rsync over ssh

I wanted to start using rsync to mirror some our iTunes library across our computers.  On the main computer, I would rsync the iTunes library to our server, and then on all the other computers, I would rsync the library back down.

I also want to run rsync on the server in daemon mode, as there are some nice configuration options to specify "modules" for the different data that I wanted to synchronize.

After looking into this, there were a few things that I didn't like with the default solution.

1. I  didn't want to open the rsyncd port through my firewall.  (Even though I could have specified authentication crednetials.)


2. If I want to use rsync's ssh support, and want to define all of the modules in /etc/rsyncd.conf, I would have to give the root user the ability to login in through ssh.

Here is how I set this up:

Posting from within Google Docs

I just discovered this today, and I don't remember hearing about his before.  You can post documents directly to your blog from within Google Docs.  This is very similar to the functionality that Microsoft Word has.

You do this from the Publish tab for each document.  You can configure this for a hosted provider, or any blogging software that supports the standard xmlrpc APIs.

Publish settings:

Blog Site settings:

Restore from Apple Backup backups

I have not been able to restore files from the backups that I have made with Apple Backup.  When I attempt to restore, using Backup, the progress dialog appears to show the restore working correctly, but the resulting folder doesn't contain any files.

I found this comment on this post that describes a solution.  The backup files created by Apple Backup contain disk images with the files being backuped.  It is easy to get access to the files that you want to recover.

First use Backup to find the backup file that contains the file that you want to restore (if you are using incremental backups).  Then run the following command to mount the disk image:


hdiutil mount -readonly BackupFile.IncrementalBackup/Contents/Contents/Backup.dmg


links for 2007-08-11

• 
  
  Remote backups via rsync - Knowledge Base
  
  
  id_dsa_rsync
  
  
  (tags: rsync ssh rsyncd)
  
  

.Mac Disk Size

On Monday, Apple announced that all .Mac accounts would be upgraded to have at least 10 GB of space.  This space is really needed as you share more photos and videos. 

Personally, I think that Apple will start using this space for other purposes.  For example, I think that Apple will put any content purchased from the iTunes store on your iDisk.  This would allow any computer where you have entered your .Mac information, to have access to your content.  Also, this would allow an iPhone to content from your whole library, even if it the content is not located on the phone's flash.

Firefox Add-ons

Here is a list of the Firefox extensions add-ons that I have installed:

• autoHideStatusbar - Automatically hides the status bar


• Better Flickr - Enhances flickr with compiled Greasemonkey scripts


• Better GCal - Enhances Google Calendar with compiled Greasemonkey scripts


• Better Gmail - Enhances Gmail with compiled Greasemonkey scripts


• Better GReader - Enhances Google Reader with compiled Greasemonkey scripts


• ColorfulTabs - Adds colors to tabs


• del.icio.us Bookmarks - Easy to add bookmarks to del.icio.us.


• ErrorZilla - Better error pages


• FaviconizeTab - Minimize tab width to only favicon


• Flashblock - Stops flash animations from starting on page load


• Google Browser Sync - Synchronizes settings between browsers


• Google Gears - Allows offline access to Google Reader and Remember the Milk!


• Greasemonkey - enables user scripts


• Growl Notifications - enabled growl notifications for Firefox


• It's All Text! - Allows you to use an external text editor to modify text in text boxes


• PhishTank SiteChecker - Uses PhishTank to test the current url for phishing sites


• Torbutton - enable the tor proxy for Firefox


• Update Notifier - Notifies you when there are updates to extensions.

madKast

I heard about madKast on the last GeekNewsCentral podcast.  This looks like a pretty cool way to add a widget to share your posts via email or on social networking sites.

You have to include a javascript in your header, and then the script parses the page to identify the individual posts.  Then it places an icon next to each title.

When you click on the icon, a widget appears where you can send the link in an email, or your can post it to various sites.