Reading overview, it seemed to be the perfect solution: “The D-Link® Xtreme N™ Dual Band Gigabit Router (DIR-825) uses dual band technology (2.4GHz & 5GHz) … This allows you to check e-mail and browse the Internet using the 2.4GHz band while simultaneously streaming High-Definition (HD) movies and other media on the 5GHz band”. In theory, the idea, itself, is great: to separate wireless traffic when your kinds are on-line and you need to do something at the same time. But, there are few problems:

1. In the real life, I have never seen five bars on my dual-band card (5GHz) and was loosing a connection just two dry-walls behind (15…20 feet).
2. (minor) additional software is required to use USB devices.
3. The router does not see any upgrades on the server, so if you are not lucky and did not get the router with the-latest-the-greatest firmware, you will never know about it until you visit the manufacture’s web site.
4. Well, if you did not upgrade your firmware, you might waste hours or days trying to figure out why you cannot ‘reserve’ IP address for your computers, or why it’s possible for one network card but not for any. Finally, you will learn on Internet, that this router have had this problem with MAC address for months and the upgrade might help you to solve this problem
5. Do not think, that all your problems are left behind: Linux computer will not be accessible from Windows computer having the network adapter with the “wrong” MAC address.

Quick solution was only to look for another router. So minimum requirements were:

1. Price below $100
2. Must be Gigabit wired and N-wireless networks
3. Nice-to-have USB

But the problem was I have needed a land line for the “old-fashion” device using an analog modem. So I looked around and, of course, I have heard a lot about magicJack people have been using for years world-wide.

I went to the RadioShack, bought, came home…

These guys are great. I installed the device in a few minutes (Windows 7 32 and 64-bit), including registration and getting the phone number. I hooked up my cordless phone and it worked great.

But my device did not work. So I looked over Internet and the most discussions were about QoS: how to set it up with different types of routers and bla-bla-bla. Honestly, I think that when we are talking about cable Internet provider and gigabit network… QoS is a last resort.

Keeping playing with the regular phone, I discovered , that magicJack had a problem with dialing numbers (DTMF decoding) if I set up the microphone level too low. Eureka!

I tried to change levels… and as soon as I set the microphone level a little bit higher than default and headphone level to max, my analog device started working almost every time as I have to use it. Of course it could be a problem with the service provider I have to call in.

Is it a bad design or no design? Is it a problem with Photosop or missing original graphics? All fonts are Arial, simple gradient…

1. With tracking inventory, it’s possible to setup a max number of products that could be added to the shopping cart
2. It’s easy to set a default value other than 1. For the parts store there is always required number of parts per assembly

function tep_select_quantity(
  $name = 'quantity',
  $start = '1', $end = MAX_QTY_IN_CART,
  $selected = 0, $param ='' ) {

  for( $i = $start; $i <= $end; ++$i ) {
    $quantity[] = array('id'   => $i, 'text' => ' ' . $i . ' ');
  }
  return tep_draw_pull_down_menu (
    $name, $quantity, $selected, "class=\"{$name}\" {$param}");
}

• The method could be used with default values for most cases.
• For the shopping cart page, as a parameter, we can pass a JavaScript  as follows: onchange=”document.forms['cart_quantity'].submit ();”

With adding an additional link Remove, we don’t need Update’ button any longer. Check the web site to see this modification in action

But, it’s straight way to get a small “replica” of Linux VPS on your desk within a few hours. So, please, if you don’t need or you are Linux guru, just skip all of the below.

Ubuntu 10.04 on laptop Acer Extensa 5620Z

• Why is Ubuntu? I tested a few live-CDs with 32- and 64-bit systems, and the only one started and was working smoothly on my laptop was Ubuntu 10.04 32-bit. The problem with 64-bit was, of course, support Adobe Flash and some other desktop features.
• If it’s necessary, set Ubuntu Linux root password:

  $sudo passwd root

• Share /var/www directory to have access from another Windows PC.  If for Windows computer is not in  default WORKGROUP , it will be better to change its name in samba configuration file at

  /etc/samba

All the program, modules, including HP and Canon printers drivers are from the Ubuntu repository.

Apache 2 server

• Apache mod_rewrite
• Modify configuration file in /etc/apache2/site-available

  <Directory /var/www>
    AllowOverride All
  </Directory>

PHP 5.2.* is installed as Apache module

• It’s installed as an Apache modules
• Additional modules: gd and curl

MySql 5.* & phpMyAdmin

• The problem with phpmysqladmin installation is the package is inaccessible through local web server. So, I think the easiest way is to create a link to that folder from the web server’s root directory.

  $sudo ln -s /usr/share/phpadmin /var/www

FTP server

• You do not need to have FTP server installed until your working/playing with WordPress and you would like to use auto update feature.
• Uncomment the line

  #local_enable=YES in

  /etc/vsftpd.conf

Remote Access to the server

• Now we can try to assign the static IP address to the web server to provide access from anywhere by using DDN service.
• Static IP address is used for wired connection
• PROBLEM: failed to bind mySQL to the static IP address, so it accessible only with phpamin
• PROBLEM: to get access to the Windows computers I have to to use wireless card with DHCP

• I think, that’s from some movie: “I shoot first, then ask”. So I registered and signed for free service. As soon as start the web server and made some changes on my router, anybody could access my local web server. Cool…
• I did not really compare all the options we have from setting DDN with different providers, and my choice was DynDns.com
• The service for the domain <your-domain-name>.dyndns.ws is free. The perfect and easiest way to setup test and presentation environment from any place

1. Everything, of course, depends of the hardware configuration, I had this problem on Acer Extensa 5620Z laptop with Linksys (Cisco) PCMCIA dual-band wireless adapter.
2. After installing recommended updates for wireless network adapter(s)… it disappeared from the list of available networks but was shown in Device Manager. Enable/Disable adapter did not help. Same result after restarting computer

DO NOT TRY TO ROLLBACK DRIVERS.
I had BOD and had to reinstall the computer every time after that.

1. Go to device manager
2. Uninstall the device (adapter) and reboot the computer
3. The device will be re-installed automatically next time the computer starts.

Some other resources about BOD:

• Tech Support Forum
• http://www.carrona.org/bsodindx.html

Do you have anything to say?

So, you are ready rush to the store or on-line looking for the new budget computer with all bells and whistles. Wait, it might be no the time to trash your old computer yet.

1. Usually, the problem #1 is on-board video card. Open the case or look at manual, if you still have it somewhere, and check if your motherboard has PCIe extension slot. If there is one, all you need to change your life is PCIe video card. Don’t forget to disable on-board video in bios. If already have flat screen monitor with HDMI connector, just use HDMI cable and you can skip the next paragraph.
2. If you have 5.1 sound system and just regular 2.1 speakers, that might be tricky. First, download not-HD drivers for your audio (more likely it will be AC97) and, if you still have no sound after installing them,  try to plug the speakers to the different jack on the back of your computer.
3. Now, the time of truth. Run Windows update and… windows will update drivers for the chipset, audio and when it’s done plug the speakers back to the ‘green’ jack.
4. Want to get more from your computer now or later? It depends of your goal: speed and comfort , storage space, or all of the above? More and, sometimes faster, memory, bigger and faster hard drive: just check for you budget.

Here is the list of all components used to upgrade DELL Dimension 4700 desktop computer:

• HD 7200 rpm 500GB – ~$50.00
• Video (ASUS Fanless 4200 ATI) – ~$45.00
• Memory (I prefer Crusial memory) 1GB/DDR2 533 mHz  - $30.00

For less than$130 upgrade, you’ll have Windows 7 up and running. Play the game or watch video on your flat screen monitor or HD TV.