Well, that didn’t go well. I skipped reading the ReadMe on upgrading to Fedora 36 on Moodle.org and after upgrading I realized I was on PHP 8.1 and Moodle doesn’t run on that version. I followed these instructions https://computingforgeeks.com/how-to-install-php-on-fedora/ to install the REMI repository and then PHP 8.0. I did get into some particulars with ensuring that the zip library was installed as different versions report back different entities. In the end it all sorted out and while I don’t have a lovable generic Fedora install I at least have Moodle 4.0 back up and running in time for the school year.
Category: SysAdmin
Forensic SysAdmin
I had to adjust the default mail on a Moodle system that I switched from one domain to another. I changed it last in August of 2015 and apparently forgot how it worked. So today I am going to mention that forensic sysadmin work, or finding configuration files is a real challenge.
Yes, I have made copies of all of the configuration files and ended them in a TLA of my initials and yet when I ran locate I forgot or chose not to run updatedb and well, it isn’t in cron anymore as I rarely search for anything and it uses less power to not catalog repeatedly.
Having not found anything appropriate with my initials, although the file was actually there, I proceeded to work for hours on every single configuration setting in Moodle as well as every Moodle post on email I could stomach.
Nagging in the back of my mind was the fact that this year I eliminated ALL of the cruft on Moodle by simply starting it from scratch and as I kept a record of every change I made, I thought I could find it. I kept focusing on the OAuth configuration as I was using GMail.
Just before shutting the server off for the year, truly, I stopped to think through the architecture and realized I had to be using native Linux mail, that I always choose Postfix and a quick search indicated I was configured to use GMail’s less secure method of authenticated SMTP. I made the changes and everything worked great.
I held up this post to decide on how to explain what to do correctly. I had hoped for inspiration about documentation, or flow charting processes. The issue is that I simply don’t perform the same amount of sysadmin work I used to, which was enormous, so recalling all the bits and pieces and troubleshooting it, was more work than expected.
I am glad I did it, it reactivated a confidence in my skills and an awareness of troubleshooting steps and an entire plethora of interconnected systems that I would have forgotten about otherwise.
Tidying Up
Things I learned this week:
Windows
- Open Settings > System > Storage, and then click on Apps & Features.
- Under the Sort By dropdown, select Install Date.
- Go through and remove anything you don’t need. If an app is unfamiliar, search for it online to see if it’s something you need or if you can safely get rid of it. You can also search for it on Should I Remove It? (though we recommend skipping the Should I Remove It? application and just searching for the software’s name on the site).
This originated from Wirecutter’s post on 7 Steps to Tidying Your Digital Life
My favorite advice is to do one step and see what happens when you move forward.
Disclaimer: I did a couple of items.
Where did the Tidy Up vector lead? I learned how to actually delete other temp files on the same Storage Settings page and that would have been enough except that led me to notice an unchecked box labeled “Downloads Folder” and I wondered, when do I ever clean that out, and so I did a pretty good chunk and it reminded me that this process is one I used to do more frequently and like writing, just escaped me and now I turn back to it :)
The IP address conflicts with the WAN IP subnet. Please enter a different IP address.
I have been trying to configure my Netgear R6400, the DHCP scope and reservations, to setup my home network with some fixed addresses for my pihole and what not. And all I have been getting for quite a long time, is that frustrating error.
Netgear previously told me to wait for a new firmware update and that was an update or two ago and it never fixed it. And a great deal of the fixes such as remove yourself from assignment as the DNS server simply didn’t work for me.
Recently I updated to V1.0.1.62_1.0.41 and when I tried to update the configuration I received this message. Again. So I decided to try three different changes from the first Google search returns. The second one, simply click the setting under Internet Setup for DNS to “Get Automatically from ISP”, let it reboot, make all your DHCP assignments and scope changes and then set it back worked absolutely great.
YMMV
Brother HL-L2380DW Printer Problems are Black and White
Why this fools me like it does is because every time I fix it I think I will remember it, and I don’t. Windows 10 will find the printer and add it and then the text is white and all the background is black. This is from all software and applications.
The fix is to download the correct software from Brother and it is a pain unless you download the entire setup and package.
Problem solved.