Disk Cloning: It Really GRUBs Me The Wrong Way

I recently ran into an odd GRUB-related issue after using Macrium Reflect to clone a 120GB SSD containing a Linux Mint install to a larger 250GB drive. Any attempt to update or install packages returned the following error from the package manager – Setting up grub-efi-amd64-signed (1.187.6+2.06-2ubuntu14.4) … mount: /var/lib/grub/esp: special device /dev/disk/by-id/ata-Samsung_SSD_850_EVO_120GB_S21TNSAG124403L-part2 does not […]

TLS 1.0 and Discord Woes

I recently ran into an issue running the Discord VoIP/chat application (version 0.0.308) after completing some security hardening on one of my Windows 10 PCs. On startup, the Discord client first checks for updates, then automatically downloads and installs them where necessary before launching the application. While this process had previously worked flawlessly, I suddenly […]

Building the PiDP-8

With the growing popularity and computing power of the Raspberry Pi single-board computer, many engineers and vintage computer enthusiasts have begun exploring the Pi’s viability as an emulator for legacy minicomputer and mainframe systems. The open nature of the platform’s hardware and software lend itself well to emulation projects, and the board’s GPIO connector allows […]

fwupd, LVFS, Firmware Updates, and Your Linux System

Though the security and performance benefits of regular software updates are well-understood by most users, many IT departments and home users have traditionally treated the application of firmware updates as a reactive measure instead of a best practice. Unfortunately, this failure to maintain BIOS/UEFI firmware can result in compatibility issues when new hardware components are […]

Analyzing The SparkFun USB Breadboard Power Supply Kit

As part of a batch order through Digikey, I recently picked up SparkFun’s USB Breadboard Power Supply kit. This is a small and convenient drop-in module that connects to a breadboard and provides 5V and 3.3V power sources through a USB 2.0 Type-B connector. Though I had a great time building and using this kit, […]

On to RHCE

I recently scheduled my RHCE exam for February, meaning I’ll be spending the next month studying the course material and ensuring I have the necessary skills under my belt. I had originally intended to complete the test last July, but suffered from burnout following an extended period studying for RHCSA and was forced to re-schedule. […]

Design Flaw: Redux

I’ve now lost an SD card inside my optical drive entirely. I now need to pull this lappy apart and find a way to fish it out. I guess it was only a matter of time.. See: http://lannycox.com/2017/10/31/design-flaw/