David L. Farquhar

Home » Archives for Dave Farquhar » Page 187

Is TP-Link good?

Dave Farquhar Servers and Networking August 21, 2017September 16, 2018motorola, TL

You’ve probably seen TP-Link network equipment on computer store shelves, but it’s possible you’ve never bought any. TP-Link hasn’t been around as long as other brands, after all. But I don’t blame you for wondering: Is TP-Link good?

I like their stuff and recommend it. Here’s why.

Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He has written professionally about computers since 1991, so he was writing about retro computers when they were still new. He has been working in IT professionally since 1994 and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He holds Security+ and CISSP certifications. Today he blogs five times a week, mostly about retro computers and retro gaming covering the time period from 1975 to 2000.

dfarq.homeip.net

Scale vs gauge: Not quite interchangeable

Dave Farquhar model railroading, Toy trains August 18, 2017March 3, 20221:64 scale, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, 1990s, american flyer, HO, ho scale, lionel, Lionel 675, n scale, o gauge, o scale, s scale, Standard Gauge

Wondering about scale vs gauge? You’re not alone. It’s a common question, and I’ll try to provide a simple answer. The two terms may appear interchangeable, but they aren’t quite.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Finding and blocking an abusive host from your Apache log

Dave Farquhar Apache, security August 17, 2017August 17, 2017apache, datacenter, ips, New York, yahoo

My web site slowed to a crawl last night, my CPU usage soared to 100%, and my built-in security measures weren’t helping. I ended up having to do some old-school Linux sysadmin work to stop them.

I haven’t been an everyday sysadmin since 2009. But every once in a while I can still come off the bench and do this stuff.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Is Windows Firewall enough protection?

Dave Farquhar security, Windows August 17, 2017August 6, 2018antivirus, firewall, spam, steve gibson

Windows versions from XP onward include a built in firewall. But is Windows Firewall enough protection?

Yes. And no. Security answers are almost always complicated. But I’ll explain.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Can Teflon tape be used on gas fittings?

Dave Farquhar DIY August 16, 2017September 1, 2017PFTE, saving money

If you’re hooking up a gas dryer, or stove, or another appliance that uses natural gas, here’s a valid question: Can Teflon tape be used on gas fittings?

The answer is yes, with a big caveat.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

What is the purpose of a screen saver?

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing August 15, 2017December 16, 20201990s, atari, best buy, blank screen, malware, spyware

What is the purpose of a screen saver? Screen savers served both a technical and a marketing purpose. From a technical perspective, the purpose of a screen saver was to keep an image from permanently being engraved in a CRT-based monitor’s phosphors. But it wasn’t long before screen savers started serving a vanity or entertainment purpose.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Commodore computer models

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing August 14, 2017June 5, 2026

The Commodore 64 is by far the most famous and successful computer Commodore ever made. But there were numerous Commodore computer models over the years. Some were also successful. Some were complete flops. Overall Commodore had a good 18-year run, but it could have been so much longer and better.

Let’s take a walk through the Commodore computer models from the beginning in 1976 to the bitter end in 1994.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Expanded vs Extended memory, or EMS vs XMS

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing August 11, 2017October 5, 2019Bill Gates, intel, memory slots, XT

DOS veterans may remember messing with expanded and extended memory to get memory above 640K. Here’s what you need to know about expanded vs extended memory, or EMS vs XMS. They are two different approaches to solving the same problem.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Why do Lionel trains have three rails?

Dave Farquhar Toy trains August 10, 2017August 5, 20171950s, 1960s, american flyer, electric trains, lionel, Louis Marx, marx, o gauge, Quaker Oats, Standard Gauge

Why do Lionel trains have three rails? After all, real trains usually have two. This unrealistic feature is a legitimate drawback for Lionel and other makes of O gauge trains, but the decision made sense at the time.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Commodore 64 Z80 cartridge

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing August 9, 2017June 1, 20261541, 1980s, 6502, apple, apple ii, commodore, commodore 64, intel, MOS, spartan

One of the most popular add-ons for an Apple II added CP/M compatibility. So I guess it should be no surprise that Commodore tried the same thing. But the Commodore 64 CP/M operating system and the associate Commodore 64 Z80 cartridge was a flop. Why?

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

The Silicon Underground

Author: Dave Farquhar

Is TP-Link good?

Scale vs gauge: Not quite interchangeable

Finding and blocking an abusive host from your Apache log

Is Windows Firewall enough protection?

Can Teflon tape be used on gas fittings?

What is the purpose of a screen saver?

Commodore computer models

Expanded vs Extended memory, or EMS vs XMS

Why do Lionel trains have three rails?

Commodore 64 Z80 cartridge