SYSMGR in the attic – Page 2 – What goes on behind the doors of the (private) data center

2-May-2023

02-May-2023

All quiet on the [western] front
Nothing new on the Alpha front. Even mail:
PMAS statistics for April Total messages : 2763 = 100.0 o/o DNS Blacklisted : 0 = .0 o/o (Files: 0) Relay attempts : 127 = 4.5 o/o (Files: 30) Accepted by PMAS : 2636 = 95.4 o/o (Files: 30) Handled by explicit rule Rejected : 1606 = 60.9 o/o (processed), 58.1 o/o (all) Accepted : 152 = 5.7 o/o (processed), 5.5 o/o (all) Handled by content Discarded : 284 = 10.7 o/o (processed), 10.2 o/o (all) Quarantained : 281 = 10.6 o/o (processed), 10.1 o/o (all) Delivered : 313 = 11.8 o/o (processed), 11.3 o/o (all) Stopping any PMAS detached processes....

Well, just that the antirelay log of 21-Apr-2023 was 800 blocks in size but apparently, EOF was less than 4 blocks. So it was deleted in the job. I guess it was still o-pen at that time.
Also, today I found that the BIND service wasn’t active. At least, not in $ SHOW SYSTEM but Outlook didn’t find the designated server in the network. $ @SYS$STARTUP:TCPIP$BIND_STARTUP noted the service was active. So starting with $ @SYS$STARTUP:TCPIP$BIND_SHUTDOWN cleared that condition, and after $ @SYS$STARTUP:TCPIP$BIND_STARTUP the server could indeed be found. The fact that the service didn’t response could be the reason that any internet access was slow on any system on the LAN…

“Quiet” doesn’t mean “no new”. Since VSI opened commu8nity access to VMS on X86-64, I requested a community license but since demand seems to be high, it will take some time. If that comes, I’ll need to set up a server to replace (in due time) the Alpha and Itanium systems. I’ll keep them for some time, though, just to have at least one system that works. Currently, it is Diana only, since the RAID controller of Dione is still non-functional: I found out that it is the cache module that broke down and a replacement is still not available. Contacting IslandCo via their gmail address is a problem – since VMS mail has no facility to connect securely (no TLS…) so I have to take another turn: Using either my gmail address, or my ISP mail facility. I still want to switch systems though, so I’ll have to do some more work: Read all mail from Diana, stop the mail front-end (so I won’t get new mail), dump the MySQL database and save it elsewhere, do all maintenance tasks (that is normally done in the maintenance job on the first of each month…), shutdown, move the cache module (of the whole RAID controller) to Dione and start that one; next update the database….
Quite an exercise… So hopefully, the X86-64 license will be received soon, so I can get that system up and running.

Also, on the hardware front, there is news.
As stated last month, the ASUS TUF Mark1 needed to be replaced for the majority of work: Since this at times requires a lot of CPU power, it was anticipated a more recent system would be an advantage. So I purchased an ASUS TUG Gaming Z790Plus motherboard, Intel 13900F processor and 64 Gb of DDR5 memory; installed 2 4Gb hard drives and 2 2Gb M2 boards (still 2 slots open); Used the original 1Gb SSD that was the Windows 10 system disk of my previous machine (even older) and left the 2Gb HDD that was installed in the case. This system was upgraded to Windows 11 and I installed all software I needed. This worked fine, until I removed the Windows.old directory, after which sound din’t work anymore – and there were issues with some other stuff. After re-installing Windows 11 from scratch on one of the M2 boards, and installing all software a second time, it now works as intended.
But I didn;t get rid of the TUF Mar1 board: It is still complete, so I installed it in the original case, including DVD and Blueray drives (that cannot be installed in the LianLi case) and two HDD;s that I had on shelf. This system is to be used as local file- and media server – and will host the VMS X86 installation.

8-Apr-2023

08-Apr-2023

Again – no surprises
Took some time, but checked the maintenance run of Fool’s Day – but nothing to mention:
PMAS statistics for March Total messages : 2521 = 100.0 o/o DNS Blacklisted : 0 = .0 o/o (Files: 0) Relay attempts : 103 = 4.0 o/o (Files: 31) Accepted by PMAS : 2418 = 95.9 o/o (Files: 31) Handled by explicit rule Rejected : 1582 = 65.4 o/o (processed), 62.7 o/o (all) Accepted : 178 = 7.3 o/o (processed), 7.0 o/o (all) Handled by content Discarded : 285 = 11.7 o/o (processed), 11.3 o/o (all) Quarantained : 182 = 7.5 o/o (processed), 7.2 o/o (all) Delivered : 191 = 7.8 o/o (processed), 7.5 o/o (all)

Two-third of the messages rejected – meaning PMAS does a good job on the sender, domain, subject and content where I put a filter on to reject the messages (which means: If PMAS signals the message header of content matches a mask, the connection is aborted), and what was not rejected matched built-in rules (so the message is still passed but into “discarded” or “quarantained” folder, depending on the severity. The license needs to be renewed in May – no cost so I’ll do that anyway.

According WHOIS both addresses refer to a Dutch server provider, that will be notified – of course.

New hardware
Though the system will do it’s job, I found that ASUS TUF Mark1 combined with intel 9820 CPU (3.3 Ghz) and 64 Gb memory (capable of 3400 Mhz) has some trouble in compiling GEAE landscapes (which is CPU intensive) and Unreal 5 rendering. So I purchased a new motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming Z790 + Wifi, Intel 13900 CPU and (again) 64 Gb memory, capable of 6200 Mhz. I could have gone for a 13900K – even faster but that is a lot more expensive and requires 100 Watt more power, so in that case I would need another power supply with higher output as well….The current machine will have it’s use when VMS -X86 is available for hobbyists – the Alpha’s and Itanium machines will be obsolete at that point. Furthermore, since my latest case does not allow DVD drives installed and the previous one does, it will function as a file and media server as well: it has enough power and cooling to handle that. Have to do some shuffleing with data, because there will be new disks as well with the new motherboard, the old drives are still in use (and need to be later on)

2-Mar-2023

02-Mar-2023

Two months maintenance – no issues…

I’ve been far too busy last months, checked the system but had no time to update the blog. So two months in one post: First mail statistics for February:

PMAS statistics for January Total messages : 2523 = 100.0 o/o DNS Blacklisted : 0 = .0 o/o (Files: 0) Relay attempts : 181 = 7.1 o/o (Files: 31) Accepted by PMAS : 2342 = 92.8 o/o (Files: 32) Handled by explicit rule Rejected : 1528 = 65.2 o/o (processed), 60.5 o/o (all) Accepted : 175 = 7.4 o/o (processed), 6.9 o/o (all) Handled by content Discarded : 323 = 13.7 o/o (processed), 12.8 o/o (all) Quarantained : 135 = 5.7 o/o (processed), 5.3 o/o (all) Delivered : 181 = 7.7 o/o (processed), 7.1 o/o (all)

Just two days with attempts to relay:3-JAN-2023 19:47:07.00 - 19:58:26.18 from address 45.81.39.57,
using my host or IP address sending to h.vanover@fishersinvestmemt.com
(used: antispam@diana.grootersnet.local and antispam@[45.83.234.10]) but no. That simply doesn’t work, guys….
4-JAN-2023 06:07:41.32 - 06:14:27.57 other attempts, again between 11:31:15.78 and 11:31:59.07, even sending to my own local domain (@grootersnet.local). Did he/she learn? These were the last ones.

Now last weekend:PMAS statistics for February Total messages : 2319 = 100.0 o/o DNS Blacklisted : 0 = .0 o/o (Files: 0) Relay attempts : 151 = 6.5 o/o (Files: 28) Accepted by PMAS : 2168 = 93.4 o/o (Files: 28) Handled by explicit rule Rejected : 1364 = 62.9 o/o (processed), 58.8 o/o (all) Accepted : 214 = 9.8 o/o (processed), 9.2 o/o (all) Handled by content Discarded : 234 = 10.7 o/o (processed), 10.0 o/o (all) Quarantained : 132 = 6.0 o/o (processed), 5.6 o/o (all) Delivered : 224 = 10.3 o/o (processed), 9.6 o/o (all)

a few relay attempts again:

11-FEB-2023 01:06:03.48 – 01:06:13.83 from 117.57.39.219, assuming Windows or Linux? admin@grootersnett.nl.
again 23:42:11.11 23:42:17.38 from 117.57.36.244,same assumption (admin@www.grootersnet.nl) Given the attempted address I guess it is Chinese (549955918@qq.com)

26-FEB-2023 17:07:10.50 – 18:01:54.32 from 185.246.220.193, assuming some location at my domain (thinking I’m a business?) to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzezihe@hotmail.com
26-FEB-2023 17:03:04.59 – 17:27:21.30 from 212.193.30.28, assuming that my email-address can be used from outside to contact mikeanam2016@gmail.com.

Just a few. No file over 4 blocks (2 Mb).

On the hardware front: I got a number of SA5300A cards from IslandCo.com – they would charge me only for package (which I don’t accept; I want to pay for the cards as well – but the gesture is nice). no cache but that doesn’t matter. Of course no time yet to install them, will be done this weekend, if all goes as planned I switch systems again. Now I have some spare cards as well, Via a Dutch marketplace I got another 300GB disk (so a spare for that as well) and two removable disks for in Dione’s front-storage bay. Extra storage for backup is welcome.

I will need to get another PC-motherboard, CPU and memory to build a system to run VMS 9.2, new development of the blog-engine may continue when Pascal and Fortran compilers are available.

4-Jan-2023

04-Jan-2023

First check this year
Last mail statistics of 2022:
PMAS%nbsp;statistics%nbsp;for%nbsp;December Total%nbsp;messages%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;2895%nbsp;=%nbsp;100.0%nbsp;o/o DNS%nbsp;Blacklisted%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;0%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;.0%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(Files:%nbsp;%nbsp;0) Relay%nbsp;attempts%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;29%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;1.0%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(Files:%nbsp;30) Accepted%nbsp;by%nbsp;PMAS%nbsp;%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;2866%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;98.9%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(Files:%nbsp;31) %nbsp;%nbsp;Handled%nbsp;by%nbsp;explicit%nbsp;rule %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Rejected%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;2122%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;74.0%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;73.2%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all) %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Accepted%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;214%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;7.4%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;7.3%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all) %nbsp;%nbsp;Handled%nbsp;by%nbsp;content %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Discarded%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;221%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;7.7%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;7.6%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all) %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Quarantained%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;155%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;5.4%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;5.3%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all) %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Delivered%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;154%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;5.3%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;5.3%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all)
Rather normal….Even no large amounts of relay attempts either. So we’re heading into a new year without big issues on the VMS side.

Hardware however, is another matter.
Checked Dione’s trouble with disk access; First, booted from the installation disk, and I could access all disks, so I tried to make a backup of each disk, other than the system disk: there is a valid backup of that already), but during the first action, the backup process appeared to hang, but I could stop the system using CTRL-P. Further investigation today using a graphical console (removed one SCSI interface to install a video card) and use a directly connected VMS-keyboard, it became clear that the card itself has a problem – in the end, the card didn’t even initialize on boot, and >>>run bios pyao gave an error; finally, the card wasn’t recognized at all when booting the system.

Since I have not been able to access the manuals – the site that I found on Google does not allow download, not even on VMS… – I could not identify what is the meaning of the errorcode, nor the meaning of the LEDs on the card itself….So the only solution is to find a substitute.

2-Dec-2022

01-Dec-2022

All the usual things.
Again, no surprises. The mail statistics seem to have stabilized:
PMAS%nbsp;statistics%nbsp;for%nbsp;November Total%nbsp;messages%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;3778%nbsp;=%nbsp;100.0%nbsp;o/o DNS%nbsp;Blacklisted%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;0%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;.0%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(Files:%nbsp;%nbsp;0) Relay%nbsp;attempts%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;78%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;2.0%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(Files:%nbsp;29) Accepted%nbsp;by%nbsp;PMAS%nbsp;%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;3700%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;97.9%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(Files:%nbsp;30) %nbsp;%nbsp;Handled%nbsp;by%nbsp;explicit%nbsp;rule %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Rejected%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;2428%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;65.6%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;64.2%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all) %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Accepted%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;142%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;3.8%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;3.7%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all) %nbsp;%nbsp;Handled%nbsp;by%nbsp;content %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Discarded%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;741%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;20.0%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;19.6%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all) %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Quarantained%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;235%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;6.3%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;6.2%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all) %nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;Delivered%nbsp;:%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;154%nbsp;=%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;4.1%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(processed),%nbsp;%nbsp;%nbsp;4.0%nbsp;o/o%nbsp;(all)
The percentage of messages that are actual delivered gets up, thanks to more restrictive filtering. However, there are some that are hard to get around because there is way too little content to filter on. Despite the majority of these contain embedded HTML or PDF, the naming of the content is way too random to filter upon, as well as the subject and content that may have been added. I could, of course, but would miss out valid mails as well. Perhaps I should change the filter to “BLOCK UNLESS” instead of “ALLOW UNLESS”?

The amount of relay attempts was small again in November; Just one file exceeded the threshold of 4 blocks (which is the minimal size of a file, regardless the number of entries). Not that many entries anyway, but 14 attempts in 10 minutes. All from one address (115.223.19.84) by “test@freedominter.net” to “garymanages@gmail.com”. The weird part is that this address seems to be registered in Korea, where freedominter.net is a synonym of freedomnet.nl (my ISP), as shown digging these. Noted this to the ISP helpdesk, as it might be a violation of rules.

No further activity on programming or publishing since I have another new point of focus; though this new hobby could trigger progress to be able to report on this as well.

April 2024
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