Re: [GTALUG] looking for a secondary mx service

[Alvin Starr via talk]

Why secondary at all.

If your mail server is down then queuing up mail for later deliver  
happens on the client mail servers.


So long as your mail server is not down for days or weeks and at that 
point the mail will bounce back.


It will likely bounce back from a secondary mx if it is on hold that 
long also.


The downside of an external mx secondary is that is in essence becomes 
an open relay for your primary mail server unless you install spam 
filtering on the server.


I ran some secondary servers for people and found in the long run they 
were more pain than they were worth.



If your determined to run a secondary then you could put up a version of 
postfix on a virtual or container hosting service like Amazon,Google,1&1 





On 10/30/2016 08:51 PM, Dave Cramer via talk wrote:

Steve,

All I'm looking for is someone to handle 4 domains as the 2nd mx. This 
means they forward to the primary as long as the primary is up.


thanks for the detail, but this needn't be so complicated

Dave Cramer

On 30 October 2016 at 20:38, Steve Petrie, P.Eng. 
mailto:apet...@aspetrie.net>> wrote:


Hello Dave,

- Original Message - From: "Dave Cramer via talk"
mailto:talk@gtalug.org>>
To: "GTALUG" mailto:talk@gtalug.org>>
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2016 8:04 PM
Subject: [GTALUG] looking for a secondary mx service


I have 4 domains that I need a secondary mx service for.

Suggestions?


Not sure what you mean by " secondary" mx service, but if you're
asking for suggestions for a good email hosting service, I can
recommend SiteGround www.siteground.com 

* * *
* * *

I was using AT&T for many many years for my email hosting
(inherited them when IBM sold off their email hosting service
(ibmglobal.net ) to AT&T.

Was never happy with AT&T. Some beautiful screw-ups ... Plus
absurdly know-nothing AT&T technical "support" people.

Wanted for a long time to switch from my apet...@attglobal.net
 email address to my own domain name
apet...@aspetrie.net  but was
intimidated by the amount of work this would entail.

Then AT&T did me a huge favour, by announcing many months in
advance, the planned termination of their existing attglobal.net
 email hosting service.

* * *
* * *

The upside of using one's own email domain name, of course, is
that once it's set up, and all the work is done of: 1. informing
your list of recipients, and 2. updating every place on the
Internet, where you are registered using your email address as
your identifier,

is that in the future, if you are unhappy with your email hosting
service, you can switch to a new email hosting provider without
having to go through all the work emtailed in changing the email
address. Because, of course, the email address stays the same. You
just point your MX records to the new service provider, and say
"bye bye" to the old service provider.

* * *
* * *

Once AT&T announced their planned email service shutdown, I spent
a huge amount of time researching email hosting service providers

I tested three different email hosting services (going to the
trouble of setting up a test domain for each, and sending and
receiving test messages) and walked way from every one, for one
reason or another. Most;ly because of the lack of quality
technical support. It's a jungle out there !! But you already know
that.

I actually went to live production email operation with the second
of these three providers, and used them for my production email
for a few months. But I decided not to stay with them, because I
didn't like the attitude of their tech support people. They were
technically very competent, but seemed to take a confrontational
approach to clients.

So I kept searching, and after almost giving up, I settled on
www.siteground.com  Made the switchover
to SG on 2 July 2015. No regrets yet ...

* * *
* * *

SiteGround (SG) are actually focused on website hosting, not email
hosting. But they happen to offer email hosting (SMTP, IMAP, POP3)
as part of their web hosting packages. I haven't set up a website
at SG yet, but I did create an FTP account on SG for someone I'm
working with. That works fine, too.

I have been very happy with SG. Their technical support is
excellent. Works through a good ticketing system. The staff are
very knowledgeable and very responsive. Very literate, too. Always
(so far) giving complete correct answers, using connected
sentences. Nailed the usual startup problems very quickly.

The only times I have actually had recourse to SG tech support
was: 1. during the original switchover to SG, 2. when an e

[GTALUG] Python and/or Video help please

[Stephen via talk]

A month ago I had problems, after an Ubuntu upgrade, getting my screen 
resolution above 1024x768.


In this forum I was given a link to the script below to fix the problem 
and it did! Joy.


Now I tried to run a video and the screen went back to unknown and set 
to 1024x768 :(


I ran the script again, and I get the following result:

stephen@avalon:~/scripts$ ./get-edid.py VGA-1
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "./get-edid.py", line 65, in 
edid_bin = get_edid_for_connector(connector_name)
  File "./get-edid.py", line 51, in get_edid_for_connector
edid_str = slurp_edid_string(i)
  File "./get-edid.py", line 39, in slurp_edid_string
assert re.match(r'\tEDID:', output_lines[line_num+1])
AssertionError

I do not know anything about Python. Can someone help me figure this out?

Many thanks

Script
#!/usr/bin/env python

import binascii
import re
import subprocess
import sys
from os.path import basename

XRANDR_BIN = 'xrandr'

# re.RegexObject: expected format of xrandr's EDID ascii representation
EDID_DATA_PATTERN = re.compile(r'^\t\t[0-9a-f]{32}$')


def get_edid_for_connector(connector_name):
"""Finds the EDID for the given connector.
Args:
connector_name (str): Name of a connector, i.e. HDMI-0, DP-1
Returns:
Binary EDID for the connector, or None if not found.
Raises:
OSError: Failed to run xrandr.
"""

# re.RegexObject: pattern for this connector's xrandr --props section
connector_pattern = re.compile('^{} connected'.format(connector_name))

try:
xrandr_output = subprocess.check_output([XRANDR_BIN, '--props'])
except OSError as e:
sys.stderr.write('Failed to run {}\n'.format(XRANDR_BIN))
raise e

output_lines = xrandr_output.decode('ascii').split('\n')

def slurp_edid_string(line_num):
"""Helper for getting the EDID from a line match in xrandr 
output."""

edid = ''
assert re.match(r'\tEDID:', output_lines[line_num+1])
for i in range(line_num + 2, len(output_lines)):
line = output_lines[i]
if EDID_DATA_PATTERN.match(line):
edid += line.strip()
else:
break
return edid if len(edid) > 0 else None

for i in range(len(output_lines)):
connector_match = connector_pattern.match(output_lines[i])
if connector_match:
edid_str = slurp_edid_string(i)
if edid_str is None:
return None
return binascii.unhexlify(edid_str)

return None


if __name__ == '__main__':
if len(sys.argv) != 2:
sys.exit('Usage: {} '.format(basename(sys.argv[0])))

connector_name = sys.argv[1]

edid_bin = get_edid_for_connector(connector_name)
if edid_bin is None:
sys.exit('No EDID found for output {}'.format(connector_name))

if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
sys.stdout.buffer.write(edid_bin)
else:
sys.stdout.write(edid_bin)

sys.exit(0)


--
Stephen
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Re: [GTALUG] looking for a secondary mx service

[Dave Cramer via talk]

Steve,

All I'm looking for is someone to handle 4 domains as the 2nd mx. This
means they forward to the primary as long as the primary is up.

thanks for the detail, but this needn't be so complicated

Dave Cramer

On 30 October 2016 at 20:38, Steve Petrie, P.Eng. 
wrote:

> Hello Dave,
>
> - Original Message - From: "Dave Cramer via talk"  >
> To: "GTALUG" 
> Sent: Friday, October 28, 2016 8:04 PM
> Subject: [GTALUG] looking for a secondary mx service
>
>
> I have 4 domains that I need a secondary mx service for.
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>
> Not sure what you mean by " secondary" mx service, but if you're asking
> for suggestions for a good email hosting service, I can recommend
> SiteGround  www.siteground.com
>
> * * *
> * * *
>
> I was using AT&T for many many years for my email hosting (inherited them
> when IBM sold off their email hosting service (ibmglobal.net) to AT&T.
>
> Was never happy with AT&T. Some beautiful screw-ups ... Plus absurdly
> know-nothing AT&T technical "support" people.
>
> Wanted for a long time to switch from my apet...@attglobal.net email
> address to my own domain name apet...@aspetrie.net  but was intimidated
> by the amount of work this would entail.
>
> Then AT&T did me a huge favour, by announcing many months in advance, the
> planned termination of their existing attglobal.net email hosting service.
>
> * * *
> * * *
>
> The upside of using one's own email domain name, of course, is that once
> it's set up, and all the work is done of: 1. informing your list of
> recipients, and 2. updating every place on the Internet, where you are
> registered using your email address as your identifier,
>
> is that in the future, if you are unhappy with your email hosting service,
> you can switch to a new email hosting provider without having to go through
> all the work emtailed in changing the email address. Because, of course,
> the email address stays the same. You just point your MX records to the new
> service provider, and say "bye bye" to the old service provider.
>
> * * *
> * * *
>
> Once AT&T announced their planned email service shutdown, I spent a huge
> amount of time researching email hosting service providers
>
> I tested three different email hosting services (going to the trouble of
> setting up a test domain for each, and sending and receiving test messages)
> and walked way from every one, for one reason or another. Most;ly because
> of the lack of quality technical support. It's a jungle out there !! But
> you already know that.
>
> I actually went to live production email operation with the second of
> these three providers, and used them for my production email for a few
> months. But I decided not to stay with them, because I didn't like the
> attitude of their tech support people. They were technically very
> competent, but seemed to take a confrontational approach to clients.
>
> So I kept searching, and after almost giving up, I settled on
> www.siteground.com Made the switchover to SG on 2 July 2015. No regrets
> yet ...
>
> * * *
> * * *
>
> SiteGround (SG) are actually focused on website hosting, not email
> hosting. But they happen to offer email hosting (SMTP, IMAP, POP3) as part
> of their web hosting packages. I haven't set up a website at SG yet, but I
> did create an FTP account on SG for someone I'm working with. That works
> fine, too.
>
> I have been very happy with SG. Their technical support is excellent.
> Works through a good ticketing system. The staff are very knowledgeable and
> very responsive. Very literate, too. Always (so far) giving complete
> correct answers, using connected sentences. Nailed the usual startup
> problems very quickly.
>
> The only times I have actually had recourse to SG tech support was: 1.
> during the original switchover to SG, 2. when an email I sent was rejected
> by the SG SMTP server, because it had more than 40 recipients, and 3. when
> I upgraded the SG hosting plan so I could send an email to more than 40
> recipients.
>
> The SG help pages and FAQ I have found to be useful. Love the CPANEL.
>
> And of course the main thing -- never had any email service down time
> (yet) with SG.
>
> * * *
> * * *
>
> SG are not the cheapest provider, but I long ago stopped looking for the
> cheapest service of any kind on the Internet. I'm very focused on value for
> money. And in my opinion, SG give excellent value for the money they charge.
>
> Naturally, you will need to do your own research. SG don't do short-term
> deals. And if you go with SG, your results may differ ...
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Steve
>
> apet...@aspetrie.net
> (905) 847-3253
>
> P.S. One rule I follow with hosting services. I always use a different
> provider for DNS hosting (in my case it's Namecheap), than for the Internet
> server (e.g. website, email, ftp) hosting.
>
> If I run into a dispute with the (e.g. website, email, ftp) server hosting
> service, I don't want them to be able to cause me grief by holding my DNS
> registration setu

Re: [GTALUG] looking for a secondary mx service

[Steve Petrie, P.Eng. via talk]

Hello Dave,

- Original Message - 
From: "Dave Cramer via talk" 

To: "GTALUG" 
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2016 8:04 PM
Subject: [GTALUG] looking for a secondary mx service



I have 4 domains that I need a secondary mx service for.

Suggestions?


Not sure what you mean by " secondary" mx service, but if you're asking 
for suggestions for a good email hosting service, I can recommend 
SiteGround  www.siteground.com


* * *
* * *

I was using AT&T for many many years for my email hosting (inherited 
them when IBM sold off their email hosting service (ibmglobal.net) to 
AT&T.


Was never happy with AT&T. Some beautiful screw-ups ... Plus absurdly 
know-nothing AT&T technical "support" people.


Wanted for a long time to switch from my apet...@attglobal.net email 
address to my own domain name apet...@aspetrie.net  but was intimidated 
by the amount of work this would entail.


Then AT&T did me a huge favour, by announcing many months in advance, 
the planned termination of their existing attglobal.net email hosting 
service.


* * *
* * *

The upside of using one's own email domain name, of course, is that once 
it's set up, and all the work is done of: 1. informing your list of 
recipients, and 2. updating every place on the Internet, where you are 
registered using your email address as your identifier,


is that in the future, if you are unhappy with your email hosting 
service, you can switch to a new email hosting provider without having 
to go through all the work emtailed in changing the email address. 
Because, of course, the email address stays the same. You just point 
your MX records to the new service provider, and say "bye bye" to the 
old service provider.


* * *
* * *

Once AT&T announced their planned email service shutdown, I spent a huge 
amount of time researching email hosting service providers


I tested three different email hosting services (going to the trouble of 
setting up a test domain for each, and sending and receiving test 
messages) and walked way from every one, for one reason or another. 
Most;ly because of the lack of quality technical support. It's a jungle 
out there !! But you already know that.


I actually went to live production email operation with the second of 
these three providers, and used them for my production email for a few 
months. But I decided not to stay with them, because I didn't like the 
attitude of their tech support people. They were technically very 
competent, but seemed to take a confrontational approach to clients.


So I kept searching, and after almost giving up, I settled on 
www.siteground.com Made the switchover to SG on 2 July 2015. No regrets 
yet ...


* * *
* * *

SiteGround (SG) are actually focused on website hosting, not email 
hosting. But they happen to offer email hosting (SMTP, IMAP, POP3) as 
part of their web hosting packages. I haven't set up a website at SG 
yet, but I did create an FTP account on SG for someone I'm working with. 
That works fine, too.


I have been very happy with SG. Their technical support is excellent. 
Works through a good ticketing system. The staff are very knowledgeable 
and very responsive. Very literate, too. Always (so far) giving complete 
correct answers, using connected sentences. Nailed the usual startup 
problems very quickly.


The only times I have actually had recourse to SG tech support was: 1. 
during the original switchover to SG, 2. when an email I sent was 
rejected by the SG SMTP server, because it had more than 40 recipients, 
and 3. when I upgraded the SG hosting plan so I could send an email to 
more than 40 recipients.


The SG help pages and FAQ I have found to be useful. Love the CPANEL.

And of course the main thing -- never had any email service down time 
(yet) with SG.


* * *
* * *

SG are not the cheapest provider, but I long ago stopped looking for the 
cheapest service of any kind on the Internet. I'm very focused on value 
for money. And in my opinion, SG give excellent value for the money they 
charge.


Naturally, you will need to do your own research. SG don't do short-term 
deals. And if you go with SG, your results may differ ...


Hope this helps.

Steve

apet...@aspetrie.net
(905) 847-3253

P.S. One rule I follow with hosting services. I always use a different 
provider for DNS hosting (in my case it's Namecheap), than for the 
Internet server (e.g. website, email, ftp) hosting.


If I run into a dispute with the (e.g. website, email, ftp) server 
hosting service, I don't want them to be able to cause me grief by 
holding my DNS registration setup to ransom. This split makes it a 
little more complicated (you don't get the same slick DNS integration, 
if you e.g. upgrade your hosting service plan, and this points you to a 
server with a different IP address).


But in my opinion, the complete independence of control over the DNS 
setup is well worth the extra complication.




Dave Cramer

Re: [GTALUG] ssh/terminal on Android phone

[D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk]

| From: William Park via talk 

| Which SSH client do you use on your phone?

I use connectbot.

I shudder at the security implications of using an Android app, with
unknown provenance, for ssh.  After all, I'm giving it the keys to my
kingdom.  Connectbot is open source and used by many, so it is more
trustable than most.

Unfortunately it doesn't have file transfer capability.  For that I
use VX connectbot and cringe a bit.

Android culture seems to think privacy compromises are an implicit
part of the deal when you install an app.
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