Pet Projects - What is yours?

[hellnoire]

So I figure we're mostly geeks here, so I ask if you've got any pet projects on the go, you know, the kind that you work on because you're bored or want something else to do.

I'm in the process myself of setting up and optimizing a server build, and am doing it continuously. Tried using Arch Linux and CentOS for it, but ended up falling on my face with it, because both fought me for a long time. Especially Cent. Cent I had things reportedly working, but they wouldn't show up thanks to SELinux and IPTables. Tried everything to work with them, then around them, then tried uninstalling them. Nothing. Nothing worked to make anything else work.

Arch was a nightmare trying to set up OpenSSH, and being configured the way I did, it should have worked, exactly as the manual said, with no luck.

So I've gone back to Ubuntu Server for now, manually configuring it and making it my version of a beast.

If I give you wrong syntax for Windows over the next few weeks, it would be because of how much work I've been doing for my server. Remember fellow geeks, cd /home/hellnoire/Desktop doesn't work under Windows, doesn't matter how many times you type it. (Tried it recently since I was working on my Windows machine, and I laughed when I caught myself after trying to figure out why it wouldn't work.)

Anyway, enough about my project. How about you people?

[safeguy]

Your pet project is still geeky. Goodness sake. Seems to me like geeks can''t pretend they aren't.

[Bearcat]

I am in the process of building a PC with the help of my nephew, BigGuy. At the moment I am still in the process of choosing and pricing the hardware I need. I have never attempted to build my own computer before, so it should be very interesting and hopefully I will still have some hair left when i'm done! :P

[hellnoire]

@Safeguy, My pet project never claimed not to be geeky lol.

I never said I wasn't either.

@Bearcat, I've not built my own either, but I know what I'm doing and would love to build my own. Alas, it won't happen for another two years at the earliest, and at the latest, about four or five. I retire my computers after about 5-6 years after I buy them, and use them as a learning machine, like the P4 I have set up as the server.

[Bearcat]

@hellnoire I would love to have some your computer knowlege, but I guess the best way to learn is just to take the plunge!

[hellnoire]

That and by doing a LOT of reading.

If you need help with something, let me know. I'll figure something out.

[Bluedot]

I collect Malware. And then test them out. I have a USB Flash drive which is full of 'em. Currently I got 300 and counting.

[JayCub]

I collect Malware. And then test them out. I have a USB Flash drive which is full of 'em. Currently I got 300 and counting.

you test them on a standalone PC Bluedot or do you use a virtual environment, to be honest i wouldn't envy you doing this, but i admire the people like yourself that have a working knowledge of it.

Like Bear im in the middle of my first build and as to date im about half way there i would say, and like Hellnoire advised i read alot before i purchase and wouldn't hesitate to take Paul up on his offer if im stuck as there are a few system builders on the forum as well as a host of people with working knowledge of hardware and software... as i have a good working pc i have time on my side.
i have the motherboard the ram the PSU and CPU cooler, a full tower, in which i will take pictures and add them to the forum when i start putting it together i hope..

[Bearcat]

That and by doing a LOT of reading.

If you need help with something, let me know. I'll figure something out.

Thanks for the offer, that is very kind of you!

[Bluedot]

@jayclub: Standalone PC. For some reason, I don't like virtual environment, because some Malware don't just stick to virtual environment..they start invading into the rest of the OS. I have a laptop running Windows 7, where I do these things, with a clean install after every test.