mostly for my own memory and those random Internet searchers looking for similar information. Expect more hasty incoherence to follow. Hasty and *extended* incoherence. Read on at your own risk. You’ve been warned.

I’ve talked about how backing data up is an obsessively crucial part of my computer usage, and mentioned that I picked up the awesome Linksys Network Storage Link for my online backups. I’ve …

Spirit of system76

Sometimes, giving away free stickers can get you a $500 sale.

I hadn’t heard of system76 before coming across a post at the Ubuntu Blog back in August. It mentioned free (as in free beer!) stickers, courtesy of the folks at system76. Well, actually for the low low price of a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

But look! My $0.78 investment got me four of these neat “powered by: ubuntu linux” stickers. Coincidentally just the right size to replace a “Designed for Microsoft Windows XP” sticker, or whatever.

I didn’t know what I’d do with them. Pop one on the box if I ever got an Ubuntu system going, of course. Mainly I sent in for them because they looked cool and appealed to …