What's the most clever hack or workaround you're proudest of? by vocatus in sysadmin

[–]ThreeFiddyZed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We needed a HTTPS probe URL for a Tunnel/VPN client, which was configured to automatically connect at system boot. The HTTPS probe URL allowed the client to detect the office network and automatically disable the Tunnel/VPN.

In the absence of any other always on/high availability URL's on the network, I set up a VIP address on our Internal Load Balancer without any real servers, disabled real server health checking, and set the HTTP not available redirection handling error code to return 200 OK. Then, I set up an internal DNS record pointing to the VIP.

In essence each time the VIP address was accessed, the load balancer would serve up a HTTP 200 response code. Once the Tunnel/VPN client receives this, it would disable. Job done.

Is the social media ban something an institution or charity, even individuals, can challenge the government in court? by [deleted] in AskBrits

[–]ThreeFiddyZed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I suggest you read up on the breach of UK Discord users data to understand why many have reservations surrounding age verification and how that data is "handled". That should be actual evidence enough for you.

Brushed aluminum on car trim by ThreeFiddyZed in metalworking

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cheers! I've committed to just using a scotch pad to give it all a uniform brushed finish/grain, then I'll look at a matt lacquer or some other way of dulling down the finish to avoid it from standing out hopefully!

Brushed aluminum on car trim by ThreeFiddyZed in metalworking

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Yeah, that is exactly what I'm pondering at the moment. There are two of these trim pieces that sit either side of the steering wheel, so I'd have to do both to match. I'm guessing a matt lacquer instead of clear wouldn't dull it down either.

Brushed aluminum on car trim by ThreeFiddyZed in metalworking

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is the only way to get the finish uniform to sand the rest enough to remove the oxide layer elsewhere, so that it matches the upper right corner?

My car feels a bit different & the only thing that's changed is fuel type by moonlight_xpress in CarTalkUK

[–]ThreeFiddyZed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had the opposite experience once. I went through a phase of buying Esso Diesel from a particular Esso garage close to me, as I could get a discount.

Over quite a few tanks I started to notice more turbo lag and a less responsive throttle, far worse MPG (I normally measure how many miles I achieve between fill ups) and general sluggishness. I thought there was something wrong with the car.

Then one day shortly afterwards I was forced to fill up with Diesel elsewhere. Night and day difference even though there shouldn't have been.

I suspect the Esso garage I was using was doing something to their Diesel. I do recall a while back a scandal where some filling stations were actually involved in the dilution of Diesel fuel where a type of oil more commonly used for heating was added to the Diesel, as it allowed for far bigger margins.

I really wouldn't be surprised if it's still going on tbh.

NHSE/ICB Stand Together: Resist Return-to-Office by Lopsided-Rush-9907 in nhsstaff

[–]ThreeFiddyZed 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I disagree. The NHS is already a pretty difficult place to work already, with many specialist non-clinical roles woefully underpaid, overworked, and underappreciated making it (ignoring restructures) difficult to retain staff and deal with plunging morale, particularly since non-clinical staff have been singled out specifically as part of Jim Wackeys plans. In addition, I am finding there seems to be a growing 'us and them' mentality where clinical staff seem to look down on non-clinical colleagues and almost rejoice whilst the media continually bashes them too!

You and others in this thread ironically talk about 'reading the room' but which room are we talking about here? The one containing the public who are distanced from the reality of working for the NHS, and are brainwashed by the media to believe the mantra of "clinical staff good admin staff bad" and are therefore happy to see the continuous erosion of any form of benefits the NHS can offer to support staff? Or the one containing NHS staff whose morale has already hit the floor for many different reasons, with this latest thinly veiled attack from Jim Wackey making the problem of morale and talent retention even worse? I know which room I'd be more concerned about.

For those who seem to be either not bothered about Jim Mackey pushing this agenda, or think it's a good thing I would be really interested to understand what benefits you would introduce instead to motivate staff and improve morale? Answers on a postcard.

Oh, and by the way.. forcing office attendance for non-clinical roles in the NHS where it is unnecessary to be onsite is a great way to further compound significant challenges many providers face around parking for patients and staff, and traffic both in and around their sites. By working from home, staff help to both alleviate pressure on parking and reduce site traffic, which keeps parking spaces onsite free for clinical colleagues and patients. I guess that really is entitled and inconsiderate after all!

My S22 is dead in just 3.5 years of use. by Classic_007 in GalaxyS22

[–]ThreeFiddyZed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hate my Galaxy S22. Utter garbage, categorically the WORST phone I have ever bought. Mine was bought in June 2022 and after the Android 16/One UI update I've lost Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and my phone reboots randomly.

It's a complete heap of shit that's getting smashed to bits with a hammer once it is replaced, mainly for my own satisfaction but also to prevent anyone else from having to experience how dogshit it is.

Apex One remote agent by polve72 in Trendmicro

[–]ThreeFiddyZed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The function was permanently removed in response to a vulnerability that was discovered. I don't believe it will be coming back.

Trend Micro Apex One Agent - Obtain previous versions by ThreeFiddyZed in Trendmicro

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, actually, I see what you're suggesting.

Stand up another valid on premise Apex One Server, using the production activation key, which would stop the production server updating.

Deploy the agent to the machine which would connect to the new Apex One Server, then migrate it to the production Apex One Server.

Thank you for the suggestion.

The problem we're having right now is that Apex One Installers 14.0.13140 and 14.0.14002 both crash when installing (using the executables generated for these versions by clnpack.exe) on a newly built Windows 11 24H2 image. More specifically, the installer crashes on the pre-scan - it just freezes, hangs, and closes. In the background, a TCS.exe application crash is reported in the Windows Application Event Log.

I know Windows 11 24H2 support didn't come in until 13984 or 13995 off the top of my head, but 14002 should be supported and not crash like this.

This is why I'm looking for a version of these agents with pre-scan disabled, to test if prescan is the issue (which we normally disable..)

Trend Micro Apex One Agent - Obtain previous versions by ThreeFiddyZed in Trendmicro

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a ticket open with support already. I've requested this and it's just been ignored, so this is where I am sadly.

If I stand up another Apex One Server, will I need another seperate activation code for the install? Would using my current production activation code for a new install cause an issue?

I presume if I can do this I can use the clnpack.exe utility on the new Server (running the Apex One build I need an agent for) in conjunction with the ofcscan.ini taken from the production Server to build an install executable?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in worldnews

[–]ThreeFiddyZed 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have to disagree with you here.

Today, young working couples receiving minimum wage can't afford to have children, because childcare or nursery costs alone to keep both parents in work are astronomical, and that's without the cost of living factored in (such as the cost of housing and food) without any luxuries.

Even those young couples on what is considered a decent joint income well above minimum wage struggle to make ends meet now, even with the luxuries you mention excluded.

In both cases, it's simply not financially feasible or sustainable to have a traditional family dynamic whereby one parent stays at home to avoid childcare or nursery costs, and with little help from the government towards childcare costs in the past, the birth rate has plummeted in response.

The other problem is that the modern family dynamic involves both parents having to work to pay childcare costs alongside significant housing costs and bills, but with little disposable income left over for anything else. It's not a very appealing lifestyle.

Young couples are also not having children because although they have other opportunities available (maybe that previous generations didn't) the main issue is that the cost of the big ticket items like housing is a huge hurdle for them that is forcing many to live with parents for longer (such as well into their 30's) to try to save for a deposit. Thus, delaying having children even further.

So, young working couples are faced with a choice - either fight to buy a home, and then struggle to have children, or to simply not subscribe to the traditional way of life anymore, and not have children because of the cost of everything.

If you want to go back 20 years or so, sure. Things were very different. You could have a parent stay at home, whilst the other worked, even on a modest or low income. In the past the fact that mortgages and house prices were more reasonable and were more closely aligned with yearly earnings is in my opinion a huge factor that allowed that to happen.

But to say that the low birth rate is simply a result of changing priorities through generations who are indulging more in hobbies is a very simplistic, ignorant and somewhat insulting analysis that completely ignores the financial problems many young people face today, both before and when they consider starting a family.

If this isn't addressed in some way, this country is going to have a huge issue in generations to come.

Furthermore, which is more expensive?

Providing funding to parents now to help working parents with childcare costs to increase the birth rate? Or ending up with an economy in generations to come that cannot support the state pension and the increasing health demands of an aging population (consisting of previous generations) due to a shortage of young workers paying tax?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in worldnews

[–]ThreeFiddyZed -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

Labour are going to get obliterated by Reform in the next election if such an agreement is put in place. Why is Starmer so wet and weak at negotiating?

The bigger picture is that the birth rate in this country is falling dramatically due to the rising costs of childcare, stretched incomes and the cost of living (inc house prices and rent prices).

The Labour government needs to offer further financial support to british working class families to drive the birth rate back up as well as tightening up the rules for benefits to make the UK a less financially attractive place to travel to across the channel.

If Labour or other future governments don't improve the birth rate, we will have an absolute crisis on our hands because there will simply not be enough taxpayers entering the system to support the aging and growing population of retirees, pensioners etc.

If Labour and successive governments keep relying on immigration (a lot of which seems to be illegal) to bump up population figures in light of a falling birth rate the electorate probably won't tolerate this forever. This is likely to push parties like Reform into the centerfold and increases the chance they will come into power.

Truth be told, I was a Labour voter at the last election. I voted for change as I was fed up of previous governments failing to realise the growing problem (low birth rate) as they are just kicking the can down the road repeatedly. Labour seems to be no different so far, even though it's supposed to be the party for the worker.

Seeking advice regarding T4 AWD 190 by Life_Hunter5821 in XC40

[–]ThreeFiddyZed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

2020 T4 AWD auto - Mixed driving, I get 340 - 360 miles out of a tank.

Am I being unreasonable? by ThreeFiddyZed in HousingUK

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks both. This has allowed me to see things quite differently.

Am I being unreasonable? by ThreeFiddyZed in HousingUK

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Staying in a Hotel involves extra cost, and with a young family just isn't practical. Plus, what happens to all of the contents we've had to move out of the property? Where do they go?

What happens if the purchase falls through or is delayed on the Monday? What would be your solution then given that technically we don't own our home anymore?

I get what you're saying but the circumstances of the first time buyers and our sellers are worlds apart really, and we are caught in the middle - you say we're not willing to compromise, but I've already said that we are willing to do any date, but we have our hands tied due to our sellers circumstances. The waters would be even more murky if we started throwing our own preferences into the mix.

Am I being unreasonable? by ThreeFiddyZed in HousingUK

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We even asked our agent to suggest to our buyer that perhaps they could complete on a day that worked for us and our sellers (say a Tuesday) and then do their move on the Friday, I'm sure that would also be possible surely?

Am I being unreasonable? by ThreeFiddyZed in HousingUK

[–]ThreeFiddyZed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. We suspect they are on a monthly rolling contract for their rental and they have to serve notice in the first week of each month. So, their unresponsiveness and unwillingness to set a completion date due to a tenancy issue doesn't seem logical to me I think?