elby

Niagara II vs Niagara I OR UltraSparc T2 vs UltraSparc T1

So Im sure everyone, well maybe not "everyone", but a lot of people have heard the announcement  of the new UltraSparc T2 (Niagara II) processor.
I currently am working with this Processor on a secret new platform. I've also worked with the UltraSparc T1 (Niagara I) on this system (T6300), codenamed St. Paul.  (Am I allowed to post about system codenames!?).  Anyways, the St. Paul, err the T6300 hosts the Niagara I chip.  So whats the point of this post. 

Well the Niagara II chip boasts "Unprecedented Throughput" and people have asked me how does the Niagara II chip compare to the Niagara I chip.  Well , the answer is a LOT better, but I wanted some feedback of applications readers might use to test such "throughput", mention, point, suggest some tests for me to run and I will try to get some numbers in my spare time to really show the performance increase. 

So its up to you readers!

 As a sidenote, so I was talking about system codenames and there always seemed to me this secrecy about the codenames...well only for  systems not released yet, but if you dig, you can find..take for example this code snippet at opensolaris

# add stpaul links to individual components
#
s none usr/platform/SUNW,Sun-Blade-T6300/lib/.......

Posted at 09:45PM Aug 08, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Code  |  Comments[4]

Missing the Board

Im seriously missing wakeboarding out here.
For some reason I don't have very many pics of me on the board, but my favorite is my friend majic doing a ralley over his sister w/ an American flag as a cape.

Posted at 12:26AM Aug 03, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Personal  |  Comments[1]

I put a chip in my niece

I overheard this today on my way walking to work:

 "Yea, my niece got a chip put in her so they can finally track her"

I just thought that was weird, did she have a say in the chip being placed in her skin? Is this common? And what does "finally track her" mean. Have they been loosing here often? Maybe I heard wrong?

So after some researching, it looks like there are actual companies that will implant you with a chip:

http://www.verichipcorp.com/  <--- RFID for people, is the slogan
 

Maybe I am seeing the glass half-empty, I mean if I get kidnapped people can locate me, If there is an accident, people can locate me...etc.  So who knows, if I implant myself w/ a chip Ill tell everyone how my experience goes.

Posted at 11:23AM Jul 20, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Personal  |  Comments[1]

sunGrab - tool to convert cd's to mp3's

Ok...so I've been working on a mp3 burner w/ a GUI, you will see this in the future (called sunBurn)
SunBurn will support mp3 burning to cd recorder AND cd ripping.

This is in the future though and for right now I will share this script that I wrote to grab cd tracks from your cd player.....

This script "should" work on linux and solaris, but I'm not sure...I've only tested it on Solaris....

Without further adieu I present to you sunGrab, download it here.

PURPOSE:  To convert cd-audio tracks to mp3's

[root@unknown:] # ./sunGrab -h
sunGrab: A tool to convert your cd's to mp3's
  Usage: sunGrab [OPTIONS]

  Command line OPTIONS:
  -l, --lame            path to lame codec
  -c, --cdda2           wavpath to cdda2wav binary
  -t, --temp            directory to store mp3's
  -vbr                  choose this to use Variable encoding (I prefer)
  -b, --bitrate         bitrate (options are 96 112 128 160 192 224 256 320)
  -d, --device          device to rip from (use cdda2wav --scanbus to find (1,0,0)
  -h, --help            display this help and exit
  -v, --version         display this version and exit

  Examples:
  sunGrab -l=/opt/csw/bin/lame -c=/opt/csw/bin/cdda2wav -t=/tmp -d=1,0,0 -bitrate=320
  sunGrab -l=/opt/csw/bin/lame -c=/opt/csw/bin/cdda2wav -t=/tmp -d=1,0,0 -vbr
  sunGrab   -- NOTE*- any option can be left blank, and it will prompt you and autodetect in most cases

Looks pretty self explanatory, one thing to note, is that if you leave any or ALL options blank, this script will prompt you for your answers and try to autodetect most options...so the best thing (if you don't know what your doing) is to just call ./sunGrab.

 soon sunGrab will be integrated into sunBurn. so for now..let this screenshot do the justice for sunBurn.

By the way, sunGrab probably (most likely) have bugs...so if you find any problems, let me know and I will update.
BTW - its LGPL.

here are some ways i use it....

  sunGrab -l=/opt/csw/bin/lame -c=/opt/csw/bin/cdda2wav -t=/tmp -d=1,0,0 -bitrate=320
  sunGrab -l=/opt/csw/bin/lame -c=/opt/csw/bin/cdda2wav -t=/tmp -d=1,0,0 -vbr
  sunGrab (I like this option b/c it will ask me for all my input...and autodectect)
 

Dependicies:

    lame - http://www.blastwave.org/packages.php/lame or http://lame.sourceforge.net/index.php
    cdda2wav -- This utility is part of cdrtools.  The source  for  cdrtools is available in the SUNWmkcdS package.
    perl - Its a perl script......

Posted at 10:28PM Jun 19, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Code  |  Comments[1]

Sun Blade T6300

 The T6300 - A powerful blade!

Posted at 09:35AM Jun 06, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Solaris  |  Comments[4]

USB fat32 / ufs setup

So I want to describe the lessons I found in order to format USB disks in solaris
Ill show how I (not usually the best way), accomplished the following:

1. Format usb disk for windows/solaris use
2. Format usb for UFS (Unix File System) for just my solaris box's

Lets see the steps I accomplished for step 1:

a. Find your usb storage device....

[root@unknown:] # rmformat
Looking for devices...
     1. Logical Node: /dev/rdsk/c4t0d0p0
        Physical Node: /pci@0,0/pci1022,7460@6/pci108e,534d@3,2/storage@4/disk@0,0
        Connected Device:          USB DISK 28X     PMAP
        Device Type: Removable
        Bus: USB
        Size: 123.0 MB
        Label: <None>
        Access permissions: <Unknown>

Ok...looks like its at /dev/rdsk/c4t0d0p0

b. run fdisk /dev/rdsk/c4t0d0p0

[root@unknown:] # fdisk /dev/rdsk/c4t0d0p0
Create the following partition

      Partition   Status    Type          Start   End   Length    %
      =========   ======    ============  =====   ===   ======   ===
          1                 Win95 FAT32       1   122     122     99

SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
   1. Create a partition
   2. Specify the active partition
   3. Delete a partition
   4. Change between Solaris and Solaris2 Partition IDs
   5. Exit (update disk configuration and exit)
   6. Cancel (exit without updating disk configuration)

...I have my Status as unactive..dont know if this matters
One thing I have noticed..is if you allready have an active partition and delete it, then create a new one
and then run mkfs, it will say it is busy...so if that happens, just take the usb drive out, then stick it back in.

c. [root@unknown:] # mkfs -F pcfs -o b=elbyUSB,fat=32 /dev/rdsk/c4t0d0p0:c
Construct a new FAT file system on /dev/rdsk/c4t0d0p0:c: (y/n)? y

(the b is a labelname...usefully if you want to label usb sticks)

d. [root@unknown:] # mount -F pcfs /dev/dsk/c4t0d0p0:c /Desktop/temp/
Mount the FAT file system...
After this is done, you can go to a Windows box and everything should work fine....

so on to step 2.
The following is pretty straight-foward for creating a ufs filesystem on your usb drive...

a. Find your usb path
[root@unknown:] # rmformat  
Looking for devices...
     1. Logical Node: /dev/rdsk/c8t0d0p0
        Physical Node: /pci@0,0/pci1022,7460@6/pci108e,534d@3,2/storage@5/disk@0,0
        Connected Device: Fujifilm USB Drive        4.70
        Device Type: Removable
        Bus: USB
        Size: 243.8 MB
        Label: <None>
        Access permissions: <Unknown>

Looks like mine is /dev/rdsk/c8t0d0p0

b.Then create a Solaris2 partition.
[root@unknown:] #fdisk /dev/rdsk/c8t0d0p0

c. Then create a ufs filesystem... NOTE: I choose slice2, (the whole disk for the filesystem)
[root@unknown:] # newfs /dev/dsk/c8t0d0s2
newfs: /dev/rdsk/c8t0d0s2 last mounted as /media/USB Drive
newfs: construct a new file system /dev/rdsk/c8t0d0s2: (y/n)? y

d. Then mount
[root@unknown:] # mount /dev/dsk/c8t0d0s2 /Desktop/temp/

###############
For both of the above...you can access the format command with the format -e
[root@unknown:] # format -e
and for the latter, you can label it, and look at your paritions with the format command...

if things aren't working you can troubleshoot with some usefully commands....

If your usb has a disk activity, you can try to write to it with the following command
[root@unknown:] # dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/rdsk/c8t0d0p0 count=44444
Have count be whatever you want, then look at the activity light and see if it is blinking..

you can also tail the /var/adm/messages
for example..I have a usb keyboard with a hub built it...I plug in my usb thumbdrive into my keyboard, but I can see the following


[root@unknown:] # tail -f /var/adm/messages
############<===PLUG IN THE USB DRIVE TO THE KEYBOARD HUB AND LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS
<snip>
Jun  2 12:25:55 unknown usba: [ID 912658 kern.info] USB 2.0 device (usb430,100e) operating at full speed (USB 1.x) on USB 1.10 root hub: hub@1, hubd0 at bus address 2
Jun  2 12:25:55 unknown genunix: [ID 936769 kern.info] hubd0 is /pci@0,0/pci1022,7460@6/pci108e,534d@3/hub@1
Jun  2 12:25:55 unknown genunix: [ID 408114 kern.info] /pci@0,0/pci1022,7460@6/pci108e,534d@3/hub@1 (hubd0) online
Jun  2 12:25:56 unknown usba: [ID 691482 kern.warning] WARNING: /pci@0,0/pci1022,7460@6/pci108e,534d@3/hub@1 (hubd0): configuration 0 for device          USB DISK 28X     at port 1 exceeds power available for this port, please re-insert your device into another hub port which has enough power
</snip>

Well, it looks like I know why, my curiosty is resolved...
"USB DISK 28X     at port 1 exceeds power available for this port, please re-insert your device into another hub port which has enough power"

Posted at 07:14PM Jun 02, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Solaris  |  Comments[4]

Cape Flattery and San Jaun Islands

Went to Seattle for memorial day, my best bud lives on Lake Sammamish.  Had quite the extravagant plan for the weekend that went loosely as:

1. Wakeboard Friday morning on the Lake.
2. Camp at Lake Ozette on the way to Cape Flattery
3. Swim/Kayak to Tatoosh Island in the Pacific....
4. Back to Seattle and head up to San Juan Islands for sailing.....

So, woke up Friday morning, put in the Supra boat and boarded a little, then started heading up to Tatoosh Island for the goal of the whole trip..get to Tatoosh Island.  Left Seattle at around 3:00pm and took the ferry..

it took a little longer then we thought to get to Flattery so we decided to camp at Lake Ozette.  Very peaceful lake.... Woke up the next morning, proceeding to some non-eventful kayaking and ploddingly made our way to Cape Flattery trail head which is actually located inside Makah Indian Reservation.  We reach the Cape Flattery trail head, unload our kayaks and wetsuits and proceed to the most NW point in the lower 48. 

We get to end of the trailhead, traverse a cliff with a rope, head down the cliff and put start evaluating what kind of situation we got ourselves into...

After much debating, we decide the currents and ocean conditions (plus having 2 people swim b/c of the fact we only had 2 kayaks for 4 people + gear) was a very bad idea.  We decide to find another spot, so we all hop in the ocean (2 people in wetsuits, 2 in kayaks) and try to locate a good place to camp.  After a little searching we find this beach surrounded by cliffs about 1/2 mile from our ROCK POINT, and decide to haul our gear to the beach.  This beach was surrounded by all sides and had multiple waterfalls falling from cliffs, a nice campspot (high enough for high tide not to sweep us away),  a couple caves, and complete isolation.  So after the kayakers found this spot we decided to have 2 people swim the 1/2 mile and have 2 people carry gear on the kayaks...After 3 hours which consisted of 3 trips for the kayakers (yes i was one of them), we finally made the beach...

Woke up to bad weather, 8 foot swells, and one heck of ride out of the beach.

The next day, after settling down, got the sailboat out of Anacortes, WA. And went for a quick day sail to James Island.

 Last pic I promise

Ah, the sweet San Juans..

 

Posted at 12:43AM Jun 01, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Personal  |  Comments[1]

last.fm xmms xmms-scrobbler

Ok, we all know about last.fm.

And we all want to get connected! RIGHT!
Well, surprisingly, there isn't that great support with Solaris (Solaris Nevada snv_55b X86).
As we all know, Solaris Nevada snv_55b comes with rythmbox and it has a last.fm plugin (but of course if crashes)

So, If it crashes, what do we do, well, we find something else that works, xmms works!
I installed xmms with pkg-get (click here if you don't know anything about this great feature), saved me the trouble of installing
from source xmms (thanks whoever compiled it and packaged it!)

So I had the binary xmms installed and found a plugin to upload to last.fm
http://xmms-scrobbler.sommitrealweird.co.uk/download/xmms-scrobbler-0.4.0.tar.gz

Downloaded it, compiled it (made sure curl source was in /usr/include), and it worked.
For those who are lazy, I will try to give the x86 compiled version of xmms-scrobbler for solairis but no PROMISES!

Put them in your plugin for xmms (mine is /opt/csw/lib/xmms/General)
Click the links to download them
http://mieric.com/sun/libxmms_scrobbler.la
http://mieric.com/sun/libxmms_scrobbler.so

...remember, you can always compile yourself!

Then add me as a friend!  my username is mieric

Posted at 10:35PM May 11, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Solaris  |  Comments[1]

mount SATA drive x86

Solaris Problem: I want to mount my SATA drive

1.  Find device location using
iostat -En

bash-3.00# iostat -En
c0d0             Soft Errors: 0 Hard Errors: 0 Transport Errors: 0
Model: HITACHI HDS7225 Revision:  Serial No: VDB41BT4C5APUC  Size: 250.05GB <250054705152 bytes>
Media Error: 0 Device Not Ready: 0 No Device: 0 Recoverable: 0

 Here we can see that c0d0 is the device location, the key is to finding the slice to mount, so c0 = controller d0= drive s# = slice

2.  Try to mount manually (start at slice 2)
bash-3.00# mount /dev/dsk/c0d0s2 /mnt <== not working for me (usually means the whole disk)
bash-3.00# mount /dev/dsk/c0d0s0 /mnt <== not working for me  (must mean newfs was on diff slice)
bash-3.00# mount /dev/dsk/c0d0s7 /mnt <== WORKING

3.  Have Solaris mount drive upon starting (umount /mnt if already mounted) edit /etc/vfstab and add the following line

/dev/dsk/c0d0s7 - /export/home ufs - yes ro

Posted at 12:20AM Mar 21, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Solaris  |  Comments[1]

Second Day

Second Day of work. Really excited!, I love it here.

Posted at 12:11PM Jan 23, 2007 by Eric Shobe in Personal  |  Comments[0]