October 2021 - Roundtable

How does on get the date function to work in Libre Office spreadsheet?
by eh＠eduardhiebert.com 08 May '23

08 May '23

Hi, I've formatted the cells as date mm/dd/yy and entered the values as is. Also tried by preceeding with equal sign in case deemed to be a formula but neither works. I assume a difference between two days yields the difference in days, correct? Or are the formula different than plain math? Eduard the Osborne guy at last meeting

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Optical media longevity warning
by Adam Thompson 28 Oct '21

28 Oct '21

Came across this, this morning: https://twitter.com/ablitter/status/1451278816924495878?t=QmhboC2T73DOhpaAg… ...so here's a periodic reminder that the centuries your optical discs were supposed to last? Let's call that *highly optimistic at best*. I know several people reading this who back up to optical media, but only one (maybe two) who plan for media longevity. Welp, there's your reminder. -Adam

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Request: hardware help
by Kevin McGregor 28 Oct '21

28 Oct '21

Hi all, I have a SuperMicro A1SRI-2758F motherboard which appears to have now died. I've read that it's because of a bug in the Intel Atom C2000-series chips of a certain vintage. I've also read that there is a DIY fix involving a bit of soldering and a 220 ohm resistor. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPKFC2HBtvA. Can anyone provide the resistor? And maybe some soldering help? :-) I do have a soldering iron, but I haven't used it for ages. Kevin

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Re: [RndTbl] Roundtable Digest, Vol 202, Issue 11
by vsankar＠foretell.ca 26 Oct '21

26 Oct '21

Hi, This seems to have cost data from 1975 to 1985. Hopefully it is relevant info. Vijay Monthly Labor Review - Volume 109, Issue 9 - Page 10books.google.ca › books <https://books.google.ca/books?id=2BaU-56SOfUC&pg=PA10&dq=how+much+did+mainf…> 1986 FOUND INSIDE – PAGE 10 Domestic consumption of micro , mini , and mainframe computers , " 1960–84 [ Dollars in millions ) Table 4. ... declining component costs , and other technical developments led to the introduction of the personal computer in 1975. Vijay Sankar ForeTell Technologies Limited vsankar(a)foretell.ca > On Oct 26, 2021, at 12:00 PM, roundtable-request(a)muug.ca wrote: > > Send Roundtable mailing list submissions to > roundtable(a)muug.ca > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://muug.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > roundtable-request(a)muug.ca > > You can reach the person managing the list at > roundtable-owner(a)muug.ca > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Roundtable digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. How much did one second of computer time cost in 1975? > (Brian Lowe) > 2. Re: How much did one second of computer time cost in 1975? > (Adam Thompson) > 3. Re: How much did one second of computer time cost in 1975? > (Adam Thompson) > 4. Re: How much did one second of computer time cost in 1975? > (Scott Toderash) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2021 20:56:07 -0500 > From: Brian Lowe <brian2(a)groupbcl.ca> > To: roundtable(a)muug.ca > Subject: [RndTbl] How much did one second of computer time cost in > 1975? > Message-ID: <7988573.jIZ38J7S2z(a)haremya.renyamon.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hello all, > > Today with multi-core CPUs running at gigahertz speeds attached to gigabytes > of RAM and terabytes of disc space, we're well used to running programs that > require what would be enormous resources back when mainframes ruled the data > centre. > > My question is "how much did one second of computer time cost in 1975?" This > assumes the program in question is being run on a mainframe from IBM or any of > the other manufacturers of the day. Of course, there are a lot of factors to > consider: leasing costs, staffing, power and cooling, if the system could run > more than one program simultaneously, and how computer time was charged back > to the users. > > I'm interested to know if anyone on this list has had experience with this > sort of system accounting, and if they can recall some numbers. > > Regards, > Brian > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:17:13 -0500 > From: Adam Thompson <athompso(a)athompso.net> > To: Continuation of Round Table discussion <roundtable(a)muug.ca>, Brian > Lowe <brian2(a)groupbcl.ca>, roundtable(a)muug.ca > Subject: Re: [RndTbl] How much did one second of computer time cost in > 1975? > Message-ID: <960940F4-55CD-4317-AD32-A7323D611243(a)athompso.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > There are many people here who used the UofM mainframe back when it was updated on a chargeback system (including me, sadly, although my Dept paid the bill, not me). > Of course I didn't keep a copy of the rate sheet, so I don't remember what 1sec cost. > It wouldn't quite be the fully-loaded cost you describe, but it would be close - I don't think Computer Services was expected to turn a profit back in 1991. > -Adam > > On October 25, 2021 8:56:07 p.m. CDT, Brian Lowe <brian2(a)groupbcl.ca> wrote: >> Hello all, >> >> Today with multi-core CPUs running at gigahertz speeds attached to gigabytes >> of RAM and terabytes of disc space, we're well used to running programs that >> require what would be enormous resources back when mainframes ruled the data >> centre. >> >> My question is "how much did one second of computer time cost in 1975?" This >> assumes the program in question is being run on a mainframe from IBM or any of >> the other manufacturers of the day. Of course, there are a lot of factors to >> consider: leasing costs, staffing, power and cooling, if the system could run >> more than one program simultaneously, and how computer time was charged back >> to the users. >> >> I'm interested to know if anyone on this list has had experience with this >> sort of system accounting, and if they can recall some numbers. >> >> Regards, >> Brian >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Roundtable mailing list >> Roundtable(a)muug.ca >> https://muug.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable >

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How much did one second of computer time cost in 1975?
by Brian Lowe 26 Oct '21

26 Oct '21

Hello all, Today with multi-core CPUs running at gigahertz speeds attached to gigabytes of RAM and terabytes of disc space, we're well used to running programs that require what would be enormous resources back when mainframes ruled the data centre. My question is "how much did one second of computer time cost in 1975?" This assumes the program in question is being run on a mainframe from IBM or any of the other manufacturers of the day. Of course, there are a lot of factors to consider: leasing costs, staffing, power and cooling, if the system could run more than one program simultaneously, and how computer time was charged back to the users. I'm interested to know if anyone on this list has had experience with this sort of system accounting, and if they can recall some numbers. Regards, Brian

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Hardware for sale
by Daulton 24 Oct '21

24 Oct '21

Hello all, I am assisting a local business with selling unneeded gear. There are the following makes and models available, please contact me for more detail and pricing. Please note that the systems can have different specs as there are multiple available, these are for reference. ╔══════════════╦══════════════╦══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Make ║ Model ║ Specs ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Supermicro ║ X10DRL-LN4 ║ Intel E5-2603 v4, 32 GB memory, 4 Kingston 120 GB SSD, 4X 2TB Seagate Firecuda Compute ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Supermicro ║ X11SSL-F ║ Intel E5-1230 v5, 16 GB memory, x6 1 TB Seagate Compute HDD ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Supermicro ║ 101S-6 ║ Mini supermicro, good for fanless desktop or router. It has 4, 1 Gbit intel ethernet ports ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Custom built ║ Custom built ║ Mid tower, Asus A68HM-Plus, AMD A10-7850K, 16 GB (2 DIMM, 1600 mhz), 1 Kingston 120 GB SSD. 1 HDD WD 2 TB ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Custom built ║ Custom built ║ Mid tower case, has hot swap bays, Asus B85M-G, Intel i7-4790, 16 GB (2 DIMM, 1600 mhz), 1 HDD WD 500 GB ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Custom built ║ Custom built ║ Large form factor case, hot swap drives, Asus A88XM-Plus, AMD A10-7700K, 16 (4 DIMM, 1333 mhz), 6 HDD WD 2 TB ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Startech ║ RK2236BKF ║ Half height server rack with glass front door ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Microtik ║ RB1100AHx4 ║ Microtik router, has 13x Gigabit Ethernet ports ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Fortinet ║ FortiFone ║ Both 370i and 470i models available. Some used, some new. ║ ╠══════════════╬══════════════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ D-Link ║ DGS-1100-24 ║ 24 port managed switch ║ ╚══════════════╩══════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Thanks, Daulton

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Re: [RndTbl] Optical media longevity warning
by Hartmut W Sager 24 Oct '21

24 Oct '21

This topic is very important (for longevity of your data), but both the original post and the follow-up tweets aren't very informative. For starters, as the author Keith Kaisershot posted, he himself buys "cheap knockoff brand" (in addition to some Sony discs). El-cheapo deserves to lose his data. Furthermore, the following 3 points never came up: 1. CD-R/DVD-R and CD-RW/DVD-RW are lumped together, even though they are day-and-night different for longevity, and even for immediate readability. CD-RW/DVD-RW has a much lower contrast between 0's and 1's than CD-R/DVD-R has. As such, for example, music written to CD-RW/DVD-RW tends not to play in boomboxes that don't specifically mention it, whereas CD-R/DVD-R will quite often play successfully in boomboxes that don't even mention CD-R/DVD-R, let alone CD-RW/DVD-RW. 2. Most brands of CD-R/DVD-R use vegetable dyes in the data layer, with a life quoted at 2-3 years. These vegetable dyes are similar to the indo-aniline and azo-methine vegetable dyes used in classic colour slide film, colour negative film, and colour prints, all of which fade over time, and faster if exposed to heat or light. (Kodachrome was much better than the rest.) Only Ciba-Geigy made light-fast print material using pure azo dyes. 3. Verbatim DataLife CD-R/DVD-R discs are radically different, using some kind of polymer in the data layer, and quoting 100 years of data life in good storage conditions. That's what I used exclusively back then, and it piqued my interest enough to do an experiment. I taped a Verbatim DataLife CD-R filled with data onto a south-side window, no curtain, directly exposed to sunlight for about a year. To my pleasant surprise, the whole disc was re-read perfectly on my computer!! I also once dabbled with magneto-optical discs (great stuff!), but that's another story. It was pointed out that, longevity aside, you need compatible reading hardware later to read the discs. For both reasons, I re-write (copy to elsewhere) everything every 2-3 years. I no longer use CD-R/DVD-R for backup (despite #3 above) because of the inconvenience. I now use 3 different clouds to immediately back up everything I "save", and once-in-a-while (after each scolding by some conspiracy-theorist), I write everything to a USB stick (where I also observe the 2-3 year re-write rule). Oh, did I mention how deeply involved in photography I once was? :) Hartmut W Sager - Tel +1-204-339-8331 On Sat, 23 Oct 2021 at 09:58, Adam Thompson <athompso(a)athompso.net> wrote: Came across this, this morning: https://twitter.com/ablitter/status/1451278816924495878?t=QmhboC2T73DOhpaAg… ...so here's a periodic reminder that the centuries your optical discs were supposed to last? Let's call that *highly optimistic at best*. I know several people reading this who back up to optical media, but only one (maybe two) who plan for media longevity. Welp, there's your reminder. -Adam

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Re: [RndTbl] User to Super-user to career change
by Hartmut W Sager 22 Oct '21

22 Oct '21

> Thanks for the responses! I don't know why but I didn't receive Adam's reply by email, I only found it because Mark and Troy seemed to be referencing something so I looked up the thread on the MUUG site. This is very likely a Gmail issue. You are openly using a Gmail address, and Adam might be using Gmail infrastructure to implement e-mail on his own domain name, just like I do. Gmail was for about a decade long the best of the "3 big boys" (Gmail, MS Mail, Yahoo), but in the last 1½ years, Gmail has caused endless trouble in their aggressive zeal to be/become number 1 in anti-spam (driven by consumer demand, at the expense of our sanity as IT professionals). I have spent the last 1½ years doing workarounds for both myself and a handful of customers and colleagues. Among many issues, Gmail has been deliberately discarding e-mails by their goofy anti-spam algorithms (both while sending and receiving) without any notification whatsoever to sender or receiver, which is almost unprecedented in the e-mail world. Some time ago, I started a MUUG RoundTable thread here about some Gmail issues, and I believe there was a good discussion. To be sure this posting gets through, I'll send it from my MS Mail infrastructure, though I also use Tucows/OpenSRS, Thunderbird, Webmail through a Roundcube derivative, etc. Hartmut W Sager - Tel +1-204-339-8331 On Wed, 20 Oct 2021 at 18:26, Chris Schick <seeschickrun(a)gmail.com> wrote: Thanks for the responses! I don't know why but I didn't receive Adam's reply by email, I only found it because Mark and Troy seemed to be referencing something so I looked up the thread on the MUUG site.

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User to Super-user to career change
by Chris Schick 21 Oct '21

21 Oct '21

Good day, I'm interested in making a drastic career change and want to get a better feel for where I fit. I'm a Red Seal electrician and an instructor at RRC but have always wanted to work in tech. The tricky part is that I'm 42, married with 2 kids, 2 cats and a mortgage. And the cats eat a LOT. I either need to get in at an intermediate position or at least have the opportunity to rise to that point fairly quickly. I've been studying Linux Sys Admin courses in my evenings and am close to getting my LPIC-1 certification. I also have a strong programming background. At this point I could go either way, towards software development or system administration. The friends I have spoken to suggest that it is either-or, that programming and sysadmin do not go together in most regular jobs. I'm putting together a portfolio of projects I've worked on at home, raspberry pi stuff, messing with my network, and also my GitHub profile. My two questions are: 1. What's available to me and what is a reasonable expectation for a first job? 2. What else can I do to add business value to my skills? Thanks in advance, I feel awkward asking this here but after slow-burning this idea for 3 years I need to make a change before I spend another 25 in the wrong job. CS

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Re: [RndTbl] [Board] Fwd: [SkullSpace-Discuss] Equipment Available.
by Adam Thompson 08 Oct '21

08 Oct '21

[Re-posting with minor edits, on Sean's behalf --Adam] All their gear is relatively new and (from what I saw) in good shape. Desks, chairs, monitor arms, workstations, laptops, servers, you name it. -Adam > -------- Original Message -------- > Tangent Animation is winding down and I am in the process of > liquidating items. > > We have some older dual Athlons various amounts of ram > (between 32-128gb depending) and they all have newer power supplies > (Corsair) and coolermaster cases (the sides will need to be found and > attached if that is important to you). They may or may-not have a > video card in them and do not have any hard drives. I could throw in > a 120GB from a pile or something. We also have some 2U rackmount > cases with Althon FX's in them which are available for > 'pay-what-you-want' terms as well. > > We also have a flood of 24" Monitors if that is of interest, seriously > a lot of them (check out tangentanimation on kijiji), and some higher > end workstations (prices vary), desks (some gallant 'l-shaped', again > , chairs, netshelter racks [in used and a-few-months-old states] etc. > > Any specific interest in the above please email > returns(a)tangent-animation.com and will respond accordingly. > Any inquiries just hit me up off thread at > sean.cody(a)tangent-animation.com. > > Everything is first-come, first-serve by scheduled pickup only. > -- > Sean

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