My current problem is now I have relegated all of my media to the lounge,  using the ipod dock in the kitchen with a meagre 16GB Ipod seems positively lacking when, your media centre is connected directly to a 5Tb NAS.  What happens now is you play music in the lounge and turn it way up to a probably neighbour unsuitable level to be to properly enjoy it in the kitchen.  This is why I crave multi room audio, I wrote a while back why I think XBMC is a far better and cheaper solution than the Sonos solution, though Sonos still do have the killer feature present and correct.

So I’m am challenged with building my own solution some how.  My requirement is fairly straight forward:

• The ability to have the audio playing from the media centre play to another source at the same time.

I have no need for visuals or UI to be present in the other rooms as I can control the xbmc source with the XBMC iphone remote app, and possibly that Archos 7 tablet when its released .

Typically it appears the requirement is a very easy thing to say out loud, and yet another thing entirely to actually achieve.  The challenge as I currently understand it, is keeping the music streams to each room in sync.

My current stab in the dark is use a motorola DC800 bluetooth stereo adaptor, and use A2DP to stream the music to the second amp.  This when the adaptor arrives, I can see is going to present a couple of challenges.

1. Is it even possible to send audio out via the Line / SPdif out at the same time as A2DP ?
2. if it is, will the audio be in sync?

Answers on a post card, if I get it to work i’ll post the solution (assuming it doesn’t involve purchase of a sonos solution )

i.e. (0,15,30,45 17-23 * * * php /var/www/checkgmail.php > /dev/null   #Check Gmail)

   1: <?php

   2: $emailaddress = 'someemailaddress@gmail.com'; // i.e. bob@gmail.com or bob@bobsdomain.com if you use google apps

   3: $password = 'somepassword'; // email password

   4: $xbmcaddress = '192.168.1.1'; // IP or hostname of your xbmc

   5: $xbmcport = '8080'; // port the xbmc web server is running on.

   6:

   7:

   8: $domain = explode('@',$emailaddress);

   9: if ($domain['1'] == 'gmail.com' || $domain['1'] == 'googlemail.com')

  10:     {

  11:     $use_googleapps = false;

  12:     } else {

  13:     $use_googleapps = true;

  14:     }

  15: if ($use_googleapps == true)

  16:     {

  17:     $url = 'https://mail.google.com/a/'.$domain['1'].'/feed/atom';

  18:     } else {

  19:     $url = 'https://mail.google.com/mail/feed/atom';

  20:     }

  21:

  22:

  23:     $ch = curl_init ($url);

  24:     curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, 0);

  25:     curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_PROTOCOLS,CURLPROTO_HTTPS);

  26:     curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);

  27:     curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_BINARYTRANSFER,1);

  28:     $curllogin = $emailaddress.':'.$password;

  29:     curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD,$curllogin);

  30:     $rawdata=curl_exec($ch);

  31:     curl_close ($ch);

  32:

  33: $array = xml2array($rawdata);

  34: $array = $array['feed'];

  35: //print_r($array);

  36:

  37: if ($array['fullcount'] < 1)

  38:     {

  39:     echo ' no new mail ';

  40:     } else {

  41:     if ($array['fullcount'] == 1)

  42:         {

  43:         fopen("http://".$xbmcaddress.":".$xbmcport."/xbmcCmds/xbmcHttp?command=ExecBuiltIn(Notification(".$emailaddress.",You%20Have%20A%20New%20Email!))",r);

  44:         } else {

  45:         fopen("http://".$xbmcaddress.":".$xbmcport."/xbmcCmds/xbmcHttp?command=ExecBuiltIn(Notification(".$emailaddress.".",You%20Have%20".$array['fullcount']."%20New%20Emails!))",r);

  46:         }

  47:

  48:

  49:     }

  50:

  51:

  52:

  53: function xml2array($contents, $get_attributes=1, $priority = 'tag') {

  54:     if(!$contents) return array();

  55:

  56:     if(!function_exists('xml_parser_create')) {

  57:         //print "'xml_parser_create()' function not found!"; 

  58:         return array();

  59:     }

  60:

  61:     //Get the XML parser of PHP - PHP must have this module for the parser to work

  62:     $parser = xml_parser_create('');

  63:     xml_parser_set_option($parser, XML_OPTION_TARGET_ENCODING, "UTF-8"); # http://minutillo.com/steve/weblog/2004/6/17/php-xml-and-character-encodings-a-tale-of-sadness-rage-and-data-loss 

  64:     xml_parser_set_option($parser, XML_OPTION_CASE_FOLDING, 0);

  65:     xml_parser_set_option($parser, XML_OPTION_SKIP_WHITE, 1);

  66:     xml_parse_into_struct($parser, trim($contents), $xml_values);

  67:     xml_parser_free($parser);

  68:

  69:     if(!$xml_values) return;//Hmm...

  70:

  71:     //Initializations

  72:     $xml_array = array();

  73:     $parents = array();

  74:     $opened_tags = array();

  75:     $arr = array();

  76:

  77:     $current = &$xml_array; //Refference

  78:

  79:     //Go through the tags.

  80:     $repeated_tag_index = array();//Multiple tags with same name will be turned into an array

  81:     foreach($xml_values as $data) {

  82:         unset($attributes,$value);//Remove existing values, or there will be trouble

  83:

  84:         //This command will extract these variables into the foreach scope

  85:         // tag(string), type(string), level(int), attributes(array).

  86:         extract($data);//We could use the array by itself, but this cooler.

  87:

  88:         $result = array();

  89:         $attributes_data = array();

  90:

  91:         if(isset($value)) {

  92:             if($priority == 'tag') $result = $value;

  93:             else $result['value'] = $value; //Put the value in a assoc array if we are in the 'Attribute' mode

  94:         }

  95:

  96:         //Set the attributes too.

  97:         if(isset($attributes) and $get_attributes) {

  98:             foreach($attributes as $attr => $val) {

  99:                 if($priority == 'tag') $attributes_data[$attr] = $val;

 100:                 else $result['attr'][$attr] = $val; //Set all the attributes in a array called 'attr'

 101:             }

 102:         }

 103:

 104:         //See tag status and do the needed.

 105:         if($type == "open") {//The starting of the tag '<tag>' 

 106:             $parent[$level-1] = &$current;

 107:             if(!is_array($current) or (!in_array($tag, array_keys($current)))) { //Insert New tag

 108:                 $current[$tag] = $result;

 109:                 if($attributes_data) $current[$tag. '_attr'] = $attributes_data;

 110:                 $repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level] = 1;

 111:

 112:                 $current = &$current[$tag];

 113:

 114:             } else { //There was another element with the same tag name

 115:

 116:                 if(isset($current[$tag][0])) {//If there is a 0th element it is already an array

 117:                     $current[$tag][$repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level]] = $result;

 118:                     $repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level]++;

 119:                 } else {//This section will make the value an array if multiple tags with the same name appear together

 120:                     $current[$tag] = array($current[$tag],$result);//This will combine the existing item and the new item together to make an array

 121:                     $repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level] = 2;

 122:

 123:                     if(isset($current[$tag.'_attr'])) { //The attribute of the last(0th) tag must be moved as well

 124:                         $current[$tag]['0_attr'] = $current[$tag.'_attr'];

 125:                         unset($current[$tag.'_attr']);

 126:                     }

 127:

 128:                 }

 129:                 $last_item_index = $repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level]-1;

 130:                 $current = &$current[$tag][$last_item_index];

 131:             }

 132:

 133:         } elseif($type == "complete") { //Tags that ends in 1 line '<tag />' 

 134:             //See if the key is already taken. 

 135:             if(!isset($current[$tag])) { //New Key 

 136:                 $current[$tag] = $result;

 137:                 $repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level] = 1;

 138:                 if($priority == 'tag' and $attributes_data) $current[$tag. '_attr'] = $attributes_data;

 139:

 140:             } else { //If taken, put all things inside a list(array) 

 141:                 if(isset($current[$tag][0]) and is_array($current[$tag])) {//If it is already an array... 

 142:

 143:                     // ...push the new element into that array. 

 144:                     $current[$tag][$repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level]] = $result;

 145:

 146:                     if($priority == 'tag' and $get_attributes and $attributes_data) {

 147:                         $current[$tag][$repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level] . '_attr'] = $attributes_data;

 148:                     }

 149:                     $repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level]++;

 150:

 151:                 } else { //If it is not an array... 

 152:                     $current[$tag] = array($current[$tag],$result); //...Make it an array using using the existing value and the new value 

 153:                     $repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level] = 1;

 154:                     if($priority == 'tag' and $get_attributes) {

 155:                         if(isset($current[$tag.'_attr'])) { //The attribute of the last(0th) tag must be moved as well 

 156:

 157:                             $current[$tag]['0_attr'] = $current[$tag.'_attr'];

 158:                             unset($current[$tag.'_attr']);

 159:                         }

 160:

 161:                         if($attributes_data) {

 162:                             $current[$tag][$repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level] . '_attr'] = $attributes_data;

 163:                         }

 164:                     }

 165:                     $repeated_tag_index[$tag.'_'.$level]++; //0 and 1 index is already taken 

 166:                 }

 167:             }

 168:

 169:         } elseif($type == 'close') { //End of tag '</tag>' 

 170:             $current = &$parent[$level-1];

 171:         }

 172:     }

 173:

 174:     return($xml_array);

 175: }

 176: ?>

MMS Enable your 2g Iphone

I have succesfully got MMS working on my Iphone 2g with BT Total Broadband anywhere / BTMobile, and have solved the problem where the mms APN settings do not save.

1. Have your unlocked iphone 2g (on firmware v3.0, anything earlier and your about to brick your iphone)
2. Run Cydia install Activate2Gmms
3. Reboot
4. check settings ->General ->Network -> Cellular Data Network   and confirm you now have the mms settings (if not repeat step 2)
5. open safari and browse to http://help.benm.at
6. click on the mobile config generator (half way down i think)
7. and create a new config, filling in both mobile internet & visual voicemail (even though you dont have it) enable mobile tethering.  for both sets of config APN = btmobile.bt.com Username = bt and password = bt (note: dont put the equals sign in etc. duh!)
8. Click Generate and install the profile
9. once installed Reboot your iphone, dont check to see if its worked.
10. Once your phone is back up go back to settings ->General ->Network -> Cellular Data Network
11. You should see all three (Cellular Data, Visual Voicemail & MMS) have the same setting in them.
12. goto mms MMSC and enter “http://mms.bt.com/servlets/mms” (without the quotes)
13. goto mms proxy and enter “212.182.137.12:8799” (without the quotes)
14. and reboot your iphone.

Thats it.

The revenge this time its personal!

K I just setup sendmail to relay using gmail again,  thought I better post what I have done as my original now out of date post is still getting quite a lot of views.

This is based on my Ubuntu 8.10 Server ( 2.6.27-11-server) all patched up todays date and then I did the below.

First off make sure you can actually resolve gmail.com, working ? good.

sudo apt-get install sendmail
sudo cp /etc/mail/sendmail.mc /etc/mail/sendmail.mc.orig
sudo vi /etc/mail/sendmail.mc

Add the following to the bottom of your virgin sendmail.mc (shift+g to get to end of file):

define(`SMART_HOST',`smtp.gmail.com')dnl
define(`confAUTH_MECHANISMS', `EXTERNAL GSSAPI DIGEST-MD5 CRAM-MD5 LOGIN PLAIN')dnl
FEATURE(`authinfo',`hash /etc/mail/auth/client-info')dnl
define(`CERT_DIR', `MAIL_SETTINGS_DIR`'certs')
define(`confCACERT_PATH', `CERT_DIR')
define(`confCACERT', `CERT_DIR/CAcert.pem')
define(`confSERVER_CERT', `CERT_DIR/mycert.pem')
define(`confSERVER_KEY', `CERT_DIR/mykey.pem')
define(`confCLIENT_CERT', `CERT_DIR/mycert.pem')
define(`confCLIENT_KEY', `CERT_DIR/mykey.pem')

Save the file.

sudo mkdir /etc/mail/auth
sudo vi /etc/mail/auth/client-info

Add the following line to the new client-info file replacing the text between the greater than and less than signs (did I need to spell that out ?):

AuthInfo:smtp.gmail.com "U:root" "I:<YOUR GMAIL USERNAME HERE>@gmail.com" "P:<YOU GMAIL PASSWORD HERE>"

Save the file.

makemap hash client-info < client-info
chmod 700 /etc/mail/auth
chmod 600 /etc/mail/auth/*
mkdir /etc/mail/certs
cd /etc/mail/certs
openssl dsaparam 1024 -out dsa1024 -out dsa1024.pem
openssl req -x509 -nodes -days 3650 -newkey dsa:dsa1024.pem -out /etc/mail/certs/mycert.pem -keyout /etc/mail/certs/mykey.pem
ln -s /etc/mail/certs/mycert.pem /etc/mail/certs/CAcert.pem
openssl req -x509 -new -days 3650 -key /etc/mail/certs/mykey.pem -out /etc/mail/certs/mycert.pem
chmod 700 /etc/mail/certs
chmod 600 /etc/mail/certs/*
cd /etc/mail
make
/etc/init.d/sendmail reload

Bish Bosh!

Things it needs to be able to do:

• Allow any user to edit their own Active Directory attributes.  [In Current Release]
  • Allow an administrator to determine which attributes can be edited [In Current Release]
  • Allow an administrator to dictate a range of choices for a field¹ [In Current Release]
• Allow the users access to all that directory information by providing a powerful search
  • Allow the administrator to determine which fields can be used to search on
  • and which fields can be returned in the search.
  • Users contacts details export to vCard format
  • Allow phone number to be formatted in a way that can be picked up by various SIP softphones i.e. phone://<number> etc.
• Self Service Passwords Resets (for me the most important feature)
  • Allow users to set their own challenge questions & answer
    • Encrypt those questions in the DB
    • Hash the Answers
  • Allow the admins to set the complexity requirements etc.
  • Allow admins to state the minimum number of questions required to enable Self service password resets
  • Allow admins to state the number of questions required to reset a password.
  • Ability to use of 2 factor authentication
    • Send an password unlock code to either an external Email address ( set by the user in thier ad attributes)
    • Or SMS (via smtp gateway) to a mobile set in thier AD fields.

As you can see there is some way to go yet before I can reach the coveted Version 1.  The experience with previous versions I have written means, alot of the backend work is already there and in many cases (like search for example) its just the frontend interface that need completing. Further off post V1 I want to go further into allowing users to perform simple admin tasks. Such as:

• allowing the owner of the Directory to pick who has read or read/write access
• Letting Managers create users for new hires
• Exchange integration

The list could go on for ever, but im mindful (no one said mindful before starwars) of biting of more than I can chew.

1. This is good to get around the problem where you have a directory full of Speelling mistakes.  Allowing you to give you users the freedom to tell you for example that they are in that office with the weird name and stopping them having to gave a stab at spelling it.

The environment checker now tests :

• If Seamless authentication is enabled correctly in IIS manager
• If it can connect to the mysql db if php extension is in place
• and if it can get any info out of AD using your current user.

Once all the above and a few other bits are satisfied it will prompt you to go to the AD password set page   This page is visible to everyone but disabled for all except the administrator user you specify in the config.php.    Once you have set your password it will prompt you to go to the ldap config page where the AD password is still visible (stared out) but you cant change it there.

download phpadadmin 0.711

• Added a couple of nice new features like being able to force the site to https if such is your want. 
• Added the encryption functions in for the Self Service password resets.  
• Done some work on the look of the whole thing ( see screen shot below).

phpadadmin at v0.71

I have just rebuilt my VMware environment and have the DC and a client up and running.  Though dont have access to win2k8 at the moment, though from what I can make out the LDAP changes are minimal. So no great shakes.

I have dumped much of the documentation back up here under the phpadadmin page. Will have to write a page on enabling https in IIS, which is fairly straight forward.

0.71 can be downloaded below if your interested in trying out what is complete so far. Note: currently in order to change your ad password you’ll need to do it manually in mysql, which is appreciate is a bit of an oxymoron. Will change it in the next release.

Download phpADadmin 0.71

Lastest Screen Shot of user edit screen

Validation Currently working is:

• Text only ( a-z & A-Z )
• Numbers only
• Alphanumerics
• Email Address
• Required.

You can now define the order in which the feilds are presented to your users. Already I have added a bunch of new features, which I’m quite excited about. Notably missing at this point is the entire hook into AD , but thats very straight forward now I know what I’m doing.

progress is being made and backedup to http://code.google.com/p/phpadadmin

card legs by playing Quake 2 at 750+ FPS. Isn’t it! becuase of this Darren has built a proper Q2 server accessible on the electric interweb.  The server can be found quake2://kungfudazza.game-server.cc:27910

and is running lithium so has the grapple hook.

So now how do we quench out thirst for lovely stats that were so used to now in COD4 etc.  We right our own.

Annoucing the all new KungFu Stats for all your Quake II old school gaming requirements.  My favorite feature so far is Nemesiss detection.

Currently live with guff data at http://darrenwatt.com/q2stats

My current demo of current code can be seen at http://www.darrenwatt.com/q2stats/and the code is at http://code.google.com/p/quake2stats/