Linux: start an mdraid check even though bash's noclobber is set

A quick post for today. When trying to force my NAS's mdraid array to run a check, in a root terminal, I got this error: # echo check > /sys/block/md0/md/sync_action -bash: /sys/block/md0/md/sync_action: cannot overwrite existing file This is because …

Alfred workflows for searching Bear notes and Docker Hub images

Recently[1] I have forked, updated, and started distributing two Alfred workflows: alred-bear.alfredworkflow and docker-hub.alfredworkflow. alfred-bear I forked alfred-bear from bjrnt/alfred-bear to fix a few issues: * it wasn't built for Apple Silicon * it wasn't codesigned or distributed in a notarized package * on my …

Some recent bird photos

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Pi Reliability: Reduce writes to your SD card

If you aren't using a read-only filesystem on your Pi, you can still reduce writes to the SD card to increase its lifespan.

The 12v portable power supply Ego needs to make

Part of the Project Logs series. I'm fully invested in the Ego line of power tools for everything from my lawnmower to hedge trimmer. I also have a need for a portable, long-lasting, rechargeable, power-outage-resistant, 12 volt power supply.[1] Ego sells several inverters/converters, but they all …

Running a Raspberry Pi with a read-only root filesystem

While there are downsides, using a read-only root filesystem will dramatically increase your Pi SD card's lifetime.

Setting net.netfilter.nf_conntrack_max on Ubuntu 22.04

On one server I manage, the default net.netfilter.nf_conntrack_max value (65536, IIRC) was not sufficient and I wanted to increase it substantially. The first thing I did was add a new file in /etc/sysctl.d: # /etc/sysctl.d/91-cdz-nf_conntrack.conf net.netfilter.nf_conntrack_max= …

Pi Reliability over WiFi: 'Temporary failure in name resolution'

Part of the Raspberry Pi Reliability series. One Pi I run here at home sits in an outbuilding with less-than-ideal WiFi signal strength. It runs PiAware [1] and BirdNET-Pi, and I specifically haven't run Ethernet to it to partially mitigate lightning-strike risks, given that it has two exposed …

Keeping a SMB share mounted on macOS (and alerting when it does down)

Instructions on keeping an SMB share mounted persistently on macOS with launchd, featuring monitoring via Uptime Kuma and runner.

More Koyaanisqatsi desktop wallpaper (sunrise clouds this time)

The Yearlong Koyaanisqatsi Mastodon bot just shared another few frames I thought would make great desktop wallpaper. This time they're frames of clouds at (I think) sunrise. The same process and quality caveats apply as with the desert wallpaper from a few days ago. Enjoy. * Download Wallpapers * Download …

Socket organizers, end caps, and 3D-printed friction fits

Another recent 3D printing project was customizing these socket organizers for 4 socket sets that live in a tool bag with my 3/8" impact wrench: Since these live in a tool bag instead of in a drawer, I wanted to be sure the sockets would fit snugly in …

Making 3D-printed end caps for sharp aluminum extrusions

My table saw — a portable Hitachi C10RA2 I bought from a friend — features two aluminum extrusions along the table top. These extrusions stick out a bit on each side of the saw, and they have sharp corners, and they hurt when you bump into them: I chose to take a …

Blocking disposable email domains in Mastodon

Mastodon yesterday experienced a small wave of spam. One thing we're doing in response at a2mi.social, as recommended by this summary of the incident, is improving how we block disposable email providers. I wrote the following Bash script, inspired by this one. Run periodically via cron, it …

Reliable WiFi for the Bambu X1C 3D printer

How to set up a Raspberry Pi WiFi access point that the Bambu X1C can stay connected to.

Desert stills from Koyaanisqatsi as desktop wallpaper

The Yearlong Koyaanisqatsi Mastodon bot recently shared a series of frames that I felt could stand alone as still photos — something I find somewhat rare in a lot of movies, though Koyaanisqatsi and co. are a notable exception. I thought they'd work nicely as desktop wallpapers. Unfortunately, AFAICT …