November 2006 Archives

I use hMailServer as my Email server and Awstats as my log analyse tool.

Version:
hMailServer 4.3 - Build 248
Advanced Web Statistics (Awstats) 6.5 (build 1.857)

Step 1:
In hMailServer Administrator.
Settings > Logging, check the AWStats checkbox.

The AWStats log file will be located in your installation folder. Such as

c:/hMailServer/logs/hmailserver_awstats.log

Step 2:
Configure of conf file, which is AWStats configuration file.
Let's record the important lines below:

LogFile="c:/hMailServer/logs/hmailserver_awstats.log"
LogType=M
LogFormat="%time2 %email %email_r %host %host_r %method %url %code %bytesd"
LogSeparator="\t"
SiteDomain="mail.domainname.com"
DirData="c:\project\stats\cgi-bin\data\hmail"
AllowToUpdateStatsFromBrowser=1
ShowEMailSenders=1
ShowSMTPErrorsStats=1

I mentioned about spammer want to send spams through my email server. I have to ban some IP address range.

It is very easy to config it in hMailServer administration interface.

The following image is the screen shoot after setup.

Please notice the IP range:
Ban IP 1: 61.64.64.0 - 61.64.255.255
Ban IP 2: 61.62.4.0 - 61.62.11.255
These two IP ranges are subset of the IP address of So-Net. I just banned part of their IP.
The default setting is accept all IP address with priority 10.
I added these Ban IP with priority 30. So I don't need to change the default IP address range.

You must be noticed that a special IP address. It belongs to Defender Technologies Group, LLC. I think it is a ISP or hosting company in USA.

I installed hMailServer as my Email server last week. Let me keep a log of my installation.

Step 1.
Download hMailServer from the official site. The latest stable version is hMailServer 4.3 - Build 248. Download here. File size 3,568KB.

Setp 2.
Install hMailServer by double-clik the file downloaded to launch the setup.
The package has a built-in MySQL database. Because I have a MySQL server running on my Windows 2003 server, I select to use an external database.

After installation, run the hMailServer Database Setup wizard.
And I set a password which will be needed later.

Step 3.
I use external MySQL, so I have tu run the appropriate script from the hMailServerAddonsService dependencies folder. It is located on the installation folder.

Step 4.
DNS configuration.
I set it up already. Just MX record.

Now, my email server is not Imail 8.1 any more. hMailServer is my best choice when I search the Open Source email server.

Most important thing is that it is totally free and Open Source. I said before, I will replace all my desktop software and server software by Free and Open Source software. This is one of the steps.

Let me introduce the features and functions of hMailServer.

* POP3, SMTP, IMAP
* Virtual domains
* Built-in backup
* Scripting
* External accounts
* Rules
* Multilingual
* AntiVirus
* Spam protection
* Routing
* MX backup
* Load balancing
* Mirroring
* Multihoming
* SQL-support

I use Voipstunt over 9 months. Always feel good for its service.

One issue makeing me not happy is it changed country list of free call without email the notice to user.

Ok. I check the call history. Phone calls to China are charged 0.7 cent per minute. USA is still free.

I may change to other service provider, when both USA and China are not free.

Recently, my email server got very heavy load of spams.

Just see a very short log file, lots from the IP address of SONET-TW (Sony Network Taiwan Limited).
I googled it and found it is a ISP company provide ADSL internet access service.

Because of so many load of server, I have to ban the IP address range as following:

61.64.64.0 - 61.64.255.255

The spammers try to send spams through my email server. I turn off the open relay. They still try and try.
Even the server gave the 530 back. They doesn't give up.

If you have your own email server like me, you may need to know something about SPF record.

From the SPF website, I got the following description:

SPF fights return-path address forgery and makes it easier to identify spoofs.
Domain owners identify sending mail servers in DNS.
SMTP receivers verify the envelope sender address against this information, and can distinguish authentic messages from forgeries before any message data is transmitted.

Use DNS Stuff's DNS report tool, you can see if your email server has a SPF record.

To add a SPF record in Windows server.
I go to http://www.michaelbrumm.com/spfwindowsdns/

Follow the instruction to setup my DNS server in Windows 2003

I used DNS Stuff very often. It is a handy tool for network.

Such as Reverse DNS lookup, WHOIS Lookup, DNS Report, etc.

It changed UI to new look. Web 2.0 like face.

Use DNS report, I can easily recognize the setting of my DNS server of my domain. I can fix the bugs if needed.

Tyler Hall mentioned that Google has a weather feed.
I tried it. It is so good.

Let me introduce it. Xuuuuuuuu!!!!, it is a secrete.

Burnaby BC, Canada weather code
http://www.google.com/ig/api?weather=Burnaby,BC&hl=en

It can set language. This is Chinese version.
http://www.google.com/ig/api?weather=Burnaby,BC&hl=zh-cn

Microsoft release its November update yesterday.

For Windows 2000 professional, five updates.
MS06-067: Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer
MS06-068: Vulnerability in Microsoft Agent could allow remote code execution
MS06-066: Vulnerability in the Client Service could allow remote code execution
MS06-070: Vulnerability in Workstation Service could allow remote code execution
Malicious Software Removal Tool

This is my workstation in office. I update it immediately.

Some people noticed that I have the related entries follow the main entry body.

I use TagSupplementals Plugins to implement this feature.

The installation is very simply. I don't explain it.

The topic I want say is about how to add the code into the MovableType template.

1) Install the plugin.

2) Add tags into every entry.

3) Add the following code into Individual Entry Archive template file:
Find <p class="entry-footer">
Add following code after the footer section.

ReviewMe is a good way to get more income to cover your cost of your server or internet access expense.
If you have a blog over 2 years, and continue to post, you may know much about how to earn money from online advertisement, such as Google AdSense, Yahoo Publisher Network, etc. They are contextual ads. Sometimes the personal blog is not topic focus enough. The performance of ads is not good.

Some bloggers are bought to post an article to promote some products without disclosure. Readers will treat it as a real review, but not an advertisement. It's cheating.

ReviewMe is a new service for blogger. It is very fair to bloggers and blog readers.

Let's see the Fire new features of Gmail:
1) Reply on top
There is a new buttom on the right-up corner. Much easy to click to reply the email.

2) Embarassment-reducing new message notifications
That's a new features to notify you the second email from the same sender when you read his email.

3) Forward all
Forward all messages in the conversation.

4) Chat even when your friends are offline
Just leave the offline message to your friend.

5) Get Gmail on your mobile phone
My cellphone is very simply. I don't care about this new feature.

Sixapart is developing the next version of MovableType. The future version will be including following interesting features:

1) Role
Role may replace the Author and Administrator. Default roles include Weblog Administrator, Designer and Editor.
So, it is more flexible to implement the rights for users.

2) Clone Blog
It is much easy tool to duplicate a new blog with same entries. You don't need to export and import the blog any more.

3) Interface tweak
Always, on interface. Every program has an updage, will change its interface somewhere.

Here are a troubleshooting guide Flash movie from AT&T and Yahoo.

It is a good habit to review the whole troubleshooting movie. When you meet the similar problems, it may guide you to fix your connection.

Click here to see the movie directly.

This is based on the AT&T Yahoo! Help file.

To create a new DSL connection profile for Windows XP:

The Windows XP operating system includes its own PPPoE software. You should use it instead of Enternet 300.

1. From the Start menu, select Control Panel.

2. Make sure you are viewing the Classic View. If instead you are in Category View, select Switch to Classic View from the upper-left of the window.

3. Double click the Network Connections icon.

Devices such as fax machines, caller ID boxes, or telephones that connect to a DSL phone line require a line filter, which prevents noise from disrupting the DSL signal on the phone line. Line filters must be added to every device that connects to a DSL phone line. Note: The line connected to the DSL modem can connect to a dual stand-alone filter. Otherwise, do not use a filter on the DSL modem.

There are two basic line filter configurations available. First determine if you have dual stand-alone line filters (figure A), or single stand-alone line filters with a "Y-adapter" (figure B). Then follow the appropriate set of instructions below.

Setup instructions for dual stand-alone line filters (figure A)

I help my parents in law to sign up for DSL Internet service from ATT
They use Dial-Up previously, cost them about 10 bucks. Now the AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Basic Package is $14.99 per month with following features:

Speed: 384 Kbps to 768 Kbps downstream / 128 Kbps upstream
IP Assignment Method: 1 Dynamic

ATT has four different packages for residence. The other three packages are shown below:
Express package:

Speed: 384 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps downstream / 128 Kbps to 384 Kbps upstream
IP Assignment Method: 1 Dynamic
Price: $19.99 per month

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Do you feel some changes here?

I removed the Google Ads from my sites, including SEO.

I am a temp of Google, for some Ads related project from this week.
To prevent from interest conflict, I made some changes here and there, which is requested by Google.

Paul Mauriat is gone for ever. I like his songs.
It may make me calm down when I listen the song from his band.

I still remember the first cassette I have twenty years ago. China was not open at that time. My aunt gave us a Sanyo boombox with some cassette including Paul Mauriat.

I will try to find some songs of him for memory.

Wikipedia has a good, full description of Paul Mauriat

The photo from Wikipedia.

Have you see this perfect machine. Play PC games in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. The best bet is the comfortable, adjustable seat on the rack.
Look at the picture from HotSeat.

The price start from $699. Includes LCD stand, racing console, surround sound and your choice from 4 colors and wheel, monitor, games, gaming systems.

Yahoo has a site fullly filled by recipes. It is Yahoo Food

I do like daintiness. Sometimes I will cook some for my family.
This time I got a good place for reference.

For every dish, it tells me preparing time, cook time and how many serves.
The following is:
1) Ingredients
Note: including Nutrition information. Show you how many Calories, Carbohydrates, Dietary Fiber, Fat, Protein, Sugars are included.

2) Cooking directions
Very clear and easy to read.

Zend Google Data Client Library is released on Oct. 31, 2006.
It is a new GData API for Php developer. It provide a simple standard protocol and writing data on the web. For example, Google Base, Calendar, Blogger, and CodeSearch each have a data API following the Google Data protocol.

To get this Gdata tool, click here.

The most interest thing is Google Account Authentication.
I plan to build a online Poll system. If I can integrate this system with Google Account, it will be much easy for users.