Serial Number Database

How many times have you had to reinstall an application and to only go crazy looking for the serial number and or the boxes of that software? I personally keep everything in a log that I keep, but I have met many people that don’t. That is where RapidoSerial comes to play, it’s a simple database program that stores serials.

The nice thing about this program is that it’s free and easy to use. Just setup your .mac backup to backup the database that is store at:

your Hard Disk / Users / Your user account / Library / Appplications Support / RapidoSerial

If ever your in a jam you can just download it and restore it right back and don’t loose a single thing.

bootup keyboard tips

• X = Force Mac OS X startup
• Option = Brings up a screen with startup volume choices (slow process, may take a while)
• Option+Command+Shift+Delete = Bypass primary startup volume and seek a different startup volume (such as a CD or external disk)
• C = Start up from a CD that has a system folder
• N = Attempt to start up from a compatible network server (NetBoot)
• T = Start up in FireWire Target Disk mode (very handy for plugging your Mac into another as an external hard drive)
• Shift = start up in Safe Boot mode and temporarily disable login items and non-essential kernel extension files (Mac OS X 10.2 and later)
• Command+V = Start up in Verbose mode.
• Command+S = Start up in Single-User mode
• Command+Option+p+r = Zap PRAM. Hold down until second chime.
• Command+Option+n+v = Clear NV RAM. Similar to reset-all in Open Firmware.
• Command+Option+o+f = Boot into open firmware
• Hold mouse button down = Force eject a CD/DVD

BackUp Tools

iBackup supports scheduled backups of files, folders and applications. Further, it uses plugins to backup your settings like the dock, deskop picture, time, firewall, bluetooth and other system preferences. It is also able to backup Application Settings

Cool Apple Widgets

	Package Tracker (Freeware) This handy widget helps you track your FedEx, DHL, or UPS package
	iStat pro iStat pro is the ultimate system monitoring widget, consisting of nine sections which can be shown or hidden. It features highly detailed information on CPUs (up to eight cores), memory, hard drives, IP and external IP, bandwidth, battery, wireless keyboard and mouse battery, uptime, temperatures, and fans. You’ll know exactly what’s going on inside your Mac!

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My Must Have Apps

 

System Tools:

• StuffIt Expander (free) Lets you expand: .SITX, .SIT, .ZIP, .TAR, .SEA, .EXE, .HQX, .GZ, .TGZ, .LZH, .MIME, .RAR, .PF, .UU, .UUE, .Z, .BZIP, .ARC, .CAB, .YENC

System Modifications:

• TinkerTool (shareware) TinkerTool is an application that gives you access to additional preference settings Apple has built into Mac OS X. This allows to activate hidden features in the operating system and in some of the applications delivered with the system.
• MonoLingual (shareware) Monolingual is a program for removing unnecessary language resources from Mac OS X, in order to reclaim several hundred megabytes of disk space.  It requires at least Mac OS X 10.3.9 (Panther) and also works on Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger).I don’t know about you, but I use my computer in only one (human) language — English.  And I’m willing to bet that you do too, albeit perhaps not English.  So why do you have a bunch of localization files for the Mac OS X operating system filling up your hard drive? Enter Monolingual — a handy utility for reclaiming your space for more useful things… like international mp3 files, email or whatever you like.

QuickTime/Video Plugins:

• Perian enables QuickTime® application support for additional media types including: AVI and FLV,3ivX, DivX, Flash Screen Video, MS-MPEG4, Sorenson H.263, Truemotion VP6, Xvid, AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio using A52Codec, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3
• Flip4Mac™ WMV is a collection of QuickTime components that allow you to play, import, and export Windows Media video and audio files on your Mac using your favorite QuickTime-based applications.
• VideoLAN is a software project, which produces free software for video, released under the GNU General Public License.

Mail Plugins:

• Letterbox is a plugin for Apple’s Mail.app that takes advantage of your widescreen monitor. It rearranges the interface into three vertical columns – so the message pane is to the right of the message list, rather than below. You’ll probably need at least 1280 and perhaps 1440 horizontal pixels for this layout to work well for you.
• SpamSieve ($30.00)gives you back your inbox by bringing powerful Bayesian spam filtering to Mac e-mail clients. It’s quick and easy to control SpamSieve from within your mail client, and you can customize how it interacts with the rest of your message sorting rules. Other spam filters get worse over time as spammers adapt to their rules; SpamSieve actually gets better over time as it adapts to your mail. By learning from the very messages that you receive, SpamSieve is able to block nearly all of your spam, without putting your good messages in the spam mailbox.
• GrowlMail is a plug-in for Apple Mail that posts a Growl notification every time new mail arrives containing the text of the message.
• Daylite Mail Integration Module (DMI) allows you to fully exploit the sophistication of Apple Mail with Daylite 3’s powerful multi-linking capabilities. From within Mail you can add new contacts, create tasks with reminders, create new projects and opportunities, and automatically link and store the contents of one or more emails to contacts, projects and opportunities.
• Mail.appetizer is a plug-in for Apple’s Mail and integrates seamlessly. The moment a new message is received, Mail.appetizer displays an onscreen notification window. It gives you a brief summary of the message, so you can determine whether the message requires your immediate attention.
• GPGMail extends Apple’s Mail application and allows you to read and send PGP authenticated and/or encrypted messages. You can use GPGMail for plain text and MIME messages, following RFC 3156.
• Note to Self, Will Henderson has written a “micro-app” that lets you quickly email a note, to-do or reminder to yourself in Mail.app.

Unlocking the Linksys PAP2

A user over at broadband reports has figured out a way to unlock his Linksys "Vonage" PAP2 unit to work with other vendors… Like free services from fringe vendors. These units are basically ATA's. That is, it has two RJ11s you hook regular phones to, and a RJ45 that goes to your network. It takes your "regular phones" and turns it into a VoIP phone.

Telephreak.com shows us that you can get these units at "Staples" (you can use http://www.staples-locator.com to find the nearest store to you). These are the Linksys "Vonage" PAP2 (Model No: PAP2). They have a nice little Vonage advertisement on the front. The lower right hand corner should say, "Model No.: PAP2"! It gets better…. The unit cost about $50.00. Staples has a $50.00 rebate on these units, which can do online. You do not have to sign up for Vonage service! Free ATA/PAP2! If nothing else you can always check ebay.

Ok, lets get to unlocking it.

To download all the necessary files, click here. (File includes PAP2SP2K.bin and SP2KPAP2.bin needed later)

A BIG Thanks to Matt for this one…
Follow these steps and your Linksys PAP2 will be unlocked. Provider settings do not get erased.
Several assumptions:
1. you can get to the WEB interface and set the USER password.
2. Ideally, the device has never downloaded updates, or talked to the provider.
3. You have a TFTP server setup on your network
For this example, Assumptions:
PAP2 is at IP: 192.168.1.5
TFTP server is : 192.168.1.110
OK, lets go for it:

1. Put the following two files in the TFTP root folder. [File one: PAP2SP2K.bin and SP2KPAP2.bin from the file above]
*I-Hacked Note: For those unfamiliar with Trivial FTP, it's different than regular FTP and you need a special server, such as this free one here: http://www.solarwinds.net/Tools/Free_tools/TFTP_Server/
2. Disconnect from the Internet (avoids downloading cfg files)
3. Boot your PAP2 in your network.
4. Browse to the web page of the PAP2.
5. In SYSTEM, set a User password of 1234
6. Click the SAVE SETTINGS button.
7. Refresh the link (you login with user and 1234)
8. Modify the link to show (in your web browser!): http://192.168.1.5/upgrade?tftp://192.168.1.110/PAP2SP2K.bin
9. Examine the status leds.. Power should turn RED when it is done. Give it a minute or two, dont interrupt it.
10. Once red, point browser at your PAP2. (our IP in this example is 192.168.1.5)
11. Click the "admin login" link near the top-right.
12. Click the PROVISIONING tab and set PROVISION ENABLE=NO.
13. Click SAVE SETTINGS.
14. Now, modify the link to show: http://192.168.1.5/upgrade?tftp://192.168.1.110/SP2KPAP2.bin
15. Done. Your Linksys PAP2 will eventually reboot (2 blue LEDs) (BE PATIENT) and you can click the "admin login" near the top-right. No PW needed.

This test uses specific firmwares.. These are not for any other use, so if you are looking for upgrade firmware for your PAP2, DO NOT assume that this will be them.. These are for unlocking your PAP2 unit.

Oh yeah. I was able to unlock two without any troubles.. your mileage may vary.

Again, Thanks Matt for all the work you put into making this possible.

Vonage Phone Codes

After cancelling service with Vonage and fedup with the crappy tech support I have recieved I decied to drink a tall glass of hateraide and publish any information I can find to educate people on how to use their vonage system and more so to hack it! The VOIP device I will give most of my attention to is the Linksys PAP2. I purchased this product and can you believe that they locked it and worse was that when I was done with the service they wouldn't unlock it. I will be emailing anyone willing to listen about this so this can be taken to court! There is no way that you pay for a device and then you can't have access to it.

enjoy,
-/k

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To enter the interactive phone menu dial: ****
DHCP
To check DHCP: 100
To enable/disable DHCP: 101

- Enter 1 to enable
- Enter 0 to disable

Check IP: 110
Set Static IP: 111

Enter the IP ddress usingnumbers on the telephone keypad.Use the * (star) key when entering a decimal point.

Check Subnetmask: 120

Check Gateway: 130
Change Gateway: 131
Check MAC Address: 140

Check Firmware: 150

You will hear the version the firmware currently Phone Adapter.

Manual Reboot: 732668

After you hear, “Option successful,” hang up the phone. The Phone Adapter will automatically reboot.

Life with the Apple OS

For the past few months I have working for a technology company that is Apple based, but now I am at a crossroads to continue with this OS or just return to the mainstream Windows Server. In an odd ball way the big question is did I just do myself in to a bunch of artsy kool aide drinking idiots? Or are employers so stupid that they can't get passed that you can do more with the Apple OS than: Graphics, Music, or Media? Hello world the Apple OS can do a lot more! It runs on BSD, for those that don't know it' a flavor of unix.

In the comming weeks I will be taking the Apple Server Essentials & Xsan Certification. Hopefully when I interview someone will notice that I don't have Final Cut or Logic on my resume. But I will have great networking solutions to manage data & security to a company infrastructue.

Well I am almost at work now (I have writing this blog from my Palm 650 on the bus to work) so it's time for me to go.

till then Cheers
-/k