Use SCP to copy directories in Linux

Posted: January 30, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Linux | Leave a comment 
scp -r <source_directory> username@ip:destination_directory

it’s that easy

Oracle (Sun) Java on CentOS 6

Posted: January 17, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Linux | Leave a comment

Sometimes OpenJDK won’t cut it.

Download JDK or JRE binaries

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Get the RPM files from above onto your Linux box.

Install JDK or JRE

rpm -ivh <JDK or JRE rpm file>

Verify proper install

If you get something like this, everything installed properly:

[user@server]# java -version
java version “1.7.0_51”
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_51-b13)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 24.51-b03, mixed mode)
[user@server]# javac -version
javac 1.7.0_51

Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts

Posted: January 14, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Windows | Leave a comment

I’m most definitely late to the party on this, but I finally found the keyboard shortcuts that I should have known over 2 years ago.

If you are like me and use multiple monitors with Windows 7 and don’t know about these shortcuts, you are probably fighting with window sizing and just how to fit multiple windows on your screen in a useful fashion.

All I wanted to do was to quickly snap 2 maximized Windows on one of my 24 inch monitors so they each take up half the screen. Every time I tried I would end up with one window on the right side of the right monitor and the other window on the left side of the left monitor. Not optimal.

Well, now that frustration is gone. Lifehacker.com to the rescue once again!

Below is a summary of the most useful shortcuts and a link to the lifehacker article for more.

Rest easy frustrated dual monitorians.

  • Win+Home: Clear all but the active window.
  • Win+Space: All windows become transparent so you can see through to the desktop.
  • Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window.
  • Shift+Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window vertically.
  • Win+Down arrow: Minimize the window/Restore the window if it’s maximized.  This one is the winner for me!
  • Win+Left/Right arrows: Dock the window to each side of the monitor.
  • Shift+Win+Left/Right arrows: Move the window to the monitor on the left or right.
  • Ctrl+Shift+N: Creates a new folder in Windows Explorer.
  • Win+L: Lock your workstation  Also, super helpful
  • Win+E: Open Computer
  • Win+R: Run dialog

For the entire list of shortcuts and more, check out

http://lifehacker.com/5390086/the-master-list-of-new-windows-7-shortcuts

Disable password expiration in Windows 2012

Posted: January 13, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Windows | Leave a comment

I have Windows 2012 running in a lab environment and have recently been greeted with password expiring messages.  There’s a pretty straight forward and quick fix to silence those pesky messages.

This is not a recommended change for a production server, but helpful to know in a testing or lab environment.

  • Start typing local security policy in the Search dialog box and select the result.
  • Navigate to Account Policies – Password Policy
  • Change Maximum password age to zero (0) to disable

A setting of zero (0) specifies that passwords will never expire.  You can set any value from 0 to 998.

Enable Remote Desktop in Windows 2012

Posted: January 10, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Windows | Leave a comment

Windows 2012 has remote desktop disabled by default. Enabling it is easy and only takes a minute.

  • Press WindowKey + Q to bring up the global search field.
  • You can also move your mouse to the upper right or lower right portion of the screen to bring up the Charms Bar and then select the Search icon.
  • Enter CMD in the search field and press Enter
  • In command prompt window, type SystemPropertiesRemote and hit Enter
    • The System Properties window will be presented
  • Select Allow remote connections to this computer , click Apply and OK

An entry will then be automatically added in the Windows Firewall for RDP

Verify your ability to RDP into this machine remotely.  If you still can’t RDP into the machine, try disabling your Windows Firewall on the remote machine and see if that changes things.  Troubleshoot accordingly if it doesn’t resolve your issue.

Outlook 2010 – error or timeout when synchronizing subscribed folders

Posted: January 8, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Outlook, Windows | 2 Comments

I have a couple of non-Exchange email accounts set up in Outlook for various email addresses.  On one of the accounts, I regularly see the synchronize subscribed folders task take more than 30 seconds when performing a Send/Receive All Folders operation.  Other accounts are fine, just one IMAP account is giving me grief.

Well, I finally figured it out after playing with various settings and scouring forums and I now share the solution with you.

By default, Outlook 2010 seems to synchronize all folders every time it checks for new mail.  This isn’t always an issue but if your account takes a while to update you may want to make these changes.

  • In Outlook 2010, go to File – Options – Advanced
  • Scroll down and click Send/Receive, then click the Edit button for All Accounts
  • From the left column, select the account you wish to modify, then
  • Uncheck Get folder unread count for subscribed folders
  • Click the Use the custom behavior defined below button, then uncheck all but the Inbox folder
  • Next, with the Inbox folder selected, click the Download complete item including attachments button
  • Finally, click OK/Close, where appropriate, to get out of the dialog windows and save your changes

Now, when Send/Receive happens you should see no delay in the synchronizing subscribed folders step.

As far as the unchecking of all the other folders goes, the above changes only impact the Send/Receive All Folders action.  When you click on another folder it will synchronize as expected.

I put this in place a few weeks ago and haven’t seen any issues since.  I have only tried this on Outlook 2010 but it may work on earlier versions as well.  Comment if it works for you and on which version.