VMware Virtual Machine Creation

Linux is nice, better than Windows in many respects. But many people are afraid to take a plunge into the ocean of open source due to certain "technicalities" related with its installation, and to get it successfully up & running.
My suggestion? Simple..before you dive into the free waters, take a test dip in the shallow waters of the virtual machine, powered by VMWare workstation software.

For this purpose, I've demonstrated a step by step virtual machine creation guide for beginners & especially for my C-DAC mohali batchmates.
I have employed the virtual machine for the installation of RED HAT ENTERPRISE 2.
My system specs are as follows:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5800@2.00 GHz
RAM: 2 GB DDR2
Hard Disk:320 GB @ 5400 rpm
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit (Not really proud of it)

So, I have the 3 discs of RHEL made into ISO files, the reason being that my DVD drive is not working. But if  you have the CDs, then also we are good to go.

Okay, I am assuming that you, being the user have knowledge of installing software and have already installed a functional version of VMWare workstation. I am using the latest version 7.0.1, although it may not be much of a difference.

Step 1. Click on "New Virtual Machine"

Step 2. Select "Custom"

Step 3. Click "Next" without thinking :P

Step 4. In this step, we select the installation disc. If you have the ISOs, select the second radio button and provide the address for the ISO file. If you have the optical disc, then insert it in and select the first radio button.

Step 5. Select the OS type and distro from the drop down list and select "Next"

Step 6. Specify the virtual machine name and its address to be stored on the hard disk and select "Next"

Step 7. Number of processors. No changing here. Simply "Next"

Step 8. Now this is where it gets tricky. Provide enough RAM to the virtual machine so that your guest OS runs smoothly and ur host OS does not stagger. As the guest OS will be running on top of the host OS, you don't want to max this out.

Step 9. Next

Step 10. Next

Step 11. Next

Step 12. Next

Step 13. Now here we have to create a virtual disk for your virtual machine. You can give anything from 4 to 40 GB, the choice is yours. And I recommend selecting the "Split files into 2GB" option as it makes easier for you to port your machine.

Step 14. No brainer. "Next"

Step 15. Click "Finish: and you are done.

Your virtual machine is now created. All you need to is now to install your OS like you would do on a real physical
machine. Enjoy!

Facebook Perils

Dear fellow facebookers, do you by any chance have any idea how easy you make it for the cracker to crack your account? FYI, cracker is the bad guy, we hackers to ainveyi lut jaate hain.

Imagine, a roman gladiator, the greatest of his battalion, marches forward to fight with the enemy one on one. And suddenly, the villain politely asks, "Can you remove your chest guard please?"
And the gladiator does so, without even realizing that the villain can now easily strike him in the chest, and run thee spear right through his heart.!! Boy, that's brutal! :P

The same case happens with you people, sadly.
See, Mr. Zuckerberg is a highly reasonable man, and he fairly knows all the tricks of this hacking trade. So he has tried his level best to maintain and secure the privacy of hi users.
Infact, here's what Facebook has to say:


"Facebook does not allow users to track profile views or see statistics on how often a particular piece of content has been viewed and by whom. Third party developers, however, may offer apps that provide some of this functionality. Please keep a few things in mind when using these, however:

1. Apps cannot track profile views for users who simply visit another person's profile. Facebook has made this technically impossible.
   
2. In order to be tracked by an app, you must explicitly agree to allow the app to access your information.
   
3. Adding an app that provides this functionality is purely optional. If you do not want to participate, please do not add the app to your account."
   

When the guy says security, he means it. But what can one do if the user specifically allows his/her privacy to become public? :P


See, let me explain it to you in a simple way, when you log into facebook, your username and password are sent to the facebook server, and the same information is stored in your own computer in special files called cookies.

And facebook does not allow users to track profile and applicaton views as in the case of orkut. So, if any application claims that with its help you can see your "stalkers", chances are that you may click on the link given (many of you do fall for it, face the truth dollface :P)
Now, there is a high possibility of a special type of attack known as Session Hijacking, in which the attacker steals your cookie data, i.e., your username and password, and needless to say, can use it to gain access to your account. Not so delicious, aren't you cookie? ;D

Look up session hijacking here, regards Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_hijacking

Don't worry, there is not a total threat. The only way you can be safe from these type of attacks is that you ignore all those pestering links, even if they are sent to you by your closest friends.
Better safe than sorry. :-|

And let the goddamned stalkers visit your profile yaar, what can they possibly do? Tennu ki fark painda hai?

Take a chill pill, relax..and until next time….Happy Hacking J

History of Blog

Well before I get started on my very first technical blog, let me begin by unraveling the mystery of this very term itself, BLOG.
Nowadays, anyone, and I do mean anyone, can create an account at Blogger or Wordpress etc. and start their own blog. It's like you own a publishing house, and are free to publish anything you want, ranging from skateboards to microchips, anything you can think of! Plus, you get a worldwide platform to express and spread your views.

What better way to share your thoughts with the whole world rather than put it online? ;D

Technically speaking, Wikipedia defines a blog as follows:

"A blog (a blend of the term web log) ^[1] is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog."

Blogs are of different types….like some are textual, some are informative (like this one ;P), and others are media-centric (video, audio etc.). Some blogs also serve as personal diaries, that is if you have the courage to put it online ;D

Fun trivia: As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence. Interesting isn't it? ;)

The term "weblog" was coined by Jorn Barger on 17 December 1997. The short form, "blog," was coined by Peter Merholz, who jokingly broke the wordweblog into the phrase we blog in the sidebar of his blog Peterme.com in April or May 1999. Shortly thereafter, Evan Williams at Pyra Labs used "blog" as both a noun and verb ("to blog," meaning "to edit one's weblog or to post to one's weblog") and devised the term "blogger" in connection with Pyra Labs'Blogger product, leading to the popularization of the terms.

The modern blog evolved from the online diary, where people would keep a running account of their personal lives. Most such writers called themselves diarists, journalists, or journalers.Justin Hall, who began personal blogging in 1994 while a student at Swarthmore College, is generally recognized as one of the earliest bloggers, as is Jerry Pournelle. Dave Winer'sScripting News is also credited with being one of the oldest and longest running weblogs.

So, here we are…blogging our way to glory…

So see you guys next time…till then feel free to suggest me any topic you would like me to write upon…I am open for suggestions…

Till then, Happy hacking J