Blog

Scripting using Python for Backup

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 07:02:28 +0000

In this post, I will try to cover the usage of Python for performing a important task of taking backups. While doing backups, it is important to make sure that the data is backed up and stored on a separate server and not on the same server for obvious reasons. Even if the current server fails due to hardware failure, or any unknown reasons it might be necessary for data to be safe.

Thinking in terms of a layman, taking backup would involve the following steps

1. Copy all your data and merge it in a zip file

2. Plug in a USB Disk and copy it in or burn the zip file into a CD Rom

3. Copy the file from USB Disk on to different server

Now these steps needs to be performed every day for the obvious reasons of data safety. The Engineering team at SI always wanted to automate this task and Python comes to our rescue. With the usage of very simple commands and cron job we were able to perform backups with no human intervention.

The above steps turned into the following steps while automating with Python

1. Copy all your data and merge it in a zip file using zipfile module in python.

2. Use pexpect module in python to remotely ssh to your other sever and scp the file over

3. Run a cron job to run the above python script every day at 1:00am IST

Boom, with the above two simple modules and a few lines of python code we had our backup automated. If you are interested in learning Python, you would be love to know that Google has open sourced their PYTHON classes that they teach within Google to the public. Read about it more at Google Python Class

If you have any questions, let us know and somebody from the engineering team would get back to you. Till then happy scripting using Python

Firefox Browser and Plugins

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:07:26 +0000
Ever been annoyed by all those ads and banners on the internet that often take longer to download than everything else on the page which affects your browsing experience. Feel like having a tool to block those annoying ads. To get the best out of your browsing experience, we recommend the usage of browser Firefox

Firefox is a great browser that is available on all the platforms - Linux/ PC /MAC. According to their company Mozilla

The Firefox Web Browser is the faster, more secure, and fully customizable way to surf the web.

Here's our list of 5 most important plugins to get the best out of your browsing experience

1. Ad Block Plus

Adblock Plus is an add-on (software module that supplements or enhances the original unit it is adding on to) for Install Adblock Plus now and get rid of them. Right-click on a banner and choose “Adblock” from the context menu — the banner won’t be downloaded again. Maybe even replace parts of the banner address with star symbols to block similar banners as well. Or choose a filter subscription, then even this simple task will usually be unnecessary: the filter subscription will block most advertisements fully automatically.

Download a copy of Firefox plugin from their website. A link is given for your reference here.

2. No Script
One time winner of “PC World World Class Award”, This addon protects yourself against XSS and Clickjacking attacks by blocking JavaScript, Java, Flash and other executable content from running in your browser unless you specifically tell it to allow from a particular site. Try NoScript for better experiences with firefox.

3. Lazarus: Form Recovery 2.0
Has it ever happened to you that you drafted a email or filled up a webform and power is switched off and all you typed is lost and you would have to retype them. Get over this by using another plugin called the Lazarus. Excerpts from the Add-on Team :

Ever had one of those "oh $*#@" moments when you realize you've just lost half an hour of your life because something went wrong while you were entering stuff into a web form and there doesn't seem to be any way to recover it? If so, you need Lazarus. If not, install it anyway, before disaster strikes!

Lazarus securely saves forms as you type, allowing you to safely recover your lost work after server timeouts, network issues, browser crashes, power failures, and all the other things that can go wrong while you're entering forms, editing content, writing webmail, etc, etc, etc...

Lazarus works on web forms, WYSIWYG editors and AJAXified forms and will save you from almost any given server, browser, or connection problems that might otherwise cause you to lose your work.

Lazarus now comes with 2048-bit RSA and 256-bit AES hybrid encryption so your data is more secure than ever! Lazarus 2.0 also includes search functionality so you can recover text even if you can no longer find the original form you entered it into.

Please post on comments if you think there are more important plugins than these.

Setup a Free VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:38:07 +0000
One of the questions that people have always asked is how can I share files with my family and friends securely? The solution has always been well-known: setup a virtual private network (VPN). However, VPNs have always been notoriously difficult to install and configure. Many software programs have been released over the years trying to simplify this problem, but a new one stands out: Hamachi.

Hamachi allows you to create a "virtual" network with your regular Internet connection. The best part is, you don't need to know or understand how it works - it simply works. Plus, it's available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Let's say that you want to share some files with your sister, who lives 30 miles away. Even if you both have good Internet connections, you are stuck emailing files to each other, which is nearly impossible when it comes to large files.

If you both install Hamachi, all of a sudden, both of you appear to be on the same local network. If you share a folder, she can access it. You can print to her shared printers. The ease of use is amazing. Furthermore, all of the data sent between your computers is encrypted, so that you can be sure that no one else can access your data.

The first step is to download Hamachi. After you download and install it, run Hamachi and you will see a small black window. The interface is simple - the button on the button left is the Power button - click this to "turn on" Hamachi.

The next button at the bottom allows you to create or join a network. Create a new network and give it a password. No one will be able to connect to your network without knowing this password. You will see the network name appear in the Hamachi window, along with a little green dot alongside it that lets you know that this network is active.

Next, you would tell your sister to install Hamachi. She would click on the join network option, then type in the name of the network you created, along with the password. That's it! Her computer will now appear in your Hamachi window, and your computer will appear in her Hamachi window. To browse her shared folders, just right-click on her computer name in the Hamachi window and choose Browse.

At any time, you can disconnect from the network you created - that would disconnect everyone from your computer. You can also just "turn off" Hamachi to do the same.

Although this product is still in beta testing, I highly recommend it. It's easy to use, and extremely powerful. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities... you can run remote control programs like VNC over Hamachi, play games, setup private web sites, private FTP servers, or any number of other Internet services, and all the data is encrypted for security. But the coolest part by far is just being able to share a folder, and allow your family or friends instant access to it without having to worry about email.

According to their website as of today ....
Advantages of LogMeIn Hamachi

• LAN over the Internet  Arrange multiple computers into their own secure network, just as if they were connected by a physical cable.

• Files and Network Drives  Access critical files and network drives.

• Zero-configuration  Works without having to adjust a firewall or router.

• Security  Industry leading encryption and authentication.

• Cost Effective  Free for non-commercial use. Commercial begins at $4.95/month.

Technical Blogs

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:47:27 +0000
From now on we have decided to start writing a few technical articles for our customers. These articles would range from hacking/tweaking your operating system for optimal performance, some programming guidelines that we follow at our sister concern at Infinit-e Technologies, Usage of open source applications such as Asterisk, tweaks to block advertisements on browsers, writing web crawlers using scripting languages etc and much more.

If you want us to write anything specific, let us know through the comments section and if we have expertise on your request, we would definitely try to blog on. Keep listening for more updates ....

50 % off on LG Microwaves and flat Rs. 10,000 off on Onkyo Speakers

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:57:57 +0000
We are offering a flat 50% off on LG Microwave ovens when you buy any Dell Laptop of any price. Keep looking out for offers like these as we are planning for a lot of combo offers providing home appliances for throw away prices. Also another combo offer available up for grabs includes buy any products worth Rs.10,000 or more and get a flat Rs.10,000 off on Onkyo S5205 speakers. Click on the links below to find out more about the combo offers available.

LG Microwave Oven - MS-1927C

Onkyo HT-S5205 Home Theater System

•	LAN over the Internet Arrange multiple computers into their own secure network, just as if they were connected by a physical cable.
•	Files and Network Drives Access critical files and network drives.
•	Zero-configuration Works without having to adjust a firewall or router.
•	Security Industry leading encryption and authentication.
•	Cost Effective Free for non-commercial use. Commercial begins at $4.95/month.